The Reset

Mike was still deciding if he had truly lived to see the day he’d carry out the mission he was recruited for, 12 years ago. Or if his mind was just weaving dreamlike tricks about a ‘worst-case scenario’, once thought nearly impossible in his lifetime. Nevertheless, the occasion found him prepared, and he sat on what would unmistakably be the right place to meet the man who would reset the world. He allowed nervousness to avail him as he thought about all the possibilities of how the reset might feel. The technical questions had echoed in his mind for years, but the organisation had compartmentalised all information. Aa result, he had no answers. He tried to distract himself looking at the people in front. As the last one of the carriers of a fifth, he felt the responsibility weighing on him, so he tightened the grip on the creased paper, fully scribbled with numbers and letters resembling high level mathematical homework. He looked at it and wondered what the other carriers must have gone through. What sacrifice? He thought. Then she appeared again, followed by that strange feeling that burned the lump in his throat. An image. A thought. An inexplicable sensation of a life once lived, now forgotten. She was married with two children, he would never find the courage to talk to her. And say what? He thought. Then he thought of his own children, his own marriage, how that didn’t have the happy ending like her. The mix of emotions driven by that thought, built the one question that had been scraping his brain like a worm digging a tunnel. Then he looked to see if someone would join to collect the final equation, and indeed, to break his adrenaline-causing thoughts, was a man in his 60’s who calmly approached him. Tall and slender, a thin face covered in a white stubbled beard, a man no human on earth would ever guess was carrying their fate. He sat right next to him. There was not to be any discussion. There was no time for small talk.

‘Have you got it with you?’ Pronounced the man in a calm voice.

‘I do.’ Replied Mike.

‘Good. You can g…’

‘Before I hand it over…’ Mike stopped him. Looked at the city square in front of him trying to avoid eye contact. His hand kept a tight grip on the paper. Only he noticed the trembling.’Have we done this before?’

But the man stood motionless.‘No questions asked.’

‘I know.” Mike replied. ‘But I thought… you never know. We are not going to remember any of this anyway.’ And his gaze met with the old man. They locked eyes.

The old man smiled. His head then turned to the town square in front of them where people continued about their normal human stuff. The look of a man in deep thought. Then he spoke.

‘Have you ever had the feeling that you have met someone before?’

24 hrs earlier

Franz’s fingers tapped the rubber steering wheel at an indistinct rhythm. A rhythm his fingers knew spontaneously to play when he was nervous, like a sharp drummer doing his best solo without thinking. But not all fingers played. His index and middle finger held a piece of white paper seemingly empty for the most part.  He didn’t pay attention to it. His eyes were lost in stare towards the opposite side of the street where he had temporarily parked his old Toyota, two wheels on the sidewalk. He didn’t blink. No clear thoughts. Just sheer hesitation fighting the adrenaline. In front of him, a small cafe, easy to miss in the otherwise lush modern vibe of the street. A local favourite, as apparently busy even At 11.45 am. Franz wore his beige trench coat and matching round hat. His usual when he went to teach at the University. But this morning class was dismissed early, after he had received a mysterious letter with a one line incomplete equation on the top part. As the first carrier of a fifth, he recognised it immediately. That must have been the first moment his fingers started playing that rhythm on the desk, as he looked at his half empty classroom through the top of his glasses. Busy students attempting to resolve a mathematical conundrum he had just assigned them. Then looking at the clock on the wall, he broke the silence ‘Guys. Why don’t you… ehmm… just get out there and continue this tomorrow? Eh? Enough studying for today. Go enjoy some free time. It’s a lovely day outside.’ It wasn’t. But lying came naturally to a professor.

He found a high table next to the wooden wall. Sat and ordered a coffee. He loved coffee. Then changed his mind and wondered if he had made a mistake ordering coffee. His eyes scanned the whole bar, more specifically the counter and its workers. 3 young men in their 30’s, two of them twins, who were in constant motion either making coffees, sandwiches and payments, all the while they cracked jokes with each other and other customers. He nervously realised he must have been the only serious face in the place, so he turned his attention to the paper on the table. He picked the pen and started solving the equation, when a drop of sweat fell from his forehead onto the paper. ‘Fuck’. he tried to dry it with a napkin which only made it messier. Time moved faster, and he suddenly felt all its weight on his shoulders. He lined his half solution and restarted one line under. Not before drying his forehead this time.

He wrote fast but clear, as a professor in Mathematics for 30 years, his hand was efficient with numbers. Nonetheless he paid particular attention to these particular ones, for he thought they quite literally carried the weight of the world. He proudly smiled at himself wishing he could share his joke with someone. But as soon as the last number was written, a voice snapped him back to reality.

‘All good Sir? Can I bring you anything else sir?” Said a calm female voice. He looked up too quick, like a naughty kid caught doing something he shouldn’t. He hadn’t noticed the girl working there.

