Maynia -- Day One -- 1,804 words
The storm wasn’t letting up tonight. Big fat raindrops pelted my windshield as my wipers tried to keep up with me seeing the road clear up ahead; my headlights the only source of light as I drove up this town’s mountain side.
Finally making the last turn uphill, I concentrated on navigating my way past the sleeping houses of Samheinrock. Driving past properties deplete of light was one thing, but being the only waking person to see this right now would probably drive an ordinary person up a wall thinking, “What if something jumps right in front of my car just about now?”
Scoffing at that ridiculous thought, I all but saw something flash from my left vantage point before I had a chance to immediately step on the brakes.
Tensing and feeling myself grip the steering wheel, I cautiously observed the man stumbling to cross this dark street as he leaned on the hood of my car and proceeded to take a swig from the beer bottle he held in his other hand.
Relaxing at the sight of just another small town drunk, I promptly honked as I saw him getting too comfortable on my hood. Seeming to have been momentarily woken up by the loud noise, he awkwardly stepped back and stumbled away from my car as he shouted in drunken enthusiasm, “Welcome to The Dark Side of Samheinrock! Woohoo!!”
Eyebrows raised in amusement, I watched as he backed away enough for me to drive pass him. Just as I was about to turn the corner down the street, I gave him one last glance on my rearview mirror and saw two guys hurriedly walk up to his now unconscious form as one held up an umbrella over them.
Sighing in exasperation at all the work that needed to be done in this place, I mentally took note of the first thing that needed to be done, “This place had better lighten the fuck up.”
The storm had now slowed down to a drizzle as I pulled up on the driveway of the newly purchased townhouse. Stepping out of the car in my trench coat, I looked up and surveyed the property in front of me.
It didn’t look much in the dark, and it definitely looked ominous with the thunderous clouds as its backdrop, but this was to be my temporary home for now, as I dealt with some important matters in the area.
Shutting the door to the car, I rounded and made way towards the trunk to get my things. There wasn’t much since I was used to packing light; my life confined in a single trolley, backpack and suitcase as I drove across different towns for most of my adult life.
Soon I was at the front porch, jangling the vintage-styled keys in my hand but just as I proceeded to open the door, a light switched on from the inside of the house and soon I heard locks being pulled from their places before I saw an older lady peering at me from the other side of the door.
“Mrs. Chipendelle?? What the he-“ I stopped herself from asking as I noticed how the woman gave me a reprimanding look.
The older woman in question continued to give me a stern once over before opening the double doors with such enthusiasm that could have made anyone who didn’t know her, question her age and proceeded to envelope me in a bear hug. “My lil’ Shiela, it’s about time you got here!” she had greeted me before pulling back and giving me a stern look once more, this time with her hands on her hips for some added emphasis on her next words, “And what did I say about you calling me Mrs. Chipendelle? It’s Ms. Chip now that I’m single and ready to mi-“
“All right Ms. Chip, let me stop you right there before the whole town picks up on your modus.” I wanted to remind her of the real reason why I was in this godforsaken town in the first place but couldn’t seem to find the energy to do so. God, the drive uphill took a lot out of me. I grimaced inwardly as I hauled my bags inside the house, slightly feeling a twinge on my right shoulder.
Ms. Chip might have noticed my discomfort since she swiftly took charge of the situation, “Now Ms. Shiela, why don’t I take these upstairs and you go get warm near the fireplace in the living area. In the meantime, why don’t you snuggle up with Jaden while I get you some hot cocoa, that sound good?”
Giving her a small smile, I nodded gratefully at Ms. Chip before heading down the short corridor leading to the living room. Upon seeing the giant sofa placed across the inviting fireplace, I couldn’t help but quickly remove my coat and boots before plopping down on the plush upholster.
Sighing at the immediate comfort it provided my lower back, I momentarily closed my eyes and pulled up the mental image of the townhouse’s layout; this place was bigger than my previous temporary houses, but what set this place apart was its basement. I’d hoped it would be the perfect place to make as my hideaway for the time being that I was here in this town.
