She was already four chapters into the book by the time she crawled into
bed later that night. Minerva was fast asleep on the pillow next to her
own, her little body rising and sinking into the giant fluffy pillow. Ixias
lightly trailed her fingers down the kitten's back, eliciting a comforting
and happy purr from her throat. She did not stir, only snuggled deeper into
her comforting sleep of chasing mice and playing with king-sized balls of
yarn.
The picture drew a smile to Ixias' face. She slid under the covers and opened her book up to chapter four.
Take the Red Pill, Alice.
Ixias dropped the book, a sudden shockwave of trembles and shivers rocketing through her body. She raised a quaking hand to her face, her heart beating violently in her ears. The incident came flooding back to her memory. The dream, the fingerprints, the whispers, the Matrix. The Matrix.
The thought had never left her head. The idea that her entire life was a lie burned somewhere in a dark recess of her mind - how any of this could be true remained a mystery that she was determined to solve. There was no longer any doubt in her mind that her dream was just that - it had been a vision, a sign from somewhere beyond the realm of her world that there was something out there she was looking for, and that she was destined to find it. She could feel it coming, and she knew what it was.
It was the truth.
She picked up the book and, relaxing, focused on the words that tauntingly blurred together on the pages. Concentrating, she read the first line.
"Those who seek the truth will find it."
Jesus.
Sweet fucking Jesus.
She read on deeper into the chapter before she came to a familiar textual predicament.
"Know, reader, that the outcome of your choice will lead to irreversible consequences. Every action has its reaction. Your decision will not only affect your own life as well as the lives of those around you, but of those you cannot see and haven't come into yet. Embarking on this journey is a dangerous and often fatal mistake the unsuspecting and curious make. You must know the path before you walk it."
So many riddles, so many vague hints and answers to questions she hadn't thought of asking. She wasn't sure if she could handle the rest of the book. But she had to go on. The burning inside of her demanded it.
The clock read 5:03am when Ixias set the book down. The feeling of knowing and wanting to know settled in place over her mind. It was the end of the book and the beginning of her life.
She picked up the phone and called her boss's phone, knowing she wouldn't be in. She got the answering machine.
"Hello, this is Angelina Gaines of MiniGrafix Incorporated. I am not available to answer your call at the moment, so please leave your name, number, and a brief message and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you and have a lovely day." Ixias prepped herself for the lamest bullshit excuse of the century. But Angelina adored Ixias, and Ixias adored her unusually cool boss back, so she would be forgiven.
"Angelina," Ixias sputtered a cough, "it's 5am and I've been up all night hugging the toilet. I caught the stomach virus going around and I won't be able to make it in today. I will get back to you as soon as I can about the Stockmark project and I will fax you the details when I am feeling better. Sorry again, and I'll talk to you soon hon. Bye." She hung up the phone and felt the urge to snigger, but instead sat up and ran her fingers through her long, straight red hair. The information swirling around her head ceaselessly wouldn't allow her to fall off to sleep. She wasn't even tired. She felt alive. More alive and ready than she had in weeks.
She threw off her pajamas and changed into a comfortable pair of clothes. The Rabbit Hole would open at 8am, and Max would be working again today. Ixias prepared herself a list of questions to ask him over a bowl of cereal and a cup of orange juice. After all, he had been the one to recommend the book, so he apparently knew more about the unknown than he let on.
The sun rose mockingly slow, beams of light gradually lighting the sky from its deep navy blue to a lighter shade. Reds, purples, pinks and yellows pierced the pregnant dawn.
Minerva stared curiously up at her owner. It was not often that her human was up before she was. In fact, Minerva was usually Ixias' wakeup call for breakfast. She was not due up for at least another hour. What was going on? She hopped into her lap and kneaded at her legs. Ixias smiled, wishing she had the innocent, happy and carefree life of a little kitten like her own.
