Chapter 2 - 2

I untangled myself from the bed covers and tripping slightly over the shoes I had left next to my bed I made it the bathroom. I braced my hands on either side of the sink still trying to shake off the feelings that dream had left behind. I turned on the faucet letting the water run into the basin. Dipping my hands beneath the spray I splashed the cool water on my face. Grabbing one of the towels off the rack I dried my temples and began to pat dry my cheeks when I saw it. In the mirror reflected back at me on my cheek where the strange woman had touched me in my dream was a pink hand print. As I stared at it.. it slowly faded away with in moments it was gone as if it had all been in my head. Still I wondered what it all meant. Closing my eyes against the glare of the overhead light in the bathroom I placed the towel back onto its rack and flipping the light back off I let the light from the hotels sign blink it's neon light to guide me back to my bed. Putting my head back on my pillow the material cooled my fevered mind. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath I could hear the ticking of my watch almost keeping in time with my heart beat the soothing sounds taking me back to dream land though this time fortunately for me ... she was no longer there and the next thing to wake me was the sound of the phone on the night stand next to my head. The loud bells blending into the screams I had pictured in my head from the next strange dream my mind had taken me to. Picking up the receiver the recording started on the other end announcing that it was time to get out of bed. Slamming the receiver back down into its cradle I rubbed the flat of my palms over my eyes still trying to focus on the unreality of my dreams. I ran my palm over my left cheek feeling the stubble and wondering if the hand print was going to return. Gingerly I got to my feet making my way over to the large window of the room that looked out into a small forest of trees Spanish moss dangling from the branches. The early morning sun filtered through the leaves. Somehow that little bit of light made me feel safer as if my dreams of curses were just plain ridiculous. Besides I couldn't afford to give up and tuck my tail between my legs running away. I had been paid to do a job and I was damn well going to do it.
I stretched up on my toes for a few seconds heading into the bathroom for a shower hoping it would chase away the last bit of the cobwebs in my head. I turned on the water as I took a razor out of the overnight kit I had left on the side of the sink. Getting ready to lather my cheeks I turned my head to the right sticking my tongue into the side of my cheek looking for any sign of that red mark from the night before. There was nothing there swiping shaving cream on to my face I scrapped away with my razor. Finishing my shave I shut off the sink and instead turned on the water for the shower. As soon as the water was warm I lifted my legs over the side of the low tub closing the curtain behind me. Closing my eyes I let the luke warm water wash away my trepidation as I scrubbed my hands over my eyes. Placing my hands against the wall in front of me the water sliced down my back soothing me and bringing me back into the real world dreams washed away down the drain though damned if they didn't want to cling to me like a spider web in the dark you can't seem to completely peel away. I finished washing and turning off the water I reached around the curtain to take the towel off the rack.
I finished drying off as I placed my suitcase on the bed to take out my clothing for the day. I quickly dressed determined to start mainlining caffeine as soon as humanly possible. Tape recorder placed in one pocket my wallet in the other I took my baseball cap off the night stand and locking my room door behind me I placed the key into my front pocket and hitting the unlock button on my rental car I was out of the hotel parking lot in a flash in search of the nearest cafe. Lady luck was on my side for that at least I found one with in two block of my room.
Pulling into the parking lot I clicked the lock on my car as I headed into the cafe. I sat myself and waited for the waitress to saunter over to my table with a menu. She asked if I wanted some coffee while I made my choice. I nodded for her to bring me the strongest coffee she could find. She smiled and returned with my coffee. I sat staring at the menu unsure exactly what I wanted, but, the longer I sat there the better everything listed on that smudged dirty menu looked. I ordered everything from scrambled eggs and steak to the large biscuits and gravy. I asked the waitress to bring me a large glass of whole milk to wash it all down. By the time I was done she quirked a bit of an eyebrow at me but just nodded her head with a, "you got it sugar". And went right back to the cook to put my order in. As the waitress placed my coffee down in front of me I reached for the sugar packets lined out in the little plastic caddy on the table. Normally I drank my coffee as black as midnight. This morning I found myself emptying five packets into just one cup and adding heavy cream to it as well. I felt almost outside of myself. I craved the taste of sweet and I had to have it right now. I stopped the waitress as she sashayed by carrying her tray for another table and asked if they happened to sell donuts. She looked down into my eyes seeing the unveiled desperation there she stepped back out of my reach. Leaving to finish serving her order to another customer. A few moments later she brought a tray out to me filled with all the pastries anyone could expect from a place like this.
