*Thankx for your reviews (towel dancing, hehe)!!*
"Oh, come on, Cart, we're all shocked, okay?" Clear sighed. Why did that jock always have to spoil every joke with his arrogant, so supadupacool behaviour?
At the moment they were in Liz' apartment. She didn't believe her eyes when she opened the door. Unfortunately she had forgotten to look through the peephole first. Four days after they last had met, the three had decided that it was enough time for Liz to calm down a bit and not too late to start working out something. Liz still didn't know what had made her let them come in. Right now they were sitting on her balcony, drinking some Coke. Though the whole situation was so odd, they couldn't stop laughing at the most impossible things. In between Liz tried to reach Cara through her cell to make her come to her flat, too – not that she believed them now or was afraid of them, but after all, Cara was involved just as her - but no one picked up. There was no need to worry about it, because her friend was famous for forgetting her mobile at home or in her car. Probably she was driving, and so Liz sent her an sms, to not distract her from the traffic with the constant beeping.
"Will you stop calling me that? Not calling you Cle either."
She just ignored his comment.
"And: no, I'm not shocked. Guess I kinda got used to. This little explosion's not gonna change my life or something."
"Yeah, well … it seems as if it already did", Alex said, watching him uneasily.
"What the hell are you talking about??"
Alex hesitated, obviously wheighing up whether to tell him the truth or not. He decided on the last opportunity. "Eerr …. ya know …. that sometimes …. when people are …. like really frightened …. to death … eeerr …. uhm, did you see 'Nightmare on Elm Street'?"
"Huh?" Carter was irritated by the sudden change of topic. "Of course, but what –"
"What did change …. ya know, that girl …. Nancy …. something had changed in the end, something concerning her appearance", he tried to explain, cautiously preparing Carter for the main point, "her hair …."
"Her ha –" his eyes opened wide in shock as he understood. He jerked round and ran into the bathroom, a panic expression on his face.
"Where is it?? Where??"
Outside, Alex high fived with Clear and Liz, while calling back in a serious tone: "Right – no, left side, a lil' at the back!"
"Will somebody fuckin' show me?!?!" his friend shouted angrily, the others bursting out into laughter. "Hey! It ain't funny, you bastards! Oh my God, it's true!! I already thought you were just – shit!! This is even – wait, this is …. it's cream! Fuckin' cream!!! BROWNING!! I swear, when I've washed it out, then –"
The sound of running water and the telephone bell interrupted his threats. Liz took off the receiver, still giggling. He-he-hello? …. Yeah, of course, hehe, what's up, you sound like –"
Carter, now with wet hair, ready to beat Alex up, just entered the room in time, to see her smile fading away. Her face became paler each second as she listened to the person at the other end of the line. "I' …. I'm just coming", she finally said, her voice no more than a whisper, hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Clear asked, being afraid she already knew the answer.
Like in a trance, Liz reached for her car keys. "Gotta go", she murmured.
"Nonononono." Clear gently but firmly took the keys out of her hand. "You won't drive", she said softly. "Who was that?"
Liz looked up without really seeing her. "Grace …. Cara's mom, she …. I promised to come –"
Clear really hated to press her with questions, but they had to know. "An accident?"
"Accident!" Liz gave a short, bitter laugh. "A wasp …. Cara's allergic. There are people escaping a gas explosion and then such a little animal –" It was like the fireman, risking his life every day and then breaking his neck because of slipping on a banana skin.
"I'll get you there" she said in a soft voice, shoving her towards the door. She interchanged glances with the others, there was no need to talk. They already knew it all. They'd gone through this.
And now it had started again.
"It's losing no time", Carter spoke more to himself than to Alex. They looked at each other in silence, both of them caught up in thousands of thoughts they had hoped to have left behind an eternity ago.
*****************
Liz stared into space, not noticing what was going on around her. She wanted to sit, stand, lie, walk, run all of that at the same time. But most of all she wanted to forget. Forget what had happened, forget why she was here. She wasn't able to speak. And if she had been, she wouldn't have wanted to. The shock was too deep. It was the same procedure over and over again. Like a merry-go-round that wouldn't stop rotating. A sequence of three thoughts: she wanted to meet Cara and almost picked up the telephone when it suddenly occurred to her that it was impossible and then why. But her brain didn't manage to synchronize it. Always those three steps. She knew the next ones. The big darkness growing inside of her, making her unable to feel anything. She wouldn't be sad and surely not happy, she wouldn't laugh nor cry, cuz if she started she wouldn't stop. So she'd just act like a zombie, except the killing-people-to-crack-their-head-and-eat-their-brain-part, of course.
Clear, Alex and Carter were sitting on the bed and chairs, watching the young woman outside on the balcony. They understood quite well, what she was going through. Since she and Clear had come back late at night, she hadn't spoken a word. Only now and then she was checking her cell phone whether there was a notice from Jocelyn, who was on an excursion with one of her departments.
