Chapter 13

Diana

I don’t walk back out with the job.

Apparently, they had just hired someone yesterday- I'm literally just a few hours late. 

I’m not discouraged though. I have a whole pamphlet full of restaurants, diners and cafes. I’m sure I’ll get something.

I leaf through the pamphlet for the nearest one and realize it’s quite far.  I would take a cab there but unfortunately, I’m broke as hell.

Slipping my hand into my pocket, I take out the crumpled bills I have left and count them. The balance makes me wince. With the pitiful amount I have left, there’s barely enough for one more meal. And then after that, I’m screwed. 

Thankfully, I had paid for a day's stay at the motel so I at least have shelter for the next few days. But unless I get a job soon, I’m out in the streets.

Well, walking it is then. 

Five restaurants, four cafes and one bar later, and my earlier optimism has been stumped to dust. I realise just how naive I had been.

It is incredibly hard to find employment.

To be honest, I don’t even care what kind of job it is. A cook, a waitress, a cleaner…anything. As long as it’s able to bring me some form of income then I’ll do it. But no luck.

I walk out of yet another restaurant after being told that they’re currently not hiring. Though, by the way, the manager had looked me up and down with barely concealed disgust, it might have had more to do with my thrift and obviously oversized clothing than the fact that they didn’t need any more help. It probably also doesn’t help that I look dusty sweaty and unkempt after a long day of walking in the hot sun.

I look up only to find that the sun has begun to set. I have spent the whole day looking and I have nothing to show for it. 

“Shit” I can’t help but curse, running a hand down my face, disappointment weighing heavily on my shoulders.

I bring out my money and count them once more and I can’t help but curse again.

My throat feels tight and the back of my eyes sting with tears. Nothing is working out as I had hoped. But what in my life ever has?

I debated going to the next establishment but if what the disgruntled manager had said was true, the place is at least an hour-long walk from here.

Biting my lip, I contemplate the wisdom in even doing so. If I go, the distance back to the motel will be even longer and the night would be even later.

Travelling alone, I have come to understand that the human world isn’t as safe as I assumed it would be. Especially for women- and nights are the worst.

I finally decide to go back to the motel and try again tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure to wake up even earlier to give myself a head start…

The door abruptly opens behind me, making me jump and squeal. A face peeps out and I recognize him as one of the waiters at the restaurant. 

“Hey!” he calls when his eyes land on me.

“You’re looking for a job right?”

It takes me a second to calm myself and nod-

“Yeah…” 

He nods, “There’s a gas station nearby that’s in need of a salesperson. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from here. It doesn’t really pay much but if you’re not picky, you can try your luck there”.

My heart rate picks up and my eyes widen in excitement. 

“Really?!” Hope blossoms inside me. I had already made up my mind to give up for today.

“Yeah…” he nods.

“How do I get there?” I quickly ask. There’s no gas station listed in the pamphlet- 

He gestures, “Take the next right turn and keep going down, you can’t miss it”.

“Thank you”, I say, even I can hear how bright my voice is.

He smiles and nods. A voice calls from inside the restaurant and he quickly closes the door.

I shift from one foot to the other as I wonder what to do next. Should I just go back to the motel and check out the gas station tomorrow morning or should I just go to there now?

I look up once again…it really is getting late.

But what if someone else takes the job before I get there tomorrow?

I worry my lip in anxiety.

He did say it is only a twenty-minute walk… 

After a minute of nervous contemplation, I decide to check it out.

Using the directions I had gotten, and true to his words, I find myself in front of a gas station. However, the location makes me uneasy.

The gas station is all the way at the end of the road and there are no other buildings around. The street lights are mostly dead, and with it being night, the visibility is low. The place is old and rundown, and the forest that surrounds it on three sides makes the place even more eerie.

I tentatively walk closer, and stop. I squint, trying to see the place clearer from a safe distance. There’s a ‘Help Wanted’ sign hanging on the door and the inside is brightly lit. I can even see a boy manning the counter from here. 

Releasing a sigh of relief, I keep approaching. The closer I get to the gas station, the more I can see that it’s just a normal store inside. However, right before I step off the asphalt, my instincts scream that something is wrong.

I halt, my eyes darting all over the place, trying to locate the danger. One thing I have come to trust after these past couple of weeks are my instincts.

My eyes stop on a darkened corner of the gas station and find a group of men- I quickly count, there are four- leaning against a pillar. The curling smoke around them tells me that they’re smoking.

That uneasy feeling grows even stronger and I nervously take a step back. Warning red lights flash in my mind when I realize that they have seen me.

Everything in me warns that these men are bad news… 

They might all be human but it makes no difference. As a wolfless Were, with about the same strength and agility as the average human female, I have absolutely no hope of fighting them off should they decide to do anything.

I’ll just come back tomorrow.

I start to retreat but then the men start walking towards me.

“Hey! Come closer… where’re you going?” one of them calls.

My heart pounds loudly in my chest as my hands start to tremble, terror snaking its way down my spine.

“Hey! We just wanna talk to you, c’mon!”