The Daughters of Tomorrow

Chapter Four

After several moments of silence Evelyn was the one to speak,

“Okay, maybe looking for The Keeper isn’t such a bad idea after all? I know that after this afternoon Carly would most likely be relieved if I took some time off..”

“I don’t think it would be wise for me to go, I want answers just as much as you do but I only just started my job and I have already caused some major problems. If only I could be in two places at once. And besides! If we were really going to look for The Keeper, we would need to come up with a game plan first, it’s never a good idea to just dive into anything.” Hen answered.

“You’re right, I know. I’m just.. I’m scared. I don’t know what’s happening, I’m scared to tell my fiancé because I don’t know how he’ll react and I need his support now more than ever and we don’t have any idea on why any of these things are happening to us. Like not even an inkling. The only things we do know is that a- none of this is normal and b- there’s supposedly some know all creature who could very well be a myth but is still worth a shot if it’s going to ease whatever ‘symptoms’ we’ve been having.”

“Evie, I don’t disagree with you and lord knows that I’m scared too. I just think maybe we should try our hand at some more research before we do anything and if I do decide to go searching for answers then I will be mapping out every move I plan on taking beforehand. Okay?”

“Okay.” Evie sighed

“Look when I get discharged from here, why don’t you come back to my place and we can do another internet search? Or hey, maybe you could go and talk to your fiancé about everything and see what he thinks because I truly think an outside opinion might be helpful and we can always take our next steps from there?”

Evie thought about what Hen was saying, but she didn’t know how Mark would react. She didn’t want him to think she was crazy, he felt like home and she didn’t think she could handle losing her home. But, if he loves her then he will stand by her and if they’re to be married then they should be a team. No secrets.

She had made up her mind.

“I’m going to call Mark right now and head over to his place. If he’s the one for me then he will understand and I think you’re right about needing an outside opinion. Call me when your discharged?”

“I will. Good luck Evie, keep me updated.”

“Okay,” Evie stopped for a moment and looked to the floor before taking a deep breath and saying “bye.”

One Hour Later

“And this all started the first day you met Henrietta?” Mark asked, surprisingly calm after the bomb Evie just dropped on him.

“Yes, and that’s when it started for her aswell.” She answered flatly.

Mark nodded his head blankly and got up from the couch, he walked over to where he had put his computer bag after work and pulled his laptop from it.

“What are you doing?” Evie asked as he sat back down and opened the laptop.

“Research, I know you said you and your friend looked for hours, but I feel like if I look for myself I can get on the same page as you. Does that make sense?”

“I guess so.. it definitely can’t hurt for you to.” She said.

“Exactly, and for what it’s worth I totally think you should look for The Keeper. If something this crazy were happening to me I would of probably gone already. Besides, it’s kind of an adventure and maybe if you look at it that way you won’t be so scared anymore.” He smiled at her softly

“Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For not thinking I’m crazy.” Evie couldn’t help the relief that she felt

“I would never. How about I make us some tea before we study?”

“That would be great.”

Mark and Evie dove into the depths of the internet and searched for hours. They read several stories about mythical creatures and supernatural beings, but nothing they read gave them any clue as to what’s been going on.

“Why don’t I go with you to find The Keeper?” Mark asked.

“You would do that?” Evie was shocked, she’d never even considered the possibility of Mark staying with her, let alone tagging along to find The Keeper.

“Oh Evie, don’t you already know? I’d do anything for you.”

Evie could not resist kissing him in that moment, he was perfect and she didn’t know what she’d ever done to deserve him.

“I am honestly speechless. Obviously I would love for you to come, and that way Henrietta can stay behind and wait instead of putting her job on the line. You are so incredible.” She said breathlessly, once they had broken the kiss.

Mark couldn’t help but chuckle at Evie’s new found excitement.

“I’m glad to help,” he said “all I ever want to do is be there for you.”

“And I love you for that”

She kissed him again.

“Okay, I’m going to call Hen and tell her the news. I’ll be back in five!”

“Okay my love, I’ll see if I can find anything else online.” Mark smiled at her.

Evie pulled her phone from her pocket as she walked into Marks room and then she sat on the bed and pressed the call button.

Henrietta had been discharged and she was getting all of her things together to take home, she was relieved that they had let her go so soon.

Thankfully her tests had all come back negative, showing only that she was a healthy young woman. She carried her box of belongings through the hospital and as she stepped onto the elevator her phone started to ring, so she shifted the box so that it was resting against her hip and she only held it with her right hand, using the left hand to answer her phone.

“Hello?”

“Hen! How are you?” Evie’s voice came loudly through the speaker and Hen could tell that things had gone well with Mark.

“Actually I’m just leaving the hospital, I take it you have an update?”

“Oh!! Do you need a ride home? I would hate for you to walk in the dark!”

Hen looked pulled her phone away from her ear to check the time, 8pm.

“No it’s okay, I was thinking about getting a taxi anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Evie pressed

“Yes, quite. Anyway tell me what happened?”

“Oh yes! Well Mark and I have been on Google for hours now. We didn’t find anything new, but he did say he would come with me to find The Keeper so that you could stay and work. What do you think?”

Hen could hear the excitement in Evie’s voice and she couldn’t help but smile a little as she got out of the elevator and walked towards the hospital exit.

“That sounds wonderful Evie, I’m glad he took everything so well. I do wish I could come, but on the odd chance that this is nothing major I would hate to have no job to come back to.”

“I understand Hen, it’s okay. I will call you with updates every chance I get. I have to admit, this is starting to feel like an adventure! I am still scared of course, but I’ve always been a sucker for a good road trip.”

Henrietta laughed, she was now standing outside and getting ready to hail a cab.

“Okay, I’d better get going. I’ll talk to you soon okay?” She said a bit quietly.

“Oh yes sure! You must be dying to get home. Goodbye.” Evie replied.

“Goodbye.”

She ended the call and proceeded to pull over a taxi, she would have to speak with her boss in the morning and all she could do in the meantime was hope that she hadn’t caused too much damage.

The Next Morning.

Hen was sick with worry about the conversation she was about to have with her boss. She had done her best to postpone calling as long as she could, she had taken her time with breakfast, she had a long shower and she had tidied up her apartment. But it was time to face the music.

She sat down on her grey leather couch and took a deep breath before placing the call.

“Henrietta. How are you feeling, Dear?” A deep voice answered.

“I’m feeling so much better, thank you Mr Cummings. I would love to come back to work as soon as possible, sir.” She said confidently.

“Ah well I’m glad to hear that you’re well. It’s rather unfortunate and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m afraid that you won’t be coming back.. I am so sorry.”

“Sir, please. I promise this won’t happen again.” Hen implored.

“And what is it exactly that happened?” Mr Cummings asked flatly.

“Well, I.. I just.. I don’t know..” Hen racked her brain for an answer, but came up short handed

“I see. Well unfortunately you have cost us thousands of dollars in repairs and you’ve barely been with us for two weeks. I’m all for giving second chances, but I have spoken with my superiors and if I’m being frank we took a huge chance on hiring you with so little experience as is. For what it’s worth you are a very good worker when it counts. I wish you well and I am so sorry again.” Mr Cummings’ answer was firm.

Henrietta hesitated before answering, this was her dream job, she was holding back tears.

Finally she cleared her throat and said “Thank you.” Before hanging up.

She had no idea what she would do now.

She moved halfway across the world for this job, so far away from her family and she only had one friend here.

She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, she curled up into a ball on her couch and let the sadness overtake her.