The End of Innocence: Book 3 of the Kinstone series

Once inside, I was greeted by an old and familiar scent of cleaners mixed in with the distant smell of clothing. A small smile rose on my face. A long time ago this used to be one of my favorite places to come and relax.

Another was a coffee shop known as the Ebony Tavern. Rachel had sent me the shop’s address as a place to seek refuge if I ever wanted it. I soon became a frequent customer, often curling up onto a couch with what else, a book.

I step past the entryway and onto the main walkway. This, like the parking lot outside, had always been my preferred way in. It was always quiet and peaceful coming as well as leaving, that and the fact it was closer in my mind to home. The lighting is dimmer here also, lending credence to how comfortable it is. No other entrance shares this feeling.

I gaze down onto the bottom floor to see that the old Asian store I loved is still there. While walking passed it, I thought about heading there and possibly looking at a couple dresses. It made me happy to know that it was still around. The shop also sold little plush dolls, incense, and even anime apparel. They even had swords and other weapons for sale. But when you have real ones, they really were more for a curious looksee.

I strum my hand along the long metal railing, feeling the segments as they passed under my palm. Many of the stores had changed, with several “new” clothing stores now lining the hallway. I stopped for a moment to gaze into one shop, seeing little purses and outfits that I knew the girls would love.

Lakeline might be on the smaller side when it comes to malls, but it no less was filled with tons of places to explore. The idea of them coming to visit began to grow in my mind. I wanted to see them more often, and I knew they felt the same. I turned and resumed my trek to the meeting spot.

A small static discharge leapt from my hand when I lifted it from the aluminum railing as I come closer to the food court. I look down to see Fenris’ passively eyeing everything around from within my fading shadow. His senses are on full alert, stretching out as far as they could reach. Hundreds of people were spread throughout the food court, eating or ordering from the various eateries.

Down the hall to my left was the theater. A long time ago, it used to be a Regal Cinema. It then closed and became an AMC.

I really liked the Regal. Whenever I would go over to it, the noise from the court seemed to almost disappear, not to mention the theater itself was enclosed. Once you bought your ticket, you opened a door and headed inside, further cancelling out the noise. It just added to many of the features that I loved about this mall.

I scan the food court, seeing if Diana had shown up already. It’d be weird if I had gotten here first, seeing how she lived closer to the mall than I did. We set the meetup time around noonish, and to be honest… I did leave the Estate a bit early.

Hey, it’s been a curse of mine to leave for anywhere way ahead of schedule. I just like getting to somewhere with more time to spare. I found a booth and slid into it, placing my bag onto the table.

I pull out my phone and turn it on. 11:56. Yep I’m early.

I start texting my friends, sending a flurry of them out to everyone. Jenn and Alexis would definitely be the first to respond, both wanting to know about this girl. I still have some lingering questions about her myself.

I smirk, if there was one person I know would want info of her it would be Mandy. That girl, not only being the queen bee at her school, is one of the Coven’s best information gatherers. She basically is the gossip engine, along with a few others.

Oh, she and Mayori would hit it off in a heartbeat. Another reason why having my yokai friends and Coven friends meet really is a great idea.

I place my phone onto the table and lean back into my seat. I tune out the white noise of the food court, creating a sort of sound-cancelling barrier around me. The quiet is nice and peaceful.

My eyes then pan over to see the brown-haired girl waving to me as she heads over to my table. I smile, slipping out from behind the table. “Hey.”

She stopped just before I reached her, “Hey yourself,” then looked around, “kinda busy today.”

I shrug, “It’s not that bad. Granted… it’s been a really long time since I was last here.”

“How long?”

My arms loop through the straps, “About a year and a half. Like I said, I used to live just a few minutes from here. One of the big reasons why I loved this area was how everything I wanted was so close to me.”

Diana crosses her arms, “Why haven’t you been back since?”

I sigh, “That’s a bit of a story. I might tell you later.”

She adjusts her purse, “Fine with me. Shall we then?”

