* * *
The Ferris wheel slowly but surely reverted back to ground level, and when Alex stepped off, she sensed that something about her had changed. She couldn’t quite place what it was. There was nothing tangible to point to. She looked just as she did before she got on. Her clothes were the same, her long black hair rested along her shoulders like they always did. But something was different.
The cheerful Ferris wheel operator helped Amy back to her feet.
“There you are.”
“Thank you,” she bowed humbly to the operator.
“You’re absolutely welcome.”
“Would you happen to know what time it is?” Alex asked.
The operator peeked at his wristwatch.
“Nine thirty,” was his reply.
“Thank you.”
Nine thirty, Alex said to herself. And she remembered the commitment she’d made to Lord Combermere. Nothing could have been done about it now. It was much too dark to begin driving all the way back to Suburnia if she had a car. And since she didn’t, the train and bus would have easily taken at least twice as long. Not to mention the fact that she was steadily getting tired. But above all these reasons to stay, none was more important than the fact that in whatever way girls born without souls were able to do this, Alex Frost didn’t want to go to Suburnia. She wanted to stay the night in Pleasant Grove, and make the most out of her time with Amy Lawson; a girl that she would from this point on think of not simply as her human contact, but her friend.
They walked a few blocks from the carnival as it closed, over to a park on Wesley Oaks Street. The place creaked with the constant chimes of crickets, which attracted Amy enough to drag her friend along with her. The further in they went, the more impressed Amy was with what the park had in store. Moonlight glittered across the surface of the pond, painting it in a liquid white.
“Doesn’t that look great?” Amy aimed her eyes on the shining water.
“It does.”
“You can practically see the full moon on the water.”
It was true. Aside from a few ripples on the pond’s face, it was as crystal clear as a mirror.
Alex and Amy shared the park bench, kept close as they sat together in silence. Amy admired every second of the view, while Alex tried. After nearly half an hour of unmitigated silence passed, Amy spoke.
“Tonight was fun,” she said. “We should do this again sometime soon.”
“We should.”
“We should also head back home too. It’s dark. And I don’t want my father to wonder where his trophy car has been all day. You want a ride back to the apartment?”
“No. You go ahead. The apartment’s not that far from here. I can walk myself.”
“Alright,” said Amy. “Take care of yourself Alex.”
“I will.”
Shortly thereafter, Amy left the park on Wesley Oaks while Alex remained, pondering on what she would do when she saw Lord Combermere the next day, what she would say. She looked down, noticed Amy’s friendship bracelet on her wrist, the material so light, so thin it was virtually weightless. She thought of what she had with Amy, and what she’d be saying good-bye to if she left with Lord Combermere.
She and her mentor had in common the fact that neither of them had souls, and that they both liked to hunt. But that didn’t mean that they knew each other. And while Lord Combermere held a high regard for his hobby, Alex on the other hand was steadily losing confidence that the risks were worth the momentary pleasures. Even if she never got caught for her crimes, how long would it be until she became addicted to killing?
If she closed herself from the rest of the world, her only motivation in life would be to kill.
Her parents wouldn’t have approved of it. Neither would Aunt Melanie or Amy, and whatever she had left of a normal world.
Given all these considerations, the answer cleared in her mind.
“I can’t go,” she thought aloud.
Come tomorrow morning, that was what she would tell her mentor. She would no longer be his pupil, and that once he left, their short-lived relationship would meet its end. There would be no more killing for Alexandra Frost.
With her decision made, Alex remained in the park to pass the time and absorb the fresh air. She was taken in with a level of relief over having finally made her decision. All that was left to do now was to inform her mentor.
Little did she seemingly realize however, that to Lord Combermere, she wouldn’t have to utter a single word. For not more than five meters away hiding in the cover of trees, he could hear her loud and clear. And he was not pleased.