The sky was overcast, the clouds an ominous gray. Raindrops fell from the clouds, shattering into a million pieces once they hit pavement.
"Cole! Hurry up!"
A dark haired girl dashed down main street. Carmel arms, long and smooth, held a bag over her slick hair in an attempt to shield it from the rain. Behind her, a girl followed, a troubled look on her face.
"Colette!" Irritation laced the dark-haired girl's voice. She stood under the shelter of a store overhang. Hourglass' wooden sign hung from thick metal chains, creaking in the summer storm.
Colette hoisted her bag over her shoulder, gaze turned upwards. A raindrop tumbled downwards, tripping and stumbling its way between the narrow main street buildings. Wetness splashed on her pale cheek. Cole dabbed the wet spot with her finger, narrow eyebrows scrunched together.
"Coming," she called, blue eyes on her fingertip. Her stomach churned and pulled on itself, causing a sense of uneasiness to spread through her.
Thunder cracked through the sky and reverberated off the mountain sides. Colette jumped out of her trance. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she dashed after her friend.
The steady patter of the rain picked up. Across the street, a trio of girls squealed and ran for shelter.
Ding!
Cole's friend pushed open the shop door. Vanilla, dust and the spice of herbs wafted out the door. A pleasant yellow glow illuminated a square patch of light on the cracked sidewalk.
Colette ducked under the cloth overhang, the rain soaking the dark red fabric. Drops of water dripped off the scalloped edges.
A hand grasped the collar of Colette's leather jacket and tugged her into the store. The door shut behind her with a soft click.
Colette pulled her blonde hair into a loose ponytail, her hands wrapping around the soaking mess. She squeezed. Thin ribbons of water trickled to the floor, landing with a dull patter on the worn welcome mat.
Outside, unlucky pedestrians rushed into nearby stores. A young family ushered their daughter past Hourglass, completely ignoring the place. Again, the strange pulling sensation on her stomach returned.
"Welcome ladies," an older woman greeted from the back of the store.
Colette squirmed. She was tempted to ask Brooke to go to another store, but even to her, the thought was absurd. A headache thrummed behind her temples from the heavy scent of herbs, and the dull light made her eyes strain.
Black shelves lined every wall in the store. Dusty leather bound books and velvet drawstring bags were set on display. Must was thick in the air. Thick gray curtains covered up what Colette assumed was the back entrance to the store.
"Brooke." Colette tugged on her sleeve. "I don't think we should be here. This kind of looks like some kind of drugie..." A beam of light shattered into red shards of light and caught her attention.
"Don't be ridiculous," Brooke said. She rolled her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with this place. In fact, it's kind of cool."
Colette had abandoned her friend.
Delicate red metal twisted into elegant folds, holding up a hourglass of dark sand. She walked over to it and ran a finger over the cool metal. It was tall, up to her hip in height.
"Hey, Brooke. Check this out."
She crouched in front of it, peering inside. Not a single grain of sand traveled down to the bottom half of the hourglass. She frowned, tapping slightly on the glass.
"Cole, what are you doing?" Brooke walked up behind her.
"Isn't this neat?" Cole grinned up at her friend.
"Neat? It's an empty display shelf." Her pretty features pinched in confusion. "What's so cool about that?"
"What?" Her eyes traveled between the hourglass and Brooke. "You don't see it?"
Brooke places a slender hand to Cole's forehead. "Are you okay? Did you catch pneumonia?"
Cole's gaze was troubled, but she shook her head. "Never mind. I- I must be seeing things."
She stood up and almost jumped. The old lady from the back of the shop stood behind them, the top of her curly white hair barely reaching her shoulder.
"Ah. I see you have found my... main display." The woman grinned at the pair, and something slithered down Colette's spine.
"Your main display is an empty shelf," Brooke pointed out.
"Hmm... it's a special item." Another smile that set her on edge.
Brooke scowled, clearly unimpressed. "This is a scam shop, isn't it?"
"No no no dear. Not at all. Actually, I may have some jewelry that interests you..." The woman's voice faded as she led Brooke to a display.
Streams of rain water trickled down the shop window, leaving a thin path of water droplets in its wake. Colette leaned against the window, looking outside. A boy stood across the street, concrete as stone as the rain poured down.
Dark hair stuck to his forehead, his face pointed at the store. With a start, she realized he was looking at her. She jumped and leaned forward. She blinked. The boy disappeared.
Cole's eyes widened and she rubbed them with the heel of her hand. Must've been her imagination.
A sharp cry pierced the air. Colette spun around.
Brooke stood beside the hourglass, hands clutching her stomach. Her lips parted into a perfect O. She collapsed to the floor.
Behind her, the old woman smiled sweetly. She lifted a bloody dagger to her lips, her tongue darting out and catching a drop of blood.
A scream of horror rose up in Cole's throat. It pushed past her lips and burst to life. She rushed to her friend's side.
Blood seeped from between Brooke's fingers, a pool steadily growing beneath her.
"Uh..." Cole's voice trembled. Her shaky hands hovered in the air above the wound, unsure. "You'll be okay, Brooke. We'll get you help."
Cackling echoed around the tiny store. Rage boiled in Colette's veins.
"What did you do?!"
"What do you think? I killed her. Well, not yet." The woman's foot nudged Brooke and a howl escaped her. "She's as good as dead, anyway."
"Why?" Cole's hand crept behind her. Her fingers brushed over cool plastic, and she fought to maintain her face. She flipped open her phone.
The old woman shook her finger at her, like a disapproving granny. "Now, now. We can't have you calling for help, can we?"
Her pupils expanded, swallowing up her iris' and the whites of her eyes.
She lunged.
Colette scrambled backwards. Her heart hammered in her chest, threatening to burst free. Her finger hovered over the 9 when pain shot up her leg.
Warmth spurt out of a gash running up her calf. She cried out and grabbed her injury.
The woman kicked her hand, the phone sliding across the tiled floor.
Colette's mind scrambled for a way to defend herself. Her eyes darted between Brooke, the door, and her cell phone. Ignoring the pain, she lunged for the phone. Her fingers quickly dialed 911. Pain erupted in her hip.
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Help," she rasped.
Her hands grasped the dagger in her hip, and she pulled. Blood gushed. She raised it to defend herself, but the woman was gone. Colette dropped it to the floor with a clatter.
She crawled to Brooke. Her eyes were closed, her skin too pale.
"Brooke." Colette patted her face. "Please." Tears slipped down her face.
She grabbed Brooke's ankles and pulled. She had to get her out of there. She had to get her to a safe place.
Colette dragged her across the floor, a wide streak of blood marking their trail. Her hip cried out with every movement, her calf screamed. They made their way, agonizingly slow to the door. Colette reached a hand out and pushed on the cool glass when they got there.
The door opened and they emerged outside.
Rain plastered her hair to her face and washed away the blood. Colette collapsed on the street, blackness edging her vision.
Right before she tumbled headfirst into the darkness, a pair of hazel eyes peered down at her. With a blink, she fell.
A/N: Alright, guys! What do you think? Is it living up to your expectations so far? Let me know in the comments below! Vote/ comment/ follow!
-Sophia ^_^