“If you do not feel comfortable with the work, let us know, but we think that this is the most important thing we could be doing right now.” Zion handed the last card to Clive. “We believe God brings people together for a reason.” Pat wasn’t sure about that, but he did believe it was an odd coincidence that he had ended up here with this particular group. “We also respectfully ask that, while on campus, you refrain from engaging in vaping, pre-marital sex, drinking, swearing, or utilizing recreational drugs. We have many people here not working for us that are recovering from various addictions and we do not want to tempt them.”
Pat caught Clive giving Arrow the side-eye and a silent conversation seemed to pass between them. Pat was beginning to feel the weight of isolation from the others. He had spent the majority of his time going on annoying dates, talking to Theresa, and pretending to be social with clients of his father’s business. Now that he was in a group that was trying to be friends with him, he was unsure what to do.
“Arrow, you know better than to have any substances on campus, so, if we find anything in your room, it will get thrown away. We do room checks before bed every night.” Zion was kind when he said it, but his eyes were focused on Arrow.
“Gosh dangit, Zion. I haven’t had a good drink in nearly 24 hours.” Arrow grumbled.
“You are welcome to partake of anything you like after you’re done working for the day and off campus.” Zion said. “I just don’t want you doing it here. However, as your friend, Arrow, I don’t think you need it period.”
“Yes, thank you!” Clive said with emphasis. He was still riled up and Arrow misbehaving seemed to be the distraction he needed at that moment.
“Are the bad people able to track us down if we have a chip?” Harmony said suddenly.
“They shouldn’t be able to. Thought Conductors are specifically designed for mental health and not to work as a GPS tracker.” Pat interjected, reciting a very familiar spiel.
“Oh, okay.” She whispered.
“Why do you ask?” Rachel persisted, looking into Harmony’s concerned face.
“Somebody was in my room.”
For a moment, the room went radio silent.
“We need more details than that, girl.” Arrow encouraged, relieved the attention was off him.
“She’s a woman I saw once before. But she can walk through walls. Is she an apparition?”
“I think so.” Zion affirmed. “I don’t think they can hurt anybody, though. We have no proof that these apparitions are violent or even solid enough to do damage.”
“It’s still creepy.” Harmony said. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep. I don’t know if I can use my app to manage it because my chip was deactivated before I came here. I don’t want m-m-more apparitions…” She trailed off into sobs and began to hyperventilate.
The panic seemed to grip her quickly, but Pat knew that it had been building. He had been watching Harmony on and off all night. She had been observing everybody apathetically, but he could tell that inside her mind there was a storm raging. It was the same for him.
Rachel swooped in beside Harmony and began to rub her back. “Breathe, dear.” She said soothingly. “Could you get her some water?” She addressed Arrow who was closest to the buffet table.
He stood obediently and poured a glass. When the cup was half full he took her the cup, bending down slightly. He was already much taller and bigger than anybody in the room, but he dwarfed Harmony as she sat. Tears were creating paths on her cheeks and she sniffed aggressively. Pat tried not to stare, but he was fascinated by somebody else dissolving into chaos beside him.
“We will adjourn for the night. Since it is the weekend, we won’t be doing much, but your job assignments will begin on Monday if you decide to stay. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.” Zion said tactfully. He was so good at being a host.
Pat stood and left along with Sirona and Zion. Arrow stayed behind awkwardly as if he expected to be asked to get Harmony more water. Clive also stayed behind, seemingly to not be outdone by a recovering alcoholic.
“Arrogance, thy name is Clive…” Pat muttered.
“What?” Zion asked.
“Nothing.”
“You sure?” The warmth from Zion’s smile made Pat feel the pressure to open up.
“I…I’ve been better.” He offered.
“Do you want to talk?” The two men stopped in the hallway and Sirona went on to her room. Zion waved politely to her then looked back at Pat. “I have time.”
“No, thanks.” Pat tore himself from the kind offer and walked up the stairs to his room. He actually was disappointed in his choice. Zion seemed like a genuinely kind person, but Pat didn’t want to get attached to anybody. His mission was still to find Justice, and once he had found her he’d be leaving.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ALL HARMONY COULD feel was shame. The two people she most didn’t want to melt down in front of were Clive and Arrow. Clive was a doctor and Arrow just seemed like he had never had a vulnerable moment in his life.
“You don’t have to stay with me.” Harmony mumbled to no one in particular.
“We’ll leave together.” Rachel insisted. “C’mon. I’ll take you back to your room where you can decompress. Too much stimulation for one day.”
“Are you sure you’re fine?” Clive interjected. He seemed very upset that there was nothing he could do.
“I will be fine.” She half-lied. In truth, she wasn’t sure if she would be fine. After finding out about what the apparitions were, she was afraid.
Clive was the first to lead the group out of the conference room. Rachel linked her arm with Harmony’s and they walked together with Arrow bringing up the rear. Rachel chatted, but Harmony didn’t pay full attention to what she said. She knew that Rachel was trying to distract her but, truthfully it wasn’t typically what helped her when she was struggling with anxiety.
“Rachel!” Came a shout from the other side of the hall and an unfamiliar woman rounded the corner. She was in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms and had long, scraggly blond hair down to her waist.
“Yes, Lelly?” Rachel said, her arm coming unhooked from Harmony’s.
“Deb is seizing. I think she overdosed!”
“Did you call 911?”
“No, I…”
