The shuttles takes off, slowly moving through the sky, heading toward somewhere, and I can feel your comforting presence. What am I doing? Where am I going? I should check that, but instead I flop against a wall and slowly slide down it, wrapping myself up.
Why did he tell me to run? What happened there? Why did I run instead of begging him to help? Why didn't I try to reason with him. The look in his eyes. The sheer ferocity of his hate. Am I shaking? My ghostly pale hand hovers in front of my eyes, trembling. Why am I so scared? I don't understand!
Where can I even go? I'm so well known it would be hard to evade attention. Your presence next to me is my only comfort. I'd tried to ignore you for so long. I'd been convinced I could do everything; that I could solve the world's problems, but here we are. Just you and I again.
Nathan. Nathan might know what to do. He might be willing to hide me for a short time while I figure out where to go next. But Patrick knew about Nathan. I'd seen it in his memories that Melanie had told him about me slipping out and he'd checked the shuttle logs. He wouldn't think I would go back to him would he? Should I go? It was my only option right now. But what if he turns me away. He never came when I reserved a seat for him at events.
But that last promise. I'd promised to come back to him. I had to at least tell him the truth. I needed my disguise. I would have to stop by Patrick's home.
"Shuttle, take me to the McNeil penthouse."
"In route." If this shuttle was already in route to the McNeil penthouse, who had told it to go there? I hadn't said anything. Why was it already going there? Had Patrick programmed it go there? I hadn't headed back to that place in a couple days, living in my office. Had I set it to go back there after the opening of the shelter?
The shuttle stops, and I slowly stand, take a deep breath and stride forward. Technically this is also my residence. Melanie is there.
"Ma'am, that speech was one of your best. I am sure the people loved it. It was what we really needed to interrupt all that media coverage of that small group of rioters." Melanie's words barely register with me. She seems so happy and excited, but I'm not sure why. I've never seen her this emotional before.
"Melanie, do you still have my brown dress I came in?"
Her excitement seems to diminish. "Why do you want that?"
"I need to head out into the city." I can't tell her more. I know she will probably tell Patrick.
"What for Ma'am?"
Her curiosity will be my bane. "To see a person."
"Oh. That again. Well then. Come in. Wait in your room and I'll go get it." She scurries away, and I head in through the open front entrance. I take my shoes off, and leave them there. It will probably be the last time I ever wear those plain black heels. I head into my room, this massive luxury I should have never been introduced to. This world isn't my world. I am of the dregs of society. I should have stayed where I belonged.
I start to unbutton my dress, and then stop. Should I say goodbye to Azalea? I've barely talked to her, but she always seems so lonely and lost.
Melanie will be coming back here. "Room, tell Melanie when she comes in that I'm talking to Azalea."
I walk to the study where I've often seen Azalea. Sure enough she is there, staring out a window. "Have you ever thought of going out there?" I ask.
She looks at me. Tilts her head. "Hope. That's your name, right?"
"Yes."
"I don't think I can go out there. I have this feeling that the world hates me." Her gaze drifts back to the window and she lays her hand on it. "No one ever wants to talk to me. Heck, even my supposed husband never seems to say much. Just sits there staring at me like he has no idea what to do with me."
