Esper Chapter 4: Into Winter’s gray sky

Part 1

Katie Vang and Nicolaus Thompson sat totally dumbfounded at the sight of Amala Singh, floating in midair, levitating! She hovered over forty feet in the sky engulfed in flowing purplish mist, gaze locked into the distance towards the city of Trenton. Vernon Marino pulled himself up from his recent fall to the dirt covered ground, knocking debris off his once clean tracksuit.

“Yo! Amala, they’re here! Mind coming down for a second?” Vernon cupped his hands over his mouth and bellowed upward to the petite, young Indian woman. She took notice of her name being called, then gracefully descended, landing in the clearing with her stylish black boots as the purple haze faded.

Amala cleared her throat, then spoke. “Hello, Everyone.” She said with what could only be described as her ‘business smile’.

“W-What on earth…” Before Nicolaus could say more, Vernon raised his hand, pausing the conversation.

“I know you’ve got questions, but we’ve got to welcome the rest of our company first! Follow me!” With a cheerful stride and glee filled expression Vernon silently read something on his smartphone while walking the group to the front of his property.

“Hey…uh, what was all of that? How were you flying?” A fair inquiry posed by Katie about Amala’s new ability. It was met with her cutting those purple eyes toward the perky redhead, then back without an answer. “That’s pretty rude.” Katie stated.

(Katie really says whatever crosses her mind, huh.) Nicolaus had become aware of the young woman’s apparent lack of reservation, a bad habit. Expecting an animated response from Amala, he was surprised when she didn’t react at all. Katie turned to her spiky haired pessimistic ally, seeking some form of support. “Uh…Amala, come on. Give us…something.”

It was clear by the sigh given, Amala was uncomfortable in some way, yet still obliged with an answer. “Just wait. It’s better if we’re all together. That way, I won’t have to explain this theory that Vernon and I have been talking over twice.”

“Theory?”

“These powers…I’m not sure about the details, but we all had those dreams, or visions, right? Vernon wants to see if we all have similar powers.” Nicolaus and Katie were clamoring for information but knew Amala wouldn’t offer any more. Upon reaching the front of Vernon’s property, they reunited with their two youngest members; Harper Wolf, the stubby teen boy, and his much lankier pal, Vergil Trask. The young men both wearily trudged up the hill, dragging their heels and complaining to each other.

“Alright, everybody! Follow me back to the woods!” Harper and Vergil groaned in unison, exhausted from their walk. Enthusiastically, Vernon brought the group back to the clearing. “So, as Katie and Nick’o have already seen, we’ve figured something awesome out! Amala, if you would…?”

Amala sighed and lifted her arms whilst shutting her eyes. Gravel and dirt surrounding her began to bounce and shake. After a few seconds the purple mist once again engulfed her body. Harper and Vergil, tired as they were less than a few seconds beforehand, were either speechless or totally elated as Amala began to float upward! At first it was a few centimeters, then inches, then over six feet in the air!

“Holy shit! That’s so cool!” Harper exclaimed so loud that Nicolaus, who was standing next to him, had to cover his ears. Vergil began to stutter; unable to compose himself enough to even get a single word out.

Amala continued to levitate for a few more seconds until she took another deep breath and slowly lowered to the ground. “Is that good enough, Vernon?”

“Excellent!” As if the Cheshire cat had replaced him, Vernon smiled a smile like no other!

Hoping to finally get some information about this new found ability, Nicolaus stepped forward with his head full of questions. “This is just too insane. Where do I even start…?”

“It just happened while I was walking down the stairs in my apartment. I missed a step and almost fell, until this power kicked in. I just floated at first, but then after messing with it a bit, I was able to completely levitate.” Amala explained.

“We met up after the doctor examined us, and she showed me this power. I decided that showing you guys would be cooler than just telling you over the phone. Surprised, right? Cool, right?!” The others blankly stared at Vernon, acting like a child who’d gotten a hold of some cool new toy.

