One Chance

Chapter 4

Evangeline could hear the noises in the background. Her eyes were closed but she could feel the atmosphere in the air. She continued to listen to the voices of the people. Wherever she was, it was a busy area. People were talking among themselves, not paying her any attention. Her head was rested on a table. As she opened her eyes, she immediately recognized her surroundings; she was sitting in the same restaurant where she had seen the Angel of Death on the day of her death. She remembered that it was the same restaurant from where she had followed him out.

Slowly, she examined herself: she was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing that day. Taking out her cell-phone from her bag, she checked the date and the time. It was the same day and the exact same time in the afternoon, 3:30 pm. Death had actually given her a second chance, but before she could celebrate the good news, she also remembered that she had to kill three people. The first one was David Arnold, her dad's closest friend.

She picked her bag and rushed out of the restaurant. Carefully, she crossed the road, not wanting to repeat the same unfortunate incident. It would take her twenty minutes to walk to her house. So, taking huge strides, she made her way to the house.

Entering the house, she realized that her mother was waiting for her in the living room. She remembered that she had got out of the house saying, "Mom, I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back in a few minutes!" And that was two-thirty pm. Damn it! She thought. She was late by an hour. Her mom was surely going to give her a lecture. Unable to face any inquisitions, she rushed upstairs to her bedroom. She was halfway through when—

"Sweetie, are you home?" her mom's voice echoed from the living room.

Shit. I am so not going to escape this time. "Uh...... Yes mom." She mumbled.

"Come downstairs dear, I've been waiting for you." He mom called out.

"Sure mom." With her head hung low, she approached her mother, getting ready for the scolding.

Her mom was resting on the couch in the living room, the TV was blaring while Evangeline quietly sat beside her mother. Mrs. Hawkins turned her attention to Evangeline and switched off the TV. The expression on her face was serious as if she had a really important matter to discuss. Evangeline could not escape the clutches of her mother now. She started to whack her brain for a thousand different excuses for her late arrival.

"Sweetie, did you have lunch?" Her mother's concerned voice broke her trance.

"No mom." Her mother's calm attitude surprised her. Maybe there is something more serious and she is preparing me to take it lightly. Or, her mother was actually genuinely concerned whether she had lunch or not.

Nah! Too good to be true. Her subconscious spoke.

"Oh then, I have made burger for you. It's in the microwave. Want me to bring it for you?" Her mother asked her.

"Uh... No, it's.... fine." She replied, confusion evident on her face. This was so unlike her mother. It's not that her mother was some crazy psychopath who screamed at her daughter every now and then, but the fact was that Mrs. Hawkins was kind of.....strict. She didn't like it when Evangeline returned late to her house or broke any house rules or anything. Other than that, Evangeline had the best mother she could possibly want.

"Are you sure dear? I can get you lunch. I know you are tired. You just came from outside. It's pretty hot out there. You must be hungry. You didn't even have breakfast probably........" Her mom looked at her with care and sympathy.

"Geez mom, I am not a kid anymore. I am eighteen years old, I can surely take care of myself." Evangeline replied, then looking at her mom's saddened expression, she added, "But thanks for the offer. I am a little tired right now so um..... I am going to have some rest."