FOUR: Cake Parfait 1

Danica

"Dani, slow down for mom. Please don't run too far." Mom's voice echoes in my mind on the night of my birthday; the last night I spent with my parents.

Laughing, I splash about the puddles of water on the tarred pedestrian path as we neared Westminster Bridge.

"Seriously Dani, I need you to stop now."Mom cautions.

"Listen to your mom Dani." Dad's voice halts me to a stop and I turn with a pout.

"But I want to play some more, it's my birthday." I demand with an angry tone.

As carefree as I am, I continued with splashes about more puddles when suddenly,

"Danica Stewart..." Mom shouts but at the same time, a bright light illuminates the dark environment; blinding my sight momentarily.

I squat quickly on the ground with hammering heart; startled from the sudden shock, I begin to cry.

"Mom..." I scream, prying my eyes open after a brief moment of silence; after I didn’t hear a single sound from my parents or a pair of hands pulling me into a warm embrace, one I’m very much familiar with.

My entire body remains in shock, my knees tremble vigorously.

That moment, all I wanted was mom's embrace; to listen to her voice and allow it calm me.

However the first sight I see are their bodies, burnt on the ground with horrifying expressions. The same way the bodies in the images I'm looking at now are burnt.

I can feel the loud painful pangs of my heart now as I remember how my pain stricken filled screams rent the air as I call out repeatedly to my parents.

My hands remain frozen on my laptop, my eyes glued to the screen.

"Dani!" Harry's voice startles me out of my daze. "Are you alright? You became pale as a ghost as soon as you saw the images. You can sit this one out—"

"NO, I mean it's alright and I'm okay." Mustering a smile I turn towards him before turning back to my laptop.

It's been twenty five years. No one believed me. They called me a nut case for trying to tell them what really happened that night.

Now it's happened again. No from these bodies, it's been happening.

I grab my jotter and a pen quickly and jot down the vicinity of the crime scene, making up my mind to check it out later when an advert suddenly pops up on my screen.

"Discover the mystery behind your fate with Celeste." Shrugging, I cancel the advert and return to my page to read through comments.

Then clicking on filter comment to “most relevant”, I settle down to read.

“Finally someone gets me,” a comment draws my attention. “I’ve always wondered about the feral behavior of my cat.” Releasing a disappointed sigh, I roll my eyes at the attention seeker.

“You are right Danica, I have a great belief that there are other worlds existing other than ours; even though I have never had an encounter. I would love to though, I very much want to leave this world.” I read another comment.

“Geez these people are psychos.” Harry laughs at my comment

“Tell me about it, where do we work?” He replies.

A chuckle escapes my lips.

“Yeah right, but just take a look these comments. Listen to this one.” I read out the next comment to him.”

“Hello Danica, one time at midnight, I sat at my balcony and I could have sworn I saw a shadow, it had glowing eyes and it just stood and stared at me. When I got closer I discovered nothing was there but piled up furniture.”

Reading the statement to Harry places me in a puzzled state as I re-read again in my mind; a shadow with glowing eyes? I furrow my brows.

"He probably must have been on drugs. Who sits at the balcony at midnight?” Harry leans in with a loud chuckle and goes through a few more comments on my laptop.

Shaking his head, “they are supposed to talk about bizarre happenings not casual house accidents or their carelessness; some are just craving attention. Jeez!” Harry realizes an irritated sigh that seemed very much hilarious.

Chuckling softly at his response, I continue the scan still pondering about the shadow with glowing eyes when suddenly I pause.

“Harry.” I call. My whole attention is focused on the screen.

“What now? More psychos?”

“No, No. I think I just got a gig.” I bark a reply absentmindedly.

“What?” I feel his sudden movement as he leans in again.

“Check it out.” I say, turning the laptop towards him.

“I KNOW WHO THEY ARE, MEET AT BROWNS VICTORIA. 5PM.” We remain in silence staring at each other with wide eyes until the ring on my phone snaps us back to reality.

Grabbing my phone, I take a quick check; Logan. I ignore the call and throw the phone into my chain mini bag before sliding across my shoulders.

The gently closing the system, I push my chair backwards.

“You are going to go to that place? It could be a prank message.” Harry gives me a surprised look.

“Of course I’m going there. When have I ever been afraid of anything Harry; besides it's a public place."

“True… but it’s almost time Dani, you sure you gonna make it?

“I have an hour left. I will.” I dart out of the office, feeling grateful for my outdoor research badge.

“Dani?” I can hear Harry’s voice, the rest of his statement blending with the other sounds of workers in floor 10.

“Oh and please tell Brie, I will be back in time for tonight, drinks on me remember.” Beaming, I shut the door behind me in extremely high spirits.

I dash to the elevator and press 0, to the parking lot.

Once again, I’m back to listening to the car radio as I feel the cool breeze blow my face.

