“I’m John, by the way.” He stretches toward me and offers his hand, waiting for a handshake.
Rage sighs loudly, and my earpiece makes a deafening noise that I have to conceal from this stranger.
“I’m Cassandra. Nice to meet you,” I reply.
“Cassandra?” Rage says. “You couldn’t come up with a better name?”
Carter sighs and clarifies, “That was her name, you idiot.”
“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Rage snaps.
I need to ignore them, but it is so hard to do so.
“That’s a cute name,” John remarks. “Come on, are you going to leave me hanging like this?”
I shake his hand while Carter shouts.
“Sarah is her current name. You don’t know a thing about her!”
Oh, god…
“Now if you excuse me, I have to use the bathroom,” I explain to John and stand up, offering him a stiff smile.
He nods and follows me with his eyes until I open the bathroom door.
“Get your head in the game, pretty boy,” Rage sounds offended.
As soon as I close the door, I snap at them, “Would you guys mind keeping it quiet? It’s difficult to concentrate when you are howling like that. Plus, both of you are talking at the same time, and I can’t understand shit!”
“Sorry Snow White, but Rage is an idiot and got the best of me. What happened to the guy, anyway?”
“I shook his hand and took off to this tiny bathroom.”
It’s really small, and it smells. It’s like a plane bathroom but gloomier and with more toilet paper on the floor.
“You did what now?” Carter sounds concerned, and that brings all the red flags to the front of my head.
“Yes! What choice did I have?”
“Not shake his fucking hand!” Carter yells, and I can hear his steps around the room.
“Doesn’t matter now. Sarah wash your hands immediately,” Rage orders with a worried tone.
Okay. That scares me.
I drop my bag on the floor and start scrubbing my hands like a maniac.
“Rinse and repeat three times, then sit down.” Rage is firm and confident.
“Yes, Sir.”
I finish scrubbing and sit. “What now?” Following orders is easy for me, I trust Rage and I will do anything he asks.
“Concentrate on yourself and describe what you feel. If you notice anything different to what you feel right now, let me know,” Rage instructs.
“Got it.” I feel fine, nothing seems out of place, maybe they are just being overprotective.
“And?” Carter inquires.