I pull my hair out from under my bag, “Sure.” The two of us then turn and leave the food court.

Our walk is slow and deliberate, wanting to spend as much time together as possible. Rachel never gave me an exact time to be home, so I really had the entire day to burn.

We hit a few of the clothing stores on the top level. Fenris curled into a ball when Diana and I entered a few of them. The wolf really hates shopping, much like how I used to a long time ago.

He preferred to stay outside and wait for us, but since he resides in my shadow, he’d just have to endure it. I smile, knowing that he still had plenty more to go through.

We pull off clothes and outfits, looking at them and showing them to each other. It may have just been a week since the Gathering, but I still love to go shopping. Just a simple pleasure I enjoy.

While in one clothing store, I hold up a shirt to her, “So what do you think? Looks cute on me right?”

Diana steps over to me, grasping the shirt and eyeing me, “The shirt definitely, but the color isn’t right. Maybe something in a beige or even tan, it will better complement your eyes.”

I flip it around, cocking my head, then neatly folding it and placing it back onto the table, finding the right color.

I smirk, “Well…score one for you then.” Her lips curl slightly.

I really want to go shopping again with Rachel. I know the last time was fun, but ruined later on. So maybe we could in the future. Just the two of us going on another mother/daughter date, now that would be awesome.

I then found a really cute button down skirt that I would look great if I were… My cheeks instantly turn beet red and hold the skirt close to me.

She looks over to me, “Find something else you like?”

I gently lay it back onto the table, but stay silent. I know it would look great on me, others would agree. Just thinking about it made my head go into a spin.

“Gotta question for you. Are you seeing someone by chance?”

My heart felt like it skipped a beat, with my cheeks burning even hotter than before. I drag my fingers across the skirt as my hair dangles off of my shoulder. I know it was a simple question that some could ask, but this to be felt sudden. Her tone, albeit very subtle, didn’t sound like a teenager’s.

I give a simple nod, “We met while I was studying abroad. He’s…he’s really cute and amazing.” I miss him and wanted to see him again.

Fenris peers up, poking his head up from my shadow, resting it on my boots. It was a risk, but one I know he is willing to take. I smile down at him, knowing that he was comforting me. He also approved of Kenji.

While in Japan, he acted as the parent in my mother’s stead, keeping watch over me and making sure nothing serious happened. He even hid in the forest while I was on my date. I guess it doesn’t matter whether you’re human or not, a parent will always look out for their child.

Diana looks to me, “So you really like this boy I take it?”

I give a nervous giggle, picking up the skirt again, “I do. We both do. But we haven’t really said how we felt to each other yet. It’s just too soon for either of us. There’s just another little issue that I have to resolve before I think I’m ready.”

Yeah…a major issue Aria.

“What would that be?” she asks.

I smirk and shake my head, “Just a lingering doubt.” That’s putting it mildly.

I look up into her eyes, both seemed…judgmental, but not from a teenager. No…her eyes portrayed something far more mature, older, more akin to an adult’s. Her gaze also bore a small hint of disdain.

Okay…why are you judging me like I’ve disappointed you or something? I barely know you and yet somehow you’re offended at the idea of me having a boyfriend. My eyes then grew huge. Oh god…I have a boyfriend.

I turn to hide my increasingly blushing face. A hand then rests onto my shoulder. I jump slightly, turning to see her standing beside me, “If you both really like each other, then it won’t matter whatever your problems are.”

I lean my head back and smile, feeling a little better, “Thanks.”

She lightly strokes it, “You're welcome.” She then rounds around the table, looking at a few more items.

I raise an eyebrow. Something about that exchange felt again like I was talking to an adult rather than a teenager. To be honest, I had long since forgotten how to talk or even act like an adult. Way too much a teenager now.

We moved onto the next few shops, including the candle store, which I kinda hate. Candles have never been my thing. But Diana loves them, really loves them. I watch as she picks up a few and took whiff, drawing a smile across her face.

There is something oddly… familiar, about her movements. From how she picks up the candle to how she moved around the store. I still for the life of me couldn’t place it.

