Orpheus | Installment Ten – Parting

“The poem of 1000 lines
that would be sung for 1000 years – begun
just then, word one, it promised to make
effusive spring break forth from stone,
and warlike hearts repent their hardened ways,
and poor nostalgic Orpheus lay down his lyre
for good.”

– Eleanor Wilner, “Think What We Might Have”, 2006

Parting

“You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity.”
– Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

This time it was Rome, she could tell. She also had a feeling it was not the first time they were there together. She watched the Coliseum from the privileged view of her hotel room and, for a moment, she just enjoyed the warm summer day. She immersed herself in the surroundings, even if she knew that it was all just a dream.

The wind was blowing, as usual, and the breeze caressed her hair with its invisible hands as she admired the Eternal City from the balcony, leaning against the balustrade. She inhaled deeply and glanced up: the sky was just so perfectly blue, like a painted backdrop. Finally, she turned around and saw him behind the white curtains gently moving in the wind. He was still in bed, and his torso was naked.

In her dream, Mike sat up on the bed, sheets at his hips, looking back at her and smiling. He was about sixty and looked amazingly good and in perfect shape. And so very happy. His hands were resting in his lap, and she could see the shimmering gold of the wedding band on his finger.

He smiled and squinted his dark eyes. They were sparkling, like black diamonds.

“See? Retirement isn’t that bad, after all…”

Lisa’s heart swelled. She was surprised that her vision was not silent, this time. It didn’t look like an old movie – quite the opposite in fact. It all felt authentic, like a memory. She felt herself walking back into the suite, the silk of her robe caressing her naked skin.

“That’s because you’re still pretty young, my dear.”

Her voice on autopilot and she could do nothing to stop the words. They had already been pronounced. Somewhere. At one point in time. On some level of reality. But certainly not now.

“Thank you, baby. You, on the other hand, might need glasses. You didn’t even notice what’s on your pillow.”

That mischievous glint in his eyes made her smile, and she finally saw it: the single red rose resting on the white linen, on her side of the bed. Once again, her entire soul felt like evading the constraints of her body and reaching out to him – the love she felt for this man too intense to be contained in one single human being, in one single life. She walked around the bed and picked up the rose reverently. As she closed her eyes and inhaled its scent, her senses were flooded by the perfection of the moment.

When she opened them again, Mike was no longer there.

Fear assaulted her immediately. Panic hit with the force of a war hammer and she felt weak at her knees. The bed was still unmade, but he was gone. And the sudden chilly temperature made her shiver. The soft breeze had stopped caressing her. It had become a furious wind, and it was whipping her.

Lisa ran toward the balcony and saw the Coliseum – now, the backdrop was no longer a blue sky. The architectural symbol of eternity was enveloped in a dark blanket of swirling, stormy clouds, and looked as if it was about to crumble. The sky had turned black. Instinctively she glanced down, toward the street. Nobody was there. The entire world had emptied and she was all alone. And she felt, she knew, in her heart, that Mike was dead. He was gone and would not be back.

Apocalypse.

She woke up with a start, bathed in sweat and breathless, and for a moment she couldn’t even make out her surroundings. Then, as her lungs desperately tried to fill with oxygen and she gulped for air, she started to remember. She was in what had always been her bedroom, at her parents’ house. She was back in San Francisco, where she had been forced to fly when her mom had called her, telling her that her dad had suffered a stroke and had been taken to the hospital.

“Fuck…” Lisa pressed the palm of her hands over her eyes. “Fucking shit… Shit!”

She ground her teeth so hard that her jaw hurt.

There was just no reprieve. The visions had been torturing her nonstop. And Mike being in New York, so far away, made everything worse. At least, when they were together the themes of their flashes changed, and many of those visions were even pleasurable in their own way. And they could talk about it, even though neither she nor Mike had a clue why they were subjected to that mental and emotional rollercoaster. But their physical proximity helped, and when the visions happened while they made love, they were always simultaneous, intense and just identical for both of them – only observed from different points of view. Recurrent, too, but somehow tolerable. Mainly because they didn’t have to face them all alone. While now – well, now Lisa was entirely out of control. And the nightmares had become scary.

