Page 74 of Fractured Fates

There’s one other person I could ask for help. I really don’t want to. It would be awkward and weird. But I’ve already swallowed my pride once today; for Pip I can do it again.

I tell Winnie I’m too stressed out to eat and when she leaves the room to go for dinner, I fetch my phone and stare down at the number.

I don’t exactly know how or why I have his number, but when I was adding one of Andrew’s friends to my feeble list of names in my contact list a day ago, I noticed it was there.

It could be another prank. Maybe I’ll phone it and it’ll put me through to some sex line.

I’m kinda desperate though so anything is worth a try.

With sweaty palms, I hit connect and lift the cellphone to my ear, listening to the long drawn out rings. I screw up my eyes, half wanting him to answer, half hoping he doesn’t.

I’m about to give up and disconnect, when the rings halt abruptly and I hear his voice in my ear.

It’s him.

The man in black.

“Rhianna.”

“Hi,” I say.

Silence.

“Did you call for a reason?”

I swallow. “Yes …”

His voice sounds quizzical when he speaks again. “What?”

“My … my pig’s missing. I think someone stole him.”

More silence.

I feel so stupid. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

This is the authorities’ Enforcer. I shouldn’t be calling him about my lost pet.

I shouldn’t be calling him at all.

“And?”

And … I don’t know. I don’t know why I thought he would be able to help me even if he could. He’s probably halfway across the country right now tracking down another unregistered like me.

“Nothing,” I mumble, disconnecting the call and tossing my phone across the room.

I screw up my face and sink down to the floor, hugging my legs to my chest and resting my forehead to my knees.

I’m not sure I can do this. I’m not sure I’m cut out for human interactions and navigating people. I’m an idiot with no social skills and pretty feeble magical ones to boot.

I thought I could come to this school, soak up as much information as I wanted and then disappear into the sunset. Now I don’t know what the hell to do. I wish I had my aunt here. To guide and advise me. To tell me what to do.

But I realize, for all her preparation, for all her teaching, for all the times she kept me safe, she still failed me. I don’t know enough about this world and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

And now to top it all off, I’ve lost Pip.

The one being in the world who would make me feel better right now, who would climb into my lap, snuggle in my arms and lick my face. He’d make me laugh with his silly little snorts and he’d remind me there is at least one being left in this world who likes me.

My phone starts to buzz from the other side of the room. It lights up and vibrates across the worn carpet. I ignore it. It’s most likely the man in black calling to berate me for disturbing him with my ridiculous nonsense.