“I’d like to take you to meet someone. I’m not the only thing out there that is not what the rest of the world understands. Hhmm... I don’t know if that made sense. Unicorns and humans are not all that is out there.” Myst nods its head and reaches out to take your hand.

You accept the gesture. “Life just gets weirder and weirder. You’re not putting me into danger again are you?”

“No, I promise you. Not that.”

You both hop into another cab and travel a good way down to Jersey City. It’s far from the nicest area you’ve ever seen. In fact, you are pretty sure that that last promise could be broken in a hideous and dirty looking area like this. There are rusty train tracks almost as far as you can see in both directions from where the cab drops you off.

“This way.” It says and watches you as you hesitate, “you’re safe. Please.” It reaches a hand out for you again.

You swat the hand away and keep your wits about you as you follow the billowing figure down between a couple of condemned warehouses. The one on your right, blasted with all manner of spray paint, is your ultimate destination.

“Well, you take me to the nicest of places.”

“It’s the best that her and I could do on short notice.”

“So they’ve got a gender huh? Interesting.”

“We’ve got a gender alright.” A voice from deeper in the warehouse catches you off guard and gives your heart a skip of a beat. Your head turns quickly and you are on guard.

“No need to worry. I’m not here for a meal.”

“Huh? Okay...” you are concerned but confused by that comment.

She steps into the light shining into the warehouse from the tall street lamps. “The name’s Greta.”

You introduce yourself and notice that Greta throws something at you. You shriek and shield yourself. A beer bottle shatters on the ground in front of you and the smell of cheap fizz spreads all over the ground and your legs.

“Well, so much for that one.” Greta takes a swig of another beer that must have been of the same type. “Thought you saw it.”

“So, why not go ahead and share. What’s your deal?” You really don’t feel like beating around the bush in a weird place like this, just get down to the point and hopefully get out of here before that smell permanently seeps into your clothes and your pours.

**

Jersey City Warehouse

“I used to live in upstate New York. It was a time of my life that was the most simple. I grew up there. I learned to love all the little things and live the life that was presented to me. That all changed and my eyes opened for the first time when I first truly fell in love. I followed my love when he wanted to leave our home towns and experience something new. His name, Calvin, still brings a little tingle to my spine.

“Things were great for a while, living in the suburbs of New York City. We started to grow apart though. I enjoyed the people, the conversations, and getting to start my own business. Calvin grew resentful of all the friends I was making. I didn’t know how to break it to him that he really was getting the same treatment. When you go from being surrounded by a few thousand people in your town to a few million on the suburbs, you meet more people. You find more people with similar interests and your network of friends grows.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

“Our networks of friends grew in different directions, and for some reason, he was completely blind to all the friends and connections he had made. He could only focus on the fact that he had to share me with my friends and with the new life that he had put me into. I mean, what the hell!? I moved away from home for him and now, here he was, being the one to get bent out of shape by where we were and what we experienced.

“His associations started to grow even further away from those we shared after the first year of living there. His new friends were financial guys working at the big banks. They had drugs, alcohol, and women around all the time. It just seemed like the Calvin that I loved was gone forever. I grew to think that the situation was hopeless, and that these were the cards I was dealt and that I bet find a way to accept it. That is where Kevin came into the picture. Kevin started helping me at my little basement shop, making candles and really just enjoying the experience of doing it. Things progressed; Calvin met Kevin and grew immediately worse than he had been up until that point. I told him that Kevin and I were just friends and I thought at the time that it was true. After Calvin threw a glass across the room and stormed out, I got to thinking. I realized that Kevin meant more to me. Gosh, I really feel like I am rambling here and that this is probably pretty boring.

“So you see, I’ve lost and lost. Then, after Calvin moved away, the rest of my relationships didn’t ever really feel any better. Sure, some were good, but they all felt the same. If the first one failed, why not the others? So it seemed that I conquered the weakness of love.

“I focused in on my candle making business. I worked hard, and even harder after Kevin left. I got several deals that just fell into my lap from pricey hotels and some other nice venues. I bought a shop in Long Island, spitting distance away from Manhattan. That job was going well, so well that I was almost just on autopilot through it all. I did, of course, love to make candles. The smell of the shop always filled me with joy.

“I’m not sure what changed, but I did find myself depressed, or... something... for, you see, I started getting into trouble that I never really had before. I started to live loose, maybe I was just enjoying my success and the money that I made. That must be why there’s a median income where you are happiest, you don’t just get happier the more money you make. Know what I mean?

“All I can remember is that I was partying, and sometimes I have been getting black outs. Then I was driving somewhere. Next thing I know, I’m in the hospital, my body is all kinds of fucked up, six ways to Sunday.

“Next thing I know, I’m uncontrollably eating a hobo. Now, here I am.” Greta motioned with both arms to show off her person from top to bottom.

“You what?!” You stumble back in astonishment and then can’t help but relax and laugh. “Heh, that is too funny.” You motion toward Mysticalis, “I never took you as the jokester type. This is supposed to relieve some of my stresses I guess?”

Mysticalis shakes it’s head and Greta giggles. Greta shrugs, “take it anyway that you want to, honey.”

“Holy crap! No freaking way...” you feel your bones tremble in horror, but a new part of you can’t help just being fascinated by Greta.

Greta takes a step closer to you and grins widely. She licks her lips and moans. You step back and your back slams right into some boxes, jostling the cardboard and flustering yourself even more. You sidestep and try to create a little more distance (hopefully out of lunging range) and end up tripping over a crate. You tumble back off of your feet and over the crate clumsily.

Mysticalis now reacts to come to your defense. It doesn’t seem all that worried about Greta, turning its back to her. It seeks only to comfort you.

After a few moments of concern being paid to you, your panic subsides. You get to your feet with a Myst’s help and brush yourself off in embarrassment.

You stare up at Greta, “Okay... and how can you... live with yourself with knowing what you are?”

Greta shrugs, “What choice do I have? Best part about being human, you don’t realize just the plethora of options that you’ve got. Until they’re all gone...” She looks out toward the street light. “Still, with the lack of choice, it isn’t too bad. I can do things that I could have never done in my life before.”

“It’s been really nice to meet you Greta. Myst, I think I’d like to get back to civilization now. Take care of yourself until next time, Greta.”

“Hey, you too. Don’t let this crazy beast get you killed.” Greta giggles as she hip checks Mysticalis. It stands there looking confused by her actions, not having any idea why she is doing it or how he is supposed to respond.