Dream Me a Sonatine

11 - La Voyante, la Historienne, et la Messagerie

Beep.

Heejin's feet kicked through leaves and pebbles, sending them rattling on concrete.

Beep.

A sharp sting pricked her skin and she gritted her teeth. Flicking a button on her watch, she finally checked the screen. Red numbers upon green glared at her.

It was 8:50.

Groaning, she gave the watch a hard smack. The stupid thing wasn't supposed to beep. What the hell had happened to subtlety? You Arschloch, Couteaut, she thought, liking how her new German word sounded.

She squinted at the morning sun, wishing it would warm her some more. She stopped at a tree on the pavement, leaning against it tiredly. What the hell was Couteaut playing at? She already had a mission. Yet, her watch seemed to think she needed another one.

She swiped at the battered screen, revealing a short message.

Oskar Eisenberg. No. 6, Hüttenbergstraβe, Salzburg.

wouldn't want you getting bored.

xoxo adrien

It took all her willpower not to rip the damn thing off and throw it into the road. A car whizzed past, the breeze fanning her hair and somewhat cooling her burning temper. That bastard. He was likely hammered and trying to piss her off; and it was working. She exhaled dramatically. Couldn't she catch a break? She was no further in finding this Greywaren, and she was housing three stowaways. Plus, there was that stranger all in black from the other day.

Heejin's head pounded. She was exhausted, mentally and physically, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Hyejoo's injuries, her impossible recovery, the creature in the school, the figure in black... She suspected that her new 'friends' knew much more than she did, and that they weren't going to tell her. Sure, she'd only met them a few days ago, but it seemed that she was the outsider once more. Invisible, isolated, lonesome.

Call Jiwoo, her mind begged. No, answered Heejin, closing her eyes. How could she talk to her now? She'd killed Sooyoung's friend. Jiwoo would never know, but Heejin would always be lying. Again.

Her fingers betrayed her, already finding Jiwoo's contact in her phone. She lingered over the 'call' button, then gritted her teeth and pressed it. Ring, ring. The phone buzzed. Beep, beep. Her watch bleeped. Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring... Hello! It's Jiwoo! Sadly for you, I'm not here right now. I know, it's a tragedy. I'd be crying. BUT lucky for you, you can leave me a cheeky voicemail, and maaaaybe I'll reply. If I'm not doing... 'something else'. WINK WINK. Hahahaha. BEEP.

Heejin cancelled the voicemail, frowning slightly. She was pretty sure Jiwoo was surgically attached to her phone, it rarely went to voicemail. Perhaps she was on a date with Sooyoung. Despite herself, Heejin smiled at the thought.

She tried Chaewon next. The phone rang and rang, vibrating in her cold hand. Then... HELLO! For a second, Heejin grinned, ready to reply, then — I'M NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, SORRYYYY! IF I'M NOT AT AN OH MY GIRL CONCERT, I'LL PROBABLY BE AT JIWOO'S. OR MAYBE I'VE BEEN ABDUCTED BY ALIENS... OOOOOOOOOOOO! LEAVE A MESSAG— Frustrated, Heejin switched her phone off. If she'd felt alone before, now it was as if she was in a bubble, separated from the whole world. Sighing, she straightened up from the tree and scanned the area. She might as well find out where 'Hüttenbergstraβe' was.

She pulled out her phone again and found Google Maps. The phone made a route so she set off. At least she'd have time to prepare this time. Plus, it was winter, meaning the sky would darken much earlier. 8:50. She had until 8:50pm.