Elvirund | ✔️

Chapter Twenty

"Here."

I handed Chip the glass, making sure he had it securely in his grip before I let go. The water sloshed around, coming close to spilling, but he raised the edge to his lips quickly before it happened.

"Thanks."

"Of course."

He paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow.

"You should probably go attend to anyone who needs medical attention, you know."

I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

"I should, I guess. But there's nothing happening."

"Just go. I'll be fine."

He laughed and I gave him a sideways glance. Some humans were strangely independent.

"Tell me if you need something."

"As always."

Reluctantly I closed the door behind me and shoved my hands in my pockets, breezing down the narrow corridor to the main waiting room. An empty silence greeted me, the clock on the wall perpetually paused at 7:42. A shiver ran down my spine and I spun around once just to ensure that I was actually alone.

"I'm losing it." I quietly muttered.

"Not quite."

Clenching one fist, I sighed through my teeth and turned on one firmly planted heel.

"Calphys, would you mind telling someone before you scare them half to death? I have too many things trying to kill me at the moment."

"Oh, don't worry. I just want to talk."

"Not this again."

"Actually, correct. This again."

"What, then?"

I have Calphys an innocent stare but we both knew there was as much of a challenge in that stare as there was in any of my other words. Surprise.

"I just wanted to have a normal conversation. Is that so absurd?"

"Well, considering I don't spend much time talking to people who are trying to murder me then yes."

Calphys sighed and gazed at me with feigned exhaustion.

"Fine. All reservations aside, I just want to get to know you."

"As the one assigned to bring me back to the Elders you already know everything about me. The victim isn't supposed to give out information anyway, regardless of how much the hunter knows."

I looked at Calphys with a bored smirk. I had this under control.

"Isn't that how it goes?"

"Well, this story must not be as cliche as you'd think then, because I don't know everything about you. Neither do I think you are a victim in any light."

"I'm playing the part either way. I'm trying to keep myself secret no matter how futile it is, as the victim usually does. Or am I wrong?"

"You're certainly doing a good job."

"Alright. End of conversation. Goodbye."

Before I could close the door and disappear into the residential wing Calphys grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the waiting room, eyebrows crashed together in a train wreck of a frown.

"No. I'm not satisfied."

"The killers never are."

"I just want to talk like we've never met."