Ad Astra

Chapter 2

Eddie continues down the dimly lit streets of San Francisco. His conversation with Annie hadn't gone so well, and he just couldn't do it. He knew she wouldn't believe him, and so he chose the next best thing.

He stood in front of the fancy restaurant, hesitating.

The parasite freak must've forced him to walk through, his feet moving on their own, out of his control.

He is shaky, cold, yet hot at the same time, and his nerves are constantly making him twitch.

His sweats, slight wobbly walk/jog, making him look a bit drunk, are out of place in contrast to the well-dressed men and women.

Eddie stumbles through the restaurant's entrance, the maître d' eyeing him suspiciously. The parasite whispers in his mind, urging him forward. The voice makes him jump slightly. He scans the room, searching for his target.

There. In the corner. A man in an expensive suit, laughing alongside a girl. Eddie's stomach churns, a mix of nausea and the alien creature writhing inside him.

Annie.

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself. No matter what, nothing calms his shakiness as he approaches forward, stumbling in a fast walk. A waiter approaches, concern etched on his face. "Sir, are you alright? Do you need assistance?"

Eddie waves him off, mumbling incoherently. He can feel the parasite's excitement growing, its hunger becoming his own. He staggers towards the table, ignoring the stares and whispers from other diners.

The man in the suit notices Eddie's approach, his smile fading. Recognition flashes in his eyes, followed quickly by his speed walking toward Dan and Annie's table. He plops himself down in a seat rather clumsily, greeting them with mumbling.

"H-hey- An-Annie, yo-you as well, Dan. W-wow I didn't even know you were... were- there. Annie, Annie, I need you to listen to me. Carlton, I was right, he-he's-"

"Are you dru-"

"Gah! L-listen.. oh my GOD I am so hungry."

Without thinking, Eddie's feet put him to a stand, and he grabs at a fistful of lobster, rubbing it against his palm, before slamming it back down in frustration at the waiter.

"Are you-are you serious? This is... this is dead. Why is this dead! It is dead."

Annie seems to have enough of his shenanigans, trying to convince him to leave, before he feels himself over-heating, embarrassing himself all over again. "Is it hot in here? Why is it so hot? It's hot, I'm-I'm hot. It's hot."

A few seconds later, in the lobster tank after continued protest from Annie, and concern from Dan, Eddie can't help it anymore. He grabs at a live lobster, biting into it immediately, chewing as he does not yet notice Dan slowly approaching him.

"Hey, Eddie, hey. Uhm, we're gonna get you to my office, okay? We're gonna get you better, is that... okay?"

Unable to bare it any longer, Eddie, with tears in his eyes, finds himself nodding.

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1 Week later

Isadora prepares her essentials. Clothes, hairbrushes, coconut oil, palm tree oil for mosquito bites, stuffed animals she never tells anyone about, and some toiletries along with her toothbrush, some floss and toothpaste.

She hadn't realized it until she walked past her mirror, but she had a huge smile on her face.

No matter how much she wanted to protest, nothing would disagree with the fact she was excited to meet her father. The girl walks out her room, toward Mrs. Andrews, giving her a signal she was ready. She waves bye towards the other girls, making her way to the woman's car.