Page 10 of The Eleventh Hour

I can see them moving out of the corner of my eye. They are unusually thick tonight. Bob the Bastard slams things in my closet, while Patty the Pincher paces in the kitchen. Patty steals. She’s ornery as fuck, but we have a truce. I leave shiny wrappers on the counter for her to take, and she leaves my things alone.

Gideon slumps on the couch next to me, slipping an arm over my shoulder.

“He was following me again.”

Gideon stiffens.

“Trapped, no matter which way I turn,” I mutter and hurl the bottle at the wall. My neighbour slams his fist on the wall and yells out, but I ignore him. “I’m like a rat in their fucking experiment. Every end is a bad one, but I’m racing towards the goal, and they are closing the ways back. Sparrow or the stalker, hallucinations or starvation, poverty and illness, or a life in a cage.”

Gideon takes my chin and turns my face to his. I wrench free and stand up. He moves with blurring speed and grips my arms. I shudder and look at the ground for a long moment while I get control of myself, then I look up to where his eyes would be if he wasn’t a fucking man-shaped dark stain in my house. If he were more than a hallucination, I’d be staring into his eyes.

But he’s not.

“I’m not giving up, G. Don’t think I’m giving up, but my odds are stacked. I’m losing. I need help, and there is no one I can ask.”

He shakes his head, and I can tell he’s frustrated with his inability to communicate with me. He thumps his chest.

I smile up at him sadly. “You can’t help me in the light, and we both know that’s where the monster’s hide.”

He wraps his arms around me, holding me in a crushing hug. It’s so cruel, so unfair. I hug him back just as tightly. Tears slide down my cheeks, and then my phone lights up, all the black shadows vanish, and I’m standing on my own in the middle of my apartment.

A sob escapes me, and I flick the lights on because I just can’t. I stomp to my phone and look down at who is calling. I take a moment to calm myself, and then I pick it up and answer.

“River.”

“Just a friendly reminder that you’re expected at the engagement party tomorrow.”

I sit down on the couch heavily. “Damn. I forgot.”

“You always forget when we’re supposed to meet up.” River sounds amused. “Be there or Eddie will go on a warpath. He’s been raving about seeing you all day. He’s, uh, I mean, it’s been years since he’s seen you. The old man’s excited.”

“I bet the Queen loves it.”

“Oh, yeah, you should see that spectacular colour of puce that has become part of her permanent complexion. Truly, it inspires sonnets in my dark heart.”

I chuckle. “I’m not dressing up.”

“Purlease, no one expects you to. I think everyone’s going to just pretend you don't exist. Well, except Eddie.” His deep, familiar voice soothes the jagged edges inside me.

“Suits me fine.”

“You gotta see my new bike, it's perfect.”

I snort. “Hasn’t been confiscated yet?”

“Not as yet, but it’s still early.”

“All right. I have to go, things to do.”

“Don’t bullshit me. You’re sitting at home eating cereal out of the box. Tell me I’m wrong.”

I blush but don’t say anything.

“Fucking nailed it. Right. Eat your gross cereal and be there tomorrow. Early. It’s an all-day event.”

“What? All day?”

River chuckles. “That’s right, Jax. All damn day long.”

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