Page 81Odd proposal

As I woke three things greeted me. The first and more predictable one was my own diary, with words scribbled fast and close to illegible for a few paragraphs. That wasn't really doing it justice though, it was actually wonderfully easy to read considering the state I wrote it in.

The second was not a literal thing, just the sensation in my fingers and feet as I walked around and touched things. While a lot less intense already than last night, it was definitely noticeable and not entirely unpleasant. It was fun to just walk around or touch a surface to feel it. It was because of touching things I noticed the third and last thing.

An unread text-message on my phone. In fact, it was very lucky that I even noticed. Usually I didn't explicitly check for calls or messages as I got up. Perhaps I considered it unlikely that anyone would send something before I woke. Besides, Seriph now definitely knew why I couldn't 'work' before dark.

The message was kind of weird too: 'Maybe finally an ending, meet me at the top of the first office. At ten, hurry.'

By far the longest message I've had so far. I assumed she met the first office I walked in that she knew of. Also, it'd be very weird to see herself there. It felt like a trap.

Not sure why. It felt a little bit too tense to be a normal meeting. I moved on. What did she mean with 'finally an ending'. To what? Her and me? Her fight? Me? No, she wouldn't phrase it like that if she wanted to end me. Then it'd be less direct. I presume.

Unless she knew me so well to trick me with intrigue. While I did consider her clever enough for that, she knew where I lived and could have me ended easily during the day.

What day was it today?

I had to think for a while, checking my diary when I thought I was sure. Yes, it was four days after I got shot. That was Wednesday, so it was Saturday now. At least the office would have been empty for a day already. This was the best night to be in there.

With little time to waste, I just got dressed in my normal clothes and packed my backpack again. I didn't want to leave my dairy here. If it was a trap, it was no better off here than it was at my side, and if it wasn't a trap, I'd feel better having it with me.

The room was still a bit of a mess for me, despite how little I had to put in it, and my books were still unread. I mentally added to myself that I wanted to change that. I was also thinking about getting something a little more fixed as a place to live. But I seriously lacked funds for such an endeavour. Though I had no idea how much was at my disposal now. Knowing Seriph, she would have rewarded me for the things I've done. Handsomely.

Outside as as busy and sprawling as any Saturday. Not in my street, fortunately, but in town. I didn't have the time for a full game of bat and mouse, so I picked a boy that had lost his flock. He was far from what I usually chose nowadays. A guy, or rather boy, who presumed himself a hunter and 'good with the ladies', while he was anything but. Especially with those pick-up lines that made your ears bleed.

"You want to get close and smell my cologne, baby?"

It was so bad, it wasn't even vaguely amusing.

I tried to give him as little satisfaction as possible. Just bit him which only made him surprised. When I released him I just said thank you and waved goodbye in the most friendly and confusing way possible. The expression on his face that of puzzlement and nothing else.

From there I had only a few more minutes, I felt, before I had to be on top of that building. Though the nights were becoming longer again and the days shorter, the difference from day to day was still negligible. But I hadn't wasted my time so far. I knew the building, knew where it was and even if I didn't know, it was almost always visible from the tops of houses.

When I saw the building, there was light on the floor near the top. Second from the top if I squinted. I wondered if that was supposed to be, or just someone working late.

Working late...

On was Saturday.

Hmm. So maybe something else. I made my way over there as quickly as I could, using the same sneaky route to get to the side of the building outside of the camera angles and up to the top. The side was still easy to climb, but felt a little different. My fingertips were still more sensitive than they normally were. But it was bearable.

Up top was when things started getting really odd.

Cliffhanger. With an office building.