Chapter 2.

The walk to Granny's Dinner was a short one. As are most of the walks in this town, I'm sure. The main street was quiet, and the building fronts we passed were empty of people, which was surprising for mid morning on a Sunday. Chances are they are all in church, worshipping some cult thing that requires orgies and ritual human sacrifices. I looked around at the quaint town again, taking in the cheery white molding on pastel colored buildings. Nah no orgies, that would be too exciting for a place like this.

As we walked, Sarah was evidently caught up in her own musings, so I left her in peace, more than capable of occupying myself in my own mind. What in the fuck was that thing from the parking lot? Was it one of those things like the random suicide thoughts? Intrusive thoughts, that's what they're called. I'll probably be thinking about jumping off a pier or partaking in kinky group sex next. God what is with me and the sex thing this morning? I need to get laid wow.

My internal rambling was cut short when Sarah bumped my arm, pointing with her other hand at a rundown sign. Granny's Dinner. We continued walking until we were right in front of the building. It was set back from the road, unlike the buildings surrounding it, so it created a yard like area. Right up against the sidewalk was Oh my god a white picket fence and in the yard were a few sets of wooden picnic tables and benches. I could see people enjoying sitting out here when it was warm out, because the buildings on either side provided both shade and protection from the wind.

We both came to a stop where a gap in the white picket fence opened on a concrete path to the steps up to the door. It looked innocent enough, but as the wind gusted ever so slightly, I had the instant impression that there was somebody standing just out of my line of sight.

I whipped around, looking up and down the street. "No one ever thinks to look up." The line from an old novel reminded me to always check upward, even though I knew that the only thing above me was the crystal blue and cloudless sky. Sure enough, in spite of my complete survey of the surroundings, there was nothing. This is when the camera pans behind the poor innocent girl and a hand reaches for her shoulder from out of frame.

So when Sarah grabbed my shoulder, I started, spinning quickly, a silent Jesus fucking christ expressing my surprise. Her face showed her surprise at startling me, a feat unto itself.

"Shall we, unless you wish to take a few more moments to... do whatever it was you were just doing?" she asked with a raised eye brow.

I cleared my throat, throwing one last glance over my shoulder at the empty street. Get a fucking hold of yourself. "We shall, " I agreed, and I gesture for her to step ahead of me, and together we made our way up the short walk to the diner door.

As we made it up the steps, she paused and moved to the side, letting me open the door for her, as was my habit. I remembered, when we first became friends, she had gotten really pissed off one night when I had tried to step in front of her to get a door.

"You know I can get the door myself right?" she not-quite-snapped at me. I looked at her, surprised.

"Yeah, of course," I said. "Why?"

"You keep trying to get the door, and it's really annoying me," she replied, motioning behind her at the door we had just come through.

"Oh sorry, I didn't realize it bothered you. I didn't mean anything by it, it's just a habit. If it really irks you that much, I'll stop doing it."

She looked at me with something between surprise and skepticism, "You would?"

I dipped my head quickly in a fervent nod, "Yeah, sure. I mean, if it bothered you and I kept doing it, it would kind of defeat the purpose of why I do it in the first place."

Now her face only showed curiosity, "And why do you?"

"What, open doors?" She nodded. I felt a light blush creep up my cheeks, never having had to explain my reason out loud to someone before. I cleared my throat, gathering my thoughts to put them into words.

"Well, it originally started out as a good manners things from my parents, you know the whole 'open the doors for your elders' thing. And then I kind of wondered, why? If it was to respect them, then shouldn't you strive to do it for anyone that you respect? So that's when I started making it a point of getting the door for anybody that had earned enough respect from me that I thought they deserved it."

She looked at me with wide eyes, "Wow, ok...What about strangers?"

I shrugged, "Well it's kind of a common courtesy thing, but more than that, I kind of rationalize it as something along the lines of every person deserves my respect until they give me a reason to not give it anymore. I mean, I prioritize that respect sure, you know people carrying things, old people, parents with munchkins or strollers have a larger time allotment of how long I need to be aware of them needing my help, whereas everyday folk only get the few steps to the door worth of consideration. But my friends, they deserve me going out of my way to show them my respect. I've always thought the little things spoke the most clearly, so that's how I talk to others..."I faded out, suddenly extremely self-conscious about the whole thing.

