PICK YOU UP SOON. CAN’T WAIT FOR OUR DATE.
She scanned the screen of her phone again. Patrick’s text message made her anxious while she ignored the evening park attendees that passed by her or stopped to ask for directions to the Neptune Cove exhibits and shows. Pulse racing, blood pumping, Sandra began to develop a nervous habit of playing with a strand of her black hair trying to keep her composure on her first date. Face it, she was a nervous wreck.
After hearing that Sandra would be going on her first date, her boss Clee excitedly gave her an extended thirty minute break to freshen up, upon the agreement that she reveal everything that happened on her outing. Finding a vacant park bench, Sandra sat down to relax as she thought of something else to occupy her mind.
Removing from her bag the book that the Gregory sisters gave to her, The Tale of the Sirens Four, she began to open the cover. Similar to the old drawings of the lost picture book her mother had, she noticed that the text contained an old epic poem format.
The Tale of the Sirens Four
As Atlantis was drowned into the sea
Poseidon cursed its people for eternity,
With the body of man and that of a fish
A spell only broken through a single wish.
From true sisters of the sea
Born mortal by Poseidon’s decree,
Heirs to the Atlantean throne
Lost on land to find their way home.
Begotten by King Atlas’s blood
To learn the dark truth of the Great Flood,
To conclude the tragedy of this story
By returning Atlantis to its former glory.
Daughters of magic. Sisters of the sea.
Destined to set this great kingdom free,
Return once was lost to what was before
Through the unison of the Sirens Four!
Turning the last page of the book, she noticed some final words written cryptically at the bottom.
To know truth is to conceal it through deception
Until time reveals all through its inception
Sandra sat for a moment before pondering the words. These were written as prophecies by the sea seer Aoide before someone Atlantean royal named Gadeirus. She recalled her dreams. The woman wearing robes with dark hair overlooking the sea. No it couldn’t be! Could it?
It had to be! The enigmatic female in her dreams was that of Aoide. How was that possible?
She stared off into space attempting to make sense of everything. Then she glanced at her watch. Her thirty minute break was up. Time to get back to work.
Nine o’clock rolled around as the last customer left the gift shop. With the cash register counted, merchandise put away, and the lights turned off Cleito and Sandra stepped outside to lock the door.
“It’s getting dark. Do you want me to wait for you until Patrick comes?” asked Clee. Despite the fact that Cleito Richards was her boss, she had a maternal side to her that Sandra appreciated.
“No Clee you go on ahead,” said Sandra. “I’ll be fine. Patrick will be here shortly.”
A buzz rang off on her phone. Sandra pressed the button on her mobile to read the lighted message on her screen.
JUST FINISHING UP. MEET ME BY THE DOLPHIN POOL NEAR THE PARK’S FOOD COURT.
“See he sent me a text,” she told Clee showing her the phone message.
“Okay Sandra but you be safe now on your date,” Clee replied. “Just tell me all about it the next time you come in for work.”
“Promise Clee.”
Sandra watched as Cleito walked in the opposite direction. Moonlight gleamed in the night sky among the twinkling stars in the darkness.
Full moon tonight. Can anything else be more perfect?
Taking out her phone, she texted a message sending it to her aunt and uncle.
GOING ON MY DATE. WILL BE HOME AT MIDNIGHT. THANKS AGAIN. LOVE YOU!
Slipping the mobile device in her pocket, Sandra began walking toward the direction of the food court. As she passed the empty exhibits of the park, she took note of how quiet Neptune Cove gets when it empties out. Finally, she arrived at the deserted food court noticing the closed signs on the eateries locating a chair nearby to sit in. Dark shadows danced around the full moon’s rays while she waited patiently for Patrick to make an appearance.
The crunching sound of leaves near the dolphin pool startled her.
“Patrick, is that you?” she called out.
No answer.
“Patrick if you’re playing a joke to scare me,” Sandra started. “This isn’t funny.”
A large breeze passed behind her as she attempted to turn around. She inhaled the aroma of a sweet smelling vapor into her lungs causing her legs to loose sensation, feel wobbly, and finally collapse beneath her weight. Strong pressure of a wet cloth pressed against her mouth and nose as she began losing consciousness. Sandra tried to fight but couldn’t. Her body would not allow her to do so.
She finally gave in as she stared at Chip Laughlin’s evil face as she began to drift off into sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment