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Impending Doom and I have never really crossed paths much before. But it seems like in more recent days I just can’t help but keep bumping into him wherever the hell I went. There’s just no escaping him. Such a damn attention seeker too... to the point where I can’t even focus on anything else until I get to kick him out of the door personally.

As soon as Sera started digging for crumbs at the bottom of her bag, that was when I knew it was time for us to finally bounce and head back home where I and this Impending doom-guy could talk further in depth.

Straight to the parking lot we went. I didn’t even bother to do a second survey around for potential gifts. Within minutes, I was revving the engine, turning into the lane for home... and received quite the painful warning in the form of a pinch around my waist by a displeased Sera reminding me to go slow.

At this point, I might as well have just bought a bicycle with the speed limit she’s forcing me to abide by which was a hindrance in more ways than one... ’cause and the longer it took to get home, the more my head was being filled with grand speculation that could probably put a conspiracy nut to shame.

That marking in the church. What Sera meant by it, seeing her crumble the cookie into dust in her hand. Destruction, decimation... was it just a lucky fluke? pure coincidence pulling a funny on me? or it could actually be something more?

I nearly ran a red light by just how distracted I became, pulling on the brakes so suddenly that for once I was actually glad we were going so slow. In any case, it was kinda hard to think about anything with all the noise around me, all the distractions... rumbling cars, freezing cold, and as well as...

.....

“Sera, can you please stop tapping the back of my head?” I said, glancing irritably at the end of my peripheral view at the violet bobblehead wearing my only helmet.

Then from deep inside the opaque visor, I heard a low hum imploding from within. It was a familiar groan, and I was well-versed in Seranese enough to understand it was also the needy kind of groan.

I fully turned my head back at her. “Missed your chance. I’m not U-turning back to the mall for you. We’re halfway home already, so...”

But turns out I was off the mark just a little bit. It was not the mall she wanted me to turn to, but-as a finger protruding through her sleeve kindly directed-towards a hard left at the junction we were stopped at where the gray of road ends and the lush green of greenery begins, the distant chortle of children ringing aloud.

The park.

Before I could even have the chance to ask her why-the traffic light flashed green-and I was forced to make a split-second decision, ultimately ending with me swerving us closer into the direction of merry laughter.

A few minutes later and we were strolling down the narrow dirt path, taking in the sights of stalls and venues already nearing completion. Lots of wires, lots of steamers, with festivities comes litter, and as well as a lot of people around responsible for said litter... and there was no shortage of people here that’s for certain.

Turns out Sera only wanted to come here to admire. As always, in spite of a distaste for rowdy crowds, the allure of flashy shiny things was just too great an urge to resist. It didn’t take long for her to begin straying off on her own, and instead of playing chaperone, I simply settled myself down on the nearest empty bench.

“Just meet me here when you’re finally bored,” I called out to her just before she disappeared into the hustle and bustle. “But if you take too long, then you’re catching the bus, you hear me?”

I don’t think she heard me.

Lots of people, lots of noise, and yet somehow my good buddy Doom just continued to keep drowning them all out. Alright, know what? Let me just settle this right here and now.

My hand back in my pocket, then my phone pressed against my ear, I waited patiently for the beeping to stop, all the while preparing and lining up questions at the tip of my tongue.

After a few seconds, a weary little sigh came to answer my call. “I’m a bit swamped right now, just for your information.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be long,” I said in assurance. “Good morning, by the way.”

“Good afternoon, actually,” She corrected me, then I heard her munch on something soft, a donut probably, chewing while speaking again. “So, any particular reason why you’re calling?”

“Just one,” I said. “Just needed a detective’s consult on a particular matter. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Depends on what it is, I suppose.” My consultant on the other end replied. “I’ll give you three minutes before I hang up. I’m supposed to be down in interrogation two minutes ago.”

“Irene...”

“Fine, five minutes,” She relented. “Make it quick, alright?”

That’s when I launched on my admittedly long-winded rant that I miserably tried to keep brief. I told her my suspicions, my wonders, how I thought this whole internet trend thing was highly suspicious, especially when they got ominous symbols like this being painted all over. And how this whole thing just seriously reeks of a convoluted plan unfolding.

“Look, I get that you’re highly paranoid, really I do,” Irene replied, miraculously still indulging me long past our five-minute window. “But I wouldn’t want you to worry about something like this. Especially if nothing’s happened yet.”

I scoffed. “That’s rich coming from the boss-lady making her poor red-blue-green subordinates archive every instant of it.”

Irene made a noise. “Jill did mention bumping into you earlier today. And Sera too, to my surprise. Now just what exactly is she doing with you? In a shopping mall, no less?”

“When there’s smoke, there’s fire,” I said, sidestepping her question entirely. “C’mon, Irene, fess up. Is there something I should be worried about or not?”

