I left the classroom, the murmur of students still faintly echoing behind me. The sun hit me as I stepped outside. Genuinely couldn't think about what I just sat through. Because I was hungry as fuck. Lunch was on my mind, something filling. Then the thought of my fridge popped in.
Nothing in there. A half-loaf of bread, mustard, and a cucumber that had long since given up. Stopping for a moment, I set my mind straight. While I wasn't in the mood for grocery shopping, it was staring me in the face. I couldn't keep putting it off. Gives me an excuse to skip class. Hitting two birds with one stone.
The market was alive with noise, as usual. People were moving between stands, and the same witty banter was heard from vendors offering "fresh" produce, as if it were game-changing. I picked up what I needed: veggies, a pack of chicken breasts, mince, fish, and olive oil, and a couple of packs of spaghetti and pasta, enough to keep me going for a few days and re-facilitate my growth.
Then, bump. A basket hit my leg. Apples spilled. "Oh! I'm sorry, dear," the woman said, catching her balance. I picked up the apples in no rush. "It's cool," I said, handing her the last one. She looked at me, blinked twice. "Well, if it isn't little Mal. I would've come to the funeral, but I was recently bedridden. Just got back on my feet. Forgive me. "I stood. "Ain't nothin' to forgive. "She looked me over."Shouldn't you be in school?"
I shrugged. "Shouldn't you be restin'?"She smiled, but it faded. "I'm sorry if this sounds off, but... did your mother leave you anything? Or say something before she passed?"
I looked at her. Flat.
"Why you askin'?"
"Me and her were alike in some ways, keeping secrets and all that. Just wondered if she passed any down."
I didn't say much. Besides gesturing up to the lights, she looked up
I watched her for a second, then raised my hand slightly, gesturing to the lights overhead.
The bulbs flickered once, then one of them sparked, popped, and went out. A jolt of energy sent a shock through the air, and I could see some bystanders flinch, stepping back due to the glass.
She looked up, eyes narrowing just a bit, then back to me, a bit more focused now.
"When you've got time," she said, her voice steady but serious, "come by. Might be some things that'd interest you."
Pretending to mull it over, I nodded.
"I'm grateful for the offer, I'll be sure to stop by."
*Cabin*
I walked in, dropped the bags on the counter, and locked the door. The house still smelled like sage and animal blood. I opened the fridge, put the cold stuff away, and stacked the dry goods. Looking around. I noticed that the floor was still dusty from the last spell gone.
I grabbed the bucket from under the sink, filled it with hot water, bleach, and lemon dish soap. Tossed a rag in, rolled my sleeves, and started scrubbing. Chalk, wax, dirt, all of it.
Once the floor was back to looking like it belonged to somebody sane, I dumped the water, dried my hands, and went to my room. Threw on a clean black tee, some dark jeans, fresh socks, and my boots. Hoodie over the top. Pockets full, phone, knife, lighter.
The walk to Sheila's wasn't long. Quiet, too. Breeze cutting through the trees, sky dull and gray. What can I say, the weather felt oddly nice.
When I got there, I knocked once. She didn't answer right away.
"You home?" I asked.
The door opened. She stood there, gave me a once-over.
"You sure you're ready this time?" she asked.
"I'm sure. But before we get started, I've got a few questions I need answered."
She stepped aside.
"Then come ask 'em."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Stones!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you caught the twist I threw in with Mal's mom tying into the Bennet bloodline. It's a solid way to set up a lot more threads for the story. This chapter, and the last, open up some serious possibilities.
Stick around for tomorrow's chapter, it's gonna be a longer one, as a little bonus.