Finding myself lost in my thoughts, I immediately sat up and had my hand on the handle of my silver knife, hidden beneath my clothes, when I felt something warm plop down on my stomach. Upon meeting the lime-green eyes that stared back at me and the confused meow that followed, I immediately dropped my guard at the sight of the black cat.
“Oh god, Jaden, what did I tell you about sneaking up on me like that??” I frustratedly asked the black feline as I rubbed him behind his ears. Sensing my slight annoyance, Jaden shook his head and jumped off my lap and went off god knows where around the house, just as Ms. Chip came in the room and laid down a mug of hot cocoa and a plate of grilled cheese sandwich on the oak-made coffee table in front of me.
“What’s the matter? Jaden got your tongue?” She remarked lightly as she sat down on the single armchair beside the sofa and continued to observe me. I knew that look and the tone of her voice all too well; she wanted to know what happened in the last town I came from, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk about the past, maybe I never would.
Leaning down and muttering a quick thanks before grabbing my mug of hot cocoa, I went straight to business and asked her about the previous week she’d been here, “Any sightings or disturbances in the area? What do you think this town will be mostly up against?”
Shaking her head and silently muttering, “May look like her mom, but still every bit like her father. No matter how she denies it.” Although I still caught on to every word, and I stared pointedly at her as I bit into the grilled cheese sandwich. This is damn good, guess I’ll shrug off what she said. For now..
Clearing her throat at my continued silence, she then decided to just answer my question. “No otherworldly sightings whatsoever, but there are quite a few men here that look real gorgeous, in that out-of-this-world kind of sense, you know what I mean darling?”
Raising an eyebrow at her, I tried to make sense of what the hell she just said ‘cuz really, do I even look like I had the time to see anybody at this time of night and with this type of weather going on?
Probably already seeing my mostly pissed off face, Ms. Chip hurriedly continued with her report, “No? Well let me tell you the only disturbances I’m feeling right now is coming off of you, and also this weather. So why don’t you have a nice warm shower and get some good night’s sleep, before you go up against the Mayor of Samheinrock tomorrow afternoon!”
Ms. Chip had all but hauled me up from the sofa and was pushing me up the stairs, to quite possibly where my bedroom was located, before I had a chance to analyze the whole thing she said. “Wait-what??! Tomorrow afternoon, and I haven’t even gotten the feel of the land first!”
By then, I was already inside the doorway of my soon-to-be bedroom when Ms. Chip made one final say, “Don’t you worry sweetheart, just make sure you got yourself all showered and back to your ladylike glory before you make those chocolate locks and emerald irises of yours do the talking, okay? Good night and don’t make the cat claws bite!”
With that said, Ms. Chip pulled the door closed on me and left me to face my new bedroom, there I saw Jaden sleeping soundly on the foot of my bed. Not wanting to disturb him, I went straight for the adjoining bathroom to get a quick shower.
Under the warm spray of the shower, I let my mind wander. Most people said I looked a lot like my mom, I never questioned them because they knew her a lot longer than I did. But a part of me can’t help but feel that something is missing though, because I can’t remember her being part of my life at all.
I was 5 years old when we found mom brutally murdered in our home, just as my dad and I were coming home from playing in the park for most of the afternoon. The police ruled it out as a case of breaking and entering, and mom was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But dad knew better.
Since then, dad had changed and it didn’t help that he burned mom’s pictures too. 20 years can make a person’s memory fuzzy, and I can’t help but blame my father for not keeping anything of mom’s. But maybe I blame them both. But it doesn’t matter now does it, I’m alive and living the family legacy. That’s all that matters.
Turning the shower off, I towel myself dry before changing into some comfortable clothes. It was nice of Ms. Chip to unpack my things for me. Giving myself one last look before heading to bed, I stare at a pair of green eyes that don’t seem like my own. I blink and the uneasy feeling in the back of my mind goes away. Momentarily of course, I know it’ll come back to haunt me one of these days.
Sighing, I lean on the sink and stare at its porcelain face. Tomorrow’s the day Sheila, get your head in the game.
to be continued...
Image from Pixabay, by Phan Minh Cuong An: https://pixabay.com/users/minanfotos-9565064/ (edited with dreamscopeapp)