Adler huffed and stood. After he tapped his hands on the desk a few times he began to pace. “Well, despite your ignorance, I would still like you as an apprentice. What do you say?”
“How generous of you,” I stated. I sighed though, too, giving in. “What would I be doing?”
“You would help me find whoever is responsible for the girls death,” he explained, “and stop them forever. You’d also get to work with the FBI, I suppose, and fulfill most of your graduation requirements. No pay though, such a shame.” He looked away, clearly happy with that last part.
I held a finger in the air as he started to ramble about the job. “Sorry, um, did you say fulfill most of my graduation requirements? As in, less classes?”
He paused. “Yes, I did. Do you—want that?”
“Okay, let me nutshell this,” I said, more to myself than Adler. “I will work with you and the FBI,”—Adler nodded—“and help solve a murder that was done by a—what did you call it? Warlock? Warlock. And I’ll get to miss classes too?”
Adler nodded. “If you work out for the summer.”
“And you can astral project just like me.”
Another nod. “Yes; I’m not a natural like you, but I learned. If you’re taking the job I would like you to decide now; I’ll need to make a phone call.”
“Right now?” I asked. “I have to decide right this second?”
“Well the killer isn’t going to wait around for his next victim, now is he?” Adler questioned. He had a point, but everything was happening too fast. My head was spinning.
“Hurry up, now,” Adler pressured.
“I—okay, I’ll do it!” The words escaped my lips before I could even think them. Adler grinned and picked up his phone, already dialling the numbers.
“Wonderful,” he said, “I’ll see you this afternoon at the police station. I think an hour should do it; don’t be late.” He waved a hand towards the door. “I’ll do my best to teach you; you can go now.”
I stood on quivering legs, barely able to hold myself up. As I shut the door behind me I found I was exhausted from the encounter. But also a little energized.
I’d never met anyone that could astral project before. Ever. Nor had I ever been so grateful to not get something I wanted. Who cares about some sucky downtown couples counselling? I was going to work with the FBI! I just wished I knew more about Adler, and what the hell he thought was going on, before I’d agreed to take the position.
Climbing slowly down the steps I wondered what my next move should be. Calling Mom and Rose and apologizing for ditching them was probably my best option, but I thought that could wait. I had to tell someone about my new internship! Apprenticeship? Whatever.
As I began to dial Rose’s number, my best friend in the world, I stopped myself. Just how secretive should I be when working on a murder case? I glanced up the stairs, debating on going to ask Adler but found I couldn’t. What if I didn’t even last through the day, after I told everyone about my great new job?
I’ll pass on that embarrassment. So instead of telling anyone, or even calling my mother to apologize for ditching her at lunch, I decided to get myself a coffee and head towards the police station. It was only an hour, and it would take half that just to walk there.
Getting into line at the coffee shop on campus, I found myself lost in a fantasy world. Astral projection had always been a part of my life, but warlocks? What was that anyway? All I knew about warlocks was that Rose had once played one in some online fantasy game back in high school. A time she likes to keep buried in her past but I often dig up during our many fights.
But with warlocks came demons, maybe, and that was something I wasn’t sure I could handle. I stepped forward robotically, trying to remember what had happened last night, and question if there was anyone else nearby at the time. I could only remember the one person, and their victim. No demons there.
“You’re next,” a man said behind me. I blinked out of a daze I hadn’t realized I’d fallen into, and looked at him. “The young woman is waiting to take your order.”
I almost fell over as I met his gaze; Niklas Rogues. Four years older, and four inches taller, I also knew him as Nik. AKA my high school crush; AKA, the guy that had rejected me and then laughed about it with his friends.
“Right, sorry,” I said absently, finally finding the words. This was the moment I had so desperately wanted; the moment I could tell Nik off! I’d never gotten the chance to do it after he rejected me, since I was way too hurt over his reaction; total disbelief that someone like me would even talk to him. And then he graduated, and the next four years of my life I got to be known as the girl that was rejected on the first day of school. I stepped forward and ordered a coffee, but as I went to pull my wallet out I realized I had forgotten my purse in Adler’s office. “Damn.”
Nik chuckled. “I’ll give you a hand,” he offered, giving me a smile that was far too charming. After adding four black coffees onto the order, he paid with a single swipe of his credit card over the terminal.
While his back was turned I inspected his suit, looking for any signs that his life had turned to total ruin after he’d left Arrowood but sadly it looked immaculate. In fact, even his shoes shined, and his hair was perfectly misplaced just like I remembered. My heart sank; he looked like he was doing well for himself. Jerk.
“You don’t have to,” I began, finding my chest was fluttering.
“It’s already done.” He smiled at me, and a shining silver emanated from his eyes. It was then that I realized he had no idea who I was. “Good luck with whatever you were thinking about.”
He quickly grabbed his coffees and went out the door. The girl behind the counter had to give me a poke to get my attention before I finally took my own drink, and headed back to Adler’s office, a dark cloud encompassing my thoughts.
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