The Bloodied Phantom [Chapter 9 Revised]

“Girls. Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you shopping?”

“Mom. We’re sixteen. I don’t think it’s necessary for you to come with us. After all, we’re only going to get supplies for Zia.”

“Don’t worry Mrs. Hope. We won’t be gone long.”

My mother throws her hands her hands up in the air. Zia and I kiss her on the cheek. My mother still treats me like a baby sometimes. She can’t seem to grasp the fact that I’m getting older and that I need and want to do things on my own.

“We’ll be back soon.” I say. “Come on Ryan.”

“Don’t rush me. I’m not your chauffeur.”

“You are today.”

“Whatever.”

He gets up from the couch and stretches. Right before we can even make it out the door, our mother stops us.

“Here’s some extra money. Just in case you might want to get something to eat.” she says, handing us all twenty dollars.

“Mom. I’m not staying at the mall.” says Ryan.

“You are now.” she says in a tone that only a mother can give you. Any argument Ryan was about to start was banished.

“I want you all back here at dinner time.”

“Yes ma’am.”

ª ª

“The mall. I see. I guess I’ll be seeing you there.” he smiles to himself and lets his amulet fall back against his chest.

ª ª

The ride to the mall took no more than ten minutes, with my brother weaving in and out of traffic. During the drive he flipped out his cell and called his cronies.

“Hey. Yeah. There’s been a change of plans. I got stuck escorting the two demonoids to the mall.” Laughter came from the other end of the phone. “Meet me at the malls’ entrance in ten. Cool. See you then.” he hangs up.

“Demonoids, huh?” I ask, with my arms crossed.

“Hey. I call them like I see them.”

We pull up at the malls’ entrance, and exit the car.

“You two go on in. I’ll be there in a few.”

“Okay.” I say, walking away from him. Then I stop and say to him, “Don’t try and ditch us. If you do, I’ll tell mom.” Though I knew I sounded childish, I had to make sure he wouldn’t ditch us. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened.

“Would it make you feel better if I said ‘I promise’?”

“Not really.” I look him directly in the eyes, trying to decide if I can trust him.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m just waiting for my friends to get here.”

“I’ll be watching you.”

“I’ll be watching you too. I’d better not catch either one of you talking to any guys. I don’t want to have to teach the punk a lesson.”

Zia and I both burst out in laughter.

“That was hilarious. We’ll see you inside.” said Zia.

I had laughed because I knew that I wouldn’t be talking to any guys. He must of have been referring to Zia. We stepped out of the scorching heat and into the newly air-conditioned mall. Riverview Mall is by far the coolest mall here in Maryland. It has everything; dozens of stores and shops to choose from, food courts, two arcades and three movie theatres. Add to that a large gurgling fountain, escalators, and soft melodic music and you’ve got yourself a sanctuary. Until you see the price tags, that is.

“What do we need to get?” I ask Zia, as we hop onto the escalator.

“Well…” she says, pulling from her pocket a sheet of paper, “ I’ll be needing college ruled notebook paper, a one-inch binder, a TI-84 calculator and either pens or pencils. Just the basics.” She folds the sheet of paper and places it back into her pocket. “You know, this is so unfair. We just got out of school for summer break and now I have to go back for summer classes. This sucks.”

“It’s not that bad. You’ll only be in summer school for a month, and classes are only three hours a day. That leaves you with two months of summer break. Don’t stress yourself out about it. With me as your tutor, you’re going to pass with flying colors. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“Thanks. I know you won’t let me down so I won’t let you down.”

We step off of the escalator and head over to Heavenly Bookstore. A tall, dark-haired girl with black-rimmed eyes is standing by the entrance holding pamphlets. Despite the scorching heat, she’s dressed in a black halter, skinny leg black jeans and black leather boots.

“Welcome to Heavenly Bookstore.” she says unenthusiastically. “Everything in the store is 10% off. Would you like a free pamphlet about the new up and coming authors?”

“Sure.” I say, as I take one. “Summer job?”

“Yeah. One of many. This one being the most boring. But it’ll all pay off. At least that what my folks say.” She then looks down at her watch. “It’s about time. If you guys don’t mind, I’m going on break.”

“Um. Sure..?”

“Hey, Jared. I’m going on break.” she yells to the cashier.

“It’s not time for your break just yet Amelia.”

“It is now.” With that being said, she throws the pamphlets on the ground and stalks off.

“Wow. She sure hates her job.”

“You think?” asks Zia. We share a laugh. As we enter the bookstore, we’re greeted by soft melodic music. There are only a few people browsing the bookstore. I sometimes think that Zia has a radar implanted somewhere in her brain. A radar that locates guys. Almost as soon as we enter the bookstore Zia says, “Oh my God. Raiya check out the hottie over by the book rack.” When I looked over, I had to admit, he was cute. A tall brunette, with an athletic build and eyes the color of wheat. He was cute but no where near as cute as Phantom.

“I’ll bet you five bucks I can get his digits.”

“I’m sure you can. But I’m more concerned about getting your school supplies than betting if you can get some guys phone number.”

“ Oh, Raiya. Stop being such a wet blanket.” she smiles. “I’m going over to talk to him.”

“Zia, we have to get your…”

“Could you get them for me? Thanks.” she says before I can even utter another word. She flips her long curly blonde over her shoulder and begins making her way towards the brunette. I had pretty much suspected that I would be the one shopping, while she flirted. It didn’t really bother me. If I were to let her shop for her own things she would blow all of her cash on cosmetics.

As she began talking to the brunette, I began walking up and down the aisles searching for top quality supplies that will help her stay organized.

“Excuse me, sir.” I call out to the cashier.

“Yes. How may I help you?” he asks.

“Well, I was wondering if you have TI-84 calculators.”

“I’m sorry. But they are no longer in stock. We do have the TI-83 calculator.”

“That’s ok. I guess I’m ready to purchase these then.”

After they were paid for and bagged, I stepped out of the bookstore and looked down at the many shoppers. I quickly spotted Ryan and his cronies sitting by the fountain, flicking their tongues out at passing girls.

Just then Zia comes out of the bookstore grinning from ear to ear.

“I told you I’d get his digits.”

“What’s his name?” I ask.

“Trevor. He works at the bookstore. He is so cute. I am so going to call him tonight.”

“Well, if you’re quite done I’d like to go get something to eat.”

“Cool.”

We step off of the escalator and make our way over to the food courts. The lines were only semi-long so the wait wouldn’t be long.

“Raiya. Could you get my food for me? I really have to use the restroom.”

“Sure. What do you want?”

“Whatever you get is fine.” She hands me her twenty dollar bill.

“Here. At least hold your own supplies.” I say handing her the shopping bag.

“Okay.” she says, taking the bag and does a sprint towards the restrooms. I decided on eating Pablo’s Pizza. I take my place behind a short stout woman and her two children. There are two people standing in front of her. As I had predicted, the wait wasn’t long.

The cashier was a bespectacled nerdy looking guy with acne.

“May I take your order?”

“Yeah. Could I get two large pepperoni slices and two bottled waters?”

He places my order and says, “That’ll be ten dollars and thirty two cents.” I pay for the food and step aside so the next person can order.

“Here you go ma’am.”

“Thank you.” I say, as I grab the bagged food. Before I can make it to the table where Zia now sat, there was a light tap on my shoulder.

“Raiya. Is that you?”

That voice.

That voice sounded so familiar. I slowly turn around to face this person.

When I see his face I become overwhelmed with anger.

“Kyle.”