Skye must have been lost in thought for some time; she didn’t even
remember that she was driving or that Leigh was singing along to the radio. Her
eyes touched the rear-view as she stole a glance into the backseat again. All
she wanted to do was pull the car over, take the box in her hands and open it.
She shook off as much of it as she could and resigned herself to waiting
until she got home so she didn’t look like and obsessive freak guarding the box
like Gollum and Precious. Just as she stifled a giggle at the thought Leigh’s
cell phone ringtone shouted out Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. She picked the
phone up out of her lap, turned to Skye and said, “Its Anna…” and she answered
the call.
Leigh listened and said, “Hang on, I’ll put you on speaker.” She tapped
the speaker button and Skye could hear the music from Anna’s car come funneling
through. “Can we stop for lunch?” she yelled unaware of the fact that she could
speak normally and they would hear her just fine, “I’m starving!” Leigh put her
hand to her stomach and nodded in agreement.
“Sure.” Skye replied… “And don’t say you want a Beach Salad because we
won’t find one out here!” Anna seemed to ponder this for a moment and said, “I
wasn’t even thinking about salad until you said that.” Skye could imaging the
depressive look on her face. After debating their choices and realizing that
they didn't really have any, they saw a Farmer’s Market off the side of the
road and decided to stop there once they saw the large BBQ grill with small
plumes of smoke escaping from it.
The smell of hot dogs pulled them in so they pulled over and parked on
the side of the road. When they stepped out of the vehicles their stomachs were
all screaming to be fed. There were fruits and vegetables lined up on tables,
some had homemade Maple Syrup other had pies and cakes. Anna and Leigh decided
they were going to the hot dogs and stood beside the BBQ waiting for them to be
ready while Skye strolled along the grounds looking at the cakes. She felt
someone tug the back of her shirt but when she turned around nothing was there.
She continued
around the cake table when she spotted a triple layer Devils Food cake... her
favourite then again she felt a tug on the back of her shirt and again when she
turned around, nothing was there. She dizziness started to move in and that was
something she wouldn't normally worry over, figuring it was from a lack of food
because all she had for breakfast was coffee but she felt like this wasn’t the
way she normally felt with the hunger spins. There was a wooden crate beside
the cake table and she moved carefully over to it as her vision wavered and sat
down. Closing her eyes she focused on the sounds around her and her breathing.
When she
looked up she saw Gertie’s face in front of her startling her.
“Jesus!” Skye exclaimed, “Where did you come from?” Gertie smiled a toothy grin. “I was close
by.” she said “came round to see what the market had today and saw you sitting
here.” Skye wanted to ask how she got there so fast. There was only one road
and she didn’t see anyone else on it besides herself and Anna. “There are
plenty of back roads” Gertie said. It’s like she read Skye’s mind.
The dizziness started to pass just as Anna and Leigh approached her.
Leigh looked worried as she got closer to her. Anna was more interested in
Gertie who was standing over Skye in almost a nurturing and protective
manner. Anna moved forward and put
herself in between Gertie and Skye almost hip checking the old woman out of the
way. “Hey…what
happened?” she asked and the sense of urgency in her voice was over shadowed by
the suspicion she held against the Gertie.
“I’m ok,” Skye said as she lifted her head from her hands they were
clammy and she sweat dripped down her back. “I felt dizzy for a second; I just
need something to eat.” Leigh stepped forward and put her hot doge in Skye's
clammy hands. “Here,” she said “take my hot dog and I’ll grab another one,
along with a bottle of water.” Like that she was gone...off on a mission.
“Thanks.” Skye replied too late after Leigh left. She looked down at the
hot dog and wondered what else was going
to happen today. Gertie walked to the other side of Skye's pale body and stood
tall beside her like she belonged there. All of Anna’s red flags went up.
“Skye…” she stepped in front of her, “I think it’s time we got you home.” Skye
nodded in complete agreement but knew she couldn’t drive in the state she was
in. Gertie just stood there and smiled as she watched Anna lead Skye away.
“Soon…” Gertie whispered to herself, “No one will lead her, she will lead
them.”
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ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to delete it...I just wanted to say I can't wait to see more!!
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