The Prophecy

A bell tinkled above them as Luke followed Erin into the almost deserted grocery store. Inside, wooden shelves stretched like pillars to the back of the store. Signs hung above these shelves indicating what was on each one. Erin led him down the one marked ‘Cereal-Soups-Snacks’ and to the left. They were passing the meat counter now, and Luke could see freshly cut ham on display behind the counter.
“’Ello E’in,” the butcher said from his place next to the meat cutter.
“Hey Greff!” Erin said, smiling at the butcher. Erin and Luke continued walking. Finally, they reached the check-out lines. Erin led Luke down Line Twelve. A teenager waited at the end. His head was resting in his slightly hairy hands, and he was staring at the newspaper rack across from the conveyer belt. When he saw Erin approaching he perked up.
“ Hey Erin! How’s it goin’?” He said. Erin didn’t reply at first just threw the rubber snake at him, which hit his head and bounced to the floor. The teenager looked startled at first, but then a wide grin spread over his face.
“I gotcha good, didn’t I?” He said sneakily.
“ Ya’ got me, and this guy too,” Erin said, pointing her thumb back at Luke, “Jess, this is Luke, Luke this is Jess. He’s my brother.” She said.
“Hey bro. How’s it goin’ with ya’?” Jess said, giving Luke a goofy smile.
“I’m good,” Luke said, slightly intimidated by the older boy. Almost before Luke had finished, Jess started talking again, “Cool bro. You can call me Jess. That is, Jess short for Jessie. Not Jessica. That’s a girl’s name, bro.” Erin laughed at this.
“You always have to make that point, don’t ya’ Jess?” She said.
“Hey, these days ya’ gotta be specific!” Jess replied. Erin laughed again. When Erin had stopped laughing, she asked Jess a question, “Hey Jess, is Mr. Monroe back? I want him to meet Luke.”
“Naw,” Jess replied, “ he gets back today though!” All of a sudden the doors of the store burst open and an old looking man stumbled in. His face was covered in wrinkles. He wore a blue patient’s outfit from a hospital, but had clothes underneath. He had wonderfully round glasses that bounced up and down on his nose with very step he took. He half ran, half hobbled up Line Twelve.
“Mr. Monroe-” Erin started but stopped quickly as he walked past her. He came upon Luke like a hawk after its prey. He pulled Luke’s hand out, and pressed something onto his palm, then the man- Mr. Monroe? – tightly closed Luke’s hand so it made a fist.
“k-k-keeep-p-p it-t-t s-aaaaf-ff-e... ” Mr. Monroe's trailed off into a whisper. The words made no sense, but Luke had no time to think because at this point Mr. Monroe fell to the ground, His eyes closed.
“Mr. Monroe!” Erin and Jess shouted unanimously. They both ran over and knelt by his side. Luke peeked into his fist. A small key laid in Luke’s palm. A small key he was supposed to keep safe.