A/N: Last chapter really short. Didn't realize how short. Sorry about that. I should have just waited since I was nearly to the point of finishing up this chapter and put all of it up as one. Chalk it up to rust. Here you all go. This is a bit meatier.
As always, constructive criticism welcome. Well with this community that pretty much goes without saying.
break
Kim woke up in darkness. She flung the blanket off of herself and was greeted by the normal level of light. Not the clinical white of the freezer she remembered. She shuddered at the memory. She looked around the room and saw it as if through a haze. Everything blunted as if felt second hand. Herself blunted. She laid back down and hugged the blankets around herself and stared at the wall, not wanting to get up. To do anything really. It was a surreal thing for her. She knew she was not herself. Forever she had always had that burning need to be active to do all the things.
All she cared to do right now was nothing. She couldn't even bring herself to not stare at that one screw on the corner of the bed. Her bladder interjected. She got out of bed, not because she wanted to, but because she had to. That matter taken care of she once again turned to get into bed again and she looked across as Bonnie's empty bed. The small card on the coffee table. With a sigh she let the blanket fall from her hand and retrieved the card and read it.
"Bonnie has been taken for individual training. Your day will start in the pool. Dress accordingly." It read.
Kim let it flutter back to the table. Idly she wondered what would happen if she didn't. Didn't play the game. She knew it wasn't a game, that it mattered, but after the box she wondered anyway. She removed a change of clothes and the issued onesie swimsuit from the dresser and got dressed.
She made her way to the cafeteria and poured herself a cup of coffee. She sat staring at nothing. Her empty staring was interrupted by a small plate being set before her with a neatly cut apple arrayed on its surface.
She looked up into the face of the everpresent chef who shrugged. "It's not much, but…" he trailed off before rubbing the back of his head. Kim knew she should smile or thank him or something… anything but the slack empty stare she was showing him. Looking decidedly awkward he nodded. "Sorry to bother." He gave her a pained smile and walked away.
Kim forced herself to speak. "Mr. Grant, correct?"
He spun around quickly. "Yes.. Yes it is."
Again Kim had to force herself to smile. "Bonnie gave me your name. Kim Possible." She held out her hand.
He took it. "The Kim Possible? Wow."
Kim let go after a shake. "I'm sorry. I'm not myself right now." She looked down at the apple. "Thank you."
Peter shook his head. "That's all right. I'll just leave you be. If there's anything I can do…"
Kim's thoughts flowed like molasses as she processed the offer. "Not right now, thanks. I just need some time I think." Honestly she wasn't sure. Mr. Grant left her without another word.
Kim picked up a slice and chewed it. Even the apple tasted blunt, flavorless. The coffee's customary bitterness, weak. 'What is wrong with me?' Memories of the box, her own thoughts and delusions. The screaming. Sometimes her own. And the evil she saw in herself, reverberated in her mind.
Kim felt her eyes filling. She dropped the apple slice and stood with a sigh. She deposited the dishes on the counter and left before she actually started crying. Walking helped.
She made her way to the pool locker room and changed out into the swimsuit. The smell of chlorine heavy so near the pool. The pool proper was mostly empty. One older swimmer was doing laps back and forth. Kim remembered Bonnie's warning. If drowning was on the agenda the deep end seemed like the logical place. She sat on the bench and waited trying not to think.
The older gentleman launched himself out of the pool and began patting off with a towel he picked up. "Mornin' Ms. Possible."
"Mr. Brus?" Kim responded.
"Dr. Brus, yes. Care for a few laps?"
"No, Mr. Brus, I don't" She was surprised by the heat in it, and the deliberate use of Mr. Very not like herself.
"Very well, lass." He made a motion and two goons came out of the opposite locker room carrying a duffel.
The first reached out and tried to grab her arm. It was a simple thing to break the grab and send him sprawling to the tile. "Keep your fucking hands off me!" She was surprised by the curse. Maybe Bonnie was wearing off on her.
