"I really am sorry for interrupting you like this," the stranger said. "My name is Christian Wren. I'm just heading to my aunt's coffee shop for some breakfast and coffee, and you seem to need both of those as well. Do you want to join me?"
"Actually, I was heading to The Hollow Grind Cafe," I said immediately, only slightly taken aback by the kindness of this stranger. "Is that the same one?"
"Yep," he smiled widely, "that's the one. And it's not too far from here. If you want to, you can text someone to tell them you're with a stranger that isn't a serial killer, but if you need my driver's license or anything like that, I'm happy to provide it. My wife is at the cafe already and she can vouch for me."
I started laughing, his humor breaking through the weirdness that took a hold of my mind. "I think I'll trust you, but you should probably lead the way. I'm afraid I would get lost."
"I'll lead, don't worry," he answered with a chuckle, showing with his left arm where we were supposed to go. "And if you don't mind me asking." He turned toward me as we started walking, him with his hands in the pockets of his jacket and me still scanning my surroundings for the creepy crow. "What's your name?"
"Oh, shit," I cursed out loud and looked sideways at him. "That was rude of me. My mom raised me better than that. I'mKaira," I extended my arm toward him, and added, "Kaira Vale," as he grabbed my hand.
The carefree smile slipped from his face and as he gripped my hand, we both stopped in our tracks, all humor erased from his words. "Vale?"
"Uh," I looked at his hand still holding mine. "Yeah. Why?"
He looked around us and then over my shoulder as if he were seeing something behind me. I turned around, but saw nothing but the fog and a barely visible road.
"Christian?"
"Sorry." He shook his head and let go of my hand. "It's just been so long."
"So long since what?" Avoiding my eyes, he started walking again, making me run to catch up with him. "Tell me."
He turned left and it took me a second to see the sign atop the building—The Hollow Grind Cafe. Christian took a deep breath before grabbing the handle of the door, and when he turned toward me, his eyes scanning my face as if he had seen me before, I should've known the weird things wouldn't stop with the crow.
"Since a Vale came to this town."
7
KAIRA
In our family,my mom was the one that loved weird situations. The one that said everything happened for a reason even if we couldn't understand the reason just yet. She was the one who provided guidance when everything seemed to be falling apart, while our dad was a silent force, just nodding at everything she said.
Me, on another hand—I hated thinking that everything happened for a reason, primarily because that meant I wasn't in charge of my own destiny. It meant there was something written somewhere about me and my life and I couldn't live it how I wanted to.
It also meant that some invisible force was pulling me in the direction I had to go, and every single one of my decisions was already written somewhere, just waiting to be revealed in time.
So, yeah, I hated this veil of weirdness and the fact that the moment we entered The Hollow Grind Cafe, the chatter inside seemed to die and everyone's eyes were on me. I hated even thinking about the fact that someone wrote my family was supposed to die in an accident, so I could come to this weird place, searching for answers.
I couldn't help but notice a complete change in Christian's demeanor when he heard my last name, or the fact that he kept looking over my shoulder as if someone was waiting there in the fog, ready to snatch us both. I also didn't miss the way he kept glancing my way and frowning while he did it.
Christian ignored my question when I asked him if he had met another Vale before, and while I didn't use my father's last name when I introduced myself, I wondered if that would be an even bigger red flag for the massive man now standing in front of me, talking with someone behind the counter.
My foot kept tapping against the floor as minutes passed, dread coiling in my gut as I stood there, waiting for something to happen.
I wish my mom were here. I wish Thalia were here. I wish my dad were here, because if they were, they would've been able to calm my nerves.
"I wish you were here, Mom," I murmured, hugging myself as Christian stepped away from the counter, finally revealing the person he was talking to.
An elderly woman stepped in front of the counter and took a step toward me. Her gray hair and kind eyes put me at ease almost immediately, showing a complete contrast to Christian's spooked behavior. I had no idea why he dragged me toward her, but whatever the reason was, I had a feeling she was the one that could help me.
I felt it in my gut as she came closer, her hands clasped in front of her, completely ignoring Christian as he stood behind her, watching me warily. Now he reminded me of the other strangers I had seen on my walk earlier this morning, but it didn't matter. Not anymore.
"You must be Kaira," an elderly lady said, her lips pulling into a smile. "I'm Macy Wren," she added as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "Welcome to Ashbourne, Kaira."
"Uh, thank you?" I didn't mean for it to come out as a question, but with all the weirdness surrounding my arrival to town, I didn't know how to act anymore. She didn't seem to be too taken aback by my cold and confused demeanor and if anything, it only made her smile brighter.
"You're going to have to forgive my nephew." She turned toward Christian. "He was dropped one too many times on his head when he was a baby."
