When I entered the house, I could see a sliver of light from under the bedroom door, and I heard [[Website/Limerence/Nancy]] on the phone. I went inside. She hung up and turned at me with bloodshot eyes, still in her pajamas. "Where were you?" She demanded. "I heard the fire trucks and woke up to an empty bed. I was leaving you a voicemail message - why didn't you pick up?" "Sorry," I said, "My phone must've been on do not disturb. I went out to see what's going on. Are you okay?" I wrapped my arms around her and her tone softened. She asked about the fire, and told me I smelled like smoke. I told her that everything was fine, that nobody was hurt. "Why didn't you call me?" she asked. I felt an urge, something primal from within fighting to take control. [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]] hadn't seen a woman since his imprisonment. "I didn't want to wake you," I said, knowing it was a lie. She was nestled in my arms, but I was resisting the urge to squeeze her, for my hands to wander. I let go of the embrace. "I think I just want to unwind in my office, I'll see you in bed?" I said. She nodded, perplexed by the sudden shift, and I left her the bedroom to wonder what I was thinking. "[[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]], what the hell," I thought, "keep your dirty thoughts away from [[Website/Limerence/Nancy]]." I went over to my office chair and leaned back, closing my eyes. I clicked into my other body, and [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]] was standing next to me, our two identities thankfully separated. We were standing back in the interrogation room, [[Warden]] standing by the door. Two guards grabbed his arms, and as they walked him away, he turned back to me. "Haven't had control of a real body... ever" he said. "When do we do that again?" "Right." I said. "Let's get you back inside. We can think about that later." I reflected on the cruel neighbors and what they said. I knew they pointed me one step closer to a dark thought, but I didn't know where it would lead. Wishing people suffering... that was just a different flavor of violence. Less instinctual. More intentional and developed. My thoughts cleared, that was it. [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]] was too instinctual. I needed someone more intentional. I was sure [[Website/Limerence/Raquelle]] would know where to look, but she wasn't back for two more days. Maybe I should ask [[Website/Limerence/Charlotte]] for advice - if I should try to track down [[Website/Limerence/Roger F]] - or not. I left the prison and made my way back to the palace alongside the cliff, the palm trees swaying, the hedges and mossy grass underneath my feet spongy and fresh. I took off my shoes, and left them on the grass, not wanting to wear them. I'd have [[Arthur]] send someone to pick them up. The breeze was gentle, the air light, and I could hear the ocean hissing over the sand in rhythmic regularity. The palace grew larger and I walked to the arched doorway framing two ornate french doors. I pushed them open, and stepped inside the large courtyard. [[Website/Limerence/Charlotte]]'s room was along a familiar path, through the columned walkways, and up winding stairs. The path became narrower and the lighting more diffuse, leading to a single red door. I pushed it open and found myself in her entry, a short hallway with a mirror above a table and then a red curtain, enticingly fluttering, dark beyond. It smelled of orange peel and incense. Since I wore no shoes, I knew she'd want me to wash my feet, so I used the small hose faucet nearby, and dried them on the red oriental runner carpet. In the main room, I saw her usual decorations cut with light filtering in from the high windows, the hazy air lingering gently. Maybe she was in the kitchen. I walked over to the brighter blue doorway. The kitchen had a robin's egg tile backsplash and white framing that contrasted cheerily against the darker red living room. I didn't smell anything, just vinegar and sea air. She wasn't there either. Where could she be? Not in the shower, not in her bed room. I went through the sliding door outside, and there she was, sitting in the sun, a cat on her lap, reading a book. She was wearing a white top and a pair of jean shorts with her legs bent at the knees, feet on another chair facing her. I watched her as she flipped a page, and then reached over for a cup to drink. When she placed it down, I rapped on the glass and she turned her head, disturbing the cat who stretched on her thigh. I slid the door opened and the cat scampered away. "Hey [[Website/Limerence/Charlotte]]," I said, "reading anything good?" "What are you doing here?" she asked, annoyed. "You didn't even ring the bell! I could've been naked for all you know." "I need to ring the bell now?" I asked, innocently. "Yes, you do. Don't just walk in on me like that." she scowled. "Plus, I was reading something good. It was getting juicy. Now I've got to start at the beginning of the chapter." "Why?" "So I can get into the mood again." "If you say so." I looked around the garden at the high walls, vines, and the water fountain built into the corner of the space. A small patch of grass and flower bushes was enjoying direct sunlight. "Is this enough for you?" I asked, gesturing around the space. She looked around. "Yeah, it's fine. Why?" "You know, you can have anything you want, I'll make it happen. You could have an entire mountain range to yourself." "I don't want an entire mountain range" she retorted. "Plus, I like it here. It's cozy." "Suit yourself." I said. "Anyway, the reason why I'm here… I… have a confession." She raised an eyebrow. I decided to not mince words. "I let out one of the prisoners, [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]], and together we burned someone's house down." "What do you mean... let out?