“Okay…” Running fingers through his hair, Nicolaus collected his thoughts. “Look, this is nice and all, but we’ve got a lot to talk about-”

“Before that!” Harper shouted, cutting Nicolaus off! “Come on Nick! You can’t tell me that you don’t want to learn how to fly!”

“What makes you think we can all fly?”

“Vernon can, right?” Katie spoke up, getting a confident grin from Vernon in response. “Spike, we’ve been doing nothing but waiting and worrying for weeks. Don’t you think we could use a little distraction? A little fun?” The normally perky redhead pleaded. Nicolaus gave in almost immediately. “Yes!”

“Alright, listen up, I’ll explain the theory…or you know the theory that Amala explained to me.” The always assertive Vernon took charge and strolled over to one of the many trees nearby. “Alright! First, you’ll want to grab hold of a tree, trust me on that. My back is still sore from the fall. Anyway, take a deep breath and close your eyes.” The enthusiastic young Italian-American man explained with gusto! The others listened closely, despite Vernon’s apparent giddiness being a bit off-putting. “Now…this part is where things get a bit abstract, so pay attention. You’re going to use your mind to move a part of your body that doesn’t exist.”

“What?” Confusion overcame the group. It was Nicolaus who attempted to get a more concrete explanation. “You can’t be…” Before he finished, the memory of using the odd mist to attack the police officer reminded him of how he felt back then. It wasn’t dissimilar to the concept pushed by Vernon, something akin to a phantom limb. “Never mind, continue.”

Amala jumped in, trouncing her boss’s spotlight! “It’s simple and at the same time a little difficult to contextualize. You need some semblance of imagination to make this work. Close your eyes and I’ll try to form a visual with you.” The gaggle of young people followed Amala’s orders, frustrating Vernon a bit as he’d lost control. “Imagine…steam, exiting your body. That steam is a long trail leading upwards, it’s under your total control, like another arm. No matter where it’s coming from…make it wrap around your body. Engulf your body as if you were to be covered in a thick coding of…let’s say honey.”

“Honey?”

“Quiet Nicolaus! Stay focused.” That chastising of Nicolaus made Vernon openly snicker. “Move it slowly…over every part of your body…on every limb. Now…once you’ve got that done, I want you to use it to lift your body…do it as if you were lifting a baby bird…don’t squeeze! Remember, this is your body.”

Sighing, Nicolaus completely gave up on making the method work. “Amala, I don’t get this. It’s not working.” Minutes went by and no one was able to make the abstract concept work.

“Maybe I’m not communicating this right…” Amala pondered aloud.

“Worked fine for me.” Vernon chimed in. “Hmm….” The young man schemed. He slowly approached Nicolaus from behind, unbeknownst to his co-worker and wrapped his arms around the other young man’s waist, tightly!

“V-Vernon what the hell-” Before he could even properly react, Vernon took off floating upward in the air with a translucent burgundy mist enveloping him! “AHHHH!!” Terrified and flailing about, Nicolaus screamed and bucked trying to break Vernon’s grip!

“Best stop moving! I don’t know how steady I am or how much weight I can support.”

“Vernon, put him down, now! What are you doing?!” Amala yelled.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea!” As the eager man hoisted his co-worker farther and farther up, Nicolaus’s stomach sank. “Chill out, I’ve got you. Just don’t move. Alright, I’m going to drop him! Get ready, just in case Amala!”

“What?!” Everyone reacted in shock as Vernon released his hold on Nicolaus, who plummeted toward the ground! Just as Amala prepared to leap to Nicolaus’s aid, the blue mist began to envelop him! The young man slowed, just short of the ground, and landed with a very light thud.

“See!” Vernon exclaimed! To everyone’s astonishment, the experiment was a success! Nicolaus was both astounded, but also livid!

“Are you fucking insane?!” The young man jumped to his feet and screamed at Vernon, legs still rattling.

“I was thinking you just needed a little push, like before at the ridge. Also, that’s how Amala’s power first activated, so…” With a smug grin of success, Vernon cautiously drifted back down to the ground. Nicolaus got ready to punch his co-worker, however Amala pushed by him and slapped her superior right across the cheek!

