Page 13 of When Monsters Rise
“Ican teach you.Wehad a basic setup back in the settlement.Nothingfancy or automated like the one here, but…”Ishrug. “It’llbe fun.”
Tumielsmiles with his eyes. “Bowlingit is, then.”
Myheart flutters, andIdrop my gaze.WhydoIsuddenly feel shy?
* * *
Thearcade isdark and quiet, the machines dead without power.Thispart of the mall holds all the leisure activities.Thereare salons and a spa and some fast-food places.Tumielexplains that they’d struggled getting the electricity running to this area, butBastianis working on that problem, and most of the stores now have power.They’llbe turning it on only if needed, though, and in the next week or so, the people will be given the chance to move to this sector and spread out a little, to be allocated proper spaces to themselves and not have to share.Sissycan have a school, and we can maybe get one of the salons operational for haircuts and beauty treatments.Wecan build a community here.Asafe place to expand from once we claim our world back.
“Whatare you thinking?”Tumielasks as we approach the lanes. “You’revery quiet.”
“Areyou sayingI’musually too chatty?”
“Notat all.Ihappen to enjoy the sound of your voice.”
Enjoy.Notlikebut enjoy.Hehas such a way with words.Away of making me feel appreciated and valued.Hemade me feel good about myself, not thatIneeded the validation, but still, it was nice.
“Sowhat were you thinking?” he asks again.
“I’mthinking how wonderful this place will be once we’re done fixing it up.Howit could be the start of a new era.”
“Yes,”Tumielsays. “Thisplace is home now.”
“Itgives me hope.”
“Thisplaceishope.It’sthe last stand, and we must protect it at all costs.ButtheGoldenCitywill soon belong to humanity.Wewill make sure of it.”
Isuppress a shudder. “I’dbe happy never to go back there again.”
I’veshared my experience with him.Thegaps in my memory and the strange dreams that have surfaced since.Theyhad me in one of their mixers.Theyplayed with my mind and my emotions.
Theyused me.
Iescaped, but so many didn’t. “Thereare others trapped there.We’vegot to free them.”
“Andwe will.”Tumielpicks up a bowling ball and holds it easily in his large hand. “Andwhat do we do with these?”
Ipick up a second ball and smile up at him. “Letme show you.”
Thenext hour passes too quickly, filled with laughter and a lightness thatIhaven’t felt in years.BeingwithTumielis easy and comfortable but exciting at the same time.Theflutter in my belly comes and goes, butI’mbecoming used to it now.
Afterbowling, we sit and talk, and the time slips by untilTumielstands with a sigh and holds out his hand to me.
“Weshould go meet the others.”
“It’smidnight already?”Islip my hand into his, ignoring the frisson of awareness that shoots through me.
“Yes,Bee.Butas you humans say, time flies when one is having fun.”
Hereaches out and tucks a tendril of hair behind my ear. “Ienjoy your company, andI’dlike to have more of it.Iwish that we had more time to simply…be.”
Myheart sinks, butIrefuse to let our uncertain future dampen the mood. “There’llbe time once we fix what’s broken.”Theshadows in his eyes warn me that might not be the case.RueaskedShemwhat would happen to the watchers once theMorningstarwas fixed and the world was put to rights, and he blatantly said that the watchers didn’t belong here.Butso much has changed.
Wherethey belong can be changed too when the time comes.
* * *
“It’sglowing.”Mirapoints at the symbol on the storeroom door. “There’ssomething in there.”
