Chapter 26: A PLAN AND A DATE

Noah has decided Sam has to die.

He’s cleared his mind in the endless nights he’s been awoken by nightmares, looking at the dark shapes in Riley’s room which turned into humanoid monsters in his half asleep daze. He thought about it when he gasped for air, suddenly bolting up after two blinding lights continuously chased him. As his mind echoed for him to remember.

‘You’re talking to a cop. So, be careful.’ A booming voice mustered all around him, just for Noah to cover his ears at the rattling in his teeth and bones, and the pain shooting from his head, and Riley’s accusation growing up in strength until it became a hellish distortion, a mockery of Riley.

Noah has decided he’s going to kill Sam. But choosing a method has proven more difficult. In the early hours, before Rose wakes up to start her shift, he’s been fantasizing. He’s not going to use a gun, or a knife. Maybe Riley was skilled in the use of weapons, but Noah hasn’t touched a pistol in his life. Not even his father’s. So the weight of it is unnatural, too heavy and too powerful for Noah’s hesitation. 

However, he’s still contemplating if he’ll tell the group. They’ll know, once Sam is dead. Noah won’t even have to say anything, because Rune will see through him. But talking about it before the deed is done might permit the group to intervene. And he doesn’t want to be stopped. 

He hears Rose yawn in the short corridor, and Noah confirms with the clock it’s 8 am. The numbers blink red. He throws his duvet aside, and sighs. Today’s rhythm is going to be marked by his headache. As it was yesterday. And many days before. Ever since Sam abandoned the warehouse, and Rune took him home in a silent ride. Their kiss seemed a thousand years ago, like a fever dream. 

Duncan and Eve have been preparing the equipment they’ll need whenever they know which house they’ll be robbing. Noah’s task has been waiting for that text. Every time his phone buzzes, his heart jumps out of his mouth, and his breath catches until he discovers it’s an ad, or Rose asking when he’ll be home from the bookstore. Rune’s routine is the only one that hasn’t changed, and his usual work at The Old Bookhouse has been a source of comfort for Noah, his crouched frame an unchangeable variable in an experiment whose conditions were changing by the minute. Rune is the constant, the only piece that remains even if the rest changes. Noah is grateful for the time he spends reading a book he’s chosen to buy from the store, a sense of normalcy that allows his lungs to breathe normally at least a few hours. 

Then, as Rune closes that store, Noah’s thoughts come rushing to him as if on schedule, and his heart pounces in his chest, and his chest hurts with every deliberate breath, until he’s sure he’ll end up passing out from the conscious effort. Rune takes him home—sometimes, Rune’s godparents invite him to dinner—, and the nightmares start again, marking the beginning of another cycle.

Rose is as radiant as ever. Noah hasn’t told her much, not about the Nyx or Sam’s visit. She places a bowl of cereal in front of Noah’s seat, and then sips on her iced americano as she leans on the counter.

“How are you feeling today?” She asks when Noah is settled.

“As shitty as always. My head is going to kill me.” He groans, his throat dried and inflamed.

“Maybe you should go to the doctor.”

“Maybe,” he nods.

Noah gulps half of the bowl, thanking Rose and sees her out. After that, he takes a shower. He flexes his hand, wincing at the lingering pain. It’s likely he’ll be in pain for some time after removing the cast, especially at the torn tissue around the fracture. It feel tender, as if flailing the member will snap his bone in half again. A reminder of the fragility of flesh and bone. The scalding water trails along his chest, his back, his thighs. His wet hair drips into his collarbone, and his face. He takes a deep breath, but it turns into a shaky gasp. Noah lets the water caress every inch of his skin, Riley’s scars, and Noah’s wounds. He reaches up, touching the bumpy skin in his neck, but his closed eyes are remembering something else. It’s not his messed up appearance in that hospital bathroom he remembers, but the warmth of someone’s fingers.

He choses a pair of light brown corduroy pants and a hoodie, combined with his bloody sneakers. Two technicians are repairing the broken elevator, and Noah salutes them with a smile. The tension in the curve of his lips tugs at his chapped lips, and the pressure in his head explodes for just a second. 

