My Anti-hero Fairy System

"Hey! Someone, get me a glass of water! She's got a pulse," Cara yelled, cradling Farrah's limp body in her arms. Her voice cut through the diner's shocked silence.

A patron hurried over and handed Cara a glass of water. Cara splashed a few drops onto Farrah's face, watching as her friend's eyelids fluttered open. Farrah blinked up at Cara, and then, with a startled scream, she jerked upright.

"You died yesterday. I fucking saw it!" Farrah cried, her voice high with disbelief.

Cara couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips as memories of Farrah's flair for dramatics surfaced. They'd been friends since high school, and if anyone could be over-the-top, it was Farrah Edwards.

"Well, Farrah, as you can see, I'm here, alive and well, and you're stuck with me for a long time," Cara said with a smirk, pulling her friend to her feet.

Farrah stood shakily, brushing herself off. "Bitch, the good Lord must have some big plans for you because this is nothing short of a miracle." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice tinged with awe.

Cara laughed softly, remembering Farrah's religious streak. "Yeah, you might be right."

Before Farrah could respond, a red-haired woman dashed toward them. Her oversized Wesley's Diner shirt, emblazoned with the diner's logo, clung awkwardly to her ample chest, drawing attention with every bounce as she ran. Cara couldn't help but notice and be entranced by the lady's melons, though she wasn't particularly into big boobs. Sylvester had been an "ass man," in his former, and still had that same preference, but this lady's breasts were just captivating, well rounded work of art.

The redhead stopped in front of them, panting slightly. "What's going on? I heard someone faint—" Her words caught in her throat as she spotted Cara. Her mouth fell open in shock.

Cara squinted, trying to place the woman's face. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but she couldn't pinpoint it. And then, there it was—a scent. The faintest trace of something primal, a mix of scents that reminded her of Dr. Elwes, but more feral. It was as if the woman carried the essence of multiple animals.

What the hell is she? Cara thought.

"Cara? Is that really you?" the woman asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes, it's me. And… who are you?" Cara replied, her brow furrowing as she struggled to remember.

"She's your boss," Arlene interjected, stepping forward. "Jackie. My daughter resurrected and lost some of her memories."

"I hope she doesn't go back to heaven tomorrow," Farrah quipped, breaking the tension.

The room erupted into laughter, Cara included, though Jackie's smile was hesitant, her shock still apparent.

"She lost her memories?" Jackie asked, her voice soft. "Like… she doesn't remember me?"

"She doesn't even remember her boyfriend," Arlene confirmed.

Jackie let out a visible sigh of relief, and Cara raised an eyebrow at her. Suspicious, Cara reached out with her newfound ability and caught a stray thought from Jackie's mind: "Thank goodness she forgot what happened between me and Rudy."

Immediately, an image flickered in Cara's head, Rudy Wesley, voraciously laying his pipe inside Jackie on his office desk.

'Wait, do thoughts now show up as images?' Cara wondered.

[No, those aren't thoughts. Those are memories.]

'You mean… that actually happened?'

[Yes, definitely.]

'Damn, Rudy Wesley, you are one son of a gun. And to think Mom loves this man and believes he is an honorable man.'

[People often believe what they want to believe, I suppose.]

Jackie quickly regained her composure and clapped her hands for attention. "Alright, everyone! We've all seen that Cara's alive and kicking, so it's time to get back to work. She's not a ghost, and we've got customers to serve!"

The staff shuffled back to their stations, murmuring among themselves, though they stole the occasional glance at Cara.

As Cara moved to follow Farrah to the staff locker room, Arlene grabbed her arm. "Honey, are you sure you're strong enough to work today? Maybe you should come home with me and start fresh tomorrow."

"Mom, I'm fine," Cara insisted.

"You say that, but I saw how you reacted when you walked in here. You're not fine, honey. You need to rest," Arlene pleaded, her tone soft but firm.

Cara paused, studying her mother's face. Something about her concern seemed… off. Curious, Cara delved into her mother's thoughts and discovered the truth—Arlene didn't want her working here. She believed Cara belonged at The Hemridge Globe, where she'd been interning as a journalist.

'Wait a minute, she was on a path to become a journalist and she backtracked to work here? What the hell is she doing here?'

[It could be that she was investigating the diner.]

'Or she could have been investigating mayor Rudy'

[That could be it? She was onto him and he killed her.]

'That is too easy. There is more to this than just that, and I am going to figure it out.'

"Mom," Cara said, her voice calm but resolute. "I'm fine. I promise. Just go home, I'll be okay." She squeezed Arlene's shoulder reassuringly.

Arlene hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line, before finally nodding. She gave Cara one last worried glance before walking out of the diner.

Almost immediately, Farrah appeared at Cara's side, a mischievous grin on her face. "So, when you were in heaven, tell me—did you see Elvis Presley?"

Cara chuckled. "I didn't stick around long enough to catch his performance of Suspicious Minds, if that is what you are asking. Maybe next time."

Farrah gasped, smacking Cara lightly on the arm. "Don't even joke about that! You're not going anywhere anytime soon."

With that, the two friends headed toward the staff locker room, their laughter echoing through the diner.

—-----

In the locker room, Cara and Farrah continued catching up while Cara changed into the staff uniform. Their conversation flowed easily until Farrah suddenly said, "You know, I was planning to go to the police station after my shift today and follow your instructions."

Cara paused, pulling her shirt over her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What instructions?" she asked, her tone tinged with intrigue.

Farrah turned toward her locker, rummaging through her bag with purpose. A moment later, she pulled out a key, holding it up for Cara to see. "You told me to take this to Sheriff Hader. You said he would know what to do with it."

Cara stared at the key, a strange mix of recognition and confusion stirring within her.

It was the key to the cellar.