Episode 24

Episode 24

Lark, being the ever-loving gentleman and doting grandson, helped Granny out of the front. Thea jumped out of the back seat. Jumped. Gods, could I just stop looking?! I peeled away my gaze and followed Lark and Gran inside. A holo-sign was standing that read 'Please Seat Yourself'. We scanned the room and I noticed Thea wave her hand through the hologram. I would've laughed, but she rolled her eyes at it and turned up her nose. Odd. And it was. I'd expect her to react differently. Be amazed for how old she is, maybe? She just seemed annoyed.

Philomena led us to a more private-looking booth in the back. There was good separation between all the tables and booths, but these over here had partitions with curtains that you could close for more privacy. Everything about these old diners was dank and dreary. Inside, these places were always styled in mixtures of black and deep shades of purples, reds, oranges, pinks, blues, greens... you name it. Back then, this whole partition would've been blocked off by a soundproof false wall, so add in a dash of secrecy with your privacy, if you will. 2500s was a dark time, I guess.

Establishments like this were created by and for the Resistance. Change scares people. Especially big change and the idea of a universal global government freaked a lot of people out. Resistance was often met with force. Never knew who you could trust. I'm so glad not to be born in a time like that. The Global Alliance, or GA, has been a well-oiled machine since about 2853. The Resistance gave a good long fight of about three hundred years. More than enough. The books tell us it was more of a silent 'behind closed doors' sort of battle. Infiltrations into the cells and assassinations vs. on a battlefield. Neither option is good, but you get my point. All relative in the end. After the state of the world became what it was, we couldn't afford to be so brash anymore.

Lark sat down on the left side of the booth. Philomena looked to us, "Go ahead, dears. Granny needs to be on the end here." Thea gently bumped me to the side with her hip and slid in all the way next to Lark. She winked at me as I hesitantly slid in next to her, and Gran took her seat next to me. A kind-looking man came by and gave us water and some data disks, then left and said he would be back shortly. I tapped a menu disk eagerly. Could've eaten an entire horse.

"Okay," Lark said, breaking the silence. I groaned internally. Food, please! Then talk. "How are we looking on funds? The tank in the Jeep is practically full still, but we're going to need food," he was counting out casually on his fingers, "somewhere to rest before we take off again, and clothes because Thea said this is nowhere near warm enough gear for where we're headed."

Well, he had a good point. Need funds for food. "Well, how about we pool everything together and see what we're working with? Then we can make our plan from there." I offered. Lark and Gran nodded in agreement. As good a first step as any. The three of us got out our phones, and Thea frowned. "Lucky I've been saving. I've got about a thousand credits." Thea was now looking over my shoulder, watching. Her breath on my neck made my entire body tingle.

"That's three thousand credits for me, honey." Philomena offered.

"I've got about five hundred more that I have stashed away for travel study at home. I might be able to get Mom to upload it and send it to me when I call her later." I'd been looking forward to travel study. Going across the entire globe for three years sounds heavenly. There's always so much noise in the house, and being the oldest with another sibling on the way, it wasn't getting any quieter any time soon. Luckily, it's fairly cheap because we're not made of credits in my household. Still, to be able to see all of the different birthplaces of ancient cultures has always been a dream. Hopefully, I can replace the funds, and it still would be a possibility.

Somehow, with my lack of finances, I felt like I was letting everyone down. Granny settled my growing insecurity with a smile and a gentle squeeze of my hand. She knew we weren't made of money. I shouldn't feel guilty, but I did. "We're not going back. Not for a long time, if ever, so what's mine is now ours." She looked to Lark as she said the last part. I followed her line of sight.

He did look a bit distressed. Staring at his phone as he ran his hands through his curls a few times and sighed. "I've been saving to get away from that hell hole, but I suppose that's what we're doing now... even if it isn't in the way I had planned," it came out in a mumble under his breath, but I'm pretty sure he knew that we could pick up on it. He ran his fingers through his hair a few more times and groaned. "I've got thirty-seven thousand credits..." he sighed again.

"Well, that's great to hear, dear! Looks like we don't have to fret about the necessities." Philomena said with a wink. I was still staring wide-eyed at Lark. Thirty thousand credits was a shit ton for someone our age. Hell, Granny only had three! What did he do? Never spend a single credit he ever made...? With that amount of credits, he had many options around the globe with his housing voucher. I'd be lucky if I had enough to stretch my voucher outta Collingwood after my travels. Credits get first picks and relocation allocations, and it was more expensive the further away your destination. It pays to work, but some people are fine with the simple life. "Lark, honey. Come with me, son. We have some arrangements that we need to tend to. Give the ladies your order." She smiled at us and walked toward the exit.

