Captured by a Demon

VIII Chapter - To Go, To Stay

„Elsewhere? How do you mean – this is the only decent place to have lunch around here.“ Margaret seemed dejected as Henry stared at his phone. As soon as the three of them had sat down in the deli, he had told Margaret and Rachel that he has to go.

„Rain check, okay, girls, I really have to run,“ Henry smiled apologetically and took off, feverishly typing on his phone. Rachel suspected she knew who he was meeting, but wondered why he seemed so worried. But Margaret’s reaction was, again, quite peculiar. She seemed disappointed. After a couple of moments, it seemed like nothing though, as Margaret began talking calmly like everything was fine.

She ordered eggs Benedict and Rachel ordered eggs Royale. Not their usual order, but they felt like having a more substantial dish as they had a longer lunch break. They were enjoying their meals with some coffee and light conversation. Rachel didn't usually like coffee, but this time it helped her feel like a living breathing human being again. Everything can be useful at the right time, she thought.

„You know, Shelly and Doyle are thinking of hiring another research assistant, some guy Peter something“ Margaret said in passing, but it caught Rachel’s attention.

„Another one, a fourth one? Why?“

Margaret looked out the window. „You know, at first, I thought it was because they didn’t think we handled everything and needed extra help. Now I believe that they aren’t pleased with having two research assistants a couple of months, but then only one. Now both of them could have two at all times. But, that’s just my opinion. How are they getting the funds to hire another employee is beyond me... I think they've been supported so generously by the university, it's getting suspicious...“ Margaret was smirking devilishly pondering different theories.

Rachel took a bite of her eggs. She wasn’t happy that another person was possibly going to be in the lab. It would get too crowded. She liked to work alone, especially for the past couple of years. Even Henry and Margaret were sometimes bothering her at work just by being there. Not that they did anything particularly irritating, but Rachel rarely felt chatty during work. And boy did they chat, especially Henry. Margaret was better at keeping her tongue behind her teeth. The only person that never really annoyed Rachel, was Ella and maybe also her bro... But no! She wasn't going to think about that. That envelope was closed for now. She had no need to think about it. No need.

„Do you wanna know something hilarious?“ Margaret asked

Rachel nodded, giving her a forced smile.

„Ally is suddenly dead-set on finding a job and when I casually mentioned that my bosses were thinking of hiring someone new, she actually tried to convince me to recommend her to them.“ Margaret snorted and rolled her eyes.

„How come? She isn’t a microbiology major, right?“

Margaret laughed. „Exactly, she doesn't go to college at all, it’s ridiculous. She thought that she could just start working in our lab. Hilarious! I love her, but she's dumb sometimes. Anyway, she has applied to other places as well, getting rejected one after the other, although it's no surprise, since all these places have been, well, in need of a person with higher education. For some reason, she doesn't want be a server or anything else that can be done without a diploma, and climb her way up from there if she wants. It's like she's expecting to find a shortcut or something. It’s curious, because she’s always been so lazy and indifferent towards making her own living or getting an education. Now she’s obsessed. I mean, what brought this on?“

„Maybe she wants to impress someone?“ Rachel suggested with a slight shrug and took another bite. Her dish was delicious, although a tad too much salt. Maybe the cook is in love. Like Ally was obviously... Rachel chuckled liking her current train of thought.

But Margaret had a puzzled expression on her face. „No, I don’t think so... If you mean my parents then that’s definitely not it. Our parents are not like, I don't know, like Henry's parents, who are so obsessed with degrees and job positions and status..." 

Rachel smirked behind her coffee cup. It was fascinating to her how Margaret didn't see it. I mean, the answer was right there. Very amusing.

"They’re spoiling her big time, so she shouldn't have to bother until she was like 30. But unless she forges a certificate of some kind, she's gonna have to...Ups!“

CLUNK!

Margaret had dropped her knife on the floor and Rachel was grateful that Margaret wasn’t looking at her at that moment, because she had flinched due to the loud noise. The noise really echoed through her body in a very unpleasant way, evoking a flash of the horrible night and the red eyes to pass by before her eyes. She had flinched in every sense of the word and in a big way. It felt like her chair had literally lifted up with her body. Then, for a split second as she was trying to pull herself together, she thought about how she had behaved with Sebastian and then the lines in the letter. But no. Not now, she urged herself. Not now.