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "And, you did what?" "I mean… I let him out out… into my body. " She rolled her eyes. "Don't say that." She tapped on her sternum, "This is the real world." "We've been over this a hundred times." I groaned. "But yes, I took him… out." "And you burned someone's house down? So what?" I don't know if she was being obstinate, or if she really believed I was crazy. Well, I knew I was crazy. Just a different type of crazy. "We were looking for a dark thought, and well, I think we found a clue." She perked up. "Hold on. You've been looking for a dark thought? Since the [[Website/Limerence/Gatekeeper]] visited?" I nodded. "And you didn't think to talk about it with me first? What… you burned someone's house down, and then what?" "I overheard a couple who were…" I thought about it. Were they celebrating? Not exactly. "They were happy the person's house got burned down." "Why?" she asked. "Who would be happy about that?" "Well from what I heard", I shared, "the house that burned was a mess, pretty visible from the street, and it must've been bringing down property prices." Charlotte relaxed back into her chair, this last piece of information had sated her curiosity. "So some couple pooh-poohed their neighbor's house. So what? How's that a dark thought?" She sipped her drink and re-opened her book. "Well, it's not a dark thought" I admitted, "but [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]] said it could lead us to one." "Hmm". She looked at the cat, who was rubbing itself on the leg of a patio chair. "That's possible. But the couple is still alive, right?" I nodded. "Well don't you know you've got to kill somebody if you really want to use them as bait. Just think you're fishing. A hook is not enough." First [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]], now [[Website/Limerence/Charlotte]]. Why did this have to involve murder? I frowned. "So what do you suggest?" She stared blankly in space and then turned her head towards the sliding door. "Let's go. I have an idea." The garden air was cool and I followed her back inside the house to her bed chamber, where she shuffled through some of her clothes, picking them out. She had crossed her arms to take off her top, when she looked at me in annoyance. "Shoo!" I scoffed and left the room. I meandered into the living room and sat down on one of the ottomans, staring around, looking at the chandelier. It was dimly glowing. I wondered if one of the bulbs was burned out, or if she just twisted it loose to make the room darker. There were a couple of posters on the wall, advertising some tropical getaway, which was ironic since the beach was just a few minutes' walk. There were a couple of small books on the coffee table: a gold fringed copy of Pride and Prejudice, and a reference book for architectural details. "I didn't know you liked architecture," I spoke loudly. "I don't," she replied distantly, "it's [[Website/Limerence/Stefan]]'s. He lent it for me to browse through." "[[Website/Limerence/Stefan]] was here?" I asked. "When?" "Oh I don't know, a couple of days ago," she responded, coyly. She was hiding something. Had she been seeing [[Website/Limerence/Stefan]]? It wouldn't surprise me, but I could tell she didn't want me to dig. "I like Stefan," I offered, cooly. "Of course you do…" she replied, and then stepped out into the room, wearing a light floral sun dress, white daisies on a rosy pink fabric. The straps were thin, and the top seemed to be elastic of some sort, holding tightly around her chest. The dress was chiffon and I could see it flow over an inner opaque material. Probably silk. "… he's your architect. He designed this place" she said, looking around the room. "True," I said, watching her ruffle through some drawers and pulling out a small clutch purse in ruby red. "Very true." She applied some lipstick, and then flashed her dark eyes at me, expectantly. "You look nice." I said, studying her. "Thanks." She smiled. "Let's go?" I nodded and stood up, and she slipped on some sandals on the way out. She must've put on some perfume. She smelled like cranberries and rosemary. "Where are we going?" I asked. She led me out of her front door and down the stairs. "Well, you took [[Website/Limerence/Kilmer]] out, so I want to see what all the fuss is about." I looked at her in disbelief and stopped. "No." I said flatly. "The real world, is, well, real. And if you left, well..." She turned at me. "Well?" "I don't know..." I hesitated. "I'm worried you won't want to stay here." "Well if here", she gestured at the palm trees and sandy shores, "isn't as nice as where we're going, why would you want me to stay?" I wasn't sure. I didn't want to tell her about life. About [[Website/Limerence/Beatrice]]. About [[Website/Limerence/Nancy]]. About who I really was: an old wrinkly guy with with a gut, kids who didn't want to talk to him, a house that smelled like socks and unfulfilled dreams. I didn't want her to do what [[Website/Limerence/Beatrice]] did - to turn away from life, to shrink until she was nothing but a weak tug on a long string, until the string went limp, and I saw her body on the coroner's table. "I'm worried it might change you... for the worse." I said. "I don't want to lose you." She came over, and wrapped her arms around me. Her skin smelled like vanilla and oats. Her hair was cherry and lemon. Her skin was soft and warm and melted through my clothes. She squeezed me and then stepped back. "I don't want to lose myself," she said. "But I can't stay here forever. Come on." She took my hand. "Let's go kill someone."