Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

and greeted my first customer. The quicker I got rid of the line, the sooner I could get out of there. But hope of leaving early turned into disappointment as more and more people came into the deli and I couldn’t help them fast enough. I did my best to keep a good attitude, but felt it slipping as I saw my window of opportunity close.
    After three grueling hours of serving what seemed like thousands of hungry, demanding customers, the deli was suddenly empty. I was shocked when the manager asked if anyone wanted to go home early and I jumped at the chance.
    “Thanks,” I called out as I exited the store.
    Once outside, I ripped off my apron and ran over to my car, threw it onto the back seat and checked the clock on the dash—7:46. Knowing my family, I suspected they’d eaten already and were home by now. I wondered if I should let them know I was on my way, but decided to surprise them instead.
    I flew down the road and imagined their faces, especially Jo’s, when I walked in the door. They couldn’t continue the ongoing card game Nertz without me and I felt tonight that I would be taking the crown from Luke. I smiled and pressed the gas pedal harder.
    My car hugged the winding road that flanked the forest surrounding my housing development. I had to drive the long way around, the back entrance still buried by a quarter mile of rock deposited by a mudslide years ago.
    It didn’t matter—there was only a mile to go and I’d be home in five minutes, but I felt my car jerk. I eased up on the gas, but it jerked again, this time losing power. I panicked and imagined my car dying in the middle of the road so I pulled the car onto the shoulder. To my dismay, the engine sputtered and quit.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
    I tried the starter again. The engine revved to life, sputtered and died. Dread spread throughout my body as I turned the key again, listening to it moan over and over without catching. I gave up and rested my head on the steering wheel. There was no use in trying anymore—I was pretty sure I’d run out of gas, again.
    Sometime ago, my car decided to permanently display it had a ¼ tank of gas. To keep track of the mileage, I pressed the odometer counter each time I filled up the tank, so I would know when to refill. But the last time I got gas, a really cute guy in a BMW distracted me and I forgot to press the button. After I realized my mistake, I decided to keep track mentally. I should’ve known the flaw in my plan, since math and I didn’t get along.
    Luke kept making excuses when I asked him to fix the stupid thing. And for me to spend my hard earned money on someone else's car when I was trying to save money for my own was counterproductive. Shame on me.
    I dug in my purse and found my cell phone.
    Dad is going to kill me.
    This wasn’t the first time I’d run out of gas and I’d promised it would never happen again. This would be the third time I’d broken that promise.
    The phone was off.
    Oh no . . .
    I pressed the “on” switch and it flashed “low battery”.
    My battery is dead too?
    I dialed my home number.
    Please have enough power for just one phone call.
    Before it started ringing, the phone died.
    “No way,” I muttered under my breath.
    I flipped the phone shut and tossed it onto the passenger seat. Through the front windshield I watched the headlights of approaching cars and suddenly felt vulnerable. Between each passing car, the road became dark—scary dark.
    I had two choices. Either take the main road home or the short cut through the woods.
    The woods? Was I that desperate?
    I shivered. I loved hiking through the woods during the day, but at night the trees took on a life of their own and creeped me out.
    Then I imagined the alternative. The road, dark and curvy, led to Ernie’s Pizza where I could call my dad. But then I feared some weirdo would pull over and offer me a ride so he could kidnap me. I shivered again.
    Slumping back into my seat, I sighed and made a mental note: after I survived this, I was going to buy a cell phone charger for my car.
    Waiting in my car was definitely out, so I let fate decide. Heads I walk on the road and tails—the woods. As the coin spun in the air, I held my breath and waited with my palm open to catch it. But like a sick joke, the coin bounced out of my outstretched hand and fell onto the dark floor.
    Terrified, I decided it would be safer to cut through the woods. I didn’t have much with me