Her head tipped to the side as she regarded me for a moment. Then she nodded with a frown of approval and said with complete sincerity, looking me straight in the eye, "Ok. Thank you."

She never said anything else about it, but from that point on, she would always wait at a door for me to open it for her, and thank me after I did.

Sarah's murmured "Thanks" pulled me from my memory, and I gave her a quiet hum of acknowledgement, and stepped over the threshold after her, hearing a bell tinkle lightly above our heads.

The diner was small, with a line of booths on the left and a counter on the right, it felt like mom-and-pop bed and breakfast met with a fifties roller diner out of American Pie and this was their bastard love child. It was a little warmer than outside, and smelled of bacon grease and coffee. Typical diner fare. I took a deep breath. Ohhhhh coooooffffffffffeeeeeeee.

Sarah seemed to hear my internal moan of longing, because she looked over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, gesturing to one of the booths, "Shall we get a good ol' cuppa joe?"

"Oh god yes please." She snorted and shook her head in mock disappointment as we made our way to a table. I glanced around to see if there was a waitress, but none appeared with a smile they had plastered on after having had to stop in the middle of their round of Candy Crush.

"It's a shame it's so crowded in here, wherever shall we sit?" Sarah commented dryly under her breath.

I couldn't resist needling her, "Well it looks like there might be one seat open at the bar so you can just make yourself nice and comfy on my lap." I gave her a sultry look and licked my upper lips in a ridiculous faux seduction.

"Why tell me miss, how are you still available with moves like yours?" she replied in a mock gentleman's voice. "But I can remedy that situation, if you'd like my lady." I tried to keep the sultry look on my face but when she pretended to sexily swirl her mustache I lost it, bringing my hand to cover my smile as I chuckled, another old habit.

We continued to walk until we got the last booth, closest to a doorway at the back of the diner. I waited until she slid into the booth facing toward the rest of the restaurant, before sliding in with a wince across from her, facing her and the wall, my back to the restaurant. This was one of her quirks, as much as opening doors was mine.

"Hey Sarah?" She glanced up from the menu she was looking over with her eyebrows raised in an unspoken question. "Why do you do that?"

"Well, generally it's to see what the place serves so I can decide what to eat."

I rolled my eyes and kicked her lightly under the table, "I meant always making sure you face as much of a room as you can without leaving your back to another door. I've seen you do it a couple of times, when you are able to chose your seat. And you are super uncomfortable when you are brought to a seat that isn't in that kind of position."

She shifted in her seat, "I'm actually surprised you noticed. No one else has."

I realized she was deflecting. So I let her, "Yeah well I just notice details I guess. Like that dude in the corner. Did you see what his shirt said?" She turned and the conversation dropped. I never asked about it again.

I looked over the Formica table top, each scratch and dent whispering a story. Once upon a time, the diner was closed and the two star crossed lovers found themselves in the midst of a heated kiss... I shook my head. There is absolutely no need to wonder if anybody has had sex on this table... OH MY GOD STOP WITH THE HORNY THOUGHTS ALREADY WHAT THE FUCK?

I spotted some menus tucked behind the salt and pepper shakers, pressed up against the wall. I grabbed to, offering one to Sarah, before taking a gander at my own. It contained the usual fare: greasy, fast, and cheap. Like some girls I know. Oh for fucks sake Catherine this is ridiculous.

But then I saw to my utter delight that they had a smoked salmon and bagel platter. It even comes with capers! I licked my lips, suddenly realizing just how hungry I was. It's been, what, roughly 24 hours since I last ate. Somewhere around there. Yeah well that's what happens when you can't keep it down. I again felt another moment of disquiet, but then a sound to my right, coming from beyond the counter in the kitchen beyond drew my attention. Both Sarah and I turned to watch a tall brunette with red highlights step out from what must have been the kitchen. Finally finished with your candy crush game? I watched her look around the diner, her eyes landing on us, and her mouth dropping open to stare at us like we were in a zoo exhibit or something. What is it with these small town people doing the movie style motions. Isn't that shit supposed to be made or something?