She had told Mike about her dreams, during one of their video calls. He had looked concerned, his calm face an open book for her eyes. And when she had asked him if the same thing happened to him, he had shaken his head, staying quiet for a moment. She was not sure if he was being honest or lying to her not to stress her out more. Eventually, he had told her that he had been suffering terrible headaches and that he could barely sleep, and that he missed her so very much.

She missed him too.

“I know… I need to see you as soon as possible, Mike.”

“I told you I can be there in a few hours if you want me to. You know that…”

His eyes had searched for an answer that she could not give him. Yes, she would have loved for him to be there. But she couldn’t ask him that. Because her dad was still fragile after his stroke, and her mom was not having any of what Lisa had told her. In fact, she wanted her daughter back with Maxwell. And Maxwell… well, he had magically appeared at the hospital and wouldn’t leave her alone.

“I know.”

She hadn’t been able to add anything else, and Mike had set his jaw.

“Is he still there? Your ex-fiancé…”

He was obviously a mind reader. At this point, nothing about Mike or them as a couple really managed to surprise Lisa anymore.

“Yes.” She had uselessly tried to intercept his gaze, but had failed. He was looking down. “Mike…”

Nothing.

“Mike… Look at me. Hey…”

With immense effort, he had complied. She had given him a smile that came straight from the depth of her heart.

“I do love you, with everything I am. You know that, right? I love you so very, very much.”

His eyes had softened, and his features had distended. She had seen him swallow.

“I love you too, baby girl. I love you more.”

Right now, as she desperately tried to calm down her breathing and kept swimming in a sea of sweat, Lisa bit her lip and glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. She knew where her peace of mind resided: with Mike. But as much as her heart cried out for him, begged to call him and hear his voice, make sure he was alive and well, she had to resist. He slept so little, and maybe he was trying to rest. She had to get a fucking grip and deal with her nightmares on her own – clinging to the fact that she would be back to New York, to him, in a couple of days anyway.

Her father was getting better, and after having almost broken down after first seeing him in his hospital bed, Lisa had witnessed what was, for lack of better words, a miraculous and speedy recovery. Just earlier that day, she had sat on his bed and had joked with him. Yes, her dad was still weak, but the doctors were more than optimistic: he was strong and still quite young. He would be alright soon.

The repetitive beeping of her phone caught her by surprise and filled her soul with immense relief. She knew who it was.

“Hey, stranger. Not asleep yet?” Lisa could barely contain her excitement, and caught her breath when his voice, soft and deep, replied with a chuckle.

“Nope. I’m lonely, starving and bouncy.”

“Well, go swimming in the pool and eat something, then.”

“I’m not hungry for food…”

“No? I see…” Warmth. Sudden and unstoppable, igniting in her chest, shooting down to her belly. Then even lower. “Well, you’re way too spoiled in that department.”

“I know. You are too.”

She had to laugh. Her system finally started to relax.

“That’s true… Hey… you OK, baby?”

A pause.

“I am. Are you, Lise?”

And just like that, the smile was wiped off her face and the heaviness of her dream weighed on her soul once again. The idea of him dead. The feeling of him gone.

“No, actually… I am not.”

“I thought so.” She heard him sigh. “I felt you. You were calling out to me.”

“Was I?” she pinched the bridge of her nose. Great. Just great.

“Yeah. What was it, this time? A flash? A dream?”

“A dream… It was just so perfect. You were there with me, we were happy. In love. And then…”

She trailed off, realizing that she couldn’t even bring herself to say the words out loud.

“And then, what?”

She closed her eyes, gulping down the tears.

“Lise… talk to me. I’m here.”

“And then it turned into a fucking nightmare. You were gone. And I knew you were dead.”

Her eyes burned.

“Oh…” Silence. “Hey… I’m so sorry, baby girl… Look – maybe it’s because you miss me, you know? You want me to be there with you so much and miss me all the time, even in your dreams.”

He really was trying his best to make her feel better. Her heart gave a squeeze.

“Yeah… That might be it, Mike. You’re probably right.”

Silence. Darkness. Fear.

“Baby… I am not gone. I’m here. I’m OK, Lise, and I can’t wait to see you again.” His voice so very soft now. Concerned. It sounded as if he was deliberating whether or not he should say more. “Please come home as soon as you can, baby girl. Come back to me.”

