Devour

Chapter 37 - Rose

I sit slumped at the bar in the little pub with Dax and Pippa. I'm trying to like her and not pout because he does need a friend but she's very pretty and she likes him and he's like my only friend because he talks to me sometimes and so it isn't fair.

They are sipping pints and laughing a little. Neither of them seem to like the beer and Dax seems pensive. I lean against his shoulder and close my eyes. I'm tired. I spent the day at Angel's swim meet here in London. She never knows I'm there. I go anyway. Now I'm back here because I was hoping Dax would read me one of his new comic books and I could fall asleep listening to his voice. Except we're here. I should be happy he's not with that miserable Christine.

I don't know why he's not she usually wants him on Saturday nights but not this one. So I ought to be glad of that. Except I can't seem to be glad of anything tonight. It's dark. They're eating chips and I can't eat chips because I'm not there. I'm depressed.

"Do you like reading?" Pippa asks him.

"I guess----I mostly read comic books--- that sounds stupid," Dax says, shrugging.

"Nothing is stupid. I've never been into comics. I could never figure out which way the boxes go," she says, frowning, "I don't mind comic book films though. Like Superman."

"I haven't seen the films but---I've never been into Superman because---like, he's everything perfect isn't he? Like he gets a good job, he gets the girl, he's impervious to bullets, he can do anything like---life's not like that," Dax says.

"Ah---but there's his kryptonite----because everyone, no matter how untouchable or impervious they may seem to us, has their kryptonite and that is the lesson of Superman," she says.

"That's like---you're siding with the bad guy though. You can't do that, you're supposed to want the good guy to win," Dax laughs.

"How do you know Lex Luther isn't the good guy, when it's told from Superman's perspective?" Pippa asks.

"That's actually kind of true," I say, even though Dax can't hear me.

"Okay, whatever, you're smarter than me," Dax says, shaking his head, "I can't figure out all that duality stuff---my sister talks about it all the time when she's trying to explain the stuff we read for school."

"The premise is simple. Superman is only a good guy, because most of his morals align with ours because he's telling us the story---some of the things---lying to his girlfriend about who he is, punching people through walls therefore killing them---could be considered evil. Just as Lex Luther's could actually be considered good if told from his," Pippa says.

"That's true---this is why I don't like DC heroes," I tell Dax who still can't hear me.

"That's why we consider politicians all sleazy because they lie and cheat all the time---but they're doing it---some of it---for good making it a necessary evil----just like stealing a tracer to go stop muggings," Pippa points out.

"Okay, I got you---ends justify the means sometimes," Dax says, nodding.

"Ah---but the definition of the ends is what matters," Pippa says, "And more importantly how much WE care about the ends."

"And that's way too confusing for me, sorry," Dax says, "Guess I'm tired tonight."

"It's fine you just have to agree with me, I'll get you a copy of Superman."

"I don't have a way to watch it."

"I'll just kidnap you then and bring you to my house. Daddy won't mind that at all."

"No, not, at all he'll enjoy that."

"Hey, ready to get out of here?" a boy sits down at the bar close to Dax but ostensibly next to me. He looks about our age, with dark brown hair and a fresh face, but he has an American accent, and is wearing large goggles like a pilot or something. He must be a friend of Pippa's. He looks down at a large book in his lap then back up.

I lean back against Dax, who doesn't seem to react. Nor does Pippa.

"You, I'm talking to you----what's your name? ah shit-------Rose, you ready to go home?" he asks, tapping my arm with two fingers then withdrawing politely.

"Me?" I nearly cry, shrinking into Dax more.

"Yeah, you, the only person in this lousy half-assed dimension, you ready to go home?" he asks, looking down at the book in his lap.

"How can you see me? None of them can," I don't want to cry in this situation but I am.

"We're in a soul realm, created so far as I can tell specifically for you. They're shit to get out of as well---look they can't see me either. I'm here with you," he says, waving his hands in front of Dax and Pippa's faces, then slamming a fist on the bar. No reaction. He's here with me.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Bowie Fredrick Breeden----correcting space time is kind of my thing. An angry elder being created this realm specifically for you but since you didn't actually die I'm pretty sure you can get out of it---no promises though they're shit to fuck with I can't even get my brother out of one," he says, nodding for me to follow him.

"Where are we going?" I feel like I shouldn't be trusting him. Like at all. But I don't have a lot of other options. In fact I have no other options. I look back at Dax sitting at the bar. He's smiling and laughing a little with her still.

"We'll go back to their world---if that's where you want to go?" he says, "Your original world---proper time, though, not the night you got exiled here. I could send you to some other dimension or time if you triple promised not to procreate or assassinate anybody major---Stone Age is pretty fun, Age of Enlightenment is a fucking blast----Ming Dynasty's kind of cool, depends on where you are, that kind goes for anywhere---I don't personally like Space Exploration Age but that's up to you some people do-------or I'll put you back on that side, up to you."

"His brother—" I was really ignoring half of what he said, I'm kind of freaking out.

"Pasch, yeah the opposite of my favorite person in the whole damn universe---I know, he sent you here in his condemnation he was meaning to kill you but. He's an idiot," he says.

"What is he going to do when he finds out I'm alive?" I ask.

"Nothing—because I won't let him," he says, holding out a hand, "I want to help you get home, but you have to trust me."

"Are you a psychic?" I ask.

"No, I'm as mortal as you are. But I've done this a time or two and a punk-ass demi-god is far from the worst thing I've tangled with in this universe," he says, "I promise. I will keep you safe. Or die trying. Technically we'll both die. Then I'll come back and save us. So if I show up and tell us something, help me listen closely all right?"

"Okay," I say, nervously, "Can I---what about my family? What if this doesn't work---"

"You'll see them soon. I promise, look you have the smartest, most competent person in the universe working on this, you don't have to be afraid."

"Tell me smartest most competent person in the universe isn't you?" I'm beginning to doubt this. This had better not be some other dumb shit that got pushed into the void like I did.

"It is-----funny you should ask."

"Oh my god."

"Oh, I'm sorry do have a lot of other options here?" getting sassy now.

"No, you're right---I'm just scared," I say.

"Don't be. Your handsome man will be able to see you soon."

"You literally just said we might both die."

"I said we'd be resurrected though."

"Where are we going to reappear or whatever?"

"Right before the start of the apocalypse."

"What?"

"I always forget why I don't answer questions honestly."

"No ----what apocalypse!!??"

"The one we're preventing, now come on. "