No Way Out

Pretty Accessories, A Canary, and A New Dream

The door buzzed open and Lila was escorted to her seat. The woman on the other side of the glass smiled brightly at her as she sat down.

Lila was very surprised to see her there again so soon. "Hi Simone," she said through the telephone once she picked it up.

"Hi Lila," Simone replied.

"I wasn't expecting to see you again today. I would have guessed that you'd be staying inside a lot now. You know, because of that crazy news report I just saw on TV. Those muggings are really getting out of control, don't you think?"

"Oh I agree," Simone murmured. "They're completely out of control."

Lila took a quick glance around to make sure that the guards weren't close enough to overhear the conversation before speaking. "I have to admit, I was a little surprised by that news report. You know, the part about the minor injuries. I was expecting more than that."

"To be honest, I was surprised as well. My only guess is that they're downplaying the extent of the injuries to the public. Maybe they don't want to worry the shareholders or something."

"I sure hope so. For your sake."

Simone nodded as she smiled. "But anyway, I really wanted to come see you again. Have you had any interesting conversations with the guards since I left?"

So that explained it. "Sadly, no," Lila replied. "As much as I'd love to relieve my dear old friend of some money, I think that you're much more useful to me being where you are for the moment."

Simone smiled even brighter. "I was hoping you'd feel that way. You, of all people, understand that some things in life are worth so much more than money."

"Exactly. By the way, I know I just saw you a few hours ago, but you haven't had the chance to visit my dear old friend yet, now have you?"

With a laugh, Simone shook her head. "Oh Lila, you know that I won't be visiting any of your friends anymore."

The fake smile that had been on her face the entire time finally fell. "What do you mean?" she asked with a subtle hiss. "You're going to be visiting my friends until I say that you're done."

There was more laughter. "You're so funny, Lila! I think that of all the things I miss about you, it's definitely your sense of humor that I miss the most."

"Simone," she said quietly. "You don't want me having any conversations with the guards, do you? You never know what might happen. I might change my mind and actually want that money. You and I both know that it's a very tempting offer."

Now she tilted her head like she was amused. "I thought you understood. There are things that are worth more than money, remember?"

"Like what?" Lila seethed, trying to ignore the twitching in her eye.

"Like power. The power to be invulnerable. The power to control time. The power to choose whatever power you want. Those are all well and good, but I think the strongest one of all is the power of creation. Just think about how much that is worth. It makes something as common as money seem pretty insignificant, don't you think?" When she finished throwing Lila's exact words back in her face, she smiled again.

Lila suddenly found it hard to breathe. "What are you talking about?"

"You already know exactly what I'm talking about," Simone replied. She leaned back into her chair. "Haven't you noticed my new accessories?"

"What accessories?"

With an exaggerated sigh, Simone tucked the hair behind her ears to show off her new earrings. "They're pretty, don't you think?"