She had no idea why, but those words sliced her open.

The return to Level 3 had been surreal for both of them. After his conversation with Miss Oshi, Mike had gone back to the room and had talked to Lisa. He had told her about the black market on Level 0. Had told her about how he thought that everything was connected, and how he believed they had to enter the slum to understand what was happening to them. He had also told her that he thought Miss Oshi knew much more than she said.

Still naked and wrapped in those sheets, her eyes bright and clear, Lisa had just listened to him quietly.

So beautiful. Her vulnerable appearance was betrayed by the setting of her jaw, by her thoughtful gaze. Mike knew how sensitive and sweet she was, but was also learning that there was an invisible force driving her. It had become apparent to him.

As she listened to him, Lisa had remained calm and collected. Eventually, she had just nodded her head and had told him that she agreed with him. That whatever the truth about them was, she was ready to find out. Because she loved him, and love deserved truth more than anything else.

Then she had crawled closer, the sheets slipping away, revealing her naked body. Her hand had come up, resting on the side of his face and she had kissed him very slowly, savoring the moment. Immersing herself in the perfection of what they had right then, right there.

As she helped him take his t-shirt off, Mike had fumbled with his belt and pants. Within seconds, he too was naked once again, and their bed was the only universe worth inhabiting. They had made love for hours, in a slow, torturous way and, strangely enough, they had been left alone for a while. No more visions. There were just the two of them, their bodies, their voices, their breathing. The connection overcoming every boundary. They had made love throughout the night, and then they had stayed holed up in the room for another handful of hours. Just cuddling, resting, and talking.

Talking about their little trip down to the most dangerous area of the city – the one that many citizens didn’t want to see in person, ever. And yet Mike and Lisa knew that, if there was ever an answer to their questions, it could only be found there. Miss Oshi had kept much information to herself, but her agreeing to Mike’s request to offer them support had been a dead giveaway. The old lady knew what this was all about. Maybe not completely, but enough to grant them the pass that they needed to go to the basement and not get killed in the process.

While they got dressed, ready to go back home, Lisa and Mike had agreed to let a few days pass before going down to the black market. Together. It was a done deal. Then Lisa had received that phone call – her mom, telling her that daddy was unwell, to please come home as quickly as possible.

Lisa and Mike had rushed back to the Ozymandias condo and she had kissed him in a hurry, telling him that she needed to pack and get ready to leave. He hadn’t known what to do – she was panicking. Lisa loved her father, and the thought of his heart faltering, the idea of him in a hospital bed had made her restless and erratic. He had just nodded his head like a robot, telling her that yes, he understood completely, and that he was there for her, always. That whatever she needed, he would do.

She had just replied that the only thing she could do was fly back to San Francisco and that her mother had already booked a flight for her. She would be leaving in less than three hours. Mike had just watched her run back to her apartment, feeling utterly powerless, and so very small and useless.

About forty minutes later, he was sitting in his favorite armchair when the video doorbell startled him. Even before Echo announced that it was her, Mike had known. He had almost jumped out of his skin and had darted to the door, opening it in a hurry.

Lisa was standing there, her swollen and reddened eyes indicating that she had cried, her stance showing that she wanted to appear strong. She held a duffle bag in her hands and she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on.

“I can come with you.” Mike had muttered. And he didn’t know why, but the words had come out breathless.

Lisa had just shaken her head slightly, raking her fingers through her hair, and he had moved to the side, inviting her in.

“I wish you could. But I need to do this on my own… at least for now.” She had let go of the bag as he closed the door, studying her as inconspicuously as he could. She looked tired. “I don’t have much time, but… I just couldn’t leave you like this.”

She had turned and he had found her eyes. So bright, so blue. And in those eyes he had seen the clear reflection of what he felt: the irrational fear of being separated from her. The sheer terror of something happening while they were apart. The vulnerability that he felt knowing that he couldn’t be with her. Sheltering her. Protecting her. Was love supposed to be about those feelings, too? Or were they just connected to their surreal, extra-corporeal experiences?

“I can’t go. Not yet.”

“He’ll be fine. Your dad… he’s gonna be OK.”