The girl then looks up to me and smirks, “Why are you looking at me like I have something on my face?”

I fold my hands behind my skirt, “Just watching. You must really love candles.”

She replaces the lid on the candle she was holding, setting it back onto the display, “I do. I love burning them through the house. It helped keep the smell of the gir- I mean helped set the atmosphere in whenever my parents come home from work.” She then turns, clenching her jaw.

I feign picking up another candle and examine it, but my eyes peek up at her from behind my hair. She clearly meant to say something else, but caught herself. I’ve been known to do the same thing on occasion, so for the moment I let it go.

She ends up buying a few small candles and step over to me, “Ready?”

I give a short nod, “Yeah.”

The next store we slip into was the FYE. Another reason why I loved this mall so much was because it contains several stores that catered to anime fans in some form or fashion. FYE, while having some selection, was still enough that I often kept an eye on it whenever I’d visit.

I browse the section, picking through the various titles. Now this was a store that Fenris has very little issue with. The wolf had long come to enjoy the music I listened to, be it classical rock, instrumental, to even other genres like power and symphonic metal and JPop.

Part of it was due to when we bonded that night and he picked up some of my memories. During the final convention I attended, he nearly leapt out of my shadow, wanting to dance with me. He still does on the off chance, but mostly likes to watch me.

After not finding any titles I wanted, I move along the racks, eyeing the movies. I picked up a couple, thinking it might good to add to my library. I wheeled around to the CDs, mostly to the metal section. I knew I could download whatever I wanted, but still having a physical copy made it seem more real.

I grumble to myself, not finding an album I wanted. Guess I’ll have to order it. I sigh and move on. While ordering stuff is easier, being able to find something in store is often better.

I look over to Diana, who also is scanning through the same titles I was. I smile, “So…you like metal too huh?”

She glances at me, “Not…really, but am willing to try anything once.”

I smirk, sidestepping over to the end to rack and hold up an album from Sabaton. “These guys are great to get started with. Heart-pounding, great lyrics, and easy to follow.”

She takes the case and examines it, “Didn’t think a girl like you was into metal.”

I snort, “And what is that supposed to mean?”

She smirks, “I mean like…you look too much like a girl who’s more at home in a boutique or getting her nails done. Not into having their ears assaulted by screaming men, loud drums, and guitar solos.”

A half-smile of shock grows on my face. While it is true that I love to shop, pampering like that I never cared for. Hell, I’m in the stables cleaning out stalls or in the fields helping ewes give birth. I am not a typical little girl, more farm girl than spoiled princess.

I shake my head in disbelief, “Just hand it back to me.”

She grins, handing back the case, “Struck a nerve?”

I grumble, putting it back on the shelf. I rose from my knees and head over to the counter.

We rode the escalator down and towards the candy store. I picked out a few pieces of fudge from the discount box. Hey, I might be the daughter of a wealthy woman, still doesn’t mean I can’t find deals on things.

Diana bought some from under the glass, “My father really likes chocolate. So I think I’ll surprise him when he gets home.”

I smile, “Always a good thing to do for one’s parent.” Her hand crumbles the bag, quickly stashing it away into her purse.

The sound was loud enough that I could hear it over the boom of mall shoppers, and it didn’t sound quite like a happy one. Something struck a nerve with her.

I imagined her dad was away a lot on business and she really hated that he was gone so much. I remembered when little that mine would often travel a lot, well not that much. So maybe it was different for her. I thanked the shop-owner and moved on.

We wandered into the H&M store, a brand new clothing store that must’ve been added in the past year or so. It seriously had to be the largest single store in the mall. I think it used to be the old Disney store, which was huge on its own.

We circle around the various racks and tables lifting up a few clothes and looking at them. The boots being sold were really nice. Brown leather laced boots that I actually considered buying, if only to irk off Heather the next time I saw her. The blouse selection is also nice. I did find a short-sleeved hooded jacket I really like, so I picked it up.

I glance up at her from behind a rack, “So are you from Austin?”

