Page 62 of Understanding Fate

Pretty, please?

I’m tanning on a beach in the Maldives

Ghost…. I’m serious. I need you here. Where are you?

Last time I checked, I didn’t work for you, and I just did you a favor less than 24 hours ago. Your IOU list is getting a little long.

I need a witness.

Getting married already? I guess your ‘kind of sort of maybe boyfriend’ finally got his shit together. Mazeltov. Find someone else.

I’m not getting married! Do you take anything seriously?

Not if I can help it

I need a witness to my Awakening. You’re the only one who knows where we are.

And finally, she finds the words.

Can you help me or not?

When?

Today.

Wish I could, but like I said, I’m on the beach

I nearly throw the phone at the wall in my frustration.

Wouldn’t me being Awakened make me staying alive easier on you?

Not sure if easier is the right word.

Before I can clap back, the phone rings in my hand.

“You must have a pretty good reception on that beach to make calls!” I say as an answer, anger causing my cheeks to heat.

“Modern technology is funny that way. Put me on speaker,” he says, his whiskey voice more serious. I do as he asks, turning to see Cain still sitting on the couch with the list in front of him.

“Okay, you are on,” I say, irritation leaking into my tone.

“Cain, this phone has an encryption block on it. You’ll need to remove it and download Signal. Once it's verified, video call me. You have an hour before I have somewhere I need to be. We can do the first half, and I will call back once I’m clearto complete it. Sound good?” he says in a polite and professional voice.

Sure, be nice to him but be an asshole to me.

“Block have a passcode?” Cain asks.

“Yep, 063019,” he says before disconnecting.

Cain is frozen in his spot, eyes locked on the phone in my hand.

“Do you know how to do that?” I ask him, walking over to the couch, my hand outstretched.

Please let this work.

He shakes his head, eyes coming back into focus before he takes the offering.

“Yeah, I can do it. Normally, Pres handles most of this stuff, but I had to learn while she was away. Mason, the guy who used to have her job, has a family, so we couldn’t call him up at all hours of the night,” he explains, screens changing under his fingertips.

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