[https://i.postimg.cc/cCxYHKmN/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time.gif]
On Christmas eve, Nona spent her time alone eating chop-suey with red wine and playing her games, as usual. She had no Christmas tree to decorate, no socks or presents and her only family, her mother and sister, didn't call her. But she wasn't sad. Nona made peace with being alone.
She thought of it as a relief from the strain of people forcing her to be happy. But for them. Not for her. It wasn't about her. People just wanted to see happy people, so no one had to take responsibility if there was some sort of gloom. What was wrong with being sad?
Sadness could make sense. Even anger makes perfect sense. But happiness seemed like the ultimate achievement in someone's life. Yet the best stories are always bittersweet at the end.
Schrodinger stayed curled on her lap. He purred whenever he noticed Nona was looking at him. His fur felt soft against her fingers when they stroked his back. He kept it quiet. She was drinking and not really in the mood for chatting besides typing to her online friends. Nona enjoyed talking with other players, kind of. Some were intelligent or funny. Or just interesting to spend some time with.
Kittie was offline, spending the evening with her family and probably will only log back after the holidays. Peekme logged into the game only to wish merry Christmas to all the guildies and sent a stack of cookies in-game for each one. Not the best item, but the gesture was sweet.
[24.12.2020 21:23] @Iknowaguy: Any plans?
[24.12.2020 21:24] @NotaTimeTraveller: Nah, staying at home with Schrodinger
[24.12.2020 21:25] @Iknowaguy: your Boyfriend?
[24.12.2020 21:26] @NotaTimeTraveller: LOL my cat, super cute
[24.12.2020 21:26] @Iknowaguy: Cats are great, mine died 3 years ago. Best cat ever
[24.12.2020 21:27] @NotaTimeTraveller: I am so sorry. How long?
[24.12.2020 21:28] @Iknowaguy: 18
[24.12.2020 21:28] @NotaTimeTraveler: Oh that is a good age.
[24.12.2020 21:30] @Iknowaguy: How old is yours?
Nona froze in front of her screen. How old was Schrodinger? How long was he with her? Nona stopped typing and stroking the cat's fur. 'It's okay,' said the voice in her head. You're doing fine. Don't worry too much. Just keep going. But...
How old was her cat?
'What's wrong, love of my life?'; yawned Schrodinger.
Nona drew a sad smile at him: 'My friend is asking me how old you are.'
He stretched out his paws and looked up at her with those bright yellow-golden eyes. 'How old do you want me to be?'
She sighed. 'I don't know.' She purred more wine in her glass and said: 'You do know your age, right?'
'Is it important?'
'No.'
Schrödinger leaned over to lick her cheek. 'Then let me stay young forever.'
[24.12.2020 21:36] @NotaTimeTraveler: His forever young
[24.12.2020 21:37] @Iknowaguy: Just like the song. Aren't we all? OKay girl need to go, my wife is already shouting at me. Have a lovely evening and blessing night for you and your family.
[24.12.2020 21:37] @Iknowaguy logged off
He didn't even wait for Nona's reply.
'Well, no one is left to play, and the dungeon queue is fucking slow.' Nona took another sip of her drink. 'Maybe I'll try the new zone, see what it looks like before everyone else gets there and ruins it for me all again.'
The server came alive and chatty all of a sudden, showing a few straggling players trying their luck on the holiday's dungeons. A quick glance showed Nona that most players were still in the lower zones, trying to get enough loot for themselves. And some veteran players, maybe, giving away some useful items to others who need them. But what most intrigued her was the general chat timestamp. 2023.
Nona glanced down at her cat on her lap. The pet blinked lazily at her: 'What? Still thinking about my birthdate? Because if you are, I'm starting demanding gifts. Expensive gifts.'
Nona chuckled softly and stroked his neck. 'The timestamps in the game are wrong again.'
'Overcooked steak?'
'No, I can't taste anything yet.'
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
'Log off. Let's watch a movie.'
[22.12.2023 23:46] @_whiterabbit_ is online
Nona opened a private message with @_whiterabbit_.
[22.12.2020 23:48] @NotaTimeTraveller: Hey! Merry Christmas.
[22.12.2023 23:52] @_Whiterabbits_: Same to you, beautiful time lady.
Nona smiled at this unexpected compliment.
[22.12.2020 23:53] @NotaTimeTraveller: Shouldn't you be spending the night with family?
[22.12.2023 23:55] @_Whiterabbits_: Only in two days. Still early to get drunk with them.
Nona didn't react right away to Day's reply. She was absently glued to his timestamp next to his username.
[22.12.2020 23:56] @NotaTimeTraveller: what day is there?
