Choices

Chapter 4 - Choices

Lilith

I walked into Teivel's bakery, a tiny little shop owned by the Johnsons. I kept glancing behind me at every turn I made after meeting that man who had all my instincts telling me to run in the opposite direction.

I was so lost in my need to escape that I didn't even get his name. I had no idea who he was, but he knew who I was, and somehow I knew that wasn't a good thing. Maybe it was in the way he presented himself, or perhaps it was the way he looked at me like I was his next meal. But I just knew that if I saw him again, there would be trouble. The kind of trouble I wasn't sure I was ready for.

As I pulled open the bakery doors, my fingers traced the card in my pocket, the tiny piece of paper now posing as a diminutive form of temptation. The smell of freshly baked bread and cookies filled the air, and I felt my stomach loosen a little.

This was one of my safe places as a kid. It was also the business my best friend's parents owned. I let the familiar smells relax me as the store's warmth warmed up my chilled skin.

I instantly spotted Kylie behind the counter. Her cheeks were rosy, and her smile brightened as she greeted the next customer in line. Her Strawberry blonde hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, but somehow it was still spotted with flour matching her apron. Kylie and I were polar opposites, with her bright personality against my dark and gloomy one, but somehow we worked.

Kylie was probably only one of the only people in this small town who understood why I hated it here; she saw the dark side of Eve and her little posey more times than not.

I hadn't told her I was coming; I hadn't even decided that I was coming myself until I was sitting on the train. This town brought back terrible memories, memories I wished I never had to relive ever again.

"Lilith Porter, my golly, call the news, for we have ourselves a miracle." Kylie practically shrieked as she spotted me and ran around the counter just as the customer left the store. I gave her a tentative smile as I braced myself for her hug.

The sweet smell of baked goods enveloped me as she pulled me into a tight squeeze. I let out a weak laugh as I hugged her back.

"I can't believe you came. I mean," she paused, looking around before she moved closer to whisper in my ear.

"I know how much you hated Eve. So how are you doing? How are you holding up?" She asked me as she ushered me to the back where her mom and a few other employees were working.

"I'm fine," I answer, just before her mother greeted me in a similar fashion to her daughter.

"Lilith, good to see you again. I'm so sorry for your loss. I still can't believe our sweet Eve is gone. And that some monster is still out there walking free after what they did." Mrs.Johnson cried as she pulled me into a hug. I gave her a forced smile.

"Thank you. I'm sure they'll find whoever did it." I muttered. She nodded.

"I saw her that night she passed, you know. I was in the clinic with a bad head cold. She seemed on edge that night, rushing to get out of there. She looked like she was exhausted, too, with dark circles under her eyes and whatnot. It just makes me wonder if maybe I was feeling better, I could have offered her a ride home, and all of this could have been avoided. She would never have gone to Jenny's house and caught the murderer in the act, and they wouldn't have-"

"Mom." Kylie hissed, cutting her off. Mrs. Johnson placed her hand over her mouth and shook her head.

"I am so sorry, Lilith. I didn't mean to say all that. How rude of me, Kylie, take her upstairs. You two take as long as you need. I'll take care of the counter until you're done catching up."

"Thank you, Mrs.Johnson," I muttered before turning to follow Kylie into her apartment.

"Sorry about that, shes been a rambling mess lately. Business has been booming since the Panic room opened up shop just outside of town. She and dad have been working double time to keep up with orders." My stomach turned at the sound of that name, and the card in my pocket suddenly felt a lot heavier.

"So you've been to the Panic room, then? Have you met the owners?" I asked as I took off my jacket.

"Not me personally, but my dad has. He said the place was crazy. Every room has a theme. There is a Casino and a dance club, and people from the city constantly come and go. It's been pumping up the town's morale too. More shoppers, more business. As for the owners, theyre all brothers. I know that much. However, there are rumours about how good-looking they all are. Some even joke about how they must be angels because of how beautiful they are. It's a sin really that I haven't been able to go and find out if the rumours are true for myself, though," Kylie rambled on as she opened her fridge and pulled out two water bottles, handing me one.

"My dad has only ever dealt with Gideon. He's the brother who manages the food that goes in and out of place. The other brothers all kind of keep to their own parts of the business. I've always wanted to go to the Panic room, but I've been too scared to go by myself." She giggled. Her smile faded, though, as she looked at me.

"Why do you ask, anyway?" I shrugged, taking a sip of my water. I debated telling her about my encounter with one of the brothers, but if I were to tell anyone, it would be her. So I decided to bite the bullet and tell her everything, diving into all the details of my awkward and uncomfortable encounter with of the brothers.

She stared at me wide-eyed after I had finished telling her everything.

"We have to go," Kylie said excitedly, and I shook my head.

"Did you not hear anything I just told you? What part of our interaction makes you think I would ever want to see him again? He freaked me out, Ky." Kylie rolled her eyes at me.

"Lil, you are miserable here. Look at you; you hate that you're home. Let's just have some fun with it. You need to let loose, and the Panic room is the perfect spot for it. The chances of running into him there are slim anyways. It's a huge place, from what I've been told, and the brothers are in the city more times than not. We can just go in, check the place out, and then we can leave." I chewed on my lower lip, I didn't really want to go to this place and chance running into that guy again, but I also didn't want to go back home and have to listen to everyone go on and on about how great Eve was.

'What could go wrong?' That little voice encouraged me in the back of my head once again. I sighed, and Kylie's blue eyes lit up in triumph.

I seriously had a death wish when it came to ignoring my gut, but Kylie did have a point, and if what she said was true, the chances of me running into that guy again were slim, especially with all the city people who would be there.

"Fine, we can go, but I still have to return to the house and get ready."

"Ahh, I can't wait. It's going to be worth it, Lil. I promise." We talked a bit more before deciding it was time I headed back to the house, and Kylie practically ran me out of her apartment at that, making our way through the bakery. Her mother shouted goodbye as I left, giving me a box of cookies to take home.

"I'll be outside your house by ten. Make sure to wear something cute." I rolled my eyes, forcing myself to swallow the lump in my throat as the anxiety of what was to come set in.

"See you then." Kylie gave me one more big hug before stepping back into the bakery and leaving me outside in the chill of the fall air, alone, and with my stupid thoughts once again.