Kip has turned my life on its head in one week of knowing him. Before him, I wouldn’t be caught anywhere near a club or bar. Instead of being out and thinking of ways to break into a building, I’d be at home on Discord playing games with my friends. Before him, I was content. Or, at least I thought I was? But some previously hidden part of me has surfaced, and now I find myself craving the danger and mystery. Right now, there’s no where else I’d rather be. Okay, well, that’s not entirely accurate. I’m not all that happy that I’m sitting inan alleyway that stinks of piss, with a broken finger, trying to track down an MIA vampire. But in general, I like the adventure my life has become. Although, I would like maybe just one normal day with Kip.
My phone buzzes with a text from one of my oldest friends.
Lukas: no discord 2nite?
Charlie: Sorry, no. I’m busy tonight.
My phone rings. We never call each other, so Lukas must be worried about me.
“What do you mean, you’re busy?” He says in lieu of a greeting.
I get his concern. I’m not a busy type of guy. I’m the guy who stays home unless he’s forced outside by friends.
“Are you at a club or something? I hear music.” Lukas continues when I don’t respond right away.
“Yeah, yeah…I’m uhhh…” Shit. “I’m on a date?” The word date comes out as a squeaky question. Real smooth lie there, Charlie.
“Are you asking me if you’re on a date? Because that sounded like a question.” Lukas snarks.
“No. I am on a date. At a club. So, actually, I stepped away to use the bathroom, but I gotta head back out there. Don’t want him to think I’ve ditched.”
“Hmmm…okay…well, good luck on your date.” I can hear Lukas’ use of air quotes around the word date through the phone.
“Thanks, bye!” I hang up. Sheesh. I am a terrible liar. I’m not usually in situations where it’s required. But if I continue this thing with Kip, which I really want to do, I have a feeling I’m going to have to get used to lying.
The bond pulls, and this time it feels like the tether is pulling me upwards, rather than forwards.
Following the line where I imagine it might be based on how it feels,my eyes track up the wall of Blood Rose and land on a small, slightly opened, window.
“Are you serious?” What do I look like, some type of parkour expert? Does this thing seriously expect me to scale a wall and climb through a window?
I push myself to my feet and cross to the other side of the alley. I can reach the window if I extend my arms all the way above my head.
“Maybe I should take some personal training sessions with Kip.”
My arms strain, and my broken finger screams, as I try to pull myself up towards the window. My feet scrabble at the brick wall, trying to find purchase, but I’m not strong enough to haul myself up the side of a building. Go figure. Even if my finger wasn’t broken, I don’t think I could do this.
I huff, dropping back down to my feet. “Any other ideas, mystical tether?”
As if it can hear me, it tugs me further down the alley, towards the back of the building. I’m really starting to think this thing is at least somewhat sentient.
“Alright, fine. But what happens when I can’t get into this building tonight? Are you going to make me sleep outside? Not let me leave until I can get inside?”
I don’t know why I keep talking to this thing, it’s not like it can verbally respond to me. Begrudgingly, I trudge down the alley. When I reach the back of the building, I see that there’s a staff entrance, as well as a dumpster.
“Really? You want me to wait with the trash? What am I gonna do, wait for an employee to come out and follow them back in?”
The bond leads me behind the dumpster.
“That’s exactly what you want me to do, huh?” Fucking supernatural magic shit.
I lean against the wall, hidden behind the dumpster, and wait.
It actually takes less time than I was anticipating before the back door swings open, and a staff person hauling two trash bags comes out. Luckily, or maybe it’s magically, one of the trash bags the guy is carrying splits on the bottom, spilling trash all over the back alley.
“Fuccckkkk!” He whines.
This is my chance. The back door is wedged open, and he’s distracted trying to clean up the spilled garbage.
