Chapter Thirty
It's All In A Street
11:59 A.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...
Nexus Apartments...
The elevator doors opened to the thirty-first floor, and Kat drudged out, making her way to Apartment H. She carried the hot teas, and hers was half gone.
Zax walked out of Apartment G and passed her. "Hello," he said as he halted.
"Hey," she automatically replied, without looking at him and stopped in front of Apartment H.
He noticed she paid no real attention to him, and he continued to the elevator.
Kat pressed the door bell just wanting to collapse on the couch. The chime rang inside and within a few minutes, Kim answered.
"It's about time you came back." She stepped to the side so Kat could enter. "What took you so long?"
Continuing into the kitchen, Kat mumbled over her shoulder, "I don't want to talk about it." She remembered what she was carrying, walked back, and handed Kim the Chai. "Here, I got this for you."
Kim took it and took a sip of the sweet liquid.
Kat went into the living room, dropped her backpack, and plopped on the couch. She set the tea on the coffee table and stared at the floor.
"Something bad happened, didn't it?" Kim asked her as she stood behind the couch, watching the woman. "I told you not to go. You need to start listening to me when I tell you..."
"You're right," Kat interrupted. "I should have never gone." She balled her hands that rested on her lap. "I need to stay away from people. I'm cursed. I only endanger them. I only cause suffering."
Kimberly's view...
Wow... That woman has a complex unless something more than talking went on at the boy's house. I take another sip; the tea's good. I'll have to ask her where she got it, but more importantly, I need to find out what happened. If I'm going to have that woman living here, I should probably know for my own safety.
I walk around, sit next to her, and urge, "Come on, you can tell me. What happened?"
I set my tea next to hers as a sign that we're in this together.
Katharine's view...
I don't understand Kimberly's actions. She acts like she cares about me, but I know better. Her anger and rage is what's true here, and if she's only going to yell at me or make fun of me, she can just leave me alone. I don't need somebody to criticize me. I need someone who will... who will...
Kimberly's view...
I watch as that woman refuses to acknowledge my question. I want to make her stop ignoring me, but I decide against violence. I need to find another way to get her to open up to me. I need a tactic I haven't used yet. I should... Kindness... If I pretend to care, she might talk to me.
I clear my throat, reluctantly place a hand on her shoulder, and in the sincerest voice I can manage, I say, "I'll understand, you can tell me."
Katharine's view...
I feel the weight of Kimberly's hand on my shoulder, and it brings me a little comfort. She's right... Of all the people I can tell, Kimberly will understand. I don't have to hide anything from her. She knows what I am, and after the death of Preacher, there hasn't been anyone I can turn to.
My body trembles with the weight of my guilt. I can no longer contain the feelings of regret and shame, so I close my eyes, place my balled hands in front of myself, lean over, and bury my face in her shoulder.
I confess, "It was awful... and it was all my fault."
Kimberly's view...
Startled by that woman's actions, I jerk back and throw up my hands as I think don't touch me. This is a little more personal than I wanted to get, and I look around the room for an escape, but I'm stuck. All I wanted that woman to do was talk to me. I don't want to comfort her, and I especially don't want to be touching her this much.
Katharine's view...
"Everything was fine at Chad's place at first–" I begin my tale as my body involuntarily shakes with my sorrow, "–then these Un-Men were delivered. Before I could stop them, the bodyguards activated them. The Factory's original programming was never removed, and the Un-Men tried to kill me. They shot up the house and nearly killed everyone."
I find some comfort as I press my face into the shoulder of the one who refers to herself as the Phoenix. She doesn't put her arms around me, but maybe this is enough. It is enough to know that she is here, and she won't think bad of me.
Kimberly's view...
For Ares' sake! She is cursed! And I'm the one stuck with her. If that woman wasn't connected to my mom some how, I'd get rid of her.
I halfheartedly pat her back as if I'm burping a baby and say, "It's okay. You're not cursed. It's the Factory's fault not yours. They're the ones who messed up the Un-Men's programming, so don't worry about it."
Katharine's view...
The pats to my back seem hollow somehow, but I still feel safe and... I almost feel like I've been here before. Not the tearless crying part, but that Kimberly has consoled me before, a real consoling, and that warm sensation of an imagined friendship makes me feel a whole lot better. I want her to reassure me. I want her to convince me it's not my fault.
"Maybe, but they wouldn't have shot up the house if I wasn't there. Doesn't that make me cursed? Shouldn't I stay away from people? After all, I am Pandora. I cause nothing but pain."