Dr. Brus held up a hand. "Easy, lass."
Kim took a deep breath. "I really am not in the mood for games. Bonnie said you'll try and drown me." Brus nodded. "The 'stay calm under pressure' till you hit the bottom routine." Again a nod. "You really don't know me then do you?" Kim reached for the bag. The goons didn't stop her. She opened it to find weights and straps.
She pulled out the hefty weight belts and tossed one to the older man. "So how about we both go down and see who breaks first?" Kim angrily buckled on the belt and cinched it tight.
The goons now on their feet looked to Dr. Brus who got quieter. "Not the time to be bluffing, lass." He buckled on the belt.
"My name is Kim. Get in the fucking water." She made her way to the edge and stared back at him.
"Very well, Kim." He stepped up beside her and leapt in.
Kim followed. She let the air escape her lungs and she accelerated downward. They reached the bottom very quickly. Kim dry swallowed popping her ears under the pressure and blinked rapidly to ease the burning. She settled herself in for the wait. She felt the cool water flow around her. This was strange, the bravado. She looked across at Dr. Brus. She had no reason to be so disrespectful. Well she did. The box.
Kim didn't want to look at him. To be reminded of her meanness. She laid down on the cool concrete to stare up at the surface of the water. The two darker shapes of the goons as they looked down. Her lungs began to hunger for air. She calmed the need as best she could. The need grew and grew. Spots forming in her vision. She saw bubbles rising and she looked across to see Dr. Brus with a mouthpiece clenched in his teeth and a sour expression on his face as he pushed off from the bottom to swim to the surface.
Kim watched him rise powerfully. She rolled and too pushed off to swim to the surface. Her vision began to narrow as she breached the surface gasping for air. Treading water she waited for the older man to leave the pool, before she too lifted herself free.
Kim sat on the edge of the pool and took deep breaths to slow her heart down. "Well I guess that ends that. Classes resume as normal then, Kim." Dr. Brus said to her back.
Kim looked down at her hands. She took off the weight belt. "I'm not myself right now." She looked up and handed off the belt. "I'm, sorry."
Dr. Brus took the weight belt and rested a hand on top of her head. "Isolation is its own demon." And she saw understanding there. "I know." He removed his hand. "I'd be a right cunt if I put you through something I've never had to."
"But you are, though." Kim turned, one leg still in the water.
Dr. Brus shook his head. "Not me, lass. The Mistress is. I don't know what's over there." With a sad smile he left taking the aides with him.
Kim sighed heavily and slid herself back into the pool and swam a quick lap before heading to the shower.
She waded through the day numb, barely feeling the passage of the day. She ate in her room that night silently. She looked across at Bonnie's bed. Empty. Sighing she stood and started walking. Soon she found herself in the wing with the sparring rooms. One had two guards in front of it. They watched her as she approached.
What was she going to do? Why? The questions swam in her mind. "Let her out." She was surprised as her voice cracked with emotion.
The guards started at her words. One slowly raised a hand as he carefully removed the taser with two fingers. "Easy, now." The british accent calm and quiet. He dropped the taser to the floor. "Why don't you take a step back, please?"
Kim didn't, in fact she took a step forward. "Let her out!" She understood his caution. Hell, he had seen the anger before she had felt it.
"One, I can't by myself." Kim took another step closer. "Okay, easy there." The other guard lifted their Taser, but the one talking pressed it toward the floor. The armed one had a confused look on their face.
"I think he has the right idea." Kim stated nodding toward the one holding a weapon. Her fists clenched at her side.
"No one needs to get violent here. Not us, not you. Not nobody." He gave her a smile and nodded. "We can talk this out. No Tazer, no fists. Okay. Just... easy words."
Kim's breath caught in her throat with a sob. "Let her out, send her home. I don't want to have to kill her. Just let her live a normal life." She did take a step back at that point.
"Who said you had to?" Kim's eyes snapped up at the simple question. Did she? Is that what she was bent out of shape about?
