Eclipse (part 26 of 32)
Back to Part 25"This time I think I should go first. I imagine I'm far less exciting
than Noir." Uncle tries to smile away my disappointment.
"I understand." I sigh and nod my head. I have so many questions, but
this visit isn't just for me. I sit down on the vinyl chair and clunk my
head back into the wall. I feel so hot and drained. Nothing I went
through with Soldats, or at the Manor, made me feel as tired as I am
now. Somehow, it's as if the very energy of life is being siphoned from
my body.
"Going to get a drink." Henry grunts as he gets up, and lumbers over to
the water fountain.
Mireille sits down next to me and idly flips through a magazine. I stare
at her, trying to read her somehow. There's no sign of her earlier
outburst; she might as well be waiting to get her hair done, reading
quietly, seeming oblivious to the world around her.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asks calmly.
"Just- you've been so...strange. Since the telegram." I keep my voice
low.
"Maybe it's you who's been strange- since the picture." she turns the
page. "Did you ever stop to think about that?"
I feel my mouth open, but am unable to reply. I silently watch as Henry
returns and sits down. I look past him and see Uncle coming back down
the hallway. Eager with anticipation, I jump to my feet. I have so many
questions, I'm not sure where to start.
"Our turn already?" Mireille gets up and stretches. "He must be tired."
"No." I whisper, looking at Uncle's face. "He's dead."
"More water?" Mireille asks me. The room is still spinning, and I still
feel sick to my stomach.
"No...no thanks." I hold onto my stomach. Uncle is sitting next to me,
and I feel him put his hand on my knee, giving me a reassuring squeeze.
"I'm sorry, Kirika." he sighs. "He died this morning."
"Well, they did say he might not make it." Mireille takes the cup and
hands it to Henry. "And our visit yesterday may have done him more harm
than good."
"I don't believe it was the visit from yesterday. I believe it was the
visit from this morning." Uncle removes his hand and leans heavily on
his cane as he stands.
"He had another visitor this morning, right before us. His niece." He
turns and looks at us both. "A niece- who wears her hair pulled back and
has a small dog."
Tierney. My stomach twists even more at the thought of her and her
needles.
"I'm sure it was over quickly." Uncle shakes his head. "Come, we have no
further business here."
Mireille holds out her hand, pulling me up. She has a strange look on
her face, almost as if she's amused.
"So- Droger wins again." She arches an eyebrow. "Impressive."
And the matchstick man...I shiver, remembering the thin figure in the
sun.
Onwards to Part 27
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