Paige's Club

Chapter 6. Lady in Black 2.

Staring back to be sure of what he had seen while driving, he saw nothing but was still looking.

"Watch out!" He heard Kelsey say and he turned immediately. 

The car's pace was too high and he could barely brake when he saw someone in front of the car. It happened too fast and he'd already knocked down the person when the car halted suddenly.

He exhaled and got out of the car only to find out that he'd just hit Kelsey who had been in the car with him. What! He looked at the car and noticed that she wasn't in there. Wait. Now, this was the weirdest thing that had ever happened to him. He raised an eyebrow and squatted.

But…how the fuck did she get out of the car, that he even knocked her down?

"Kelsey?" Was she dead? She was bleeding in several parts of her body. "Kelsey? Kelsey!" He shook her hard but she didn't respond. "Oh no!" Damn! He was so confused, he couldn't think. What the f*ck!

He wanted to lift her into his arms when a car drove past and with its headlights flashing across them, he caught a glimpse of someone in the front seat of his car. Once the car was gone, he could hardly see, so he peered into the air to view clearly. Luckily, another oncoming car blazed Its headlights across them again and he saw…Kelsey. 

Wait. What!

He gazed down at the injured person on the floor, hesitated, went to the passenger's side, and said, "Kelsey is that you?"

Before she could answer, the person whom he had accidentally knocked down arose…and surprisingly, he couldn't identify the figure.

"Reece," Kelsey said. "We gotta run."

"I…thought I hit you earlier?" He asked in confusion. "What the f*ck is going on?" He glanced forward again but didn't see anyone and a wave of fear went like a bat out of hell in his body.

"Nah," The lady in the front seat said. "You can't hit me, Reece. Just wanted to let you know that Kelsey was dead!"

Dead?

Upon hearing that, he turned abruptly, only to find a strange lady in black, whose face was covered by her thick hair. Her evil smile intrigued fear and perplexity in him.

"It wasn't she that you saw." She smirked. "It was I. I'm that Lady in Black."

His gaze upon her was questioning and speculating, not that he knew her looks. He was peering hard but it appeared she was almost fading into the dusk. And that made her look like the devil's representative…or the devil himself. 

He was helplessly dumbfounded and didn't know what to think or do.

Her remark about Kelsey echoed in his head again."So, where's my girlfriend?" He asked in exasperation. "Where's Kelsey?" His voice was slightly raised.

"Let me take you there." She said, raising her face slowly. Then, she said with a mixed voice both male and female, "I see you are petrified already," She smirked briefly. "So was I. It isn't easy to die, Reece. Kelsey struggled hard. Alas, there's no chance for you…"

…wait…did this stranger just say his name?! For the life of him, he can't imagine how she knew that.

The road was lonely and no car was coming. Reece was speechless, wondering what would happen next. He then tore his gaze at her and said, "Who the f*ck are you?"

She cackled and said, "The Lady in Black."

Before he could speak, she fastened her long nails to his lower jaw and it erupted in his forehead. Blood was streaming out of his mouth and nostrils, and his eyes whacked out of the sockets, then blood gushed out, sliding down his cheeks.

***

Gnashing her teeth, profuse blood slid down her eye sockets as she looked up at the graphic design inscription above the entrance door; Paige's Club.

**

Lucinda was still sitting when she saw someone approaching her. She was tall and slender in a tight, sleeveless black gown. She had long and full hair, so Lucinda could scarcely see her face.

"May I sit?" The lady said, standing by the chair across from Lucinda.

"Yeah…sure," Lucinda said, wondering who she was. "Need something?"

"Like?" The lady asked, staring into Lucinda's eyes.

"Drinks or…" 

"Of course," The lady said. "Champagne…"

Lucinda called one of the barmaids and placed the order. When she turned, she realized that the lady had been gazing at her. Although the red light was dim, Lucinda assumed the lady was glaring at her, and her eyes were deep and grave. This made her apprehensive.

"I thought you were a customer." The lady said.

"No," Lucinda said. "I'm not.

The lady lowered her gaze to the glistening Cross pendant on Lucinda's neck and said, " Do you believe in that?"

"What?"

"The cross."

"Yes," Lucinda said. " I believe in Jesus Christ."

"So," The lady said. "You said you ain't a customer, who're you then?"

"I'm the manager here," Lucinda replied.

"Oh," The lady said. "Paige, right?"

"I'm Lucinda." She smiled.

The Champagne was brought to her.

"I thought this was Paige's club."

"Urm…yea," Lucinda said. "It's Paige's Club."

"So," The lady said. "How come you are a manager here?"

"Through my brother, Clayton," Lucinda replied, still apprehensive about the lady's glare upon her. "He said I should come to manage the club…"

"Why?" The lady raised a question. "Is Paige dead?"

"Of course not," Lucinda said. "Paige's alive."

A smile dragged one side of her lips, then she wiped her cheeks as though she was weeping. And she had not touched the champagne since it was brought to her.

"Are…are you okay?" Lucinda asked.

"Hope you love the massive sales." She said.

"Sure," Lucinda said.

"So do I." The lady's glare exacerbated. "Clayton." She mumbled. "Did he tell you about Paige?" 

"Yes, a few things."

"Have you ever met Paige?"

"No," Lucinda said. " But I like her already…she is nice…and…"

"Of course," The lady mumbled. "She was nice."

Was?

Lucinda wondered but waved it off. Yet, why this many interrogations? "Is there anything you wanna know?" She asked.

"I know Paige more than you do," The lady said. "I know better. Maybe you should be acquainted with the mysteries."

Mysteries? What mystery?

"Sorry," Lucinda said. "I don't get you."

"You'll get Clayton." She said, " The dark mystery will be divulged soon." She arose slowly. "Happy massive sales!"

She pointed across, but when Lucinda turned back to see what the lady was pointing at she didn't see anything weird. So, wondering why the lady pointed in that direction, she turned but the lady was gone. Surprised, she darted her eyes in search of the lady but couldn't find her.

Lucinda gazed at the Champagne that was given to that lady. She thought the lady would come back since she had not opened it yet.

Regardless, minutes bled into hours but the lady wasn't back. Somehow, she wanted her to come back so she explained those mysteries. Still gazing at the Champagne, she began to recollect all that the lady had said to her. There were many things she didn't understand.

Dark mysteries. What did she mean?

***