Page 131 of Fly's Path

This was a very bad idea.

A very, very bad idea. But that didn’t stop me from doing it, anyway.

It turns out that Winnie’s castle has a very nice, fully stocked gym. With all the fancy gadgets.

But the one piece of equipment I’m interested in is the treadmill. After yesterday, I should avoid it.

My body is going to be screaming at me if I do this. I close my eyes and see the mottled bruises all over Fly’s body and hop up. Stupid or not, it’s happening.

***

I stumble, grabbing for the bars, just barely catching myself before I tumble face-first onto a moving treadmill.

That’s it. I need to stop before I hurt myself or my body completely collapses.

Having security find my lump of a body on the floor would not be good.

What am I going to do?

There’s no way I’m going to sleep knowing Fly is out there doing something dangerous, probably stupidly dangerous…though he isn’t a stupid man. You have to trust him to get out of whatever it is, safe and sound.

Go shower, and then you can figure out what to do next that doesn’t involve running until you fall down.

***

The castle is freezing, that’s why you’re walking around it wrapped up in a blanket. Not because the blanket smells like Fly, which is comforting.

And now I’m lying to myself. This is stupid. But at least if I fall down while walking through the castle, my skin won’t be ripped off by the revolving treadmill.

Twisted.

Go read a book.

Find a television and watch some nighttime shows.

When was the last time I just sat down and watched television when there wasn’t a game on? Maybe there will be a game on somewhere else in the world.

Why isn’t he back?

The sun will rise soon.

Giggles erupt down the hall.

Is someone else up?

Several someones, based on the giggles. I follow the sound to the front room overlooking the entrance of the castle.

The room is packed.

“Was there an event I missed?” At four in the morning, that’s doubtful.

“We’re waiting for the men to come back. Were you running?” Dahlia is swimming in this massive sweatshirt.

Wait, all their men are gone, too? I walk over and sink into a large armchair. “Does anyone know what’s happening?”

“They’re out saving the world.” Mindy’s sitting on the floor wrapped in a fluffy blanket.

Saving the world? So many questions pop into my head.