She stroked Minerva lovingly, kissing her forehead and the bridge of her teeny little nose. Females were known to be skiddish, but not this one. Minerva was a glowing beam of sunshine, always happy and always ready to play. She knew when Ixias was sick or unhappy, and knew how to bring a smile to her face and a laugh to her soul. She was a gift from the gods, and Ixias treasured every moment she shared with her little bundle of joy.
She got up from the chair a few moments later, regretting to leave the comfort of her baby, but she knew it was time. Max would be arriving at the store early to open, and she had to get there before anyone else was in the store. She needed to talk to him privately, away from the prying ears of anyone that could get in her way.
Already I'm growing paranoid. Jesus. Ixias knew that knowing what she now knew put her at in grave danger, for the information she withheld was something that apparently very few, select people knew. She had yet to figure out why she was chosen to know, why the stranger from her dream, a man by the name of Jacob Floyd, had visited her and spoke to her in such a curious manner. But all of the answers to these plaguing and prodding questions would come in time.
She bundled up against the cold, throwing on a shirt, hoodie, heavy overcoat, gloves, hat and a scarf. She had the nagging feeling that her journey would lead her long through the day and into the night, so she stuffed 2 water bottles and some small snacks from the kitchen into her purse. She left food out for the cat, who she presumed would gorge her skinny fatass on and then expect more later on. She hadn't the time to worry, so she decided to call her landlady. The phone rang three times before the woman picked up.
"Hello?" She chirped.
"Hi, Mrs. Hamilton, it's Ixias."
"Oh, Ixias, hello dear, how are you? I hope everything's ok, I'm not used to getting phone calls from you this early."
"Everything's fine, thanks, I just need to ask a small favor of you. I'm going out on. business today, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Would you be so kind as to feed my kitten later tonight if I'm not back? I'd be in your debt."
"Sure thing," the elder woman replied.
"Thank you so much honey, if you ever need anything you let me know." The two said their goodbyes and hung up. Ixias paused for a moment, wondering why she suddenly presumed she wouldn't be home in time to feed Minerva. A distressing feeling arose in her stomach when she pondered the prospect of the day she now held in her hands. Something told her this day would radically change her life for the rest of her existence. Rather than waste time debating the philosophy her immediate future held for her, she said farewell to her kitten and headed out the door into the cold, dark world.
The picture drew a smile to Ixias' face. She slid under the covers and opened her book up to chapter four.
Take the Red Pill, Alice.
Ixias dropped the book, a sudden shockwave of trembles and shivers rocketing through her body. She raised a quaking hand to her face, her heart beating violently in her ears. The incident came flooding back to her memory. The dream, the fingerprints, the whispers, the Matrix. The Matrix.
The thought had never left her head. The idea that her entire life was a lie burned somewhere in a dark recess of her mind - how any of this could be true remained a mystery that she was determined to solve. There was no longer any doubt in her mind that her dream was just that - it had been a vision, a sign from somewhere beyond the realm of her world that there was something out there she was looking for, and that she was destined to find it. She could feel it coming, and she knew what it was.
It was the truth.
She picked up the book and, relaxing, focused on the words that tauntingly blurred together on the pages. Concentrating, she read the first line.
"Those who seek the truth will find it."
Jesus.
Sweet fucking Jesus.
She read on deeper into the chapter before she came to a familiar textual predicament.
"Know, reader, that the outcome of your choice will lead to irreversible consequences. Every action has its reaction. Your decision will not only affect your own life as well as the lives of those around you, but of those you cannot see and haven't come into yet. Embarking on this journey is a dangerous and often fatal mistake the unsuspecting and curious make. You must know the path before you walk it."
So many riddles, so many vague hints and answers to questions she hadn't thought of asking. She wasn't sure if she could handle the rest of the book. But she had to go on. The burning inside of her demanded it.
The clock read 5:03am when Ixias set the book down. The feeling of knowing and wanting to know settled in place over her mind. It was the end of the book and the beginning of her life.
She picked up the phone and called her boss's phone, knowing she wouldn't be in. She got the answering machine.