I’ll be there in twenty two minutes, even less; I brag stepping on the gas but as I round a major bend, the sight of lined up cars welcomes me.

“Shit… not today, please not today.” Drawing closer to a traffic jam, I take a quick look at my wrist watch, running my hands through my hair.

I bite on my lower lip as my mind recounts the shadow with glowing eyes and whom I’m supposed to meet in less than an hour’s time.

I still have time, releasing a breath; I crane my neck out the window in hope to catch a view of what’s happening up front but to no avail.

My situation however seems to worsen as I frustratedly begin to hunk my car horn in tune with other cars lined up in front and behind me.

“Jeez… What the hell?” I vent my frustrations on the steering. This traffic jam is one that seldom happens in this locale except there is ongoing road maintenance or there’s been an accident.

“Ahhhhh! Common?” I hunk the horn some more as time passes by fast.

At about 4:50pm, I successful escape the jam but looking at the time again, I realize I still have about fifteen minutes top to get to Brown’s Victoria.

Why would that person even choose Browns’? That expensive place. Sighing, I step on the gas, overtaking more cars than usual and honking at others blocking my way.

This however does not award me a first place against time as I arrive Browns at five minutes past five. Leaving my car outside, I rush in quickly but immediately halt as I am caught by the ambience of the restaurant.

Maybe it’s because I have never noticed or stopped to eat here. Maybe I’ve never thought to eat here. My mouth falls open as my eyes takes in the interior.

I may not know the interior decorators but they did a really amazing job. Eating here will be definitely worth it, as not only your mouth but also your eyes will be fed.

Swallowing, I walk gently, looking down and redressing my wear.

Who wears a jean and an oversized jumper to a place like this? Refusing to let that thought sink in, I shake my head, rolling my eyes as I take a seat.

No, wait, what was I initially here for? Racking my brain, I gasp as the comment flashes through my mind again.

Oh shoot, checking the time, I scan around.

5:20pm, shit.

All I see are some elderlies dining together, a young couple and a few more persons entering and going out of the restaurant.

“Good evening miss?”

“Stewart.” I muster a smile amidst my confusion to the petite blonde waitress.

She returns a smile, “Ms. Stewart, welcome to Browns Victoria. What would you like to have?”

“Uh!” My eyes scan energetically, for someone who should have found me by now. Has that person left? I bite my lips in deep thoughts as that energetic feeling begins to turn into desperation.

“Ms. Stewart?”

“Yeah! Sorry” Startled by the sudden call, I involuntarily pick up a book of which I think should be the menu book and open it before closing it abruptly with a strained gasp.

“Are you okay Ms. Stewart?” The petite blonde says with a smile.

“Uh… Yeah, yeah.” Why the hell are the prices so high? How can I afford this, that's almost my life savings for just a meal? Smiling hard, I murder the remaining statement in my mind, before grabbing the book and making an effort to start again.

When suddenly, the door pushes open. His height is the first thing I notice, followed by his shoulders, hair, lips; how he walks.

It feels like even time stopped to watch him. Staring, I remain dumbfounded, holding onto the menu book, but forgetting my initial purpose.

Damn!

The waitress voices snaps me back to reality and I blink multiple times, then revert to lusting after him.

What are you doing Dani? I shake my thoughts and flip through the book hiding my face as he passes through my table to the reception.

Wait, was there actually a reception? Why didn’t I notice that?

“Excuse me?” I call the staring waitress’ attention back to me. “Over there,” I point towards the back of that person. Damn even his back is hot.

“What do they get there?” I ask shaking off my lustful thoughts.

“Cake Parfaits and other confectioneries.” Her face shows a hint of irritation, probably for calling her attention.

Ignoring her expression, I gaze at my watch once more. 5:30pm.

Sighing, I scan around again, do I wait some more? Turning my attention back to the waitress, I reply her.

“Okay, thanks. I know cake parfaits.” I grinned, hoping the prices will be same as the usual I buy.

Choosing to still wait a while, I stand, resolving to get the parfait.

“I’ll just get the parfait.” Mustering yet another grin, I begin to walk towards the reception.

But just as I approach, my phone rings and taking a sneak peak, I feel a force and my phone falls.

“Oh my, so so—?” Looking back up, I pause abruptly, gazing into the most striking eyes I have ever seen.

His eyes are golden, and oddly familiar. Those eyes, where have I ever seen them?

Locking eyes with him for a moment, I feel completely overwhelmed and as I begin to feel hot everywhere, my shy eyes peels off his and washes down his body.

However, just as I see the big patch of whipped cream on his shirt, my eyes widens.

“Uh…” I am not responsible for that am I? I bite my lower lip at that thought.

Feeling his intense gaze on me but refusing to return it, I focus on the patch, blurting out the very first word that comes to mind.

“Did I do that?”