By Kali Gargoyle
This is the prequel/sequel to Missing Pieces.
***
Now, where's that piece…
Cassidy Mora scrutinized every colored splotch on the table. It had to be here somewhere…ah ha!
She picked up the piece and smiled. The phone beside her suddenly rang, causing her to jump and drop the piece. Growling, she waited until the machine picked up. She never picked up the phone before the machine. It might be someone she didn't want to talk to, like her parents.
"Yo, Cas, I know yer there."
Cassidy sighed as she picked up the cordless receiver. "Hello, Mel."
"Hey, girlfriend. What's up?"
"Nothing," Cassidy replied, resuming her search for the puzzle piece.
"You are pathetic!" Melanie cried. "You need to get out."
"It's daylight," Cassidy said, pushing the green and pink piece into place along the right border. "You know the sun hurts my eyes."
"So where those sunglasses. How 'bout a movie? It'll be dark in the theater. There's a new Jim Carrey flick out."
"Goodbye, Mel."
"Wait!" Click.
Cassidy hung up the phone and began a new search for the next piece of her puzzle.
***
Cassidy sat down behind the counter and pulled out her sketchbook. At the moment, there were no customers in the store, so she had some quiet time to work on her latest drawing.
She looked up briefly when the bell above the door sounded, signaling that a customer had just walked in. It was a short woman with plain brown hair and glasses. Unfortunately for Cassidy, she walked straight up to the counter.
"Hi."
Cassidy lowered her pencil. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. I'm looking for something to help my love life."
Cassidy looked her over once, then said, "Aisle three. 'Simple love spells for the modern woman'."
"Thanks."
When the woman turned, Cassidy rolled her eyes. Once-borns.
Five minutes later, the woman returned to the counter with her arms full of books and supplies.
Cassidy suppressed a chuckle as she rang up the desperate woman's items.
***
Cassidy struck a model's pose, then wondered again what had possessed her to buy this dress.
Oh yeah…Melanie.
It was short, tight, and red. And so not me.
With a sigh, she pulled it off and folded it up. Good thing she'd kept the receipt. It wasn't as if she had anywhere to where it anyway.
She pulled on her jeans and t-shirt. She picked up the bag and slid the dress inside. It'd be pointless to wait until the store closed. As she grabbed her keys, she looked down at her half-finished picture. She casually picked up a piece and stuck it in its place below the waterfall.
***
Cassidy groaned when she saw who was approaching her table.
"Hey, Cas, long time no see."
"Hi, Mel."
"What's wrong? You seemed bummed."
"Nothing. I'm just thinking. I'd just like to be alone."
Of course, Melanie sat down. "At times like that, you need someone to talk to."
Cassidy tightened the grip on her cup. "No, Mel, I really don't."
"Sure you do. Tell me what's wrong."
Cas narrowed her eyes. "You're what's wrong. You and every other person in the city. I mean, how stupid are you? Can't you take a hint? Obviously not, so I'll spell it out. GO AWAY!"
Melanie blinked in surprise. "Why do you have to be such a freak? I just don't get you."
Cassidy stood up and turned to go. "No, you don't," she said over her shoulder.
***
Cassidy stopped. She looked behind her and off to the sides. Someone was here, she could sense it. She continued down the empty street and turned into an alley. She hoped she'd be able to reach the other end before whoever was following her caught up.
As she stepped beneath the streetlight, she sighed in relief. She turned and bumped into somebody.
"Oh, sorry," she said quickly, looking up. She gasped at what she saw. Evil eyes stared at her from behind a metal facemask. Arms grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth, preventing her from screaming.
The man looked her over. "She'll do nicely."
***
The first thing Cassidy realized when she woke up was that she was strapped to a table. She fought against the restraints until she realized that they weren't going to give.
She couldn't even open her eyes because the light above her was so bright. She strained to pick up any sounds from the room.
She could hear computers humming and beeping. Then something moved towards her. Cassidy could feel something crawl over her skin and she shuddered. It was some small animal. Maybe a reptile. Then it fell off her arm.
Something cold and slimy splattered on her arm. She squeaked and tried to pull at the restraints again.
"Don't panic, girl. It won't harm you," a voice said.
Cassidy started to feel dizzy, and then it felt like her body was turning inside out. Then there was nothing.
***
Angel looked down at the portrait of a serene rain forest waterfall. It was a shame that she only got half way through and now she had to pack it up.
"You ready?" she heard Donatello call.
She shut the puzzle box and stuck it into the last packing box.
"Yeah, I'm ready."