Charlie applied the fake tattoo and pulled the backing off. "There," she said, fanning it with her hand. "At least I got it in the right place this time."
The hotel room that Charlie had rented for the night was not much bigger than the twin bed that posed as any other type of furniture for the room also. Having just arrived in Lincoln Falls, Charlie didn't have a chance to go looking for an apartment.
Charlie stood and pulled up her pants so the tattoo could finish drying. She made two steps to the bathroom to wash her face and get ready for bed. As she finished, she thought she should make a list of things to do tomorrow.
She spoke out loud as she wrote because she was too scared of the silence the building contained. "One, find a place to live," she started. She then proceeded to scratch that out. "I suppose one should be find a job, then find a place to live." She started to write more things down, but then went back to the beginning. "No, you need to have a place to live before you can get a job." She looked at the piece of paper that had several scratches across it. She crumpled it up and started over. "One, find a place to live. Two, find a job. Three, find the bad guys. Four, kill some bad guys. Five, find someplace to eat."
Charlie thought for a moment and crumpled that piece of paper up also. "This is impossible," she whined. "I can't do this."
Charlie pulled her wallet out and retrieved her calling card. She began dialing numbers on the motel provided phone. After a few minutes, a person on the other end answered.
"I was wondering when you would call," the voice said.
"I'm sorry," Charlie started. "I thought I could do this myself, but I can't"
"Yes, you can, Charlie," he responded. "You are a great Slayer. You are very skilled and you have power that you can't even begin to imagine."
"Some Slayer I am. I don't even want to go looking. Besides, you said that there were several Slayers called to this place. Why did you send me?"
Arthur Searcy, Charlie's former Watcher, did not answer right away. Charlie prodded him again. "Charlie," he started slowly. "You are a Slayer. It is your destiny to follow evil and destroy it. If you choose not to, then that could cause an imbalance in the world."
"But what about the fact that there are already Slayers here? Doesn't that cause an imbalance?"
"Charlene Christine Grey!" he yelled. It caused Charlie to stop whining. "As your Watcher, I was notified of a distress in that area. I sent you there to aid other Slayers and Watchers that are already there because you have a gift. A gift that needs to be used for good. If you don't do anything, then we're all doomed, not just the town of Lincoln Falls."
Charlie didn't speak for a moment. "Fine. Tomorrow, I'll look for a place to live and a job. Know anyplace that needs an archeologist?"
"No, Charlie, I don't. But there is a mall there with several stores. I'm sure plenty of jobs would be available."
"Ooh, yippee," she said dryly. "That's why I went to college, to work in a mall. You know I'm not a people person. That's why I chose Archeology as a major. I wouldn't have to deal with many people."
"Charlie," Arthur said sternly. "Remember, you are there for a higher reason. Find a job to sustain yourself. Do your real job. Please."
"Thanks, Arthur. This means a lot that you would talk to me."
"Don't make it a habit. I'm not your Watcher anymore. I can give you moral support only so long. You have to find others to be your support system now."
"I'll see what I can do. Thanks, again. Good night."
"Good night, Charlie. Sleep well and good luck."
Charlie hung up the phone and turned off the light in her room. Though she was still in her regular clothes, she got into the bed and stared at the ceiling. "I can't do this," she said quietly, as she wiped a tear from her eye.
"Yes, you can," a voice responded inside her mind. It was the voice of her first Watcher, Dr. Dresdin. He had passed away before she started college and had always seemed to come to her when she needed him most. "You are strong and you can succeed."
Charlie fell asleep and waited for what the new day would bring her.
