Page 61 of Even in the Dark

But I forget about her after a while. Eventually, get back into the story.

“Wow… So this sleepwalker guy is an alien who lives inside some college dude’s head?” Scarlett asks, after no idea how long.

“Trapped, yeah. He can only enter the human world when Rick Sheridan is sleeping.”

“Huh. Cool,” she says. And goes back to reading.

A little while later, she mumbles, “So the Mindscape is kind of like a dimension that mirrors the human subconscious.”

“Exactly, yeah,” I answer. Not sure if she was asking or just… thinking out loud.

We go back to reading.

After a while, Scarlett closes the issue. “Okay. That was not at all what I expected.”

I study her for a second, trying to read her reaction. “No way you liked it.”

“I didn’t say I liked it.” She cocks an auburn eyebrow. “I also didn’t say Idislikedit.” She sighs. “I need to read the next one. Then I’ll know if I like it or not.”

If she wants to read the next one, means she liked it. I don’t tell her that, though. Would mean I’d be eating my words right in front of her. Also, could be she’s just playing me. No idea why she would about something like this, but Eli’s voice never fully shuts up inside my head. She could have a million and one reasons, according to him.

I start getting up, so I can grab the next comic for her, but she motions for me to stay put. “It’s fine. I can find it.” She gets to her feet and goes back to the bookshelf. Starts pulling out the comics from the same spot in the pile where I pulled out the one she just read. “Got it,” she announces, and so freakin’ carefully puts the other one back. Then she returns to the chair and settles back into reading.

Phil practically tiptoes past the open doorway a little while later, checking I haven’t punched another hole, or made a pass at Scarlett, or who the hell knows what; but we both pretend not to notice. He goes back downstairs. We go back to reading.

Next thing I know, there’s sunlight streaming through the skylight across my bed. I’m still in the same spot against the pillows, my head turned to one side. The issue I was reading slid onto the floor.

It’s morning?

I whip my head up. The chair’s empty. I wonder for a second if maybe I dreamt that whole weird evening. But there’s a heavy, sweat-inducing cast on my right hand proving I didn’t. And a note on one of the pillows by my head, with a message written in girlish curly script:

It’s midnight. Heading home but didn’t want to wake you. Finished issue 2 and 3. Hope it’s ok, I borrowed issue 4. Still trying to decide if I like the series.

But there’s a smiley face beside that, which I think means she’s admitting she totally does.

Chapter Twenty-One

SESSION TRANSCRIPT #7 – Dylan Braun

Treating therapist: Dr. Stuart Morley

Dr. Morley:Well, happy Wednesday afternoon, Dylan Braun [rustling noises]. For you, sir.

Dylan:What’s this?

Dr. Morley:A Big Mac combo. What’s it look like?

Dylan:Why are you giving me this?

Dr. Morley:You accused me last week of being cheap. Told me I should be offering you a burger and fries for the rates I’m charging… So I’m anteing up. Even throwing in a chocolate shake, to prove I’m not the cheap bastard you think I am.

Dylan:[rustling noises]Uh, ok. Cool… Thanks, I guess.

Dr. Morley:I mean, I don’t want to take too much of the credit. You did insinuate it’s the least I should be including for my fees.

Dylan:It is.

Dr. Morley:Well, now it’s included.

---