After a minute talk with Daniel, they ate a hearty brunch as Riel called it in the dining room, with silver wares which clanked as they ate in peace. She had noticed the butler exchanging glances with Daniel, when they ate in the sizable room, having silent conversations with their eyes but she only minded her business, chewing on the juicy lump of meat. Daniel led her back to her room after she asked him to, so as not to relieve her previous experience and chit chats were made between them on different topic as he showed her the way. Zyca found it fascinating when Daniel talked about his family and the things about himself. She hadn't known he'd been married and her mouth stood open when he spoke of her demise. How unfortunate. She had some doubts though when she told him of herself having half expected for him to turn her away when she narrated her story.

"Meet me at the yard at little after noon so we could go into town," he said.

"Okay," she replied.

"And I'll send someone to give you better clothing's for you to wear."

She inclined her head in confusion. "What is wrong with what I have on? Isn't it what girls wear in this world?"

"Oh no," he laughed. "What you have on is for house maids and its longs past the era where maids dress as such and if you go out in this, you'll be the laughing stock in town."

"Oh!" her lips contoured at the center as she understood what he talked about. "My bad."

With a short smile, which sent her heart missing a beat he stepped closer into her space letting her feel the hard muscles under his shirt with her body, he placed his hands on the top of her head and rubbed it gently. What was he doing? And why was she feeling hot all of a sudden when he ran his tongue over his lips?

"Don't forget. A little after noon," he said taking his hands out abruptly and stepped back and walked away down the hall and turned at the corner out of sight.

Zyca stood there for a while trying to understand what had just happened. She blinked several times and with a shake of her head she entered her room and with a sigh, she fell on the bed wrapping herself in the warm sheets. The day hadn't even ended and she felt very tired from all the running, and now she felt a sudden headache at the back of her head when she remembered what went down in the hall. She needed to rest a bit.

****

'Zyca.... Zyca...In the trees.... Zyca .... trees...Find it...run...Give no one'

Zyca lurched awake. She blinked letting her eyes adjust to the brightness of the room. Had she heard her name again? Although it was less audible this time, she had understood clearly what the voice said but what did it mean? What was in trees she should find and not give anyone?

Placing her hand on her chest she rubbed it gently in an attempt to calm her heart. Her heart beat eventually calmed at the sight of the pair of clothing on the foot of her bed. It must have been the maid or her daughter again. They must find it funny to mess with her like such. She would make sure to call them out on what they did when she gets sight of them.

HONK!

She jerked all of a sudden unsure of the sound she just heard. A bird? No birds don't sound that way, the sounds they make were much lighter than the one she just heard. The roar which followed the sound of something plastic, rubber perhaps crunching in a burning fire made her jump tangling herself in the sheets and with a thud she fell on the ground.

HONK! HONK!

It sounded again. She scrambled off the ground still in the cocoon of her sheets, flew and peered out the window. Her eyes found the source of the noise which sped like wind on the graveled ground, and the sky, good heavens were bluish. It was fascinating.

Zyca threw the window shutter open.

Was that Daniel?

He was inside the machine and it looked like he was controlling the way it moved when he stirred his hands.

Without a second thought, she untangled herself and threw the sheets back on the bed with excitement bubbling inside her and without a look at the mess the room had become, she skids out of her room on bare foot, down the hall, confident she knew the way.

The brightness of the day, made her squint the moment her eyes met with the light. It was the direct contrast to the darkened sky they always had back home – it was then she understood why genies wouldn't want to go back home. The air, the light, she took them all in.

The machine came to a stop and she slipped closer to the spot as soon as Daniel walked out. He scowled down at her inching an eyebrow up.

"I told you a little after noon, now it's," he checked the strap on his wrist. "Three pm."

"Sorry I feel asleep," she said checking out the machine adorned with blazing red color and the set of four black wheels it stood on. "What is this?"

"A car."

"A car," she repeated. "What does it do?"

"It helps the humans get to where ever they want to quickly – there are different types, brands of cars, so many in fact. For example," he tapped the car. "It a Mercedes Benz, a very expensive brand."

"Hmm, we don't have these in the genie world. I've never seen such."

"I'm sure you haven't."

"But I thought you had no money," she said recalling the conversation they had. "You told me you lost your business deal to your competition when you made a mistake in the statistical reports you presented at the meeting with your investors..."

Daniel smacked his lips. "Indeed. It's not mine. Remember I told you my parents are rich."