His trip to buy groceries is cut short when he bumps into a familiar figure after exiting the pharmacy. Noah’s eyes widen when he recognizes his tanned skin and his wire glasses, and the golden eyes behind them. Kent’s smile widens as he takes in Noah’s presence.

“Mr. Addaway, nice to see you around.” He offers a hand, and Noah shakes it. Looking at the plastic bag in Noah’s hand, he adds, “Feeling sick?”

Noah nods. “My head.”

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Kent chuckles, “So that’s why you haven’t contacted me.” His voice is teasing, but his smile… There’s something unpleasant about that grin, it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“I’ve been kind of busy,” Noah says, twisting the truth and striping it to its simplest form. “And then,” he points to his head, grimacing.

Kent looks at his watch. “Today my schedule is clear all morning. I have time to finish that conversation, do you?”

The golden eyes trace his face with interest, a tight smile tugging Kent’s lips up. Noah considers, finally settling for a curt nod. “I do have some time,” he looks at the screen of his phone, and a wave of relief surges through him when he doesn’t find any unread messages, “but I have other plans, so it has to be quick.” He wants to catch Rune before closing.

Kent nods in agreement, “I know a good place. It’s almost empty in the morning.”

The place the man is talking about turns out to be Rose’s café. She greets them, flashing an evil smile with raised eyebrows at Noah when Kent’s back is to them. Noah frowns and shakes his head. She shrugs, tilting her head with a grin. 

Noah sips on his iced tea while Kent pours two packets of sugar into the cappuccino, Noah observes his long fingers stirring the coffee with a spoon. 

“We left it at you accusing Solace Pharma of selling a dangerous product. Why did you say so?” Kent asks. Noah doesn’t hear any hidden meaning except for the edge of amusing curiosity. Maybe Kent is bored enough to take interest in Noah’s challenges. Or he isn’t worried about Noah’s threatening existence when he can make Noah disappear. It’s likely he already did it once with Riley. This second time, Kent won’t make the mistake again of leaving Riley’s body alive. Noah knows. It’s what he would do.

“I have reason to believe the product is a rebrand.” Noah shrugs, but the slight tremble in his voice betrays the thoughts behind that calm statement. The rope he’s walking on. “Too much coincidence that a similar product has been developed a year after the merger with Gamma Pharma.”

“What if we created a better version? A safe reformulation.” He suggests, looking at Noah while he sips the cappuccino.

Noah shakes his head, his eyes dart around the wooden table as he thinks of the possibility. “Not likely. Taking out the research phase, it would still take more than seven years. The clinical trials and the regulatory approval would’ve been repeated.”

Kent smiles sideways, and his eyes shine. He tilts his head, taking out his glasses and inspecting the nosepiece as if it were the most entertaining show in the world. He narrows his eyes. “You do know your facts.” He sighs. “The NDC will investigate the product. It seems someone was thinking the same as you, and they decided to make an anonymous report.”

Noah’s face remains emotionless at the slight accusation. “If Solace is not repeating the same mistake, then you have nothing to worry about.” He dries the sweat off his hand in the legs of his trouser, hoping Kent won’t see the marks.

Kent smiles. There’s sadness in it, and his eyes seem lost in a memory only him can relive. “My father wanted everyone to have access to basic health. I wonder when he changed his mind.” His words are bitter. “Anyways, when I inherit Solace, I’ll make sure something like this never happens again. There’s no place for easy money when the citizens’ health is at risk.” Then, he raises his gaze, pining Noah in place. “Thank you for this wake up call. I should be more vigilant in the future.” Kent’s hands embrace Noah’s cold hands. “If there’s anything I can help with, don’t doubt to ask.”

Noah nods, waiting two seconds to retrieve his hands. They hug goodbye. Kent smells like sun-dried clothes. Noah watches Kent walk away from the café through the windows, barely aware of Rose approaching. However, her words mix with the rush on his ears as his phone buzzes in the pocket of his pants. His fingers hover over the unlock button, the black screen reflects a slightly distorted Riley, and he remembers the hellish chant of his dreams, and the blinding lights coming at him.

His heart skips a heartbeat when he reads the message.

TODAY IS THE DAY. MEET ME AT THE WAREHOUSE. AT 1 AM. SAVE SOME TOOLS FOR ME. I’M COMING TOO. 

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