Page 17 of Lost in the Fog

They walked past the doorman who had led her in. She glided out the door, and Mr. Sorrow walked with her.

Her car was parked sideways and still running. “Oops. I guess I was in a hurry.”

Mr. Sorrow tried to open her car door, but it was locked. “That’s awkward.”

“Not really. If you let go of my hand, I will just flow back into the car.”

He looked at their joined hands. “I don’t want to.”

“I am in the city, you have my number, and I saw you memorizing my license plate. So, I am going to go and get some sleep so I don’t fall on my ass in front of a group of tweens.”

He looked at her, and his eyes glowed red and gold. “You are not leaving me?”

“Do you need me to text you every eight hours?”

He grinned. “Yes. Please.”

“Fine. It is going to be one word of dubious taste.”

He nodded. “Got it. I am still reeling with the fact that you are alive.”

“Right. So, let go of my hand so I can get in my car and get home to read a book with my goddaughter and make some s’mores.”

“You have family?”

“Sort of. They came and got me out of a pond. Long story that we can discuss later.”

He smiled hopefully. “There will be a later?”

“There will be a later.” She patted his chest. “No one likes a needy chick, Mr. Sorrow.”

His expression was astonished as he leaned down and his forehead touched hers. “Interesting point, Pandora. Text me from your car, or you don’t move.”

He released her, and she collapsed into fog and returned into her car through the tiny tubes in the door seam. Once she was in the car, she formed her beta self and grabbed her phone. He was standing in front of her car with his arms crossed.

She texted him one word. He checked his phone and inclined his head. He stepped aside, and she was on her way.

* * * *

Knur looked at hisphone and grinned.Micropeniswas the word of the day. She was irritated, and he had gotten under her skin. He looked at the word again. Not by much, though. He was losing his touch.

He looked at his phone and smiled as he took a screenshot. He was going to start a collection.

Knur sent a text to their third, Zhin.She’s alive, Zhin. I have met her, and she stopped that stalker of mine from coming for me.

Have you finally snapped?

Ask Teyval if he met Pandora today.He grinned and headed back to the club, returning to the boardroom where the others were settling in and eyeing the cake. He served himself a slice and got a bite.

He closed his eyes and sighed happily. It was really good. Not too sweet, a bright blast of raspberry, waves of sweet cream and dark chocolate.

He glanced at the others and nodded. “Go ahead.”

The others quickly dished out the slices, and then there was silence with the occasional groan.

Knur opened his eyes and got a second piece. His plate was already empty; he had been eating on automatic. This time, he savoured the piece and smiled at the image of the text.

The staff manager asked, “You are smiling? You rarely smile.”

---