Chapter 2

There was a big window on the right side of my bed that opened in the stairway of the motel. I draw those off-white velvet curtains for privacy before going to the shower. I was so relieved to finally have a room for myself and a nice hot shower after traveling for days, barely sleeping on public transport.

I got out of the shower and put on my skinny ripped denim jeans and choker-necked black tee and sat there on the soft bed lined with smooth white sheets and cozy comforter and just observed the calming atmosphere. I was in love with the dark aesthetics of this place. I got up to tie my hair up in a ponytail and stood in front of the dressing table which looked so expensive, antique, and stunning, I opened up the first drawer and the aroma of luxurious wood and polish filled my nostrils. The drawer was empty except there was a beautiful silver necklace I took it out and angled it in front of the light bulb; it was a delicate silver chain with a rainbow moonstone pendant which looked magical in front of the light so I decided to wear it.

Someone's knocking on the door; I went and opened the door.

"Hi, you want to have dinner or starve yourself to death," David said with a grin on his face

"Yeah I was just about to go for dinner" his eyes were on my necklace

"Umm I found it in the drawer ", that is so embarrassing I thought.

He casually scratched his head and said "Shiny. Well let's go"

We went down; the hall is illuminated by warm lights and soft rock music is playing, here are some dudes sitting on a table that were literal clones of David with a minor difference, all covered in tattoos, eyes filled with animalistic rage but overall pretty calm personalities.

There was a group of girls by the bar chatting about something, one of them turned her head and looks at us; brunette hair, brown, eyes and pretty face.

"That's my girlfriend, right there" David pointed towards the girl "Hey Courtney come here," he said. She started to walk towards us.

"Courtney this is Rose, Rose this is Courtney" he introduced us.

"Oh yeah, Davey told me about you".

"I will let you guys talk and become acquainted", David said and got close to Courtney's ear and flirtatiously said, "I will be out with the boys, if it gets late you know where to find me".  Courtney blushed as he kissed her and then left. She sighed and felt a yearning for him then she looked at me and snapped out of it.

"Oh come on Rose let's go. She led me to a table for two.

"What are you going to order?"

"Umm I don't know," I said looking at the menu, "quite a lot of options here what would you say, what should I order?"

"Let me order a steak for you, you will love it. The chefs here make the best steaks, it's self-service here so I am gonna go and place the orders.

"OK cool," I said with a smile as she went away.

I can't get over how beautiful this place is there is a big glass window in front of me with wooden borders. Through this window the mansion was visible, it's so big and breathtaking, tall trees and bushes perfectly loomed towards the mansion from behind.

 Above the window was another rectangular window with stunning mirror work, tinted glasses, and small artistic patterns, as I was marveling at its beauty a light through that window shines through which made little multicolored shapes across the floor. I looked through the big window the light was coming from the mansion. I was trying hard to look if someone is there just out of curiosity but failed to find anyone there.

"Hey food's here" Courtney came with two plates in her hand she is kind of a person who sing-song her sentences a lot.

"Wow that was quick," I said looking at my plate; a medium-rare steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side.

"Yes, it's like magic almost" she chuckled.

"That is so tasty, you were right," I said

"Told ya" she motioned her friend to bring two glasses of wine at the table who was standing by the bar "that is a stunning necklace," she said "Rainbow Moonstone, I have one too but just an ordinary pale moonstone not like yours," she said in a teasing way with a grin on her face.

I looked at her and said with a mouth full of food, "Um... yeah, I love yours too". I couldn't care less at this point honestly, the food is amazing, and I was Starving, there is no need to give an explanation and waste time, I would rather enjoy my food, so what if I just took it to the person who it belongs to obviously shouldn't have left it there, finders keepers.

Courtney's friend arrived with two glasses, and a bottle of the finest wine.

"Thanks, honey," Courtney said, "that's Britney, a very close and loyal friend. Britney this is Rose... she looks at me.

"Rose Miller, nice to meet you" I shook her hand and said, "Hey thanks for the wine" I smiled at her. She looked confused or rather nervous "A...anytime" she stuttered and smiled back.

Courtney stared at her with a smile on her face. Maybe she was asking her to leave.

Britney looked at Courtney and went back to the bar where she was sitting before with her friends.

We're almost done with our food when Courtney poured wine into my glass and said "do you know the purpose of a Moonstone? Especially the one you are wearing" I looked at her with confusion. She continued "it brings balance, harmony, and hope; it also helps strengthen intuition and psychic perception, especially offering us visions of things that aren't immediately obvious.

"Wow, I didn't know. It happens to a lot with me that I dream of something one night, and it comes out to be true after some time like exactly how I see it in my dream. Is it weird?"

"Not weird but mystical and special. Not everybody has that. It's a gift to have a psychic ability." she explains with her eyes gleaming with excitement. I can tell that it is her favorite subject.

"Yes, maybe it is," I said; she smiled as she took a sip from the glass.

"So for how long are you here?" she asked me.

"Just for one night," I said.

"Then where are you going"

"I don't know, again on the road, in the search of a reasonable place to live"

Oh okay.

"It was nice to meet you I have been away from my hometown for years since my parents died I left all of my friends there-

Why did you leave them? She interrupted

"I didn't want anyone or anything that reminded me of the misery and hard times I went through. When my parents died my aunt came and took me with her, she didn't want to leave me by myself in a hard time. I lived with her for 3 years but I wanted to work on myself, start life again so; I collected all the money which my parents left behind and left. She has a life of her own, kids, and a husband. There was no reason for me to be sticking around.

"Rose you're very strong," Courtney said placing her hand on my hand "you don't have to be alone; many of us here were alone before we took them as our friends. I was alone too when Davey found me. We are survivors and we have to stick together," she said with tightening her grip on my hand.

I Smiled. She took her hand away.

"It's getting late I should go to sleep," I said while yawning.

"Sure get some rest," she said as she finished her drink.

Well, what about the bill how much do I have to pay.

"It has already been taken care of, don't worry," she said as she got up from the chair.

 "No, no. I will pay." I insisted

"Not today, I told you, no formalities we are friends now right? She winked at me with a smile and walks away.

I was so tired so I got up and went straight to my bed.