Stuck in the Deepend | ONC 2024

Chapter 5

Lucas packed his small suitcase whilst Diana watched from behind her desk.

'Are you really doing this?' she asked.

'I need to get close to Mirra if we're going to have access to her work.'

'But a weekend with her family? Dinner parties and BBQs?'

'You were the one who said I should talk to her,' he reminded her.

She kicked her chair away from the desk and spun around to face him.

'It's still the best idea, but that doesn't mean I like the risks you're taking. What if someone sees you? What if you have to stay up after sunset?'

'I'll make an excuse. Bad stomach. Work call. It's only a few days.'

'And what are you going to do when you need to get to the water?' she demanded.

'I checked the address on the invitation. It has a private beach. I'll sneak out and be back before anyone knows I'm gone. I have thought this through.' He fixed her with a hard look before zipping up his bag.

'I'm going to run the latest synthetic cure against your bloodwork. If we're lucky, then we'll get some results that look promising.'

Lucas placed his suitcase on the floor, before sighing and adding a blood collecting kit to his bag. There was no such thing as taking a day off when you were trying to find a cure to keep yourself human.

'You should go see your family,' he said.

Diana snorted. 'My father is just as bad as yours.'

It was true. Diana's father was a director. It was the reason she and Lucas had become friends. When you were stuck on a movie set for hours, it was helpful if you had a friend around to pass the time.

'There's still your Mam.'

Diana turned back towards the screen, and Lucas sighed and dragged his suitcase towards her.

'She's not perfect, but she is there for you.'

'She's never really understood me,' Diana muttered.

'Do you understand her?' he asked gently. 'Maybe we're not made to understand everything. Sometimes we can still love someone without understanding them. You miss her, I can see it. You listen to her voice messages when you think I'm not around.'

'Now you're spying on me?' she groaned, without her usual fire.

'I pay attention,' he countered. 'Reach out. I would give a lot to see my mam again. You never know when there won't be another moment with them.'

'I never had the relationship you had with your mam,' she dismissed.

He spun her chair around so she faced him.

'Does that really matter?' Lucas asked.

Diana crossed her arms over her chest. 'I'm not going to be holding hands and singing with her, if that's what you're imagining.'

'That's not your style, but it doesn't mean that you can't reconnect.'

'Why are you pushing this? And the dating?' she asked.

He returned to his full height. 'If we don't find a cure-'

'You shouldn't talk like that.'

'It's a reality. I have to consider it,' he argued.

Diana looked away from him, her chin jutting up in the same way she'd been doing since they were kids.

'You should be putting in all your energy to finding a cure. Not worrying about something that may not happen.'