Kimberly's view...
I roll my eyes. Oh for Ares' sake! Is everything about her? She needs to get over herself. I shake my head in disgust. Is this the mighty Pandora Project? Talk about whiny...
I force myself to lie and say, "No... Of course not. Don't let them have power over you."
Katharine's view...
She did it... Kimberly has come to my rescue, and I don't feel as bad about what happened at Chad's house. I can stop my crying.
"You're right." I sit up, wiping away my imaginary tears. "I shouldn't give them power over me." I wipe my nose. "Thanks for talking. I feel a little better."
End Katharine's view...
As if she was covered in snot, Kim lifted her hands, edged her way off the seat, and escaped around the couch. "Anytime." She quickly made her way into the kitchen and grabbed the knapsack from a bar stool. Kim better get going before that woman decided they needed to braid each other's hair or some other girlfriend bonding ritual and for this Closing, Kim was going to take a taxi.
Kat turned and asked, "Going somewhere?"
"Yes, I shouldn't be gone more than a couple of hours." Kim left the apartment.
After a few minutes, Kat glanced around the quiet empty room and thought she would go get some fresh air. She walked to the front door, took one step into the hall, and looked back. Once she closed the door, it would automatically lock, and she wouldn't be able to get back in. She was stuck either in the apartment or out till Kim came back.
"Out for a stroll?" Zax asked as he returned to his apartment.
Kat turned to the fairly nice looking man as she remained in the doorway. "Hey, I know you."
"I passed you in the hall not twenty minutes ago."
"Umm..." She pointed at him. "No, it was before that. I should have noticed, but I was preoccupied." Kat pointed again. "You made a delivery here about a week ago."
He looked at the apartment as if thinking. "Yep... You're right. Good memory." Zax scratched the back of his head. "You caught me."
Not sure of his meaning, she questioned, "Caught you?"
"I was so impressed with the apartment when I made the delivery, I decided to rent one. I now live in Apartment G." He motioned to his place. "We're neighbors." He walked over to her and offered his hand. "The name's Zax."
"Kat." She shook his hand.
"Are you out for a stroll?" he repeated.
"I was, but I'm only a guest here and don't have a key. Okay not a key, but you know a way back in."
"Yes, the voice command system. I guess you're stuck till she returns." Zax
pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Your friend, I passed her as I came out of the elevator."
"Kim, her name's Kimberly."
"Kimberly." He nodded. "You should have your friend add your voice to the door system."
"That would be nice." Kat doubted she'd go for it. Kim barely rated her as a guest so forget about roommate.
Zax started for his door and paused. "Hmm... It's kind of odd now that I think of it."
Puzzled by his statement, she asked, "What is?"
"Your friend was mumbling about something she had to do or something about Brownstone Street." Zax shrugged. "I guess it's really none of my business." He commanded, "Door unlock." His apartment opened. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to knock." Zax went in.
She rubbed her left thumb nail against her index finger. "Brownstone Street? That's where Melissa's safe house is." Kat went into Apartment H, pressed the button, and the door slid close.
Inside Apartment G...
Zax dialed a number on his cell phone. "Delivery Man here, I need to speak with R.G." He waited for a few moments. "It's done. I informed Katharine as you told me." Zax listened. "I believe she'll make the connection." He looked to the monitor displaying Apartment H's kitchen and living room, and he saw her walk to the stove. "I will keep you informed of Katharine's actions. Delivery Man out." Zax turned up the volume so he could listen.
Inside Apartment H...
Katharine's view...
I go to the coffee table and grab my tea, wondering why Kimberly would be going to Brownstone Street. Is it a coincidence? Melissa told me when I was at her safe house that Valhalla hired a Closer. Kimberly wouldn't; she said she's taking a break from being the Phoenix. Kimberly wouldn't; she has no time. She's searching for her mom's murderer. I down the last of the Chai. Would Kimberly lie to me? She can't be going to a Closing. I walk into the kitchen and throw the cup away. Sheez... What am I thinking? Of course she would lie to me, and she did take her knapsack, but that means... I grab my backpack and rush out of the apartment. That means the Phoenix was hired to kill Melissa. I run for the elevator. I can't let her do it! I have to save Melissa. I can't let anything happen to her or Chad.
End Katharine's view...
In Apartment G...
Zax picked up his cell phone, turned the volume down on the monitor, and called. "Delivery Man here. Tell R.G. mission accomplished. Katharine made the connection. She's on her way."
#2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love Page 34