"Why is it so fuckin' fast?" Carter asked for the third time.
"I still dunno!" Alex replied.
"So then you better come up with an idea, Browning, cuz Mr Death somewhat seems to be in a hurry this time!"
"Why don't you devise something, for a change?"
"Cuz that's your part.".
"Excuse me? What's yours then?" Clear interfered. "The drinkin' one?"
"Oh, you're just soo funny, bunny!"
"And you're just such a rhymer, slimmer! Can we stop that?"
"It's weird", Alex murmured, fetching something out of his pocket.
"Oh c'mon, Browning, you haven't already got a drawing like the last time, do you?"
Alex gave him a disconcerted look. "Actually it's a whole book yet. Stupid! It's just a chewing gum, okay? So cool down. But if you don't understand it while talkin' 'bout it, I can draw you one."
"You shouldn't overdo this." Carter said in a very low voice, a sure sign, that he was going to burst out soon.
But Alex refused to show any fear. He leant over a bit to Clear, pointing at him. "You see that look? It means death."
Without wanting it, Clear let out a giggle, but then quickly was in control of herself again. Even Carter tried hard to remain serious, cuz he actually should've been quite angry with that jerk ridiculing him.
"You know what a déjà-vu is, don't you?" Liz heard herself ask. In her mind she was sitting on her bed, back in the night after the explosion. She couldn't tell how they'd finally reached her apartment.
Cara nodded.
"You know, usually it's like – at least with me – that I got that feeling afterwards, that I already went through a certain situation, and only then. Sometimes even during it, like bit by bit. Then I know after every little sequence, okay, you already know that, that as well, this one sounds quite familiar, too, and some time there's the point, I know, okay, you didn't know that. And that's it. But I'm only able to recognize the situation in retrospect. Even if I absolutely know for sure that I know the situation; I couldn't tell at any price, what would happen next. I can only recognize it." Slightly shaking, she took a deep breath. "But this time it was different. I could foresee it, Cara, you understand me? I did see all of this like in a movie. But somehow it was also like a memory. It started when the boy showed the ribbons of the red lantern to his brother. That was like the cue. It stuck for moment, but then the waiter, the glass, the –" She stopped. "Why didn't they believe me, Cara? I know, probably every normal person would act that way, but you came with me, too."
Cara put an arm around her. "Sweetie; I'd go anywhere with you. And since you're not mentally ill ...." she smirked and it felt like somebody stabbing a knife inside Liz' heart and turning it.
"It ain't your fault."
"I'm trying to talk myself into believing it" She let her head hang down. "But I don't."
"This is bullshit!" Cara gave her a kiss on her hair and embraced her tighter while she let her cry.
In the early morning hours, Cara had fallen asleep, so Liz had put her headphones on, listening to some hard rock, pumping up the volume so high, that the first accord gave her the impression that her head would be blown away. The music was booming in her ears. She tried to concentrate on every single accord, the drums, single voices. Main thing was, her thoughts wouldn't get any chance to stray, wouldn't find any gap in the straight stream they could escape through. She even bridged the short breaks between the tracks by spooling forward. She had another swig from the bottle of wine, but it wasn't lulling her mind at all. It almost seemed as if it gave everything a frightening clarity. She shook her head as if trying to drive away a mosquito and felt a stabbing pain in her temple. It didn't matter, even if her head was going to explode due to this crude treatment, she wouldn't turn the system down one iota. After all, everything was better than thinking. She closed her eyes and the movie in her mind started his private show once more, so she opened them again.
A little irritated by seeing a wall of darkness instead of a blanket, she pushed her hair back from her forehead, still having a picture of a sleeping Cara in mind. No matter what had happened, Cara was always able to sleep. Lucky one. Hearing a noise in the back, Liz turned around. "Sorry, I just dropped the bottle." Alex gave her an excusing smile. "But your carpet's fine."
"I'm sure it thanks you a lot", she answered, unable to return the smile. She glanced at the others. "So, you're still here."
"You remember, we considered it to be better not to be too far away from each other during the next time."
"But isn't it like being on show? It could get us so much easier then. All at once", she wondered.
"Believe me, it's better this way."
*Wanted to add so much more, but that's it for now. Nice weekend!*
*THANX DARK, what more can I say?*
Liz woke up as the first sunbeams touched her skin. The warmth stroked her cheek and for a short moment that peaceful morning feeling fulfilled her, as if everything was just the way it should've been. Then it came back like a punch. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and then glanced over the room, finding the others still sleeping; Alex and Carter on some foam mattress on the floor, of course as far away from each other as possible. Due to the fact that Liz' bed was a really huge double bed, Clear lay on the right side. She wondered how the whole thing would continue. Did they honestly suppose her and them have to spend the rest of their lifetimes together? She didn't hope so. Only some more time with that jock and she really would – but now she had different problems. Her thoughts started circling again and she wished somebody would just knock her unconscious or, much better, turn back time. Why did it have to be Cara, why did it have to be her and not Liz? Why did they go to that restaurant they'd never been in before? Why that evening? Why –
"Okay, I give up", a voice broke into her thoughts. She looked up to see Carter coming out of the kitchen, folding his arms in a resigned way. "Where is the coffee machine?"
