Midnight, In the Storm [on temporary hiatus]

Seven: Deadly doubt

Sticky tracks of sweat-streaked tears soiled Audree's face as she stirred, roused by a non-existent mental alarm. Habitually, she shielded her eyes from the day's first light, half-mindedly attempting to wave it away.

Ugh what time is it even-

Well crap. 6:45.

Cue the mental facepalm.

Welcome to Audree is late, a slapstick comedy.

She didn't spare any time to tire in her hurry, brashly standing as every joint in her sore figure cracked and popped. Blood flowed from her brain in the sudden shift, rushing through her system abruptly.

Audree braced herself against the window frame. Even the subtle action of lifting an arm triggered an immediate grimace, scrunching her grimed face. She'd slept curled up like that the entire night... she felt like she was leaving something out.

Oh crap, the book - It was still in her coat pocket.

Hands scrambling, Audree fumbled with her coat buckles with a cringe on her face. The book was fine, not even a wrinkled corner. Thank gods.

She gave a harsh exhale, this was going to be one long day.

Still tight on time, she temporarily hid the book under the untouched bedspreads of her cold bed, twisting out of her unwashed clothes, freshening up, yanking on a black woolen turtleneck with a pair of tan trousers and scarfing a protein bar from her pantry - all in a span of minutes.

Hopping on one booted foot and tugging on the other, Audree folded a fresh taupe reefer coat over a shoulder... she was forgetting something again.

Audree closely avoided tripping over the carpet as she scrambled to her room, reaching under the covers for the book and shoving it in her sling bag. She could only hope that the pages's shaded influence wouldn't seep into her systems too soon - or at least to notice before the eleventh hour struck.

Partially assured that she wasn't missing out on anything, Audree set off, double-locking the door behind her - not that that would've been effective against lock-picking snoops - but it was best to take whatever precautions she could for the time being, and that included keeping a close eye on some people and locations she'd identified since the incident - who may be in league with the Shadow Wraiths.

If they followed their plans carefully enough, she thought to herself, if nothing went off-track - however unlikely - she'd at least gain a slim chance to get to the Cassiopeia. Though that led them to another obstacle, they had the book, but how could they use it against her?

She'd have to deal with that later on, Audree thought as she passed the broken elevator, footsteps light as they nimbly tapped down the stairwell two by two.

There was a slight bite to the cool early-day breeze that invited itself into the warm apartment lobby as Audree parted the main doors, the twin slabs of clear glass stretching from the fogged limestone tiled floor to the low ceiling groaning open. The mild chatter of morning streetlife filling her surroundings. She walked on, checking her wristwatch.

Midway to the city center, where the cafe waited, Audree's old flip-open phone began chiming, her standard ringtone. There weren't any calls she was expecting, nor anyone she'd given her contact to - except the police dept, but why would they be calling her this soon?

She waited for two more rings before picking up.

"Hello, who is this?", was her easy answer - she knew exactly what company awaited on the other end of the line.

The caller's professional tone only proved her arising suspicions true. "Afternoon, Ms May Laurent we're calling from the Vethernbel central district police department to inform you of your required presence here tomorrow evening at seven, regarding the incident."