Looking at the rows I once again looked up at the waitress and instead of choosing I simply took the tray out of her hands and placed it on the table. Thanking her I asked for more coffee. She quickly refilled my cup as I added more sugar and cream. Backing away from me again. I opened my laptop on the table next to my pastries and began to type. I paid no attention to what I was shoveling in my mouth with one hand and I kept typing in between bites. I wrote of how the local legends were nothing but ridiculous old wives tales. The locals were always eager to tell them but there was absolutely no truth to them at all. I wrote of how it was easy to see how people could allow it to get to them. I myself had even had a dream about a voodoo Priestess I had met briefly in the French quarter the night before.
I described my dream and it seemed to me that is was just such nightmares that likely brought more stories to life than anything remotely real that might have happened. It seemed only moments later the waitress stopped by my table and filling my cup yet again reached to retrieve the pastry platter from my table lifting my eyes from my laptop I noticed that the tray that had been completely crammed full a few moments before now had nothing but empty wax papers still present across the tops. Stopping her for just a moment again I blinked my eyes to be sure I was seeing all of this correctly had I really just emptied that platter without thinking about it? I felt myself pale a little at the realization of it. And worse I could feel a hunger gnawing in my belly as if I had not eaten anything in weeks. Letting the waitress leave I rubbed my eyes and tried to wake myself up from what seemed like almost a trance. I felt yet another of those pangs as the waitress brought back the rest of my order.
I watched in almost a morbid fascination as plate after plate was placed before me. The table was completely covered and yet there were still more plates to go. The waitress cleverly stacked the dishes to stagger across each other. By the time she finished it was two layers thick across the table and she once again filled my coffee before swaying away. She watched me out of the corner of her eye as she waited on other customers. I looked at all the breakfast foods spread out before me and taking my fork in hand I began to eat the contents of the first plate.
I swallowed the slices of bacon, sausages, eggs and toast. Before reaching for the next platter this one filled with biscuits and gravy. By now I should have been full to bursting and yet I could still feel that gnawing in my stomach. Stacking the empty plates off to the side as I continued to make my way through them. As the waitress taking them away watched with a complete morbid fascination. It seemed the more I ate the more the hunger gnawed at me. Finally I finished every dish on the table before me. The waitress had cleared the table and I closed my lap top. It was as she left the ticket on my table and went to walk away I heard her ... the waitress said under her breath, "another one." Did I just hear her right? What did she mean another one? Sliding out of my booth I picked up my leather laptop bag and headed toward the register to play for my breakfast. The jeans I had dawned that morning suddenly very tight in the waist. Not exactly a shock considering what I had just put inside my belly. I was unable to meet the eyes of the cashier as she ran my credit card. I signed the slip leaving a large tip for the waitress and hitching my bag back onto my shoulder I left the cafe. I was scared of what I had just experienced, but, what frightened me more was the fact that the painful feeling of starvation was returning to my body yet again. What was happening to me??
Returning to my car I pulled out of the parking lot of the cafe and turned left toward the bayou draped with Spanish moss and creatures unknown in their back water swamps and trees.
I drove around most of the morning looking for locals who would tell me about the legends that lurked in the shadows. Many were friendly enough although sometimes the smell of the alcohol permeated out of every pore, but, it worked to my advantage as they seemed to be much easier to get talking. Others greeted me not with fables and legends, but,