SWNOVELS Chapter The Fake-Out
A/N: Two quick things! First, I think someone tried to send me feedback? Which I was told by support isn’t an active feature, so I’m truly sorry whoever you are, I didn’t get it.
Second thing, following some questions, I wanted to clarify, this is meant to be a series. So there will be multiple books (different main characters). So we haven’t seen the last of genecorp ;)
***
7.00pm.
Simple enough.
All she had to do was show up at the club at 7 pm.
She could do that.
Amelia could walk out there by herself, in the dark, and walk to the club. No biggie. No issues. It was not like things went bump in the night. Except they did. If she was paranoid in the middle of the day, what would happen at night?
She stared at her phone, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. She could ask Noah if he minded going together. Then again, they lived next door to each other. Wouldn’t they sort of organically end up going together at the same time?
Amelia might accidentally spot him when he walked out, and join him. That way, she wouldn’t have to ask.
Except - what if he had something else planned during the day and he wasn’t leaving from home? Sure - she knew he liked to garden… and hm… mow his lawn… and… drink coffee? Oh god. She didn’t know anything about Noah. Well. She knew the tragic back story that led him to enjoy this place but…
Outside of that? Nothing. She knew nothing.
What if she texted him? It wasn’t a weird thing to ask and it didn’t involve any of the stuff they were supposed to talk about in private… Worst case scenario, he said no and… and maybe she would head to the club a little early. When daylight was still around.
…Did the club… have an opening time?
Fuck. Everyone was right. Noah, Stephanie… She agreed to stay here but she didn’t know shit about shit. This place remained a mystery for her. This was why she could never have the upper hand, why she never felt safe.
Amelia glided her hand across the table, reaching for her phone.
Knock! Knock!
Who in the heck?
In the past, a knock on the door wouldn’t have filled her with anxiety. There would be no churning stomach, no tightening in her chest, or feeling like her insides were quivering. But that was a different time.
She clutched her hands before taking a deep breath, a slight shake of the head dizzying her. It was fine. Amelia hopped to her feet, heading for the door as she felt a weight press down on her chest. It was fine.
She cleared her throat before yanking the door open, revealing… Dr. Harper? What the actual fuck?
“Good morning, Amelia.”
“Hm- go-good morning. Is everything okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t everything be perfectly okay?”
Seriously? “Because - you are here.”
“May I come in?”
That did not answer her question at all. She could say no, that was a fantasy option. After all, he - or his company - owned all of this. Surely he could get himself inside if he truly wanted to do it. Asking her was a mere formality.
“Sure,” she replied through gritted teeth.
It took her a moment to step aside, leaving him the space to enter the house. She took a quick peek outside, visually confirming that no one else was present, and then she closed the door.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” A good hostess, right? She didn’t know why he was here but she didn’t buy that nothing was wrong. She hadn’t seen him since that day and she doubted he regularly made rounds like this.
He wanted something.
“No thank you.”
“Okay.”
“I was made aware of another incident with Ezekiel.”
Incident. Was that how they were choosing to call it? “Yeah.”
“I do apologize. Ezekiel has received a two months ban.”
A two months ban? That was a joke. So he would return, and he would do this again to someone else? She highly doubted he would learn his lesson within the span of a couple of months… A part of her seriously doubted that this was his first offense. He had gone crazy a long time ago.
“What about the skinwalker?”
“The skinwalker?”
Sure Mister we’ve got cameras everywhere. He hadn’t heard about that. Alright. She’d play his little game. “I was attacked in the library.”
Dr. Harper tilted his head up, smiling at her. “It was my understanding that it might have been a conversation gone wrong. Not an attack.”
Was he fucking serious right now? Her hands balled into fists, shaking by her sides. If she hadn’t screamed and Miss Lewis hadn’t shown up, who knew how badly it would have ended? That fucker had no intention of stopping.
“Right,” she paused to clear her throat, “a conversation went wrong. Maybe you should tell your matches they need to learn patience.”
He smiled at her, but his lips were pulled tight and his eyes were narrowed. He wasn’t happy with her. Well good. She wasn’t happy with him either.
“I suppose it speaks volumes to the interest your matches have towards you.”