Kim took another step back and found the opposite wall. She slid down it to sit on the floor. "I don't know?" She felt the tears fall down her face.
The guard squatted down to get on her level. "Well I sure don't see a reason why. Maybe you can ask someone?" With one hand he pointed at the ceiling with a questioning look on is face.
Kim covered her eyes with a hand and hugged her knees with the other. She had a literal god she could talk to and it hadn't even crossed her mind to ask. She felt like a damned idiot. All this time she just assumed these people, this cult just knew the wishes of the Mistress. Not questioning it at all. "Hey, boss?" She spoke into the air. Dropping her hand.
She felt something. A need not her own. For what. A connection. She crossed her legs and held a hand out on her ankles. It just appeared there. The guard stood, shock in his face. The pebble felt warm in her hand. Its color, unremarkable. Its smooth surface like a river rock. She stroked it with a thumb.
Kim looked up tears drying on her face. The calm guard just staring down at her with a little fear. "Nope. Nope, nope, nope." The other guard turned and began quickly walking down the hallway. "They said nothing about fucking witches. I'm out." He turned the corner and disappeared.
The calm guard watched him go. He reached up and keyed his mic. "Central, this is Perkins. James just abandoned his post." He looked back at Kim. "I think I'm going to need debriefing." He released the mic. "You don't see that every day."
Kim returned to look at the stone. "Boss?"
'Yes, little one?' The raw voice she remembered echoed in her mind. 'You've let me into your world.'
"Did I fuck up?" Kim asked. To his credit the guard didn't try and respond.
There were several seconds of quiet. 'I don't think so.' Kim let the confusion show on her face. 'How many universes have you tried to take over? I know you have my token, now. I know other gods will have tokens. You will gather them for me. The manifestation of the token does not start the war. The act of gathering them will. This is what I know.
Kim slowly nodded. Why did she assume omniscience? Maybe in her own universe? So many questions. "Will I have to kill her?" She asked the current important one.
'I hope not. Two wage war better than one.'
"But, you don't know." It was a statement.
'Do you?' Kim felt like she was slapped. The uncertainty washed over her. So many unknowns.
"But what if I do later? One acolyte one god?"
'You both serve me. Whether it's one or both the end is the same. I would have a thousand to serve me if they can be found, but two is what I have found.'
And the logic of it eased her. Kim felt fresh tears begin flowing. Of relief. She looked up to the guard who was carefully watching her. "Thank you." Kim got to her feet. "Is she okay?"
'She breathes. Her mind is chaotic.'
The guard touched his chest. "You're welcome? And her health is being monitored carefully."
Kim nodded at the double response. "I'm sorry… I uh." Kim had no idea how to continue.
"Quite alright. Quite alright. Perhaps a good sleep to sort it out." He offered.
Kim fondled the stone between her fingers. "Yeah, maybe."
"Would you need an escort?" He asked, hand raising to the mic.
Kim waived it off. "No, I think I can manage. Thank you." Kim smiled and she made her way back down the hallway.
'Was that all, little one?'
Kim nodded. "Yes." She said softly.
'I cannot focus here all the time. Call to me should you need it.'
"Okay." And Kim could feel the presence leave. It was just a wisp of smoke in her mind, but she was still able to notice when it left. She played with the stone as she continued walking.
Two guards rushed by her and behind them the head guardsman. Gregory Nath, the hand to hand tutor. He slowed and stopped before Kim. There was worry in his eyes. "Kim."
Kim held up the stone. "I think I freaked the one out."
"And the other?" He looked at the stone very worried. Taking a step back.
Kim looked at him. "He's fine. Shaken. He… He talked me down."
"From what?"
Kim pursed her lips and she shook her head. "Jailbreak?"
"And is that what my guy is babbling about?" He indicated the rock. "That popped into existence?"
"Yes. I guess it's the Mistresses foot in this universe?" He nodded slowly. "Look I'm kinda figuring it out like you all. It's been a long day."
