Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
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.”
I cover my lips with my hand. “What about me?”
“I asked all around about a party down in the dungeon levels, but no one seems to recall one.”
I swallow, then take a breath. “I told you. I came through the God’s Tower door from Tau City.”
“Woman, this is Tau City.”
I don’t know how to explain it, so I shrug. “It’s a different Tau City. I don’t know. I walked through the door and the next thing I knew, I’m lying on your bed and you’re in the shower. That’s it. That’s all I have.”
“Well, you fell and hit your head or something. It gave you a memory hole. That’s the only explanation.”
“Or,” I sneer, “I really did walk through the God’s Tower door and woke up here.”
He sighs, then reaches a hand into his pocket and pulls out a small device, holding it up to show me. “Should I call Stayn then?”
“Who the hell is Stayn?”
“My friend. The patrol chief. I told you, he sent me down into the lower levels to find the disturbance that was setting off his sensors.” Now he points to me. “You were the disturbance. And if you’re just gonna lie to me, well, I don’t like liars. So I’m just gonna report you and be done with the whole fucking thing.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say to that.”
“I want you to tell me the truth.”
“I did.”
“Well, your definition of truth and my definition of truth don’t seem to come from the same dictionary.”
I put the bacon biscuit back on the paper and let out a frustrated breath. “OK. Fine. I’m… a… tavern whore. Hence the dress. I was at a party in the dungeon of the ruined God’s Tower, got drunk, passed out, and woke up here.” I smile. “Happy now?”