Chapter 3

Narrator-

Miranda opened the two-door 1978 Mint Green Beetle, the driver's door squeaking at it's hinges, as if the underlying rust surrounding it's frame wasn't enough to display it's vintage years. At the sound, Miranda winced internally. She sent a quick look towards her aunt, who seemed more excited than Miranda, then towards the Mechanic, who's furrowed brow told Miranda that parting with this car wasn't easy. Miranda carefully lowered herself into the beige-colored fabric seat, and instantly sighed in comfort. She turned her legs into the vehicle, then she closed the door.

Noticing that the young girl was settled in the car, Bill the mechanic walked around to the passenger's side where he opened the door with the aim of entering the car as well.

"Not so fast Bill," Aunt May spoke up, "take the backseat," she continued, "if you're taking this car for a test drive, I want to be there too."

Bill opened his mouth to protest, but then paused. Miranda tried to hide her smile behind her hand. Bill sighed and looked at his watch, before ducking into the car and moving the passenger seat from it's initial position. The not so slim, pink faced and thinning haired man stuffed his generous form in the limited backseat of the bug with a huff and what sounded like a curse under his breath, which Miranda pretended not to hear. Then, even before Bill could fully fix his position, aunty May snapped the chair back into it's initial position, then she plopped her large bottom onto the beige cushion.

The car's metal frame shook, it's bolts creaking, as the old lady wiggled and jumped, just to get her generous physique comfortable in the car. She closed the door and sighed once the right side of her physical frame could safely rest on the door. Miranda didn't say a word, and instead started the car. Then she rolled down her window, and Aunt May did the same.

"Can you drive manual?" Bill's gruff voice came from the back, his tone hard.

"Yes." Miranda replied with a smile, sending Bill a quick look in the rearview mirror.

As Miranda's gaze moved from Bill's picture on the mirror, she didn't miss the scowl he sent at her response, which made Miranda wonder just how hard did aunt May have to twist Bill's arms for him to give up this car he seemed to adore so much.

"Alright, one tour around the block, and if you're comfortable behind the wheel, you can take it home tonight." Bill said, and Miranda nodded, as she shifted the car into reverse, then performing a right turn, she drove out of the garage.

While Miranda drove around the block, aunt May kept a bright smile on her face, a grin so contagious that Miranda soon found herself mirroring her aunt's bright visage. Bill watch Miranda ease herself into liking the small bug, and when he was satisfied with her reaction, he began loosening up.

Bill cleared his throat, and said, "You should know that the radio can connect with your phone via that blue thing you young kids use nowadays."

"I can connect my Bluetooth? No way!" Miranda replied ecstatically.

"I also installed a small AC unit, so you don't have to roll the windows down all the time, especially on hot days like this." Bill continued.

"Say less." Miranda laughed in wonder, her hand quickly reaching for the air vent's dial, and turning it.

A blast of hot air whooshed from the grill, and Miranda's eyebrows flew up in shock. The engine rumbled for three seconds, then it went silent, as a lower, humming sound began to undertone that of the tires on the road, and finally, Miranda could register the cool air on her skin. Aunt May sighed in bliss as she rolled her window back up, and Miranda mirrored her actions.

One final turn, and Miranda was pulling back into the garage. She turned off the A/C, then she turned off the engine. She opened her door and exited the car and moved her chair so Bill could leave a little quicker. Aunty May was managing to move her knees from beneath the dashboard and outside the vehicle.

Once again, the car squeaked and creaked with every jiggle from the plump woman, until finally she was out, and the car seem to rise off the ground just slightly.

"She's quite the ride, isn't she?" May commented, and Miranda nodded.

"It is," She agreed, then Miranda turned to Bill, "thank you so much Bill. I really appreciate you allowing me to have this car."

"It was my wife's." Bill revealed, causing a shock to zap through Miranda's skull, "But I know she wouldn't want it wasting away here. But you take care of it, and if anything is wrong, bring it back, I'll fix it at no charge." Bill encouraged.

"I will, thank you." Miranda nodded again, her brown pupils looking towards the vehicle with awe and appreciation.

Bill gave a final nod, then he backed and turned away, disappearing into his garage.

Aunt May looked towards Miranda and suggested, "Want to stop by Mia's to get a bite before heading home?"

"Absolutely." Miranda agreed eagerly, then she hopped back into her new car, and May returned to her Toyota, then with May leading the line, the women drove from Bill's shop to Mia's diner.

#

The small bell above the diner's door chimed with a high-pitched cling, signaling Aunt May's entrance.

Mia, the owner and head waitress turned her focus towards the door. Her large lips parted, her dark gums and white teeth instantly smiling, as she looked at her sister from another mother. Mia was also a larger woman, with dark colored skin, and voluminous hair pulled into a puffy bun high above her chocolate head. She wore a red shirt, and a white skirt, along with an apron that read "Mia's Diner".

"Is she here?" Mia questioned, instead of formerly greeting May.

"Oh I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking." May replied sarcastically.

"Stop it, you know I'm excited to see Miranda. It's been so long." Mia commented, as she flipped her white hand towel in May's direction.

"Oh, so what? Now that Miranda's here, what am I, chopped liver?" May demanded.

