The Fray Theory: Resonance by Nelou Keramati

Author:Nelou Keramati [Keramati, Nelou]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Finch Hill
Published: 2016-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The Request

Galen takes off his glasses as he rises from his chair. Though he’s standing perfectly still, the concern in his eyes makes it clear his mind is racing a mile a minute. He glances towards the front door, and then begins to slowly fold his glasses and tuck them back into his vest’s pocket.

Whatever the interruption, it seems important. So without asking questions, Neve rises from the couch and pulls her purse over her shoulder.

Galen looks at her, his eyes wider than an owl’s.

“Hang on a moment—” he indicates for her to stay put, and scurries down the hallway next to the loft’s front entry.

Feeling awkward just standing there, Neve slowly makes her way towards the front door.

Moments later, Galen reemerges from the room at the far end of the hallway, tightly gripping a leather-bound book.

“Take this,” he pulls on the mouth of Neve’s purse and slides the book inside.

His invasiveness alarms her.

“Read it,” he says, “thoroughly, and as many times as it takes for things to sink in.”

“What is it?” Neve looks down at the book.

“It’s my life’s work.”

“Wh—” she looks up. “Professor, why would you trust me with something so valuable?”

“I can’t explain,” Galen shakes his head. “Not right now. Please, just go home and start reading. I’ll call you later,” he opens the front door, making it even harder for Neve to argue.

She’s beginning to feel scared. It’s like he’s asking her to do something illegal.

“I appreciate the gesture, professor,” Neve starts to pull the book back out of her purse. “I just don’t think I’d have the time to—”

“Please,” Galen pushes down on her hand, his eyes glossed over with paranoia. “You need to trust me.”

Leave. Leave now.

“Yes. Okay,” she nods and lets Galen lead her out into the main hallway.

She reaches out to press the elevator button, but Galen’s hand flies up and blocks it.

“No—” he looks up at the floor the elevator is stalled at. “You should take the stairs.”

She’d say goodbye, but he seems too preoccupied to even notice. So she pulls her purse up to her chest and backs out into the stairwell.

Her paranoia grows with every step she takes, and then she is just shuffling down as fast as she can, having no idea what it is she’s running from.

Five floors down, she bursts out of the building’s side-exit into a dim and narrow alley.

The stress of her obscure circumstances is fueling her anxiety. So she leans onto the cold brick wall and tries to steady her breathing.

For some reason, her mind wanders back to when Galen’s interest in her was first sparked.

It wasn’t when she mentioned her dreams. It was when the loveseat in his office collapsed under her. And again today, his revelations about the theories followed revisiting the same incident.

She pulls her purse up against her chest and rests her chin onto it.

Why would Galen entrust her with his life’s work? What on earth did he mean when he said inviting her over was ‘self-serving’?

Has he

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