“What kind of idiot are you?! He could’ve been killed!” Amala’s normally solemn demeanor crumbled. Everyone was surprised, even Amala, who blushed and looked away; shocked by her own outburst. “…Sorry.”

Stunned, Vernon held his hand to his face. After swallowing his pride and some anger, he apologized. “…I’m sorry.” It was an earnest apology. “Nick’o, I’m sorry.”

“Well…” The awkward pressure to forgive someone can be difficult for anyone. Nicolaus didn’t want to accept the apology, but the group looked at him awaiting a response. “At least it worked.” It felt like the air had been sucked out of the entire clearing.

“Can…we try? You know, just a little less dropping.” Harper, whether it be from wanting to break the tension or pure ignorance, spoke up. It worked by giving everyone something to cling onto for the minute.

Part 2

It looked more like the ground was slowly drifting away as opposed to being able to fly, Nicolaus thought to himself. He was floating, dumbfounded and rather scared as he continued to move upward. “Hey Spike!” Katie called out to him from below. “How does it feel up there?” She, as well as Harper and Vergil, all remained on the ground, unable to take flight themselves.

“It’s…weird. It feels like I’m being pulled up by my back…or something.” (It’s like before. Even though there’s no actual body part, I can feel some sort of weight. Like…my mind is being weighed down, maybe. This mist - it’s like the mist is a part of me; it feels like an outer layer of skin.) Nicolaus didn’t want to admit it, but Vernon was right with his earlier example. Amala and Vernon, were also airborne alongside Nicolaus, allowing him to compare the mist around his body to theirs. His was a strong, translucent azure blue; Vernon’s mist was burgundy and Amala’s was a deep mauve. “Hey Amala, Vernon, why are these mists different colors?”

“No idea.” Amala replied. “Could be as simple as we’re just different people, so they’re different.”

“Hm…before, Amala mentioned that you move it like you would another arm. Remember last night that you said you felt weight when you used the mist? How about we give that experiment with the tree another go?” Vernon pointed at one of the many saplings littering the woods. With a nod, Nicolaus tried to focus.

“Everybody be careful! I…can feel something.” (This is different…this feeling. I can feel the weight of something moving over my skin.) The blue haze surrounding Nicolaus began slowly reaching toward the ground. “It’s working!” An amazing sight, as the mist advanced onward! More excited than the others at this revelation and wanting further results, Nicolaus persevered through an erupting migraine. The haze wrapped around a small, slightly wilted tree! “I…feel…something…it’s heavy!” The young man focused intensely, his head beginning to roar in pain!

“Nicolaus! Stop!” Amala called out, but Nicolaus pushed on unabated.

“Not yet!”

“Nick’o relax! Your nose is bleeding!” Even Vernon warned, with genuine concern in his voice!

“No! Al…most…there!!” Nicolaus grabbed his own wrist as if he were lifting an extremely heavy dumbbell! With an exaggerated tug the blue mist tore the tree from the ground and tossed it upward past all the flying members of the party and beyond the clouds! “S…s…ee…” Nicolaus’s consciousness faded, blood oozing from his nose as he rapidly plummeted back toward the earth!

“Nicolaus!” Amala flew rapidly after her co-worker, catching him just short of the ground! “Nicolaus! Nicolaus! Say something! Hey!” She screamed in fear, hoping for a response!

“Look out!” A cry came from above the two! Amala looked up, greeted with the tree from before careening back down toward them! With every ounce of her willpower, she quickly threw herself backward to avoid being hit! It wasn’t until Amala had already cleared herself and the barely conscious Nicolaus of danger, that she noticed Harper, Vergil and Katie were still in the falling tree’s path!

Amala lacked the frame of mind at that time to do anything, and simply fell to the ground shielding Nicolaus tight in her arms! The tree crashed into the ground kicking up dirt and debris everywhere! “Oh shit…” Amala said in shock.

