Disclaimer: I own nothing except OCs and plot!

"What did you tell them."

On the average occasion this would be a question, but now seemed like a good time to change that. I can feel the words roll off my tongue, singeing with heat like they touched a lit stove.

"I'm sorry!" Carly explains from the other line. "I didn't know you didn't tell them. It was a mistake."

"What happened."

Another statement. I sound angry, that must be what she thinks, but the only thing pushing my edginess is panic. Molten hot panic making lava out of my insides.

"Don't be upset. Technically, I didn't tell them. Well, sort of. Sort of did and didn't."

"Slow down." My head is already woozy from lack of sleep and the last thing I need is Carly's mouth running top speed. "And I'm not upset. Just explain."

"I was with Jack and we caught wind of these loan sharks who take peoples best cards when they don't get their money—"

"Speed up to where you sort of did and didn't tell them please," I ask, rubbing the top of my scalp like that will itch the sleepiness away.

"Sorry. Anyway, Jack and the guys were talking about this thing that fell from the sky—a tablet or something?"

"A tablet? That's what that was?"

"Apparently. Sector Security and the new directors are keeping it hush-hush, as usual, so I can't say I know much. I guess that's what got me a little carried away. The guys mentioned the tablet having markings on it and, on instinct, I showed them the paper with the mark you drew on it."

I realize how tightly my hands are wrapped around the receiver and wipe them one at a time on my shorts. "What did they say?"

"That they'd never seen it before, and that Saiga could look it up if I wanted."

"You said no, right?"

"I did, though Saiga might be more help to you than I am."

A piece of the house creaks and a gasp sticks in my throat, the receiver pushed to my heart. It isn't too late but definitely past lights out. I wait still for an unusual break in the shadows, thinking that if I am to be caught I want it to be by one of the kids. I've caused Martha enough trouble.

Carly's voice chirps on the other end, "Are you still there?"

I raise the phone to my ear while keeping watch. "Uh, yeah. Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not telling."

She pauses and I can't even hear the faint rhythm of her breathing. "You know they've dealt with stuff like this before. Weird stuff?"

"Yeah, the Signers thing. I know."

"I know they'd understand, Maria. And it would be good to get it off your chest."

Like I haven't already contemplated this decision. Thinking settles nothing—I'd promise myself I'll tell, then break it, persuade myself all over and promise again.

Thinking pours the possibilities out of the mixing pot, gets a whiff of them, and throws them back in just to jostle them around more.

Point is: I never get anywhere.

"Maybe," is all I say. I tack on a yawn for extra measure.

"I don't want to keep you from getting some much needed sleep. I'll see you around."

"See you."

For some reason she followed me to work today. Not that following is peculiar for Annie, most of her day consists of it. But Nayla's café has never seemed an appealing hide out for her before. I wonder what has changed her mind.

The good news is that she's behaving herself.

"That stupid cat stole my sandwich!" Asura yells, a finger pointed in my face.

For the most part.

I shrink back a bit. Mako sees and steps in front of me. "If she managed to steal it from you, then I doubt you're one to talk."

"Got that right," Chiyo cackles from a different counter. The knife in her hand chops through a loaf of bread in one easy swipe.

Never get on her bad side. Ever.

"Sorrrryyy for being a passionate consumer of tuna! Didn't know it was a crime."

"Just get back to work." Mako pats him on the shoulder. "Want some help?"

My mouth hangs to respond. He takes the silence as a yes and grabs the dripping plate from my fingers to towel off.

Asura leans against the closet door. "Oh, and when did you become Employee of the Month, Mako? Now that Snake-Eyes isn't breathing down our backs you actually want to be responsible?"

Other than a quick eye roll, Mako ignores his brother.

"Where has Zora been? And Nayla—they're both gone," says Chiyo as she comes beside us.

"You take care of Nayla, don't you?" questions Mako. "She tell you anything?"

The last time I saw Nayla was a few days ago. The sleep walking episode. The fixer-upper parked in her garage. The look shading her eyes before I left.

"She didn't say anything."

"Look, I'm sure they're together," Asura lets out apathetically, "they're fine."

I can feel the thoughts of the white figure and what happened in the factory contaminating the back of my mind with terrible things. Over thinking, it might be. But Nayla wasn't too right the last time I saw her. I want to know for myself, see it with my own eyes instead of taking the benefit of the doubt.