“I know.” She had given him a strained smile. “I just want to be there with him. I have to see him… Make sure he’s better.”

Mike had nodded his head, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Yeah. Of course. I’d want the same thing…”

Stepping forward, she had buried herself in his arms and he had just held her. He could feel her heartbeat reverberating in his chest and had tilted her head up, staring in her eyes again. Realizing how lost he could get in them.

“I gotta be at the airport in an hour… so…”

Mike had stared at her perfect lips.

“Want me to give you a ride? I ain’t got nothing to do…”

“No, not a ride… but I do need you to do something for me…”

Her eyes were glazed over. Mike knew what that look meant.

Lisa had reached up, her hand on the back of his head, pulling him down. Or maybe it had been his lips finding hers. Their mouths had met in a kiss that tasted of love, passion and desperation. Before they knew what was what, Mike had pushed her against the door and she had melted against him.

The next minutes were a blur, a furious coupling against the first vertical surface they found. There was no time – not objectively, not emotionally – and they didn’t even bother taking their clothes off. Guided by pure instinct, Lisa had unbuttoned Mike’s shirt just as he pulled down her pants and underwear roughly, helping her get out of them. His lips had left a scorching hot path on the smooth skin of her thighs, he had reveled in the trembling of her firm muscles. He had found her boiling, wet center and she had grabbed his head as he lapped at her, as his mouth closed on her in the most intimate kiss. She had whimpered and cursed under her breath and then had clutched to his shirt, pulling him up and toward her lips. Drugging, all-consuming kisses. Her tongue tracing the skin of his neck, his Adam’s apple, the clean line of his barely visible stubble. His hips had started to move against her lithe body, her hands on his ass, pulling him into her. It was pure necessity. They needed each other. Irrational thoughts had mixed with heavy breathing and soft moans.

What if I’ll never see her again. What if I’m never going to have him like this again.

What if something happens and we can no longer find each other. What if we can’t go back to this. To this starting point. To our only chance to be this happy. To this feeling of togetherness.

Mike had taken Lisa’s hand and had pressed it against his steel, straining and constricted by his pants. Her eyes had fluttered closed for a second as she grabbed him through the fabric, forcing him to bite his lip and repress a groan. He had somehow managed to unbuckle and unzip his trousers and she had found him ready for her. He had leaned against her, his face buried in the crook of her neck and she had held him, stroked him, caressed him. He had trembled. She had too.

The blood had echoed in his ears and he had lost control of himself completely. Sighing, he had picked her up and Lisa’s legs had immediately locked around his waist. She had found him again, and he had helped her guide him where he needed to be. Their eyes had met, struggling to stay open, as he surged into her. Then Lisa’s head had fallen back, against the white metal surface of the door. Such a striking contrast with the pulsing, sinewy muscles closing around him, making him see stars and galaxies of pure pleasure. All the while, the air around them had felt heavy and static.

“Lise… baby. You’re so damn tight. So hot. You drive me crazy. I can’t… let you go.” He had swallowed. “I need you here… with me.”

She had held onto his shoulders, kissing the sweaty skin of his neck as he started to pound into her. His forceful thrusts, accompanied by his strong hands cupping her ass, holding her in place, his panting, his strained moans had been her undoing, and she had shattered almost immediately. Calling his name, sobbing as she kept kissing him, her nails leaving red marks on the nape of his neck and his shoulder blades.

“God… oh shit… Mike. Oh, fuck!”

He had not stopped. As he kept moving, the seductive smell of his skin had reached her nostrils and she had gone into complete sensory overload. Her entire body had trembled, her muscles had quivered and Mike had thrown his head back, his eyes squeezed shut, his movements suddenly freezing. They had stayed like that, suspended in time, for what had felt like forever, and then he had started to move into her again, climaxing so violently that he had cried out. The waves of pleasure mixed with pain had assaulted her and she had followed him into the vortex.

When finally he had collapsed against her body, not for a second Lisa had thought that he would drop her. In fact, she was sure that Mike would always be there to break her fall. And it didn’t matter that she had to leave – she would come back to him. She felt like she had always come back to him in a way, even before she was born. As if he was the magnet and she was the metal.

