Entry 5

Well, that was it. I've been to see her.

We went to an office building, up to the 77th floor. Lucky number 7. Interesting. Trinity told me that the Oracle always looks different, and she's always in a different place, depending on who is visiting her. Not that 'visiting' is exactly the word, but you know what I mean. Anyways, we walked all the way down the hallway, to the corner office at the end. Before I went in, Morpheus turned to me and said, "Mouse, all I can tell you is- be honest. She knows more than you can possibly imagine." He looked funny, like he was gonna cry or something. As much as Morpheus can look like that, I mean.

He knocks on the door, and this drop-dead gorgeous Spanish girl opens it immediately, like she was standing right there waiting. Who knows, maybe she was. We follow her into a waiting room, and she tells Morpheus to sit and wait. That's pretty much what she says: "You can wait here, Morpheus." God, I can't imagine talking like that to him. So calm, just so totally unfazed. Then she tells me to follow her. She opens another door into what must be the main office. She says, "Go in" and shuts the door behind me.

The two back walls are all-glass. God, those must be such a pain in the ass to clean. There's a desk with a leather chair, and lots of file cabinets around the walls. A computer- Compaq, basic everything, your average working schmoe's computer. Can you say boring? Give me the right tools and I can turn that little machine into a completely illegal operating object. Ahh, it's such fun corrupting the world. Just adding a little spice here and there.

But it's the woman in the chair I'm supposed to be paying attention to, so I'll describe her. She's tall for a woman, I'd say in her mid-thirties. Black hair and dark brown eyes, and kind of tan skin, like she's been out in the sun a lot. She just looks nice, someone you could talk to easily, which I'm glad of. I don't think I could have some scary executive lady predicting whatever's going to happen to me. When we first walked in, I thought she was going to be one of those scary businesspeople. She looks at me and starts talking.

"So, you were worried I would be a stiff executive woman?" Oops. She has a nice voice, the kind that you might hear on the radio.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Um, yeah, better remember she can read my mind. That could be bad.

"Oh, I can't really read it, I just pick up on basic emotions. Like right now, you're wondering how the hell you can stop thinking without thinking about it. Complicated, isn't it?"

I nod. There's not really much else I can do. Might as well not bother trying to shield my thoughts, since she can tell anyway.

"Oh, I'm so glad you decided that. Now, sit down." She points to one of those uncomfortable stiff-back chairs. Ugh. Honestly, do companies try to torture their clients? She laughs.

"That's what I always thought, too. Down to business. You're here for answers. Or rather, you're here because everyone else has been and you haven't. You're jealous, so you want me to tell you something special. Something that will make you feel like you matter just as much, or maybe more, than the older ones. Hmmm?" I blush. She got it exactly.

"Well, there's no shame in it. You've always been the youngest. It's high time you got to do something. Well, let's have a look at you." She tips my face toward her and looks at everything, muttering to herself like a doctor. Finally she lets go.

"I could tell you a lot, but none of it is what you want to hear. I will tell you one thing. Do you believe in the return of the One?"

What? That myth that Morpheus is always going on about? We all nod and agree to make him happy, but we all think it's insane. We have ourselves, that's all. Not some dead guy that's going to reincarnate in someone else and save the world. Save that for your comic books. She smiles.

"No, hmm? Well, I don't blame you. It does seem a bit ridiculous. But I can tell you that it is true. Because you will get to meet him." Ok. Now I'm interested. Meet the One?

"When?"

"I don't know, but soon enough. You will meet him, and you will die to save him. That's all I will tell you now." Oh sure. Thanks. How's that for a cliffhanger? Now she tells me when I'm going to die. Of course. The goddamn mysteriousness of them all! Can't they just say what they fucking mean? Argh!

Well, I guess now I have something. I thank her and the pretty girl takes me out. Morpheus is waiting for me. He says, "Remember, what was said in there is yours, and yours alone. I don't want to know, and neither does anyone else. Keep it to yourself, Mouse." Ok, ok. Honestly, Morpheus, I'm not that stupid. I'm really not.