Bank Manager Pt 3.

"Perhaps, we could relax."

I glanced at Luca and asked, "In what way?"

"Well, you've mentioned that these sims are difficult, yeah? So, would you like to stay for a titch? Get ya bearings so to speak?"

I thought about it for a minute and then I nodded.

"Not for too long but I want to see what limits we have. Like, if you follow me to my house will you be allowed inside?"

"Sure," he said with a quick nod. He stood and then offered his hand to me. I gripped it and stood beside him.

"Wait, I just wanted to show you this first," I said motioning to the vault with my hand. The cops were all over the place and I wasn't sure if they'd let us in the vault yet, so I pointed and asked, "Do you see that line of dust?"

"Yeah." Luca squinted.

"I think that may be our way out when we want to come back."

"Good eye."

I walked over to Jensen and asked him if I could leave. He said we could but not in my car since that was considered a part of the investigation.

"Looks like we have to walk but it's only a couple of blocks away."

"That's no problem." Luca opened the bank door for me. We left the bank and travelled down the sidewalk to the right along a few roads then took another right.

We were heading down the hill toward my place when I heard a loud motor popping behind us. I sighed.

"Just keep walking," I said to Luca. Luca glanced at me with his brow furrowed but nodded.

"Hey! Janessa." Chase had his bike slowed down to a crawl, keeping his balance by alternating between one foot and then another. Luca and I kept a steady pace as we made our way to my house. "Janessa, c'mon."

When we got to my driveway and then my doorstep, I realized that Chase wasn't leaving. I turned around and with Luca beside me I asked, "What?"

"Did you get my letter?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Well, what do you say? I mean, I can't stop thinking about you. It's non-stop every day."

"Thinking what?"

"About how amazing and strong you are, not to mention how beautiful. I may be a CEO, but you've made it on your own without me and that takes guts. Even with all my money I'm lonely without you."

"Then, why did you divorce me?" I asked.

"I was foolish, but I was wrong. Please forgive me."

"You think that is all it should take? A few apologies?" I sighed.

Suddenly, with vigor he exclaimed, "I need to be with you!" Chase parked the bike and rushed over. I rolled my eyes as he clasped his hands. "Every day I regret what I have done and if you'd just let me make it up to you, I promise I'd be better to you."

Luca scoffed and went to sit on the small stairway at my door.

"Chase, you had your chance with me. I—"

"It's because of him, isn't it?" Chase pointed at Luca. Chase was clenching his jaw, and I could see how wide his pupils were.

"It isn't. Me and Luca …" I trailed off. I wasn't sure what label I would put on us. We could be considered siblings, I supposed, but really, we were two friends helping one another through this mess.

"You know, he looks a lot like me. He isn't Japanese American like me, but still. He has the same height, body type, and hair. I think he's your replacement for me."

Now it was my turn to smirk. I glanced over my shoulder at Luca, and he was leaning back casually listening to the conversation.

"I know you'd love for it to be about someone other than you, but it isn't. This is purely your f*ck up, Chase. You told me to leave. This was what you wanted. If you want to play games with marriage, then what would you be like as a regular boyfriend? You'd be out with every other girl you saw—"

"No! I wouldn't. There is nobody … NOBODY like you, Janessa." He came closer and began holding my shoulders. I tried backing up, but his eyes were wild, and he wouldn't respect my body language. Luca stood up and dashed over to me. He was able to lift Chase's hands off and toss him into the street.

"You're right. You'll never be good enough for her."

With that we turned around and walked into my home. I tried to hide the tears but then they fell. Even though this wasn't real, the conflict between Chase and I left marks and then I was reminded that the real Chase was out there, orchestrating all of this.

Anger flooded me as I stood by Luca in my house. Suddenly, the house began to disappear, the edges first, then the interior. Luca and I quickly left, exiting the house before it fell out from under our feet. We realized what we needed to do and made our way back to the bank.

"I guess when I finally reject him the simulation is over. I didn't think it was that methodical."

