Chapter 18: Pie, Coffee... and Paradoxes

Afternoon in the city on a Saturday. The sun slowly set between the buildings of Elidora. Dana walked calmly with her three new friends: Rae, the otaku gamer, wearing a magical power cat t-shirt; Alicia, the chic heiress, with sunglasses always on her forehead; and Selena, the discreet goth with a gentle heart. They were leaving a bookstore. Dana was carrying a tote bag filled with comic books, medical texts, and a notebook of pie recipes. "It's for the twins," Dana said. "They've decided to name me the universal pastry chef." "With your talents, you don't even need an oven," Rae snickered."And you need an inter-dimensional blow-dry," Dana retorted, smiling. "Come on, let's go to the tea shop before I cook up that comeback." Around a large round table, they laughed, clinked teacups, and chatted about everything and nothing. Alicia, very serious, "I ran into VaporQueen last night. She had gloves woven from ether silk. She said it reduces stress in combat." "If stress is running lipstick, then maybe," Dana slipped in. Selena read aloud from an old book of poetic shadows, her eyes shining softly. "Listen to this: 'The stars bleed better in naked silences than in the cries of weak gods.'" "Poetic," Rae commented, her mouth full of cake. "And a little depressing." "Beauty is often sad," Selena murmured. "As long as it's served with tea, I accept," Dana said. But at that same moment, Dana slightly furrowed her brows. A very faint magical pulse, but it was there. She said nothing. "You glitching, Noctielle?" Rae asked, looking curious. "No, just a feeling," Dana answered, taking another sip. Dana went home. Her apartment was silent, bathed in an orange light. She put away the books, placed her tote bag down, and sat on the couch. A cup of tea. A sigh. She looked at the clock: 11:23 PM. The light blinked once, then went out. And in the shadow, "We know he's here." A silhouette appeared: black uniform, a badge spinning like a temporal spiral. A man. Cold eyes, a metallic voice. Agent Yaren. Temporal Police. "You treated a fugitive from Fracture-7. We found him thanks to the integrated chip in his neck. Thank you for your hospitality." Dana remained still, her eyes shining softly. "He's still here. And alive. Are you going to take him back?" "Not without supervision. His body contains sensitive data, but we can't stay more than twelve hours in this timeline." "I am a doctor, not a judge," Dana said. "But next time, knock before you enter." The agent slightly tilted his head. "You are not in our database." "I am an anomaly, but a useful anomaly," Dana replied. Silence. Then the agent disappeared in a white spiral without a sound. Midnight. Dana opened the window. The air was cool. The fugitive was still sleeping in the special wing, under protection. She was protecting him, but now she knew she was being watched. And soon, she would have to choose between secrecy and truth.

End of Chapter 18: Pie, Coffee... and Paradoxes