FALTER

CHAPTER 45: Finding the broken pieces.

The woman was fussing with her mother's food again when her laptop buzzed. She immediately set the tray down and flew across the room. Her eyes darted across the numerous screens and applications open until she found the camera feed. The reflection of a curly haired man stepping out of the elevator and walking down the hall was visible in the red of her eye.

She had immediately gone into a state of heightened awareness. Swiftly, she threw on her coat and her mother in, ignoring the racing thoughts in her head. Her mother croaked weakly and stroked her cheek, which she allowed. Their room was at the far end of the floor, and it would take the man five minutes to get to it, if he even knew where it was. She kissed her mother on the forehead before tromping across and out of the room.

Once outside, the woman finally let her thoughts fall messily across her subconscious. She knew there were no other residents on this floor; she had booked every other suite in the floor to make sure of that. Which meant that the man was here for her.

She grimaced, then walked the opposite direction and down another hall, the blue coat flowing behind her like a ghostly trail.

Imti felt nervous as his footsteps thudded quietly on the ornate carpet. The hum of the air conditioning above him didn't do much to alleviate the fear he felt.

The mere idea of meeting someone connected to Norock sent continuous shocks down his nervous system. He felt sicker than ever, fighting down the urge to vomit, as he passed what seemed to be countless hotel doors.

The walls were also garishly red and the yellow overhead lamps exacerbated their effect on Imti's mental state as he took his first left. His right hand was fidgeting with the key card in his pocket. It was a master key, but he still needed to find the room in this maze. Chai had told him that the floor contained three residential suites, and the woman was at the far left corner one. He passed what he assumed was the first one; the door was black and surrounded by some sort of mini-porch. A few steps ahead of this door was another left, where Imti paused to gather his bearings.

As he tried to plan a course of movement, Imti's mind started racing faster.

I don't doubt that some leftover record of the Drive gave this person the idea of where to find it. It's just...

Imti grimaced as he decided to continue heading straight. As he stepped forward, a flash of movement caught his eye on the left hallway. He jumped to attention instantly.The hallway was the same as the one he had just come down. Red walls, decorated carpets, yellow lamps and that god awful hum - all of it was identical and it made Imti's head spin. Resigning what he saw as a trick of light, Imti shook his head and walked the way he intended to.

I just wish-

He paused again. Footsteps louder than his own. He stopped as soon as he heard them but they had also gone silent. The young man grabbed a fistful of the hair on his head and closed his eyes. He remembered his pain from that night. He remembered the sight of his friend on fire.

I just wish someone would remember me. Remember us.