Chapter 4

Lilith POV

My first time alone in the city wasn't what I expected it was a bit of a nerve-racking roller coaster. I thought it would be similar to yesterday, but I guess it's because it was a Sunday, but where I'm from even Mondays were scanty.

Most persons were in formal wear like I was, but my black knee-length skirt, white long-sleeved blouse, and brown flat shoes were no match to what they wore, it's like some office designer kind of thing.

I walked the streets hoping I could see a sign that indicates I could get coffee nearby, or even tea will do. I was already late but I skipped breakfast and the Vodka shots from last night made me nauseous.

Finally, I think I might have found a place,

“Star...bucks?” I slowly said. Well, people were leaving the building with cups of coffee and shakes, so I guess this will do. I pushed a glass door that had a push and pull sign hanging on the knob, inside was very busy with people coming and going with their coffees and various unidentified drinks. I joined a line leading up to the cashier, cursing inward about the slow pace they were going.

The people of the city aren't friendly though, I swore I have said good morning to possibly everyone I crossed paths with, but they pretended not to hear, it's like I didn't exist to them.

At last, I was up next to order,

“Hey good morning, Can I get a—” I looked at the menu board not knowing any of the items but anything under 'coffee' must be hot. “Can I get a Caa... puss... eno?”

The cashier confusingly looked at me, “Do you mean Cappuccino?”

I smiled away my embarrassment and only nodded.

“That will be five dollars,” I fumbled through my backpack looking for the lowest bill I had, I know it's weird because I could have given any bill my hand caught first, but it's just my flaw.

“You're not from around here, are you?” the waiting cashier questioned. I was holding up the line, and the persons behind were getting impatient with my clumsiness, God I need a purse,

“You can tell that easily huh?” I challenge her sarcasm. Of course, I'm not from around here. Or nowhere at all, my hometown isn't even on a map and it's like we...don't exist.

Finally, I found a five-dollar note,

“Here you go” I smiled and hand her the money. She looked up from the cash register before her, staring into my eyes,

“Cool contacts, never seen that color on anyone, where did you buy them?” I was puzzled by her compliment,

“Contacts?” What on earth is she talking about, I don't wear contacts.

“Yea, your eyes...purple contacts right? Just need to know the shade,” she asked.

I have never worn contact lenses before, the color of my eyes was almost unnoticeable because they were closest to black leaning slightly to purple. I remember my parents telling me it's a rare disease that didn't need treatment, because it only affected my eye colors but not my health.

I thought others knew about this incurable illness they speak of, and the color of my eyes was an obvious diagnosis of whatever I had. So I tend not to make direct eye contact with people, I didn't want them to think my disease was contagious.

“I'm... I'm sorry,” insecurities washed over me and I looked away,

“This is my natural eye color, I've never worn contacts before, but I can assure you it's not contagious, so please don't call me out in front of all these people,”

“Okay... ” she started at me filled with fright and discomfort, “Whatever you say,” she scoffed. She handed me a little piece of paper with my order on it, I took it and as I walked away, I heard her muttering,

“Fucking weirdo, Next customer.”  and I didn't retaliate, I could start by telling her about her badly waxed eyebrows, but I'm not a person who argues, so I avoided confrontations. I collected my coffee and went on my way, I will not make anyone control my happiness, no one deserves that kind of power. I stood at the sidewalk watching each cab passing me by.

Suddenly one drove up right next to me,

“Hello, little lady, where can I take you today.” I smiled at how polite he was, he seemed a bit young but that didn't stop him from being considerate. He wasn't like the other cab drivers I saw, he was different. He had no passengers and I sure he must have driven past a few, I was a bit hesitant at first, knowing there are people in this world who hurt others for no reason, for example, those two girls that went missing from my hometown. One year ago they vanished without a trace, but I am late, I don't have another minute to spare.

“Yes, thank you, but I'm not from here and I don't know my way to The Decom University, I'm almost behind my orientation by two hours and I don't know if you kind enough to carry me, I'll pay any amount is it you need.”

“Lucky for you, I was heading that way, hop in, ”

At last, I was on my way to meet the people I'll spend the next couple of years learning with, My thoughts had me sitting in silence at the back, stomping my feet in nervousness.

“You're already late you know, it isn't like they can kick you out or anything,” The handsome cab driver tried to make conversation. His sharp blonde hair was neatly combed through with tiny visible waves,

“It's my first day, and I got up early and I... I don't know what happened after that,” I explained. He kept stealing glances at me in the reverse rearview mirror, and that's when I noticed his gold eyes.

“Went back to sleep and overslept?”

“No, I kind of over showered,” He chuckled lowly at my silliness,

“Over showered? Never heard of it, people tend to freshen up a little hastier when they got somewhere important to be, some might not even shower at all, ” I burst into laughter, not remembering I was nervous a couple of minutes ago, I know he's only making conversation because he wanted to cheer me up, and I found it sweet because he's probably...well most definitely the nicest person I've met in the city.

“And we are here,” he pulled up in front of a building, The DeCom University in bold words were plastered at the entrance.

“How much is it?” I asked him, fumbling through my bag. I need a purse, “That's ok, enjoyed this little talk, but I was on my way here anyway, shall we?”

“Sure thing,” on his way here? Well he is too young to be a professor, was he a student, and he did cab services part-time to pay for school?. Well, not be a bitch or anything, but I am glad my parent sacrifice every little they could to afford tertiary education because the struggles are out there. He got out of the driver's seat and noticed how tall he was, and how his t-shirt clung to his body, imprinting his torso, we both walked through the school big, metal gates, I was looking around as we walked but the cab driver wasn't fascinated like I was, he was just staring at me.

“What's that on your neck, boyfriend can't keep his hands off you?” he asked.

I rubbed my neck in embarrassment, knowing It's a possibility I hurt my self in the shower while thinking about an imaginary man with horns sticking out of his forehead.

“No...no boyfriend here, just a bug bite,” I explained.

“Oh well, I guess this is where we go our separate ways, go straight ahead, first door on your right, guessed you're a freshman so good luck,” he said.

“Thank you, and I want to say you're the nicest person I've met so far and the world needs more people like you. See you around,”

I walked away briskly because even if it's a few minutes remaining of the orientation, I needed to be there.

“Not everyone is as nice as they seem Lilith! folks like me are the reason why humanity needs your help,”

I stood dead in my tracks at his words, humanity needs me? Most importantly, my name... I don't remember telling him my name.

“How did you know.......” but when I turned around he was gone, vanished.

Maybe he ran back to his cab to grab something, but what a creep he turned out to be, day two in the city and I've got a school stalker, and changing room sicko to deal with, can this get any worse?

“First door to the right,” I kept muttering to myself as I walked in the hallway, It was exactly where he said it would be. I took a deep breath before entering the room, a female instructor stood before a group of students and my grand late entrance, had everyone staring at me.

Shit!