Kathryn came to in a glowing white room, to her surprise, safe and sound. Her breathing was normal, her skin clear and smooth, her strength restored. From what she could tell from all the medical equipment, she was in some sort of hospital ward with near to eight other patients she did not recognise. Contradicting memories of getting blisters from the fire made her lie there in confusion. Where were Leo and Clarisa? Did they make it? Was Clarisa saved? In answer to her questions, Clarisa walked into the ward without a scratch on her skin, unintentionally turning all the heads in her direction. They were either attracted to her beauty, jealous that she had returned from an assignment completely unscathed, or filled with hatred and wanted her out of the department as soon as possible. Kathryn bolted upright and whirled out of her bed. Oblivious to the other patients' annoyance, she said loudly,
“Clarisa! What happened? I thought we were burned!”
Clarisa put a finger to her lips and gestured for Kathryn to follow her out of the ward. As they moved through the corridors of sickbay, she explained,
“We have completed the assignment at the castle, and we’re unharmed because the fire is only a manifestation of the Darkness. We healed immediately after I teleported us here. Leo, however, is in a critical condition because the bullet tore a portion of his lung as well as fractured a rib.”
Kathryn’s face distorted in alarm.
“Did… did I do that?”
“I assume he told you to drive out the Darkness by shooting him?”
Kathryn wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but she retold all that she remembered,
“He stopped responding to me… his eyes turned black, he told me to shoot him to wake him up, and I intended to shoot his arm, but…”
Seeing that Kathryn's eyes were welling with tears, Clarisa consoled her,
“It's alright, Kathryn. We've made it out of there, and the both of us are safe. Let's just hope Leo gets better after the operation.”
Kathryn shook her head in self-reproach. “I was such a loser,” she snivelled. “I went through the fire trying to save you but I failed, because the Darkness…”
“You went through the fire trying to save me,” Clarisa repeated.
“But then I gave up!” she cried. “I wasn't brave enough to fight the Darkness!”
Nurses were beginning to look their way, and Clarisa whispered,
“You tried and that’s good enough. I'm safe now, aren't I?”
“But Leo isn't!” she lamented. “All because of my lousy aim!”
[Kathryn.]
The switch in form of communication hinted to her that enough was enough.
[That assignment wasn't easy, in fact it was one of the strangest I've encountered. I'm grateful that you and I are alive and well, and that's what matters now. I'll let you know about whatever happens to Leo, so don't worry, alright Kathryn?]
Kathryn wished that she had developed her telepathic abilities. Unable to argue, she reluctantly concentrated on her bedroom and teleported there.
Clarisa stared at the empty space where Kathryn had stood and sighed, wondering what she was to do now. She had tried talking to as many chiefs as were available, and they all provided the same reply: We're working on it. Investigation is in progress. None of them could answer for the uncanny evolution of the Darkness or their increasingly distrustful workplace culture, and consulting Johnson was an option she certainly wouldn’t want to consider again. She had to admit that her own spirits were not at their optimum, and instead of seeing anybody, she chose to take some time out for herself. The first escape that came to mind was Stein's Café, and there she headed to. It was mostly empty, including the cozy seat that she, Leo and Jonas last sat at. She took it without ordering anything, leaned back and listened to the classical music that was playing peacefully through the speakers.
For ten minutes she thought of nothing and let her mind clear. She forgot where she was, who she was, and the problems she had yet to face. For the moment she let them all slip. It allowed her time to relax and refocus, and slowly she regained the sanity that had been partially lost after the assignment. She was brought back to reality when someone took the seat opposite her, but by then the process of rejuvenation was complete.
“Not having anything?” Jonas said with a smile. Clarisa smiled back, then shook her head.
“Just… appreciating the ambience.”
“You musta had a rough week,” he said as he played with the stack of napkins on the table, “To be sitting by yourself in a café like that.”
