Notes

Chapter 2 - Escape

My bones and muscles ached. I was in so much pain, every time the water would splash against my back my tendons contracted in protest. Every time I tried to move, gravity increased tenfold making it impossible for me to escape. Warm fluids swayed across my back, dripping on the floor below.

"Orrrggggh" I let out involuntarily. I had no control of my body anymore, I was frozen in place.

This is why I hate spas so much.

The masseuse slowly peeled of the towels off my body and patted my back to signal for me to get up.

Although my joints were on the brink of suicide; I managed.

I looked up to see my masseuse, an Ex of mine called Margie.

"See Trace'? That wasn't so bad. I dunno why you don't let me do this to you more often. All of my clients beg me to squeeze them in for an appointment" she said.

I straightened up back, drying my hair and face.

"Yeah but unlike your other clients, I value my spine and would like to keep it out of harms way" I said.

"Oh shut up, my other clients never complain" she said.

"Probably because you broke their spine from the neck up" I said.

She laughed a little.

I decided to break the ice a little, and get rid of the tension between me and her.

"So uh... Hows life?" I said.

"Its been going good.. Not much has changed this the last time we talked. I'm still living in that rat-hole down in 22nd and maple, My cat still hates me, and I still take a hover-taxi here every day" she said.

I nodded along to show her I was listening. I felt bad for her, she didn't have much to begin with. Me leaving her a year ago must have broken her.

"Have you... Met someone else?" I asked.

She didn't respond at first, and the initial silence made me feel regret for asking that in the first place.

"Um.. actually no. After you I haven't really been looking for another date." she said.

I felt like garbage. I had left her a year ago for a guy named Kevin. But I never told her about Kevin or that we had started seeing each other until she came home and found my side of the closet cleared out and a note explaining the whole situation.

I started to tear up, and she noticed it.

"Hey hey hey, cmon' Trace? Don't feel bad... I'm fine now. I got over it. I'd rather have you happy, and if dating Kevin is making you happy then i'm happy." she said, rubbing my back.

I looked up at her and smiled.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend to you." I said.

She shrugged, "Nah, don't worry about it dimple-nose. We both had our own lives. Albeit yours is wayy better, we had our own lives to deal with." she said.

"Speaking of our own lives, You haven't told me anything about yours. Whats been going on lately? Hows Kevin?."

I paused for a second and thought of what I should say to her.

"Well uhm. Me and Kevin broke up a few weeks ago."

She clearly was not expecting that answer. I saw her body jolt up in surprise.

"R-Really? What happened?" she said, crossing her arm and leaning against a wall

"Our love life sorta fell off the earth. We started to talk less and less until he decided he was leaving me. The last time I saw him was 5 weeks ago."

This wasn't the real truth to the matter, but I figured not to make her scared or worried for me. I can't think about what happened between me and him again without getting all emotional.

"Wow Trace.. I'm so sorry. I knew you really liked him." she said, going in for a hug.

I accepted her hug, and felt her embrace. She was warm and slowly patted my back.

We unlocked from each others grasp and look at each other not really knowing what to say.

"Trace, If you want... We could go eat somewhere and help you to take your mind off the whole thing. I'll pay and everything." she said.

I considered it, but I had too many things on my mind. I had to settle somethings out.

"Sorry Margie, I'd love to but I have a million other things to do. Some other day, alright?"

She didn't say anything, but I knew her eyes were filled with disappointment. She clearly still had feelings for me. But I wasn't sure if I felt the same. All she did was nod.

"Yeah.. Of course. Just uh. Just call me when you're ready alright?"

I flung my backpack over my shoulder and started heading for the door

"Yeah. Of course", I said.

"Oh and Trace." she said from across the room.

I paused at the doorway, looking back at her "Yeah?"

"Don't do anything insane, alright?" she said.

"I'll do my dandiest" I said, now walking out the door.


I began walking down the crowded sidewalks of Numbani, the largest and most advanced city mankind and omnic-kind had ever witnessed. The spa was situated in the corner of the commercial district, where everyone would do their shopping and daily routines. The sun casted shadows of skyscrapers across the entire city, making the sky filled with a mixture of reds and oranges.

This time of the day was rush hour. Everyone was leaving from work and heading to their quaint apartments, causing a mass influx of people and transportation.

I walked down the sidewalk listening to music, with my headphones set to full to drown out the sounds of the city.

Suddenly, I felt a vibration in my pocket.

I looked at my phone, and scrolled to see a text message from Winston.


-- 5:65 -- ---------------------------------

Winston: Where are you? I haven't heard from you in a month? Please respond. I have a mission for you.

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I have been so pre-ocupied with my own life I completely pushed Winston to the side. I needed to reach back to him.


-- 5:66 -------------------------------------

Tracer: Sorry. I'll be there in a jiffy.

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I turned left at an intersection and headed for a MEME-Train station.


Time to pay my old friend a visit.