Hello dear readers!
I was so happy to read how curious you all are about the mysteries that have been introduced so far. I've planned far ahead in this story and hope to stay to that storyline without plot holes!
I was also touched to hear how my stories keep you guys occupied while being quarantined and I hope this double-long chapter will distract you guys a little during the holidays :)
Thanks for proofreading as always, CJ!
It was a sunny Sunday morning. Cana had managed to drag herself out of bed earlier than usual. She looked around and noticed she had left her laptop on. She had been searching around on the internet what her cards could be, but no luck. Today she was determined to go into the city to find out what the mysterious box of cards was all about. When Lucy would leave for her date, of course. She hadn't told her friend about the unusual find in her bag, or what happened that day at all.
She headed downstairs and was surprised to see Lucy pacing up and down the living room.
''What's the matter?'' she asked, startling Lucy, who seemed very lost in thought.
''Oh, good morning,'' she said and combed her hand through her bed hair in an attempt to look at least a little awake, ''I guess I'm a little nervous about the date.''
Cana lifted a brow. She had never seen her this way before, so why would she act this way if it was just about doing library tasks with some random dude?
''I see what's going on here.''
Lucy sat down to eat her breakfast that had gotten cold. ''Hm?''
Cana opened the fridge and took out the pizza leftovers from the other day. She leaned against the counter and to Lucy's disgust she ate the food stone-cold straight out of the cardboard box.
''I think you still want to go on a date with Natsu, but you don't have the guts to call the other guy off.''
Lucy almost choked on her food. ''That's not-''
Cana gave her a meaningful look. ''I could even go to the library in your place, so you don't have to feel guilty about leaving that guy behind with work.''
All of a sudden, a ringtone resounded from the living room. Lucy jumped up. ''Who on earth calls me this early on Sunday?''
Cana heard her pick up and remain silent aside from some 'yesses' and 'it's okay'. Not even a minute later she returned to the kitchen with a letdown look on her face.
''Who was it?'' she asked.
Lucy looked at her with an empty look. ''My date for today called off.''
''Bummer,'' Cana said with a hint of sarcasm, ''good thing you have a backup date.''
''It's not a date!''
''You think so? Staring at lizards sounds pretty romantic to me though,'' her friend teased.
''You're the worst,'' Lucy said as she grabbed her bag and jacket, ''you better cook our dinner today.''
Lucy stepped out of the bus. The zoo entrance was already visible at the end of the street. Flocks of people were heading towards it from all different directions. She sighed. Why did she put in all this effort just to see those stupid lizards with him? He could be anywhere in the zoo right now, it would be hard to find him. Maybe he had even decided not to go?
''I would like one ticket, please,'' Lucy said as she finally made it through the line.
''Do you have a membership, miss?'' The cashier asked.
A membership. Suddenly she had an idea.
''I don't, but could you check if my friend checked in here today? He has a membership.''
''I'm afraid we're not allowed to provide that information, I'm sorry.''
''I'm sure you've seen him before,'' Lucy kept trying, ''a little over six feet tall, spikey pink hair?''
''Oh, you mean Natsu?''
''Yes!'' she let out in relief and put the entrance fee down in coins.
''He already checked in when we opened this morning, but he might still be hanging around here somewhere.''
''Thanks a lot!'' Lucy yelled as she grabbed the ticket and already made her way towards a billboard with a map of the zoo. She let her eyes scroll through the list of animal exhibits until she found the reptile house. As she passed the exhibits while heading for the reptiles, she found herself constantly looking for a tuft of pink between the hundreds of brunette, black and blonde heads in front of her.
Most of the people in front of her were heading the same way; to the newly renovated reptile house. She had no idea where to find the lizards and the growing crowd around her made her anxious. Suddenly she noticed a door opening next to one of the exhibits.
''Excuse me,'' Lucy said and the caretaker looked up, ''I'm looking for my friend Natsu, do you happen to know him?''
''Of course I know him. He's a regular here, especially in this part of the zoo,'' the man said with a friendly smile, '' though, it's very unusual of him to bring someone.''
Lucy was surprised. The way he had invited her sounded like he visited the zoo with friends as well.
''Are you guys dating?''
The sudden question of the caretaker threw her off guard. ''Eh-What? No!'' she muttered, ''he's not my type at all.''
''Who isn't?'' a voice behind her suddenly said. She turned around in an instant. ''Natsu!'' She realised what he just had heard and panicked. ''Oh just- that guy I was supposed to see today, he wasn't my type at all so I had nothing to do so I went to the zoo because I knew you were here and-''
''You're talking too much,'' he laughed, ''I don't care what the reason was that changed your mind, I'm just glad you're here.''
His smiling face made her forgot about the dozens of people around her. For the first time this week, she felt like she made the right choice.
''It was around here,'' Cana said to herself when she took a turn and entered a narrow alley. For days she had wanted to go back to the place where she saw the old lady. She must have been the one to slip the box of cards into her bag.
She couldn't explain why, but the feeling of her being watched kept lingering in her mind. It was as if a set of eyes were focussing on her, although she couldn't tell from which direction. A sudden movement in the corner of her eye made her turn around. ''Wait!'' she yelled as she ran towards the corner where someone seemed to duck away from. She knew that around that corner was just the niche the old lady had been standing in, it was a dead end. She turned around the corner, but nothing there.
''Show yourself, damnit!'' she let out in frustration.
