The Unknowables

Chapter 11

We shut off all the flashlights and lanterns before we leave. It’s late and the streetlights only half light the streets. Kitty puts her hat and sunglasses back on, even though it’s a little odd to be wearing sunglasses at night I’ve seen stranger things in the city. We start walking back to the subway entrance.

“Don’t you have to get home?” Kitty asks.

“I’m actually staying at a friends tonight. She knows I’ll be out late. Do you guys want to get something to eat? My treat.”

“It’s a little late to be going to supper, you can take us tomorrow ok? We have food at the hideout and I think Kitty should get to bed.” Shay says.

“Aww… come on Shay, I’m part cat. Animals known for their independence and free spirits and I can’t at least decide when I go to bed?

“Ha, you’d never to go bed of your own free will then.” Shay scoffs.

I lean down and whisper in Kitty’s ear.

“Or you can stay up late reading these.”

I pass her the books I had promised her. She giggles and cradles them to her chest. I can tell by the excited look in her eye she wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight. We get to the subway entrance and part ways, I call a cab to take me to Chelsea’s, there is no way I’m getting on a subway twice in one day. I promise to see them again tomorrow. Lance says to come back to the theatre around noon.

I get to Chelsea’s place pretty late at night. I feel so sore and bruised all I want is to have a shower and go to bed, but I know that such a thing will be next to impossible. I brace myself for a deluge of questions as the elevator dings at the proper floor. The door open and I’m greeted with the sound of screaming. I run inside and drop my bag.

“Chelsea?”

“In here.”

She’s in the living room surrounded by enormous bags of junk food, sitting cross legged on the couch watching a horror movie. I sigh, Chelsea knows very well that I can’t watch scary movies of I won’t sleep for a week. She mutes she blond screaming bloody murder on screen.

“So, how was your date with your man?”

I roll my eyes at her.

“I told you he’s not my man, he doesn’t even know I exist. Not in that sense anyway. It was just us and a couple of his friends. Is Trevor still around?

“Ya, he doesn’t leave for a few days yet, the guest room is still open for use though but he’s not important. Where did you guys go?”

“We went to the theatre, there was a play going on in a little theatre across town. And then we went to a late supper.” More half truths, we didn’t get around to having supper.

“What play?”

“It was an interpretation of the swan princess.”

“That sounds boring.”

“Actually it was quite the… learning experience.” I smile.

“Well as long as you enjoyed yourself that’s what matters. When do you think he’ll take you out without his friends tagging along?”

“I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon Chelsea. I’m going to take a quick shower, would you mind changing movies? You know I’ll never be able to sleep if I watch that.”

“Ok.”

I have my shower in the same bathroom where I first saw my wings. Before I jump in the shower I inspect the damage from the day’s lessons. Already I have colourful bruises popping up all over my body, I’ve had karate classes against my instructor that left me in better shape. When I get out I put back on most of my layers of clothes, but fewer then I would normally wear. I try to watch the action movie that Chelsea had chosen to put on but after the first few explosions I fall into dreamless sleep.