“Katie, Vergil, Harper!” Through plumes of debris wafting upward, Vernon frantically dove into the dirt cloud! The man, nearly blind, desperately floated about, until he was met with what looked like black mannequin faces emerging from nowhere! “What?!” The shock caused Vernon to lose his balance and crash land! Black mannequins, as dark as night, no light reflecting off of them, laid awkwardly posed, piled into a spire. Their hands extended, hosting the tree up from the ground! The disturbing figures each possessed a singular blue, human-like eye staring blankly ahead.

Off to the side of the pile sat Harper and Vergil, confused and scared. “Vernon, o-over here!” Vernon got back up and ran over to the boys as the tree slowly rolled down the mass of mannequins and to the ground.

“Where’s Katie? Katie!!” Just then the sound of multiple pieces of glass cracking came from behind the distressed man. The mannequins began crumbling, and then, all at once shattered like glass, fading away, leaving nothing behind. Beneath the pile, Katie’s unconscious body lay. Vernon ran up and checked on her. “Thank God, she’s breathing. What the fuck was all that…?”

Part 3

Time ticked by as Vernon brought Nicolaus and Katie assorted medical supplies. Nicolaus plugged his nose with napkins, attempting to stop the bleeding, meanwhile Katie laid on the couch using her forearm to shield her eyes.

“I feel like shit…” Katie stated, downtrodden and devitalized. “Tell me what happened again.”

“…I don’t know. I guess…you used some kind of power.” A shaky and all be it unsure answer from Vernon was all that could be offered.

“It was ultra-weird!” Harper shouted! “I saw you put your arms up and then out of nowhere a bunch of clones shot out of you, but they weren’t clones, they looked kind of like you, but they were completely black! I mean, like beyond black, super black!”

“…Can we all do that?” Vernon started trying to make clones himself, but Nicolaus stopped the eager man.

“Vernon, can you bring up your mist really quick?” Vernon obliged, covering himself in the haze once more. Nicolaus reached into the mist, holding his hand in place. “Hmm…Amala, can you do it now?” Without explanation, Nicolaus then moved over to Amala who also brought up her mist; placing his hand into the haze, then nodded. “I noticed it before I was completely out. When Amala grabbed me it felt really warm, like an oven. Amala’s mist is different from yours Vernon, and I’m guessing mine too, not just in color, but in what it does. Maybe…we all have different powers.”

“I knew it!” Harper cheered, jumping to his feet! “I’ve been thinking about it, but now I know for sure then!”

“What have you been thinking about?”

“Oh…uh…just that you guys must have telekinesis!” Quickly adding!

“…Telekinesis? You mean like the power to move things with our minds?” Lightheaded from standing, Nicolaus asked as he fell back onto the couch.

“Yeah! I mean, it makes sense! You were able to uproot that tree from the ground!”

“Then, why is mine…warm?” Amala dispersed her mist.

“No idea. Vernon, how about you try using your mist - er, telekinesis…to grab something small. Like the remote, grab the remote off the table!” A small television remote sat on Vernon’s living room table. Vernon didn’t say it aloud, but he thrilled to try the power out.

“So, Nick’o, you tried thinking about it like a hand or…what?” With an unenthused wave as lackluster confirmation, Vernon focused, making a small sliver of the burgundy haze reach out and grip the remote. “I’ve got it!” Vernon’s elation quickly turned when the mist pushed down on the remote and cracked the table’s glass surface! Vernon stopped immediately by dispersing his mist. “Well…guess I need more practice.”

“This means the three of us have similar powers then. I still wonder why my mist is warm.” Amala openly pondered.

“I wonder why you didn’t help us…” Katie muttered.

“Huh?” Everyone fell silent.

“You saved Spike but didn’t even bother with us.”

“I-It wasn’t on purpose! I was just thinking about getting to Nicolaus at the time!” Weather due to those allegations or lack of social skills, Amala began to shrink before the pressure.

“…Yeah, okay…” Katie rolled over, facing her back to the group as she massaged her temples.

“It’s true!” Amala grew deeply flustered!

“Come on you two, that’s enough.” Vernon moved in to play peacemaker just as Vergil’s phone started ringing.

