City Of Dreams

Sixty-One

Alrighty. Well, I figured out where you went. You need to be better at hiding if you're gonna be on the run the rest of your life. Heh. Anyways, I need a favor. I need you to come back home and help me with something. Then you can go back on the run and we never have to speak again. Deal?

~Oak

Alex hovers over the screen.

"This seems super sketchy."

I nod.

"And what kind of parent names their kid Oak?"

I shrug, not really listening to what she was saying.

My fingers move like lightning across the keyboard.

They type each letter swiftly as though each one burned me.

What exactly do you want me to do?

I don't sign my name.

Alex pushes me aside and helps a customer.

The customer stares at me.

She smiles.

"Can I take a picture with you? My daughter is obsessed with you."

I look up from the screen smiling, barely flinching when the laptop beeps.

"Sure thing."

I stand up and walk around to the woman.

She struggles to get both of us in the picture with her stout figure and short arms.

I smile and take the phone, holding it long enough for plenty of room in the picture.

She smiles wider.

"Thank you."

The lady pays and shuffles out of the store.

Alex giggles.

"I've known that woman for ten years. She doesn't have a daughter."

I smile.

The beeping catches my attention.

I race back over to the laptop.

I need you to help me get Chris to leave New York for a bit.

~O

I laugh out loud.

My fingers go to work typing again.

That is funny. You should be a comedian. No way am I gonna sabotage my best friend.

I click send, scoffing.

"Who is that?"

We glance across the room at Andrea.

Alex chuckles and the computer beeps.

It's not sabotage. I'm trying to get her back. That's helping. Opposite of sabotage.

I roll my eyes and put my fingers to the keys again.

I'm not going back.

Alex stands up and goes to the back for something.

Beep!

I direct my attention back to the screen.

If you won't come back for Addie, come back for Darren.  Didn't you see his eyes? He needs you.

I cough into my arm to show everyone I was still alive.

Nobody needs me.

Andrea smiles at me and holds up a shirt, pointing to it.

I nod and look back at the screen.

Everybody needs you.

Another message comes through.

You don't understand what you are. You don't understand that you are what has held this group together. You think you left to help everyone, to keep them safe, but you really did the opposite. They're all out to kill each other! You need to come back.

I pause.

That's not true.

They don't need me.

All I've done is hurt them.

All I've done is cause problems.

That's all I've ever done is cause problems.

Please?