Margaret picked up the knife as Rachel excused herself to go to the ladies’ room, still a little shaky.

"Hey, Ella,“ she stopped passing by the counter and smiling at her best friend, „is it possible...“

"I saw you, you know,“ Ella commented, looking straight at Rachel. But Rachel was determined not to talk about it. 

Rachel made a surprised face, chuckled and said: "Please, it was nothing, just unexpected. Several other people were startled by it too. Your acoustics here really stabs a person in the ears... anyway can I ask my question now?“

Ella didn't stop. "You should have seen your face. Is it worsening?"

"No, it's not, I was just a bit startled. Normal people get this way too, you know. Can I talk now?"

Ella slightly pressed her lips together. "How did you sleep today?“

Rachel sighed and settled for an ambiguous answer. "There have been better nights. Can I ask my question now?“

"Alrighty, who was the guy at the party?" Damn, Ella was stubborn.

"Just an old friend, Ella. Can I please ask my question now?" Rachel's words were polite, but her tone had a drop of venom to it now.

"Sure.“ Ella sighed and held up her hands in a mock surrender, putting on her yellow hat.

„Can I pop by your place today? I’d like to umm... discuss something with you,“ Rachel asked in a mild tone, although she already wondered whether it would be a good idea. Her best friend was too observant. She asked too many questions. But Rachel hoped she could distract her with the topic she had in mind. Yeah, that'll do.

Ella seemed curious, but didn’t push it further and agreed. Perhaps the prospect of throwing questions at Rachel when they were alone, was more to her taste. According to her, Simon was gonna be working out in the evening anyway, so they could be alone. Ella winked at her referring to some quality "girl time".

„But now, I have to get to class. Oh, and ask me! Ask me what kind of class!“ she then chirped in a changed tone, looking for her bag.

„What class?“

„Introduction to aeronautical engineering. Finally! I can’t wait!“  

„Oh, right, finally the day came“ Rachel muttered. It had always been an obsession of Ella’s – to become an aeronautical engineer, although she hadn't had any classes specific to that area yet.

 „But I gotta hurry now, my class is about to start. I’m so excited. Yay!“ She giggled like a schoolgirl, and if she were any other person, Rachel would have found that annoying. But as she knew Ella and her obsession with everything aeronautics, she found her giggles endearing rather than juvenile. Rachel hugged Ella goodbye and went to the bathroom.

After washing her hands, she studied herself in the mirror again. And, in an almost robotic manner, put her hand in front of her mouth again, staying like this for a while.  A loud noise had brought on a fragment from her recent nightmare. That hadn't happened before. Rachel pressed her hand tighter around her mouth, watching the way her face changed due to the pressure.

Only when another person could be heard coming in, did she quickly remove the hand from her mouth and pretended like she was drying her hands.

When she went back to Margaret, she discovered that Ella had spoken a few words with her before leaving

„Ella told me she’s starting her aeronautical engineering classes, that sounds so cool.“ Margaret said sincerely.

Rachel shrugged. „I guess, she is very excited.“

„I wonder whether she has to...“ Margaret’s words faded to the background as Rachel saw a tall figure enter the deli.

He was wearing a grey coat, white v-neck and black ripped jeans. Despite, the serious look on his face, he had never looked so good. There's another person, I could never find annoying, Rachel thought to herself, staying low as to not draw attention to herself.

„A black coffee to go,“ the man said texting on his phone, not even glancing at the employee behind the counter and ran his fingers through his black hair in exasperation. Even when he sounded cold, his voice still warmed up the room or so Rachel thought, staring at him.

His coat wasn’t buttoned up and the white shirt was rather tight, so the lines of his toned abs were hard to miss. But Rachel didn’t let her think about that. She found herself worrying that he might catch a cold like this. No scarf, no hat, coat open. She did see him holding a pair of black gloves. At least he had some common sense.

As his body suddenly tensed as if sensing Rachel's presence, and looked up locking his eyes with hers, Rachel freaked out a little and almost fell out of her chair. She had been hoping he wouldn't notice her and leave as she was seated far from the counter, partly hidden by an indoor umbrella tree.

Without breaking eye contact with Rachel, Sebastian spoke with the employee of the deli. „Actually, scratch the coffee, I’ll have some white tea... to stay.