"It sucks."
"What does?" Selene asked.
"THIS… all of this. I actually missed when the war was just that; a war."
"I get what you mean, Happy." A part of Selene still struggled to believe that her fate partially lied in the hands of a man named Happy.
"Is… your name short for anything?"
"Yeah, actually, it is. It's short for Harold."
"Like, Happy in—"
"Don't say it. Death of a Salesman?" Happy smirked. Obviously others had made the same connection in the past.
"Yeah." Selene said. "Happen to know a Willy Loman?"
"No." Happy grinned.
Michael, who had been quiet the whole time, cleared his throat. "Selene, can I speak to you in private?" Michael's eyes drifted to Happy on the last word.
"Sure." Selene said. As soon as they were out of earshot, Selene asked, "What's the matter?"
"I need to…" Michael paused, trying to find the best way to phrase what he was about to say. "I need to go to my apartment. I left something there that… I'd feel better if it was with me."
"What is it?" Selene asked.
"Can I… not tell you? I'm not exactly… comfortable telling you."
In spite of her growing curiosity, Selene said, "Yeah. Okay."
Selene and Michael returned to Happy. "You got a car?" Selene asked him. Michael and Selene had left their car in a run-down part of town; the possibility of finding their car unharmed or even in the spot they had left it was as good as them making peace with Marcus.
"Yeah." Happy said. "It's parked in a warehouse next to the subway station." Happy hesitated. "Why?"
Michael responded. "I… forgot something in my apartment."
"The one Taylor and Pierce trashed?"
Michael cleared his throat. "Yeah. They didn't… take anything, did they?"
Happy shook his head no. "After you ran outta your apartment, they went after your girl over here. Didn't have time to go look through your shit." He indicated Selene when he said, "your girl".
"So can we take the car?" Selene asked.
"Yeah." Happy replied. "Do be careful, though. Corvinus forbid you run into Marcus, again."
"Yeah.' Michael said. Then Selene and Michael headed for the warehouse.
About ten minutes later, they were on the road back to Michael's apartment. Because Michael knew the route better than Selene, he drove.
The drive was in silence, until Selene finally spoke as they pulled up in front of the building.
"I'll stay in the car," Selene said, "I don't trust this neighborhood with our car." She quickly added, "No offense."
"None taken." Michael said. He shut the car door, and then entered the building.
The experience was kind of surreal. His "home" no longer felt like home. In fact, no place felt like home anymore. His mind flashed to his history class in middle school, learning about nomads. Is that what I am now? A homeless man with no home, no place to go?
Michael took the elevator up to his floor, and walked up to the apartment. The door was closed as Michael approached, and for a moment he feared that all of his "shit", as Happy had called it, had been thrown out in his absence. But no, there was a note written in Hungarian posted on the door. The note basically said that if someone wanted a tour of the apartment, the owner apologizes for the stuff in the apartment, because "the previous owner left unexpectedly and inexplicably."
Well, beggars can't be choosers. His leaving could be explained… whether or not it would sound credible or believable was another story. Using his new physical abilities, Michael kicked the door open. He did not know that Selene had done the same thing when she had first came up to the door nights ago, and that the owner of the building had replaced the door after finding the door mysteriously wide open, the habitant just as strangely missing.
Michael entered the apartment, and went straight to what he was looking for. He thought – no, he was afraid, that if he lingered, even for a moment, he would never want to leave. He was frightened of breaking down when he realized that he had wasted his mortal life, avoiding people after his wife had died. So no, he could not linger.
Meanwhile, Selene was sitting patiently in the car. Had it been only a few nights ago when she had dragged Michael out of that building? Had it only been a few feet away where Lucian had fucking stabbed her in her shoulder? Time moves fast…
She couldn't help but wonder what the hell Michael could want. She didn't want to ask; he had made it pretty damn clear that it was private. She, of all people, would know how important privacy could be. But still, she couldn't help but wonder…
Selene was deep in thought when a scent drifted into her nostrils. It was a putrid, rotten, foul smell. Selene recognized it right away -- Marcus!
"Hello, Selene. Enjoying the silence?"
Selene remained silent.
"Well, it is very nice to bump into you again. Pray tell, where is Michael? Within this building, perhaps?"
"No."
"You're lying. I hate lying." Marcus spat at her.
"Am I lying?" Selene asked scornfully. "Am I?"
Marcus now next to her window, leaned in real close to Selene. "I bet he is in this building. Probably looking for a picture of his wife."
"How—"
"His wife, yes. The one who died in a car crash; the one who broke Michael's heart. Do you really think Michael will ever love you like he did her?"
Selene had plenty to say, but all words escaped her mouth.
"No, I didn't think so. Michael's clearly on the rebound from his failed relationship, Selene. And you are the replacement; and a temporary one."
"No." Selene said, although it rang oddly false in her own ears.
"Yes," Marcus stated briefly, clearly enjoying Selene's misery.
"He loves me." Selene said.
"Does he?" Marcus asked softly, as if he were talking to some fragile child. "Has he ever told you?"
"No, but…" Selene drifted off.
"Why don't I go ASK HIM?" Marcus's voice suddenly became harsh and edgier.
He reached out and grabbed Selene's throat in a tight grip. She coughed, striving for a lungful of air. She dug her nails into Marcus's hand. As he recoiled from the brief pain, she quickly pulled the button that controlled the passenger's window in the "up" position. The edges (which were sharpened specially for a situation like this) caught Marcus's arm between it and the top of the car; Marcus's arm became severed.
Screeching, Marcus withdrew his arm stub from the window of the car. He began to change, as Selene hit the gas pedal and took off, tires squealing. Fully changed, Marcus flew after Selene's car.
Upstairs, Michael heard the noise and was quite shocked to witness this scene. Grabbing what he came for, he sprinted out the door.
If something happens to Selene because I came here to get this, I'll never forgive myself! Michael stuck it in his pocket.
It was a picture of Samantha, smiling and radiant.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Once again, thank you for reading!
Any comments, questions, or any ideas you have to add, let me know. Even if it's to tell me something stupid like, "I didn't understand," you can tell me!
KATEB819