Chapter 4: Stranger

After getting out of jail with the help of a friend, I decided to continue with my plan of persuasion. Once again, I find myself outside the dance club room in my child form.

Knock, knock, knock.
The door opens. The reaction was golden. Eyes frozen, ends of her lips were pointing down. She was clearly irritated to see me after everything.

       "So, you already feel better?" she said in a shaky tone. 

       "Yes, as you can see!"
       "So you're ready to dance?" her face was black and only her eyes could be seen which looked like she was a mass murderer. I have a bad feeling about this.

Fifteen minutes later:

       "Ahhh please! Just five minutes of rest!" I screamed in pain, terrified for my life.
       "Fifty more of these exercises and you can rest, Nikola."
She's crazy! This is just bullying. I'm too exhausted to think.
Then.
She started walking to my direction.
She's gonna murder me.
        "Can I have a sip of your juice?" Marko stopped her.
Good job, Marko!
        "Of course!" she answered him as gently as she could.
        "And me?"
        "And you!? You're going to do an extra set of exercises."
It was my fault for asking.
Another 45 minutes passed and it was time to rest. Katarina started to go to the office, but I stopped her.
         "Coach!" I shouted.
...
She answered with silence.
Or it's better to say she didn't answer at all.
         "My father invites you to the cafe today!"
         "I'm busy. Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't go."
         "Are you sure, coach?" my gaze was blank. She realized that the situation was serious and that she had to go.
          "Okay, okay. I'm coming."
After explaining the place and time to her, I left leasons early. She would continue to harass me anyways. After classes, I went to his house.
I didn't ring or knock.
I walked in like it was my house. We know each other well enough that it was okay. Also, he is too lazy to get up and open the door.
I sat down in the living room, with no one around. His living room was the most ordinary, without any character. Table, two-seater, bookshelf, wall clock. Nothing special. I was sitting on a two-seater and started changing. I was naked, so I got back into my old shape without needlessly destroying my clothes. The clothes I left under the table this morning were not here. My confusion is interrupted by the sound of opening door.
       "You know I'm changing, but you're still charging in."
I was facing him, but I covered my dick with the clothes I had taken off.
       "That's why I came in," he laughed wickedly.
        "Yata, we've talked about this before..."
       "What am I supposed to do when it's so fun to bully you!"
Is that why Katarina bullied me today? Is that fun for them?
I sat with my legs spread apart, rested my elbows on my knees, put my head on my hands and exhaled.

      "Did she agree to meet you?" Yata approached.
     "She did, now give me something nice to wear." He jumped on me and hugged my neck, hanging from it.
     "Get out of the way.."

      "Because of that face, it's hard to refuse you, haha!"
      "I asked her in child form, Yata."
      "That form is cute, too. Now thank me!"
      "Thank me for wearing that!"
      "Thank me for giving you those clothes!  

 "Thanks, now shut up. We need to get serious. You also need to find a new address. You've been at this one for half a year."

      "They won't find me again, don't worry. Take care of yourself, instead."
He got up and went to his room. I never know what he's thinking. After five minutes, he found something for me to wear. I did not follow him to his room, because he is currently working on a new painting that he wants to show me.
     "Here, my best old money wardrobe!"
     "Old money? How many stages have you had in your life?"
         "You don't want to know," he was quick to respond. I approached him, still naked, and took the clothes from his hands. I turned around, my back facing him and got dressed. I took one more look at him before leaving. He looked kind of sad.
     "I'll go now," I said. He went to his room without another word.

I slowly made my way to where I told her to appear. I was early, so she wouldn't wait for me. After twenty minutes Katarina appeared, earlier than expected. All her clothes were black. She wore a leather jacket over a T-shirt with skulls all over. Her jeans were torn and her sneakers had spikes on them. A chain was attached to her jeans where the belt normally goes.
And me?
Old money?
Should I pretend I didn't see her?
   "Have you been waiting for me long? 

  "I came 5 minutes ago."

We found ourselves near the city park where the "Park" cafe was located. We didn't go inside, but sat on the terrace since the weather wasn't that bad. Soon, the waiter came to serve us.

    "Good afternoon. What would you like to order?"
I didn't have time to ask her what she was going to drink, so I said my wish first. 

"A short espresso, please."

The waiter looked at Katarina.

