Cherish’s eyes lit up and she gasped as they pulled into the parking spot, “Reservations?! That’s the surprise? Oh Simon, you shouldn’t have.” She teased back.
Leaving the ticket on the dashboard, he got out of the car and met on her side. He offered his elbow out for her, “It’s about a couple of minutes away.” He said.
Cherish slipped out of the car and pulled against the skirt in her own paranoia before glancing up at Simon. She rubbed her lips together and gripped his arm.
As they walked down the sidewalk dwarfed by skyscrapers, she glanced up and smiled to herself. She really was in awe now. It was nice standing along the building with people of every sort passing them by. The evening was cooling down and the atmosphere was exciting.
The walk was shorter than she expected, and they stopped outside of a dark, practically faceless building. The door was completely blacked out from view as were the windows. The confused look on Cherish’s face was entirely readable. Simon held the door open for her and gave her a suspicious smile that still didn’t tell her what she wanted to know. She stepped inside of the building and swallowed tightly while looking back and waiting for him to return by her side.
Thinking back to her little serial killer joked she continuously pulled on him, he smirked and leaned into her ear, “I bet you wish that you never called me out on my plans.” He whispered.
Cherish visibly jolted once his breath hit the nape of her neck. She side stepped away from him with narrowed eyes, “Bullshit, Simon.” She whispered.
Walking ahead of her, Simon approached the host who took their names and asked them to sit anywhere in the lounge they wanted. Taking a seat on one of the white chairs against the blank, black wall, Cherish pulled on her skirt and looked to him once again as though something was fishy, “What is this?” she whispered.
The Maître D approached and handed them menus, “Oh, thank you.” Cherish said.
The list was limited between, “Meat Surprise.”, “Vegetarian Surprise”, and “Seafood Surprise.” For the appetizer. The entrees were tame, typical meals of a roast beef dinner, barbeque chicken, or stir fry. But, there was the option of a “Mystery Meal” at the end. Dessert wasn’t listed and would also be unknown to them.
Simon went all in with the seafood surprise and mystery meal before he looked to Cherish and wiggled his eyebrows, “Are you going to take a risk?” he dared.
Looking over the options, Cherish tilted her head from one side to the other. This place had far too many surprises for her liking, but Simon’s tone and question caused her to rise to the challenge. Even though she was going to be safe and choose the roast beef and seafood surprise, now she couldn’t let him outdo her. She narrowed her gaze at him before her lips parted into a grin, “You’re on. Seafood Surprise and Mystery meal, please.” She answered.
Simon was impressed by her willingness to challenge him. Taking the menus, he passed them over to the Maître D who waved them over and led them over to a blacked-out door, “Wait here and your waiter will take you back.” He said.
Simon was excited because he’d heard of these restaurants, but now he was going to see exactly how it was done, “Do you have any guesses?” he asked nudging against her.
Standing, Cherish glanced at him from the corner of her eye, “Not a clue. I’m just worried that this mystery meal is going to be like mystery lunch at elementary school. Those were never good days.” She replied to his laughter.
A minute later a short, blind man with sunglasses emerged from the pitch-black room. He turned around and patted his shoulder, “Please put your hand here.” He said patting the other shoulder, “And the other place their hand here. Don’t let go.” He ordered.
Cherish looked from one side to the other before she reached out and grabbed the man’s shoulder as he asked. As they were led towards a dark void, she rubbed her lips together and widened her eyes to see more; all in vain. “Oh boy.” She muttered.
Shrouded in darkness, she felt the temperature in the room drop or perhaps that was just her mind playing a trick on her. She stumbled a bit while the waiter placed her hand on the back of a chair. She pressed along the cushion, sighed, and slowly sat down.
For Simon the darkness was strange. They were left alone so the waiter could tend to other patrons they could vaguely hear nearby. He felt as though he was nowhere and lost full sense of where he was or how Cherish sat. He reached out his hands to find her while laughing under his breath, “Where are you?” he whispered.
Patting along the plate, the silverware, and the table, she tried to gain her bearings and not freak out when she felt Simon’s touch. Sucking in a breath, she snatched her hand away only for his voice to state who he was, “You almost scared the crap out of me!” she replied.
Simon chuckled while his hands felt along her wrist and forearm before pulling away, “Oh, there you are.” Although he found that it was obvious, he wanted to clue her in, just in case she was still confused, “We’re at a restaurant where you eat in the dark to enhance your sense of taste and touch.” He said.
She rocked her body from side to side and blinked several times with her mouth wide open. Giving up, she shut her eyes entirely. No difference. Even