Instantly, young man’s normally pale complexion grew further ghost like the instant his eyes graced the screen. “U-Uh, Harper…” Vergil leaned over to his best friend, showing him the screen.

“Seriously? Alright, let’s go…I guess.” With an exaggerated sigh, Harper pulled out his own phone and started arranging a ride.

“What’s wrong?” Vernon inquired.

“Vergil has to go home, and my parents know I’m with him, so if I don’t go too then we’ll get in trouble.” Harper finished. “Alright, the car should be here any minute. Looks like this is all for the night.”

“Wait! Don’t you two want to figure out your powers?”

Vergil nodded, but Harper stopped him. “Nah. Any later and we’ll not make it home on time. Come on, Vergil!” The teen pushed his friend toward the door, seemingly escaping from the pushy man’s insistence.

“I’ll walk you guys out.” Vernon said, walking with the boys to their pick up spot. Once they were safely in the car, he bid them farewell and reentered his home. “…So…is this going to be another impromptu sleepover?” He asked jokingly.

“Hopefully not.” Nicolaus rose from his migraine induced stupor. “I wanted to discuss this with the other guys here but now we’ll just have to go without them.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“…I really want to get this out of the way.” He urged. Nicolaus briefly explained the day’s events. He spoke about the doctor’s visit, the missing bodies of the police officers and general confusion as to what was next for them.

“What you’re saying boils down to is that you’ve brought us more questions and no answers.” Vernon said in a slightly smug tone, offending Nicolaus.

“I mean…” Vernon cut deep with his response but was right. “No matter how bad the police in Trenton are, they don’t suck enough to miss dead bodies! All of this just doesn’t sit right with me. Where did the bodies go?”

“Maybe…a bear or coyote came along.” This casual shut down by Vernon agitated Nicolaus enough to make him snap back.

“Will you take this seriously?! Why’s this shit have be to a joke and fun for you?!”

“Excuse me?!” Vernon stood up, making Nicolaus feel he was being both metaphorically and literally looked down on, so he also got to his feet! “Maybe you’re too busy pouting and brooding to realize, but I am taking this seriously. Very seriously! I’m trying to keep everything together! I’ve got to account for everyone, and everything!”

“No one asked you to! You’re just trying to take charge for no reason and if you haven’t noticed, it didn’t work out that well before, when you nearly killed me!”

“I’m trying to take charge because no one else will!”

“Enough infighting! Holy shit!” Katie shot up off the couch and pushed the two men apart, who were so close to bumping heads that they looked like a pair of animals squaring off! “What the hell are you two even fighting about? This dick measuring has got to stop!”

“…” Nicolaus recognized that his pettiness. Not even arguing about how things were being done, but more about Vernon being in charge, felt childish to him. “…Whatever. I just want to know what the hell is going on. We don’t even know the extent of these… ‘powers’ for God’s sake! First, we were having the same dreams, then we could throw people around with telekinesis, and now we can fly, and Katie can make these weird mannequins? I mean, shit guys! Six people, six damn people died, but we survived! Carl…Carl and Walter died!! Aren’t you all freaked out?!”

“…” Amala got up from the couch and raised her hand getting everyone’s attention, then nonchalantly stated… “I killed someone yesterday.” Shocked by the way she casually admitted to that, the others’ minds froze! “I’ve been thinking about that nonstop since it happened. Someone pointed a gun at me, called me some racist stuff, said they were going to kill me and somehow…somehow…I killed - no, destroyed him! I haven’t stopped thinking about it for a second! My mind is buzzing with constant images of a man’s body folding, and contorting, and snapping, and breaking, twisting, and popping, and tearing - do you see what I’m getting at?!” Amala’s eyes reddened, holding back tears, just barely, as she opened up to the group. Nicolaus thought back to their car ride from earlier that day. Treating the events as if he were the only one affected was a selfish move, especially after promising that Amala could talk any of her problems.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…Me too.” Both men lowered their heads in shame.