Gregory nodded again. "Okay, no blood spilt." He patted her shoulder. "Why don't you get to sleep, yes?"
"That's where I was headed." Kim nodded and began walking off. She stopped short. "So the guard… Perkins I think. I didn't even know I was thinking violently, but he saw it. How?"
Gregory turned. "Good instincts. He was street police before getting hired on here. Good cops always trust their gut."
Kim nodded. "Thanks." Kim turned and made her way back to her room.
The days flowed by and she was still not herself. Too quick to anger. Way too quick to anger so she found herself biting her tongue. Retreating, acting more like an introvert than she had ever done. The people around her more like vague shadow drifting around her not really connecting. She spent her free time buried in books like her brothers. Even when she worked out it was always with a book on one subject or another quickly making up then advancing past her coursework.
She ate alone, trying to wrap her head around a particular passage. She stretched to see Mr. Bundy in the doorway to the room. "Ms. Possible?"
"Yes?" She responded.
"Would you kindly get a change of clothes for Ms. Rockwaller, and follow me please?"
Kim rose. It had been four days. No five. She gathered a change of clothes and silently followed him out. The familiar path traveled. What state was Bonnie in? Would she be shut down like Kim? Or something else? The door loomed ahead. Mr. Bundy and a guard both turned to the controls and opened the door.
"OH SWEET SALTY CHRIST!" Everyone was shocked by the volume of the shriek. "Fuck me thats bright!" Bonnie stepped forward on shaky feet, naked into the light of the door.
"Bonnie?" Kim asked.
"Oh say it again, please?" Bonnie took another step forward shielding her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, other than my eyes bleeding." She looked side to side as if trying to see with her peripheral vision. "Is Bundy out there?"
"Yes, I am." He stated.
Bonnie pointed at the voice. "I'm like 70% sure you all aren't as fucked up as I think you are. Kim, I'm going to ask a question and you're gonna tell me if he's lying or not. Got it?"
Kim looked up at Mr. Bundy worriedly who shrugged in response. "Okay."
"What did you fuckers do to me in here? Start to finish. Go." Bonnie stated.
He looked between Bonnie and Kim and settled on talking to Kim. "Sensory deprivation. Three times per day enriched water. One dosed with a sedative. While unconcious two nurses tube fed liquid food and… evacuated you. Odd days included bathing."
"Kim?"
"As best as I can tell, truth." Kim returned her gaze to Bonnie who was now closer blinking hard.
"Okay. So the rest was hallucinations. On track." She snapped her fingers. "Clothes please."
Kim stepped forward and handed Bonnie the stack. "Are you okay?" Kim asked.
"Yeah, other than having my tits out." She opened her mouth wide and worked her jaw. "And what I assume is anti gravity induced stuffy nose." Bonnie dressed quickly. She smiled. "Touch. I missed touch the most." She reached forward and touched Kim's nose with a finger. "Boop."
Kim jerked her head back in surprise. Bonnie was different. She couldn't quite make it out. Bonnie stepped beside her and pulled her to face Bundy. "So here's what's gonna happen." Bonnie began, arm around Kim. "Kim and I are going to leave campus and are taking a break."
"Ms. Rockwaller, I cannot," He was cut off by Bonnie.
"I'm sorry, pretty sure I didn't stutter?" She looked at Kim and back to Bundy. "Yeah no, didn't stutter."
"The Mistress will call you," Again he was cut off.
"Kim and I are pretty resilient and we will do our best, but at this pace we are going to be FUCKING WRECKS BEFORE WE EVEN FACE ANYONE!" She started quiet and was soon shouting. She took several deep breaths, calming herself. "So." another deep breath. "Gonna take a couple of days off, or else we are going to be insane and not able fight at our fullest when the time comes."
Bundy looked like he was going to respond, but Bonnie started again. "Hey Boss!" She said loudly to the ceiling.
Kim felt that whisp in her mind again. 'Yes, little one?' Kim reached into her pocket for the stone and handed it to Bonnie.