Lark hurriedly got out of the booth. "Uhh... uh... something that's terrible for my health but tastes great and feels good to my soul." He smiled and shrugged, then wasted no time to sprint after Granny.

They left me. Alone. With Thea. She maintained her look of annoyance as she fidgeted. Soon she hovered to catch different angles of my device as I anxiously played with it. I sighed and put it away and I opened up a menu. Personal space and privacy, please. The different dishes sprang to life making a full rotation slowly in succession. Thea moved over even closer to look at it with me. Our legs touched, and another chill rolled through me. A strong hint of cinnamon followed her. Toasted almonds as well. I swallowed down the saliva that poured into my mouth. Is space really what I want though? The corner of her lips turned up as she examined the menu, her finger pointing here and there.

Thea stretched over the table and propped her head up on her hand next to the menu. "I'm going to need help." She looked at me, smiling. In this position, her entire stomach was showing, and the curve of her hips looked delicious. So soft. My hands itched to feel every bit of her. I realized I was once again staring at the woman's chest. My gaze flittered up and met hers. I swallowed again. Her gaze was so piercing. It always felt like she was deep diving into my soul. If she mentions it, I can always blame that curry rice dish floating next to her. Her smile grew as she regarded me slightly, showing fangs this time. I returned her friendly demeanor but couldn't keep looking into her eyes. They fell almost instinctually. Again, my first line of sight was her chest. At this realization, I turned my entire body slightly to break physical contact and save myself more humiliation. I could've sworn I saw her frown in my periphery.

Turns out she really didn't know almost anything on the menu. I was surprised at how quickly she picked up on the language, but then again, we didn't know much about her. The young serviceman returned; Kyle was the name on his badge. He had sleek black hair, olive skin, and very kind eyes that seemed to complement the orange hues of his uniform. I ordered for all of us, and he left quickly to get everything going. Decided on the last "turn of the century" American favorite: Coney dogs, chili cheese fries, and Coke. If it wasn't good, they'd all have to deal. It was ill-advised because it was morning, but damnit, I was probably never going to see my family again, so I might as well eat an entire heart attack in one sitting. He said bad for health and good for the soul. This checks the boxes. All our health was pristine anyway--even Granny's. We'll survive.

Soon, I found myself getting hot again and wishing that Kyle hadn't left us alone so quickly. I didn't need to look at her to know she was staring at me. Thankfully, the gentlemen left behind two menus, so I started to thumb through one again. The distraction didn't last very long. Thea took a deep breath in and let the air fall out. Not a sigh, but not a groan either. Somewhere in between those lines. It wasn't long before my mind was sucked back into its pit of uncertainty. I could see her frown growing from the corner of my eye.

"Out with it, girl. I can feel your questions dying to escape just as badly as my breasts wish to escape this shirt." I watched her adjust herself freely. It was a nice shift from feeling her eyes boring into me. Her stare made me uncomfortable. Maybe uncomfortable isn't exactly the word I'm looking for. She made me burn up inside with a strong desire. It scared me as much as it excited me. Residual effects of her presence. Residual effects. I'll gain tolerance with time. Like a very mild food intolerance.

"T-There are a lot of things t-t-that I don't totally get." Ouch Ryn. I cleared my throat and placed both hands on the table in front of me. My stuttering seemed to grab her attention as she leaned on the table again. You need more confidence than that. Just speak. It's not that hard. I brought my eyes back to her. "Like how you know c-certain things. When were you here last?" I had to get it out. She looked amused. "Yes, you're a God, I get it, but how much of our old fables are really true, you know?" it was hard, but I was able to hold my eyes on hers for a bit before they fell again.

She chuckled. "Well, for how long, I'd need to know what calendar you use..." She placed her hand on my leg, causing me to stiffen instantly. Electricity spread through me stemming from her hand. She seemed to absentmindedly begin to trace her fingertips from my knee up my thigh. Not all the way, but enough that the ache returned, and I could feel my heartbeat picking up its pace. Her eyes dropped down to her hand and back up to meet my eyes. Those eyes... I pressed my thighs tightly together and suppressed a groan. Her smile widened, "... if that calendar was changed and how."

I felt her hand give my knee a gentle squeeze. Letting out a cough, I casually created some space between us. This move made her beautiful face become taught and that v to form between her brows. My movements did not go unnoticed. Ugh. I quickly tried to bring her attention back to our conversation and not me specifically, "What is the last thing you remember from your life before?" Thea shrugged and then picked up a menu and pretended to be invested in it. I didn't buy that for a minute, so I braved it and observed her closely. "Any particular dates come to mind? I'm sure you and I could figure this out." I didn't want to push too hard. It was hard not to feel within an inch of death every time you talked to her.

