Episode 04 | Toni
They arrive at Alexander’s house. As they step inside, he looks around, frowning.
“Toni!” he calls, his voice tinged with concern. “This is strange… he always comes running to the door, the little rascal.”
Then they see him—Toni, lying unresponsive beside his food bowl. Panic floods Alexander’s face as he rushes over, kneeling beside his cat and checking for any signs of life. His voice breaks as he shouts, “Zoe! Call the vet! Start the truck—he’s not breathing. He’s… he’s dying…”
Zoe approaches him calmly, her face serene as she meets Alexander’s desperate gaze. Without a word, he instinctively hands Toni to her, and she cradles the cat gently.
Zoe wakes to the comforting aroma of coffee and the sound of gentle purring. Opening her eyes, she sees Alexander staring at her, wide-eyed, as if she’s an alien who just landed in his living room. He hands her a glass of coffee, made just the way she likes it—warm milk, no mug, and even a metal straw. She grins, remembering their lighthearted argument in the lab about coffee preferences. He drinks from heavy, classic mugs, teasing her that no true American would use a glass, let alone a straw.
He remembered.
Alexander finally breaks the silence. “Oookay… are you alright? And… may I ask… what the hell just happened?”
She takes a sip, savoring the warmth. “Thanks for the coffee. And Toni… well, he won’t be going anywhere today—or anytime soon, I’d guess.”
Alexander leans forward, searching her face. “I don’t even know where to start, Zoe. It looked like… something intense. But can you please tell me what on earth is going on?”
She smirks, deflecting. “What’s with all the swearing, Professor? There’s a lady on this couch.”
His gaze sharpens. “Please don’t deflect, Zoe. Don’t insult my intelligence—or our friendship. I’m asking you to trust me here because… I’m genuinely worried about you. I’m starting to understand why you showed up at the lab out of nowhere.”
Zoe sighs. Part of her does want to tell him, to explain this strange ability she’s had since she was a child. She’s always been able to sense death creeping up on things—and push it back. As a kid, she thought she just had a knack for nursing sick animals. That is, until her parents noticed and started using her like a living Narcan kit when their parties got out of hand. Her “talent” became their safety net.
And then there’s the part she’s never shared with anyone. Whenever she uses her gift, she smells coffee and… sees him. The Commander. A man who’s never aged a day in all these years. He greets her with a kiss on the forehead, tells her he misses her, and reassures her to stay where she is—that he’ll find her. Then they merge, and she passes out. And that’s when, like clockwork, death backs down.
She wants to tell Alexander all of this… and so much more. But she’s afraid. Opening up could mean a one-way ticket to a psych ward.
She sighs, feeling the weight of exhaustion. “I’m really tired, Alexander. Can we talk later? Can you give me a ride home?”
His expression softens. “I’d rather you sleep here. You’re beyond exhausted, and I’d feel better if you didn’t go home alone tonight. Is that okay?”
She nods, grateful, the fatigue hitting her all at once. “Okay.”
Alexander grabs extra bedding, but by the time he returns, she’s already fallen asleep on the couch, Toni nestled on her chest, purring contentedly.
He watches them for a moment, a swirl of emotions in his eyes. “Oh, Toni… what have we gotten ourselves into?”
As he’s about to leave, Zoe mumbles in her sleep, “Oh, before I forget… he doesn’t have diabetes anymore. You can toss the needles…”
Alexander freezes, his mind racing. He wants to reach out, to kiss her forehead in some instinctive gesture of gratitude or connection, but he hesitates, stopping himself just in time.
This conversation isn’t over, not by a long shot. Tomorrow, he’d be sneaking a look at her lab file. *Above my pay grade?* he thinks with a smirk. *Not a chance. Something is seriously off here… and it’s not even Friday.*
Episode 5 will be released on December 1st, 2024!
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