Page 81 of Sparktopia
“If you’re not gonna sleep on the bed, then I will.”
The man’s words surprise me. I was too busy staring at his body and studying his clothes to realize he had woken up.
Tyse stands up, rubbing his hands down his exhausted face, and then sighs. “I’m not holding ya prisoner.” But just as he says these words, that blue light is back in his eyes. Talking to him. Maybe even disagreeing with him. “If you can get the door open, feel free to leave.”
Then, as if that’s the last thing he ever expects to say to me, he flops onto the bed, facedown.
I stand still, holding my breath, waiting to see what happens next.
But all I hear is the soft sound of a sleeping man.
Which is just great. I had a bed and now I don’t.
I suppose I’ll have to take the chair. Because the door is most definitely locked and it’s probably that weird time of the nightwhen everyone in the city is soundly sleeping so there’s no hope that anyone will wander by outside to ask for help.
The problem is, I don’t think Icansleep. Not in a strange room with a strange man.
This makes me actually chuckle out loud because that’s the least of my problems. I’m in a strange place with no god. A place that calls itself Tau City, but is most certainly not my version of Tau City.
It feels like a… fiction. Something made up. Like a fantasy story in a children’s book.
I cross the room and sink into the chair. Then I turn to the side and sigh. I’m not going to freak out. I refuse to be afraid.
If I came here, I can leave here.
And that’s exactly what I plan to do.
I wake to the sound of voices. Lots of voices. Sitting up, I realize the door has been opened and people are out in the hallway. It’s what I wanted, but I find myself in a nearly blind panic and unable to move because the reality of my situation feels a lot scarier this morning than it did last night.
I look to my right, scanning for Tyse. But the curtain to the bathroom is open and I don’t think his quarters have any other rooms. So he left. And he left the door open so I would know it’s unlocked.
Does he want me to leave?
Probably. Most likely he left hoping I’d be gone when he got back so he wouldn’t have to see me again.
A man walks by and I catch his eye, which causes him to do a full stop. “Hi.” He’s turned now, like he’s going to enter the room, and I’m about to panic when he’s shoved forward so forcefully, he disappears from view. All I catch is the hard thump of a body hitting the floor, then Tyse is standing in the doorway in profile, looking at the man he just pushed.
“Keep walking, Asrel. And if you ever take another peek into my room without permission, I’ll scoop your eyes out with a spoon.”
Even though that threat wasn’t directed at me, the image alone is enough to make me draw back.
Tyse enters holding two brown paper bags. His blue eyes meet mine as he kicks the door closed with his foot. “You’re awake.”
“And still here, much to your dismay.”
He narrows his eyes at me, but doesn’t respond. Just brings the bags around to a little table next to the chair. “Don’t know what kind of food they’ve got in your parallel universe, but here in Tau City we usually have bacon, biscuits, and coffee. So that’s what’s on the menu for breakfast.” He points to the bags, then grabs the footstool in front of the chair and pulls it up to the side table, taking a seat.
I open the bag, take out the biscuit sandwiches wrapped up in white paper, and place them both on the table while he opens the other bag and brings out two thermoses of coffee, putting one in front of me and one in front of him.
It’s a bit weird to be eating with a complete stranger after spending the night in his quarters. But, actually, that’s the least weird thing about my life at the moment. And I’m very hungry, so I concentrate on eating. The food is good. Tastes normal. The coffee is also pretty ordinary. But this just adds to the dissociation I’m feeling. It’s all very familiar, but strange at the same time.
Disconcerting is the word I’m looking for.
It’s silent for a few minutes, but then he’s already done with his food and gulping down his coffee. After that, he leans back on the footstool and braces his elbows on the bed, staring at me.
“What?” I ask, my mouth full of bacon and biscuit.
“You.”
