Selene stared out the window, the raindrops slipping down the glass ever so slowly. Her eyes focused on individual raindrops, watching them race each other to the bottom of the window sill, where she could no longer watch them. It was nearing nine o'clock and she had just completed her agenda for the day. Unfortunately, now came the hard part – finding an excuse to leave.

You need to work on the Wiccan issue now, she bugged herself. Before you know it, the deadline will come up and you have absolutely nothing to write about.

Yes, but then again, you need to sleep and relax, she countered herself. You have a stressful day and research takes a lot of work that you just do not have the energy for.

Then again, I am Selene, and I can produce quality work while under high pressure situations, she debated with herself once more.

The ring of her phone interrupted her mental debate and she reached for it at once. After all, it could be Daniel calling, and she had no intentions of missing one of his calls. However, to her dismay, it was only Scarlett calling.

"Scarlett, I'm a little busy right now," Selene answered in her normal, uninterested tone of voice. She continued to scribble random wiccan-related words down on a yellow paper notepad in a fashion that only she would be able to understand.

Scarlett, on the other hand, sounded downright irritated. "Have you heard from Sapphire?"

"No, why?" Selene asked, merely feigning interest. It wasn't that she didn't care about them – she did, but their nonsense was usually too meticulous for her.

"She called me earlier when I was working, and she was in a bit of a fuss. I thought that she had just been drinking and what not, so I told her to calm down and stop with the alcohol. She thought that Nicholas had called her, and so I went over to her apartment to check on her. Selene, she is not here!" Scarlett seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating, so Sapphire knew that it was time to start caring a little more.

"And how do you know she's not there? She may not have answered the door because she is sleeping, like you told her to do," Selene said as if it were that simple.

"We were worried about her, so the both of us ended up getting keys to her apartment. I just took a full and thorough look around this place – she's gone and she is not answering her phone," Scarlett said breathlessly.

"She probably went out for a drink or two, you know Sapphire." Selene shrugged her shoulders and stood up from her desk, beginning to pace around the office. She was almost positive that Sapphire was fine, besides from her usual problems.

Scarlett began screaming into the phone. "Just because you are too self-obsessed to care about anything, but your work does not give you the right to blow off my feelings! I am actually worried about our sister, and whether or not you are is not important. I just know that I need your help now!"

Self-obsessed? Selene scoffed at this. She cared very much about things other than her work, like her writing, for example. Scarlett was obviously just exhausted with worry that she was now saying such ridiculous things. "She is just drinking, Scarlett. Just call up a few bars until you find her."

"No, it's much more than that," Scarlett said quietly into the phone. "Selene, I really think that she is out looking for Nicholas."

Selene let out a tiny chuckle into the phone. "You mean her dead husband?"

"I've already told you – she got a phone call and was pretty convinced that it was him speaking to her," Scarlett said, getting agitated now.

Selene shook her head. All of this was absolutely ridiculous, and she knew that Scarlett knew that. In fact, she and Sapphire were probably sitting in Scarlett's penthouse, laughing at the prank that they were pulling on her. How immature! "I'm sorry, but I have a lot to do – goodbye now."

Selene hung up the phone and tossed it on the surface of her desk. She shook her shoulders, trying to hold back the laughter and frustration caused from that call. This was most likely the reason that she rarely communicates with them nowadays. If only they were not so immature and desperate for attention.

She never knew what it must feel like to be like them. They are both so free in spirit, while she always had to be tied down as the older, responsible sister. Turns out that life had treated her good as a result of that, but even still, it really irked her that she seldom ever had a moment to herself.

Except for when she visits the Grove and talks to Daniel.

It was then that Ms. Wilcox knocked on the door, once again startling Selene. "So, you are still here, I see."

"I was just leaving," Selene said, trying to retain her agitation. She picked up her purse off the floor and stuffed a few files into it, which contained some articles on Wiccan culture that she had found on the internet. Her research started tonight next to a candlelit window.

Ms. Wilcox nodded, not saying a word. She just stood by the door, watching and waiting like a bird stalking his prey. Selene nervously gathered her things, feeling the hawk's eyes glued on her. She felt a worm take the place of her tongue, wriggling and skewing about in her mouth. It was almost as if the worm was choking her, consuming all of her saliva.

Once she had gathered all of the necessary files and paperwork to extend her hours at home, Selene advanced towards the door. "Well, good night, Ms. Wilcox," she said slowly, waiting to see if Ms. Wilcox would move for her.

She did not.

The silence brewed and the anticipation grew higher than the Empire State building, times two. The silence was driving her crazy. "Ms. Wilcox, is there something that I can help you with?"

"I would just like to ask you again, Selene, on why you chose witchcraft?" she asked, her chin tilted upwards out of curiosity and intimidation.

Selene shrugged her shoulders, not knowing quite what to say. "Like I said before, my friend was discussing it and it just peaked my interest. I did speak with him, by the way, and he is done for all of it – interview, and all!" She tried to uphold a smile, but Ms. Wilcox did not seem too appraised by any of it.

Ms. Wilcox nodded her head again, everything seeming repetitive and slow. It was almost as if Selene was stuck in a boring board room with a bunch of uptight people who had no clue on how to smile, which is a regular occurrence in her life when approving magazine issues and changes.

"Selene, some lady was found dead in Central Park maybe two hours ago, and someone reported witchcraft. I checked your office as soon as I found out, and would you guess what? You were not here. So, I ask you again, Miss Ferox, what is your stance on witchcraft?" Ms. Wilcox raised her thin, old lady eyebrows, awaiting Selene's response, who seemed stunned by the entire issue.

Did her boss really think that she had supernatural powers and used them to murder someone?

"Ms. Wilcox, with all due respect, that is absolutely ridiculous! I was at the Grove, purchasing a coffee, and speaking with my friend, who, as I mentioned before, has agreed to the entire package. He can definitely vouch for my alibi. Yet even so, do you really believe that witchcraft exists? All it is, is a bunch of old, traditional views that seemed radical at the peak of their time. Even still, it is nothing other than just some fun that they used to believe in. To think that witchcraft exists, even in essence, well, it seems like a high form of hypocrisy on olden times! To think that I performed such an act with some imaginary powers – well, now that is an offense against me." Selene shook her head, both angered and shocked by Ms. Wilcox's words.

Sometimes people made it really hard for her to stay an innocent civilian.

Ms. Wilcox widened her eyes, obviously feeling some shame for what she had proposed. "Well, Selene, I meant no disrespect, myself, but you have to admit that it is all rather odd?"

"It is definitely a coincidence, Ms. Wilcox," Selene noted, keeping her responses short before something unwanted spilled out.

"Selene, forgive me, but I needed to ask," she continued on with her apology.

Selene sighed and thought about it. Had she been in Ms. Wilcox's shoes, it would have been rather curious. "I understand."

"Well, goodnight, and I will see you tomorrow." Ms. Wilcox stepped aside, so that Selene could pass through. As soon as the opportunity was presented, Selene stormed off towards the elevator.

"Good day."

***************************

Author's Note:

Hi friends!

Once again, I hope that you are enjoying the story.  

On the side of this story, I'm also writing a satire called "The Presidential Proposal".  They will both be updated regularly throughout this month, so I hope that you will at least check out the first bit of it and let me know what you think!

It is a comedic criticism on the current election, exploring the possibility of a teenager running for president and how she compares to the other candidates.

Please continue to leave feedback on that story and this one!

Lots of love,

Ali xoxo