Chapter Six: "Hauntings"

He was pacing around the room for minutes, as if finding words to say. A finger fell onto the bridge of his nose, balanced on the threshold between what to say and what not. After a minute of battle, he managed to come out with,

"So it's the tutor."

Luna bit her lip as if to taste blood. "I... guess?"

"Enough," Infinity snapped, suddenly impatient from the etiquette. "Davey, why are you here?"

He spun a clueless look, as if faced with a riddle he knew he couldn't solve. Then he looked back at the door.

Was he contemplating leaving? Infinity thought, internally rolling her eyes.

"Is it a crime to see a friend?" He muttered, swallowing audibly.

Infinity tilted an eyebrow then grinned. "Cut the bullshit. What do you want?"

Davey stepped back, as if her hostility had pushed him, but stepped forward again. "I contacted Peter Stein."

She flicked up her brow, attempting to remember the name. Was Peter Stein an old friend? She played with the name against her tongue some more, but not before Luna cut in:

"Professor Stein? I know him!" She squealed, Infinity half-expecting her to pull out an autograph from him.

"All I need is the cryptogram," he continued, ignoring Luna's previous squeals.

Infinity's heart sparked when she remembered who this Peter Stein was. Suddenly she found herself unable to breathe anymore; her throat could close up forever. The day in the diner, when Carlos had crashed himself. Killed four people. A blood alcohol of 0.11. The voice which spoke in her mind was almost mechanical.

"Infinity, are you okay?" Davey asked, as she felt a warm hand squeeze her arm.

"Yes, yes, a little tired, that's all," she said with immediacy. The response felt automatic but she didn't care.

"What cryptogram?" Luna asked.

"None of your business," Infinity spat.

"Seriously, what is up with you two?" Davey asked, knotting his arms which hid the bruises on his knuckles.

"It's a long story," Infinity said.

"I have all the time in the world."

Infinity sighed, taking a spot on the sofa, giving into his pleas. She knew the truth would uncover sooner or later. Better to admit now. How would he react to her past? Would he condemn her? Understand her? Suddenly she trembled. Losing the only friend she had. It was a nightmarish event. Would he do such a thing to her? Would their friendship only be based around pity, which she absolutely hated?

Davey sat on the chair opposite to her, leaning towards her with his head slightly tilted. Luna sat beside her, rubbing her palms together as if she was cold, though the house was at least eighty degrees. Infinity felt a boring stare at the side of her head, but she ignored it. It was as though Luna was making invisible pleas not to say anything, as if it would blemish an already stunted friendship which ended more than a decade ago.

"It started in Boston winter, when I was getting my degree," she started, her words in an instant churning her stomach acid. "Luna tutored me, you know that. Let's put down the year: it was 1973, I was nineteen. Making ends meet was tough business. I couldn't even afford to buy proper baby food for Carlos with the bookkeeping gig." She stopped to catch her breath, as her heart was beating too fast to count. "And since I blew a majority of my savings for studying for my GED and baby stuff, I had to take up another job."

"Infinity... don't say it if you don't want to," Luna assured, her voice smoother than satin. Infinity suddenly felt calmed in her presence, warmth flooding her heart in the absence of support.

"I have to talk eventually," Infinity said. "Had to sell crack to the druggies in my neighborhood." She paused, letting the extent of the confession sink into her and Davey. "The payout was generous. I could afford schooling for Carlos. Him and I could eat two or even three meals a day. One day I even bought myself a coat for the harsh winters. I started paying for tutoring with Luna since I decided on an English degree." She stopped, unable to bring out the next words. They had fell in the back of her throat, waiting to be pulled out like a fishing hook, but it stuck. The silence washed in and hurt her head. Davey tapped his fingers against the wooden handled chair.

"Listen... I get you, you were desperate," he said. "I've met a ton of clients before who regret what they've done but had no choice back then. You were lost and wronged by your family."

"You have no idea how good it feels to hear that from you," Infinity said without thinking. It was the sort of thing she would think and then forget about it, but she just couldn't let the opportunity go to waste. Within her, she just wanted to forgive everything and move on. She gripped onto her hands tightly. She didn't even care if this felt like a therapy session. In fact, maybe that's what she just needed right now.

