A Light in the Dark Part Nine: A Cursed Opening.

Lily:

Taking a deep breath, the whole town was lined up outside for our grand opening. Rubbing my bump, the light orange sweater dress floated over my bump. You can talk to people, I told myself. The thought of talking to them paralyzing me, Matty being the extrovert in the relationship. Gathering my wits, the key shook in my fingers.  Matty’s hand cupped mine, his hand steadying mine. Turning the key, the bell rang out as they poured in. Stepping behind the counter, Matty chose to smooth out his black dress shirt while talking with everyone. Opening the fridge, I set the samples of my sandwiches on the counter. Pouring cups of coffee with a nervous smile, Victoria flashed me a gentle smile. Hovering behind me, her company was what I desired over the chaos of the people and the noise.  

“You have this, Miss Lily. Look at them enjoying themselves.” She sang jovially, spinning around. “It hasn’t been this busy since my father owned the store.” Accepting her compliment, my heart wished that she could enjoy some of my food. Sammy bounced up to me with a big smile on her face, the girls reaching for a sandwich. My anxiety melted away with them, my gloved hands passing them each the sandwich that they wanted. Donning matching orange sweater dresses, they all yelled with excitement.  Those girls had my heart and they knew it. They were always welcome in my home and store for that matter.

“I was wondering if you wanted me to work with you.” Sammy offered sincerely, her trembling hand tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I would love to work next to you. Can I help make your dream come true?” All the breath left my body at her request, my hand searching for the official forms for hiring. Sliding the paper over to her, I needed her to fill out her tax information. Smiling kindly in her direction, her working with me would be a dream. How much bravery did she have to gather to get to that point, her girls leaning onto the counter with eager grins. Drumming on the table, the thought of seeing my family happy made my heart skip a beat.

“I can’t pay you much but you girls are more than welcome to come here after school. I can pay you what the grocery store pays you. Fill these out and I can train you. I know you will love it here.” I assured her in a sisterly tone, her hands gripping the hem of her light blue cotton dress. “Please fill this out and you can start as soon as it goes through. How would you girls like to come here after school?” Jumping up and down, they clapped their hands. The pen danced across the paper, Matty waving me over. A man with slicked back gray hair waved at me, his emerald eyes glistening with excitement. Walking over to him, his navy suit spoke of a high status. Offering me his hand, my fingers curled around it cautiously. Giving it a firm shake, respect was shown in the way his wrinkles exposed his genuine happiness. How were people so honest in this town? A bit of distrust hid underneath my apprehensive smile, my inner voice told me to keep it together.

“I am Mayor Gabston. Your shop looks almost like it did when it first opened. It sure is nice to see it back in the family.” He introduced himself with ease, my lips parting to speak several times. “You don’t have to strain yourself. I understand why you would be socially awkward. If you need anything, call me or go to my office in town. May I?” Motioning towards my bump, a nervous smile twitched on my lips. Going on about how big his wife’s bump got, my mental anxiety caused his words to fade in and out. Victoria took my trembling hand, her gentle smile matching mine when I talked to the girls. Helping me with my nerves, a deadly silence came over the crowd at the door slamming open.  My aunt sauntered in with a snarl on her thin lips, her arms pushing people out of the way. Pinning me to the wall, my knee kept her at a distance. All of my ease frayed into a desperate sense of fear, my color draining at the gun glinting in her hands. Shaking in my spot, a curse word stumbled from my lips. Pressing it to my temple, her orders for everyone to stand back had everyone on edge. The safety clicked, Matty running towards her. Distracted by her, my body smashed into hers. Pinning her down by her back, my steady hands disassembled her gun. Kicking it away, venomous words poisoned the air. None of this had to be this freaking way!

“Did you really think you could get away?” She slurred drunkenly, my heart breaking for her. “You murdered your parents and deserve all the pain coming your way.” Rolling my eyes, I climbed off of her back. Sitting her in the nearest chair, the red staining the whites of her eyes spoke of a bitter pain. Grabbing a towel off the counter, I pressed it to the cut on her forehead. Why did she make me have to pin her down like an animal?

“When are you going to stop getting drunk and blaming me?” I queried sincerely, her face softening a bit. “I moved on and you really should as well.” Gripping my wrist, it took everything not to smack it away. Hating myself for what I was about to say, Matty seethed wildly next to me. Keep calm, my lion.

