Chapter 422: In a Bad Light

Chapter 422: In a Bad Light

When my life was a pitiful existence in a world that had very little use for me and no interest in what I chose to do with my time, I kept to my own company and found ways to amuse myself. Didnt bother anyone, tried my best to avoid being bothered.

It worked out okay.

When I found myself in a strange world that made no sense, but which gave me the chance to have a completely different experience, a chance to see what it was like to live at the centre of events, I responded by running away.

At least, thats what I thought I was doing.

Really, I was just running around in circles, not getting anywhere. It was more or less the same as my previous approach, only more tiring.

My problem is that Im not a good student. I dont learn the hard lessons because I think Ive already got things sussed. But when the world around you changes, the chances of your old system fitting the new meta are pretty slim.

Where are you going? asked Wesley as she kept pace with me.

I would have walked faster but I tend to get shin splints when I try too hard to speed up without running. Why not float? I had the ability to just glide around in here, after all. True, but it was a slow method of moving around and only really useful for going up and down.

Are you ignoring me? she asked.

I decided to risk painful aches from my shins and went full-Olympic-speed walker, hips bouncing side to side. Luckily, I had clothes on in this form, otherwise it would have looked very odd with my balls bouncing around.

Wesley matched me, trying to get slightly ahead so she could look me in the face. Its hard to ignore people making eye contact, but they have to get in front of you to do it. I wasnt having any of it and broke into a jog. We were now both running into the dark heading towards no fixed location.

Youre going to do something youll regret, she said, slightly out of breath for some reason. There was no air in here and no need to breathe.

No, I wont, I said, also out of breath.

You will. I can tell.

How can you tell? I asked her.

I wasnt angry. I wasnt fuming. I was just going to see what the fuck was up with Jenny. A guy can drop in on his girl, cant he?

Because Ive been in your shoes, where the people you love refuse to treat you with the care and respect youve given them and you tell yourself they have no obligation to you, that your love wasnt conditional and their behaviour should in no way impact how you choose to spend your hard-earned consideration, but it isnt true and you feel betrayed and want someone to pay, and if it isnt them, then youre going to end up taking it out on yourself, and how is that a reasonable outcome?

For someone short of breath, she could deliver a rant with quite some gusto. I stopped running. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Im not you, I said.

No, she said, also coming to a stop. You arent. Youre your own person, but I still like you. I dont want to see you get hurt, or hurt others.

If you like me so much, why dont you help me get rid of all the people trying to ruin my hard-earned consideration? Starting with your husband. Loyalty to an idiot is nothing to be proud of, you know? Its not a lot of use if you like me enough to worry, but you like everyone else more. Thats the same as hating me and wishing me pain and suffering.

Magic, at least, had taught me about balance. You took from one place and gave to another. Someone always got buggered. They never taught that at Hogwarts.

No, Harry, its pronounced Fucked-in-the-arseHOLE!

Imbalance is where the power exists. Personally, I would have preferred it if magic had taught me how to make fireballs, not trite life-lessons, but thats the thing about fantasy it isnt meant to be real, its meant to be a metaphor.

Unicorns are our hopes that seem out of reach. Dragons represent the fear of facing insurmountable odds.

Then you actually find yourself in Lidl Narnia, just east of Lower Middle-Earth, and unicorns have penises growing out of their heads and theres absolutely nothing metaphorical about walking into a dragon fart; one guff will strip the enamel right off your front teeth.

I just got in first. Once Im in, time stops like it does for you, only, if youre outside you get frozen, too. Gave me a chance to find your body first. I needed to take care of a few things. She stroked me lovingly, like a Bond villain with a cat.

I wasnt used to so many answers at once. I was the starving man whose stomach was going to explode from eating too much, too fast. Then how did you start time again?

You can do that, too, she said.

If Arthur had found a way, it stood to reason I could, too. I just hadnt gotten around to working out how.

She was making me look bad. No one wants to introduce their girlfriend to Tekken and then get repeatedly thrashed by her.

All this since you reconnected to me? Impressive. I was trying to be gracious while she effortlessly executed the Korean back-dash in my face.

Ive always been connected to you. Always. She looked down at me on her lap. My eyes were open and staring at nothing in the most creepy way possible, but the look was somewhat de-emphasised by being so close to her being creepy on a whole other level. It wasnt under your nose the whole time, it was behind your ear. She reached her hand to my ear and unwound a silver thread.

It was the thread I had cut and put there for safekeeping. She let it go and it danced in the air as she moved her hand, like it was attached to her by an even more invisible string.

I never left you, Colin. I kept you alive, since that day Joshaya tried to take you from me. He cant get you in here. I finally got you somewhere safe.

She was getting creepier, but then thats normal after youve been dating for a while. Girls get ideas about where the relationship should be going and how much drawer space you should let them have and what password you use. Luckily, with the latest fingerprint technology you can unlock their phone while someones asleep, so you dont need to even ask.

You want me to stay in here from now on? I asked. Be a bit dull, wouldnt it. No Netflix, and Im not even sure its worth the money to be honest.

This is where youre strongest, said Jenny. Maybe you can find a way to get Hulu?

Theres no need to insult me, Jenny.

She grinned. Stay here as long as you need to reach your full potential. Then you can do what you want. You can even dump me if you find the idea of me being pushy too intimidating. But not before you get there.

Maybe I dont want to get there, I suggested.

So, weve finally reached this stage, she said, stroking my inanimate brow.

What stage?

Where you go all out and try to push me away. Like you do with everyone. I guess youre strong enough to do it with real force, now. I can borrow your strength, but Ill never be able to use it as well as you could, if you were at full capacity. Thats what Maurice calls it. The point at which youll reach critical mass and nothing will be able to stop you. If you really want me to stop meddling, youll have to get there. She said it in a sing-song voice, because domineering girlfriends dont sound as insane when they sing their demands to you.

I could see what she was trying to do. Goad me into one particular path out of a sense of self-preservation. Pretty smart. Do what I tell you in order to be able to refuse to do what I tell you.

I dont like it when you try to manipulate me, I said.

Youre the key. Once you work out how, you can make me do anything you want. Including leaving you alone, if thats what you want.

If Im the key, what are you? The lock?

No, Im just the girl hoping youll keep me around. Although, thats not what Maurice called me.

What did Maurice call you?

He said I was your final boss. I thought he meant Id be the last person who got to tell you what to do before you became too powerful, but I dont think thats what he meant.

No, I said. I dont think thats what he meant, either.