Bab 2: Far away

THE YOUNG GIRL DOESN'T KNOW IF SHE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL the story has finally come to an end or cry at the fact that it ended so sadly. She doesn't enjoy listening to stories or watching movies because she is never satisfied with their endings.

"What do you think about the story?" The old lady closes up the giant book, looking up to smile at the young girl.

Suddenly, more lights in the bookstore turn on and it is as though, the lights went off intentionally to set a tense atmosphere to the story session. The old lady's question seems to unsettle the girl as she shifts her weight on one foot, looking around the well-lighted book store, already eager to leave. "Uh, it was nice." She finally speaks after long, dreadful twenty minutes.

The old lady frowns, intertwining her fingers and leaning on the cold, wooden desk. "Is that all you have to say?"

She tightens her lips, getting offended by the old lady's words. She initially didn't want to hear the story but she still gives a better reply in order not to upset the woman. "They all did the right thing. What is evil, is evil and it should be ended."

A smile slowly creeps up the old lady's lips, "That's a good answer. You are right." She seems content with the replies of the teenage girl. "Do you want to hear another story?"

"No." Her voice increases in volume, which startles the old woman then she lets out a nervous laugh, "I don't think that's necessary."

The old lady nods.

The girl traces the wrinkles on the woman's face with her eyes, preparing herself to speak up. "Um…" The girl trails, not sure if she is to say what she is about to. "If you don't mind, I will be taking my leave now." She doesn't wait for a response as she begins backing up.

"Oh, honey." The old woman stops her. "I thought you came in here to purchase something."

She forces a smile once more, "I changed my mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." The young girl answers almost immediately.

"Okay, if you say so."

She turns around, happy that she can leave the bookstore that gives her intense chills. If the young girl is being honest with herself, it is the worst bookstore she has ever stepped into. The shelves are covered in dust and some of the bulbs are already dead; it looks like an abandoned store. A sigh of relief escapes her lips, walking closer to the door. However, her happiness dies when she is called back by the old lady once more.

"Oh, and Honey?"

She slowly lets out a frustrated breath as she makes a mental note not to enter any store which has an old lady in it— be it owner or customer. She turns around with a fake smile, "Yes, Ma'am?"

She would have yelled at the old lady to stop bothering her with annoying folktales and left a long time ago but that would have been rude. She simply couldn't do that.

"What's your name?"

Not knowing if she should be relieved that's all she wants to ask or to be creeped out the story-telling lady wants her name, she chuckles. Another thing that makes her uneasy, is the fact that the store is empty with no one else around but the old lady and herself.

"You won't tell me?" The old lady puts on a sad smile and the young girl instantly feels bad.

"Oh no, that's not it." She smiles, a genuine one this time. "It's Aubrey."

"Aubrey." The lady echoes slowly, as if memorizing the six-lettered name. "I want you to remember something."

The young girl exercises a little more patience to hear the lady out.

"Like you said, what is evil, is evil and it should be ended."

The girl nods, slowly moving towards the exit, prepared to dash out once the lady finishes speaking.

"It must be killed no matter how in love you are with it." The lady's voice drops lower that the girl barely hears her last words but she doesn't care, she just wants to leave. "You can go now."

She pushes the door open at once, running to meet her parents. The cool breeze causes her hair —which barely reaches her shoulders— to move wildly as she pushes her legs to run faster.

"What took you so long?" Her mum asks.

The young girl quickly tucks her hair behind her ears to keep it from covering her small face. "Nothing." She smiles brightly at both parents.

"What about my book?" She turns to stare in her brother's anticipating blue eyes. "Did you get it?"

She swallows, subtly brushing her hands through her hair to keep the strands in place, "They are out of stock." She lies.