"You did," she confirmed.

"So, this is one of their many beauties," he smacked the vehicle. "Old but strong."

"It's really beautiful," she ran her hands over the top. She turned back to Daniel ready to ask him when they would go into town but her breath was caught in her lungs.

He was smiling at her.

She swallowed a lump down her throat.

"Go get ready, we leave in ten and please wear a shoe."

She'd known she had made the mistake of walking bare footed twice but it was only because she had to get somewhere or to do something in a hurry and she regretted it every time for the feelings she felt was highly unpleasant; too cold or too warm like now when the sun beat the earth, she felt firsthand the hotness of the grasses.

****

Dressed in a pleated white dress with thin straps and pair of flats, she tugged back out the yard bathing in the cool heat, and into the car swiftly on the passenger's side, as Daniel got behind the wheels. Zyca braised herself when the car was put into motion and beamed when the rush of air tickled her skin.

She studied the buildings they rush passed, magnified by their heights and the way they glistered in the afternoon sun. About a hundred of humans, she saw men, woman, boys and girls and like Daniel said the female weren't clad in maid's uniform. She would have certainly looked foolish.

What a great little town she thought.

"Where are we going to first?" Zyca asked.

"To an old friend of mine back in high school. He's like the eyes of town."

"Eyes?"

"Yup. He knows things. We used to be best friends," his fist tightened a little on the padded wheel.

"I'm sorry."

He laughed. "He didn't die Zyca. It's just that we went our separate ways when we got accepted to different universities."

"Wow. I can't ever think of myself not ever staying friends with Colt. He's like family."

"At least your relationship wasn't as complicated as mine."

"And yours' was?"

"Well, Philip and I had a misunderstanding about the collages we wanted to go to. He wanted to stay here in town while I wanted to leave to purse my dream..."

"In business," she completed.

"Yes in business," a frown settled on his face. He stared ahead but it seemed he saw nothing. Another vehicle, a bit bigger than theirs, advanced in speed on the opposite direction. From where they were, Zyca could hear a loud beat emanating from it.

"Daniel!"

Daniel swerved the car suddenly, narrowing escaping a collision with a larger car. "ASSHOLE!" The driver cursed, and the two others set their middle finger out at them. Daniel replied with his middle finger too and so did Zyca.

"Is this some kind of greeting here?" she asked.

He scoffed. "Sought off."

"So... what does he do?"

Daniel shrugged. "Beats me. Last I heard, he applied to work to keep law and order."

"Like the police?"

"Yes, the police."

Zyca knew from the hooded look in his eyes, it hurt him badly when he got separated from his best friend and she was positive she would too if she'd ever lost Colt. Oh, how painful it would be.

Zyca looked out the window as Daniel continued the drive, and soon after he pulled the Mercedes into a lot (the sign on the safe way read Parking lot), and turned off the ignition.

"Here we are," he pulled out the keys.

He leaned over her body, slightly glazing over her breasts as he reached for the door and clanked it open with a jerk of the handle.

Zyca could only tuck herself deeper into the seat, tightening her hands as he glazed her protruding chest again as he returned to his side. She couldn't tell form his solemn expression if he knew what he did to her or not.

"We should get out now," he said tugging open his door and stepped out.

Maybe it was an honest mistake but why was her body reacting in all places? She jiggled her body and stepped out the door.

The car made a beep when Daniel clicked a button he pointed toward the vehicle.

Daniel looked up, "Auto-lock." He said when he noticed her stare.

With a wave, Daniel gestured her to follow him. They walked a stony footpath, passing a sign which read, 'Andante's Flower shop'. Thoughts as to why a flower shop would be an ideal place to meet a person who worked for the country passed through her mind. Stopping at a black gate, he pushed it open and they walked to the front door.

"It's closed," she read from the hand printed paper sign placed on the door. 'CLOSED'

"Not to worry, they live upstairs." Daniel rapped on the door with his fists and when no one answered Zyca joined in.

"GO AWAY!" an angry voiced yelled from above. "IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY!"

An old woman in a pair of glasses looked down on them from a wide-open window lined with pottery of blooming petals.

"Mama T?" Daniel asked in confusion.

"Someone you know?"

"Yeah - it's Philip's mother- but I thought she..." he paused mid-sentence looking up at the friable looking woman.

"WHO IS I?!"