Her hand had stroked his hair, and for a moment she had just listened to his uneven breath.

“I’m gonna tell my parents about you…” She had kissed his temple. “About what you mean to me.”

Breathlessly, he had giggled.

“Well… don’t tell ‘em about this… I don’t want them to hate me… or think that I’m taking advantage of their baby girl…”

Her first real smile in hours. She had searched his mouth. Another drugging kiss, the gliding caress of their tongues.

“I’ll try to keep it to myself…”

“Yeah, you do that. So, when I marry you -”

He had blinked, biting his lips. Surprised at his own words. Lisa had frozen, staring back at him. Her breathing was still erratic and he had kissed her urgently. Feeling both terrified and happy at the same time, just like she did.

Half-heartedly, he had withdrawn from her body and had put her back down. She immediately had searched refuge in his arms, snuggling against him. She had kissed his chest.

“I love you so much…”

“I do too, Lise…”

“I gotta go, Mike. I’ll call you when I land…”

She had framed his face with both hands, kissing him again, one last time.

“Sure. I’ll be waiting.”

And just like that, within minutes she was gone. Leaving him with his clothes crumpled. And his heart sore and empty.

[Jewel++: Subject 2 has landed safely in San Francisco, boss.]

“Good. What about Mister Jackson?”

[Jewel++: He is currently sitting at his desk. Working.]

“Is he in check?”

[Jewel++: Question unclear. I need more parameters to validate.]

A long sigh. “Has he shown any more signs of being… unhampered.”

[Jewel++: Not since Subject 2 has left. His sleep pattern has not been optimal, though.]

“Shit.” The word was murmured through gritted teeth. “Can we do something about it?”

[Jewel++: Borealis can provoke a seizure. We can subsequently transfer him to the hospital. For sedation.]

“No. No. Nothing of that sort.” A pause. “Oh, shit… Abort and erase my question. I don’t want to risk any damage to the… subject. To Mister Jackson.”

[Jewel++: Question aborted and erased.]

“What about Miss Presley?”

[Jewel++: She is on her way to the hospital. According to our timeline, she will fly back to New York City in four days.]

“OK. Keep me updated about their whereabouts.”

[Jewel++: Order recorded.]

“Hey…”

She almost jumped hearing the voice, but her body stayed perfectly still. It stiffened, even. Her eyes remained fixed on the computerized vending machine, waiting for her water bottle. She uncapped it and took a sip, not even bothering turning around. The last thing she wanted was to see his face. Again.

“Lisa… Hey. Did you hear me?”

“I did. I was just wondering why you’re still here.” She finally turned and watched her ex-fiancé straight in the eyes. The man she had almost married. The man she thought she loved. The man she felt absolutely nothing for. As if her feelings for him had never existed.

Maxwell Kane was a good-looking guy. Tall, blond-haired, with deep, penetrating blue eyes. Rather nerdy-looking, but attractive in his own way. Lisa watched him and it was like staring at a nice broken vase. Something that once used to make sense and no longer did.

“Because your mom can use my support.”

“Well, I am here now. I’ve been here for three days, so there’s no need for you to stay any longer. You can go home, Maxwell…”

He moved a step forward, raising his hands slightly.

“Lisa, you’ve been avoiding me, but… I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk.”

She was tired. She hadn’t been sleeping well and had stayed with her father for almost the entire day. She had told him about Mike, while her mom went back home to shower and rest a little. Lisa had felt relieved when her dad had told her that he was happy for her. He had looked insecure for a moment, but then he had smiled.

“And you love this guy?”

Brandon Presley, a retired geneticist, was a gentle man with very sweet, deep green eyes. Lisa loved him with all her heart. Sitting on his bed, she had reached out and had taken his hand. It felt warm, and she had also noticed that he didn’t look so pale anymore. He was feeling better, after scaring the shit out of her for the first thirty-six hours of her stay.

“Yes, daddy. I love him.”

“You look confident. Not a doubt in the world.”

“That’s because I don’t have any…”

He had squeezed her hand and had grinned.

“OK then… Let’s talk about this lucky guy. What’s his name? What does he do for a living? But more than anything else… is he nice to you?”

