Like always, her ghost, Jasmine, was around, levitating from side to side. It can't stray far from Mey, only few meters at most. The watch on her wrist kept it in place, not a funny thing for Jasmine itself. It allowed an event to be changed from a certain time without affecting anything else, but there was only one attempt. In case that the watch gets shattered the curse between the Jasmine and Mey will broke. The immediate consequence was the possessor's time loss, followed by amnesia. The loop would close if she remembered or hallucinated something she lost. She wasn't sure if Jasmine said the truth because it always deceived when trust grew. For now, she relied on facts, not fantasies, and the powers she possessed and controlled. She studied the issue, increasing her nervousness. Jasmine announced her brilliant strategy, insisting it needed immediate implementation.

–Do you feel like haunting?

–I don't know, I can steal towels while they're in the shower.

–What's the advantage in that?

Mey was too absorbed, her expression reduced to a stony one. Don't let her mind take a break from being on guard, from the calculated steps. She had almost forgotten about Jasmine. To bring her back it waved its ghostly hand in front of her.

–Enough with the childish games!


–Oh, don't ignore me now.

–Fine, will you tell me your plan?

Frowning, slightly irritated, her interest waned. She sighed deeply, warning her about what would follow. Mey nodded, acknowledging that her mind was the safest place. Here, only she had access. She disliked the presence of the ghost there; headaches immediately appeared and slowly killed her.

–I'll slow them down as much as possible.

–How?

–Let's assume they'll miss their guns and other trivialities.

–I'm curious where you'll hide them, and make sure not to be seen.

–Haha, you were about to be discovered!

Mey didn't respond, leaving the office, immersed in another world, with her attention not where it should be. She bumped into someone, apologizing. When she looked again, her legs stopped. She was ready to ask questions, but she hadn't articulated a letter. The person began speaking, trying to catch their breath.

–Garren... I can't.

–Leon, relax a bit.

Mey tapped him on the shoulder, wanting to reassure him and slow him down. He inhaled and exhaled once and began cautiously:

–They held a conference about an alliance and an exchange. It seems they have something important that belongs to them.

–Tell me more. What did they decide? What kind of exchange?

–They rejected the proposal from the start. As for the exchange, I don't know if...

–If you're so scared, speak slower. I trust you to tell me the truth.

He looked at the sky and weighed what he was about to say. But somehow, a hesitation wouldn't leave him. He was starting to hate his spy work. He couldn't find a less horrible way to say it, but Mey was waiting for an answer no matter how it sounded. Her face turned pale because of few words: "Person exchange."
She was aware of the atrocities, and this one resembled them. She hadn't imagined someone sitting at a table with such a proposal. In the end, their plan had been revealed so quickly. She closed her eyes, leaned against the wall, trying to accept it.

Leon felt how hard it was not to fall. He grabbed her hands, not letting her fall into shock. Madness had to end, and everyone was involved in that, not just her fight. He dared to scream, to remind her that she wasn't alone, that they wouldn't lose. Through his gesture, he transmitted energy, confidence, the missing strength. Mey nodded, fully understanding the message. The cause wasn't lost; she still had time to act.

–And some goods seem to be moved to the east side of the city.

–Do you think they have the refuge underground?

–It's possible, and what's there in the east?

–A factory and then the forest which surrounds the Nightshade.
What should that mean?

–I'm unsure, but I have a suspicion.

–Tell me, I'm eyes and ears.

–It could mean they're using the same tactic, just like the forest does.

© BlairAmy
#horror #fantasy #war #time