I pass an empty sewing shop and a trinket shop and then a couple of houses, but there’s no sign of a random woman on a lunch break. Finally, I stop walking and spin around, but I don’t say anything. The kid is caught off guard, and jumps back.
“What’s your name?” I ask him.
“Raven,” he says.
“What’s your real name?”
He seems surprised. “Ted McGregor,” he tells me.
“Ted, I don’t know what you want,” I tell him honestly. “But unless you’re going to help me figure out who runs the post office and where I can find that person, please stop following me.”
I turn back around with a sigh. I’m wasting time, and I’m starting to think coming here is a mistake.
“Hey,” his hand touches me, and this time I stop without turning around. I’m about to lose my fucking mind.
“What do you want, Ted?”
“I…I’ll take you to her. I’m sorry,” he says. “I just…we don’t get a lot of new people. I don’t like the idea of anyone bugging her, you know? She’s old.”
“I don’t want to bother anyone.”
“Then come with me.”
Well aware that he could be leading me to my death, I follow Ted down a side street. There are a couple of cars parked on the sides of the road in front of houses, so I’m guessing this is the part of town that’s actually inhabited. There are only houses for awhile. Then there’s a random bank, followed by a few more houses. Finally, we stop in front of a small, nondescript building.
“She’s in there,” he says.
I eye the building suspiciously. A sign out front says Mikey’s Grill. It cou
ld be a real restaurant, but it might also be a place where they trap and capture wandering humans. I’m a good fighter, but I’m not good enough to take on shifters or a group of people who wish to do me harm.
I have to find Donald.
With a sigh, I nod.
“Thanks,” I tell Ted, and he bobs his head before turning and going. He seems like a good kid, albeit a little awkward. Then again, what 16-year-old isn’t a little awkward? I watch him disappear around a corner, and then I push the little door open. I step inside and I’m instantly overwhelmed by the scent of burgers and fries.
Well, then.
Apparently, this is a real restaurant.
I walk up to the counter, glancing around the restaurant as I do. The conversations haven’t ceased, but all eyes are on me, and I’m very aware of this fact as I walk up to the woman behind the cash register.
“Can I help you?” She asks.
“I hope so,” I tell her. “I’m looking for the person in charge of the post office.”
“Why?” The woman glares at me.
“I need to mail a letter,” I say drily.
“Oh, Tina,” someone says from the back of the restaurant. “Don’t be such a sourpuss. I’m over here, sweetie. Come on back.”
Nodding my head at Tina, I ignore her scowl and head to the back of the restaurant where there’s an older woman sitting in a booth. She’s got a huge burger and a pile of fries in front of her, along with an iced soda, and it looks fucking delicious. My stomach growls, but I silently beg it to be quiet. There will be time for eating later. I slide into the booth across from the woman.
“How can I help you?” She asks.
I glance around the restaurant. Luckily, it seems like everyone has gone back to their eating and no one is really paying any more attention to me.