She picks up a blouse and holds it to her chest, “No. Up until a few months ago we lived in East Tennessee.”

This instantly catches my attention, “Really? What part?”

She replaces the shirt and picks up another, “North of Chattanooga along I-75. We lived east of a mall off of Shallowford Road.”

I chuckle, “Yep I know that area. Used to live out that ways myself.”

She then leans over from behind a stack of pants, “Oh, where were you at?”

I smile, rounding a table, lifting up a few pants and shorts. “Well…off of Standifer Gap. Sort of heading towards Collegedale.”

Her smile twitches grimly for a brief moment. “So did you live in Yorktown Estates by chance?”

I grin, looking at a pleated skirt, “Yep, a long time ago when I was little.”

She rounds the table towards me, picking up a few items, “So did I. I used to love heading down the park there at the end of our street.” So you lived on Nile? Huh, small world.

Rachel and I had gone on trip together so she could view where I grew up. The image of leaning against the car in the sun, just gazing at the red bricked house was still fresh in my mind.

While standing there I realized that my heart now forever rested in the Estate, and nothing could ever rip it from there. Until you spent half of the spring in Mie, I thought, giggling to myself.

“One of my favorite things about my house was the large oak tree that sat next to the driveway. There was even a little boy who called it a ‘dinosaur tree’.” She grins, “He actually thought it was that old.”

My fingers tremble for a moment. “I bet he was fun to babysit,” giving a short chuckle, trying to mask my surprise.

She shook her head, “I didn’t babysit him. He was a little younger than me sure, but not by much.”

I glance up at her, not only did she live on my old street, but also in my old house. I move around table to another rack of skirts. Then there’s her story about a young boy calling her tree a “dinosaur tree”. That was what I used to call it, not to say that someone else could’ve referred to it as such. But still…the odds of that happening were slim at best.

Fenris stirs within my shadow, obviously sensing my apprehension. I glance down at him, “It's okay. I just a little surprised. That’s all.”

The wolf huffed softly, laying his head back down onto his legs. He’s worried, not that I can blame him.

We scoured the rest of the store, picking up a few more clothes. I saw a pair of boots that I figured Marron would look great in, so I picked them up.

I tried pushing the growing nag in the back of my mind about her statement of the boy. I’m here just to have some fun and do some shopping. So stop with the swirling scenarios Aria, I told myself. I shake my head and move on.

I wheel around to the cashier, having finally made my selections. I peer out into the hallway, watching as people walk past the store. There is a lot of foot traffic, but I don’t think most of the people in the mall came to buy clothes. Some used to come to simply walk around and window shop. A practice I am all too familiar with.

I turn back to the cashier and hand her some money, with her placing everything into a bag.

Diana soon joins me with a couple of outfits, and makes her purchase. She drags the bag off of the counter and the two of us then head back out into the hallway.

I look around and saw fewer people walking the mall than before. Not saying that there weren’t people there, more like there were less people on the bottom floor. It might be because the shoppers I saw earlier had moved on and had more than likely ducked into stores. Either way, the floor isn’t that overly crowded.

My lips curl into a half-smile feeling my stomach wheeze slightly, and then looking to her. “Hey, want to go ahead and get something to eat?”

She hoists her bag and smiled, “I’m game.”

We then turn towards the escalators at the center of the mall and head up back towards the food court.

I scanned around at the choices, folding my arms and tapping my chin. “Decisions, decisions,” I whisper. Wasn’t hungry for Asian or Italian, it’s kinda of hard to order either when you’ve had the real thing. That left Pita Haus or Chick-fil-a. Chicken sounds good, really good, but so did having a pita.

Fenris perked up once more, feeling him nudging me from within my shadow. I glance down, seeing him pointing towards the Chick-fil-a. I giggle, Okay. Chicken it is.

I crane my head up at Diana, “Hey, I’m going for chicken. You in?”

She peers over towards it, “Sure, always liked their food.”

