Page 15 of Seer
Delphia_Leader_TWISTMarch 23 at 8:52pm
I agree, especially with multiple people nesting right now. Thanks for the reminder!
CHAPTER 4
CAL
The next morningI woke up in a great mood. I hadn’t had a scary vision, it was Friday, and Steve and I had a plan for our separation from Rogues Gallery. The anticipation of figuring out what our new product would be and how to design it was enough to drown out my low-key worry about whether I wanted to let Delphia help me level-up my psychic abilities or not.
Deciding to treat myself to a bear claw, I blasted “Even the Nights Are Better” on my phone as I drove to Pour Some Sugar on Me. The radio in my 1999 Ford F-250 pickup hadn’t worked in over a decade, but since I had music on my phone it didn’t bother me. Every so often Steve and Felix tried to get me to buy a new truck, but the thought of spending that much money when I didn’t need to made me jittery. No, this truck might have stained upholstery, its paint job might be lumpy from my rust spot repairs, and it might spend several days a year in the shop, but it was paid for.
I parked at the bakery and turned off my music. Getting out of the truck, I locked it and tucked my phone in my pocket with the keys.
I walked up to the door of the bakery at exactly the same time as another man coming from the opposite direction. I turned, already extending my hand in a gesture for him to go first, but he was closer than I expected.
He was gorgeous, almost as tall as me, but slender, with dark reddish hair and beard scruff. His eyes were a tawny brown, almost golden, and when he gazed at me, I’d swear those eyes stabbed into mine, freezing me on the spot.
He reached out and gently took my outstretched hand in his. “I’m Simon.” He stared into my eyes for another moment, then looked away, shaking his head regretfully. “You’re meant for another,” he said as he released my hand.
He spun on his heel, his jacket billowing out slightly, and walked swiftly back to the parking lot.
I stared after him until the coffee shop door opened as a customer exited. How long had I been standing here? That guy had acted strangely. Had it been some kind of prank?
I scanned the parking lot, but I didn’t see any of my high school bullies filming me from the bushes as one of them pretended to secretly want to date me.
Though what would be the point of the hand-holding if it wasn’t a prank? I examined my palm and the back of my hand. I couldn’t see anything, but thinking about high school bullies gave me an overwhelming urge to wash my hands. I rushed into the coffee shop, bypassing the line of people waiting to order and heading for the restrooms.
The smell of coffee and cinnamon made my stomach growl. I definitely needed a bear claw today. I went inside one of the unisex bathrooms, locked the door behind me, and paused.
I didn’t have to use the restroom. Why had I come in here? Oh, right. I wanted to wash my hands because they felt dirty.I’d touched something. I had alcohol wipes in my car, so it must’ve happened between the car and the bakery.
I shook my head. I probably needed a few days off work. All the stress of leaving Rogues Gallery, my visions, and figuring out what Steve and my new company might do was getting to me. I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. At least I hadn’t let my mind wander that badly while I’d been driving.
I rolled up the sleeves of the blue button-down I’d thrown over my black “Everything Is Under CTRL” t-shirt and scrubbed my hands and wrists with soap for the CDC-recommended twenty seconds. I smiled to myself, remembering Steve’s mom prodding me to wash my hands before eating.
I was still enjoying my upbeat mood as I left the restroom. A caffeine and sugar boost would make my day even brighter.
I got in line and enjoyed the wonderful smells in the coffee shop until it was my turn to order my mocha latte and bear claw.
After I paid, I moved down to the end of the counter to wait. I leaned against a support beam and idly gazed at the customers who were still in line or ordering. My eyes bugged out a little when I saw Butch, my high school bully. Was he still living in Bent Oak? I scoffed. Of course he was. His parents were rich. No way would he leave their sphere of influence.
Something about Butch was striking a chord in the back of my brain. Had I been thinking about him recently? Shit, my mind really was turning to mush. I needed to take some days off and soon.
My gaze landed on the guy who’d been a couple people behind me in line, and I froze. He was much bigger than me, maybe as tall as six foot six or so. He was broad in the shouldersand the belly, kind of like I was but more muscular. He had black hair and a bushy beard, and he grinned at the barista as he thanked her.
But none of that was what had me gasping for air.
No, I could see the guy’s alter ego, what Delphia had called his second self. And it was a bear.
A real bear.
It was taller than the guy by at least another foot, covered in fur and with claws on its enormous paws. Its head turned from side to side, nose twitching as if it was seeking the source of a smell.
When I’d seen the puppy and kitty play people, they hadn’t thought of their alternate identities as real animals. I could clearly see their masks and hoods, as well as their hand coverings and tails. Plus, those second selves had appeared as sort of holograms that didn’t move.
This bear moved. And it was a lot more solid-looking than the alter egos of the drag queens or the puppy play people.
“Cal!” someone shouted from my right. I jumped and made a shrieking noise.