She looked down at the small stone questioningly. She almost dropped as the Mistress spoke again. 'Yes, little one? Are you listening?'
"Yeah. I am." Bonnie looked at Kim as she spoke.
"Her token." Kim said.
Bonnie shrugged. "Boss. You have some date scheduled soon or something?"
'Yes, little one. You will come to my universe.' Bundy looked between Kim and Bonnie not hearing of course.
"We are going to push that back a few days. Kim and I need a break." Bonnie half smiled.
There was a few moments of silence. 'My servants have no set time. It will not cause any hardship to delay. So long as it is short.'
Bonnie looked at Kim questioningly. Kim realised that to a thing that existed across a universe from beginning to end. Short could mean milenia or anything really. "Three days. Our days." Kim responded.
There was another few moments of silence. 'Very well. Was that all?'
"Yeah. Thank you." Bonnie responded. Again that whisp dispersed. Bonnie looked back up to Mr. Bundy. She flicked the stone with a thumb up into the air and caught it. "There, a long weekend. Satisfied?"
He pursed his lips and nodded as he stepped to the side and indicated down the hallway with an arm. Bonnie bodily pulled Kim after her. They got walking and after they turned the corner Bonnie turned to her. "What time is it?"
"Noonish. I was eating in our room before Mr. Bundy came along." Kim responded matching pace with Bonnie.
"Okay. First stop the cafeteria. I need some toast or something, my gut is doing flips." She rubbed her eyes again and yawned. "I know I shouldn't eat a bunch, but maybe some fruit." She held up the stone. "And I really need some back story on this."
"Like I said, her token. Her foot in this universe."
Bonnie looked across at her with an expression of more please. When Kim didn't she responded. "I've been in silence for a while. So I really want to hear more than the bare minimum out of you, if possible. Please?" She nodded.
Kim half smiled. "Sorry." They began walking again. "I wanted to ask a question and it kind of just popped in. That's it."
"What did you ask?"
Kim was silent for a few moments. "If I would have to kill you or not? I don't by the way."
Bonnie just shook her head. "Dark." She took a deep breath. "You need to lighten the fuck up."
Kim nodded. "Probably a good idea, a break, then."
"I know right?" They passed into the cafeteria. Bonnie strode out ahead. "Peter Grant, you beautiful fellow, how have you been?" She shouted across the room.
He turned his head. Kim hadn't even noticed him as he sat back to them. He sat with a middle aged woman. A student? Bonnie walked confidently toward them. Snagging a packet of crackers from a small bowl as she passed. She sat down next to them at the table. "And this must be Anette." Bonnie extended a hand and the bemused woman took it and shook. Kim felt utterly out of place. She was struck again by her not her-ness. She felt like a third wheel. Opting to sit a couple of seats further down.
"Ms. Rockwaller. Let you out of the cage, did they?" Peter responded. He looked at Kim and nodded. Kim smiled and returned the nod. "The wife and I were just starting lunch, care to join us?" His wife then.
Bonnie bit a corner off a cracker and shook her head. "No, no. This time it was a box." She beamed. Peter and his wife shared a look. "No, don't want to bother you too much. I am going to ask for a favor though."
"If I can." He responded, shifting in his seat to face Bonnie more fully.
Bonnie nibbled another small corner of the cracker. "See Kim and I, need to take a break. Know any places in town we can loaf about for a couple of days. See after the box I'm in need of an opinion I can trust and I think you.." She poked his shoulder. "Are about the closest thing to a trusted local we have in this nut factory here." She shrugged and glanced back at Kim. "Your only a little nutty from my perspective."
Anette looked across at her husband with a confused expression on her face and they began conversing back and forth in another language. At one point he reached across and settled a hand over one of hers and she smiled back at him and shrugged.
They both turned to look at Bonnie and it was Anette who responded, her accent thick. "Loafing, yes? No party?"