[22.12.2023 23:37] @_Whiterabbits_: Friday weird question
[22.12.2020 23:37] @NotaTimeTraveller: You timestamp is showing 22.12.2023
[22.12.2023 23:39] @_Whiterabbits_: So?
[22.12.2020 23:41] @NotaTimeTraveller: Can you see my timestamp?
There was a long pause while he was typing.
[22.12.2023 23:42] @_Whiterabbits_: Is this a joke? Are you pulling my leg?
Nona shook her head and typed.
[22.12.2020 23:31] @NotaTimeTraveller: Why should I lie.
[22.12.2023 23:31] @_Whiterabbits_: Because it doesn't match.
[22.12.2023 23:31] @_Whiterabbits_: Are you the one who is sending me the weird spam e-mails?
[22.12.2023 23:31] @_Whiterabbits_: Because weird shit has been happening. And I think I'm losing my shit.
Nona was about to reply when she noticed Schrodinger reading the chat. 'Stop answering him.'
'But maybe he knows something. Maybe he can explain the weird things happening to me.'
'I said stop!'
'Why?'
'This is not how it works.'
'So how does it works?'
'Look, this isn't some science fiction bullshit. There are rules. We made rules! We follow them. That's why we are safe and sane. Now shut it down!'
For a moment, Nona considered arguing back. Still, she knew too well that look in Schrodinger's eye. Nona knew that the argument would only end once one of them lost control and said something they didn't mean to. Better to close the door behind her than leave it open.
She was about to close the chat when it happened. The weight of silence pressed heavily upon Nona. She was suddenly aware of the lack of sound in the room. No more hum of the computer, the muted ticking clock on her wall, the disappearance of the faint murmur of conversation outside. Even the cat was silent.
Then the goosebumps rose on Nona's skin as if she'd stood under cold water for too long, and the chill seeped through every pore of her body. Nona closed her eyes to finally feel the taste of time passing by. She couldn't help but notice that it tasted bitter in her mouth, like a mixture of ash and blood clots. She swallowed hard and breathed deeply once, twice. And black particles spread out in front of her.
She saw on the reflection of her computer screen a man standing beside her chair, wearing jeans with a white shirt stained in mud. He was short, thin and balding. His face was narrow, sharp-featured and pale grey, with dark circles beneath his sunken eyes and missing one tooth. Holding a big kitchen knife against her neck. Nona gasped.
'Are you ready to die?' asked the man.
She lifted her hands, palms facing forward. They were shaking.
'Don't move,' said the man. 'Or I'll kill her.'
Nona heard a hiss as Schrodinger's claws dug deep into her shoulders, running away from her office room. Nona could feel the cold of the blade against her neck. She shuddered. She wanted to scream, but her throat was dry and tight as cotton wool.
'Now slowly, open the safe!'; the man shouted, drolling, pulling the knife even closer to Nona's neck. She could feel it. She rarely felt any time event, but this one made her fear for her life.
He continued to shout: 'Don't play the hero, son! Put the cash in the bag!'
His breath smelled sour, like rotten eggs. Nona felt the edge burning her skin, and drops of blood fell on her sweater. She was about to die, probably.
The man continued to yell and ask questions she couldn't understand what or if she should answer.
Something moved past Nona's vision, just out of sight beyond her desk. She looked at the reflection on her screen, a tall man, with long black hair, in a black suit holding a gun against the side of the killer's head.
'Hey, asshole! Get away from her!'
The knife didn't budge from Nona's neck: 'I'm not leaving without my money! I worked hard for it! Is mine! Mine! I kill the bitch if he doesn't pay me!'
'Drop it!'
'It's my money! I need it! I need it for my kid!'
[https://i.postimg.cc/6qzVTfhS/1.png]
[https://i.postimg.cc/tJgZvQhS/2.png]
The man with golden-yellow eyes pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the burglar straight in the head from one temple to the other, making his head explode in a spray of red. Blood sprinkled across Nona's screen and dripped onto her keyboard.
When Nona woke up, she was lying flat on the bed in her own bedroom with Schrodinger licking her. She sat up quickly and found herself staring at the ceiling. For some reason, she was half-naked. Her head was wet, and the flat smelled of bleach and a strong lavender scent.
'Go back to sleep.'
'What happened? Did someone just... was there a gun? Did.., I...'; muttered Nona confused.
'Go back to sleep.' Schrodinger licked her hand and climbed up to curl around her neck.
'There was someone here.'; whispered Nona.
'There is always someone here. You are never alone, so nothing bad can happen. Sleep.'; insisted Schrodinger.
Nona rolled over and stared blankly at the wall above her bed. She had a strange taste of peppermint on her lips.
[https://i.postimg.cc/6q9LFb4w/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time-2.gif]