“I've had rougher weeks,” Clarisa assured as she subconsciously arranged the napkins neatly again. “You?”
“Worried about Leo, as you probably are,” Jonas admitted. “I came here for a drink. Can I get ya one?”
“No thank you. I came here because it reminded me of your briefings,” Clarisa declined with a smile.
“Glad you enjoyed them,” he said sadly.
“I hate to be the optimist,” Clarisa heartened, “But I’m not quite sure they'll be the last.”
Jonas laughed as he scanned through the menu for a beverage, then closed it as he thought of something seemingly relevant.
“My grandmother. Crazy optimist. Got cancer when I was eight and swore that it wouldn't kill her. Said that if she was still alive in another six months she’d buy me an actual thirteen-thousand pound elephant.”
“Did she?” Clarisa said amusedly.
“For five months I was really excited about that elephant.”
“I'm sorry.”
Jonas laughed again. “Don't be. Just, if anything bad happens to Leo, don't forget that I'm here.”
Clarisa partly wished that he wasn't so morbid, but thoroughly appreciated the sentiment.
“I will.”
* * *
The room was unusually dark when he entered it. Upon realising who had dropped by, he smiled, as if he was being paid a visit by an old friend. He closed the door and strolled through the smoke.
“I'm here,” he announced his presence. At once, the hand materialised in front of him, this time in a higher definition. It rubbed its fingers together in satisfaction as the Darkness’ voice bellowed,
Johnson, you have done well.
Johnson smiled self-assuredly.
“Does that mean it's time?”
Completely unforeseen to him, a tight slap whipped across his cheekbone, sparking up pain receptors that had never before been activated.
Not yet. Not until another player enters the game. Your role has been established, all you have to do now is uphold it.
Johnson rubbed his face in embarrassment.
“So just, keep at what I'm doing?”
Yes, for it is admittedly effective. Your methods of bribery and fabrication may be old-fashioned, but nonetheless praiseworthy.
“It was nothing,” Johnson shrugged off the compliment, “Luke, Bethany, Tim… they wanted out anyway, and these people gobble up rumours like cheesecake. Refuse to clarify anything and there you have one wreck of a department.”
The hand gestured animatedly,
A wreck beyond the breaking point indeed. Come tomorrow, your bureaucratic departmental chiefs will hold a meeting regarding the transaction with the other division of your organisation. Your task will be to oppose any and all propositions of sealing the agreement, and you shall go by the same stand you held at the previous meeting.
“Clarisa is an asset we can't afford to lose?”
The hand pointed at him approvingly.
Precisely. The purpose of this is to keep her as the lightning rod for controversy and animosity in your department. It is only there that the atmosphere can break her. The latest traps we have designed target directly at greatest fears, and hazarding Leo's well-being is one efficient way to further threaten her emotional stability.
Johnson frowned. “Then why don't I just get the nurses to pull the plug off of him?”
That will come in the final act. For now, his physical and psychological health is the key to lowering her morale. The two clearly feel something for each other, and now is the time to take advantage of that bond.
“Sounds genius to me,” Johnson made sure to massage the Darkness’ ego, in case it had one. “I was just wondering if the new perceiver Kathryn can be used in this affair. I took the liberty to involve her in Clarisa and Leo's latest assignment in the hope that she’d screw it up.”
The hand made a brief thumbs up sign, which left Johnson surprised for a minute.
You made a right move. In answer to your suggestion, the new perceiver will take on a pivotal role in this, along with the sleeping player who has yet to follow up with his actions. Have patience, Johnson, and we will make you the star of our finale.
With its message conveyed, the hand waved goodbye to him. Johnson hesitated with a crooked half-smile on his face before waving back. The smoke in the room gathered towards the hand, lowering its resolution as it engulfed it. With a bang, they erupted altogether, bringing back the lighting of the room. Johnson wondered how peculiar that hand would make him look when his body finally integrated with the Darkness.
He looked forward to it.
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