Then she managed to overcome her rather obvious surprise to strut around the counter. Now it was my turn to make the comical face, as my eyebrows shot almost as high as her skirt's hem line. Perhaps my appraisal of the food might have been more accurate than I gave myself credit for. That is incredible rude, wow. Take that back.

"Good morning," she smiled. It seemed more genuine that many I had seen on a server's face. "What can we get you ladies to drink to start this morning?"

I looked back across the table at Sarah, silently telling her that she should order first. "I'll take a water and orange juice, thanks."

The woman nodded, and turned to look at me, "And for yo-"

"Coffee." Sarah kicked me under the table. Fucking hell, is she wearing steel toed boots or something? "Please," I amended.

The waitress, rather than taking offense, smirked, "Alright, I'll bring those right out. My name's Ruby by the way." Then she turned and walked back to behind the counter. I turned back to Sarah.

"Jesus Guido, I know you were making a point, but did you have to try and take off my whole fucking leg to do it?"

She scoffed, "Maybe you are just a wimp."

"Hey I am not a wimp!" I exclaimed. She raised a skeptical eyebrow. So naturally, I stuck my tongue out at her, and smile broke over her face, before she looked back down at her menu. There it is again. She looks so weary. I know it's been a long few days, but I don't think they have been that bad. Fuck. Do I look like that too? Do I have those same fine lines around my eyes?

We fell into companionable silence, waiting for the drinks to arrive. Sarah was still looking over the menu, trying to decide what she wanted to eat. I put mine back against the wall, and started doodling imaginary designs with my fingertip across the scarred table top. Maybe we should just cut this whole trip short. Here is as good a spot as any to turn around. I shouldn't have made her come with me. It was fucking selfish. I need to go back and deal with this shit. I can't just not doing anything and pretend it didn't happen and -

"I'm so glad you decided to do this," Sarah spoke up suddenly. My head jerked up in surprise from its empty gaze at the table to search her eyes. There was earnestness, but more than that, I saw that she knew exactly what I had been thinking, yet again.

I gave a wry shake of my head, turning to look over at the serving counter, rather than let her see the gratitude in my face. "Fucking mind reader," I muttered. I heard her snicker lightly.

"Well, if you didn't want me reading you mind, don't make it so easy on me. You wear your thoughts on your face and your heart on your sleeve," she replied logically, making me turn back to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Sounds like I have incredible fashion sense, all this accessorizing I do," I shot back . Oh Guido- you have no idea how little of my mind you truly see. I wear my heart on my sleeve and my thoughts on my face so that when you look into my eyes, you can't see that my soul is gone. That was poetic, wow. I should write that down. Damn fucking poet laureate over here.

Whatever reply she had formed to that comment was cut off before she could deliver it by the sound of Ruby returning from the back, and we both turned to watch her place down a mug of coffee and small pitcher of milk together in one hand, then reach up and grab the orange juice from where it was balanced in her other palm with a cup of water. A true pro.

"Thanks so much, Ruby," I offered as I reached for the coffee cup, cupping my hands around the scalding hot ceramic. My eyes rolled up in my head as the hair on my arms stood on end at the sudden drastic change in temperature. The pain quickly grew in my hands to almost unbearable, but I kept holding as the searing sensation cleared the fog of the past sleepless nights.

"It's absolutely my pleasure," she said, and I opened my eyes to her pulling a pen and pad out of her apron. "What can we get for you?" She looked to Sarah even as I did, and I was impressed that she had remembered my cue from before and respected it.

Sarah looked down at her menu, "I think I'll have the house omelets with home-style fries." She looked up with a smile.

Ruby nodded, "Oooh good choice. And for you?"

"The Lox Platter, please."