“Oh no, no no, thank you… Actually… Can you bring me a warm tuna sandwich to go please? And I’ll have the bill too.” He suddenly realised how nervous he was.

“Sure. I’ll make sure it all comes.”

“Oh… could you get one of the owners to bring it?”

“Sure… was there something wrong?” she asked.

“Oh, not at all… he was an ex student of mine.”

“Ahh sure thing.” she smiled and turned away.

Only then he noticed he hadn’t taken the coat off. An ex student? He thought as he blamed himself for the lie. The room felt warm. He had just enough time to think about the handing now, and that reminded him of all the essays and homework he handed to his students. This might as well be the last mathematical paper I hand to someone. He allowed another proud smirk at himself. But it bothered him his humour came out always when alone; then again I am alone most of the time. Then he thought about the University Campus: specifically a bench facing south near the lake. His favourite spot. If there would be a last image, that was to be it. For 25 years since working there, he sat on that bench everyday for lunch. It always felt like a corner of the world someone had created for him. There, amongst other thoughts, he waited the day he would receive that piece of paper. That day had finally arrived.

“It would be 8.50… and your sandwich. You asked for me?”

“Oh yes. Yes. I did.” Back to reality he realised he needed to take a breath. “Here is 10, please keep the rest.” He handed the note together with the piece of paper folded in 4 parts. He felt strange. Different. Then he thought that there was no secrecy in handing papers to his students. This was something he was not used to. His forehead was burning as he nervously added. “That’s… something personal.” He looked around as he stood up. “Please open it behind the counter. Alone.”

The young man frowned and smiled. “Ohh. Right. If this is a love letter, I am afraid I will have to break your heart sir.” He joked, smiling.

Franz suddenly feared the guy wouldn’t understand. That was a scenario they had to be prepared for. “Well in that case, I am sure it won’t take us long to completely forget about it.” His irony was sharp today. Finally someone to share it with. And the young man understood too well. His face turned serious in an instant. His eyes pierced in a stare. Then with almost a whispering tone.

“How many hours?” He asked.

“2” responded Franz, feeling slightly embarrassed. Then broke eye contact, picked the warm wrapped sandwich on the table and left.

22 hrs earlier

I should have noticed right away. Mark blamed himself as he fast-walked to the counter. His face paled like he had just witnessed a ghost.”Niel, get in here. Now!”

Niel walked through the kitchen door, drying his hands with a towel. “What is it?”

Mark loaded the coffee machine, like trying to do something normal would not catch much attention, perhaps even calm him.

“Whatup?”

He looked at his brother as a lump grew in his throat. For some reason he had always envisioned this moment to find them alone. Then he turned towards the waitress. “Jennie continue service for us. We’ll need a minute.” the girl nodded.

“What’s going on?” Neil asked, smelling urgency in his brother.

“We… they made contact… the equation.” he stared at him, sliding the piece of paper on the lower desk towards him.

Niel’s eyebrows frowned in confusion. But it took only an instant. He now saw the same ghost his brother had seen. “Fuck. How long ago?”

“2 hours.”

“And we are the 2nd?” He lifted his eyes to see if he could spot the owner of that paper. Nothing. They were the owners now.

“He probably had nobody, and came right away. Take it as a generous gift. But it doesn’t mean we can fuck around. I want take the flight at 13:45. I can buy the others some time if I leave right away.”

“Take a flight? Wait… It’s gonna take a bit to solve this. Let’s take a minute.”

“We don’t have a minute.” Mark turned, reaching for a small blackboard on the floor. “Here. Go in the kitchen and write your part.” But he noticed his brother didn’t move.

“How do we know this is legit? I mean, it could be a trick.” His voice revealed nervousness.

“What are you talking about?” Mark asked confused.

“Just think about it, we…”

“Niel! there is nothing to think about. You know the process. You were there with me.”

“I know I know…” He leaned on the desk near the sink like the world had turned upside down. It had. He looked at the paper again. “I guess what I mean is, how do THEY know they got it right? I mean, we are talking about…” Mark signalled him to keep quiet, looking at Jennie the waiter. Then pulled him and they both entered the kitchen. Niel lowered his voice and continued “we are talking about resetting life…” Mike saw disbelief as he mentioned the reset. “…everyone’s life! The whole world will be erased from the past months or years. Think about it, times are good, nothing could have caused it. Why would they want to pull the switch now of all times? I haven’t heard anything on the news, internet. No hint on nuclear war. Any catastrophes, and not even a fucking asteroid falling that would wipe us all. Why now the need to Reset?”

Mark squeezed his eyes and shook his head in confusion. “What?” He slammed the blackboard on his body again. “Just write your part and we can talk about the why later.” And he made to leave. But Neil followed.

“How can they be so sure we…” The words made Mark turn around and confront his brother. Neil had managed to fire him.

