Safe

Secrets

As soon as the cuckoo clock on the far side of the wall chimed the time for your break, you instinctively glanced out the window, hoping to hear Jim's solar surfer even if it was faint from the ruckus from the inn.

You left your apron on a hook and went upstairs to the bathroom to clean up.

Upon entering, you saw yourself in the mirror and your eyes widened in shock. Your hair was disheveled, but it wasn't so bad, just a few hairs up and about like you were hit by a gust of wind.

Okay. Maybe it did look little bad.

Jim can't see you like this.

You stood over the sink and grumbled. You should have bought toiletries while you were in town. A toothbrush, and hairbrush would be especially convenient now, you thought as you smelled your breath. You always ran your fingers down your hair and mouthwashed, but the idea of having those items never stayed permanent.

Nonetheless, you smoothed your hair, mouthwashed, and then washed your hands. You splashed cold water on your hot face, gasping softly and enjoying the coolness. You reached for a towel and began to dry your face as you straightened. When you set down the towel, you screamed at your reflection in the mirror.

Instead of seeing yourself, a reddish brown  creature with six eyes and a mouth with few fangs in between two longer ones was staring maliciously at you. His big hat, long black coat and the way he stood himself with the look of authority, told you it was Captain Nathaniel Flint.

You backed away until you hit the door. You were staring in horror that you forgot to breathe or blink. Once you opened your eyes again, your horrified reflection stared back at you.

A soft knock on the door startled you and you yelped.

"Read? Are you in there? What's going on?"

It was Jim. A strange, warm feeling blossomed in your chest in joy that he actually made it.

"Uh. Y-yeah it's me! I was just cleaning up." You finished looking at yourself in the mirror and opened the door. Jim was standing in the hallway with his black jacket slung over his shoulder; his hair was messy and he smoothed a hand over it and puffed a breath out.

The warm feeling in your heart began to transition into an ache. "Uh, hi. I-I see you came back from Solar surfing. How was it?"

Jim grinned. "It was great. Are we going to your room now?"

You frowned. "What? Why would you- Oh! Right, sorry." You turned toward your room and opened it.

The window was open, as usual. And Stygian lay sprawled asleep in a stupor on your bed in a mess of crumbs and fish skeletons. His stomach looked like it could pop if you tried to poke him.

"Stygian!" You cried but his ear barely twitched. "My bed is gonna smell of...whatever it is you were eating!"

You sighed in annoyance and continued to pull the book out from under your bed and handed it to Jim.

"It's the page after Flint's. I just want to know if you know her." You sat on the edge of your bed and eagerly watched Jim as he opened the book and flip to the page on Flint. You watched as he flipped to the next page and the next. Jim started to frown as he neared the end. No hologram appeared.

"What?" You frowned at his expression. It was almost dreadful to look at, like he's seen a ghost. "Jim, what is it? Do you know something?"

"Read..." he flipped pages and then looked at you. "There is no story about a girl."

*♡*

When you first came to the planet, you had no hope but to pawn your treasure box to buy a room to live in while you figured out your problems. Then you met Delbert, who kindly offered Sarah to take you in as an employee. After that, you then decided to just settle down and not worry about who you are and only focus on the now.