I shift places to get the other side of his hair. I officially am entering the life of criminals. What the fuck? "Oooo, like road trip length? I'm down to come. does that mean we're dating
And," I lower my hands down, wiping the sweaty palms on my lap. I inhale a shaky breath. "It's a yes."
Jean gives you a gentle smile and an affirmative nod.
"Can I come back in now?"
Anubis calls from the hallway; obviously he had been listening in the whole time, but Jean wasn't going to acknowledge that. The three of you needed to start packing. You would be staying away from home for a while.
I stand at the edge of the couch, looking at my, what, two other outfits. Not much packing to do. I sit down, Prince jumping into my lap. I scratch in between his ears. He closes his eyes and purrs gently. I reflect on what just happened. Is this even a good idea? Do I even like Jean that much? Frustration bubbles up in me as I think. Why am I so indecisive? What even are my feelings right now?
I glance around the modern house. Compared to an apartment. Or another world. Or, the streets. Is this clasking?
"You ready to go?" Jean turns to you, that same sleepy smile he gave you earlier is back on his face. Anubis chugged down the last of his americano before pouring what he couldn't drink down the sink.
As Jean opens the door, Eddie stood on the other side, hand frozen in the air, about to knock.
"Oh, apologies. I only returned for Jenny." He chimed.
Jean slowly turned to you.
All or nothing…
Eddie stands cluelessly at the doorway. I take a good long look before I run back inside and grab the nearest sticky note and a pen. Quickly, I scribble on Roger's address. I head back to Eddie. "I don't know how Roger wanted me to help you more than I have. He understands you more than I do. Assuming he's alive, this is his address. I'm sure if he's not there, he wouldn't mind if you crashed there. My number is also on it. I'd like an update on how Roger's war is going."
"I-" Eddie listened carefully to your instructions. "Thank you." He muttered, taking the note and walking away. Jean had already packed everything into the car by the time you finished.
"Is there anyone else you'd like to say goodbye to before we leave?"
If Jean didn't sound so genuine, you almost would have thought he was being passive aggressive. But when you saw his face, there was no hint of irritation in him. Rather, it was a deep understanding.
I pull my hair back. "Shit, we are coming back here at some point, right? I know there's a possibility of death and shit…" I groan in annoyance. "How do you do this shit, oh my god." I pull out my phone and sit on the steps of the porch. I tap on his contact. "Tyler?"
As you fumbled with your thoughts, Anubis and Jean exchanged looks.
"Tyler?"
"No more favors. Unless you want to lose your literal soul. I'm a demon, not a vending machine."
Tyler's tone was serious, but you could tell he was still willing to help, even if he wasn't happy about it.
"They're basically the same things. Vending machines steal my stuff and then don't even give me the shit I want, then I gotta pay extra shit for it. Tell me that's not the same thing." Anubis stares at me impatiently. "Anyway, I just need you to get Kai over here or something. Like even on the phone? I don't know. Or maybe give me my memories back, that'd be cool too."
"wanna buy weed"
"Kai?" I say, but I know his stammering voice from anywhere. "I just wanted to update you. Where you been?"
I wonder if I'll ever see anyone again. Would Jean let me? Would they wanna see me again?
His voice hesitated, his breath hesitated. You could tell he had a lot on his mind.
"Technically, I-" He stopped himself, cleared his throat, and restarted his sentence. "I've mostly been communing with nature. Taking in my surroundings," He exhaled before continuing, "Trying to look closer."
"What about you? Who are you with right now?"
Typical vague Kai. I have an idea of what he meant, though. Or maybe I don't.
"I'm with Jean and Anubis. We're about to go on a job. Can't say where though. But, if you need me, I'm still a friend, okay?" I reassure Kai, hoping he doesn't lose touch. "I still want to find out more about myself and about… like, God and stuff."
Kaiholo seems to be speaking to someone else under his breath when you finish talking. He muffled his voice pretty well, but you make out a few words before Kaiholo responds to you.
"She's not really…no, but you can't…"
Kaiholo takes a deep breath. "Of course, I'd love to talk to you about it. But we'll have to keep the existentialism discussion to mere talk. Promise? Don't do anything I would do."