Lisa had always suspected that her dad didn’t like Maxwell at all. Her mom… well, she was another animal entirely. She considered Maxwell Kane an excellent catch for Lisa. And she had been disappointed when Lisa had decided to break up with him. Linda Presley hadn’t said anything, but Lisa knew her mother. She had seen it in her eyes. While her dad had looked relieved.

“His name is Mike. He’s a lab technician and… he’s adorable. He’s always nice to me. And I know he loves me.”

“Is he here with you? Hiding in the hall, scared to meet me?”

Lisa had smiled at her dad’s playful tone.

“No… He’s waiting for me in New York.”

Brandon had nodded his head, then had taken a deep breath. “Well, then… Alright. I guess your mother will have to deal with the fact that you’ll never marry Maxwell.”

“I wouldn’t marry him anyway, daddy. With or without Mike being in the picture. You know that.”

He had squeezed her hand again.

“I know, baby. I know.” He had looked down. “And it’s OK. You do what you gotta do to be happy, alright…”

She was glad to know that her father supported her decisions, because her mother sure had looked entirely unimpressed when Lisa had told her about Mike. She didn’t like the fact that he came from a lower level. She didn’t like that he had no solid background. She had told Lisa that she didn’t believe Mike was “good for her.” She had asked her to please give Maxwell another chance.

Lisa snapped out of her thoughts and glanced up at her ex-fiancé.

“I don’t think there’s anything you and I should talk about. We already spoke plenty.”

Maxwell shook his head and took off his costly and exquisite glasses.

“No, Lisa, we didn’t. You broke up with me and then moved to another city. You disappeared and didn’t even give me the chance to explain.”

“Look…” She realized that she didn’t want to do this. Maybe a long time ago, but certainly not now. “I broke up with you because I was hurt, and because you cheated on me. But right now, it doesn’t matter anymore. Whatever feelings I had for you… or I thought I had for you… they’re no longer there.”

She was about to tell him that she was sorry for misreading her own feelings, but eventually she decided that there was nothing to be ashamed of. Not when it came to him.

“Feelings you thought you had? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Maxwell squinted his eyes, and Lisa could tell that he was offended.

“That probably I was not… mature enough to understand what love is all about.”

“Oh yeah?” The sarcastic grin on his face wiped off any nerdy expression she had come to know up until that point. “And now you do? You know what love is?”

“Well, I know what love should not be. Look, I gotta go back to my father.”

She stepped to a side and he did the same, standing right in front of her, effectively preventing her from leaving.

“Are you seeing another guy?”

The question caught her off guard for a moment.

“I don’t think it’s your business if I’m seeing someone or not.”

“Your mom told me you are.”

She scoffed.

“Then why the fuck are you even asking?”

Maxwell looked horrified by her language and she shook her head, once again trying to walk past him. Once again, having him block her way.

“Because I think I have the right to know, Lisa…”

“What?” She frowned. “Get the fuck outta here.”

Oh, this time she dirtied up her vocabulary intentionally, because she knew Maxwell was bothered by it. How had she ever been attracted to this guy? The moment she had seen him again, Lisa had realized that she barely remembered his face. And how was it even possible that she had once been convinced of wanting to spend her entire life with him?

“And get out of my way.”

“Look, I know what I did hurt you. But we had something serious going on, you and I… Something special…”

Once again, she shook her head.

“No.” She stared at him. “No, we didn’t. Go home, Max. There’s no need for you to stay here.”

He wasn’t hungry. As a matter of fact, he was a bit nauseous but also knew that Lisa would want him to eat. Fiddling with his food, he rubbed his temple, trying to chase the headache away.

“You look pale, my friend. You sure you’re OK?”

He looked up and could tell that Master Chang was concerned. Mike tried to speak, his lips parted but nothing came out. The old chef cocked his head to a side and narrowed his eyes.

“Is that why I haven’t seen you in a while? Are you sick?”

Mike scoffed, shaking his head. Yeah, lovesick. Like a puppy.

“No, man. I’m fine. I just miss my girlfriend, that’s all…”

Master Chang’s round face brightened in a full smile. “Oh, the beautiful Miss Lisa! Don’t tell me you guys broke up, kid! If you let her go, you don’t know what’s good for you.”

