by B.V. Bayly
Chapter Nineteen
Gabriel had run for the last hour. He didn’t know if he was going in circles, or what. Rain had begun to pound against the pavement and immediately soaked through his thin shirt. His heart was still pounding in his chest. Every vehicle and person on the street made him nervous. He was nearly out of the downtown core. Where to now? He needed a place to hide. A place to think. He scampered across the wet street and turned the corner without looking back. The rain bounced off the tables of a café patio across the street. He ran towards them, avoiding the largest puddles along his route and nearly slipped in the sloppy entrance as he opened the door. The shop smelled sweet, the air was warm and soothing. He took a deep breath and looked around for a table. There was an open booth in the corner, out of the way. As soon as he sat down a young waitress appeared and began reciting the daily specials. The thought of food made him feel sick to his stomach.
“A tea, please.” He didn’t look at her.
“What kind of tea would you like? We have chai, green, earl grey, blueberry –” Her high-pitched voice began to work through the memorized list.
“Just a normal tea – plain – or you can pick one.”
She shrugged and left with his order.
His mind replayed the fight at Adin’s. Was Adin going to be alright? What would Dr. Cymru do to him? They would let him go, right? A thousand questions about Adin’s well-being flooded his mind. He needed help. Real help – someone he could trust. He could only think of Nate, but he was gone – lost to the storm. What about the Sphere? If he could find them, maybe they could help.
The steam from the hot cup of tea brought him out of his reverie. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Focus. He remembered the packages Brett had given him. He rubbed at his arm. The funds, the hotels, charge cards... they were all coded to him. Brett said he just needed to be scanned and it would all be taken care of. Gabriel sighed. If they scanned him, they could track him. He needed to think of another way.
Gabriel noticed a large map on the wall of the cafe, pointing out tourist destinations across the downtown core. He walked over to it and searched the map. Embassy Suites. A large red house marked the location of the hotel. It was close. He zigzagged his finger across the smooth surface of the map back to the big ‘you are here’ arrow. The route seemed simple enough. It wasn’t very far if he took the subway.
Back at his table, he sipped at his tea. The buzz of conversations between patrons at the other tables soothed him. They seemed happy with one another. He admired the strangers, knowing nothing about them, except that they weren’t alone. They had each other and that was more than he had. He wished Adin was with him. Scenarios played out in his mind about what he could have done differently. Could they both have escaped? All Gabriel could do was worry about Adin. He sat there thinking until the tea was lukewarm against his lips. He stood up and decided to abandon the café. His fingers traced the map one last time, and he stared at the doorway, the rain still coming down outside. A coat rack stood next to the doorway. He swallowed and twisted around to watch the other patrons in the room. Everyone was busy. The waitress. The couples. The small group of friends. He didn’t want to do it, but he also didn’t have a choice. He headed straight for the door without paying, snatched up a coat and rushed outside. He barely got his arms into the coat before plunging out into the rain. He rushed away from the café and down the street. He glanced up at the street signs to get his bearings. He looked back at the café. No one had run out after him. He felt bad, but what choice did he have. This was about survival.
Gabriel continued to jog towards the underground subway platform. His sneakers were soaked; his puddle dodging skills needed work. The sign on the next corner told him he was only one street away. He was almost there. As he turned the corner, he noticed a shadowed figure leaning against a brick wall across the street, watching him. Gabriel couldn’t help but feel the stranger’s eyes bore into him. A chill ran down his spine. Even when Gabriel stared back, the stranger maintained his gaze. Who the hell was that? Gabriel set off down the street at a quickened pace. The stranger followed. As he checked the names on the street signs, he couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder at the green raincoat-clad stranger. They moved along the street in the same direction. He had one more corner to turn before he could duck into the subway system for the remainder of the trip to the hotel. Hoping to lose his unwanted companion, he increased his stride and took the stairway entrance three steps at a time into the tunnel.
He hopped the electronic gate, ignoring the subway fare, and entered the terminal. The train platform was hot and misty despite the moisture reclamation system. It was obviously a hideaway for the city’s undesirables during bad weather, and the platform was now filled with dozens of unfortunate souls asking for a hand-out. No train yet. He tucked himself around a large, tiled pillar and, leaning against it closely, eyed the stairs to see if the green-coated stranger had followed.
Several minutes later, the loud hiss of an arriving train signaled that it was almost time for his departure. A sleek white train rolled to a stop. He darted for the train doors, cutting off several other passengers. He chose a seat hidden from the view of the platform and hunched down in it. Who was that? His heart beat wildly as the train pulled away. He scanned the faces of the other passengers, recognizing no one.
