3

Two hours and forty five minutes later, she landed in Orlando's airport. She looked around with a bright smile on her face as she took in the people and children. She felt a step closer to accomplishment. Yes, she felt anxious and excited.... Definitely more excited than anxious, but nothing was in her way. Sure her rubber band had broken in the plane and her hair had come down long and heavy and was Currently trying to blind her, nothing else, was in her way. With a bounce in her step, She got her bag and walked out of the airport. It really was a great sight. The fresh air, sun high in the sky, the smell of something hot.... Was that lasagna?!? Her mouth watered. Ugh! No Eleanor. You can't eat now.... Wait, Why not? It was like a normal lunch break, right? Besides, she didn't get to eat breakfast. She crossed over and went into Marcello's restaurant. The aroma flirted with her senses.

"Hello, fine Lady." A Chef wearing a chef's apparel greeted her. She smiled.

"Hello, Sir" He looked fatherly with his round body, cute smile and bouyant aura. "Can I get a table?"

"Right this way". She was led to a table right by the window. Small and cute. She sat and looked up at the man

"My name is Marcello Andrea. Today is Lasagna Tuesday. Would you like that? Or, some chilled lemonade to start off with? We also serve salad "

"Oh the lasagna please. I smelled it from outside and I couldn't control myself"

Marcello laughed loudly "A beautiful lady that can eat! Of course, my dear!" He said and left. Eleanor took that time to look around the restaurant. It wasn't too big but wasn't small either with a very very homey and warm feeling to it. The people already eating there all had smiles or a relaxed look on their faces. She also really liked that the owner of the restaurant cooked and interacted with his customers.

"Here we are" Marcello spoke as he returned with a plate of blazing hot lasagna, that emitted the most alluring aroma, she dug right in. Her taste buds exploded and she moaned in bliss

"You like it, I'm guessing?"

She grabbed his chubby hand "Please Marcello, you have to give me the recipe"

Marcello laughed and pat her hand with his other one "We'll see about that if you come back again, miss"

"Oh please, we're future recipe buddies now. My name is Eleanor. Eleanor Bella Starr"

"Bella? Any Latina heritage?"

She smiled cutely "My mom's Italian"

"Aha! With your hair, skin color and beauty, I knew there was something to you! Wait here while I get you a drink" and Marcello was off. He came back with some grape juice and a plate of Trofie Al pesto with pasta twists

"I just made this. Taste it and tell me what you think"

"Oh, Marcello, no. I'm just a customer-"

"Nonsense, Eleanor! Future recipe buddies. Now eat."

Ella smiled and took a spoonful. Her groan was deep from within her soul "Dios! È cosi incrédible!"

Marcello Smiled "Would you call it the best you've ever had?"

"Honestly, it almost is. You need to meet my mamma. You'll love her!" She dug in with gusto while Marcello sat with her and they laughed and talked for a long while.

"Marcel! Please, my ribs hurt. Don't make me laugh anymore" Ella said while tears fell from her eyes. She'd laughed herself sore. "I feel bad for stealing you from your other customers"

"Nonsense! They have all been attended to by my staff and i love your company!"

"I love your company and food!"

Marcello laughed "Dolce ragazza." He pat her cheek. He was like her own grandfather. She took a look at her phone. 4:44pm. She exhaled

"I have to go now, Marcel. I'm sorry I can't stay longer"

"It's fine. As long as you come back again?"

"You bet! Thank you" she got up and hugged him "how much do I owe?"

"You made me laugh so hard. That's payment enough. Leave it"

"What? No. Marcel, I have to. This was such a wonderful experience. Let me pay with my flimsy money" she pouted.

"Silly girl." He pushed her out "Come again, Eleanor" and pressed a kiss to both her cheeks. She exhaled as guilt formed. "Marc-"

"I see you're stubborn" he narrowed his eyes at her

She smiled cheekily "That's why you love me"

He Chuckled "How about you make me something nice the next time you're coming?"

She nodded "Deal!" Shook his hand, picked up her bag and waved to him as she crossed the road to take a cab. She realized that she had not asked Marcello about the way to.... Anywhere at all! Surely, she could find her way with a cab. She called one up and she bent when he wound down

"Hello sir" she pulled her hair out of the way "I'm going to Lake Creek"

She watched his eyes widen as he began to mumble something in... Was that fear? She heard a mumbled ".... doom" before he wound up his window and zoomed off. She stood back quickly in shock. Doom? What was that?! She managed to get another cab and also bent as he wound down

"Hello, miss. Where to?"

"Hello sir, Lake Creek please"

The man stared at her for a while before bursting into laughter. She frowned, not getting what the laughter was about.

"Nice one. Really miss, where to?"

Now she was irritated "Lake Creek"

He kept looking, then something clicked and a look of bewilderment and horror crossed his face

"You're serious?"

She exhaled and nodded "Yes. Can you ta-"

He took off faster than you could say bolt! She frowned, half in anger, half in curiosity. What was wrong with the taxi drivers? If they couldn't go, why not just say so Instead of trying to feed her feet to their Tyres?! Something wasn't right... Which was exactly why she was here. She nodded to herself in determination and decided to walk down the road a bit. She got to the junction and stood

"Hey beautiful. Looking for me?" She heard from behind her and turned. By the side of the wall, she found a group of men, casually leaning against the wall, smoking and currently oogling her. Okay... Not weird at all

"Uhm... No, but can you please help me?"

The one who seemed to be their leader, stepped up "Anything you want"

She took a step back when he came closer and chuckled in anxiety "Okay. I need to get to Lake Creek. Know anywhere I can get a cab?"

He backed up and regarded her with skeptical eyes "Why?"

She blinked, not expecting that question "Personal reasons"

"Do you have a death wish"

"Excuse me?"

"Look sweetie, you're very beautiful, which is why I'll tell you this. Go home"

She got curious "Why is everyone scared of the place?"

He got even closer "Don't wait to find out. Leave. Boys!" He called and they all left after giving her weird looks. Eleanor bit her lip... Huh.... It bothered her but it was all too..... Interesting. Just as she was about to walk, a hand gripped her shoulder. She screamed and spun around where her eyes met bloodshot eyes! She stumbled back. A tall, scrawny looking, crazy haired man with, weird enough, nice looking clothes, faced her.

"Hello" his voice was deep and dry. Eyes very red and wide. No smile or emotion shown, whatsoever

"Uh, wh- hi. Hello" she stuttered, trying to get her racing heart to calm down.

"You going to Lake Creek?"

She nodded "Yes. Yes, I am"

He stretched forth his hand and her heart rate picked up again. His hands had almost no skin. She could see his veins and bones. His finger nails and tips were rimmed with black, like he had dug the ground with his bare hands.

"I'll take you. Give me your bag"

She looked from his hand to his face that made her heart race... Not in a good way, and back to his hand. Did she really have a choice? He was the only one willing. He even approached her. Others took off and she really had to go there. Mind made up, she inhaled and gave him her bag while asking "You got a cab?"

He nodded and took her bag and she could swear she heard his fingers crack while he closed them around her bag handle. He only nodded and turned to walk down the road. After a while, he stopped, looked at her over his shoulder and said "I'm Carl" and kept walking. She inhaled shakily and nodded

"I'm Eleanor". He didn't respond. After thirty seconds of walking, they stopped in front of a green cab and they got in, no more words were spoken as he placed her bag on the back seat and drove off.