The Strange Tale Of Ayla Jae

Chapter Fifteen - "Gus, Don't Be..."

"Are you sure it was him?"

I don't really respond, but Daren and Elin step in.

"I'd know that horrid voice anywhere."

"It was definitely him." Elin says after Daren.

"Did you get a good look at him?"

"No."

"We were down the hill by then. Scraped my stupid leg." Daren admits.

The three of them are littered across the bed and chairs of Dave's motel room. I'm near the door, and I don't plan on moving. I can't really believe that we're here right now. I can't believe who's here right now.

"Sorry to push this on you Dave." Elin says, softly. "I'm just pissed that I still couldn't shake him earlier."

"Yeah and then you lied to me about it." Daren replies, an anger rising in his voice.

"Oh, get off it, bro. I said I'm sorry. I did my best."

"Elin, it's okay." Dave says, calmly. His entire appearance is even more disheveled than it was the day before. He looks to make sure Elin and Daren make eye contact and apologize.

"I thought that I could get him to leave Ayla alone. After I talked with you guys, I couldn't help but feel a weird connection. I didn't really know for sure she was actually the Ayla I knew, but I knew."

"How?" Dave says.

"I don't know!" Exasperated, Elin throws her hands up, leaping to her feet. She paces around a little. "But I was right. I just didn't know our guy and her guy were the same person. I mean, that's the way it seems. It's just all freaking me out a little."

"A little?" Daren jumps in.

"Yeah, a little. Care to berate me more, Daren?"

Daren sighs. "No, Glitch. Of course not. Look, we're all tense and a little stressed. I say we just camp out here in the room for a bit. Sort out some truth. Make a plan?"

I'm barely listening, but as I catch what Daren just said, my soul feels at ease if but just a little. I could learn something from the 'stone cold chilla'. For a brief second, I make myself laugh. It goes away as soon as I look back up at the frustrated faces of the people around me.

"I guess. I just wish we could call in police and be done with it." She says as she sits back down onto the bed, aggressively. She groans. "That way I could at least get some rest. Everything still hurts."

I feel knocks through the door, and it makes me jump away from it.

"Hey, hey guys. It's me." Someone softly says through the door. I'd know that wonderful voice anywhere.

Dave looks at me and nods. I carefully open the door.

"Sorry, I just couldn't hold it anymore--." She stops.

"Ayla!" Chloe shouts in her quietest voice. She hugs me, and for a moment, everything else fades away. "I'm so glad you're back! Be honest, are you alright?"

She pulls away from the hug and looks my face up and down. Chloe looks tired, but she genuinely seems glad to see me.

"I...I don't know, wizard. Look, about last night--."

"Don't even trip, dawg." Chloe says suddenly, referencing a show we used to watch together. "You're here with us now. All of us." She gestures to the two new additions to the crew. "This is about all of us right now. We'll figure something out. Right, Dave?"

For a second, everything falls silent between as we all kind of look to Dave for some semblance of guidance. I try, but my eyes glare at the floor.