CHAPTER TWO

  There was an ease about his stride as though each step floated on the air for just a second before landing back upon the grounds flooring beneath him. Everyone within the entrance room of the hotel paused, hesitated watching the curious man as he glided in to the information desk.

  The wide brim hat sat upon his bald thinning head without movement as his dark empty eyes glazed straight ahead of him. With his long, thin straw like index finger he tapped the bell on the counter. Leaning effortlessly on his black cane that was adorned with ancient carving that appeared to be devilish in nature he waited for Becca to step up and assist him.

  Becca greeted Leland with a perfect smile as she welcomed him to the town's only hotel," Good day sir. How may I assist you?" she asked very pleasantly.

  With a solemnly quieter tone in his voice that at times sounded as though his words echoed Leland responded," I believe you have a room for me. Leland Isfet is the name." he watched her with a certain deadpan glare feeling her discomfort immediately.

  Becca did her best not to look the stranger in the eyes as she could feel the coldness oozing from his very soul. She was unsettled to her core, but managed to maintain her professionalism, I have you registered for a month, is that correct Mr. Isfet?" she asked politely.

  "At least a month, perhaps longer depending on how my business goes." Leland replied saying no more. He waited to finish up and be on his way to his room. He was weary and was in need of nourishment and rest.

  Handing Leland his key card for his room Becca continued her check in speech with a smile that felt less than genuine, " We hope you enjoy you stay with us and if there is anything that we can assist you with during your stay, please do not hesitate to ask us for help. We are here to please you. Is there anything else I can do for you at this time? she asked.

  Turning with a quick spin Leland simply said, "No, not at this time." He simple walked off in that slow methodical stride that he had perfected over the long hundreds of years. He immediately dismissed her from his mind as his only thoughts were of food and destruction.

  There would be plenty of time to interact with little Miss Becca. He had already for seen what her future would consist of. With a small devilish grin on his face as he entered the elevator, he pitied the young woman at the desk.

  Like her, this town's future had just taken a turn for the worse and not one body here could have predicted how the days ahead were going to unfold.

  " More often than not evil is at its best when it slips in quietly, without notice, devouring every morsel of life as the feast of the wicked comes to stay."

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tasty Treats café was one of the center places of gathering for the town's folks. Most of the customers that came to the café on a daily basis had been born in Hershel was back when. There were town's folks from their seventies all the way up to new born. It was the best place around for casual eating and treats.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  As one of the oldest establishments in Hershel everyone had come to see that the little country café was the melting pot of the town for everyone and anyone. All were welcomed to sit and enjoy the delicious home cooking of Jimmi Ray, the cook and owner along with his high school sweet heart wife, Bobbi Jo.

  Here at Tasty Treats, you not only received some great home cooking, but you were treated with kindness and generosity, which had become rather rare in America of late, No one in this town ever let an awful thought or idea of Jimmi Ray or Bobbi Jo be spoken.

  On this Monday the usual crowd was packed in to the café talking up a storm. There were plates of eggs, sausage or bacon, maybe ham slices with toast, grits or panfried potatoes. Cups and cups of coffee, with side orders of orange juice or milk. The doughnuts were stacked high in the glass pastry plate with a cover, Danishes and even dishes of quiche were available for the tasting.

  The griddle was heated and searing the meats as dozens of eggs were scramble, flipped over easy and once in a while pouched. Bobbi Jo and Jimmi Ray had always made it their business to listen to their customers wants and likes.

  The Tuckers would go to any lengths to serve up whatever their customers wanted in order to increase their reputation as being a welcoming café. Nine o'clock arrived and should enough the bell ring on the café door as everyone paused just long enough to look up to greet the sheriff Shurley Knox. She came by every single morning exactly at nine to eat, have a couple cups of coffee and one to go. This way she was assured of getting her day off to a really good start.

  " Morning sheriff, usual?" Bobbi Jo hollered out to be heard over the noise of forks scrapping and voices chattering.

  " You know it, Bobbi Jo." Shurley response with a boisterous chuckle. " Morning all." Shurley said with her loud voice speaking to everyone in the café.

  As if it had been practiced in one voice the response echoed around the room, " Morning sheriff." Everyone replied.

  Taking note at the high spirits that were apparently felt for the Sheriff, Leland made a mental note of the importance the sheriff must take in his plans. He knew from his past experiences with law enforcement that when a town put a huge amount of faith in their leadership for protection and safety all one needed to do was break that faith just enough to cause the foundation to crumble. He was more than certain of the unknown role that Sheriff Shurley would play in the destruction of her own town. No one notice the sly grin that appeared on the thin lips of the man in black.

  So far, the town of Hershel was beginning the same as it did each day of the week. People came in to the Tasty Treats, sat down, place their order and ate then moved on to allow another to take the seat and do the same thing.

  Routines hardly ever change in small towns as the flow of each day become a pattern that all citizens blend themselves to. It becomes an easy flow for all concern. Today would be the first day when the smallest of ripples in the flow would occur, barely noticeable to anyone within the city limits the ripple, like that of a pebble being shipped across a lake only slightly changed the beginning moments of any life.

  The ripple un-noticed would eventually grow little by little until it became a gushing flood. That flood could never be stopped or contained. It started with only a small dent in the flow of the people’s easiness with one another, then adding another small tear in the calmness until event after event after event increased and along with the increase in tension comes the temperament of change from person to person.

  Leland anticipated his first move as he watched with what could only be described as a gleamer of happiness feeling the excitement that would come when he unleashed the flood of discourse. This was the very reason he was the best of his master’s soldiers in this war or hatred and disruption. He better than all of his master’s soldiers knew the heart of the humans like none other and he delighted when his plan had a path to begin on.

  Only until everything attached to the town of Hershel and all of its citizen had been brought to their knees would the flooding onslaught be at bay.

  Leland stood at the door of Tasty Treats café delighted not by the choices of food items, but the choices of souls to be wrecked. He only awaited the will of his master's command to begin in earnest.

  “Evil has its own patience to begin devastation.”