We then set off for it, slipping through the dozens of tables and scores of people who all were sitting and enjoying their meals. The line is long, (well what do you expect, the food is awesome) but manageable. It doesn’t take us that long for us to be next. I order a few sandwiches and tea.

Diana looks to me, “You’re hungry.”

I giggle nervously, playing with my hair, “Yeah…haven’t had much since breakfast and shopping in of itself is a workout.”

She leers at me, “Uh-huh, and you ordering that much will be enough?”

I shrug, “Possibly.” One is plenty for me, but Fenris…well he could easily devour a dozen and not be full. But three is all that I could “safely” purchase.

As we head off to find a table, she leans over to me. “Getting back to the topic of the little boy, he really didn’t like his third school, often talking about wanting to ride across Belvoir from Brainerd back to Lutheran. The kid even pretended to play out a ‘war’ between the two sides, calling his third school a country called ‘Baptistia’ and his old school ‘Lutherania’.” She smirks, “Little boys, oh how they love to fight.”

Okay…what are the odds that this same little boy called the old a “dinosaur tree” but also attended Brainerd and Lutheran? Not only that, but a “war” between them?

I look to her, there is no way that a little boy like could possibly share those same thoughts? I was vocal about wanting to return to Lutheran, but I was too little to understand why I had to leave.

It wasn’t until years later that I learned that the principal was a prick and didn’t want to shill out extra money for the rising number of gifted students in the school. That and I did have somewhat of a reputation for mischief. He sent a letter to my parents stating that I should look elsewhere for schooling, which is how I ended up at Brainerd.

As for the whole “war” drama? I played with that idea mostly until fifth grade. Once I got into anime, I dropped it altogether. In any case, this just raised even more questions about her.

After picking up our orders, we found a spot and sat down. I pull out one, setting the bag onto the seat beside me. While my hand was still in the bag, I cast an illusion as I pull it out. To anyone watching, it would appear that my hand was still inside.

I lower the first sandwich next to my thigh, glimpsing as the wolf reaches out from the shadow and slowly drags it in, wrapper and all, back into my shadow. He easily scoffs it down, shooting the empty wrapper back up into my hand.

I smirk, tossing it into the bag, pulling out the other, each repeating the process. I lean back to see a happy pair of eyes staring back at me.

“Thank you, little Aria.”

I smile softly, “You’re welcome Fenris.”

“What are smiling about?”

I gaze back up to Diana, who was leaning over the table, with a waffle fry pointing at me with sauce dripping from its end. I looked away for a moment, “Oh ah…just happy to be back here I guess.”

She stares at me incredulously, “Uh-huh, sure,” plopping the fry into her mouth. I quickly unwrap my sandwich and down it.

“So…you know a little about me,” she continues, “I want to know about you. You’re from Chattanooga too, but where else have you lived?”

I finish swallowing the last bite and take a long swig of tea. “I’ve lived all over, Missouri, back to Tennessee, Alabama (which I was back in briefly thanks to the Coven) Arkansas, and then finally here.”

She leans back into her chair, “That’s quite a few places. Bet it was hard changing schools a lot.”

I toss the wrapper into the bag, folding my arms onto the table, resting my chin on them. “You have no idea. I ate in so many cafeterias I could tell you which school I was in by the smell.”

Hehe yeah, lots of schools. So many places, so many schools and homes I had lived in over the years. Now it all didn’t matter. My old life was over, and a new one lay before me.

“What about you? I bet moving halfway across the country must’ve been rough. Having to start all over again, new state, new school, new friends?”

She didn’t react that much, if at all. Sometimes I am really grateful that I love how thick my bangs are. They afford me the ability to look through them and no one can really see back into them. I gaze into her face, obviously thoughts are going to through her mind but part of her is holding something back.

She finally places her hands into her lap, eyes darting slightly from side to side. “It’s fine, nothing I can’t handle. Besides,” glancing briefly at me, “I’m with my family.”

I smile, “That’s always a good thing.” It’s strange. It’s as if her comment is somehow directed to me. But at the same time...I don’t know. Maybe I’m just overthinking things.

