Chapter 41 · Secret technique

Why. Do. I. Have. To. Run. Everywhere.

I was currently chasing the thin blue guy who had awoke me to take me to the auction hall or so he had said. He also said lots of other things. In fact he didn't stop talking.

It was why we were probably now late.

Luckily or unlucky he was also as thin as me and seemed somehow even more unfit then me.

"Should be just around the corner," came his voice as he starts to slow to a light jog.

I slowed down as we reach the corner and I see her. The bright hair, the warming smile. I felt myself stop just for a second.

Maybe a second too long as I felt my feet tangle and I saw the floor coming up. I should be used to this by now.

I waited. And waited. But the flood of pain never came. I crack my eyes open. Just a bit. It also when I heard the giggles.

"You can open your eyes, you know. I won't drop you," came Zoe's voice between the odd giggles. I felt her arm on my side holding me up.

I looked to see her standing next to me.

"But how, you were?" I looked at the space a good few feet away that she had been standing before I had tripped. There was no way she had a jump that quickly to stop my fall.

I look up at her. Only to realise how close I was. Zoe was leading down, her face next to mine. Her breath tingling my nose. Her eyes glowed. No for real they were glowing with tiny sparks that seemed to blink in and out of focus. The warmth of the body was electrifying. Or maybe it was me. I hadn't realized how much I want.. no relied on her.

The cheeks were as they always were, with that slight red tint. I reach inch by uncle inch with my hand. Closer and closer. Until I almost touched her.

"OWIE!" Came Zoe surprised yelp as I jabbed her side, "what was that for!"

"Work it out," I muttered turning my back to her and crossings my arms. I mean it not like I had suddenly forgotten that she just wandered off with that creepy spider lady and left me on my own with a clue what I was doing. and it one hundred present didn't have anything to do with odd flutters in my chest when she stood that close to me. Nope, no way.

Anyway, it was her idea for me to even be here then she just left me with my guide.

Lucky he had been a nice guy, one of the few compared to all the weirdos. Actually on the matter of weirdos.

I looked around the little hall we, me and Zoe, were in. There wasn't much around and luckily no eight-legged creeps or any blue people as it seemed my new guide had disappeared. It was just me and her.

"Is it the dress?" heard behind me. I turn my head just enough to see Zoe's confusion plain as day on her face "I knew you wouldn't like it, Bane even said so."

Ow. I felt it. Like my inside did a little twist. I looked down at where I felt the pain. Like a sinking feeling. "No, no I like it. I just... I... don't know," I whispered turning back slowly to face her.

"So it's not the dress?" She asked her face unreadable. How is it she has such a poker face now of all times.

I gave a little shake of my head.

"Yay, so does that mean I can get you more. I saw one on the way here that would look so good on you. Oh-oh, I can get you a hat to go with it like one of the French ones what's it called..." Zoe rabble suddenly gripping my arms and jumping slightly.

In that moment of confusion, I had no idea about the horror I had released on myself.