A month before the accident:
Bartholomew did leave on a few more errands without us and I started getting very bored. I couldn't do anything if I didn't follow him on his missions and just had to stay home and stare at the wall. I already knew that I existed in this world so I thought about going out to meet the people "I" knew here. But that just felt wrong for some reason. I didn't want to pretend to be someone I wasn't. They knew one version of me but that wasn't the real me anymore. I did answer their messages to comfort them that I was okay but that was it. We shouldn't have been very close anyway because they didn't insist on seeing me and quickly gave up after I told them everything was fine. I did get fired from my job because of all the days missing so I was thinking about finding a new one. But working just gave me anxiety.
Bonnie was starting to get bored too and we realized that we wanted to continue following Bartholomew on his outhings. After all he was the main character in this world so sticking to him was the best answer to understand how we got here in the first place. Moreover, if we helped the story move on maybe we could get home quicker, or at least Bonnie. Maybe once the book was finished, the passage would open again. Or were we dead in our past worlds? I did get into an accident but maybe I was just in a coma somewhere.
We had no idea and we couldn't really find out except if we went back to where it all started. Bonnie still couldn't leave without Bartholomew so I was the one who went back to the hospital and to the alley. I didn't find anything and when I came home I had to disappoint Bonnie.
"Nothing?
-Nothing. I looked for hours but everything just looks normal."
Bonnie started rubbing her chin:
"Maybe the location wasn't what was important. Maybe it was Bartholomew being in danger."
I thought about it. Bartholomew would have survived the attacks but Bonnie appeared just in time to save him all together. Without her he would have needed way more time to recover.
"Maybe you are right. So you just need to save him all together from the people who want him dead.
-But that's almost everyone. Should I stay here until he dies of old age?"
I shrugged:
"Maybe the person who killed his parents is still after him. Maybe we have to find the culprit and send them to jail before we can leave."
Bonnie sighed:
"So back to square one. We just wait. We can't even investigate if he doesn't let us tag along.
-You're right..."
Now it was my turn sighing.
"I hate that this was exactly what we were trying to avoid.
-Yeah...
-I will ask him tonight. The quicker we find the killer the quicker you can go home."
Bonnie grabbed my hands:
"The quicker we can go home.
-Right."
I smiled but didn't know if that worked for me too. After all, I existed in this world and I wasn't in the book. I didn't know why or how I got here. Did I even have a reason to be here? Maybe I just transmigrated. I didn't save Bartholomew so what could be my role? If I had one. I would worry about it when the time came.
As soon as I heard Bartholomew come home, I went to his study. Zadimus didn't seem delighted to see me but after last time he couldn't tell me to leave and just let me open the door in silence. Bartholomew turned towards the door with a frown which turned upside down when he recognized me. I knew he was going to call me kitten and I wasn't going to give him time to speak:
"Your outing tomorrow. I want to come too."
Bartholomew immediately lost his smile:
"No. You can't.
-But I will. What? Are you going to lock me up again?"
Bartholomew froze:
"That won't happen ever again, I promise. But please reconsider. It's dangerous.
-The only danger I was in last time was you. So, as long as you don't shoot me, I should be fine.
-Aed, I beg you... Please don't come.
-I want to."
I had never seen Bartholomew so desperate before and the more against it he was, the more I wanted to come. How else would I find out who killed Bartholomew's parents? Why couldn't I continue reading that damn story? At least find out who the killer was. I had to speed things up.
"I will come.
-Aed..."
I smirked:
"What? Am I not your kitten anymore?"
Bartholomew didn't find it funny.
"You can be ruthless when you want to.
-Have you just found out? See you tomorrow."
Bartholomew couldn't add anything, and I left. As I came out of Bartholomew's study, I found myself face to face with Gardenia and judging by her expression, she must have heard what had gone on inside. She didn't seem very happy that I was tagging along, and she grabbed my arm with strength before pulling me further away:
"Why do you have to cling to him like a leech?"
I pushed her hand away:
"I assure you; I would love to be kilometers away from him. But this is bigger than him or me. I am willing to put my anger away for a few hours. I hope you are mature enough for that too."
Gardenia snarled:
"Mature? You are the childish one here. Making a fuss because you want to come and the next second forces him to take you with us.
-I am just trying to get out of here as soon as possible.
-By spying on his every move? I knew that you were up to something.
-I am really not. I am just trying to help you so I can leave."
Gardenia frowned:
"Are you saying that you are going to leave as soon as we find out who killed his family?
-Yes. Hopefully.
-So you do love him."
I sighed:
"Why does everything people do have to be because of love? I don't have such feelings for him and have other reasons to help. We are talking about freaking murder. Do you think that the investigators are only doing their job because they love Bartholomew?"
Gardenia frowned:
"Look at you being all smart. But if you promise that you are going to leave once we find the culprit. I don't mind helming you.
-I promise."
Gardenia looked at my clothes before snarling:
"You will never get in tomorrow dressed like this."
I looked at my shirt and jeans:
"Why? Where are we going?
-Somewhere where people don't need a lot of clothes."
I frowned:
"That could be anything going from the beach to a threesome."
Gardenia rolled her eyes:
"How funny.
-Not in the mood for jokes I see. So, did you mean the beach?"
Gardenia didn't answer and just raised her eyebrows once as a sign of agreeing. The next morning I dressed up accordingly but just when I thought I was ready, I met Peridot on my way down. The latter looked at my clothes with a frown:
"Are you heading out with Master Virion today?
-Yes. Why?"
He didn't say anything and waved for me to follow him. I should have known that Gardenia would try humiliating me. I felt stupid for believing her. I was way too nice for my own good. Peridot brought me directly to Bartholomew's dressing and pulled out multiple items of clothing before staring at them for long minutes.
"Why did you bring me here instead of my own dressing room?
-Master Virion will be happy seeing you in his clothes."
I didn't like the idea of making Bartholomew happy but Peridot was adamant:
"You don't have suitable clothes in your own dressing room.
-I doubt that.
-Do you even know where you are going?
-If you told me I would."
Peridot didn't answer and he finally decided on a rather revealing outfit before handing it to me:
"Put this on.
-Where the hell are we going?
-This will be more than perfect."
Was I being stupid for trusting Peridot after Gardenia tried playing me? I didn't care and put on the outfit chosen. I just wanted it to be over with at this point and didn't even look in the mirror on my way out. Judging by the others' reaction, I did look good and I couldn't help feeling happy for some dumb reason. Especially when I saw Gardenia's angry expression. All of them were dressed very nicely and I would have looked like an idiot in my beach clothes.