Free The Sunset Prophecy (Love & Armageddon #1) by P.J. Day Page B

dropped off.
    “ Where would something like this come from?” she asked.
    “ I don’t know. Many people coming into my store strung out on some type of drug looking to pawn off their wares for money,” Raffi said. He placed his hand on Cindy’s back. “Hurry, hurry, follow me, let me show you something.”
    Raffi escorted Cindy to the storefront. He picked up the wooden box with the funny writing on its side and placed it on the counter. “Please, take this.”
    “ The entire box?” she asked. She rotated the box and scanned the exterior. The mysterious inscription kindled her curious fire. “What’s this funny writing all over it?”
    “ I really don’t know,” he said. “I sent a picture to my friend, who’s a linguist at USC. He said it might be an offshoot language of Koine Greek and Aramaic.”
    “ What?” asked Cindy.
    Raffi reached into his wallet and pulled out a tattered business card. “Here,” he said. “If you wish to contact him...actually, please contact him. The contents inside, study them as soon as possible, please.”
    Cindy picked up the box and held it in her arms. “How much do I owe you for this?”
    “ Nothing,” he said. A Dumpster-diving cat outside in the alley knocked an old metal shelf to the ground. The sound of tin hitting the concrete startled Raffi. His eyes darted around his surroundings like prey hearing the snapping of twigs on the jungle floor.
    Cindy ’s eyes widened, matching Raffi’s panicked look. “What’s going on?”
    “ Nothing,” he said. “Please, try to understand the contents of this box. Make sure to contact Professor Rivers. I really need to go.”
    Raffi hugged Cindy. “Don’t ever cease to be curious, okay?”
    “ Yeah, of course. Thanks, Raffi,” she said, as she focused sharply on the door that led to the alley. “Everything okay?”
    Raffi wiped away the sweat that was accumulating on his eyebrows. He breathed heavily. “Go, please. Just go. Don’t come back here, do you understand?”
    “ Raffi, what’s wrong?” Cindy asked. She looked around the store, wondering if Raffi was losing it.
    “ I’m fine. I need to leave. I’m not good with goodbyes,” he said.
    Cindy raised her eyebrows. She didn ’t know what to make of Raffi, who had always been friendly, caring, and showed the same enthusiasm toward the artifacts in his store, which she could relate to. “I’ll just go,” she said tentatively, walking backward toward the exit. Cindy scanned her surroundings with nervous energy. “Thank you, Raffi.”
    “ Don’t forget Pairika,” he said, leaning on the counter with a nervous smile.
    Cindy almost tripped. She recovered and grabbed the fresco from the wall. “Bye, Raffi, good luck,” she said, before stumbling out the door.
    She placed the box and the fresco in the trunk of her green Beetle. She clicked her seatbelt and stared at Raffi ’s store one last time before turning the key in the ignition. She observed Raffi lowering his head on the glass counter. She felt the sudden urge to re-enter the store and comfort him, but her imagination ran wild. Her gut churned up a feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Was Raffi involved in something shady?
    She swiftly came to an internal resolution. Raffi would be all right, she thought. He’s leaving anyway, far, far away from whatever was spooking him in Los Angeles. Besides, she found what she’d been looking for. Something that could validate her beliefs, beliefs which others took pleasure in mocking.
    As Cindy departed, Raffi ’s hands trembled. He stared at the shelves in his store one last time. There wasn’t any time left. The landlord would have to take care of all the items he left behind.
    He picked up the last wooden box and rushed toward the alley. The bottom edges of the box dug deep into his skin, pressing hard on the bones of his long fingers. Nervously, he looked for the keys in his pocket. They were in the store. “Dammit!” he yelled, scaring off