Davey smiled without mockery or anger. "I admire your bravery, Infinity. You'd do anything for your son."

"Yet I couldn't protect him," she said.

"Some things happen out of our control. Life is like that-- full of surprises, obstacles. Just because a bad surprise happens it doesn't mean it happened for a reason, and definitely not due to your parenting method. It's not your fault."

It's not your fault. Four words carrying the weight of the world.

He was right-- life was not a novel, planned out on paper and expected to happen. Her life was never predetermined destiny. She had never stopped to evaluate her logic.

"And I don't expect you to forgive me," Luna said.

Only in her dreams had she ever conjured up a situation like this. The perfect blend of conversation-- of her, her old friend, and a relatively new friend. And forgiveness, up to her. But there was one thing which held her back-- the fact that this may be the only time she could never see them again. She remembered she couldn't afford dinner this week. The permit which was squashed between the cryptogram and the atlas page which she marked up. Sadness sank back into her soul.

"Guys... I need to tell you something," she got up from the sofa, gulping, and walked to the bookshelf where she kept the atlas page. In the blink of an eye she let the page dance and settle onto the sofa beside Luna.

But Davey was the first one to grab it and look it over. Infinity watched as his facial expression grew more downturned. "You're nuts," he only said. He looked at the atlas page next, where the illegible scribbles of the intersection were. "Infinity, do you have any idea what you've gotten yourself into?"

"What is it?" Luna demanded.

"A permit for Antarctica," Davey spat, turning the atlas page over as if he expected more insanity. "Infinity, did you do any research on the weather there right now? It's the goddamn Southern Hemisphere, winter is just starting!"

"Well I..."

"Indeed this is crazy," Luna agreed, only taking a look at the page for a second. "Antarctic storms can get insane. They last not days, but months, Infinity."

"And have you seen the news? There is a research team that recently disappeared, in the same exact location!" Davey was about to blow his cork off, and Infinity started to clench her fists.

"Enough!" Infinity screeched, her roar sending the house into complete silence, scaring some of the crows outside, sending them fluttering like flies. "Carlos left an ominous note years ago. I trust my gut..."

"But this is absolutely crazy!" Luna protested. "You can't go there all alone. Please, give the permit back."

"There is no refund for the plane ticket. I already called my boss to quit my job. I'm going to Antarctica, whether you guys approve of it or not."

Davey scratched back his brown hair. "How could you commit such a rash decision?"

"I realize it is a rash decision," Infinity said calmly, ignoring pleas that wanted to scream at him. "But I can't leave Carlos unfulfilled."

A silence followed, as if they had experienced a new understanding, an understanding which was so unexpected they couldn't believe it.

Luna was the first to speak. "Then I'm coming with you," she ordered.

Infinity couldn't believe it. "You can't come, it's dangerous," she said.

"After you left Boston I got my major in astrophysics. I can help you operate the scientific equipment and all that. Plus I spent my winter break doing research in the Himalayas."

Infinity nodded, warmth flooding her heart at the support. She knew Luna was trying to use the trip as a chance at forgiveness, but maybe that's what she needed. If she lost her life in Antarctica, at least she could give her long lost friend exoneration.

"I still think this is a bad idea," Davey said, his cheeks glowing red hot.

"I know it's a bad idea. But let me give you this... would you rather experience a life of regret not knowing what the intersection contains, or attempt to fulfill your dead son's bucket list, and die doing it?"

"I can't change your mind, can I?" He let a meek smile settle on his lips. Every muscle in that grin ached.

Infinity shook her head. "Luna and I will leave next week."

Davey cracked his knuckles, glowing red from heat. She could visibly see the sweat glowing on his palms. He took an audible breath and asked, "where is that permit office?"

A/n: Shortlisted for round two of the Open Novella Contest! Round three, you're so going down.

Stay tuned for chapter seven when the trio arrives in Antarctica and strange things start to happen...

WORD COUNT: 1660