Panic attack?
He gave a small nod.
Then get yourself together We're getting the hell out of here. If the doctor wants to come, fine. If not, he can live with the ghosts. – She was done. Time to shut the circus down. Not just me. Someone else – came Toshi's voice as he stepped out of the shed—holding the cat. Sanura! – Erich sprang toward her and gently scooped her She didn't fight him—just calmly licked her paw and shot them all a look of divine feline disdain.
Where'd you find her? – Louisa asked, still slightly
She ran up to the Popped out of the leaves. Maybe it was the light from inside that called to her. Maybe she decided it was time to check out what we were up to. Or maybe, just maybe, she was trying to lead us. Dogs think they're people; cats think they're gods. (Adriano Bacchella.) Thanks, Mr. Quote Machine. I'm just glad everyone's alive. Now let's go—dinner's not gonna eat itself. – Louisa turned and marched toward the field, fully pretending she knew where she was going. Her noble squad of oddballs had no choice but to follow their fearless, half-lost leader.
Much later, after the fields were crossed and the kilometers driven, they were finally sitting in Erich's house, slurping instant noodles.
The meal was anything but fancy—just some street food Louisa picked up before heading to her brother's place—but sometimes, happiness is cheap and spicy.
Now, this steaming mess of chemically enhanced joy hit the spot. Erich and Toshi ate with chopsticks, disciplined and precise. Louisa, on the other hand, was too drained to care. She ate the way she knew best—old-school Western fork technique—even though her brother had tried to teach her the -proper- way once or twice.
Toshi had fallen asleep mid-dinner, his forehead planted squarely on the table, and they decided not to disturb him. They just laid out a blanket and pillow on the floor in case he decided to migrate to something softer.
Louisa stifled a yawn and checked the time. Midnight. Time to crash. But she'd promised to call Imani tonight—to let her know how things were going. The past few days had been hectic, what with the jet lag and the general madness, so they hadn't had a proper chat. But now was the time. Imani was off work today. No more excuses.
Alright… let's do this.
She glanced at Erich, who was still laser-focused on his noodles, and suddenly had an idea—kill two birds with one stone. Imani had been asking to talk with Erich for a while now. So why not throw
him at her while she got ready for bed? Her brain was shutting down and her eyeballs felt like they were filled with lead. Yes. This would work beautifully.
Erich, I'm about to FaceTime my You remember Imani, right? You've talked to her before. Well, she's dying to talk to you, so do me a favor and join the call, say a few words—sound good?
When she saw the lack of enthusiasm on his face, she hardened her voice and raised it a notch:
Listen, bro. I've been dragging your moody ass around all day—from that 'business meeting' to your little haunted-house field trip near Mount Fuji—so how about you return the favor and stop being difficult for five seconds? I help you, you help me. Deal? I was gonna go to bed… – he began, but one look at her eyes, wide with fake rage, and he caved with a sigh: Just call already. Sooner we start, sooner it ends.
That's the – Louisa snatched her phone and opened FaceTime. God, how great it was to have an omega brother you could boss around like an intern.
Imani answered almost instantly, holding a bowl of juicy passion fruit, sitting cross-legged in front of her laptop. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Erich, and she waved excitedly.
Hey, sugarcake! – She cooed to Louisa before turning her attention to the tall, awkward man beside – Oh wow, is that the Erich? Finally joining us! I've been bugging Louisa forever to let me talk to you. It's been ages, hasn't it?
A rare thing happened then. Erich actually smiled.
It really has.
Louisa grinned. Another flawless trap. Imani's kindness and natural charm were basically emotional quicksand—no escape. Unlike Louisa, who described her own personality as -wet diarrhea in a hurricane, - Imani was bursting with qualities the world didn't deserve. Too sweet, too hopeful, too genuine. But that's exactly what made her irresistible. Where else would you find a rainbow- dreaded goddess who still thought humanity was worth saving?
So how are you? – Erich
Pretty great! I went shopping today and got two new Want me to show you?
That sounds… interesting.
Louisa was already thinking of handing over the phone and stepping out for a cigarette, when Erich suddenly pointed at the screen, eyes wide:
Imani—who's that walking behind you? I see a dark
She barely had time to stand, quickly looking around the room and shrugging:
There's no one Is this some prank, Erich? Trying to spook me before bed? Because if so, I swear the Tooth Fairy's coming for your teeth tonight. – She laughed it off, cheerful as ever.
But Erich was now visibly pale, stepping back from the screen.