Brady Tyson's Walk Along the Precipice

The Things That Humans Cannot Bear - 12

 My cheeks are wet. A liquid of some sort wells up about my eyes, too, having nowhere to go as I lay in reclined repose.

It's the hotel lobby. Wires tangle around my arm as I raise it slowly, gently to clean the murk from my visage.

The loose handcuff taps my on the chin, reminding me why I'm here at all.

I sit up.

Vital monitors peel from my skin. I look quizzically at the IV drip in my arm. I don't need something like this. I'll be... fine on my own.

...

I should... find someone.

Another nightgown hangs around my ankles as I stand up. Pulling the remaining wires and tubes from my arms and chest, I step over the tangle beneath me and head towards the staircase.

"Brady Tyson." A gentle voice calls to me from the building's entrance.

I turn towards Shelly. The air is still. Her form is black, silhouetted by the brilliant sun that hits the Brazilian streets outside.

"Welcome back." Her words float through the air. "Your companions are already back with us. They're likely resting in their rooms. We're going to be departing for Egypt tomorrow. It would have been today, but the commander's connections have been difficult."

"How... long have I been away?"

"The three of you were in the Eien space for five days. Then you were asleep for two more."

"Oh."

"Everyone else is out right now." She turns away from me, stepping back out onto the street. "We've rented out a venue for a celebration tonight. It's going to be in a bar two blocks down that way, at 7. That way we can get right to work in Egypt."

"Wow, you guys weren't gonna wait for me to party?" In my head the line came out with a comedic cadence, but my actual speech is completely deadpan.

Shelly is gone, anyway.

I turn back to the staircase. It spirals upwards to a quiet infinity. I climb.

Eventually I reach my floor, and then I reach my room. The door is unlocked. I step in.

Oh.

The carpet under my bare feet is less coarse than the carpet in the hallway prior. I wonder why that is?

I get changed. A pair of baggy cargo pants and a plain purple tank top. Then I use the bathroom. Even though it's been a while since I've actually eaten anything, I brush my teeth anyway.

Sitting on my bed, I stare at my shoes. It's really hard to tie them by myself. I haven't been able to yet. Oh well, I don't feel like going out on my own either way.

Let's see what my companions are up to.

Getting up, I go out into the coarse, carpeted hallway and over to Akil's room. There's no answer to my knock on the door.

...

My hand hovers over the door handle. There's a faint ringing in my ears.

...

There's an almost tangible resistance to the air as I force my hand down onto the cast piece of metal. It turns easily.

And then the tension in the air bursts.

I step into the room. The door closes softly behind me. My vision swims, and I place my hand on the wall before sliding down to my knees. My arm falls limply to my side.