[A/N] The point of view will usually be from the "third person" and if that's going to change, I'll write it. It's my first fanfic that I plan to release in chapters, so be forgiving, ok? And I'm sorry for any grammar mistakes, English isn't my native language. Hope you enjoy the story!
A girl, wearing a dark, brownish hood hiding her face, had brought the lantern she's been holding forward. The source of light gave a warm, yellow glow. She had moved forward a few more steps and in the dark ahead something glimmered.
A content smile crept onto her lips. That must've been it!
Lucy Heartphilia woke up as usual when the first rays of sunshine broke through thick, bloody red curtains. She looked around the room - nothing out of ordinary. The same cherry wood furniture, comfy, pale pink sofa with brown cushions, her desk crowded with papers, shelves full of books. And the old fashioned, steampunk clock on the wall. So why was she feeling the urge to go somewhere, check something, look for the unusual…?
Nevermind she thought to herself I probably ate something bad…
Lucy propped herself up on her elbows and resting her chin on the sill looked out of the window. It was a rainy, chilly day. No one even walked down the street. Hopefully it was going to change.
She got up, straightening her pink, lacy nightgown, and then stood opposite to the mirror. The girl dressed up in her usual dark, pinkish - red, ankle length dress following the curves of her torso and hanging loosely around her hips. It was sleeveless, with a dark brown, tight, wide belt around her rib cage. It had little steampunk applications alongside the upper and lower edge. The dress had a V-shaped neckline with three layers of light brown lace around it. Lucy also did her hair into a sloppy braid.
As she dressed up, the girl also prepared herself for the day - she quickly ate breakfast, brushed her teeth and locked the door to the apartment while leaving.
Downstairs was her pride and joy - the „Glossy Moon Cafe". It was also steampunk styled, but none of the customers thought it was weird. In fact, that was her trademark. Lots of people just „stop by to look", then „come in for tea". And stayed clients for a long time…
She looked around. The place had that „secret" kind of feeling to it. The walls were half - covered in dark, wooden panels and half - painted in deep, rosy crimson. The tables and chairs were also dark and wooden, with thin legs and twisted ornaments around the edges.
The bar has been set up on barrels, with single polished panel over them and shelves full of different drinks behind it. It stood across from the front door, giving her the view of coming clients. Behind it were the doors leading to her apartment upstairs and the supply base. Yet the best part were clock - inspired ornaments in some places and dim, yellow light adding that king of rusty, „old house" feeling to the place. As of the top-finishing cherry were bloody red cushions on the chairs and stripped curtains in the same color over the windows. Many people that came by told Lucy, that the cafe suits her perfectly.
She agreed in 100 percents.
As usual - again - the girl lit up the lamps in the corners and started putting out the cakes, macaroni and boxes with tea.
Just when she finished and finally sat down to give her feet some relief, the blonde heard a bell ring coming from the front door. Lucy smiled - if customers were coming in this early, there could be a crowd later on. But her smile faltered and her face flushed angrily when she recognized the man walking to the counter.
"What do you want, Hades?"
Hades was her landlord. And his visit first thing in the morning wasn't a good sign. While the apartment above the cafe was fully hers, she couldn't afford buying the space needed for „Glossy Moon".
"I'm only here to tell you, that you owe me not only this month's, but also last month's rent. When are you gonna pay it?"
And that was what she hated about him, she reminded herself. Always straight to the point, no emotions, no mercy.
"I will pay before the month ends. Just give me some time…"
"You have two weeks." he cut her off "And that-" he looked her deep into the eye "-is my last word."
And then she was left alone. In complete silence that was ringing in the air she didn't even notice the single tear, that rolled down her cheek.
Later that day Lucy felt numb. The voices of customers she heard were coming to her from behind the thick fog clouding her thoughts. Not even Levy, her petite, bookworm friend or Loke, the biggest playboy around that always managed to piss her off with his poor excuse of pick-up lines could go through to her.
And she still had that nasty feeling, like the voice in her head told her: something is off!
What was off, she realized after the local had been closed for the night, before going to bed.
Her cousin Michelle, the only part of her still living family that always, everyday contacted her hadn't gave a single sign of being alive for past three days.