#FreakshowFriday

Chapter 25: Black Hole Place

October 18, 2023

Some people really don't vibe with phone calls—people like Nathan, who pulls the cutest sour face imaginable every time his outdated Samsung starts playing him Metallica. Jamie, on the other hand, likes to talk, and whether the chat takes place in person, over the phone or through smoke signals is the least of her concerns. With a little imagination to spice it up, a phone call isn't that different from a face-to-face conversation.

Besides, she thinks as she waits for contact with the other end of the line, she quite likes talking to Veronika Lockhardt. It's like hanging out with your chill older cousin who shares your favourite interests and also happens to have a badass cat. Veronika's research centers folklore, magic and the supernatural—all things Jamie loves to cover on Witchcraft Wednesday. Since the whole Rauđskinna ordeal, they've gotten on like a house on fire.

(Generally speaking, that is. Nathan admitted Veronika makes him uncomfortable at times—says her questions and glances give him the idea she'd like to take a knife to his skin and study his magic scar tissue under a microscope. Upon learning about this, Jamie saw fit to remind Veronika with her sweetest smile that academic interest in certain types of magic may well lead to disaster, and anyway, how would Veronika's own skin like getting acquaintanced with the business end of a blade?

There have been zero issues since.)

Jamie's call goes to voicemail, which is unacceptable. Jamie isn't opposed to leaving voice messages, but she only does so after the second call. She immediately makes it. As she goes through another agonizing wait, the notion she may have forgotten about something tugs at her brain.

But Jamie gets this a lot, so she doesn't think much of it. Veronika is picking up this time, anyway, so no moment left to ponder.

"I know you're a special kind of special, Jamie," Veronika grumbles groggily into the phone, "but calling me out of bed at two A.M. is a new low even for you."

Oh! Time zones. Jamie forgot about time zones.

Whoops?

"I'm, I'm sorry," she apologizes, tense in an instant. "I should've paid more attention, I know, it's just you haven't responded to my email yet—good morning, by the way—and I need your second opinion, because it's getting pretty urgent and I worked hard on that email, so..."

There's a pregnant pause on the line while Veronika's brain computes this ramble. Jamie can picture her sitting up in bed, phone pressed to her ear, rubbing her eyes as she vows to put her device in silent mode the next time around.

"I was going to call you about it." Veronika's voice sounds more alert now. "In the morning, when it's afternoon in Venice. But I suppose if you were going to wake me for anything, this is a good reason. So let's get it over with straight away."

"Really? Thanks!"

"Just don't talk to me so chipper. Goodness gracious, it's too early for that sort of attitude." There's stumbling on the other end of the line-a door opening, footfalls on the floor, a creaking staircase. "Give me a moment to grab my laptop and my notes on your findings. We'll discuss my theories in a jiffy."

Jamie waits while Veronika hunts for her necessary belongings in her office. It seems to take hours, though the hands on her watch barely move. By the time Veronika has everything set up and clears her throat, Jamie is practically crawling up the walls.

"I was intrigued by your ideas surrounding the revenant's possible origins," the scholar begins. "You mentioned the enduring historical association of the undead and disease—as harbingers and spreaders of epidemic sicknesses. Of plague. I don't believe it's at all far-fetched to take Poveglia's own lengthy history with disease, plague and death into account while examining what brought forth this creature."