A compliment. Being trapped like an animal and touched without her consent was supposed to be a fucking compliment? Was this guy a complete lunatic or something? “So is that it? You were here about Ezekiel?”
“It was part of it.”
He drummed his fingers on the side of his leg, still smiling at her. “You canceled your date.”
“I did.”
Since he didn’t understand the impact of what occurred between her and the skinwalker, she did not expect him to understand why she might be a little skittish when it came to having another date. Especially since the perpetrator was out there… and no one had any intention of stopping him.
“You have not selected another date, nor have you requested more matches.”
Again, his face was saying one thing, but his tone of voice another.
“I didn’t no.”
“Would you like more matches?”
“I-I’m good.”
She watched as the corner of his eye twitched. “Miss Parks. You do remember the purpose of your presence here?”
“It’s hard to forget.”
“We are happy to provide you with the most pleasing of experiences, along with some expensive perks. However, these luxuries and opportunities that we are giving you do come with the understanding that you are doing your part.”
Amelia had to pinch her lips together to prevent a sneer from slipping her. If she was not working on becoming a baby machine, then this did not work. Then they would send her back… but would they?
“I’m not sure I understand.”
She did. She fucking understood very well where he was going with this but if he wanted to play that game, then she would force him to be as direct as possible.
“I think you do.” He handed her a file. “We assumed your current matches weren’t to your liking. We decided to put another file together for you.”
Yeah… a file of whoever paid the most money to end up in it. She wouldn’t be fooled twice.
He shook the file as he got it even closer to her. So that was it? They would start an intimidation tactic unless she agreed to go on another date. That was it? She had to do this no matter what. She couldn’t even wait for a beat, trying to find someone who didn’t make her skin crawl.
She wasn’t an idiot. He was saying she wouldn’t be worth the investment unless she played this little game.
If canceling a date was worth getting a little visit, what would they do if she pushed it a little further?
Except she didn’t fucking want to go on a date. She wanted a chance to talk with Noah, and see what he had to say about this hellhole. Noah. She was going to the club with Noah tonight… Noah who was a djinn. A supernatural creature…
Wait a damn minute.
“I don’t need it.”
“I do believe you need it, Miss Parks.”
“I have a date.”
He frowned, pulling the file back towards him. “A date? We do not have any records from your phone indicating such a thing.”
“I-I didn’t do it - through the phone.” She popped her lips. “I didn’t. My bad. I didn’t know we had to always go through the phone.”
“How did you set up a date?”
“Good old fashion way!” she said, giving him a thumbs up. “I- you know I talked to my neighbor a lot. His name is-“
“Noah,” he interrupted.
“Yes. And we- we have a lot in common. We did a friend, outing thing once… but we talked more and I - he officially asked me for a date. So we’re going to the club. It’s this club…” she laughed. “You know where it is of course. We’re going. Tonight. 7 pm. So I don’t… need more matches. At least I hope I won’t. That’s the point, right?”
Okay girl, settle down. She was laying it on a little thick but honestly, could anyone blame her? She was trying to get out of a jam. No, it wasn’t a date, but Dr. Harper didn’t need to know that. She simply needed him to get off her back for the time being.
Noah would understand.
Plus, it didn’t mean anything to him, right?
She had rejected other people. Nothing bad happened. They could play it off until she had stuff figured out.
“4%.”
“Excuse me?”
“4% - that is your compatibility with Noah. You are aware that this most likely will not result in a pregnancy?”
“Yes.” Oh no, so sad.
“Noah does not hold a lot of… money.”
She hadn’t asked if he did. However, considering the story he told her about his life before coming here, it did not sound like he had time and freedom to put away a shit ton of money or anything.
Hence why he enjoyed this simple life.
“I know.”
She didn’t need to be a mind reader to see that Dr. Harper did not think this was a good idea. Fuck her backup plan wouldn’t work. He would push another match on her and she would have to sit there and stab someone with silver to ensure that they were not a psychopath skinwalker.
Awesome.
And if he were then she-
“Alright.”
“Alright?”
“Yes.” He tucked the file under his arm. “We are here to facilitate this process for you Miss Parks. We keep everyone together, and it is expected that from time to time, matches happen more organically. I did not believe it was something you sought considering your initial reaction upon your arrival here. However, you are free to match with whomever you wish.”