"I'll check up on her later." I scrub at a stained glass and whisper, "Just to be sure."

"Keep us posted," Chiyo nods. "Asura, do your job for once and take these to table six."

—

"Oh, what a sweet girl you are," the old woman coos after I lay down her plate. "Working so hard every day. You deserve something nice."

I realize how literal she is when she reaches deep inside her purse. The heedful watch of her husband stirs me to silence when I would usually decline. As she keeps looking, a wave of alarm squirms across my back.

I try not to make it too obvious, stretching my neck just enough to look over my shoulder and back at the person who's decided to glare me down.

My first thought is how out of place she looks. No doubt a foreigner, most likely of European descent. My second thought rests on her eyes—maybe it's the way the sunlight hits the emerald or maybe the gleam is an always present, always menacing sign. I can't tell.

She's daring me to do something. Come over? Talk to her?

Whatever the elderly woman finds now rests in my hand. I don't bother looking and push it into my apron pocket as I thank her.

"Excuse me? Waitress?"

Is my life a movie? Can my plot get any more predictable?

Now a smirk is pressed to the woman's lips. Not too fake, and along the lines of satisfied. She must be good at this.

"My order hasn't been taken yet," she says, an accent bleeding through her otherwise perfect Japanese.

I nod and walk to her table. My fingers squeeze inside my palm; I'll take them from my pockets when I'm sure they won't shake. "Sorry for the wait. What would you like?"

"I'm sure you can tell that I'm not from around here," she chuckles. "What would you recommend?"

"Well," I shift my weight to one foot, "the special of the day is lemon meringue pie, if you like that."

She pays no attention. My head follows hers to the wall, where I was just standing a moment ago.

The bulletin board hangs with a single sheet, a poster bolded by the acronym WRGP.

"Do you know what that is?" she asks.

"The World Racing Grand Prix. It's a tournament for duelists."

"Do you duel, Maria?"

"How do you know my name?"

She smirks again, true and amused. "Nametag."

"Right," I say with a reminding tug on the plastic. "And no, I don't."

"What a shame." Her head perches up on a balled fist. Blonde bangs disguise her already hidden intentions. "You know, I think I'll have that lemon meringue now."

Later, when I come out from the kitchen, the woman has disappeared. Annie sits on the windowsill by her seat. I trade the plate in my hand for the money on the table.

Why would she pay for something she didn't eat?

The bulletin board is now blank.

—

Zora opens Nayla's door.

"What are you doing here?" Her tone is lined with shock and not hostility for once.

"I came to see—"

"Why?"

"That's my job, isn't it?"

Zora spies over her shoulder. All her surprise is wiped clean when she looks at me again and she steps from the house, closing the door.

"Nayla isn't at her best right now."

"What does that mean? Is she sick?"

"Yes, very, and I don't think it's good for you to see her."

One hand twines over another, just like the knots in my stomach. "Are you firing me?"

Zora opens the door and steps through.

"Call it 'temporary relief from your job'. Now go home."

Where am I?

I blink hard a couple times but my vision remains unfocused.

Did I fall asleep?

Maybe not. My legs ache, a jabbing throb that I imagine is the same as being poked with a thousand needles.

What time is it? I hope I didn't miss dinner.

I flip on to hands and knees and stumble up.

"Can't believe I fell asleep on the floor," I yawn, letting a klutzy hand rub my eye.

But my hand stops just under my nose—I smell like dirt.

No. More than just that. Dirt and pine and sweat.

"Who are you?"

A girl, no older than nine or ten, dressed in a frilly yellow gown stands down the hall.

"I-I…"

"Did my brother let you in?"

The other end leads to a door. With little thought, I go toward it.

"I'm just leaving."

Like in my other dream, the door does lead out, but I don't awaken when I pass through.

No comfy bed to sink back into. No living room couch to twist and turn on. Not even the lawn of a family friend to get off of.

A forest, and only the forest to run away from.

You'll never guess who was in the cafe! Okay you definitely will but whatever. And what's wrong with Nayla eh? Stay tuned and find out :)

By the way the last part with the forest happens on the day after everything else in the chapter. I always forget to tell you guys that not everything in one chapter is all on the same day and I write about it being nighttime enough so... Not that it makes much difference.

Episodes 69 (I think?) and 70 were included in this chapter in case you want to watch!

TTFN