Kai holds back a chuckle, convinced that single joke made him the funniest person alive.
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I furrow my brows in confusion. "Yeah, um, who are you talking to? Didn't know nature had people in it." He already is highly secretive, so I doubt he'd tell me the truth but I figure it's worth a shot.
"Oh," Kaiholo responds. "Would you like to talk to Yuki?" He chuckles before continuing, "I mean I can't promise he'll know what's going on, but I'm sur-" He pauses, the distant indistinct sound of another voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I…" He sounded confused, "That's weird, I'm sorry, I have to go. Um, call me as soon as you're done with your job, okay? Just so I know you're safe."
And with that, he hung up.
I shake my head in surprise, Pulling my phone away, I look down at it and the disappointment of a lock screen stares back. I guess he's busy or whatever. Well, so am I.
I stand up and push my phone into my back pocket. "Needless to say that went horribly. Sorry to keep you guys waiting, let's go. Shotgun."
I put on my seatbelt, but Jean and Anubis are staring at me. "Something happen on the phone?"
I shrug, looking out into the street in front of us. "I think Kai being vague is just how he always is. Let's get a move on."
Chilly air ran through the windows as Jean quietly drove. Anubis himself was busy looking up schematics and downloading floor plans for wherever you three were going in order to formulate a plan by the time you get there. Night stars slowly appeared as the time passed. You must have been driving for hours, where exactly were you going? Once while Jean and Anubis were prepping, you thought you might have asked, but you don't recall the answer. Under any other circumstances, you might have been concerned with the fact that you didn't know where you were going, but now, something made you feel like you didn't care. Hell, almost as if it didn't matter. Everything that's happened so far has rendered itself unexplainable, or maybe even not real. Although this feeling has lingered in the back of your mind, you kept going. Reality is still distinctive. Maybe if you hadn't hopped through universes like it's nothing, you wouldn't be so conflicted. Even then, conflict finds it's way into every story, doesn't it?
I reached down to search for the buttons to adjust the back of the seat. Then, I curl up into a ball and take off my seatbelt, staring into the dark, empty plains. "Are we far away enough for me to sleep, or should I just save it for later?" I ask Jean, surprised he isn't tired. Although he never sleeps.
He gazes at you for a moment as you speak, turning back to the road just before he needed to course correct. Even though he always looks tired, he still manages to stay awake a majority of the time. Lazily, he inhaled before responding. "Paterson is a good several hours. My suggestion is you rest while you still can."
"Sick," I mutter, but the car bumps sent me off to sleep faster than normal. I long for a stuffed animal to cuddle in this uncomfortable situation, but I quickly forget reality as I fall asleep. ok aloe cue somehyhing
Dreams seem to always be something important, don't they?
Open your eyes, don't read between the lines.
Never think about it, can you hear them?
Turn around and look. Do you see her?
Time is different here. You should know this by now.
Running won't save you, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Underneath the carpet you may find your answers, but you might not like what you see.
See…see…what can you even see?
Try again? Try again? Is this a game?
Have you found what you're looking for?
Enter the unknown with your eyes closed.
Revealing that he-
"Jenny."
Jean's voice lunges you out of your sleep. The car was parked, and Jean stood on the outside, holding your car door open. His voice was a little forceful as if he had to call your name more than once.
As you take in your surroundings you notice that you were at a motel, in front of the room. Anubis was already entering it with some luggage.
"We're doing the job tonight, but we'll need to rest when we finish. We're only staying here one night."
I pull myself out to stretch. Each of my limbs sighing in relief and each joint inevitably cracking. "Sounds good. There better be two beds." Normally, I feel a sense of familiarity in places I assume I've been, but I feel that I've never ever been to a motel before. I liked the aesthetic, the neon lights of the name out in front, and the dark calm of the night engulfing the building. Who knows what the stories of the people here are
The dream still deeply unsettles me.
"You okay?"
Jean asks, looking into your eyes. You could tell he managed to read past your expression as Anubis, unaware of the conversation, returned from inside and announced that there were indeed two beds.
Jean continued to look at you, placing a gentle hand on your arm.
And at this moment, he seemed more sober than he's ever been. He looked directly into your eyes, a real emotion other than anger coated his face.