03-08-2014, 06:31 PM
Jensen coughed the water that still stung the back of his throat. Ten minutes ago he'd nearly choked to death when he happened to take a swig at the same time as rounding a corner and literally walking into an old woman that was far too nimble for her age. Either she was really into yoga, or she was not the old woman he thought her to be. As soon as his feet were beneath him again, he turned to apologize, but she was completely gone. Vanished. Through bleary eyes, he searched for her, but never saw her again. If it weren't for the fact he had water all down his front, he'd been likely to think the whole thing had been a figment of his imagination.
He knew better.
A chill shivered down his spine now, thinking about it. Was that the same old woman he'd seen the night Jessika returned? He was usually so sharp when it came to remembering faces, but at the time he'd been half out of his mind with worry over Jessika's arrival, that he'd dismissed the old woman before he knew what she really was.
Truth be told, he still wasn't sure what she really was.
Here Jensen was, walking from a metro stop and on his way to an all-night grocery store. There weren't many of those sorts of places in the upscale neighborhood around John Smith's shop. Supposed he could have placed an order online, but the extra charge for delivery seemed unnecessary when he could go to the store himself. Besides, he enjoyed surveying the produce and studying the neatly laid out aisles. It felt extremely normal to push a shopping cart and select a brand of soy sauce.
He came to an intersection, but did not recognize the street names. When he pulled out the old iScreen to pull up the map, his heart sank. The battery had died. Again. The thing was on its last legs.
The corner was empty but for him. A street lamp shone overhead, and rained harsh, ugly light upon him. Maybe he'd taken the wrong turn back when he ran into the old woman?
He ran a hand through the locks of his hair, and pondered whether or not he should attempt to backtrack or plow forward and hope for the best.
He knew better.
A chill shivered down his spine now, thinking about it. Was that the same old woman he'd seen the night Jessika returned? He was usually so sharp when it came to remembering faces, but at the time he'd been half out of his mind with worry over Jessika's arrival, that he'd dismissed the old woman before he knew what she really was.
Truth be told, he still wasn't sure what she really was.
Here Jensen was, walking from a metro stop and on his way to an all-night grocery store. There weren't many of those sorts of places in the upscale neighborhood around John Smith's shop. Supposed he could have placed an order online, but the extra charge for delivery seemed unnecessary when he could go to the store himself. Besides, he enjoyed surveying the produce and studying the neatly laid out aisles. It felt extremely normal to push a shopping cart and select a brand of soy sauce.
He came to an intersection, but did not recognize the street names. When he pulled out the old iScreen to pull up the map, his heart sank. The battery had died. Again. The thing was on its last legs.
The corner was empty but for him. A street lamp shone overhead, and rained harsh, ugly light upon him. Maybe he'd taken the wrong turn back when he ran into the old woman?
He ran a hand through the locks of his hair, and pondered whether or not he should attempt to backtrack or plow forward and hope for the best.