It was clear the old lady was nowhere to be found anymore. Cana knew there was just one more option to find out what her cards could be. She had seen cards similar to hers that time when Lucy had dragged her into that woolly little shop. Never would she voluntarily enter a place like that, but she was left with no other choice.
The smell of incense overwhelmed her senses as soon as she entered the shop. She shoved a curtain of beads aside and a copper bell loudly announced her entrance. She looked around and concluded she was the only visitor. It was Sunday after all.
''Can I help you, dear?''
Cana turned around, only to see a lady standing behind the counter. She seemed to be in her early sixties and wore a white woolen jacket. Her smile was friendly, yet it gave Cana an uneasy feeling.
''Have we met before?'' Cana asked.
The lady looked at her in bewilderment. ''I don't think so, I know all of my regulars.''
''I've been here before, but I am not a regular. I just had the feeling I've seen you somewhere else recently.''
Cana's gaze drifted off to the shelf behind her and was stunned when she spotted a very familiar crystal ball.
''I knew it! It was you!''
She raised a brow. ''I have no idea what you're about, dear.''
''Don't play games with me, I know you put these in my bag!'' Cana let out as she reached for the box of cards.
The lady's eyes widened and she held out her hand, signaling Cana to hand them over. ''Those are from my shop, can I see them?''
Reluctantly, Cana handed her the purple box. The lady took a pair of glasses out of her jacket and put them on. She looked at the box from all sides and opened it to see its contents.
''This set of cards was donated to me around 20 years ago with the precondition of it never be allowed to be sold,'' she said and pushed her glasses further up her nose to be able to read the text that was written on the inside of the lid. ''I thought it was stolen when I couldn't find it anymore last week.''
Cana had been ready to accuse the lady of all sorts of things, but the information she was now revealing was hard to progress.
The lady looked at her with a piercing look. ''Are you Cana?''
A shock went through her. She felt her mouth turn dry and nodded. She didn't know what to say.
''These cards were put under my care by my old friend Cornelia. To think I'd meet her daughter one day. Fate is inevitable it seems.''
Cana felt tears prick behind her eyes and noticed she was shaking. ''You... knew my mom?'' she managed to bring out before her shoulders started to shake and was no longer able to hold back her tears.
''Oh dear,'' the lady said as she walked over to hug her tightly, ''life hasn't treated you well, has it?''
''Did you have fun today?'' Natsu asked as they walked back to the entrance. Lucy seemed to be entranced by her newest obsession; the toucan plush she had just bought in the gift shop. ''Mhm mhm,'' she replied, hugging the toy tight, ''I can't remember the last time I visited a zoo, the birds were so pretty!''
He grinned. ''Told you you'd like them!''
They were nearing the exit and Lucy started to feel unsure how to say goodbye. Would it be weird to thank him for the date? Was it a date? Did he intend to let it be a date after all?
''Thank you so much for today,'' she said as they walked through the exit gate. She turned to face him and was surprised to see him look the other way. He looked tensed and he kept ruffling his hair for no apparent reason. It reminded her of how he had acted when he asked her out.
''Would you...'' he started, ''... come again with me sometime?'' He finally turned his head to face her and Lucy felt her already rapid heartbeat speed up at the sight of his rosy cheeks.
The tension between them was interrupted by the sound of a ringtone. Natsu sighed and took his phone out of his pocket. His facial expression stiffened when he looked at his screen. His skin turned pale and his fingers started to tremble. He picked up and walked away.
Lucy stood motionless, trying to progress what might be going on. Whose name on a screen could upset him so suddenly? Did he have family on a deathbed and was it the hospital that called?
For what felt like an eternity, he came walking back.
''It was the police,'' Natsu said after he hung up, his skin paler than ever, ''it's my brother, sorry, I have to go right now''
''Do you want me to come with you?'' Lucy asked.
''Believe me, you don't want to,'' he said in a stone-cold voice.
Lucy felt as if her feet had been nailed to the ground. She watched him turn around and walk away without being able to say something.
His last words had scared her. Just as she thought she was starting to know more about him, he now felt like a total stranger.
''Cana, I'm home!''
There was no response.
Lucy noticed no lights were on in their apartment and quickly made her way towards the living room. Her friend sat in the dark, staring at the TV while wrapped up in a blanket.
''I thought you would make dinner today! I can't believe-'' She stopped when she heard her friend sniffle and noticed in the flickering light how her face was stained with tears.
''Cana, what happened?'' She rushed over to the couch.
''I just had a shitty day,'' Cana said.
As soon as Lucy sat down next to her, she got distracted by the sound of the news mentioned the name of their town. They both watched the screen as the news presenter talked about the murder of a young woman by her boyfriend. The screen changed to a picture of the perpetrator with his eyes replaced by a black bar. His first letter and last name were displayed beneath his picture.
Lucy felt as if her blood had left her body and let out a scream.
Z. Dragneel
She gasped for air, her lungs kept pumping uncontrollably.
''Lucy, what's wrong?!'' Cana said as she grabbed her friend by her shoulders. She looked at the TV once more. Dragneel. The name sent a shiver down her spine.
''Is he... family of Natsu's?'' she asked.
Lucy's eyes were bloodshot and she couldn't seem to blink. Her chest still rapidly went up and down in panic.
''He-'' she swallowed thickly. Her lips were trembling as she tried to talk. She turned her face towards Cana.
''He was the guy from the library,'' she said, close to tears, ''I almost dated a murderer today.''