Temple: A New Journey Begins
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Sally headed back to the bar, disgusted with the four men who would leave her behind. What were they planning on doing? What was the point in going to a ruined temple? They should be keeping watch over the monks, but there was one problem. She did not know when the next killing was going to happen, only that there was going to be another death.
Sally walked through the back door and was accosted by her co-worker, Mark.
"Where have you been? You were supposed to be back here two hours ago. The boss has been looking for you."
"You tell him where I went?" Sally questioned.
"No, of course not," Mark replied chagrined, not giving her an answer. He felt somewhat disappointed that Sally would not trust his loyalty or the promise that he made to her earlier.
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him that you had a family emergency."
"Good," Sally placed a hand on Mark's arm. "I'm sorry, I should have trusted that you would take care of things while I was gone. I just don't know whom to trust anymore. I've seen this town go from bad to worse. Ever since my mother told me how Vance Cavanaugh and his gang would terrorize this town and the monks that lived up at the temple."
"Sally, you weren't even born when that happened."
"And neither were you, but you and I both have heard the stories."
"We don't know what went on at that temple," Mark insisted. "For all we know, Vance could have been right."
"I don't believe that, and neither do you. My mother told me that the monks were peaceful. She met Kwai Chang Caine when she was 12 years old. In fact, she had been taking lessons before they had to move away. She came back here trying to rebuild her life after getting involved with some gangsters. She thought by moving back here, she could start her life over. She knew what life was like up at the temple before it was destroyed."
"I've never heard you talk about your mother like that."
"I've never said anything because there are just too many people in this town who don't really understand what went on. I better get back to work. I'll finish your shift. You can tell Lori not to work tonight as well. I'll take her shift. I can't go home right now. I've got to keep busy. With what I know, I'd probably have nightmares if I tried to sleep."
Mark didn't say another word, but went back to the office to finish the accounting. Three hours later, he poked his head into the main bar to wish Sally a good night.
The crowd thinned out after two hours. It was still the middle of the week and many of the local customers still had regular jobs to go to in the morning.
Sally took her time to close up. She swept the room for any mug or glass that had been left sitting at a table or booth. The small complimentary bowls of peanuts given out with the first drink, now empty, were collected for the next day's bunch.
Sally then began to wipe off each table in turn, cleaning the sticky mess left from mugs of beer and any other drink. After all the tables had been wiped and it looked like no other customers were going to enter, Sally turned off the neon "open" sign to let the world know that the place was now closed. Before finally locking up she would give the floor a good sweeping with a broom, pushing the grime and dust out the door and into the street. Only then would she shut the door one more time and turn the bolt.
The last thing she needed to do was count the night's receipts and clear the cash register. She learned a long time ago not to leave any cash behind, having heard stories of establishments like hers being robbed at gunpoint. She started that practice so as not to take any chances. When she told the owner and boss what she had done, he barely bat an eye. He was always quick to find fault but never complimented when it was called for. Sally didn't understand why she remained in his employ, only that she needed the money if she was going to buy her own place some day.
Sally was just about finished counting the receipts when she thought she heard the bell above the front door ring.
"We're closed," she called out, then remembered that she had locked the door. How did the bell over the door ring then? Sally looked around the darkened room but could not see anyone. The small hairs on the back of her neck rose, and an uneasy feeling settled into the pit of her stomach.
"Who's there?" Sally called out.
As she stared into the gloom, a form darker than the surrounding shadows pulled itself away from the wall. Totally masked from head to toe in black the opposing figure came closer.
"Who are you?" Sally cried out, but her words came out shaky as fear gripped her in its icy grasp.
As the figure drew closer, it spread its arms and a large cloak billowed out. A mist seemed to rise out of nowhere, even within the confines of the bar. Sally was transfixed on the figure's eyes as it came nearer. They were the most intense blue she had ever seen, and she could not pull away from their penetrating gaze.
Sally realized too late what was the figure's intent. Her scream was gone unheard as the figure enveloped her in its cloak and swallowed her into its deadly embrace.
Continues with Part 22
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2003.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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