She then leans forward onto the table, “Ok…so I know you have mom but what about your dad? During our calls, you never mention him. Did he run out on you two or something?”

My hands grip my arms tightly, pulling them closer my chest, “He passed away a few years ago. In fact most of my family is gone.” Well…not all gone.

She reaches over and brushes my bangs out of my face, “I’m so sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through during all of that.”

It was hard, so many of my family have died while I was away from them, only to hear of it from either family members or through other people. Dealing with the pain of loss after each death was tough and grueling. But I always had people around to get through it.

A mournful sigh wrests from me, “Thanks Diana.”

She rests her hand onto my arm, stroking it. Her hand felt more how a mother comforts her child, rather than how a friend comforts another. My eyes close for a moment, thinking back to person I had lost over the years and how I handled each other their deaths. Dealing with death is never easy, and never gets easier.

Her thumb then presses a little too hard into my arm, maybe by accident, but it still hurt. I shift it a little.

“That kinda hurt,” looking up at her.

She pulls back, folding her arms into her lap, “Sorry about that. Guess I had a stray thought enter my mind. Happens from time to time.”

I pull it closer to me, “It's ok.”

The food court slowly begins to grow darker. I straighten up in my seat to see that sky is now heavy with clouds.

“A storm is approaching little Aria. We should return home.”

I draw a long deep breath, “Looks like it gonna dump on us any second and I didn’t bring in an umbrella.”

She looks over and grumbles, “Damn, and we were having a good time too.”

A light then pops into my head, “Hey, do you want to come over to my house? Like I told you a week ago, it’s not too from where you live. So I’m sure your mom wouldn’t have a problem with coming over for a day.”

She pulls back for a moment and closes her eyes. “Sure, just need to check in with my mother about it”

I grin, “Great, but let’s see if mine is up for it. Plus I will warn you, it’s…kind of a big house.”

She chuckles, “Hun, I’m sure it’s fine.”

I wince a little, “If you say so.” I pull out my phone from my bag and call home.

I hear the phone ring once, and then quickly the line picks up, “Aria?”

I smile, “Hey Rachel.”

“Are you having fun sweetheart? I hope you know a storm is coming.”

“Yep and I plan on leaving in a bit. But I’ve got a question for you.”

“What would that be my love?”

I glance up at the girl in front of me, “Well would it be ok if Diana were to come over?”

The line goes silent for a moment.

“I don’t see why not. Do make sure that her mother is all right with her being here.”

I look up to see Diana holding her phone showing that her mother gave her permission to come over. “All set Rachel.”

“Very good. When would she like to come over?”

I look to her, lowering the phone, “When is good for you?”

She again taps on her phone. It then chimes a moment later. She looks to me, “My mother says that next Tuesday is fine. We have plans for the rest of the week.” I nod, pulling my phone back to my ear.

“Next Tuesday.”

“Very well. We have a few things to prepare for then.”

Yeah, no kidding.

“All right, I’m gonna start heading for home now. See you soon.”

“Be careful my love. I’ve heard this storm is to be rather rough.”

“I will. See you soon.”

The call then ends.

I smile to Diana, “Well, looks like we’ve got ourselves a plan then.”

She stuffs her phone away into her purse, “Looks that way. So this was fun and I hope to see you more in the future.”

I giggle, “Yep.” I pull out a piece of paper and write down the directions to the Manor, sliding it to her, “Here. Just…just you don’t feel too overwhelmed when you get there.”

She holds it up and examines it, “You weren’t kidding when you said you lived just south of me. We’re practically neighbors.”

I shrug, “Pretty much.”

We each then rise from the table and start heading for the edge the food court. She looks over to me, “Something tells me we are going to see a lot more of each other in the future.”

I smirk, “I agree. Hope this means we’re friends.”

She reaches over and pats my head, “Yeah, we’re friends.”

I don’t show it but her pat felt slightly less friendly. To be honest, it actually felt like she was hitting me more than anything. I know I haven’t said anything that could’ve offended her. It was just us talking to each other. So why the subtle act of hostility?

