It had taken her a moment to catch on that something was gravely wrong. But not nearly as long as it might have otherwise.
The door felt wrong when she put her hand to it, ready to push it open, and Chessi paused.
No. Don’t go inside.
Her lips parted to reply, but the very air felt thick. Chessi remembered that feeling of confused panic very well, and it was rising again.
Calm down and don’t panic. Just listen to me, all right? For once, listen to me.
With a slow breath, the blonde took her hand off of the door and nodded, stepping back and hugging the canvas sack holding the fresh pastries she’d bought. Reed had been nice to her, even after the vaguely awkward period of time following her refusal of his request. She’d wanted to be nice in return, as only he and Cerise had shown any real happiness at seeing her alive.
Stop thinking about that. It’s not going to help you now, and haven’t I already told you that your coming back is just a burden to the people you knew?
Chessi flinched, but she nodded, looking at her boots.
Now what you’re going to do is simple. Put the sack down by the door. Knock once and then leave. You remember that abandoned house we saw? That’s where we’re going.
Her lips parted, a protest already rising, but a sharp jolt of pain between her eyes precluded that.
No arguing. I know what’s best for you. We’ve gone over this. I swear you’re the most idiotic human ever born.
It was a familiar chastisement and Chessi hung her head, saying nothing.
Now do as I told you. We’ll go to that abandoned house and stay there. It’s my own fault for letting you do as much as you have of late, but if you don’t start listening just a little harder, I’m going to have to step in and take direct control. And I don’t think you want that.
She didn’t. Especially considering how often the voice told her to do things that she considered “mean.” Chessi nodded again when another pain caught her off-guard. “Okay, okay!”
Shut up. You’re going to let him know that you’re there. Now put down the bag, knock once and then get moving. You don’t have much in there to worry about.
Although something felt vaguely wrong about it, Chessi set the bag of pastries down. She gave the door one firm knock and took to her heels, darting swiftly down the stairs and around the corner. The voice in her head chivied her to move faster and she did, hopping curbs and ducking behind fences until the first ramp up the city wall was in sight.
It was hard not to turn and go back--she knew something was wrong, and wasn’t there always the possibility she could help?
No. You never help anything. Please, by all means, tell me one time that you managed to make something better. All you do is fail, and the fact that I’ve had to guide you every step of the way is proof enough of that. The voice was icy, hard and clearly angry as it snapped at her. Now get moving. Up the ramp and over. We’ll settle for the night in that abandoned house and I’ll decide what to do in the morning.
Chessi wished she could actually argue with it, but the logic was sound. Reaching up to tug at the end of her ponytail, the blonde plodded up the ramp.
Things would probably be better with her out of the way.