The cloak now thrown haphazardly on the floor, Frank strutted down the center of the main room, back towards Brad and Janet. His effortless grand entrance was in full swing. Kaydence couldn't help staring. How many times do people get to see a live alien transvestite in their lives? The way Frank put himself out was much more than she had expected. He brought a certain kind of quality to the already-party atmosphere. Sure, it was sexual in some way, but to Kaydence it felt more like a rock concert during one of the star's most famous songs. She could feel his beat move her in some way, control her, consume her, thrill her, chill her, fulfill her –
– Everything is real, she reminded herself. She had to maintain some control of her emotions and consequential actions.
…For the time being.
"Can we use your phone?" Brad asked an ignorant Frank. Kaydence hadn't realized that the young couple and scientist were now standing right in front of her. Frank took a sip of water from his paper cup and shook the hand of the Transylvanian man standing next to her. A barely audible greeting exchanged. Then, Frank proceeded down the line, right to Kaydence. Brad's ranting faded into the background. In this surreal moment, three of the longest seconds of her life, she speechlessly extended her hand to Frank. She swallowed hard.
"It's nice to meet you, Doctor," she stammered quietly. Only when he took her hand did she have the courage to look up. He gave her a warm smile and winked. He chucked the water left in hiss cup, sending it flying over Kaydence's head, and turned to Brad and Janet to answer their abundance of pleas in the flashy way he had been.
"So…" he enticed the couple only a minute later, "come up to the lab!"
"Kay!" Columbia rasped in Kaydence's ear.
Knowing she couldn't look different from the others, she continued to watch Frank like everyone else. "Yeah?" she whispered back, keeping a steady focus.
"I gotta help Magenta and Riff. Y'know how to get back to the room?"
She hesitated.
"It's up the stairs, last door on the right. Your room's right across the way. No one should be using it tonight, so you'll be fine hiding out in there."
"Okay," Kaydence replied, unsure.
"Now hurry up. And no messing around up there!"
"Got…it?" Kaydence turned around, but she was already gone. The conventionists were politely applauding before gathering themselves and heading out of the room. Kaydence followed the crowd out through the double doors, and then bolted up the stairs to find Columbia's room.
She got there without much trouble. Still, she peeked inside first before going in. No one was in there, so she sneaked in and collected her belongings. Throwing her wet clothes into her tote, she made a beeline across the hallway.
She slammed the door shut behind there and flicked the light switch on the wall next to her. Trying to catch her breath, she looked around. It seemed like a small hotel room. The blinds were pulled down on a window on the wall in front of her, framed by heavy maroon curtains. There was a bed to her left, angled out from the back corner. A sheer netting draped from the ceiling and covered the bed. There was a small table accompanying the bed, providing a small lamp that lit from the switch. It was the only source of light in the room. Also, a dresser and a little vanity stood against the right wall. She dropped her bag in front of the bed, taking out the wet clothes, and draped them over the footboard's railing to let them dry. She found the opening to the netting, climbed in, and sat down. She hadn't realized how tired she really was. Running away from creeps, climbing trellises, and dance-a-thons were hard work, after all…