Mia rolled her eyes and waved her off.

"She's parking her new bug." May informed, then she added in a side note, "I think she's going to love that thing more than she loves me."

"Now, now May, there's no need to be jealous." Mia cooed, as she teased her best friend of twenty years.

"I'm not jealous, just hungry-"

"Just hungry," Mia echoed her, "Yeah I know. And I'm guessing the usual?"

"Did you even have to ask?" May replied.

Mia laughed, just as the door chimed once more, and in walked Miranda.

Mia looked towards the door, her eyelids widening with a shocked glee.

"Oh my look at you!" Mia squealed, while moving from behind the counter, only to pull Miranda into a very expected embrace.

Miranda giggled, noting the familiar scent of freshly cooked sweets from Mia's person.

"Hi Mia, its so nice to see you." Miranda greeted.

Mia didn't reply. She pulled away until she was at arm's length from Miranda.

"Let me look at you." Mia hummed, while holding on to Miranda's arms and opening them up at her sides.

"My, my, you sure are a fine thang girl. If only I had a son." Mia mused.

"Stop it." Miranda blushed, while she attempted to look away.

"I think she could have more meat on those bones," May cut into the reunion, "I mean kids these days are looking flatter than composition notebooks. We need to get some fat on her Mia." May added in the end.

Mia winked at Miranda, before pinching her cheeks.

"I think you're right; we do need to get some more meat under that skin." Mia agreed, then she let go of Miranda, who proceeded to take a seat next to her aunt at the bar.

"Don't worry, I have the perfect burger that'll give you all the right amount of cholesterol." Mia chuckled, then she headed to the kitchen where her husband and Garry, the cook, awaited and prepared orders.

As the women settled into the diner, preparing for a late lunch, the sun began to close in on the horizon, and deep into the forest, away from the bustling of the town's livelihood, Alpha Asher was sitting in his office, staring blankly at the wall.

A knock sounded, then Joshua made his way in.

"Hey." Joshua greeted.

"Any news?" Asher asked, instantly in business mode.

"So you know that nightclub, Georgie's?" Joshua asked.

"Yeah, I've heard about it. It's run by a vampire, but both werewolves and vamps hang there." Asher nodded.

"Well, I just found out that the owner himself knows an assassin or two. What do you say we pay him a visit?" Joshua suggested, and Asher leaned back into his chair and sighed.

"Maybe we should. Get Deidran, he's coming with us." Asher ordered, and with a nod, Joshua made his leave.

After the door closed behind the Beta, Asher opened the top desk drawer to his left. His hand sunk into the wooden box, then the Alpha retrieved the small 5x7 black frame, which encased a photo of the late Luna.

In the picture, the Luna cradled her stomach, her head angled slightly to the side as she smiled towards the camera. She was standing in the flower field that adorned the borders of the lake which was in Asher's territory. The sun was shining, and the sky was blue without a cloud in sight. 

Asher's fingers ran over the photo, and in his ears, he swore he heard the faint echo of her laughter from her when he had taken the picture. Asher's jaw clicked as he pursed his lips forward, while tasting the salt of his tears along the inner lining of his cheeks. That salt soon turned bitter as the hunger for revenge caused the Alpha to clench his unoccupied fist.

Asher no longer heard the Luna's laughter.

He placed the picture frame back in the drawer and pushed it close forcefully. Then he stood and straightened his clothes, before making his way out of the office.

#

Miranda entered her quaint home with only an hour to prepare before heading to Georgie's. While at the Diner, Jamie contacted her and offered to pick her up around 7:00 PM. While driving home from the diner, Miranda did note that the sun had begun sinking lower and lower into the sky, and the evening shadow began casting it's shade along the lines of the heavens. As this occurred, Miranda took notice of the reduced amount of traffic and pedestrians on the way home. Many of the shops were either closing or already closed. Even the Pharmacy was closed by the time Miranda drove by with her aunt.

Miranda once again remembered her aunt's words, and she realized that her aunt wasn't kidding when she said that the older crowd all hurried to disappear before the sun did. This only caused a bigger spark in Miranda's curiosity, and as she prepared for her "orientation" at Georgie's, a weight settled in the pit of Miranda's stomach, like a block of cemented bowel. 

Miranda was unsure of what she would see tonight. She was unsure of who she would encounter, and yet her stomach was heavy, and her heart thrummed in an unsettling manner, as if somehow, she knew, that something would happen.

Dressing in black jeans and a white long-sleeved T-shirt, Miranda placed her long hair into a ponytail. She applied a small amount of powder on her face and tinged her lips crimson with her favorite shade of red lipstick. Then she applied a coat of lip gloss, and a small amount of mascara. She wore booties, with low comfortable heels, and she spritz her favorite perfume on her skin. 

Once dressed, Miranda picked her tiny backpack, where she stuffed it with a small bottle of body spray, hand sanitizer, tissues, a switch knife and a bottle of pepper spray. Miranda also carried her ID card, along with forty bucks in cash, and a credit card in case of an emergency. Just as Miranda finished packing her stuff, she heard Jamie's horn outside. With one last look in the mirror, and a nervous flutter in her chest, Miranda left the shed.