[https://i.postimg.cc/cCxYHKmN/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time.gif]

Nona stood in the middle of the flat, checking each corner of the house. While Eske was hiding specific equipment in cabinets and closets. They had food from their homeland for two to three weeks, so she would be able to eat, but it could be stretched to double if Eske bought his own since he wasn't as sensitive to taste as she was.

'What's with the face, love?'; he asked while scanning the house for any improbability or obstacle he missed.

'Is my face. I don't have any other.'

'You look worried.'; he said, walking close to her. He brushed a strand of hair from her eyes: 'Just a word, and we jump back home.'

'We can't do that. This is the most effective way. And we have done this. It is easy peasy.';

'Are you sure?'; he whispered. 'We can find other ways.'

She nodded and shrugged: 'Yeah, I'm sure. I'm not nervous at all. I just hate it when...'

'When you forget?'; he finished her sentence. 'I'll be fine. I'm right next to you.'

She frowned a forced smile in reply, and he hugged her tightly around her waist with one hand on top of her head. The sensation of his body against hers made her feel safe, always: 'I hate to forget about you and us and all the others. Makes me feel alone in my own head.'

'Remember, you don't really forget. Your head is just adjusted to the timeline. Somewhere inside your beautiful brain, I'm there haunting the crap out of you.'; he chuckled.

Eske kissed Nona, pressing himself hard against her until she huffed. 'I have more where that came from.'; and finally made her laugh. 'Look, love, we are always in contact with the control room, and we will always know how much download is missing. We know your habits when you are downloading. I will be responsible for meals and your meds, and if you are unresponsive at all, I'm still here to take care of you. Always! And if things get really bad, we have our codes and our exercices, and we will trigger you out. I won't let anything happen to you. You'll be safe, I promise.'

'What about you?'

'I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself and my wife.'; he hugged her more tightly and said: 'Maybe we could make this a game, love.'; Eske suggested.

She didn't know what he meant by that but decided to let him explain anyway. It might help relieve some tension.

'So instead of you having the pressure to feel you have to remember me, or everything. Why won't we don't use it to roleplay.'; Eske explained.

'Oh,'; Nona replied.

Eske grinned mischievously and began kissing her neck: 'So imagine you rented the apartment and need a new roommate. Which happens to be this very dashing sexy, charismatic guy who never leaves and eventually, in two, three days, sleeps in the same room as you.';

'Wait! You think it only takes three days to get me sleeping with you?'; she almost stammered.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

'Less?'; he laughed.

'I'm not that easy!'; she protested.

'Why? You think you can resist me?'; he teased, flexing one of his arms.

'Let's make a bet. Let's see if you're right.'; Nona challenged.

He smiled broadly and pulled away from her. 'What do we say?'

'30 days.'; she proposed.

His grin grew wider: 'No way, I'll win every time. What are we betting?'

'You give me a cat.'; she said.

'Okay... I see the game has become serious. Well then, if I win and know I will, you will forget the cat thingy, maybe a dog? I'm open to a doggy.'

'Fine.'; she agreed, giving her hand, and they shook to seal the deal.

'Is it making you feel better?'

'Yes,'; she admitted. 'Thank you.'; they both giggled like mischievous kids who were about to break the rules.

'Food is stored, and all the equipment is in place. Your phone is connected to HQ via GPS, so it is okay to take off your ring. I won't resent it, joking, love. The guys got you some job working from home, and I only have to trace the new candidate. It should take a couple of hours. I will do so once Vihann sends me their file. So you'll never be alone. I will seduce the shit out of you, I promise. I will seduce you so much you are going to fall head over heels for me, all over again.'; he joked.

But she didn't answer. She didn't reply. Nona's face lost any trace of expression, and her eyes became empty. Eske could see the hair of her neck rising over her cold skin. He could guess she had sound deprivation, and finally, black particles floated out of her mouth like a shy breeze.

He looked around the living room, chasing with his eyes any sort of time abnormally. At the same time, he surrounded Nona's waist with his arm. At any moment, she will fall down and seizure. And he wanted to be sure she wouldn't hurt herself.

He heard heavy steps of high heels walking around the halls.

A young woman was looking for something. She checked her coat, drawers, purse and, again, her coat pockets. 'Found it!'; and the woman saves an epi to her coat. She looked at herself in the mirror hanging on the wall and left the flat with a hasty step.

[https://i.postimg.cc/SN6n8pmC/1.png]

[https://i.postimg.cc/kX3VB5P7/2.png]

The vision disappeared into black dust, returning between Nona's lips.

Eske took his phone and quickly dialled: 'HQ?'

'Boss-man! Vihann from the other side. How're things going?'

'Check the download, please, think it started';

'Oh wow, wow, wow, it is super fast!'

'Meaning?'

'272 days and you guys are done!'

'So we have… what 9 months to download and recruit the new candidate. What is the time conversion?

‘Three shifts, Boss. We are already building up the rota as we speak.’

‘Do you have the file ready?'; Eske asked, holding Nona firmly, who didn't show any convulsion yet.

'So, file sent! The candidate is fire! She is so unique! She has a T-DNA of 0.05%, which is the lowest after yours. But not only, but this woman is also a gem, and her name is...'; Eske's phone fell to the floor, dropping the call while Nona's body was spasming.

He held her head with one arm around her forehead and the other restraining her wrists together. He went down with her slowly to the ground.

Eventually, after a couple of minutes, she woke up slowly, but her eyes widened when she saw Eske: 'What are you?'; she whispered: 'There is nothing like you.'; Nona would always tell this to Eske, and he still couldn't understand it.

So, he simply smiled and said: 'Hi, I'm Eske, your new roommate.'

> Happy wife, happy life. Right?

[https://i.postimg.cc/6q9LFb4w/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time-2.gif]