“Spike…Vernon, we’re all dealing with this. I-I can’t stop thinking about…having a person’s body destroyed in front of me and having all that gore blasted onto me!” The usually perky waitress’s pale hands shook like the legs of a new born deer. “I know you two are having a hard time, but we all are!”

“…” Nicolaus opened his mouth with the thought of responding, but there was nothing he could say in his own defense as heavy tension flooded the room. Guilty, if only in his own mind of being totally insensitive, he thought it may be best to just leave for the night. On his way toward the front door however, Vernon grabbed the disheartened and humbled young man by the shoulder, stopping him.

“Wait…” He pulled Nicolaus back into the living room. “You are such a drama queen, man.” Vernon walked to the kitchen and brought out a bottle of Vodka. “Everyone, sit down. Let’s just get it all out, let’s just get all our shit out on the table.” Pulling the freshly broken living room table behind him, he sat down and gestured for everyone else to join.

“What is this? Some kind of peer pressure?” Despite using pessimism to shield his shame, Nicolaus sat down at the table. “Fine. If we’re going to do this, then let’s do it right.” Katie took a seat next to him and Amala sat down at the table as well. “Let’s try and keep this civil though.” Vernon pointed the bottle at Nicolaus and reluctantly, he took the first drink. “Agh! Holy hell! That’s strong!”

“Is it? I haven’t even had any. It was a gift from…from Walter.” That sour note halted the conversation until Vernon grabbed back the bottle and took a swig himself. “Wow!” Katie reached for the bottle and Vernon quickly yanked it away! “It is pretty strong…”

“Come on, dude. Hand it over!” He relented by handing the Vodka over as she downed some without hesitation. “Wow! That is really, really strong! Don’t know how much more of that I can take.” The spunky lass passed the bottle over to Amala next. She sighed, then took some of her dress to wipe the lip of the bottle and took a big gulp.

“Buhha!” Amala was barely able to keep it down, being totally choked up, to which Katie snickered. “W-What is this stuff? Aren’t e-expensive drinks supposed to taste good?”

“Alright, everyone had a sip. So, can we start now?” Nicolaus attempted to get back on subject. Vernon handed him the bottle and he took another unenthusiastic sip.

“We should get to know each other better first. It’s a technique I learned in management training.”

“This is going to go great!” Nicolaus said sarcastically with a heavy roll of the eyes.

Part 4

(This needs to stop happening…) A hefty hangover and cold hardwood floor being far from comfortable, offered little support throughout the long night to Nicolaus as he pushed himself upright. It was the second time in two days that he’d slept in the house of a person he wouldn’t consider a friend, barely even a co-worker! Looking over to the couch he spied Amala, curled up in a blanket. Vernon was snoring, out cold, with his back leaned against the couch. Light footsteps heading towards the door caught Nicolaus’s attention! It was Katie, trying to sneak out. She looked back, giving Nicolaus a smile, a wink and holding her finger to her lips to signify he should remain quiet. The bright red hair of the young woman disappeared as she closed the door behind her, leaving without waking the others. (Guess she has some stuff she needs to handle. Whatever…I’m too messed up to stop her.)

Aftermath from the night before started taking its toll again, so he laid back down on the floor for a few more minutes until he heard groaning come from the couch. Vernon sat up, kicking over two empty bottles beside him; noticing his not so friendly acquaintance was also awake, they stared at each other. Both scowling men tried in vain to remember if their night of drinking caused either to say anything unsavory to or about the other.

“Nick’O…I’ll just come out and say it. If I said anything messed up, my bad.” Surprisingly humble, Nicolaus thought of Vernon’s statement as being less than genuine.

(Probably another tactic he learned in management training. ‘Immediately seize the moral high ground’.) “Same…” The pessimist countered, only to immediately slam his hand over his own mouth! The sharp sensation of quickly building vomit rocketed up in his throat!

The also hungover, but clearly less so, Vernon took notice of his co-worker’s face taking a sickly green. “Bathroom’s upstairs, first door on the left.” Nicolaus sprinted for the restroom!