“This isn’t the fucking time to reconsider your responsibility. That’s the whole point of your existence, you fucking id-.” Mark had to calm himself “What is this all about? Eh? Have you forgotten the magnitude of the stakes?” He got closer.

“I have not forgotten any…” Niels matched Mark’s advancement when…

“Guys seriously not today! I know how much you love your betting games, but the place is full of clients.”Jennie didn’t look at any of the two, as she leaned forward to pick up the pay machine. Niel kept staring at Mark. His lips tightened.

Mark’s face didn’t hide the disappointment when he realised “Oh please don’t tell me…” His head bent down towards the floor, held by his right hand that scratched the forehead.

Neil changed tone. “I swear I just wasn’t ready for… for the wave of fear as soon as I had the paper in my hands.”

“She is not part of this journey. You know it!”

“Oh yeh? I should have just lived a life alone like you, in case SOMETHING MIGHT happen?”

“Something HAS happened!”

“WHAT happened? For what we know we might not even be here to pay the consequences. An irreversible fuck up on the climate? Threat of a nuclear war? They don’t tell us what happens anyway. Whatever the case, it’s a matter of time before we all wake up in the past. And for once I am happy with my life as it is.”

“Neil. We didn’t even know we would live to carry this mission, and yet here we are! The game of guessing probabilities is not ours to play. We are not the ones identifying the cause. Nor the ones pulling the switch. We are the ones delivering our fifth of the code, that’s all! Now it’s the time to take responsibility and do something about it for everyone’s sake.” Mark pushed the blackboard in front of him once more. “I am not asking you anymore.”

A defeated Niel looked at Mark for an instant longer, hoping he had something to say back that would still convince him. Nothing. He had run out of ammunitions. His eyes watered slightly. He took a step back and handed him the blackboard. “I can’t let you do this. I am sorry. I just ca… her, you.” Deep down Mark understood that, in another situation, his brother was not completely wrong. He scanned the room and took a second. He saw Jennie looking at them from a far while helping customers. Perhaps a real stab in the back would hurt less he thought. But that was his brother, and only he knew part of his equation. With his body holding his anger, his hand reached out trembling. “Give me the paper.” Neil did.

Mark picked pens from the counter and left. “Where are you going?” His brother followed curious. “Mark! You will be always missing my part!” Then in a sudden jump Mark turned and grabbed Neil’s shirt with both hands and pushed him on the wall. “Since when you became so fucking selfish eh??” Mugs and tools crashed on the floor. A few of the closer clients stood up alarmed. Jennie turned and ran back at the counter towards them.

Neil didn’t reply. Maybe he knew his brother was right. He was being selfish. But there was nothing in him that could motivate writing his part of the equation on that blackboard.

“Boys what the fuck!” Jennie arrived and pushed both of them apart from the middle. The two separated.

“I am sorry.” repeated Neil with a broken voice. Mark didn’t exchange looks. Took his jacket from the chair it was placed on and made for the exit. “Mark!” Neil called. But Jennie pushed him back, calming him down.

Mark switched the engine of his car parked in front of the cafe, when the passenger door opened. Jennie walked in. “Drive.”

Mark looked confused. “Jennie…”

“I said drive…”

“Jennie, you need to know this is not… just another argument between me and my brother.” He hoped to clear the confusion in her. But she kept staring at the road.

“Let’s just get out of here for a bit.” Mark obeyed. The car moved.

Behind the counter, it took an instant for Neil to go through possible scenarios, morales and memories. Memories. Then he realised Jennie was not there anymore. “No.” He sprinted towards the exit, throwing a chair on the floor to clear his way to the door and pushing customers away, in a failed attempt. The car was gone.

Jennie stood still facing the road ahead. “Is about the Reset…” Jennie cut him off.

Mark’s eyes widened. His stomach burned and he slammed the breaks of the car. Jennie held herself on the front saving her head from hitting the glass.
“Jesus Mark! You want to kill us before?”

He had stopped in the middle of the road, and turned his head to her. “How do you know?” That was definitely not a scenario he had foreseen.

“The man who came in the bar today. He asked for you specifically… then things turned sideways.”

Things were now completely upside down for Mark. He accepted the fact that Neil must have told her about his secret mission. “Since when have you known?” Horns played from other cars behind, who had to drive around them.

Jennie faced him in urgency. “Couples in love share secrets to each other as a bond of trust.” she smiled at him. “Don’t worry I haven’t told anyone.”

