Forty: Company

Soon, I immersed myself and my much slower working brain in work. I heard mutters of people talking around me about me and their speculation about what had happened to me. There were a few complaints at the slowness with which I worked but I heard both Boss and Eleanor hush them quickly. I concentrated as hard as I could in order not to remember anything else.

At lunch, Eleanor brought me a sandwich.

"I could hear your stomach growling from the other side of the office all morning," she said with a grin. "Hope that should tide you over until dinner."

It did, but by hometime, I was pooped.

"Go home," Eleanor stood beside my desk, worry lines furrowing her brow. My head felt stuffy and heavy. I just wanted to put it down and rest, but if I did, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to pick it back up again. "Want me to drive you?"

I hesitated, tempted by the thought, but then… if someone was really trying to kill me, being near me might put her in harm's way. It would be better for my conscience if I didn't put her in any danger.

"No," I managed to smile, "but thank you. It's okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I picked up my bag and waved, following my co-workers out the door. "Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it."

Rather than take the elevator and have to deal with the curious stares of my colleagues and other office workers in the building, I decided since I was already so tired, why not give myself a little more exercise and take the stairs. Maybe it would wake me up enough to keep me awake on the way home.

"Hey, hey, wait up, Jean," called Priscilla's voice from the top of the stairs and I nearly tripped. I wasn't in the mood to put up with her and pretended I couldn't hear her, instead hurrying down the stairs as fast as my legs could take me. "Hey," the voice sounded puffed behind me.

Around the corner, I lost myself in the homegoing crowds of people at the end of the work day and watched Priscilla walk past me. She turned in the wrong direction. I meandered through the smaller shops of the city, taking the scenic route back to the Compound, not wanting to bump into Priscilla or have to talk to anyone I might know.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I was being watched. Stopping to look into a shop window, I looked behind me using the window reflection and recognised a handful of those Bosky soldiers from the day of the Invasion. The flamboyant musician wasn't walking about with his ukelele, but his floral shirt and the way he flicked his long, curly hair back gave him away. The three slouching youths were watching me out the corners of their eyes from beneath the low brows of their beanies. Across the road, the business man with the five o'clock shadow was tying his shoelaces.

And here they all were. The Boskies who weren't meant to be on this side of the city. The flood had since dried up so I supposed it was understandable if they had snuck back over to this side. The Bosky soldier's team were back and looked like they wanted me dead. If they were here, didn't that mean the Boskies were really still working to take over this side of the city from behind the scenes? In that case, they would be invading and trying to take back more of the city very soon.

Light glinted off the top of a knife hidden in a sleeve. A handkerchief was being folded up and wet with liquid from a bottle. Were they trying to kill me because I could recognise them and point them out to my government? How did they know I would recognise them, anyway? Or was it for some other reason? Where was the extra security that Mr Cooper and Mr Raring had promised? What should I do?

I was good at running, fair at hiding but awful at fighting. I didn't know how to fight. I should run and hide myself amongst the people but the Boskies were spreading out to trap me in so that I wouldn't be able to escape. The memories of last night's close encounters had frozen my limbs stiff. I wanted to but couldn't. Couldn't move.

I stood there not really seeing anything in the shop but the reflections of the Boskies drawing closer and closer to me in the window. I was as good as dead.

"Hey, Jean," Priscilla clapped me on the shoulder and I jumped. The reflections in the mirror retreated, blending back into the crowd, until I couldn't see where they'd gone anymore. "There you are. I've been chasing you since we left work."

"You have?" I blinked at her, somehow glad to see her. It was a comfort. She'd saved me from impending doom without realising it. Who'd have thought the rookie had moments where her timing was right? The least I could do now was put up with her and keep her company until we got back to the Compound. "Sorry, I didn't realise."

"While I was chasing you, look," she held up a plastic bag, "I bought us dinner. My shout. I need some company today. Hope you don't mind?"

"Mind? No," I said, thinking about it. Then finding that I meant what I said, I smiled. At least for today, I didn't mind at all. I owed her at least this much for saving my life. "We can eat dinner together, but I should pay you back. You shouldn't have to shout me."

"Don't worry," Priscilla grinned, tugging me away in the direction of the Compound. "You can always shout me another time."

"All right," I smiled and followed her. The Boskies in disguise walked away from us in the opposite direction, mixed in with the crowd. I shouldn't have to worry about them tonight. I hoped. I prayed.