Oh. That was… surprisingly… anticlimactic.
She could have said that from the start then? She could have saved herself a lot of fucking trouble.
“So - I can… it’s fine?”
“Of course.”
“Oh-okay.”
“Please use the proper channel when you schedule the next date.”
“When?” That was a bold assuming statement.
“You already know him, correct?” She nodded. “These types of dates often lead to second dates.”
“Okay, well - I’ll be sure to - hm, text you for the next date.”
“Very well. If ever it doesn’t work out with Noah, we have your next matches ready.”
Awesome. Now she would have to figure this shit out and he would be watching her like a hawk. How long did she have before he pressed her for not scheduling another date? Days? Maybe a week if she was lucky? Would it be enough?
“I will. Thank you.” Asshole.
He offered her a forced smile before he walked past her and escorted himself out of the house. She held her breath until the door closed and once she was officially alone again, her shoulders dropped.
This wasn’t good but it wasn’t a mess.
At the very least they were not unto her… that was a good start.
Ding!
What the heck?
Amelia walked to her phone, sliding it unlocked.
GENECORP:Date confirmed. Today. 7 pm. Club X
Ah fuck.
She thought - she thought she could simply tell Noah what she told Dr. Harper. She didn’t know he would go and make it all fucking official and shit. She didn’t even have a chance to warn him…
Great. Well. Asking him to walk her to the club was very much out of the question now. Delaying seeing him and reducing the chance that he might cancel on her was her best option.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too pissed off…
***
“Hey, date.”
And he was pissed.
Her initial hunch had been right; he hadn’t been home. She had waited - in the hopes of avoiding him instead of running into him - but he never came out of his house. He had been somewhere else.
At least he showed up.
“I can explain,” she hurried to say as she walked closer to him.
Amelia had kept herself against the wall, hoping to blend in with the surroundings. Of course, it hadn’t worked. She had seen people staring at her, trying to hover closer but no one bothered her.
She could only assume this had something to do with the security that was present and the little lie she said earlier. So as sorry as she was that she lied and sort of used Noah, she also wasn’t sorry.
Whatever kept the psychopaths off her back. Plus it wasn’t harming Noah.
“Yes, I would love an explanation for the little text message I got.” He held up his phone, showing her the conversation.
GENECORP:Date confirmed. Today. 7 pm. Club X
Yup.
He got the same exact text she did. A small, tiny part of her had hoped that only she had gotten that text.
Son of a gun.
Dr. Harper didn’t trust her and this was his way of ensuring that she hadn’t lied about the date.
“See, at first, I thought it was weird. Because you and I were meeting tonight at 7 pm. So I wondered how could I have booked something at the same time as our meeting. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was our date.”
“I panicked.”
He didn’t appear to be upset really. Sure, there was a bit of tension in his face, but overall, he… thought it was funny?
“He came to my house. He was trying to get me to take another match… and it didn’t feel like he was asking if you know what I mean.”
Nothing. Noah was staring at her still while remaining in complete silence.
“I-I thought it would be fine. I thought it would get him off my back. We were seeing each other anyway… and I thought it might make the whole thing even less suspicious…” She groaned. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would have… any consequences for you… and I’m sorry. I shoulda asked first.”
Noah shoved his phone back in his pocket and grabbed her hand. “You were in a pinch. Come with me.”
He dragged her to the middle of the dance floor, keeping her hand in his.
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m sure you didn’t drag yourself through dark streets just to ask me if I’m mad.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You knew I wouldn’t like walking alone, outside.”
“I was gonna try to pick you up, but I ran out of time.”
Or it was a small payback for the little text message he got. But fair was fair.
“No, you’re right. I do have questions. A lot of them.”
One of his hands snaked around her waist and before she could realize what was happening, he brought her in closer, her chest touching his. Her lips parted, a gasp escaping her as she tilted her head up to look at him.
“It’s somewhat private, but it doesn’t mean there are no wandering ears.”
Right. No one could hear the conversation. Hence the loud-ass club they were hiding at.
“What is this place, really?”
“What they said it was,” he replied, pressing his cheeks to hers, keeping his answers to the privacy of her left ear.
“Really?”
“Yes. They facilitate meetings between carriers and… the supernatural creatures.”