"Hello, this is Angelina Gaines of MiniGrafix Incorporated. I am not available to answer your call at the moment, so please leave your name, number, and a brief message and I will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you and have a lovely day." Ixias prepped herself for the lamest bullshit excuse of the century. But Angelina adored Ixias, and Ixias adored her unusually cool boss back, so she would be forgiven.
"Angelina," Ixias sputtered a cough, "it's 5am and I've been up all night hugging the toilet. I caught the stomach virus going around and I won't be able to make it in today. I will get back to you as soon as I can about the Stockmark project and I will fax you the details when I am feeling better. Sorry again, and I'll talk to you soon hon. Bye." She hung up the phone and felt the urge to snigger, but instead sat up and ran her fingers through her long, straight red hair. The information swirling around her head ceaselessly wouldn't allow her to fall off to sleep. She wasn't even tired. She felt alive. More alive and ready than she had in weeks.
She threw off her pajamas and changed into a comfortable pair of clothes. The Rabbit Hole would open at 8am, and Max would be working again today. Ixias prepared herself a list of questions to ask him over a bowl of cereal and a cup of orange juice. After all, he had been the one to recommend the book, so he apparently knew more about the unknown than he let on.
The sun rose mockingly slow, beams of light gradually lighting the sky from its deep navy blue to a lighter shade. Reds, purples, pinks and yellows pierced the pregnant dawn.
Minerva stared curiously up at her owner. It was not often that her human was up before she was. In fact, Minerva was usually Ixias' wakeup call for breakfast. She was not due up for at least another hour. What was going on? She hopped into her lap and kneaded at her legs. Ixias smiled, wishing she had the innocent, happy and carefree life of a little kitten like her own.
She stroked Minerva lovingly, kissing her forehead and the bridge of her teeny little nose. Females were known to be skiddish, but not this one. Minerva was a glowing beam of sunshine, always happy and always ready to play. She knew when Ixias was sick or unhappy, and knew how to bring a smile to her face and a laugh to her soul. She was a gift from the gods, and Ixias treasured every moment she shared with her little bundle of joy.
She got up from the chair a few moments later, regretting to leave the comfort of her baby, but she knew it was time. Max would be arriving at the store early to open, and she had to get there before anyone else was in the store. She needed to talk to him privately, away from the prying ears of anyone that could get in her way.
Already I'm growing paranoid. Jesus. Ixias knew that knowing what she now knew put her at in grave danger, for the information she withheld was something that apparently very few, select people knew. She had yet to figure out why she was chosen to know, why the stranger from her dream, a man by the name of Jacob Floyd, had visited her and spoke to her in such a curious manner. But all of the answers to these plaguing and prodding questions would come in time.
She bundled up against the cold, throwing on a shirt, hoodie, heavy overcoat, gloves, hat and a scarf. She had the nagging feeling that her journey would lead her long through the day and into the night, so she stuffed 2 water bottles and some small snacks from the kitchen into her purse. She left food out for the cat, who she presumed would gorge her skinny fatass on and then expect more later on. She hadn't the time to worry, so she decided to call her landlady. The phone rang three times before the woman picked up.
"Hello?" She chirped.
"Hi, Mrs. Hamilton, it's Ixias."
"Oh, Ixias, hello dear, how are you? I hope everything's ok, I'm not used to getting phone calls from you this early."
"Everything's fine, thanks, I just need to ask a small favor of you. I'm going out on. business today, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Would you be so kind as to feed my kitten later tonight if I'm not back? I'd be in your debt."
"Sure thing," the elder woman replied.
"Thank you so much honey, if you ever need anything you let me know." The two said their goodbyes and hung up. Ixias paused for a moment, wondering why she suddenly presumed she wouldn't be home in time to feed Minerva. A distressing feeling arose in her stomach when she pondered the prospect of the day she now held in her hands. Something told her this day would radically change her life for the rest of her existence. Rather than waste time debating the philosophy her immediate future held for her, she said farewell to her kitten and headed out the door into the cold, dark world.