“Can we come to a truce where I never see you again?” I continued serenely, her hand lowering gingerly. “We are never going to get along and I will never forgive you. I want you out of my life, god damn it! Run your town and I will thrive in my new town. Do you understand!” Enough was enough, Victoria’s rage causing the lights to flicker.  Jesus Christ! Simmer down, my dear spirit guide.

“What would I gain from that?” She questioned dejectedly, her fist clenching. “You deserve to be p-” Raising my free hand, her lips pressed into a thin line. Resting my elbow on my knee, her pain was as bad as mine. She had to let it all go or her soul was going to wither away. 

“You can’t live like this. You keep getting drunk and that can’t be good for you. Take this advice from a loving niece. They died but you are still alive.” I commented compassionately, taking a band aid from Matty's hand. “I found my family and until you get sober I don’t want anything to do with you. Trust will never be in our cards. I recommend you go to their graves and talk to them. You look stupid but it feels great. Can I call you a ride? I don’t want you to make the same mistake as the driver that hit them did.” The bell rang, Derrick coming in with a bottle of sparkling cider. His eyes met her cold death glare, my hair standing on end. Placing the band aid on her forehead, she struggled to her feet. Aiming her fist for his face, his palm caught it. Instead of hitting back, he bowed his head in shame. 

“I am sorry for my actions. I live everyday with guilt.” He apologized sincerely, teardrops crashing onto the floorboard. Shaking her head, her rant began. Letting her go, his serenity was a foreign thing. Crippling nerves hid beneath his sad smile, my body was the only thing keeping her from murdering her. Her chest huffed up and down, her shoulder slamming into his as she left. Rushing after her, my hand landed on her shoulder. Slapping my hand away, she knocked me to the ground. Climbing into her car, the tires squealed down the street. Chasing after her, my boots clicked down the street. Tires squealed in a chaotic manner, glass crunching underneath my boots. Tears welled up in my eyes, her car had managed to flip a few times. Rushing over to her, inky oil pooled at my boots. Laying in a bloody pile of tissue, violent sobs wracked my body. Dragging her out, hot vomit flew up my throat at her torso detaching itself. Staring straight ahead, a black feather floated into my ruby tinted palm. A shadowy hand pressed against the oil, flames roaring to life. Dropping her torso, the only thing I could do was run. Sprinting past the store, the shadowy figure darted after me. A dark energy bathed the street, panic twisted my face at an oily sludge trapping my feet in a sticky mess. Skidding to a stop in front of me, a skeletal face came into view. Tattered robes swallowed a yellowed skeleton, his hand hovering inches from mine. Any color I had left drained from my face, his hand hovered inches from mine. Was this a reaper? Involuntary tears flooded from my eyes, a worn scythe glinting in the afternoon light gave me my answer. Death was standing in front of me and I couldn't move.

“How can you see me?” A gravelly voice groaned darkly, my hand holding my bump. “Your number isn’t up for a while. Besides, you have a new life to bring into the world. What strikes me as odd is why did you try to stop her after all she did to you?” Struggling to speak, a lump formed in my throat, clammy sweat drenching my face. Tilting his head back and forth, he leaned forward. Why did he care?

“Drunk driving isn’t safe.” I stammered nervously, my body beginning to shiver with pure terror, my eyes getting wider at him grinning evilly. “Shouldn’t you go collect her soul? I bet she is going to H-” Putting his finger inches from my face, wicked laughter rumbled in my throat. Pointing to the light burns on my legs, his next words weren’t a shock. 

“She is going to Hell and you know it.” He explained briskly, touching the burns. “You don’t belong there. How the fuck did you get so close? How about this? Help the lost souls for me and I won’t let people know. Your soul is a portal anyway. Do the work and you will get rewarded. You merely have to make a contract with me to help every soul that asks for your help.” Offering me his skeletal hand, every cell in my body told me to run. 

