Echo in Her Mind

Twenty-Five.

Ruben hung up the phone a few minutes after speaking with The Watcher. His eyes were still on Bethany, but he showed no intentions on continuing their previous interaction.

The two of them remained quiet, and in the next moment a loud pop could be heard, and The Watcher appeared in front of them in the dark, secluded alley. Instantly, The Watcher began to clap, a smile gracing his face as he approached Bethany.

"You have very much surpassed my expectations on that one, Bethany. Good job." He didn't sound very surprised at the events that took place tonight. It's almost as if he was aware they were going to be happening.

"You knew what she was going to do. What was she?"

Of course, Bethany didn't expect a straight answer out of him. Ruben, who stood off to the side, remained silent. She wasn't sure if he knew about them as well, but she would have her chance to grill him later.

"I think you've hit a milestone tonight, so I believe you deserve some answers," The Watcher advised, to which Bethany eyed him, anxiously awaiting what was about to come.

"She was a gypsy, very intelligent and dedicated to her work. Clearly, she took a liking to Ruben." He laughed, but he was the only one.

"But she was controlling him it was like he was under a spell. How?" Bethany countered back, silencing The Watcher's laugh.

"Magic; Ruben should've been smart enough to know not to take drinks of strangers." The glint in his eye showed that The Watcher was annoyed with Ruben's lack of common sense, but she chose to ignore it and continue on with her probing.

"But at the beginning you said that all the vessels were human, she obviously wasn't."

Bethany wanted, feeling annoyed that something so important was kept from her. You would think she would be used to it by now, but she wasn't. She felt as if she was finally getting somewhere with understanding of this new world she'd been thrown into, but now she felt as lost as ever.

"Well, at the time they were all human, to you at least. If I had told you the actual realities of some of the people you would be killing, you would think I was crazy," The Watcher advised.

I already think that, Bethany thought.

Now she just thinks he's entirely insane. Bethany never trusted The Watcher, and never would, and now she had to be even more on her guard for whatever other creatures she was going to encounter. Apparently, she could cross pixies and gypsy's off that list.

Bethany risked a glance over at Ruben, whose eyes were glued to the ground, and continued to remain silent throughout their entire interaction. He looked like a lost puppy; his facial expression confused, as if he were waiting to be told what to do next. All this time, Bethany had never seen him look so vulnerable, and she wondered where the strong, powerful Ruben that she was originally met, had went.

"Ruben," The Watcher addressed him, and he perked up instantly, a smile now appearing on his face.

"Yes, sir?" Ruben asked in reply.

Bethany looked between the two of them, trying to force herself to understand the hold that The Watcher had over him. She couldn't help but feel pit for him.

"I think you could use a night to yourself. I'm going to send you back home for the night, and I will call upon you when daylight arrives."

If Ruben was startled by the command, he didn't show it. Bethany, however, was panicking on the inside. She hadn't been alone since all of this started, and she wasn't sure how to react knowing Ruben wouldn't be by her side tonight. What had happened to her?