It was my day off and I was spending it with Lola, eating everything and drinking whatever was available. We went to a restaurant that was down the road from my work, and I can't deny that the food was much better. We were sat on a table in the back corner of the room; it was cosy with the long drapes along the walls falling to the floor, with the smell of freshly baked bread in the air. The main room was quite full considering it was the middle of the week, but we were far enough away from everyone else to feel somewhat secluded. I sat with my back to the wall, with Lola facing me from the other side of the table, beaming her wide eyes and big smile in my direction as she always does.

"So what does it mean?" Lola blurted out between mouthfuls. There were breadcrumbs falling from her mouth like a river; it looked like most of her bread roll ended up on the floor. "I mean... Giving you a tarot card after everything that's happened, without saying a word... That has to mean something doesn't it?" She continued, her curiosity with the Ringmaster was growing with each new detail I shared with her.

Once I got home last night, I did some research on the card that the Ringmaster gave me. I was dubious over whether it meant anything at all to begin with. However, after looking into the card he gave me, it was as if it was relating all of his little hints into one physical object. It made sense of the cryptic messages that he had sent me, or at least, it made sense to what he was getting at. I still had no idea whatsoever why he was doing this, especially after he told Drew that he wouldn't have love. Is he grooming me? I thought to myself, suddenly sceptical of the Ringmaster's intentions. 'You're a very pretty girl' he said...

"Ron?" Lola said at the perfect moment, stopping myself from thinking any further into that dark thought. I quickly jerked my eyes up to meet hers apologetically. I was being ridiculous to even think of that. I was always told as a child I thought the worst of new people and their intentions, but I didn't do it because I thought everyone was bad. I did it to protect myself. But in the course of doing so, it often made me unhappy, and it also made me paranoid of those I didn't know, just like the Ringmaster.

"Sorry," I began, as I took out from my rucksack the notes I made on the tarot card. "I found out a few things about it, but without it being in an actual reading, read by someone who actually understands it... It's pretty vague." I sighed out as I put the piece of paper I scrawled on in front of Lola to examine. As soon as I placed the paper in front of her, she let out a little giggle as he tilted her head in thought.

"I swear you enjoy this kind of stuff way too much." She said jokingly, with a sincere smile on her lips, meeting her wide eyes. She was referring to my extensive note taking, which probably carried on from college, but Lola never failed to find it amusing how I incorporated that skill into my day to day life, such as writing lists for everything, along with extensive note taking on any decision I make. She once had to sit idly by, waiting, as I filled an A4 piece of paper on the different aspects of dying my hair.

"Here, read this. See what you think about it." I urged as I focused on the words in front of her. She placed her drink further along the table as she picked the paper up, propping her elbows on the table as she read aloud.

The High Priestess. Often representing self exploration, inner power and growth within the individual. If this card comes up within your reading, there is a high chance that something is holding you back from becoming your true self, your stronger self. It is a sign that there will be change within your inner world, in a positive way. You may learn new things, even learn new things about yourself. You may grow spiritually and become more enlightened. Most of all, you will learn your true power and your potential will be unlocked.

Lola continued to stare at the paper after she had finished reading, then, carefully placed it back down on the table, as if it were breakable. She remained silent, which was concerning. It looked as though she was thinking, lost in her own thoughts, trying to make sense of it all herself.

That's when my phone buzzed on the table, startling both of us out of our transfixed thoughts. I could feel my heart pounding with the thought of who it may be. I was expecting one more message from the Ringmaster, he had practically promised. Or it could be Drew, who would no doubt be finishing work by now...

Lola raised her eyes from the table and looked at me with an expression almost like fear, crossed with anger. "Wh-Who is it..?" She asked cautiously, with her brows furrowed.

I didn't even need to answer for her to realise.

"What does it say?" She asked quickly as she was eyeing up my phone, looking as though she was close to grabbing it out of my hands to look for herself.

I held my phone out so that we could both read it together.

"Stage Three:

Nothing is ever as it seems. You must make sense of the mayhem.

This will be your final message. I look forward to seeing you soon."

"Right..." I say slowly, trying to figure out something to say to make light of the message, but I was seemingly unable to. I was still staring at my phone in hand, as Lola was tapping her fingernails on the table top rhythmically.

"That's it. We are getting to the bottom of this. I am not having some creepy guy sending you weird ass messages like that!" Lola spat out bitterly. She was always the protective type, and much feistier than what you would expect from her small, delicate stature. "Can you message Drew and ask him to meet us here as soon as he can?" She asked with a serious expression on her already red face.

"Um... Sure, but why?" I asked.

"We are going to track this guy down. You know my brother is a tech wiz? Yeah, well he's done some pretty weird things with his gadget brain before. He was able to track my phone when I went on a date with a guy he didn't like, and I checked if he installed anything on my phone, but nothing. I have no idea how he did it, but he did. We are getting him to track this guy's number." Lola was proud of her idea, but her annoyance from the message was still partially present, even with her excitement already starting to flare.

"Oh God... Really? Are we really doing this?" I asked as I put my hand over my forehead and sighed. "What if we track it to somewhere dangerous?" I added, peering back up at her through my fingers.

"That's why Drew is coming too. He looks tough enough, there's no way to know he's a delicate, precious little flower just by looking at him. He's our henchman." She said with a coy smile, stifling in her laughter at the thought.

"Okay, okay." I managed to say through my own laughter. "Fine. But we won't be long, okay?" I raised my eyebrows and leaned towards her, waiting on her response. With a long sigh, she finally gave in.

"Fine..." She elongated the word within her sigh, dramatising it like I was withholding a lifeline from her. "Go on, text Drew then! I'll get my brother down here." She said, completely and utterly engrossed within the situation again.

I did as she asked, with a quick response from Drew. It would seem that both the boys were on their way to meet us, so it only seemed fair that we had another drink in the meantime. Dutch courage as they say.

I'm going to need it.