On My Way - Eve Langlais Page 0,29

rummaged in my bag for my phone. Pulled it out and muttered even harder. “Gods darned gosh gee dammit.” Yeah, I was getting pretty heated. But who could blame me? The bloody thing was dead, too.

“I’d have no luck if it wasn’t for bad luck,” I grumbled. Why did batteries hate me so much? At least I could fix the phone. I’d have to go back inside and charge it, which meant getting out of the car. I wasn’t keen on that idea. The car at least provided a metal shield against whatever bogeyman lurked in the shadows. Yet I didn’t have a choice. I would accomplish nothing sitting in a dead car. Especially with the cold that deepened enough to frost my windows.

I could see the headline now. Shop Owner Found Frozen to Death in Her Car, Mere Feet from the Warm Shop She Failed to Open.

“I’m being crazy,” I muttered. There was nothing out there. Just my imagination in overdrive.

I felt for the lock and yanked it then heaved the handle, opening the door and spilling out. The dome light remained dark.

“Why did I trust an ancient car?” I said to the sky.

For a reply, my cat let out a god-awful sound.

“Hold on, I’m coming.” It took more fumbling to get him out. Grisou didn’t help matters by hissing and pacing in the cage.

During this time, my vision adjusted to the darkness enough I could make out vague shapes. It wasn’t enough to keep me from running into the wall.

“My luck keeps getting better and better,” I grumbled. Could have been worse. I could have hit it with my face.

I felt along the brick wall until my fingers met the edge of the metal door. I slid the hand holding the keys up, seeking the lock. Found it easily enough, now to figure out which key was the correct one in the almost absolute dark. Fun.

Scratch. I froze, not because of the cold but because I didn’t make the noise. Grisou didn’t make the noise. Something else toward my left did. A quick glance showed two gleaming eyes peering at me. Silver with a hint of orange.

An animal? Had to be because those eyes weren’t human.

Grisou went quiet. I, on the other hand, made a ton of noise jingling my keychain, looking for the right one with a single hand since the other held the cage. I shook with fear and had to set it down to properly sort and insert the correct key into the lock. It jammed, and I shoved at it, grunting with frustration.

Grisou made a noise that almost sounded like hurry up. I glanced down at him and then back to the eyes.

More than two now. At least five sets. Some high off the ground, some low. I might have assumed they were perched on the dumpster, except wasn’t the dumpster on the other side of me?

I didn’t like this one bit. I finally managed to unlock the door. The moment it opened, I shoved the cage through and then stupidly looked again.

The eyes were close enough I could have sworn they illuminated craggy visages. Features made of stone and lichen, with dark, gaping maws showing stubby, jagged teeth.

Impossible. The shadows played tricks. Still…I threw myself inside and slammed the door shut. Locked it and leaned against it.

Foolishly, I expected to feel thumping. Maybe even hear a knock.

Nothing happened, and I was about to relax when something rubbed against my leg.

A good thing I’d used the bathroom not long ago because I would have peed myself when I screamed.

“Meow?”

The damned cat had once more escaped his cage, and I giggled, somewhat hysterically, before sliding to sit on the floor. Why did I keep scaring myself like this?

I blamed Trish and her stories. Grandma, too. I knew the things they said weren’t real, and yet my imagination knew how to go into overdrive. For example, Trish kept insisting we had an orc problem. The ones I’d seen in movies were big hulking things with ugly visages, just like I’d imagined in the alley.

Orcs weren’t real, though. Meaning whatever I thought I saw had a scientific explanation. Although I wouldn’t hazard a guess as to what I’d seen. I’d just wait for the things to leave. In the meantime, I headed for the front room where I knew there was a comfy chair sitting by a plug. I flipped on a switch as I went, almost sighing in relief as bright light filled the space. I’d