Kim Richardson - Soul Guardians 2-Book Collection: Reapers & Seals

T he sky outside the bookstore was blood-red. The hot air was thick with electricity, the kind right before a thunderstorm, and yet there were no storm clouds.

Kara moved from the window and pushed off with one foot. The rolling library ladder sped across the wood floors, which creaked and popped under her weight like the rumbling of thunder. Using the ladder was her favorite chore in the bookstore. She loved the way it made her feel like she was almost flying. If only she had wings. She could fly up to the highest bookshelf without a ladder and get her work done faster. The sooner it was done, the sooner she could be with David.

She missed him. She missed his voice, his sense of humor, and even his arrogance. Yes, he was insufferable at times, but she could never stay angry with him for long. He would always make her laugh in the end, no matter how much she wanted to punch him in the face. It was in those moments in his company that she came alive. When they were together, she could be herself. It just felt right. They fit.

The ladder skidded gently to a stop against a large bookshelf at the other end of the store.

Ill never understand why he puts the cinematography books so high, she said, exasperated.

With the book Its only a movie: Alfred Hitchcock, A Personal Biography between her teeth, she climbed to the top. She leaned out from the side of the ladder, suspending herself dangerously from one foot, stretched out as far as she could, and squeezed the book between The Making of Psycho and The Stanley Kubrick Archives.

One of these days youre going to fall and break your neck, warned Mr. Patterson as he polished a crystal ball the size of a grapefruit.

Instead of his usual colorful Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts, he wore a brown plaid suit with a red bowtie that looked like it had been in the back of his closet since the 1970s. Kara could smell the mothball stench from the top of the ladder. She wrinkled her nose and tried hard to keep a straight face. His thin white hair was combed over awkwardly, as though he had dressed in the dark. The only things that were not so out of place were his bare feet. They poked from under his pants as usual. Her boss never wore any shoes.

Kara bit her lip and tried hard not to laugh. He had obviously made an effort to make himself somewhat presentable. But why?

Maybe Mr. Patterson had a date later? Could there be a potential Mrs. Patterson in their midst? But that didnt make any sense. During all the months shed been helping him out at the bookstore, he had never mentioned any female friends. Then again, he had never mentioned any friends. She always thought of him as a loner, stuck in his old ways, like many older folks. He kept to his shop.

Dont worry, said Kara after a moment, No ones going to die today.

You say it like you know for sure, but you dont.

Mr. Patterson spit on his crystal and rubbed it gently, eyeballing it like it was a large precious diamond.

Mortals cannot foresee the future. They dont have the acquired skill and gift that is foresight. Only oracles

He caught himself and peered over at Kara through his bushy white eyebrows. He watched her as though he had said too much, as though he had revealed some great secret.

Kara watched him with increased interest. It wasnt the first time she had heard Mr. Patterson refer to himself as an oracle, whatever that was. She had gotten used to the way he sometimes spoke in the third person. It was almost as though he had a secret identity and lived two different lives, like a spy.

It was a ridiculous notion of course. He was just old and a little confused. Most likely, his identity crisis was the result of spending night and day reading books about clairvoyants and the great beyond. He was obsessed with anything supernatural. Maybe he perceived himself as a connoisseur of the paranormal, a modern-day Ghostbuster.

Kara smiled. She cared deeply for the man. He was like the grandfather she had never known, and he felt like family to her.

But there was something different in the way he had just looked at her, as if he had gone too far this time and had said too much and wished he could take it back.

Mr. Patterson frowned and avoided her eyes. He mumbled angrily to himself as he buffed the crystal ball so vigorously that he looked as if he were trying to light a fire.

Keep her safe, Kara heard the old man say. Thats all I have to do. Well, easier said than done. Thank you very much. If only they knew

Kara laughed uncomfortably. Dont worry, nothing will happen to me. I know what Im doing. Its just a ladder, no harm done.

You kids these days, said Mr. Patterson. Kara could see sweat on his forehead. Always living on the edge, always looking for new ways to hurt yourselves. Tell me, why is that? Why are you all in such a hurry to kill yourselves?

I dont know, answered Kara as she slid down the ladder and landed with a thud. Guess we feel our lives are boring. Maybe were looking for some adventure to spice things up a bit. Werent you ever young? Dont you remember what it was like?

You think your life is boring? Mr. Patterson looked up from his crystal ball.

Kara shrugged. I dont knowmaybe.

She looked into Mr. Pattersons blue eyes.

Didnt you ever get the feeling that something was missing in your life? That strange empty feeling, like youre supposed to be doing something, but you just dont know what it is? Sometimes, well actually all the time, I get this weird feeling that I was meant for something greaterlike I have a purpose in life, but I just cant figure out what it is. Not yet, I guess. You know what I mean?

Mr. Patterson stopped polishing his crystal and watched Kara with his mouth slightly open. He looked worried, like she had discovered some dark secret. He frowned and watched her without blinking. Kara could see fear flicker in his eyes as if he knew that something bad was going to happen to her.

Kara squirmed uncomfortably under his stare.

Uhsowhat are you all dressed up for? she looked away, hoping to change the subject quickly before Mr. Patterson burned a hole in her forehead with his laser-beam eyes.

Do you have a date or something?

Mr. Patterson looked at Kara for a while before he answered.

Of course not. Dont be ridiculous. He waddled over behind the counter and placed his crystal carefully inside a glass case. Its the annual Festival of Spoken Word at The Couch caf. Ive been invited to read my poetry