“She’s an original, isn’t she?” he asks, smiling.
“Yes, Knox, she's one of us.”
He jumps up, pointing a finger at me. “I fucking knew it.”
He paces back and forth across the room “There was something about her I couldn’t quite put my finger on and when she came in here. I felt the change in the frequency.”
Knox curls his hands on the top of the chair “Now what?”
“We wait for her to come to us,”
Chapter 9
Myssa
Ricky helps me to a barstool, and I sit for a minute, not sure how to even explain or mention what really just happened. Maybe Pete was right to give me time off. Maybe this is the start of a nervous breakdown that has been slowly morphing over these past few months. I mean, let’s be honest, who the hell would believe me if I even attempted to try to explain it?
“What happened, Myssa?” Ricky asks with concern in his eyes.
Oh, you know, just mysteriously slipped through some Matrix hole to another fucking universe. Met some little girl and made my way back here. By the way, have I told you my sister is being held hostage by some lunatic? Although I haven’t really seen him, just hear his voice in my head like nails on a chalkboard. Please feel free to point me in the direction of the nearest asylum and shove me in. At this point, maybe it will be a welcome reprieve.
Realizing I haven’t answered Ricky, and not to cause any more concern, I clear my throat.
“Just got a little dizzy. I didn’t really eat anything today.” I hate lying, but what else can I say?
No one would believe me if I told them—fuck, I don’t even believe me—and yet, here I am trying to wrap my head around what’s going on.
Vix finishes up with a customer and makes her way to where Ricky and I sit. Handing me a bottle of water, she, too, looks concerned.She must have seen what happened.
“Babe, you good?” she asks.
“Yeah.” My hands shake as I try to twist the cap.
She eyes me for a minute.
“Bullshit.” Her stern gaze poses questions I’m not ready to answer. I love that about her. Her loyalty and protectiveness over the ones she loves is fierce.
Tired of seeing me struggle, she takes the water bottle from me, twists the cap and hands it back.
“Thank you, I’ll be ok,” I say, taking a sip of water and feeling the color come back into my cheeks.
Laying my head in my folded hands on the bar, I feel Ricky gently rubbing the upper part of my back in a soothing motion.I tilt my head to the side, and my eyes meet his. I attempt to give him a reassuring grin that I’m ok. It’s funny how much grief steals from you. It drains the very essence of who you are if you let it. We forget so easily that the love from our friend’s is the very strength we need to help mend the pieces that are left scattered on the floor.
“Maybe a little too much for my first night back out in a few months,” I say with a chuckle.
“Cmon, Myssa, I’ll take you home,” he says, putting his arm around me.
Still shaken up by what the little girl said, and not wanting to argue, I nod in agreement and start to get up as I get Vix’s attention.
“Ricky’s going to drive me home. My car is parked two blocks away. Do you still have my extra key?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she said, “don’t worry about it. Knox and I will ask Z if we can park it in the back, and we can come back in the morning for it.”
“Thanks, luv.”
“Tell Knox I said goodnight.” Giving her a small wave, I take a step in the direction of the elevator.
“Sure thing, babe, feel better, and I’ll call you in the morning.” Vix gives me a small salute and heads back to a customer that’s trying to get her attention.