Thea let out a long sigh and set the menu down, "Last I was here, humans were estimated to be made into creation three billion six hundred seventy-three thousand and fifty-nine years ago. Which was incorrect by the way. It was much closer to six billion, but who's keeping count, honestly?" She waved a hand in the air. "Neither here nor there. But that's not what you asked now, is it?" her eyebrow cocked up, and she closed the gap between us once more. It was clear now that she was just toying with me.

I shook my head, "No, Thea. No, it's not." Our eyes met. Against every fiber within me, I looked deep into them. I did not want to back down this time. Her eyes were entrancing, and it was hard to keep on them, but I did. Had to find a bit of my backbone that seemed to have disappeared in my fresh adulthood. She remained unblinking and I watched as her eyes once again began to change color.

There was an extremely uncomfortable and long silence as we sat staring at each other. At first, I had to talk myself into looking at her and now I found myself unable to look away. She was regarding me heavily. Another long, exaggerated breath escaped her lips, and her eyes finally left mine. She stared at the table instead, "South Carolina, seventeen seventy-two. Some loyalists got to me. One hundred percent assassination, by the way. Caught with my pants down. Literally! Lovely maid she was..." Her voice trailed off wistfully as she reminisced.

It just didn't make sense, "Then how do you know what you know? And why do you talk the way you do? You're using language from different eras together. There's no way they spoke like that then." They didn't, and I knew it. The library has more than just old devices that play music. There are visual recordings you play on a wall or other surface. It was how you had to watch entertainment back then. Granny and Lark should've been here for this conversation. What is taking them so long?

She tilted her head at me, her smile creeping back on her face, "Talk the way that I do?" She giggled and the sound made me want to smile instantly. I had to fight it away. "Miss, I'm from many different times, so it all gets mixed together. Know what I know? I have many abilities. Many different things that I am extremely talented at." Slowly, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. Our eyes met once again, and I froze as she leaned in. Her mouth was close to my ear, her breath now warm as she whispered, "I can reach in and take information as I please."

My eyes went wide as the realization of what she said sank in. Thea pulled away, still smiling, and gave me a wink. Fighting back the trembling sensation, brows now furrowed, I ask, "If that is the case, then how come you said that the people or beings, creatures, or whatever that are after you would take what they wanted? You even said that we may be damaged beyond repair." There was a slight grimace as she paused, and her nose started to scrunch. Cute...

Quickly, she put her charming smile back on her face. "I'm not sure what you know or think of me, but I am not some brutal bloodthirsty savage." Suddenly, I was startled by the little sparks of electricity on my shoulder as she traced circles with her finger. She'd slipped her arm around the back of the booth unnoticed. Thea didn't really seem to notice either. Or she did and just didn't pay it any mind, "I can choose what I want to take. It doesn't have to be an invasion. I can take things over a period of time. The more common or accessible the information, the quicker it is for me to retrieve undetected. Everyday things like-"

"Buckling the seatbelt." I regretted cutting her off almost instantly, but she looked back toward me and smiled. Our faces were uncomfortably close. Tantalizingly close. I could taste those lips in six inches.

"There are harder things to access. Information related to extreme emotion or trauma... Mainly pain and shame." I saw something flash behind her eyes when she took a pause, "Most block these things from even themselves, so to break through would bring it forth." The booth material squeaked, and I felt Thea lean into me. Her warm breath on my ear again, "You don't hide your shame from yourself though, do you, Ryn? Only from others." I felt wetness on my earlobe, and my eyes flitted shut as she took it into her mouth. Her teeth gently grazed over it, and I had to suppress a moan from escaping my mouth before I heard her whisper, "You're very loud about it." before she pulled away.

Her tone dropped, and her smile faded. I couldn't stop staring at her lips as she spoke, "During a full-on invasion of the mind, everything is accessed all at once. It is very hard to stop, block, or avoid." Gently, I felt her reach up with her other hand, holding my chin to fix my gaze. The ache returned and burned right to my core as I felt her brush her thumb slowly across my bottom lip. My eyes closed on their own as the tingles rolled through me. I could feel my legs start to shake. Engulfed now by the scent of lilies in a fresh spring rain, I no longer smelled the cinnamon. Strange. She steadied my shaking leg with her hand by placing it on my thigh. She leaned in once more, cheek brushing against mine as she whispered into my ear, "Your tan grows a lovely rose color when you're excited."

Before she had time to pull away from me, I heard Granny clearing her throat.