Bonnie again glanced back at Kim before responding. "Maybe a couple of beers with my friend here? Does that count as a party?"
She smiled warmly back. "No. You will stay in our home. My Peter assures me you will be no trouble. We will stay here on campus."
"No way. We're not booting you out of your own" Bonnie was interrupted by Peter.
"Us americans just can't take hospitality. I told you, dear."
"She is stupid." Kim saw Bonnie's head snap back as if struck. "Peter you drive them and get clothes. I will find open dorm for us." And she nodded as if it was settled.
Bonnie looked back at Kim with a shrug. "I guess it's the Grant, house." She turned back to the Grants. "Thank you." She once again extended her hand to Anette. "Promise we will clean up."
"See you do." Anette smiled back.
Bonnie turned to Peter. "Mind if I bug you for some supplies?" She indicated the kitchen.
"Not at all." He got up and Bonnie got up with him and they walked toward the kitchen.
Kim sat not really knowing what to do with her self. She smiled at Anette. "Was she really in a box?" Anette asked.
Kim opened her mouth to answer and closed it. After a moment she spoke. "More or less. Sensory deprivation."
Anette nodded. "She is very boisterous for just getting out of a box."
Kim looked toward the kitchen. "It was very quiet in her box. Very loud in my box." She returned her gaze to Anette and smiled. "Guess that's why I'm so quiet."
Anette smiled. "There is nothing wrong with being quiet. You get to listen more."
Kim nodded. "It's just really strange for me to be as quiet as I am. It's just not me."
Anette gave a short laugh. "It may not have been you, but it is you now." She held up a hand flat in the air and shrugged. "It will even out eventually. And that you will not be the you now."
Kim felt her brow furrow. "Philosopher?"
Anette took her hand back and leaned in conspiratorially. "Mechanic, but I partake of many lectures. Radiators take so long to repair." She said with a grin.
Kim gave a short laugh. "I think it was Mark Twain who said, 'Never confuse education for intelligence'." Kim wondered how many staff here were like Anette. Greatest minds collected here as instructors and mechanics and janitors just soaking it all in.
Anette snapped her fingers. "True. Forwards as well as backwards." Kim nodded.
Bonnie and Peter returned. "Stocked up. Lets get some clothes together."
"304, right?" Peter asked. Bonnie nodded. "I'll stop by and pick you up after I have lunch with Anette."
"Sounds good." Bonne said as she lifted Kim by the arm and dragged her out.
Kim turned, "Nice talking with you." Anette nodded after her. Kim got her feet fully under her and matched pace with Bonnie. "Supplies?" She asked Bonnie.
Bonnie let go of her arm. "I have been craving Gummy Bears for a month now. Off the special diet I wanted some." Kim remembered the stupid sweet treats only dimly. "And hot cocoa. Peter says they have that at their place."
Kim slowed her pace in their doorway seeing it as another type of box. Her partly uneaten lunch and books so neat and orderly. Bonnie half a cracker hanging out of her mouth started chucking clothing on her bed. No real order to them. "Winter out and haven't even had a chance to get out in the stuff." She turned to Kim as she flung a coat on the bed. "Do you wanna build a snowman?" She asked musically with a sideways smile before continuing to pull clothing out.
Kim looked at her. Again she was struck by something just off with Bonnie. Like she was grasping… Grasping hard at something, anything. Kim didn't recognize it. Or maybe she did in a different way. Before she knew it she was walking toward Bonnie. She grasped her hand. "What?" Was all Bonnie could get out before Kim bodily pulled her into the small bathroom.
Before she could say anything Kim had slammed the door shut and embraced Bonnie and began rocking her from side to side, foot to foot. "Its okay." She said softly into Bonnie's shoulder over and over. At first Bonnie simply returned the hug, but soon Kim felt her clutching harder at her shirt trying to pull Kim in tighter. Bonnie began to sob as she buried her face in Kim's shoulder to smother it.
