Page 3 of Stone Heart
“I’m sorry, Rina. Is there anything I can do?”
“No. School is almost done for the semester, and once that is over, I’ll be taking the summer off. I’m just going to work and nothing else.”
“Well, that’s good. You’re too young to be working yourself into the ground.”
Rina chuckled and finished putting the money in the bank deposit bag. They rushed to finish cleaning the store. She had to admit she really did have a knack for selling. Customers flocked to her and always left with a good deal and a smile. Her manager could count on her making the store’s goal each night she worked.
“Any plans for the weekend?” Alicia asked, locking the door.
The bank was a few doors down, and they’d toss the money in the overnight bank deposit box.
“No, not really. Doing some studying and bumming around, if Chelsey lets me.”
Her roommate and best friend, Chelsey Coffey, probably wouldn’t let Rina stay in the house this weekend. Chelsey worked in marketing and had a big event planned this weekend that she was sure to try to drag Rina to as her plus-one.
“Well, you let your BFF know if she ever wants to give any tickets away, she can call me,” Alicia volunteered.
“I’ll be sure to let her know.” Rina chuckled as they arrived at the bank. A chill slid down her spine, and her breath caught in her throat. She paused and looked around the empty sidewalk.
“What is it?” Alicia asked, clearly picking up on Rina’s unease.
“Isn’t it weird that we’re the only ones out right now? I mean, usually there are other people coming to do drop-offs now, too,” she murmured, eyeing the empty street.
Both girls drew close together, and Rina carefully took in their surroundings. An eerie feeling crept over her. Usually, other people from the other stores would be making their way out of their stores and heading to the bank as well, but for some reason, Rina and Alicia were the first ones out here.
“Now that you’ve said it, it is a little weird. Let’s hurry.” Alicia motioned for Rina to move to the drop box.
Rina quickly opened the bank’s deposit slot and dropped her bag in. She closed it then opened it again to ensure the money bag had disappeared inside the bank.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Rina said, sliding her purse higher on her shoulder. She reached in and grabbed her keys so she could unlock her car as she approached it.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Alicia muttered.
Lucky enough, the parking lot for employees of the downtown shopping center was located across the street. They scurried over the still-empty road to the lot.
Rina held her purse close to her body, and they entered the parking lot. She turned to Alicia, knowing they would have to separate to get to their personal cars.
“Don’t forget to check your car first then lock the doors when you get in,” Rina said.
These were always the rules that her mother had taught her. Solana Smith, a single mother raising her daughter, had always drilled safety into her head. Her father, Joshua Smith, had died when Rina was a young girl. She really had no memories of her father aside from those her mother shared with her.
“Yes, Mom,” Alicia joked, but Rina was sure her friend would do it. “See you later.”
They gave a quick wave and jogged over to their cars. Rina just couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. She paused by her car and peered through in the windows to ensure no one was in her vehicle. She glanced at Alicia and waved again before watching her friend disappear into her car.
She pushed her thick blonde hair over her shoulders and grabbed the door handle. She looked up and across the lot. A dark figure stood still. She widened her eyes at the size of the…thing.
Not possible.
It didn’t even appear human.
“What in the world?” she muttered, quickly flying into her car.
She hit the lock button and immediately threw her key in the ignition. She didn’t waste any time turning the car on and putting it into drive. She pulled out of her spot and headed toward the street, away from the frightening figure, and checked in her rearview mirror.
It was gone.
“Either this migraine is really getting to me or I’m going crazy.” She guided her car out onto the street and hit the gas. She wanted to put as much distance between her and that parking lot as she could.
She shook her head at the memory of the figure. She had to have been hallucinating. Things like that didn’t exist. Large muscular figures with wings just didn’t inhabit the real world.
Maybe she needed a vacation after all.
