Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(93)

It looked like I was going back to my ‘roots’. To the criminal I was at heart.

I had no clue what to say when Elder Farrar asked where I wanted to live.

I just kind of blinked. Eventually I decided Choep, New York—a place I knew.

At least the landscape, anyway.

Elder Farrar told the Shifter woman he lived with that he would be back before she had dinner ready, and he flashed us from inside his apartment to the alley I had disappeared from only an hour ago. The ride was much quicker and less desolate than Philip Masterson’s. When I stared at Elder Farrar with frightened, wide eyes, alone in this damn world, he didn’t abandon me. He gently led me down the sidewalks of the stores and helpfully supplied his input while I, for the second time that day, tried on clothing. I attempted to find something that suited my tastes but that also fit in with the norm.

I chose a bunch of holey jeans, and some black and gray and white t-shirts to layer. I was not really able to wear hot pink with my hair color being neon red. I stopped at the cashier’s stand and pulled out my credit card.

Elder Farrar coughed. He was reminding me it wouldn’t work.

“Shit,” I muttered, putting the card away before the cashier could take it. I stared down into my purse wide-eyed, not knowing what the hell I was going to do for instant cash. I mean, I could rob the place since I did have weapons in my purse…

Until my gaze landed on Elder Farrar’s envelope.

“Here, let me,” Elder Farrar stated, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.

I held up a hand, smiling. “You already did.” I lifted the white envelope from my purse, and for the first time I read the address line.

It read: Of course your credit card wouldn’t work. Duh.

Elder Farrar snorted, reading over my shoulder. “Apparently, I did.”

“Hush,” I murmured, opening the envelope. I kept it tucked close to my body so only he and I could see the contents. And yeah, it was a lot of cash. At least twenty grand, as I had guessed.

Elder Farrar whistled softly. “I must really like you.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” I muttered grumpily, lifting what appeared to be an odd-looking license from the middle, staring at it. “Until you started making sense about the damn towel.”

“That was excellent advice.” He chuckled and bent to read the license. I was pictured with neon red hair and it stated my address and that my name was Sadie Farrow. I lived in an apartment in Choep, New York. “I was actually going to suggest those apartments.”

“As you can see, you did,” I muttered. I dropped the license back into the envelope, next to what appeared to be some kind of auto insurance card with my name on it. I handed a few of my gifted bills to the patient cashier. “Thanks for the money. You know, an advance thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He grabbed my bags after the cashier loaded them up. “Let’s see about getting you transportation next.”

I stared like he was a loon. “That’ll take more money than I have.”

“I’m not talking a Mercedes.” His gaze held mine hard. “Your wish is to blend in, remember?” A shrug. “Since you stated there are no threats coming after you, we’ll find a nice, loyal car for what you can afford.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “I actually prefer shit cars. Makes you appreciate them more.”

He snickered softly. “I said a nice, loyal car…not shit.”

“I talk code, too. Don’t try to fool me.”

He was still laughing. “I’m beginning to see why I like you in the future.”

I wasn’t sure what it said about me, but the clunker I ended up with was definitely a ‘nice, loyal car’ and I was pretty sure I had driven older cars when in 2035, which some might think was damn sad. But driving in this clunker was a halfway smooth ride, and I just enjoyed being able to drive a car that didn’t jerk and groan when I pressed on the gas or stepped on the brake.

What I wasn’t thrilled about was when I had to pay six months rent up-front at the apartment complex, since I didn’t have any previous landlord references. I grumpily handed over a portion of my cash for the furnished apartment. As I signed away what seemed like my life on the rental agreement, it wasn’t really a shock when I was told that my new apartment was number 203. As my license stated. Elder Farrar hung around, snooping through my apartment while I did my own investigation. The place was small, with one bedroom and new—Elder Farrar stated they were—appliances and carpeting and paint.

His next action surprised me. He bent and gave me a quick hug. But his tone was serious. “Remember what I said about not messing with time.” His dark head of hair teetered back and forth. “I believe you’re here because you’re supposed to be. But for how long that is, you never know.” He straightened, thumping my nose with a pointed finger. “If you need me, you can obviously find me.” His eyes flashed golden…and he was just gone.

I was alone.

With the damn memory of him this morning telling me to have fun on my trip.

Tears instantly welled and I locked my front door to the world I didn’t know.

I wandered into the bedroom I was to call home. Fell onto a bed I had never slept in before. Sobbed in huge shuddering gasps and gripped my cold pillow tight. And wished this nightmare would end soon, as the 1993 Elder Farrar had stated it might.