“Oh, come now. You get to become a reaper when you die. The lost souls would be your territory after you die from old age.” He offered sincerely, holding his hand closer to me. “Take the deal and you can do what you want after you die.” Curling my fingers around his cautiously, on firm shake had an inky scythe appearing on my chest. Disappearing in a blustery gust, ruby poured from my ears as Hell opened up in front of me. Fire raged in front of me, burnt hands clawing at the ground. Tossing her soul into the pit, silent tears stained my cheeks. Clapping his hands together, the portal slammed shut. Disappearing in a puff of smoke, shouting from the townsfolk came back into focus. Matty swept me into his arms, that damn town was going to think that I murdered her. Burying my face into his shoulders, every emotion soaked his shirt. Officers approached me, the two of them taking down what I had seen. Returning to my store, dread bubbled in my gut. Another family member was dead, the rest of them were sure to go after me. Pure fright rounded my eyes, the firefighters were doing their job. Shame dimmed my eyes, these people were going to hate me too. Squirming out of his arms, my boots took me anywhere but there. Crashing onto the footpath, my stomach curdled. Leaning over a bush, round of vomit after vomit flew up my throat. Sinking to my knees, silent tears stained my cheeks. Being locked in a contract was the last thing I wanted, every breath grew shorter. Clutching my chest, every heartbeat felt like a piercing stab. Screaming into the sky, my fingers dug into the dirt. Pressing my forehead to the ground, my world was crashing down around me. Dirt crunched behind me, Mary's kind face was inches from mine. Yanking me into one of her famous hugs, I felt like a small child.  Why did people have to care so much!

“You did the best you could do. You were going to drive her home, right?” She whispered sweetly in my ear, her hand rubbing my back. “We all saw how she treated you and you still went to help her. Bless your soul. We were all seconds from murdering her.” Sobbing into her shoulder, Matty was off in the distance saving the grand opening. 

“I killed her!” I screamed into her shoulder, the familiar feeling of guilt digging her fingers into my veins. Holding me by my shoulders, her hands guided mine to my bump. Confusion mixed with fright, her warm smile not helping at all. Letting out a serene sigh, her next words broke me out of my panic attack. 

“The future is here. You had nothing to do with her death. Anger towards you is not an excuse for her to drink her life away.” She assured me with a gentle rub on my bump, a sad smile dawning on her face. “Let me fix you up before you go back to your own party. Everyone is worried sick about you.” Letting her take me back to her salon, she sat me down in her chair. Wiping off the dirt off of my face, her lips pressed into a thin line. She was like the sister I never had, my trembling hands gripping the hem of my dress. Digging the dirt out of my nails, the struggle to say thanks was holding me back. Stop being a freaking idiot, I snapped in my head.

“Thank you.” I stammered with silent tears streaming down my cheeks, her hand cupping mine. “I don’t deserve someone like you in my life. I am a monster that death follows like a puppy dog.” Shaking her head, she began to redo my makeup. Again, why did everyone have to care so much? 

“I don’t think so. Ever since you showed up to town, it is like a new life has come over it.” She chirped cheerfully, finishing up. “I am going to get us some tea. We can go back when you are ready.” Rushing off, the urge to run rose inside of me. Coming back out with a cup of sweet tea, she sat down across from me. Her white silky dress made her look more elegant, my hands resting on my laps in response to her perfection. Taking a sip of her tea, she leaned forward. 

“I am going to tell you something that only my husband knows.” She admitted sheepishly, her smile fading. “My parents were killed by a serial killer who ran his crooked business on ninety-one. My town ostracized me as well. I met my husband and he didn’t give a damn. We moved here and the town just accepted me.” Tears flowed from her eyes, her body shaking as bad as mine. Yanking her into an embrace as warm as hers, we were almost the same person. Letting her emotions soak my shoulders, years of pent up emotional agony had broken the dam. A good half hour of her telling me about the bullying passed, both of us were finally ready. Walking into my store with her on my elbow, the store all cheered. Raising their cups of coffee, they all shouted kind words for me. Matty spun me around, the crowd whistling. Embarrassment colored my cheeks, his lips brushing against the top of my head. Stealing me away for a second, his thumb traced my cheek. Arching my body towards him, his presence was all I needed in my life.

“Are you okay, Lily?” He asked lovingly, sitting me on the cold kitchen island. “I understand if you want to go home.” Kissing him hungrily, his body arched towards me. Sliding his hand down to my bump, pride glistened in his eyes. Please let such a moment last.