Chapter 3

Carlene is used to seeing her regular customers. But it's been almost two weeks since Quinn showed up at the coffee shop. He orders the same thing every day, sometimes changing a muffin for a croissant. He then proceeds to sit in the same place every day reading the paper. Normally she wouldn't find this very odd, but from when he first entered the shop, she has had a feeling about him. A feeling she hasn't felt before.

Everything about Quinn screams stranger danger to Carlene. His suit is clearly not from this time, no matter how far advanced we have become. The way he speaks to her makes his age undefinable. She doesn't know what to make of him. Quinn leaves just as Thea enters the shop. Thea ignorant to the man leaving but Quinn had his eyes on her, as she entered the shop.

Quinn has had no luck with his signal since he landed on this earth. He thought the library would hold some answers, but it was a blank space. The signal is coming from somewhere deep in the university's walls, but he has been unsuccessful in obtaining an alibi, or friend as they call it, to take him deeper into the University. He watches Thea gracefully talk to the barista; he only comes to know is named Carlene. He squints his eyes as the pair, before crossing the road. This is something he is going to investigate more.

Carlene watches Quinn watch the two of them talk before leaving. Now her suspicions are right. He is either up something fishy or the FBI is after her, for either the book or her mind.

"Did you see the man leave when you entered?"

"No. Should I have?"

"Well, you almost bumped into him."

"No, sorry. What's wrong?"

"I feel like he's following me. He's been here every day when I open. Both the early mornings and the late starts. I'm starting to get a little bit freaked out."

Thea turns towards the door but finds no man staring at the coffee shop. Either Carlene is seeing things, or she is telling the truth. Her mind has been so messed up lately, Thea doesn't quite know what to make of any information Carlene gives her.

"I saw the book open on the nightstand. Have you been reading it?"

"Yeah, bits and pieces when I can't sleep. It's a funny book."

"Like ha-ha funny?"

"No. I don't think I've ever read anything like it before in my life. And you know how much I used to read. Did that old man from the library tell you why and how this book would relate to anything that is happening to me?"

"No, not really. He just said that you would understand it in due time."

Carlene frowned at Thea; not sure she understood what she meant by that. The old book is confusing to read, and Carlene was one of the top students in her class. It's filled with amazing assumptions or what she believes are assumptions. The words are not advanced English, but are almost like the old English, words no one uses anymore. Despite having read almost every title in both the university library and her hometown library, Carlene still doesn't know what to make of the book.

It's mathematical from what she can tell, but she isn't entirely sure. Carlene coughs, bringing Thea's attention up from her coffee cup.

"Did you want something?"

"I finished early today. I thought I would see if you needed any help around here. I know you'll be closing soon."

Carlene looks down at her watch and notices the time. She nods and they both clear off the table to start the end of day. They finish off in record time and head towards the train station. Carlene stops the both of them before they head down into the subway. Thea frowns at her wife's action. Carlene is staring off into the distance, but Thea cannot see whatever she is staring at.

"Do you see that?"

Thea squints her eyes, in the direction that Carlene is staring into. For a moment, she is sure that she see a small burst of light, but with one blink it's gone.

"See what?"

"I'm not sure. For a moment it was like time had stopped except for a small window in the shade. I must be seeing things."

"You're always seeing things."

Carlene frowns at Thea's statement. Thea can see that she has upset her wife and tries to smile it out. Carlene keeps frowning, letting go of Thea's jacket, pushing her way into the subway. Carlene wasn't sure exactly what she had seen. It was almost like the other time. The windows are getting stronger almost to the point where she can see herself in them. Like a mirror but from another time. 

The pair ride the train home in silence and eat dinner in silence. Carlene climbs into bed first, switching the bedside lamp on, grabbing the old book once again. She fell asleep in between one of the long chapters.

A loud beep pulls Carlene from her deep sleep. The old book falls from her lap, landing with a huge thud on the cold floor, causing Thea to stir but not wake. Carlene rubs her tired eyes, picking up the book. She takes it into the lounge room, sticking it on the coffee table. She stands at the window once again, pushing the blind open a tiny bit.

The beep almost sounded like it came from into her apartment this time. Rubbing her blurry eyes, Carlene searches the dark outside. No wondering patrol car to be seen. Another loud beep caused her to jump from the window. The blind shuttered against the window but Carlene didn't care about the noise. She followed what she thought was the direction of the beeping. 

It's been a weird sort of beep. Almost like nothing in this time would have made it. This century is the greatest human made time. Humans and AI have advanced far beyond anything anyone has ever imagined. Together crime rate and death are at an all-time low. The population is at a standstill of twenty billion and never rising and never falling. Of course, there is still crime and death, no human is perfect. 

Carlene turned on the door camera and watched the hallway for a few moments. She is sure that the beep came from near her apartment. When she is about to turn the camera off, a bright light flashes through the screen, followed by the loud beep. As she watches, she sees a very familiar suit.