"There is none."
"There is n- trying to tell me you have no coffee machine??" It really seemed to shock him. "What the hell are you making coffee with?" He eyed her suspiciously. "Or are you one of those freaks only drinkin' tea?"
Actually she liked tea a lot, but was too exhausted to discuss with him. "Just look at the cupboard, there's a big glass, containing some instant coffee. I'm sure you know how to boil water."
Carter raised his eyebrows and turned around. "Where's the kettle?" he called out of the kitchen. "Horton, use your brain, will ya??" someone from beside Liz yelled back annoyed. Clear sat up and looked at Liz. "So sorry you have to bear him. - How are you?"
"Fine". She grimaced. "The whole thing's quite weird."
"I know it won't help you at all, but – I know how you feel. We all do. Even he. Not only concerning that design, also ….. I'm so sorry."
"Yeah." Liz said simply and shrugged. "Me too."
****
"Actually it's not that bad", Carter said, taking another sip. "Though I already had better coffee."
Alex sighed. "He's just tryin' to be friendly."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are", Clear added emphatically. Why the hell could he never stop behaving like an asshole?!
"Cuz I am one", he said as if reading her mind, then turning to Alex. "So, go on, freak, tell her what this is all about, while I'm driving home to get some stuff."
"You won't go alone, ya know the rules."
"Fuck you, Browning, I'm not asking you for permission, okay?"
"You won't go alone" Alex replied unimpressed. "All of us will later, cuz Clear' n me 'll surely need some stuff as well."
His friend snorted derisively, but lounged back, folding his arms. "Would you mind hurrying up, dad?"
Alex sighed once more, before continuing: "See, I know you don't wanna hear this right now, cuz your minds busied with too much stuff, but …. it's like that: Clear already told you about the crash. It's similar to what happened in the restaurant. Because of you, people got out. No matter whether they believed you or not, no matter whether they were forced out by others." He and Carter interchanged a glance. "All of us were meant to die that night, but didn't. Like the night the plane exploded. We thwarted some plan, and death made a design for the ones that escaped. We lost four more friends. Then we could beat it, we're still not sure why and how, though everybody's got its own theories. Same story here. And it seems that it's after us again. Still all of us are meant to die, following the order in which we got out. As far as I know that means", hesitating for a moment, "Cara was the first one –"
"Yeah, because I pushed her out intending to save her", Liz spat. She looked down on the table. "Jus' go on."
"So …. Clear was the next one, then Carter, me and finally you."
"Who tells you it's gonna play that's just how we could beat it last time. All we can do is hope, since it's the only solution we have."
"Now you know, be careful, though you don't have to worry much since being the last number on the big list. Can we go now or what?" Carter became angrier every second.
"What are you staring at me for?" Liz asked.
"I'm trying to decide whether it would be possible to change the design!" he answered, an evil grin at his face.
"HORTON!! What the hell's wrong with you??"
"Ooh, it's nothing, Browning, don't worry", Carter gave back, as if talking to child. "I know that it's going to be such a beautiful day, and I shouldn't be PISSED OF CUZ THAT BITCH JUST TOOK ME BACK SEVEN YEARS!!"
"No one forced you to go to that restaurant." Liz was quite astonished herself, because usually she wouldn't remain that calm when somebody insulted her.
"You –" he started.
"And don't you ever dare call me bitch again, okay?" she added quietly. "Otherwise I'll ensure that your part of the design definitely will turn out to be right."
Unexpectedly Carter's smirk became somewhat brighter. Though still being quite mean. "I'm looking forward to your ideas."
Alex got up. Carter's aggressions started to tire him. At least, Liz was talking his language. "We're gonna get the car. We can talk while driving."
"What the fuck was going on in there, huh?? She's just lost her best friend a few hours ago!! If you can't show any compassion, just shut up, okay??" he snubbed him outside. "Who am I tryin' to tell anyway since you never had any sense of tact?! Can you remember anyone of us treating you that way after Terry died? Yeah, just go on 'n beat me up, cuz I mentioned your dead girlfriend and cuz it's all my fault. If this is still all you're able to do, I consider it to be quite pathetic." He could see Carter gritting his teeth, but not making any move to attack him or else, instead of he opened the side-door, winding the car-window down to let some fresh air in.
"Just get in the car, asshole."
Alex took a deep breath. "We won't let you die, Carter."
His friend just nodded, though he could see that he wasn't convinced that they had the power to survive it one more time.
To be quite frank, Alex wasn't either.