    "I'll have a draft beer," she said.
.
.
.
Well, fuck me. I didn't expect any of this.
      "Why did you call me? I already told you, I don't want to be part of your plan."
She can't read room at all.
I exhaled. My attention was drawn to a smell of the food that the other waiter carried. The smell was very pleasant.
I turned back to her.
     "Your appearance surprised me. It's very cool." There was no reaction.
    "Okay, we don't have much time left. They'll find us again, and you'll be dragged down with us. The very connection with us is dangerous. You'll end up dead."
     "Who will find me?"
     "A state organization. Every country has them. Special forces wearing mechanical gear. They could kill us within thirty seconds."
      "You're just saying that to get me to join you." The waiter brought our drinks which caused an awkward silence.
    "Here you go."
    "Thank you!" we both shouted.
.
.
.
     "You think I won't be able to defend myself?"
     "You couldn't even hold your own against me. How could you stand up to the pros?" She fell silent.
     "I..." she paused.
"The dance competition is coming up and I want to focus on that. I want you to stop coming to my dance classes."
I didn't know what to say to her.
I wouldn't believe myself with this tone if I told her that I care about her, because it's not true.
I had to step into the role.
The role of a stranger whom I do not know.
I will be a stranger, and the world is my theater.
My identity was never complete, I didn't know myself. Now is the time to show myself in my theater of the strangers.
My eyes lit up. Almost feeling aura around me. Tears started pouring down my cheeks, my face all red. I even convinced myself. All my thoughts came together.
     "I don't know how will this sound to you," I began, my voice cracking, "but I want you to know how deeply I care for you. I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to you. I've already lost people I love because of the situations beyond my control. The ache of that loss I carry to this day.
To protect you, I have no other choice.
I have a strong desire to see your group perform.
I want to see you win gold."
I placed her hands in mine.
     "After that,
I can do it without any regrets.
For your sake, I will kill myself."

Suddenly, something exploded behind me.
A huge monster appeared.
No.
It seems that one man has become one.
It had the head of an octopus and huge tentacles. With tremendous speed, he began to catch people around.
     "Let's run, Kaća."
    "But, we have to help people."
    "We are not heroes. The organization will take care of this."
   "But people will die by the time they come. Niksha-"
I moved closer in a second and kissed her.
   "Let's go, I don't want to lose you."
She was red as a rose.
You could see that she cares about people but she went with me after that. This was probably a test of the people who are always watching. While we were running away, a person was walking in the opposite direction. In the direction where the monster was. That person had a cloak on, so I couldn't identify the gender. Suddenly, the monster was drawn to that very person. It even started following that person. They both went down the street.
   "Go back home, our conversation will be continued. I have to follow them."
   "Please come back to the studio after you're done. I want to know you're okay."
I smiled, walked over to her, hugged her gently and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll be back."

I ran to the street where the monster and that person had gone. There was no sign or voice from the two. They disappeared. I stepped out of the role, and my thoughts returned to usual. I didn't know what to say to her or should I even go to the studio. Maybe, it's not bad idea to go there.
I will have to once again play someone who cares for other people.
After twenty minutes of walking, I reached the Cultural Center. I went upstairs and went to the dance studio. A little pause at the door for a few seconds to get into the role. No knocking, since I didn't expect anyone.
Katarina sat on the floor of the studio crying. At the moment of my entry, she raises her head, then automatically stands up and jumps into my arms.
    "I knew you'd come back alive."
What an idiot of a girl. Then why would you cry?
   "I had to come back alive. Because of you," I smiled gently. My acting was enough to fool the lie detector. "I'm sorry I tried to force you to join me. I really wanted to protect you. I shouldn't have acted like that, but don't worry... It will all end at the end of the month. On the day of the competition.

   "I'm so glad you're being honest with me. I could never let you take your own life because of me. I can't even order you not to, but there is one thing we could do."
   "And what is that?"
   "We will make a bet."
   "A bet?"
   "If I win the gold, you'll promise not to kill yourself."
   "And if you don't get the gold?"
   "I'm confident in my bunch! But, if it gets to that, then you decide."
   "If you lose, you'll join me."
   "Not surprising, but what can I do? Bet is on."
My eyes darkened and went out of their role.
I'm praying on your downfall.