Chapter 2: Inside

The mist was thick and Terry knew that. He also knew it wasn't safe for him nor for the few people he saw (more like it, he perceive with his eyes because the mist distort their bodies and their features) to be driving a car in such a state of clime, so he thought the best course of action will be to stop by in someplace, stretch his legs, eat, and give his well behave car some off time.

"- Hellooooooo…- Call - Anyone?"

No answer.

Terry looked around the Café, to his left a row of seats, the kind of Cabin seats you usually see, and a pinball machine. To his right only 2 rows of "Cabin seats"…. Now the counter…. that was interesting, and so thought Terry.

The counter was polished mirror sheen, which was the highlight of all the room…. It held nothing in his surface, which made it more intriguing to the only person present there

The stools were supposed to be colour red, but they were coated with a coat of dust which made them look like rusted cushions supported by 4 slim sticks of gray metal

As Terry wanders closer to the counter he thought a really stupid thought

"- So they can clean the counter, but not the seats?"

And the man sat on one stool, looking for any employee peering through the kitchen but he saw no one.

Face down he watches himself in the counter… and something in the corner of his left eye catches his attention.

Stepping up to get closer to what was that lying on the cabin seat, he notices a movement behind him, and pay no mind… by now he acknowledge there were no one here, only him.

Closer to the object, it looked like a backpack…. No, it was more like some black rug or blanket... But, it has straps….

Terry grabbed the strapped thing and surveying it…. It was a backpack, but a tore up one, only the back part remained, the rest was gone, and someone wrote with white crayons on the former inside of the backpack:

-I'm Alone-

"-No wonder…." – Said, and putted the "backpack" where it was founded

He turned around and saw a female figure behind the counter cleaning it. With her head down and one of his feminine hands scrubbing hard on the metal

"-Hi…" – Terry said

"- Oh Hello there – said the alleged waitress – I was in the back room, sorry, I couldn't hear there were customers."

She said all that without lifting her head up or stopping her hard scrubbing. Terry kind of puzzled for that, sat in front of her.

"-Ummm…. Is closed? "– Inquire the man, only able to see her neat and well done hairstyle.

"-Nope "-and then she look up to him

The first thought of terry was that she was the most beautiful women in the entire world. Her face was flawless, not a spot of wrinkles, blemish or freckles, her skin looked soft and perfect, her eyes deep blue, his nose short and immaculate, her perfect lips, his round cheeks… and his blonde hair, gave her the air of a goddess and yet she was mortal, because Terry felt her breathe, blink and talk…. Yet the most fascinating thing about her was her glance: A cold glance, her eyes showed no emotion yet her voice denotes caring and compassion, a type of joy…. No…. Bliss…. Her voice had bliss.

"-So…. What are you gonna order?"

"-Ummm…. Anything." – a very amazed Terrance reply.

"-OKI! A "anything" coming up!" – she retreated back to the kitchen as Terry watched her go.

Her body was also flawless. The Waitress uniform didn't rest any loveliness she transpires.

"She is perfect", the words inside of Terry's mind.

He start to ponder the thought of why she was all alone in the café, and after she place a hamburger and a coffee in front of him, Terry fire away the question.

"- Well…. Is because…. – As she touched her neck with her right hand – I inherit from my parents and, well, it was so sudden that I couldn't even hire!– A little giggle there.

"- Oh… - looking at the hamburger – what is this?"

"- A hamburger." – talk back the waitress. A slight touch, of flattery.

"-Oh right…" – He started to eat .

She stood there until her costumer finished, and as he lift up the now cold cup of coffee, asked:

"- Soooo….Were are you going?"

"-Brahms"

"-Why?"

"-To see my father – Terry was not sure about his answer

"-Why?"

"-…..ummm…. – Terry mumbled and lower his head

"-Tell me." – She put her hand in Terry's Chin and lift his face up,

Light Brown meet Deep Blue.

It was a calming but authoritarian Deep Blue, something that Light Brown was unable to resist and left him vulnerable, succumbing to her power.

"-He died." – Never losing the eye contact

"-How?" – Her voice was assuring, heart warming, worried…. Every caring emotion has been put in that word.

"-Don't know…. They say he stops breathing."

"-When?"

"-Friday"

"- Let me guess… you plan on driving and getting to Brahms tonight?" –She blinked few times during her sentences and every flick of her eyelids where like watching a bird fly, imposing and magnificent.

"- Yes."

Terry looked over his shoulder and over the windows to see the street outside…. Nothing has changed. The mist was still there.

"-Forget about that… The fog wont lift up anytime soon." – Her eyes still locked on Terry's.

"-So I should stay the night here and get there tomorrow?" – Her opinion was key to him.

"- I'm afraid so…. You'll likely have an accident driving with this fog around."- she smiled to him.

"-Yeah…. It's getting dark anyway – He check on his wrist watch….- Which is the closest hotel?"

"-Ohhh… well…. – She looked up- I don't really know…. The only one I know is the Lakeside hotel, buuuuuuuuut…. It was burned and really damaged, and the Riverside Motel in front of the Lakeside Hotel is really creepy…. You should hear some of the stories it has…"- She finished.

"-Well a bed is a bed…. – He shrugs his shoulders- Is it far?"

"-Yeah…. Very."

Terry had just one option left.

"-Well I just sleep in my car this night, and head for Brahms in the morning.. – He Sips the rest of the coffee – Ohhh right… How much is it? "- Pointing to the counter.

"-Don't worry about that, you can't be on the streets at night! That's outrageous! You'll freeze! – Shaking her head sideways, the universal sign of "NO"- You'll stay here with me." – She finished with a smile.

"-What? – Terry now with a slightly jest – you serious?

"-Aham…. - A nod. - Behind here is my home… well, all of "here" is my home"

Terry was now amazed.

"-Are you sure you want a complete stranger in your house?" – Terry empathize "Stranger".

"- I don't think you are a bad person" – sweeping the air with her hand, still with a smile and never loosing his eyes.

"-I'm not… But you didn't even ask my name!" – Terry was confused, surprised and happy.

"-I don't need to! " – Her teeth were so white.

"-huh? " – Really confused now.

"- I know you are gonna tell me anyways…. That's why I won't ask for it" – She said it with a superb chuckle.

"-…. I'm Terry – Resigning to his anonymous state.- and you?"

"-I'm Mia. Nice to meet you Terry. – Shaking Terry hand as it were a solemn act between 2 important people that has some great and undisclosed business together.- Now care to follow me?"

Terrance was obviously stunned for his "Good luck", still he knew he was a married man and father of 2… He sighted, not once, not twice, 3 times he sighted as he followed the blonde through the kitchen, then a small deposit, and finally they entered a small room

The room was not more larger than Fiona's closet, a bed, a wardrobe and a TV up in the wardrobe and that was all, yet, movement was hard inside the so call bedroom. The bed was lined to the front wall of the door, and in front of it was the wardrobe, to the right there was another door which leaded to a bathroom.

"-Ok, so I sleep here tonight…." – said Terry looking at the close space.

"-Me too… This is my bedroom." – Retaliate Mia with a short laugh.

Terry felt that something was odd… something didn't seem to fit with his current status… It has to be Mia, but he dispose of that idea the second it formed.

"-Ohhh… then I'll sleep on the floor…. "- He looked at her, not the floor.

"-You don't need to…. You can sleep in the bed, I don't mind. "-Said the goddess blinking and seducing with her eyes.

Her smile was reassuring, walking backwards and laying on the bed, never leaving her eyes from his and never ceasing to smile.

Terry lost against that smile.