After barely making it to the toilet, pressure in Nicolaus’s stomach eased. When the spiky haired youth finished washing his hands, he exited into the hallway and noticed some pictures of what appeared to be a much younger Vernon and his mother. The pictures depicted the Italian-American man through the years growing up. Holding a baseball trophy with a team of other children surrounding him, snowboarding with his mother, graduating from high school with a valedictorian sash on, and even in front of his house, hugging his much older mother. There was only a single photo of what appeared to be Vernon’s father. It showed what looked like him as a newborn, his mother having had just given birth and his father leaning over into frame looking overwhelmed with joy.

As Nicolaus walked down the stairs he was pushed aside, nearly being thrown off the steps by Amala running to the bathroom, covering her mouth! Vernon chuckled and called out to Nicolaus. “Guess you two aren’t hard drinkers, huh?” He replied with a simple shake of the head. “Know where Katie went?”

“Uh…yeah, I saw her leave this morning. She looked fine, so don’t worry too much. More importantly we should report to work ASAP, right?” Nicolaus checked his phone and noticed that it was already eleven in the morning.

“It’s not like we have to go back immediately, but you’re right. I’ll E-Mail them for myself. In the meantime, do you want me to call a taxi for you?” The kindness that he was being shown, again surprised Nicolaus.

“Before any of that, I want to check on Amala.” As he said that, the little Indian woman exited the bathroom. Her normally vibrant brown skin had lost a lot of its luster, and her formally tied up hair hung draped over her face. “Hey, you up to share a ride back to…”

Amala stopped Nicolaus just short of finishing his question. “Y-Yes…whatever…okay?” Still clearly woozy, she plopped down on the steps.

Everyone gathered up their belongings and a car drove up to the road that ran nearest to Vernon’s house. Amala and Nicolaus filed into the car as Vernon walked back up to his house. It took Nicolaus a second, but he recognized the same driver that’d driven him and Katie up to the house originally!

“Hey buddy, how ya’ doing?” He called to Nicolaus in the backseat.

“…Alright I guess. Would you mind keeping the radio down? We were drinking pretty hard last night.”

“Sure, sure, no problem. New friend?”

“Yeah…I guess.” Amala had already zonked out in the car. The driver took notice and kept his voice down with his next question.

“There a reason you ditched the one from before?”

“Mind…your own…business…” Those were Nicolaus’s last words as he also drifted off to sleep.

Abruptly stopping the car at its first destination unintentionally woke the groggy young man in the back seat. “Sorry pal. Didn’t mean to wake you up like that.” The skinhead looking chauffeur called to the back. Even though it felt like a few seconds, the car had been driving for nearly thirty minutes as it reached Amala’s apartment. Nicolaus felt a small weight pressing on his shoulder; it was the still sleeping Amala. With a nudge, her eyes sprung open! Embarrassed at her unflattering appearance, she pushed away from Nicolaus fast enough to hit the back of her head on the car door window!

“My bad…” Amala stated, getting out of the car and rushing for the door to her apartment. Suddenly, she stopped on a dime and turned around to the car door she’d left open! “Here.” Amala said as she attempted to hand Nicolaus some money from her bag.

“Don’t worry about it.” He replied.

“Just take it, okay?” Amala shoved the money into her carpooling co-worker’s hands and then left. Laying back in the seat, Nicolaus began to rest again as the driver brought him back to his apartment.

When he reached the destination, Nicolaus bid a farewell as the driver yelled out to him from the car. “Don’t forget the rating, kiddo! Also, that young lady was pretty nice too! Good job!” The young pessimist lost his already shaky composure and stumbled as he walked up the stairs to the second floor of the complex.

As soon as the door to his place opened, the young man was greeted by the smell of food being cooked on the stove. The strong and savory aroma filled the entire flat. His sister’s boyfriend, the suave and friendly Alonso greeted him on the way in. As for his sister, she laid stretched out across the couch.

“Dani, you will make an excellent mother.” Nicolaus’s obvious sarcasm made Alonso laugh as he invited his soon-to-be in-law to sit down for breakfast.

End of Chapter 4