章 19: COINCIDENCES
On his way home, Adrian made a spontaneous stop at The Baroness Was Innocent to catch up with Chris and discuss any progress in his ongoing case. While the ever-present scrutiny from those enigmatic figures had somewhat become a part of his daily life, a persistent unease lingered in the depths of his thoughts. 'What if their interest in me wanes, and they resort to more extreme measures?'
The prospect of Emilie, who had only just started to experience a sense of belonging and home, getting entangled in any potential conflict weighed heavily on his conscience.
Adrian was resolute in his determination to shield her and preserve the life they had forged together, all while silently praying that he wouldn't meet a tragic end in some desolate alley.
Upon reaching the bar, Adrian found it delightfully empty, a solitude that suited his preferences perfectly. He proceeded to the counter, securing a seat, and was greeted by Chris's familiar countenance, radiating the same unflagging energy.
'There must be something inherent to his kind,' Adrian pondered quietly, 'I can never muster this level of enthusiasm each morning.'
"I was on the verge of getting in touch with you, Adrian, I swear," Chris admitted with a hint of sheepishness, though the real reason was that the individual he had mentioned to Adrian was currently unresponsive.
He couldn't divulge this to Adrian, knowing that he valued their client relationship.
"I have quite the knack for sensing deception, Chris, so there's no need to be on edge," Adrian reassured him. "I just happened to drop by today because it was conveniently on my route home." He casually poured himself a glass of water from the nearby cooler.
"She hasn't been responding, man. I've made numerous attempts, but it's been a no-show. I can't tell if she's just being bitchy or if her schedule is genuinely packed," Chris confided.
Then, his tone shifted to an observant and lighter note as he continued, "But you know what's the latest buzz? You without your cane! Did you finally decide to part ways with that old piece of wood? It never seemed like your style to rely on it, to be honest."
'Wait, what?' Adrian exclaimed in surprise, his eyes widening. In a sudden flurry of motion, he swiftly rose from his seat, and his form seemed to blur, leaving behind only a vacant space and the slowly swinging door of the bar.
"Yeah, well, no need to take my casual comment so seriously, man," Chris remarked aloud, though he was well aware that Adrian was long gone. He had grown accustomed to Adrian's peculiarities over time.
'How on earth could I forget it? It all adds up now—why I had that unsettling feeling in that room. No, not the room; something has been amiss since Katharine. I need to get back home,' Adrian muttered to himself, a sense of urgency gripping him.
Adrian surged through the city's skyline, reaching his home in what felt like a lightning-fast blur. With a hurried hand, he unlocked the front door and swiftly entered the living room. Upon spotting Emilia engrossed in the television, seemingly unfazed by the world's troubles, Adrian's racing heart finally began to calm.
Emilia swiveled around in her seat to behold Adrian, whose hair was disheveled, almost as if he'd taken a ride on a rollercoaster. "You left your cane at home. I was quite surprised, but then I figured you must have intentionally left it behind, perhaps because you were going to some upscale location," she said while gesturing toward his cane, which rested beside the less-than-glamorous couch.
Adrian reached for the cane, and the moment his fingers grasped it, he experienced a revitalizing surge, as though a colossal burden had been lifted from his very soul.
'There was definitely something amiss,' Adrian contemplated within the recesses of his thoughts. To be honest, it genuinely frightened him. It had been a solid four years since he'd acquired the cane, and this marked the very first occasion he'd forgotten to take it along with him.
"Emilie, if I ever forget my cane again, remind me, even if you have to chase me down," Adrian implored with a gravity that couldn't be ignored. Hearing the solemnity in Adrian's voice, Emilie sensed that something was amiss. She halted her munching on her cherished chips and asked, "What's going on?"
Adrian proceeded to recount the unfolding events since his arrival at the hotel, delving into the inexplicable coincidences that had occurred. "And now this? I just happened to coincidentally forget my cane at home? Doesn't it all seem rather peculiar?" Adrian inquired, yearning for confirmation that he wasn't slowly losing his grasp on reality.
Upon hearing the full account from Adrian, she, too, found the situation rather peculiar. "Are you telling me you've never once forgotten to take your cane with you since you got it?" Emilie asked in her typically composed manner, to which Adrian nodded in agreement. "It's definitely a strange coincidence, but I can't offer much in the way of an explanation. Sometimes, things just happen," Emilie attempted to reassure Adrian.
"Emilie, I understand what this cane means. I know the sensation I just experienced, as if a fog has been lifted from my mind, a burden removed from my soul. It can't simply be me overthinking. I'm not a child; I can discern when something is amiss with my very essence, and this, this is what you might call 'wrong,'" Adrian affirmed, his voice carrying a sense of undeniable certainty.
This marked the first instance Emilie had ever seen Adrian in such a state—perhaps not precisely 'scared,' but rather more akin to a profound sense of disorientation. She could discern that he was struggling to come to terms with a reality that defied his understanding, and she sympathized with his bewilderment.
"I had a feeling that bitch was going to be trouble the moment I saw her with all that heavy makeup," Emilie muttered, his tone tinged with a mix of annoyance and frustration.
"...."
クリエイターの想い 
samandridaku
samandridaku In the tapestry of life's endless design,
We journey through shadows, our path undefined.
But within the quiet, in moments of grace,
Realization dawns, a light in the chase.
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