09-20-2018, 12:00 AM
The mystery was a sink hole. Eyes narrowed, chin in fist, Natalie chased it to oblivion, ignorant of the time that fled like sand through fingers. Longer than she'd intended, or yet realised. Notifications muted, she never noticed the messages from Cayli dating hours back either -- at least not until the first tentative beeps of a draining battery. Playing music probably hadn't helped in that regard, but it was the charm that helped soothe her mind from wandering to thornier places. Kind of necessary.
Natalie hated that the puzzle tugged at her; that her mind unfolded manipulations to chase to its centre and unravel it until answers shook free. But it was like breathing too.
She blinked when arches of gold glinted off the screen (she'd stopped using the holos some time ago to conserve energy); felt the first trace of cold goosebumps shiver her arms and legs. She ought to head back, but honestly no fire lit her heels. She swirled the cold remains of a coffee. A few empty water bottles littered the wooden slats of the table, awaiting another trip to the bin. The paperback splayed too, a distraction she'd tried to tempt herself with to little avail. It was a favourite. She knew its pages well anyway, but even old friends sometimes lost their comforts.
Natalie ran a hand over her face, flicking to the messages she'd missed. Her legs stretched under the table, shoes kicked off a while ago, but the grass underfoot was cold and scratchy now. Soon forgotten, though. She frowned at the well of guilt risen for the urgency of the messages she'd missed. Texas? She contemplated that curiously; tried to kick her brain into forming a coherent reply. But it was a startling relief sighed out of her lungs.
Natalie hated that the puzzle tugged at her; that her mind unfolded manipulations to chase to its centre and unravel it until answers shook free. But it was like breathing too.
She blinked when arches of gold glinted off the screen (she'd stopped using the holos some time ago to conserve energy); felt the first trace of cold goosebumps shiver her arms and legs. She ought to head back, but honestly no fire lit her heels. She swirled the cold remains of a coffee. A few empty water bottles littered the wooden slats of the table, awaiting another trip to the bin. The paperback splayed too, a distraction she'd tried to tempt herself with to little avail. It was a favourite. She knew its pages well anyway, but even old friends sometimes lost their comforts.
Natalie ran a hand over her face, flicking to the messages she'd missed. Her legs stretched under the table, shoes kicked off a while ago, but the grass underfoot was cold and scratchy now. Soon forgotten, though. She frowned at the well of guilt risen for the urgency of the messages she'd missed. Texas? She contemplated that curiously; tried to kick her brain into forming a coherent reply. But it was a startling relief sighed out of her lungs.