Chapter 35 Scared
Naomi
Early on Sunday morning, I woke up and did all my morning chores. I didn't have any classes. I asked Dean if I could come to the restaurant to work for some extra cash. He didn't hesitate to let me come. The day was going just fine. Customers came and left. We packaged some food for the delivery guy to take out of town. Nighttime came with us still busy.
I decided to take a quick rest while in the bathroom that employees were allowed to use. It was clean and I had no problem with it.
I pulled out my phone and decided to scroll down the media to see the latest ongoing rumors and what was happening in town. The werewolf that escaped from the lab hadn't been found yet. Some media posts speculated that it must have escaped to Aetheria. I kept scrolling and then, my blood ran cold at what was in front of me.
"Two dead bodies have been found near the Teran River. Both bodies suffered from a fractured skull and some broken bones. The two individuals, named Linus and Alfred, are said to be individuals staying next to a local restaurant: Dean's Diner."
The phone almost slipped out of my hands.
What? Are Alfred and Linus dead? How and why?
Blood drummed in my ears. This couldn't be true. How did it happen?
What if the police came here to investigate? What if someone saw us last night and reported it to the police? Witnesses are always needed in situations like this.
What if? My hands started to shake and I felt uneasy.
"What are you doing while customers are waiting?"
Mandy yelled the moment she found me. She didn't even notice what was going on, as she was focused on yelling at me.
They could literally serve the customers and not wait for me.
"I was using the toilet. You guys can go ahead and serve them." I had never been the type to talk back; I couldn't just stay silent this time.
"You have some nerve talking back, huh?"
See, exactly what I was talking about. Keep quiet and they will take you for a fool. Not again.
"Well, this particular customer wants you to serve them."
My heart literally shattered. Was it the police? Had they already come here to look for me and pretended to order food?
"Isn't there anyone else to serve them?" My eyes searched around, trying to look for an escape.
"Don't be an idiot and go out there."
I guessed there was no escape for me right now. I just had to face it, and besides, I didn't do anything. They had been the ones to harass me. I doubted there would be anyone there to listen to me, but I just had to say it.
I followed behind Mandy, my head to the floor and my hands holding onto the hem of my shirt.
"Here. Give this to the customer by the door. The one with the black t-shirt and black baseball hat."
I collected the tray of goods and glanced in that direction. His cap was low on his face, making it impossible to see.
I carried the food with a heavy heart. When I reached the table, I quickly placed it down and tried to leave, but then, I felt a gentle hold on my wrist.
The touch was familiar, immediately setting my heart into a calm.
Mr. Rex pulled the cap off his face and smiled at me.
My eyes scanned the restaurant and I saw Mandy and Alice staring down at me with curiosity in their eyes.
"Sit and have a meal with me, Naomi. I will ask one of them to serve you."
He waved at my colleagues even before I could offer a word.
"You can't do that. I have work to attend to and this isn't appropriate in the first place."
"Who said I wanted it to be appropriate?" He made me place my butt on the empty space next to him. His hand pressed on my thigh like he didn't want to let me go when he hadn't yet finished with me.
What was he doing? I could lose my job. And I was certain I had already lost it because either Mandy or Alice was going to tell Dean.
Mandy was the one who showed up.
I tried to tell Mr. Rex to stop what he was doing, but he went ahead anyway.
What exactly did he think he was doing? I could lose my job and he wouldn't be able to give it back to me.
"Tell her what you want and let her bring it to you."
Mandy raised her brows at me. Of course, I didn't deserve this kind of treatment. If not for the circumstances right now, I would have accepted what Mr. Rex did just so that she could serve me food on this very table.
"I can't do this. It's my workplace. I will get fired." He wasn't even paying attention to what I said.
"Bring her the same thing as mine and make it quick."
"Hey. Nothing is going to happen, okay? If anyone dares it, they will pay with their own lives."
My brows knitted as I looked at him.
"Don't say things like that."
"Just kidding. I already told your boss I will be sitting here with you. So, you don't have to worry about anything. See, I'm a gentle guy."
He smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back. I didn't know what it was with him, but I decided to give in. Mandy returned with the food. We ate together.
My eyes kept glancing at the door, thinking that the police might just burst in.
Why was I even feeling guilty? I didn't do anything.
He asked me to see him off when we were done eating.
"You should get going. I have to go back inside."
"Not unless you tell me what has been scaring you."
I had to look up at him. How did he know? He kept knowing things about me even when I didn't tell him. How was that possible?
"Nothing is wrong with me," I denied, even though I knew it was useless as he was going to find his way around.
"Just tell me and don't drag things."
He stared at me dead in the eyes like he was ready to enter my soul and pull out the truth.
And at this point, I didn't have a choice but to tell him what was going on.
"It's about the two guys I told you about the other day. I just learned from the news that they have been killed. I don't know what happened or how it happened. What if the police find some link between them and me and come to question me?"
"Oh... well, such people don't deserve to live, and besides, you didn't kill them. Did you?"
"No... I didn't."
"Great." He let out a breath of relief.