I laugh and laugh as I make my way to the exit. Out of the humid environment I’m even more keenly aware of the pain it causes me to go Under. Outside my clothes are where I left them so I slide them on. The chilled night air forms goose bumps, especially after such a hot room.
I come back Up and hear, “Funny seeing you here,” in an unrecognizable masculine voice.
My feet sprint me away before I can think better of it.
18
Roe
For once Ihave the upper hand on Maggie. She barrels out of a side door in an alley just as I’m walking past for the tenth time. She’s smiling like the actress who got the Oscar. I can only imagine what she’s been up to. She doesn’t see me and she’s most decidedly still Under, as she’s totally naked. As always, I try to control my eyes but they’re weak and greedy for her. Something’s different. Her silhouette is not as sharp. She contorts and blurs much more than normal.
And she’s laughing instead of wobbling and pale.
I tuck into a doorway and decide to see what she’s up to. She glances around before grabbing a bundle I assume is her clothes and the phone that led me to this alley. Her system for hiding clothes is definitely lacking. If she let me, I could help with that.
I follow her as she rounds the corner to another abandoned alleyway and gets dressed. Her form becomes solid. It’s still such a trip to watch. Her spine is bent and curled as she dresses, and her skin emanates a glow that feels ethereal. A glimpse of side boob flashes before she stands to slip the dress over her head.
Time to get a little petty revenge. I sneak up behind her and by the time she has her shoes on I could reach out and grab her.
“Funny seeing you here,” I say in a voice not at all like my own, just hoping to watch her jump with fright. Maybe a little scream so I can make fun of her for showing a genuine human reaction.
But I didn’t think this through. She’s Maggie fucking May. She doesn’t even react except that she goes from zero to sixty in a flash.
“Dammit.” I chase after her without calling out her name, for fear of getting attention.
She’s fast but I have an on-call personal trainer, who must be a demonic masochist in his spare time. I’m gaining on her quickly. She rounds another building where there’s still nobody.
“Maggie.” I grab her so she doesn’t fall in those horrible sandals.
She lands a few good punches as soon as I touch her. My grip tightens as she flails to get out of my grip before she registers my voice.
“Maggie, it’s me,” I say, trying to get her to look at me.
“Roe.”
She blinks. Her eyes focus and she blinks again.
Then she’s flailing at me even harder. With more thoughtful punches.
“You sick… How dare…”
“Ouch.” Duck. “Maggie.” Thump. “Hey, that—”
When she’s dangerously close to my junk, I pin her arms against the wall above her head with one hand and the other over her mouth. I press my entire body along the length of her, a thigh between hers to protect from additional kicks. I’m fine letting her get her revenge but I wasn’t about to risk the family name over a dumb prank.
“Stop. Chill.”
She stops struggling but she’s stock still. Her chest rises and falls under her thin dress. She’s glaring. But there’s something else too—her pupils are dilated, her chin quivers under my palm. She’s frozen. Her eyes are wide and unblinking.
She’s panicked.
“It’s okay. It’s me.”
She inhales a huge breath under my hand.
“It’s Roe,” My eyes lock on to hers.
She nods once. Her wide eyes flick to my hand on her mouth and then where the other is still holding her in place. She’s ghostly white. A small shudder racks her body.