She nodded approvingly, "Not a popular one, but still delicious. Alright, I'll go put these orders in and they'll be out in a few!"

Sarah and I both smiled at her, each giving a "Thanks very much" as she left. Then I redirected my focus to the slightly cooler cup in my hand, letting it go in favor of grabbing a pack of sugar from the little divider at the end of the table. I ripped open the package, poured half of it into the steaming black liquid, added some milk to it then brought the delightful brew to my lips, closing my eyes to inhale deeply. Ooooooooohhhhhh fuuuuuuuck that smells soooooo good.

"You two need a private moment?"

I opened my eyes to see Sarah looking at me with a smirk on her face at her own implication as she raised her glass to her lips. I smiled then ran my tongue over the edge of the cup with a flourish. "We just might," I leered. Then added as she took a sip of her juice, "Unless you'd care to join us?"

She choked on her sip, managing to get it down while laughing and coughing at the same time. HAhhahahahaha got ya! I smiled triumphantly as I took a sip. The rich flavor of French roast rolled over my tongue. It was perfect. I couldn't help the sigh of pleasure that escaped me as I swallowed. To whoever the fuck invented coffee, you are a wonderful person. A true hero and savior of our time.

Silence had once again fallen between the two of us, as we each sipped our beverages. There isn't really all that much to say to someone who can read your mind, anyway. I eyed her again when she took to studying the diner behind me. I was about to ask what the plan was going to be when her brow furrowed ever so slightly, and the corners of her lips twitched down. I felt the skin on my shoulder blades crawl again. A second later a little bell tinkled and I realized someone must have just come in the door. I resisted the urge to turn around, settling for reading Sarah's face as she took in the newcomer.

Her eyes flicked to mine, and the words in her expression were so clear she might as well have said them out loud. Whoever it is is bad news. I tensed slightly, shifting a little straighter in my seat as I carefully put the coffee mug down. Then I heard a peculiar gate. Step. Click. Step. Click. I watched Sarah's hand tighten around her glass as I tried to process what I was hearing. Then it occurred to me. A cane. Someone is walking with a limp, and they have a cane.

But why are they freaking Sarah out so much? It's usually me that gets instantly suspicious of everything. But even as I thought it, I felt the crawling on my shoulder blades spread. An unsettling sensation settled over me, like hearing a high pitch whistle that is just low enough to register, but only if you were listening for it. And with ever step that drew closer to our table, the feeling only strengthened. Holy shit, did the fucking devil walk in the door?

I saw Sarah's hand still clenching her glass to the point where I was actually concerned she might break it. Does that actually happen or is that just a Hollywood thing? I resisted the near overwhelming urge to turn around, and instead shifted my foot so that it was resting on top of Sarah's. It drew her attention back to me for a moment, and I offered her a raised eyebrow, then a smile. I'm here. Don't worry. It'll be fine Guido.

I saw her understand my silent message, and she slowly relaxed her grip on the glass. The alertness did not leave her body however. The faltering step finally reached our table and I allowed myself to casually glance up at the person now standing in front of our booth. At the sight of him, I suddenly found myself fighting several urges, the most prominent being to punch him in his polite grin. The lesser urges of growling what would be a completely justified "Fuck off" and of simply leaving also proved difficult to suppress.

The creepy stranger then greeted us."Good morning ladies." His voice was like a growl and purr mixed together, rough but completely smooth and controlled. His features were sharp and harsh, with a mid length hair cut and a suit that looked like it had been pressed while he was wearing it. This guy is a piece of shit if I ever saw one. Bet he's either a lawyer or a realtor. A fucking snake. I can literally see the cunning oozing off this guy.

I realized he was waiting for a response and one glace at Sarah told me she was not capable of handling this. So I threw up my game face. You want to play you son of a bitch? Fine, lets fucking go.

