Yesterday, 01:02 AM
(This post was last modified: Yesterday, 03:21 AM by Jay Carpenter.)
His new cast was sleek, some futuristic white polymer sculpted perfectly to his hand and halfway up his forearm. He kept flexing his fingers like it might suddenly disappear, like he’d imagined the whole thing. The doctor had asked, as they always do, how the injury occurred. Jay had scratched the back of his neck and muttered something about a wall, a really dumb moment, and too much adrenaline. The doctor, stone-faced, informed him that punching solid concrete was, in fact, an excellent way to break bones. A solitary “yep” was all he replied.
Jensen had flickered through his mind for half a second. One call and the guy would probably materialize right there, but Jay couldn’t stomach the thought of that kind of pity. Better to suffer than be seen suffering. That was the rule, right? Especially after bringing this on himself.
Not that he was suffering now. No, whatever they’d shot him up with had turned the sharp pain of reality into something soft and fuzzy and far-off, like a memory you weren’t sure actually happened. His brain felt pleasantly unglued, thoughts floating up and away like helium balloons. Even the led lighting had lost its usual sting. He blinked a few times just to see the shadows bend. That was trippy.
Outside, the city air was colder than he remembered, but in a good way, like mint on the tongue. He and Natalie hadn’t really agreed what came next, just moved forward like inertia would carry them somewhere. Jay stood on the sidewalk for a moment, head tilted, watching the road like a taxi might appear.
And then, somehow, a car actually pulled up. He blinked again. “Huh. That actually worked.” he said aloud, deeply impressed with his own luck.
A slow, satisfied smack of his lips followed. He felt great. Dangerous thought.
“Alright,” he said to Natalie, leaning in slightly like he was about to share state secrets. “Two options. Kremlin…” He raised a finger solemnly. “Or Radiance Hotel. Technically I have claim to both. Probably.”
A lopsided grin followed, like half his face was unglued from the other half, “dealer’s choice,” he nodded, suddenly needing to steady himself as he climbed into the car.
Jensen had flickered through his mind for half a second. One call and the guy would probably materialize right there, but Jay couldn’t stomach the thought of that kind of pity. Better to suffer than be seen suffering. That was the rule, right? Especially after bringing this on himself.
Not that he was suffering now. No, whatever they’d shot him up with had turned the sharp pain of reality into something soft and fuzzy and far-off, like a memory you weren’t sure actually happened. His brain felt pleasantly unglued, thoughts floating up and away like helium balloons. Even the led lighting had lost its usual sting. He blinked a few times just to see the shadows bend. That was trippy.
Outside, the city air was colder than he remembered, but in a good way, like mint on the tongue. He and Natalie hadn’t really agreed what came next, just moved forward like inertia would carry them somewhere. Jay stood on the sidewalk for a moment, head tilted, watching the road like a taxi might appear.
And then, somehow, a car actually pulled up. He blinked again. “Huh. That actually worked.” he said aloud, deeply impressed with his own luck.
A slow, satisfied smack of his lips followed. He felt great. Dangerous thought.
“Alright,” he said to Natalie, leaning in slightly like he was about to share state secrets. “Two options. Kremlin…” He raised a finger solemnly. “Or Radiance Hotel. Technically I have claim to both. Probably.”
A lopsided grin followed, like half his face was unglued from the other half, “dealer’s choice,” he nodded, suddenly needing to steady himself as he climbed into the car.
Only darkness shows you the light.