The Message

Monday
21h12

Squeaking noises and hushed conversations filled the air as everybody left the room. Some wondered if anybody else would be dismissed, and who F's replacement would be. T hoped for somebody with whom she could get cozy. The noise died at the end of the corridor. R and O split off to the Archives, and M and N headed for the Arboretum. That didn't stop T from listing all the qualities she would like in a partner.

"T should start a dating show," whispered P. "She can call it ‘Journey to the bottom of T's pants’’ I wonder what the prize will be."

"Do you always have to be a perv about everything?" I asked.

"What can I say? Perving makes the days more interesting."

"You could have said no when Management asked whether you wanted to extend your contract."

"True, but I didn't think saying would be this dull. I guess the idea of buying New Zealand blinded me to the possible boredom, but time makes fools of us all." He bumped me with his elbow. "Besides, I don't want to know how bored you'd be if I weren't here."

"I dunno, having a peaceful day now and then wouldn't be so bad."

"Please." P scoffed. "You'd pull your hair out within a week." I intertwined my fingers behind my back as we walked. "What's wrong?"

"Hmm?"

"That." P nodded at my hands. "You only do that when something is bugging you."

"Oh." I lowered my gaze. "It's been a rough day, though you seem to be handling it better than expected."

"I have experience." He shrugged. "Life, death. We're all in one state or another. The trick is how we pass back and forth. F did it in a way that makes returning quite unlikely. The best we can do now is reflect on the time he was here and make sure a similar fate doesn't befall either of us. New Zealand isn't going to buy itself, you know."

"Are you going to be this nonchalant if I kick the bucket?"

"For you, I might consider taking thirty seconds to think of that hot bod of yours,” he said with a wink.

"Perv." I bumped him against his ribs. "Say, you never told me about your progress with the resonator."

"Really, V?” He shook his head. “F died, Management grilled us, and you're thinking about that resonator?"

"I'm just curious." I put on a tiny smile. "It helps me take my mind off things."

"You should find another way to do so. Talk to O. I'm sure he wouldn't mind doing the sheet dance with you."

"Oh, and you wouldn't?" I shot him a look. "But I guess you're more into the bossy type, like H."

"Why, is that a proposition?"

I faked a yawn to rub my eyes, half because my eyes were tired and half to hide the beginnings of a blush. "You really need to get your mind out of the gutter."

He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Oh Veebee, there's a reason everybody's minds are always there, but I'll tell you what. Find me another place that's remotely as interesting as the gutter, and I promise I'll give it a go. And no, the resonator doesn't count."

"The bed is the only place I'm thinking about at the moment."

"Alone or with somebody?"

I shook my head. "Anybody looking for some sexy time with me tonight will be sorely disappointed."

"Then why not just say so? All these hints and teases made me think something interesting was going to happen."

"I did say so."

"You said you were going to bed. That can have a dozen meanings."

"What's the primary use of a bed, eh, P?" I rolled my eyes a second later. "Scratch that, look who I'm asking."

"Hey, I sometimes sleep in my bed too."

Grinning, we stopped in front of my room. The door slid open when I held my Sleeve in front of the scanner. "See you tomorrow."

"What, no kiss goodnight?"

“Maybe next time.” I sighed as the door closed behind me, sleepily debating what the next sequence of events should be. The highest priority was getting into bed, but I was covered in sweat, pool water, and tears. Option one was to delay personal hygiene until tomorrow. Option two was to change into the gray shirt and the embarrassingly short pants before crashing into bed. But after twenty-five years of existence, I knew it would bother me. So, option three was to wash my face before the gray-shirt-short-pants-bed routine. Option four was to go the whole nine yards. Shower, gray shirt, short pants, and bed.

I glanced at the bed, at the closet, and at the shower before choosing option four. This way I'd have that nice, warm glow when I tucked myself in. Once my name tag and Sleeve were resting on the nightstand, I stripped myself and hit the shower. Dumping my clothes into the chute was something that wouldn’t bother me if it waited.

I half-heartedly scrubbed myself with soap before stepping out. A quick rub with the towel sufficiently dried my body, and a quick tug put the embarrassing clothes to use. I know we're supposed to be alone at night, but why Management chose clothes so ridiculous is beyond me. I can't imagine it was cost-cutting. Shrinking our meals would save a lot more. P was eating as if his life goal was to bankrupt Management with his stomach. If they really wanted to do it with clothes, then sleeping naked would have been an alternative. Half the guys slept without their shirts, and I’d bet M and N consider clothes more than an hinderance anyway.

A yawn said I was putting way too much thought into the whole clothes ordeal, so I wobbled into my clothes while composing a love letter addressed to my bed. "Good night, Hades."

"A moment, V."

"Hmm?" I didn't tear my eyes away from the newfound love of my life.

"You have an unread email."

"It can wait until the morning."

"That would be unwise. Its content is rather disturbing."

I shook my head. "It's probably Management reminding me of our earlier discussion."

"Incorrect. The sender is unknown."

"Excuse me?"

"The message headers are corrupted. I cannot determine the sender."

"That's impossible." I picked up my Sleeve and activated it with a tap of a finger. True to Hades’ word, a single email occupied my inbox. Everything seemed normal, except for the sender, which was a bunch of random letters.

What happens when you step too close to the fire?
Step within reach as the flames reach higher
Four little lights, a tale most dire
Of intentions good, but stoked my ire

Four lights watched me burn
Two days they stood by, each waiting their turn
The first was Ember, eyes without concern
As fingers wrote words, a brain eager to learn

Now the first has burned, the Ember has gone out
His tale cut short via glinting clout
The eyes no longer learning, the brain without doubt
Forced into the next life via a piercing shout

The fire hungers, its flames beginning to grow
Its hunger unsated, a debt still owed
I wonder whether the Spark still knows?
The words once whispered into the fire, he grew

The Firewalker

"What... what is this?!" I read the message twice. "Hades, do you have any idea?"

"No. However, I... incoming call from Management." The display changed to the blue background and black silhouette before I could say anything.

"Researcher V. Hades has forwarded the strange message to us."

I nodded. "Does it mean anything to you?"

"We are analyzing the message. We will relay any further information to you, if necessary. However, this message falls under our previous arrangement. You aren't to notify any of your colleagues about this new development. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Management."

"Good. As always, Hades will continue monitoring your Sleeve for further developments."

Like he wasn't doing that in the first place.

"Do you have any questions?" Management asked.

I cleared my throat to prevent a yawn. "Do you have any idea how this message was sent?"

"Not at this time. We only know it wasn't from F's Sleeve. We found its remains inside a gymnastics bag about ten meters away from his corpse."

I nodded, biting the inside of my lip for a moment. "If I may ask a last question, is this person known as the Firewalker known to Management? I'd assume the vagueness and references in the message are intentional, so only somebody with some history regarding this entity would know what they're talking about."

"Such information is classified."

I'll take that as a yes. I didn't say that out loud. "I understand."

"Good. Management out." The screen changed to its regular display.

Interesting. I fingered the Sleeve for an extra second before putting it back on the table. So Management knows about this Firewalker but doesn't want to admit it. But then why don't they act?

The yawn caught me by surprise. Management's call made me forget about my extreme tiredness. Rubbing an eye with the palm of my hand, I returned my attention to my bed. Best to leave tomorrow's worries for tomorrow. The lights turned off when the sensors detected minimal activity in the room. "Goodnight, Hades."

"Sleep well, V."