2019-07-31 - A Needling Voice

You should just leave town. Things only got worse after you got here.

Isolde was staring at herself in the bathroom mirror of Two if by Sea. The thought startled her. She couldn't tell if it was her own, or the Others. Her brow furrowed. It had a point. But...Things were already bad here. Alexander said so.

Alexander just doesn't want to hurt your feelings. He lied. He knows you can't take care of yourself. That's why you're staying on his couch. You can't be alone.

She gripped the sink edges. No. No! That wasn't true. She could be alone. She had a job! Until the season's over. And she had been saving! If the backpack that was starting to be filled with money had anything to say about it. Not that it was a lot of money.

"Then go out on your own. You won't last a day." The tone of the words were harsh and Isolde realized it was her own reflection talking back to her. Eyes widening as it continued, "You'll just end up getting Lost. Maybe you should. Then you'd stop causing trouble for everyone."

"No!" Isolde spoke up sharply. No. She wasn't causing trouble for anyone! ...Right? She'd been doing what she was told. Keeping her head down at work. Helping a little with the House. It was then she realized there was someone else in the bathroom. Giving her a wary look. Isolde stared at them through the mirror's reflection.

Then she pushed off the sink and walked out. Just in case they were real - she'd rather leave on her own accord than being tossed out cause she was crazy (or accused of being on something). Isolde paused by the open deck door - eyes widened. Alexander was...dancing? There was a twinge of something, Isolde couldn't explain it. Told you he's better off without you around. That needling voice continued.

Isolde swallowed hard and turned around, leaving the bar and heading back towards the beach. Even though it was too hot, she tugged the flannel from around her waist and put it on. She didn't really know where to go, but she didn't want to go back to Alexander's house. Not yet at least. So she would walk, wander, and see what happened. Because nothing bad ever happened when you wandered around Gray Harbor.