Jim's Gym Journey

Chapter 2 - This is Your Conductor Speaking... The figure was smaller than average, with wild, unkempt hair tamed in an ominous purple turban. Her short stature was balanced by a pair of purple, 6-inch stilettos. She sat crouched; a patched lavender skirt and galaxy shawl spread out on the floor around her. Elaborate gold bangles dangled from every limb. She was hunched over a set of makeshift tarot cards and seemed to be haloed in an otherworldly, pale-blue light . A soft sound was coming from the corner where she sat. It appeared the woman was performing some form of tarot reading ritual. The sound of acrylic nails clicking on plastic cards echoed around the gym. She rapped on the top card several times, before shuffling the pile. Jim stood stunned. The woman continued to whisper in a mystic tongue. Jim stifled a laugh. He was silenced by the piercing glare of a pair of jet-green eyes. She grinned as he met her eyes, and the spell was broken, the light dissipating. “ I take it your problems must be pressing, for you interrupted my tarot reading session, ” she complained , “It is Raven Knight for all that are close to me. I foretell that you are surprised to see me,” the woman pronounced, her arms extended in a great flourishing motion, as acres of gold -plated jewellery jangled together and scattered the light in shards across the floor. She had a startingly deep voice that sounded habituated to commanding battalions or cities, which garnered the reverb that Jim had previously thought was only achievable in specialised chambers. She lowered her arms, grinning wildly, as red painted lips revealed rows of sharp yellow daggers. The performance was not quite like anything Jim had ever seen before. He stifled another laugh, this time managing to stay composed. “Well.... I - I’m surprised,” Jim stuttered. “I - I thought I’d never get out of there, that’s all.” Realising his rudeness, Jim introduced himself, “I - I’m Jim, by the way. Th - the cleaner here.” The tarot reading was forgotten. Raven stood, her heels meaning she towered over Jim. She closed her eyes and began to speak a prophecy. Jim took a step back, alarmed. “Jim ! I have been waiting for you. Or someone like you. I guess you’ll do. I’m a teacher by day, fortune teller by night. I can read tarots and palms, as long as there’s light. “The tarot cards don’t lie, do they Jim. They say that the future of life here is dim. I’ve been here for ages, trapped in fear, but the prophecies tell me that the escape is near! You and I