After counting eight stops he exited the train and sprinted up the steps to street level. He could see the hotel across the street and headed towards it, careful to dodge the busy traffic. As he reached the revolving doors, he allowed himself one last look down the street. No stranger in a green coat. No one was following, at least not that he could tell.
Gabriel stepped into the lobby and stared around the large space for the front desk. It sat tucked off to the side. The entire lobby looked like the lobby in Adin’s apartment: full service shopping, beauty parlors, business centers and restaurants littered with tiny souvenir shops squished between them.
The front desk agent greeted Gabriel like an old friend.
“Hi.” Gabriel wasn’t really sure how to ask this. “I was issued a relief package. Lost our house and all.”
“Very sorry to hear about that.” She half-smiled at him.
“Right, thanks.” He nodded. “They coded them to me.”
“The scanner.” She raised her eyebrows. “Just a second.” She fumbled behind the desk. “I just need to find the machine.”
“Actually, that’s part of my question.” Gabriel leaned forward on the counter and lowered his voice. “I’m kind of a privacy nut – can’t be too safe nowadays. I don’t really want to be scanned. Is there another way?”
The woman behind the counter frowned. “No, they coded them to you – so we have to scan you to get the information.”
“So, a name or something else won’t work?”
“No, sorry.” She shook her head.
Gabriel sighed. “Really?”
“Yes, sir.” She obviously thought he was a weirdo now.
He thumped his hands on the desk. “Is there a manager I can speak to about that?”
She crossed her arms. “We need the scan to get the codes. Once we have the code I can register you as an anonymous guest.” She waited for his answer.
“Who will see the scan?” Gabriel could see he was annoying her.
“It’s a government database – it’s completely secure – I won’t even see your name unless you give it to me.” She put the small machine on the counter.
Gabriel reluctantly pressed his forearm under the glowing red circle on the device.
“Thank you.” She faked a smile. “Alright, I will register you as an anonymous guest. This waives your right to any room service charges, RPTV services, health club services, the pool–”
“Everything.” Gabriel could see the pattern.
“Pretty much, plus you will have daily room inspections.” She collected an electronic clipboard from behind the desk. “If you’re
alright with all that, just sign here.” She put the electronic clipboard on the counter. “And I’ll get everything for you from the office.”
“Fine.” Gabriel didn’t like any of this. He wrote down a fake name with his finger.
A moment later she handed him a stack of plastic cards and an envelope. “Now sir, I assume you are aware that this certificate will only cover you for a maximum three week stay with us?”
That long? He was impressed. “Um … yeah. I’ll have something worked out by then.”
“Well then, enjoy your stay, and I'm sorry for your loss.” The clerk gave him a sympathetic smile.
“Right. Thanks.” He returned it awkwardly and took the key card from her along with an envelope of complimentary food cards for the hotel’s restaurants and three plastic strips loaded with a hundred dollars each. Stepping away from the desk, he promptly pulled out the vouchers. There were three choices: a coffee shop, a family-style restaurant and a bar. At least he didn't have to worry about food. He looked up from the vouchers to see where the restaurant was. He would get some food after he found his room.
The elevator zipped him up to the sixth floor in just a moment. His room was a short distance from there. He walked right past it and continued all the way around the floor. Nate had taught him to know everything about any place he was staying. He made mental notes about the stairwells, walkways and even the laundry chute. It was risky staying here, but it was the best he could do. Tomorrow he would switch rooms, same with the next day. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be there for long. The following evening was Friday and he needed to find a way into the Persephone.
After checking out his room, Gabriel stepped into the bathroom. He needed a shower. He stepped into the corner and hit the top button of the shower. The sliding glass wall smoothly encircled him, the instant hot water misting over its surface. He lowered his chin to his chest, and stared at the glimmering ore. The pulsing light radiating from the ore seemed calmer, not so erratic. He was more in control and less afraid of the ore since he’d first started trying to use it. Closing his eyes, he breathed the warm air deep into his lungs and focused on a single thought. Fire. Slowly he raised his right hand and waited. The sensation of a hot liquid bursting out of his chest happened immediately. It spread and grew across his shoulder, cascading down his right arm, around his bicep and down the elbow. It moved like liquid vines, twisting its own path around his forearm, until finally reaching his fingertips.
Sizzling sounds filled his ears. Opening his eyes, he saw his hand and arm glowing like fresh snow on a bright sunny day. Droplets of water danced across his skin, evaporating into the mist of the shower. He grinned. Incredible. The ore really could sense his thoughts, hear his commands. He willed the ore’s energy to return. He watched it retreat towards his shoulder and pool back into the shard in his chest. He let the water rain across his face. What more was there? What else could he do? He needed to learn fast. It was the only way for him to get Adin back.