Zyca looked up, seeing the woman flap her hands in the air over a pot of flowers by the window plane.

"MAMA T, IT'S DANIEL," he finally yelled back.

"DANIEL WHO?" she shouted. Zyca wondered if the aged woman had issues with her hearing because the distance from where they stood and to where she peered out was a short distance. The cupping of her ears to hear what Daniel would say next confirmed her thoughts.

"DANIEL STONE- PHILIP'S OLD'S BUDDY FROM WEST BROOK."

"OH!" she exclaimed clapping her hands together. "COME ON IN THROUGH THE STAIRS, YOU KNOW THE WAY," she disappeared into the house.

Zyca who pinned her ears from the exchange of series of shouts, followed Daniel slowly behind as he rounded the building to a staircase which squeaked upon a foot on the rickety surface and shook when a hand touched the railings. The journey up was an unpleasant one for she had to maintain her balance anytime she stepped – grabbing unto Daniel's shirt to control her balance.

Inside smelt like death, like a thousand and one living creatures or maybe more died and rotted on the floor, the walls and the ceilings. The breeze of the unpleasant smell had her sensory organs quaver in disgust sending her hands over to her nose in an attempt to save it from falling away. Glancing over to Daniel she noticed he didn't do the same. Was she the only one who smelt it?

Her eyes ran over the living room which seems to be where they entered, she thought, was adorned with colorful healthy flowers in brown pots, the furniture, rustic and dark sprinkled liberty with vivacious cushions, photographs in black and white ran through the walls like a garland and a soft music played in the background. It looked homey. But she didn't get why the room smelt awfully when she had flowers, she knew could emit the scent of freshness, lavender, and other type of wonderful fragrance. Even the flowers Mrs. Aster cultivated with magic smelt better than this.

Zyca felt an uncanny feeling buried deep in her about the place and before she could voice out her thoughts Mama T walked out lunged on a walking stick.

"Daniel!" the woman threw one of her brown spotted hands over his neck, patting his back in a gentle caress. "It's been long Danny boy – where have you been?"

"Just here and there," his voice muffled as he struggled to breathe from her hold.

"Definitely not here, I know that very much. It's been what like, seven years since I've last seen you. It wasn't fair Danny boy..."

"Mama T, your hold," he tried to lessen her grip.

"Oh, my bad," she snickered, releasing Daniel to which he released a deep breath just after. "You know it's been so long and I've missed you so very much."

"Likewise, Mama T – Does Philip still live here?"

"Most definitely, the stubborn boy refused to move out after he found out about my condition," she pointed to her amputated legs. "Well I'm glad he stayed – I can't imagine what could have happened if he ever left me alone. Tsk, tsk, fallen down the stairs to my death perhaps – Are you here for him?"

"As a matter of fact yes."

"He should be returning back from his night shift anytime soon. Why don't you stay for some tea?"

She involuntary moved closer to Daniel when the old woman glanced at her. "And who might this be?" she was sure she almost saw a sinister smile glaze her lips.

"A Friend of mine," he replied. "Zyca?" he turned to her.

"Zyca Abram," she folded her lips together, tucking them in her mouth.

"Such a wonderful name for a pretty girl like yourself," the woman smiled and, stuck her hands out in front of her for a shake.

A second, two seconds... five seconds she molded her body until she was immersed in his warmth. Slowly, Zyca raised her hand and took out her middle finger.

"Excuse me?"

Daniel laughed nervously. "My bad." He forcefully brought her hands down. "Why don't we go inside?"

"Right, what kind of host am I?" she laughed taking back her hands. "Come in, come in," she led them inside.

"One thing Zyca, the middle finger greeting is not for everyone. Let's say, it for annoying people," he whispered. "And what's up with you?"

"We should leave," she spoke quickly. "Something's not right with her."

"What are you talking about? The weird one here is you."

"Something smells like the insides of a rotten animal and that smile she gave me, it was weird – I really think we should..."

"Please do have a seat," the woman's voice cut their conversation short as she gestured to the couches for them to seat. "I'll bring you some tea," she limped into a room.

"I've known her for so long, I'm positive there's nothing to worry about. I can assure you" Was she just being paranoid? Maybe the event back at her master's home still got to her and now she was seeing things in a woman he'd known for a long time.

There was a possibility some humans had houses that smelt like such and women who dished out sinister smiles to people they just met, even she was always wary when she met someone knew. Maybe it was all in her head.

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