The Law of Night

LAW OF NIGHT

CHAPTER ONE

Time moved around me in a blur. I couldn’t focus on it or anything. It was a time in my life when nothing mattered. I didn’t want to focus on life or responsibility or consequences. I ran from everything that was too difficult to cope with and settled down in the middle of nowhere looking for the easiest solution to scrape by.
When the opportunity came up to work part time in an old bookstore I jumped at the job. I worked afternoons with a sweet older woman named Lucy, Lucy Cole. It wasn’t the glamorous life I’d always dreamed of but I found it peaceful from the messed up stress I’d left behind.
After a few months of getting into the routine I’d all but forgotten why I’d come to Haven. It was the first day of summer and the sun was shining brightly when I pulled into the parking lot. I pushed up my sunglasses and got out of the car. I hit the lock button and strolled into the bookstore smiling softly at the chimes that announced me.
“Kali is that you hun?” Lucy called from the storage room.
“Yeah,” I said moving to the back office clocking in. “How’s business?” I queried.
“Slow,” she sighed walking out with a handful of books. “I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I took off.”
“Leaving me in charge huh?” I teased grabbing the books from her easily. “Are these reshelves?”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I hope this isn’t an inconvenience hun.”
“Nah it’s cool,” I assured moving around the bookstore deftly putting back the books. “Go on have fun with George I’ll be fine.”
I glanced over and Lucy blushed slightly, “oh you,” she grinned shooing me with her hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said waving a goodbye leaving the store with a chime.
I did my walk through checking the shelves for any misplacement’s. I just finished the horror section when the door chimed. I glanced to the front of the store and saw a shadow figure move fast to the right out of my line of view. My stomach sank with fear and I knew Lucy would be laughing at me.
She chastised me many times for hiding in the office while a male customer looked around. I told her precaution kept people alive she said I watched to many horror movies growing up in the big city. We opted to agree to disagree. She’d laugh and I hid. It was a thing.
I slid to the right trying to see who came in but the shadow form moved down an isle keeping out of my sight. I fought the urge to lock myself in the office and wait for the person to leave. So I did the next best thing I breathed out and steeled myself. I made my way to the counter in the middle of the store staying a few isles away from the form.
When I reached the counter I slid my hand beneath the Formica counter top and pulled down the two small pocketknives I had taped up under it. I lowered one slipping it into the ankle of my boot tugging my pants around it. I retracted the blade of the other cupping it my hand.
I sat down on the stool and waited watching the front door anxious for another customer, for anyone to come in. My spine ached from sitting so stiffly. I knew in my gut this held a level of insanity. It didn’t seem to change the fact that I was determined whoever was lurking through the shadows of the bookstore was a threat.
I heard the floorboard creak behind me and all of my hyped up nerves failed. I stood fast whirling on the potential enemy. I saw him standing at the far end of the row before he ducked left again. I tightened my grip on the blade and backed up toward the front door.