"Morning sir," I answered, keeping my inflection light, forcing my body language into comfortable ease. I could see an almost maniacal gleam in his eye, but also an intelligence that was frightening. Like the sheriff, this man was clearly a student of the nonverbal. I had to force myself to not swallow as I met his eye. Instead, when he remained silent, I allowed my eyebrow to rise, and then asked with an air of talking to a leech that had interrupted my meal Which is exactly what happened, come on, I asked, "Was there something you wanted sir?"

"Ah my apologies," he answered, his lips pulling up into a half-smile, although that was being generous with the word."Where are my manners? My name is Mr. Gold." He actually gave us a little half bow over his walking stick. The gesture drew my eyes to the knob at the top of his cane that he currently had his hands curled around. It was smooth and round, but one look at it told me that it was made of solid metal. That is a fucking weapon and make no mistake. Getting hit by that fucker could do some serious fucking damage.

But then I noticed his eyes. The cruelty and coldness that were so blatant that my skin was itching all over. This fucker wants to know our names. Dunno why, but he came her for the sole purpose of our names. So I used his own set up against him.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gold. The Misses Dubhar and Knoll at your service," I answered him with equal flourish. Sarah's eyes shot to mine in both confusion and warning as her foot jerked under mine. She could tell as clearly as I could that this man was not one to take lightly, and she clearly thought I was doing just that.

I saw his smile tighten into more of a snarl, but I kept my face open and pleasant. But a moment later, he had mastered his irritation and smoothed out his features. "I see," he purred. "And what brings you two lovely ladies to our town?"

What is it with small town people needing to know out business? And this fucker more than anyone. I felt my own flash of irritation, but gave a wave and shrug as I answered him mildly, "Just passing through, that's all."

My non-forthcoming cooperation was really starting to irk him, I could tell. I almost just wanted to fold and tell him what he wanted so he'd leave, or yell at him to get the fuck away from us. But the slight shaking from Sarah that I could feel from the foot I had placed on her and another glance at his eyes had me biting my tongue against both impulses.

"I.. see," he commented, eyes searching my face. Wonder what he would do if I stuck my tongue out at him. Oh my god shut the fuck up. Whatever he was looking for, he didn't seem to find it, because I watched his jaw clench ever so slightly and his lips pull back into thin lines, making a mockery of his attempt at a smile. "Well, I'll let you two get back to your meals then. It's been a pleasure meeting you."

I offered him a sincere smile. Thank god he's fucking leaving. "Likewise Mr. Gold."

He turned away. He's gonna take a few steps, turn around and issue some ominous warning that is completely innocuous but is a total threat. Watch. He took two steps , then paused. FUCKING CALLED IT. He turned, "You two dearies should know. Strangers staying in a town as small as this one for too long will have people asking questions. And they will demand answers." He paused for dramatic effect, turning back to the door. "Have a wonderful trip out of town." And then he continued walking, his pace steady all the way to the door. He pulled it open, making the bell overhead jingle, before offering one last parting smile at us and stepping out.

The bell overhead jingled as he bared a parting smile at me, "Suit yourself dearie." His scaled skin glistened in the candlelight. "But you will regret not making a deal with me." My temper snapped, and before I had even thought through my actions, the knife from my belt was in my hand. In a fluid movement that should have been born of years of practice, my hand drew back and flicked forward with an almost inhuman force and speed. Had it been a man standing there, he would be dead, but alas the creature did nothing more than vanish in a cloud of smoke, laughing manically as he did. "Have a wonderful trip out of town" echoed is the smoke cleared, revealing my knife buried half way into the door jamb, quivering from the force of the throw. I would find a way. I was certain of it. I turned away from the door to look behind me at the little cot. She was curled up, still unconscious, still shaking. I felt the darkness in me rear up as uselessness and hopelessness threatened to overwhelm me. I dropped to my knees by her cot-side. Reaching out with a hand I didn't realize was shaking, I caressed her hair softly, trying to offer any comfort I could. "I swear to you, by any fucking thing that still listens, I will save you. I swear, I will save you."

The door clicked shut and I swung around to look at Sarah, realizing that I had broken out in a cold sweat. I swallowed the sudden urge to vomit. "What the fuck?" I whispered.