"Neither did I," said Luca. He glanced down at me with his lips parted. I thought he was going to say something else, but he closed his mouth and looked toward the horizon.

"I guess we'll find out if we get to go to Really World or if we're tossed in randomly."

"Yes, I reckon we do."

"I'm sorry we couldn't stay longer."

"That's alright. I'm just glad you said no to him."

As we entered the bank soon the vault was the only thing left. We followed the trail of dust into a crack in the wall. Luca gripped the broken marble, pulling it apart. Inside a glowing yellow beam of light spilled out into our eyes. He motioned for me to go first.

When we exited it was back into the Really World computer room. We were in our blue and green dotted suits. Our feet made clopping sounds as we walked over to the machine that showed us the simulation options from before.

"We may not be able to choose but at least we can see what may come."

"That's true but there are so many. Does it matter?" I asked feeling overwhelmed. He glanced down at me, and I could see something in his eyes, but I wasn't sure what it was.

"Yes, it does matter. I believe we'll eventually remember each other and every single sim. It's good to be prepared." His voice sounded soft like his gaze was upon me.

Thump! The blue being bounced against the glass, laughing loudly. Luca jumped cowering. I was in hysterics. Then the person opened the glass.

Once popped out, I could see that the figure appeared human in just about every way except for the bushy tail. It wasn't unlike a wolf or fox tail with the end tan and the rest blue like her body.

Luca shrieked, huddled down, and held his arms over his face and head.

"It's okay, Luca," she said to him. "You don't have to be afraid. Look, I'll make it easier by introducing myself. I'm Sallan. My pronouns are she/her/hers." She smiled with a beautiful set of white teeth.

From Luca's crouched position on the floor, he slowly let his arms down and glanced at her. I observed him as he shook all over. She crouched down to him swishing her tail, her big teal, and lime-green eyes glittering. "You're so afraid yet you need not be," she insisted.

"I—I needn't?" he whimpered.

"Yes. There is no need to fear me. I'm here to help you."

"Help us? How?" I asked.

"By answering questions to begin with. I know all of this is confusing," she commented with compassion. "Is there anything you're dying to know? Oh, but—" she stopped herself short. "Don't ask about the creators. I can't speak about that."

I nodded, trying to conceal my smile. If she didn't want us to ask about something, then why did she bring it up first thing? I think I could get her to tell us more if I just found a way into her head.

"I've a question," Luca said, still trembling.

"Yes?"

"Are there more of you?"

"Yes, one more. And she's—" Just as Sallan said that a smaller cornflower-blue person flew up out of the open plexiglass. She landed on the metal floor then came over studying the two of us back and forth. Then she saw Luca.

"Ooh!" she squealed. "Oh, he's the one. He's the one I've been watching." She clasped her hands together and ran to him. Luca jumped up but the new girl pushed him against the wall. She hugged him, nuzzling him all over.

"AHHH!!" Luca screamed, squeezing his eyes shut.

"You're so cute! Can you be mine, please?"

"Dear god!" he whimpered, turning his head left and right to avoid her kisses. She was climbing up his body using her clawed fingers. In between my snorting laughs I could hear her making smooching sounds.

"I guess he did have a reason to be afraid after all," Sallan whispered to me, her hand raised covering one side of her mouth. I giggled harder as tears fell down my cheeks.

"I guess so!"

"Make her stop, please. I'm beggin' you!" Luca pleaded. Sallan walked over to the new girl and gripped her by the neck. Like a cat being carried by a mom, she let go and hung under Sallan's grip.

"Now, when I let you down, you will not go to Luca, okay?" Sallan asked.

"Oh, you said his name," she gushed.

"Lecki, seriously. We've spoken about this."

"Alright," Lecki whispered.

After she was released, Lecki retreated to the smiling vapor room.

"So, where would you like to go?" Sallan asked.

"Any suggestions?" I asked.

"How about a wolf shifter rendition?" Sallan questioned.

"Sounds like it could be fun!" I exclaimed.

"Agreed. Let's move on," said Luca.

"Good luck!" said Sallan.