“No, it isn’t,” She said at once, confidently at that. “Listen... I learned my lesson from last time, alright? There’s no way I’m able to keep you from diving headfirst into whatever heroic venture is next in sight. I meant what I said before-this internet trend thing? It’s really nothing to worry about. At least for the time being.”

“How do you know for sure?”

“You’ve already answered that question, remember?” She said, “Because I’m keeping a close eye on them. As I said, I get your paranoia. I’m in the same boat. Until this trend dies down, I intend to keep on monitoring it. Any red flags, you have my word... you’ll be the first to know.”

I noticed that she was using that voice of hers, that soft and gentle one that did not at all match the stern and stoic detective. The kind she used only when we were alone together. While it was a welcomed sweet melody to my ears, I can’t help but see through this blatant attempt at trying to placate me... and suffice it to say, I was not sufficiently placated just yet.

“And just how do you know that you haven’t missed any?”

“Because I do my due diligence? Because I’d instantly spot a Kronocian symbol if I happen to see one? Because I’ve replicated and tested every symbol I find for any trace of magic myself? None of the symbols do anything because they are not in the language of the Divines. They’re not real symbols. They’re fake. Most of them taken from that Asteria game.”

“Yeah, a game Jay helped make, remember? Using your world as a foundation, if I might add,” I reminded her. “Does that not raise a flag to you?”

For a moment, Irene was simply quiet. Nothing on her end but the ambient sound of dead air. Then quietly, so quietly that it unnerved me, she spoke again.

“Look, if you’re looking for a complete guarantee that nothing is amiss, then I’m sorry, I can’t give that to you,” She said. “But what I can give you is my assurance that I am doing everything I can in my power to make sure nothing comes of this. Is that not enough for you? Do you think I want something to happen? Another dangerous problem that needs to be fixed-that you’ll try to fix. Risking your safety, endangering your life. Do you seriously think I want that again?”

I felt my throat go dry all of a sudden, and suddenly I was squirming in place, ashamed. “No... of... of course not, I was just...”

“Everything you’ve done, you had my faith and trust,” Irene said, heaving out a heavy breath of what sounded unpleasantly like disappointment. “Please, I’d appreciate it if you could do the same for me too.”

“Yes, you’re right, too right,,” I said at once, unable to bear with this agonizing discomfort any longer. “I-I was being an ass. I’m sorry. Irene, I-of course... of course I trust you. With all my heart, I do. I didn’t mean to doubt... of course, I never doubted you... I just... I... I’m very sorry...”

Faintly, I heard her sigh again and to my relief, her breath sounded considerably lighter.

“Forgiven,” She said. “Don’t worry, I still really love you. Even if you were being kind of an ass there for a second.”

Almost instinctively, I shook my head, every fiber in my body screaming and declaring me guilty as sin. “No, I... I really messed up there. I should have taken your word for it the moment you said it. I... I dunno what I was thinking... I was-”

“Worried,” She interjected, her voice soft and gentle again. “And why shouldn’t you be after all that’s happened? But listen, you can’t spend your whole life worrying about the next impending disaster, alright? It’s not healthy, and it’s not what you deserve after all you’ve been through. You have to live a little for once. Just leave the worrying and paranoia to me, okay?”

“But that goes both ways, doesn’t it? I said. “I do that, and what do you have? You have to live a little too, don’t you?”

“What are you even saying?” Irene chuckled, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world. “I have you for that, don’t I?”

“After that little stunt I just pulled...” I hissed in the cold, frigid air. “It seems I don’t really make for much...”

“You’re more than enough,” She said. “Trust me on this, okay?”

I nodded, unhesitating. “Your word is law.”

“Good,” She responded back, her tone no longer dour. “You took a good ten minutes from me, by the way. I really got to go now. Listen, do not worry about anything, okay? It’s Christmas week. It’s special. Please enjoy it as much as you can. With the Elf, Amanda, whoever... but especially with me... if we manage to find some time, that is.”

“I’m sure we can,” I said. “I’m still waiting on my end of the bet, by the way.”

“Soon,” She chuckled again. “I promise you. And if not... then there’s still always New Year’s.”

“Yeah, I guess...” I cleared my throat, still sorting myself out from the prior discomfort. “Alright, I’ll get out of your hair now. I’ll see you soon, and uh, sorry again about that thing earlier, I was really-”

“Oh, by the Divines,” She feigned an impatient groan. “Just tell me you love me already so we can finally say goodbye, won’t you?”

I blinked, and a second after, I complied. “Uh, I love you.”

In that silence, in the seconds that followed, and from her voice alone, I could vividly see the beautiful smile on her face as she chuckled for the last time.

“There it is, the three words I was looking for to make up for it,” She said, still faintly giggling. “And I love you too.”