He didn’t like that word, she could tell.
“What’s in it for them?”
“What else? Money. Power.”
“That’s it? All of this for money and power?”
“Amelia, please. Humans have been doing everything imaginable for power and money since the beginning of times.”
He wasn’t wrong and he had seen a lot more than her. She did feel guilty. He had hidden here to hide from human greed, to stop being used by humans. Granted she hadn’t restricted his freedom, but she had used him without his consent.
It did leave her with a sour taste in her mouth. It wasn’t right. None of this was.
“I know that skinwalker paid them to be on my list.”
“They all do.”
“What?”
“Amelia, the matches… the percentile they’re crap. Regular carriers, they most likely have the right numbers but for universal? Highest bidder only. If the carrier requests more matches or all of them, they can’t mess around with that but… when it’s a few at a time…”
“So, all my matches were fake? It was whoever was willing to fork the most money to buy my uterus?”
“Ssh,” he hushed. “You don’t look like you’re having fun, Amelia. You look upset.”
She lowered her face into his shoulder, hoping it would be enough to hide the obvious rage painted all over her future. Seriously. How else did he expect her to react?
“Yes. I don’t know for sure, but… I’m guessing.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’ve been here a long time, Amelia. You learn things.”
“Was it true… when they said I could stay or I could leave?”
There was a pause, and it was enough for her to know the answer without him saying a word.
“No.”
She knew it, she fucking knew it. They would have never fucking let her leave this fucking hellhole. Tears stung her eyes, but she swallowed the lump in her throat, reminding herself that someone could be watching.
Her hands were trembling, her chin shaking as she leaned into Noah even more. His scent had a calming effect on her. She became hyper-aware of his whole presence. The pressure of his hand on the small of her back. His lips hovering over her ear. The tip of his hair tickling at her forehead.
He was close.
“W-what do they do - to people who won’t stay?”
“I’ve never seen it.” He dipped his head until his forehead rested on her shoulder. “But I know there’s a place… for them.”
“They - they keep them?”
“Until… they’ve cooperated.”
“Noah - you know they do this?”
“I’m not all-powerful, Ames. I can’t stop it.”
“But you stay here?”
“I’m in shackles out there, I’m in shackles here. Can’t escape human greed. I either help it out there, or I close my eyes to it here. There is no winning. For anyone.” She felt him sigh, the air warm against her skin. “I told you to take advantage. I told you to participate. The more active you are, the better for you and the faster you’ll get out of here.”
For the first time since they started talking, he pulled away from her. “You have to leave this place, Amelia.”
He stared at her like he could see her soul or read her thoughts. There was a tingle in her fingertips where she was touching him, her digits grazing his chest. Her head was spinning and if he weren’t holding her, she might have lost her footing.
“Why me now? Why not the other people? Why didn’t you help them?”
“I am now.”
“Why?” Her voice cracked as she spoke, her heart booming in her chest. Each heartbeat was strenuous. Why now?
“There is an out for you.”
“There wasn’t one for the others?”
“I didn’t know them.”
“And that was reason enough?”
“It had to be.”
She couldn’t lecture him. She couldn’t pretend she was so much better than him. She wasn’t running around trying to help anyone else. She was doing this for herself and herself alone.
Unable to hold his gaze any longer, she pressed her cheek to his chest, listening to his heartbeat instead. Her stomach fluttered and she closed her eyes.
“Alright.”
“Alright,” he replied.
This didn’t give her a plan. This didn’t give her an out.
If she were honest, they were no outs. All she knew was that she had some influence over the supernatural, and she could not leave this place on her terms.
What the fuck was she supposed to do with that information?
“I can’t leave, can I?”
He shook his head.
“But you can’t stay.”
No, she couldn’t.
“Don’t answer now.”
“Answer what?”
“Do it with me.”
“What?” She tried to jerk away, but his grip was too strong and her head remained pressed to his chest.
“Do a contract with me. And then leave.”
“Noah are-“
“Think about it. Don’t answer now. Think about it.”
A flush of adrenaline traveled through her body as she tried to catch her breath. Her breathlessness was leaving her dizzy.
A contract with Noah?
An easy way out?
She could… fake it until she could go home.
Was that a solution?
But… what would it cost Noah?