Chapter 4
Phase explained to Brad that she no longer needed the job at the bar and apologized for leaving so suddenly. She then changed back into her stolen clothes and met Christie outside the front entrance. The woman was standing lazily leaning against the building while casually looking around with cold grey eyes. To a normal person, this sort of behavior would seem normal and relaxed. Phase, however, registered the underlying tension, the way her jaw muscles tightened and her hands minutely flexed, ready to beat any would-be attacker. She narrowed her eyes at Christie. The woman expected something, and it wouldn't be good. The only reason she had entered into this arrangement was that she had nobody to rely on. If Christie decided to report her to either MIST, the Mugen Tenshin or even the police, she would be in dire straits. She'd rather take her chances with the assassin, so she followed Christie down a few darkened alleys to a non-descript apartment complex on the fringe of the downtown area. Christie's apartment was on the second floor at the north side of the building. It was spacious and clean. If it hadn't been for the various weapons neatly organized on the floor, one would have thought it just another ordinary single's apartment.
"Go shower. You smell terrible. It's the second door to the right. I will get the sofa ready for you and find you some clothes. Tomorrow we'll buy you some new ones. You will need them for the assignment", Christie ordered before leaving her to fend for herself.
The shower felt heavily. The hot water was slowly loosening her sore muscles. After Phase was done showering, she brushed her teeth with a spare toothbrush and tried to untangle the snags of her long hair with little success. Deciding there was no use in trying further, she met Christie in the living room.
"Took you long enough. Here put this on" Christie said, holding out grey cotton shorts, panties and a t-shirt. Phase gratefully took the items and changed in the bathroom. As she reentered the living room, her stomach began to growl loud enough to wake the entire building.
Christie merely raised an eyebrow and went into the open kitchen area and started to make some omelets. After she was done, she placed a plate of omelet and a glass of water on a small table.
"Sit. Eat", she commanded. Phase begrudgingly did as she was told and devoured two omelets in quick succession. Meanwhile Christie had cleaned the kitchen and was now looking at her funnily. Finally, she said, "that hair of yours looks rotten. I'll get scissors." Before Phase could argue around a mouthful of omelet, Christie had taken out a pair of long, sharp scissors. Without warning she took hold of Phase's still damp hair and began lopping off about 20 centimeters. Nearly choking on her food in surprise, Phase sputtered, "what the hell are you doing?"
"Not too bright, are you? Your hair looked a mess and it wasn't practical, so I cut it."
"I can see that, but you could have given me a warning."
"You agreed to be mine, my pet. I will do as I please. Now, clean up and go to bed."
Spying the hard look on Christie's face, Phase cleaned away her dirty dishes and the strands of hair around the table. Then she went to sleep on the large sofa across the room. It felt comfortable and warm. Soon her mind drifted into sleep.