“Have you found what you’re looking for my dear? It took me quite some time for me to put all these books in a neat row.”
Kate put the magazine in its place.
“I’m sorry! I was just browsing around.”
She was about to say thank you and be on her way, when a picture in one of the rows caught her attention. She picked the magazine up and read the title. ‘PHENOMENA and the unexplained.’
Kate showed the old woman the magazine.
“How much for this one?” She asked.
The old woman looked surprised at her choice.
“You don’t seem the type to believe in stuff like that,” she said.
“Well, you never know would you,” replied Kate.
“Would you happen to know if there were some group where people talk about these things, you know, like a book club or something?”
The old woman looked at Kate as if trying to read her mind.
“You have seen things that others have not, and you want to share what you saw with others like you?”
Kate was becoming uneasy with the old woman’s words but played along just the same.
“Yes! I want to talk to someone,” she replied.
Expecting the old woman to give her some information.
Instead, she said, “that will be five dollars.”
Kate looking confused asked, “I’m sorry, what!”
“The magazine, it costs five dollars,” said the old woman holding out her hand.
Kate paid her the five dollars and went on her way, disorientated by the sudden actions of the old woman.
After about an hour she was still having no luck, so she went into a diner for a cup of coffee. After being served, she took out the magazine she had bought and went through the pages one by one. She was amazed at the unusual things that so many people claim to have witnessed and experienced. Being an intelligent person that she was, Kate believed there is a scientific explanation to all things.
She was at the last few pages of the magazine when she noticed a picture of the same symbol just like the two deceased girls have tattooed on their leg. She began to read an article printed just below it.
“A circle around a pentagram contains and protects. The circle symbolizes eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature. The circle touching all five points indicates that the spirit, earth, air, water and fire are all connected. The circled pentagram is the passive form implying spiritual containment of the magic circle. Keeping the traditional secrecy of witchcraft, and the personal, individual nature of the pagan religious path, of its non-proselytizing character.”
Startled by the sudden ringing of her cell phone, Kate knocked over her cup of coffee spilling it over the table and onto the floor. The same waitress who served her was quickly by her side wiping the mess up.
“I’m so sorry for the spill,” said Kate.
The waitress smiled, saying, “Your phone is ringing!”
It was Jason calling to see if everything was alright.
“Well, no luck so far Jason. I’m at a diner having a cup of coffee,” she said, looking up at the waitress to bring her another coffee.
She told Jason about the old woman at the newspaper stand and the magazine she had bought, when the waitress arrived with the coffee. She placed it in front of Kate, who at that moment happened to look down at the waitress’s leg. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Jason, I have to go now! Will call you later okay.”
Kate quickly ended the phone call before the young waitress walked away.
“Lisa is it? I’m sorry again for the spill,” said Kate reaching out to stop her.
The waitress turned around.
“Do I know you?” She asked.
Pointing to her name tag on her uniform, Kate said, “your name tag reads Lisa.”
“Oh! I forget it’s pinned there. Don’t worry about the coffee, it’s on the house.”
Kate introduced herself and asked, “have you worked here long?”
“I just started last week. I came to visit some friends of mine, where we meet down in Miami now and then.”
“I hope you enjoy your visit Lisa, and thanks for the coffee,” said Kate.
Lisa smiled and walked away to serve another customer. As she reached the table to take the orders, she looked back to see Kate looking down at the pentagram tattooed on her leg.
It was now past Ten O’Clock, and after calling Jason again, she decided to wait across the street from the diner, certain she was on to something. She planned to wait until Lisa ended her shift, then follow her, convinced she would lead her to one of these spiritual meetings. Kate sat patiently, when precisely at ten thirty, she saw Lisa leave the diner. Staying on the opposite sidewalk, she followed her for ten minutes when Lisa disappeared around the next corner into a dark alleyway. Kate stopped to think about calling Jason, but thought otherwise afraid she might waste time and lose sight of Lisa. Checking both traffic lanes she jaywalked across the street, pausing at the corner that Lisa turned into. She peered inside the ally. It was dark and dirty. Clothes hanging from washing lines dangled from both sides. She couldn’t see a thing, and Lisa was nowhere in sight. Keeping close to the wall, Kate courageously began to walk at a slow pace into the darkness. She stopped to look behind her, sensing someone was following her. She saw no one. Halfway inside the alley, she came to a Dumpster and again stopped to look behind her, sure she saw a shadowy form coming towards her.
Kate called out, “who’s there? Show yourself!”
She waited for an answer, but nothing. She took a few paces forward when without warning a face appeared in front of her. Kate screamed from fright and fell backward onto the ground. She looked up to see Lisa standing above her.
“Why are you following me?” asked Lisa.
Kate managed to get up, brushing the dirt from her clothes.
“Your tattoo! It’s why I followed you. I’ve seen it on two other girls about your age.”
Lisa said, “so what! I’m sure plenty other girls have the same tattoo.”
“These two girls were found dead about a week ago!” replied Kate.
“Are you a cop?” Asked Lisa.
“No, I’m not. I work in the forensic department and examined the two dead girls.”
Lisa impatiently asked, “well what do you want from me?”
“You mentioned you came to meet some friends here in Miami.”
“Yes! We belong to this club; we believe in spirits and things like that. All of us share the same tattoo. We also heard about the two dead girls, but had no idea about their identical tattoos. Our group does not know them, and I’m confident not even the other groups do either,” said Lisa.
Kate then asked, “what happens in these meetings? How do you become a member?”
Lisa thought for a few seconds before answering. “Nothing happens! I mean we just talk about what we experienced and what we read. We believe in spirits and the paranormal. We don’t do anything bizarre, and we’re all very harmless.”
Lisa continued, “but we have heard about another group. A group that goes all the way. You know, calling the spirits and all that. It’s said they meet when the moon is full in the dead of night on a sandy beach, but it’s impossible to find out which beach. You can spend the whole night searching and wouldn’t find them.” Lisa then turned to leave knowing she had said enough.
Kate stopped her.
“Do you know when is the next full moon?”
As Lisa walked away, she called back to Kate, “It’s tomorrow night!”
As Lisa faded away into the dark alley, Kate took out her cell phone ready to call Jason. Realizing she was still standing alone in a dark alley, she quickly made her way out again into the safety of the main street lights. She walked to the parking lot thinking it would be safer to call Jason from inside her car.