Unfamiliar Territory [Book One]

Chapter Twenty-Nine | Plan to Let Go

                 

It had been a few minutes or so since Mr. Copper left to go find his new shirt. We were both worried, my hands felt numb and Kat looked a little paler than usual, but for whatever reason neither of us offered to go out and check on him. Neither of us said a word about it.

            Through the glass window in the door, all I could see was darkness.

            "Hey, Kat?"

            Kat raised her head up from the messy desk. There was a lot there to keep her occupied, but I could tell she was not looking at anything.

            "I know...I know it's not really a good time for this, but we--we might not, well, if things go wrong we might not—"

            "We'll be fine, Alex," Kat interrupted, her tired eyes taking on a new hardened stare. "We are going to figure out a plan, a good one, and we are going to stop Fawn and fix everything."

            "Okay, that sounds good and everything, but if things go wrong—"

            "They won't."

            "But what if—"

            "They won't, Foxy!" Kat nearly shouted, sitting up so fast the chair fell back behind her.

            I felt that old but familiar chill run through my body as her green eyes bore into me. "And if you're going to keep up with that attitude, Mr. Copper and I would be better off without you."

            She looked away from me to pick up the chair, but she did not sit back down. I stared down at a particularly dark coffee stain in the carpet. "I'm sorry. I just thought I could try and figure out more about all this— about why I'm even a part of this," I muttered.

            She didn't respond. I wasn't entirely sure if she even heard me.

            New light suddenly flooded into the room from the small window and our heads shot up towards it. I backed away from the door as the handle turned and was preparing to strike when Mr. Copper's head poked in.

            The slicked back hair was frayed slightly, the new dress shirt was light blue, and the stripped tie was loosened, but otherwise he appeared fine.

            "Apologies, for the wait," he said, stepping in and closing the door behind him.

            He was carrying a plate of sandwiches in his hands. I stared at them, not realizing until then just how hungry I was.

            "I hope I didn't make you worry. I took a moment to make us all some food. I'm sure you both are hungry."

            "Its fine," Kat said quickly, stepping out from behind the desk and only sparing the food a brief glance. "Can we get started now?"

            "Quite right. The plan." Mr. Copper nodded, moving between us so he could place the plate on the desk before sitting down in his old leather chair. "I was thinking of what we could do, and really, it's quite simple."

            I looked between them and the plate of food. Neither seemed keen on them any longer.

            "Then why are you sitting down?" Kat asked.

            Still keeping an eye on both, I quickly moved closer and took a sandwich.

            "Because it may be a plan you both won't like."