There was just something about her that I couldn’t place. The sense of familiarity was just too strong. I smile as we reached the escalators, “Well I’m this way,” pointing down the hall.

She points towards the theater, “That’s me. I’ll see you later Aria.”

“Seeya Diana.”

We then split and head off in our respective directions. I didn’t turn around and look back as I head down the walkway. My mind is in a tailspin. I had fun, there’s no questioning that.

I bought a few things, and wasn’t too weirded out about being back in Lakeline. I even had the crazy idea about driving over to my old apartment. The trip wouldn’t take too long, less than five minutes really. I shook my head, no...just head home.

I could hear the rain starting to pelt on the overhead windows. It was slow for now, so I had hurry before it really dumped on me. As I draw closer to the T-Mobile store, the loud echoes of the rest of the mall seemed to become muffled. Very few people are around and the lighting grew darker. I’m at peace here.

I kicked myself that I didn’t get to go to the Asian shop. I might come back at some point, seeing how being in Lakeline again wasn’t all that bad.

A cool rush of humid air greets me as I exit out into the parking lot. The skies really had grown darker. Clouds are a heavy dark blue mixed with shades of grays and more blue. Little drops of rain begin to fall onto my head, forcing me to pick up the pace towards my car.

I pull out my keys and opening the rear hatch, quickly tossing my purchases into the backend. I close the hatch and then open the front door, sliding in.

A formless shadow then whooshes past me and into the backseat as I close the door. I lean back into the seat, watching as the rain starts to pour around me. I smirk, thinking that if Asha were here she’d force the storm to break up or something.

A large furry head emerges from over my shoulder, watching as it turns to face me. I reach up and stroke the wolf under his neck, just staring blankly at the building. Again I’m glad that I chose this parking lot. Of all of them around the mall, this feels the most isolated, even if it was the closest to 620.

It was quiet and I always loved parking close to the entrance, made entering and leaving a snap, and it just felt comfortable.

“I have doubts about that child.”

I tilt my head to him, seeing his eyes now gazing into mine. He isn’t the only one. I rest my head against the seat, listening to the rain as it pelts the car. Just who is she? I mean really. The way she moves, acts, knowing of a couple things that only I really know about.

There is also something else. Something…that I still couldn’t place. The sense of familiarity is way too strong to be a coincidence, but that the same time, alien to me. With anyone there lies a passive, almost nonexistence that no one pays attention to. But with her…I don’t know.

I sigh, slipping key into the slot and started the car. “Yeah…I do too Papa Wolf,” slowly backing out of the spot, “and maybe Alexis is right and I am paranoid. But I think for now I’m going to just let it slide.”

The wolf’s head slowly retreats as he then lies down onto the seat as I start the car and back out.

We slowly pull down through the rows of cars, whose numbers had grown since I first arrived. When I came to the bottom of the row, I turned left onto the road, deciding to exit out the same way I came. I figured the extra couple of minutes afforded to me would help settle my thoughts a bit more. Plus I didn’t want to chance running into Diana so soon after we parted.

I finally pull onto 620 and head for home. My mind still wanders all over the place. It was great to spend a little time away from home again, and I did have fun. I just wasn’t all the sure about those little bits of info that I was given. Little details that I highly doubt would be anywhere close to being entered into the deepest darkest corner of someone’s knowledge.

Remembering that Marie had installed a self-driving system into the car, I reach over and turn it on. All around me, thin screens rise over the windows, darkening the cabin. A small computer screen then flips out from just above the center console, projecting a map and our course home. I felt the wheel moving under my hands, finally letting go.

A few seconds of watching the road, I recline in my seat, allowing my eyes to close. I didn’t want to fall asleep, just simply allow my mind to rest. Questions upon questions mounted and I had little to answer. Hopefully once I got home I will have driven out some of my pent-up tension.

While I swim through a storm of worry and doubt, one thing is clear. I was about to have a guest in my home.