Chapter 22: Text Messages

"Hey man!" Casey greeted Raph as he entered his room. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Lying around, not kicking butt, the usual," Raph replied with a shrug. "What's new?"

Casey noticed immediately that Raph's voice didn't sound angry or annoyed. Which was a relief, really.

"Just paid April a visit," he replied. "She hates you, you know?"

"I do!"

Casey frowned. Was it just him or had there been some desperate ring to Raph's voice.

"Well, she's just bored, I think," Casey said.

"I…," Raph began, but before he could finish the sentence, his T-phone beeped and Raph literally made a dive for it, tapping away like crazy, before he turned back to Casey.

"I know that, too," he said then.

"You should have seen how angry she was," Casey told him. "Really scary!"

"An…"

Again, Raph's T-phone beeped, and again he couldn't reply to that text message fast enough.

Casey twisted his mouth. Raph giving preference to his T-phone instead of his best friend? Weird!

Casey just opened his mouth to say something when it happened again.

And when Raph turned back to him this time, Casey was a bit annoyed.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Raph sighed. "April."

"Huh?"

"Her revenge, actually."

Casey blinked a few times. "What?"

"Look," Raph said and showed Casey his T-phone, scrolling through his recent communication with April.

16:03
Listen, Raph, I'm going to send you several text messages as long as I have to wait here. You have to reply within 5 minutes, or I swear I'll leave this line right away. Got it?

16:05
Yes

16:08
Really?

16:10
Raelly.

16:13
Sure?

16:14
Sure!

16:18
You do know I'm still standing in this line of people to get this book for you, and it's still boring?

16:22
Sory

16:28
That was close.

16:30
Iknow

16:38
5 minutes, remember?

16:40
I do.

16:42
Good.

16:44
thx

Just when Casey was done reading, another text message arrived, and Raph replied right away.

"That's tough, man," Casey said.

But on the inside he had to laugh. This was sooooo April! Of course, she couldn't have let Raph off the hook.

"Tell me about it!" Raph replied. "I've needed to go to the bathroom for half an hour now, but I'm too afraid I won't be able to reply in time."

Okay, that was too funny now, especially when Casey remembered that just a little while ago, he had been the target of April's anger.

But he somehow managed to fight back the laughter by biting down his lip like really, really hard.

"But I think I'll give it a try now," Raph announced.

He tucked the T-phone into his belt, reached for his crutches and got up.

But before he could make the first step, there was another beep, and Raph quickly fumbled his phone out, but he did this so hectically, it slipped from his hand and landed on the bed.

Raph jumped after it, landing flat on his plastron. This made him breathe in through his teeth, something Casey could only explain with Raph's current state of bathroom-need.

And now Casey couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.

With a smug grin April tucked her T-phone away. It was nearly midnight and she had sent Raph a hundred or so text messages, and yes, he had always replied within five minutes.

She felt so much better now after her little revenge. And this whole "Realms"-mission was going to be over soon anyway.

She looked over to the door of the bookstore as it was opened slowly, and she couldn't help, but smile when the line of people started moving forward.

Suddenly she felt it again. The cold breeze, brushing over her skin. She shivered slightly.

Now, this was strange. She looked around herself. It was dark and a cold breeze wouldn't be so strange, but what was, was the fact that again, no one else seemed to have felt the breeze. No one else was shivering, and since it was night, she couldn't blame it on the sun any longer.

Another cold breeze brushed over her, and this time, it felt like it had come from the direction of the bookstore.

But before she could deepen this thought, the line moved forward again. And then the breeze was gone.

When fifteen minutes later she entered the bookstore, she looked over the interior. It looked like a normal bookstore to her, but she still remembered the strange cold breeze. So she reached for one of the books at a nearby table. With a frown, she opened it, and even was surprised when there were letters on the pages. She somehow had expected to find them blank.

Her frown deepened as she put the book back.

Shouldn't she be relieved now? But something still felt odd. But again, she didn't have time to think this through as she was the next in line to go to the counter, pick up one of the provided "Realms"-books there and pay it.

She smiled when she left the bookstore again. "Realms"-mission completed!

And with this thought she started her way to the nearest subway station.

But when she passed the side street next to the bookstore, she shivered again as another cold breeze reached her. She stopped, frowning deeply.

"Good evening to thee, my lady," a voice said, and as April had a closer look she found a small figure standing there, wearing a long cloak, its face hidden by a hood.

"Wouldeth the lady doeth me the honor of joining me for a feast this night?" the figure asked, and April realized that it had a male voice.

"A feast?" April asked.

"Aye, my lady," the figure replied. "A feast in celebration of this special night where we finally cometh to know what is going to happeneth to the lost king and his realms."

The figure held out a piece of paper to her.

April thought about it. This guy was pretty small. If he thought of attacking her, she should be able to handle him. Also, he was standing at the beginning of the street, so even if someone was waiting in there, she should be able to flee before this someone could reach her. If she was careful. And she was a kunoichi. Being careful was part of that.

Her senses highly alert, she moved closer and took the piece of paper.

She read what was written on it. It said something about a "Realms"-event tonight and promised to be unforgettable.

April thought about it. On the one hand, she had had more than enough "Realms" for one day. But on the other hand, Raph would totally like it, no, love it. Plus, maybe if she took some pictures, it would keep Raph busy for a while.

"Okay, I'll be there," April said.

The figure bowed. "A thousand thanks, my lady!"

"You're welcome," she replied.

When she set into motion again, headed for the address written on the paper, she felt another cold breeze, but this time, she didn't think too much about it. She was too deeply in thought about what this event would be like and how Raph would react when she'd tell him about it.