“Nah. She’s just back in San Francisco for a few days. Family matters.” He leaned back in his bar stool and placed the chopsticks in his bowl. “And, Mister Chang… She loves your noodle bar. We have just been busy with… some stuff.”

The chef giggled.

“I can imagine.”

“As soon as she comes back, we’ll celebrate here with a fancy dinner.”

“Sure. Bring the lady. I’ll cook something special for you guys.”

He had started to clean the counter but couldn’t refrain from throwing Mike an amused look as he began to hum an old song.

It was OK. Certainly Master Chang could not imagine that Lisa and Mike had been busy trying to figure out if they were going crazy together and simultaneously, if the universe was just fucking with them or if they were the victims of some secret conspiracy. The guy probably thought they had been holed up in their bedroom, screwing like bunnies. Which was also true.

Gosh. The level of longing was almost unbearable, and Mike was amazed at how even the things he had been doing forever felt different now. Like having dinner at his favorite noodle bar on Level 2, after work, while observing the colors and movements on the streets and the rain pouring down. Like every damn night in the megacity. And yet everything had changed. The neon-colored megascreens, showing advertisement after advertisement in an endless string of lies, looked dimmed down, the food was less tasty than usual, the night felt colder.

Everything had changed and Mike realized that nothing would ever be the way it used to be. His life was now split in two: before and after Lisa. Love was a powerful thing, and he adored how thoroughly invaded it made him feel. At the same time, the other side of the coin was an utter lack of control over his own emotions – something he had only experienced when his parents had been taken away from him. From that moment on, he had promised to himself that he would never, ever allow anything or anyone to cross those boundaries again. Spending his adult years at a desk, creating voices that up until that point had only existed in his head, his nights in sleazy bars, having cybersex or whatever the fuck it was that he had been doing back then, were a perfect way to keep the most intense emotions at arm’s length. Constantly.

Then Lisa had appeared like a ray of sunshine after the darkest night and everything had crumbled, in the most wonderful and terrifying way. And now that she was gone, although only for a few days, Mike felt like a blind man trying to find his way back to the only road he had known before she gifted him with a new set of perfectly functioning eyes. Eyes that, by the way, seem to be able to see a little too much for his taste.

Oh, fuck it all to hell. He just wanted his woman back. Wanted to hear her voice, feel the smooth texture of her skin under his fingertips. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and take her and mark her his, and wanted her to mark him hers. Forever and ever. Once again, such an electrifying sensation. And terrifying at the same time.

Half-heartedly, Mike managed to finish his rice, and at first ignored the kid on the airskate stopping right behind his back.

“Yo. Mike Jackson?”

He spun on his stool and faced the kid. About fifteen, peach fuzz on his face. Trying very hard to grow a mustache and failing miserably. Looking like a catfish at best.

“Yeah?”

“For ya, mister.”

The kid threw an envelope on the counter, near his bowl. Mike frowned and took the envelope, holding it in his hand. No indications. Just plain white paper.

“What’s this? Who are you?”

“I don’t know. It’s for you.”

The kid waited, then held out his hand and his eyebrows sprung up. Mike took a moment to register. Then he sighed, extracting his wallet from the internal pocket of his trench coat.

“Oh. Sure.” He gave the boy five airdollars. “There you go.”

The kid didn’t move and Mike rolled his eyes. Another five bucks and the boy jumped back on his skate, disappearing in the flickering lights of the city. Mike watched him fly around the corner and then glanced over at Master Chang. He was standing at the opposite side of the noodle bar, busy serving another client. Mike’s eyes went back to the envelope. He turned it in his hands. Finally, he opened it.

Rounded, neat handwriting welcomed him. Only a few words, but he understood immediately.

“Someone has been buying some of the items you probably wanted to see. If you still think it’s important, we can’t wait any longer. We will be waiting for you.

– O.S.”

Of course. Miss Oshi Suesskind. She was warning him and telling him that their initial plan had to be changed. That he couldn’t wait for Lisa to come back to go down to Level 0. Or maybe he could – but if he did, he had to be aware of the fact that what might interest them could no longer be available at the black market.

Mike stared into space, lost in thought for a moment. Then he folded the message, put it in his pocket and got ready to head back down to Level 1.

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