Seven Billion Years [UNFINISHED]

Chapter 8

74 DAYS

"How many times do I have to tell you? My wife is in danger!"

I've just come out of the elevator, about to make my way to school, but I can't help but notice Russel talking to Erin again. I get a little closer, hoping I could hear more about what Russel has to say, but I must've arrived at the end of the conversation.

"Please!" Russel shouts, drawing more attention to himself, but at this point, he's less angry but more desperate. "You need to do something about him, she is not healthy, she is in trouble!"

"I'm very sorry Russel, but you know our procedure-" Erin begins, but Russel is having none of it.

"'Procedure', 'privacy', I don't fucking care! I'm talking about safety and health here!" Russel shouts, and he puts his hand into his pocket before bringing out a crumpled envelope, the slams it down onto Erin's desk. "If you can't see that or have any sympathy, then I'll find another way around."

With that, Russel turns and storms out of the building.

I rush over to Erin, who nervously glances around at the people that just watched that unfold and puts the letter into her own pocket.

"Are you... really okay?" I ask, knowing that dealing with Russel is getting hard.

"Yeah, it's just... he isn't kidding around, he never was," Erin says, still staring at Russel until he walks out of view.

"Well, I don't think he was ever kidding, but more like-"

"Yeah, I know, but he's actually scaring me now. Not like 'ah, this guy is getting way too forceful and obsessive' kind of scary, but I think his wife is actually in trouble," Erin explains, looking more jittery than usual. "Something is definitely going on between Russel and the UO, but I just can't investigate. He needs help, but I just can't..."

I don't even know what to say to her. I'm not the one who has been dealing with Russel, I don't know much about what he's like, but if he's managed to convince Erin than something is definitely off.

"Um, I'm sorry, I don't know how to help at the moment," I say, and I glance at the exit, and see Laila standing halfway inside, waiting for me. "I need to head off to school anyway. Sorry, again."

"It's fine, it'll be okay," Erin says, but I can't tell if she's reassuring me or herself.

"What was that all about?" Laila asks, gesturing inside the apartments as we walk away.

"Oh, um... how much did you see?" I ask, needing to know so I know how much to explain.

"Like... before you came out of the elevator."

"Oh," I stutter, not thinking she would have arrived so early. "There's just a man that's been bugging that woman at the desk, Erin. I'm still not completely sure why."

"Huh..." Laila says, but it seems like there's something else on her mind. "Hey, Veda, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Do you reckon... that I could... possibly come to the CC meeting tomorrow?" she asks, more high pitched than usual at the end.

"Oh- uh," I pause, and a couple of things are going through my head. She obviously just wants to go for Abi, but if she meets her, no matter what she does, Abi will find a way to disappoint, and it will leave Laila heartbroken. I really don't want that to happen. Also, Nolan hasn't mentioned anything about bringing in people we know to see us practice. I suppose it's just a meeting and people haven't gotten that far in their performances. Though the big issue here is Abigail.