It was a while before the sobs subsided and Bonnie pulled away. Bonnie let out a shuddering breath and smiled. Kim smiled back. Bonnie put her hands on her hips and nodded. "Yeah." She looked back at Kim. "Shitty box."
Kim nodded. "Shitty box."
Bonnie rubbed her face clear of tears. "Okay. Thanks for that."
Kim just rubbed her back and led her back out into the common room. Bonnie started once again to get stuff ready. This time not nearly so chaotically. Kim, too, began to pull out a day or two of clothing. Pulling out the gym duffel from under the bed she began to pack them away. She gathered some school books and looking at the desk, letters. All of them, and packed them away as well.
"Acolytes?" It was the voice of Dr. Brus from the doorway. They turned to face him. "Mr. Bundy explains you are planning on leaving campus?"
It was Bonnie who responded. "Planning is done. Going to leave campus." Dr. Brus looked to Kim who nodded.
"I can't…" He was interrupted by Bonnie who tossed the token in his general direction.
He caught it and immediately dropped it and growled in pain as he jerked his hand away to his chest. Both Bonnie and Kim started. Bonnie stepped forward. "What?!"
"It burned me!"
Bonnie held up her hand. "Totally didn't intend that. I was going to tell you to ask her yourself." Bonnie crouched down and picked up the stone. "I guess it's got some kind of security or something?" She looked back at Kim. All Kim could do was shrug.
Bonnie held up the stone with one hand and her palm up to Dr. Brus. "Can I try something?"
He nodded his head to the side. "I know we've been a bit on the harsh side, lass. I'm trusting your intent is to understand." He extended the hand that had already been burnt. A small red mark starting already in his palm.
Bonnie reached out and briefly touched the stone to his palm. No reaction. She touched then released the stone and all three of them released a breath. "Okay, I can give. Can't toss." Bonnie said with a smile.
Dr. Brus looked at Kim and nodded. Kim held up her hands to catch and he tossed it to her. Kim caught it with no effect. She pocketed it. "Surprise surprise." Kim stated. "We asked the Mistress. Three days will not be a problem." She waved a hand around the room. "We need to decompress, and that's not going to happen in this box. To be fair, you can't really expect us to be in the most trusting of moods after the past month or so. We've made our own arrangements."
He straightened up in the doorway and nodded. "I can respect that. Is there anything we can do?"
"Don't be big brother?" Bonnie asked.
He nodded and stepped toward Kim's bed. He pulled out a pocket knife and unfolded the blade. "Your plans are to remain in the town proper?" He continued advancing. Kim nodded. He reached the bed and pulled on one of the small buttons on the duffel bag and cut it off. "Please hold to that plan. We will expect you back in three days." He folded the knife and tossed it to Bonnie.
She caught it. "We will." She stated. She grabbed a button on her duffel and Dr. Brus nodded. She cut it off and tossed the button to him.
He caught it and pocketed them both. Bonnie folded the knife and crossed to hand it to him. "The majority of the townfolk know or are staff here. If you need anything it shouldn't be too hard to get word back." He looked at both in turn and smiled. "Everyone needs a break from time to time. Decompress. I don't know what's waitin for you both. This is probably a good idea."
They nodded back and he left without another word. Kim pulled out the stone again. She looked at Bonnie and shook her head. "Did boss lady explain that feature to you?" Bonnie asked.
Kim took a deep breath and pocketed it again. "I get the impression she is learning, too."
Bonnie cringed. "Not exactly giving me a warm fuzzy feeling."
Kim finished packing her things into the duffel. "Yes and no. How prepared are we compared to the other acolytes? Are we ahead of the curve? Or are we… fatally behind?"
"See I had almost forgotten about the whole fatal part of it. You really didn't need to swing back around to that. You are really being a Debbie Downer." Bonne zipped up her duffel with a smile at Kim.
Kim shrugged. "Just trying to keep the realness in the forefront."
Kim zipped up her duffel as they heard a soft knock on the door jam. "Ready?" Peter said from the doorway.