At that moment Mark’s head wanted to go through all the past years and find a hint or even an instant that would have given away Jennie’s involvement. Scouting if she really hadn’t told anyone. But now it was the wrong time. He took the new information and thought to move front. “Then you understand what this… you can convince him…”

“The more I got to know your brother and his ways. The more I understood how different you both are. I was happy he shared this with me, and he shouldn’t have. But after he did… I knew if it came to it, he wouldn’t be able to make that choice. I took it upon me to make sure that load was not just his to carry. So in time, I got him to tell me everything.” She leaned and grabbed the piece of paper out of Mark’s hand. Then pulled out a pen from her breast pocket. “Drive. You have a flight to catch.”

Mark was at a loss for words. He turned the engine on and the car released the traffic.

Jennie wrote on the piece of paper with her blue pen, a little messy with the moving car, which resulted obviously different from the elegantly written 1st equation in black ink above hers.

The car slid through the highway. Inside, the two stayed in silence most of the way after Jennie’s revelation. Mark didn’t know what else was to be said. “Does this scare you a bit? He is acting like a coward, yes. But he wasn’t completely off with everything he said. This blind trust in the organisation. The uncertainty of it all. The two of you, possibly not be together anymore.” He kept his eyes on the road.

Jennie looked through the fast passing of houses and trees from her passenger window. But her gaze was not focused on anything particular “I don’t know. I like to believe the universe has its ways, regardless. This resetting the time thing. Bodies that are meant to orbit each other, will find their gravities. The hack is about keeping the species alive no? As for the rest, if something is meant to happen, it will happen, many times over.” He looked at her as his world was starting to turn back on its right side up. He didn’t know this side of her. Before he knew it, the car took the exit for the airport. “What if the flight is full? Or you miss it?”

He looked at her with the tale of the eye, and smiled at her curiosity. “They have a private that would be ready for me.”

“Oh wow. I wish you guys had inverted roles. Would have loved a little last perk.” She lightened the mood. Mark looked at her and his face turned thoughtful. He thought about her words. About the bodies finding each other’s orbit. No body had attracted his gravity in the past years. Nobody orbited around him. Or at least, none that he was aware of… He had passed the entrance and now parked in front of ‘departures’.

He hesitated an instant. Then “You… you can join me if you want.” and he turned to her. She waited a moment in silence. Her face was thoughtful towards the piece of paper on her knees. She knew he would understand the meaning behind her hesitation in answering. Then her lips formed a very soft smile. Her eyes blinked.

“Maybe another life…” and she let the irony of her answer carry the full weight of what it was pronounced for. He understood and opened the door. “I will see you around.” as she also exited the car.

“If you’ll remember me” he joked back. She walked to him and they hugged. A hug that lasted less than they hoped.

Jennie sat on the driver’s seat. A single tear made its way on her cheek. Mark entered the airport.

14 hrs earlier

The music changed and an upbeat tune blasted through the speakers. Lights synced with the beat, darting unpredictably, bouncing off every shiny surface in the dark room; poles included. The stage stood a low 50 centimetres, just enough for the girls to feel safe while the crowd nursed the delusions of a chance.

Mark shoved through the door, unbuttoned jacket to blend in, eyes squinting against the assault of sound and light. He looked like he’d stumbled into the wrong universe. Stiff shoulders, clenched jaw, a man who hadn’t danced a day in his life. The paper in his pocket crinkled as he scanned the room, searching for her. Nina. The name was all he had, and it better be enough.

The ecstatic turmoil swallowed him. A bass-line that rattled his teeth, and he froze. He had no clue where to start. A sharp doubt stabbed him: had Franz ever scoped him out back at the bar, watching from some shadowy corner, keeping an eye on him? Maybe he should’ve done the same with Nina. It’s too late now.

Mark pushed through, aiming for centre stage. The crowd, mostly men, buzzing with excitement—fanned out from the bar to the tables, pressing closer to the poles where admittedly skilled, striking dancers worked their magic. Nina could be any of them. He checked his watch. Time was bleeding away.

13 hrs earlier

Nina closed the book, took a sip from the fuming mug and leaned forward. The face in the mirror stared back, taking time to scan every corner of her face. The new makeup matched her striking wig perfectly. She smirked, approving.

The door banged open, music in the background played louder. “Someone tell that DJ it’s 2025! Music’s killing me!” A sweaty girl stormed in, wrapping herself in a gown.

“You are not 22 anymore.” Nina teased, grinning. “It’s not the music. You just dry faster now.”

“You wish you were half as juicy… bitch!” The girl snapped a towel at her, laughing.

Nina’s smile lingered as she turned back to the mirror, spreading bright red lipstick over her thin lips, subtly edging past the lines to plump them up. Her body did the rest, but her slick moves had made her the underground star everyone whispered about.

“Fuck, my tights are broken!” the girl muttered, rummaging nearby. “I knew it—I should’ve grabbed that second pair!” She stood, tossing skin-coloured tights onto the desk. “I can’t go on stage like this.”

“Calm down,” Nina soothed. “It’s not the end of the world. They’re just waiting for you to take them off anyway.”

The girl spun around. “What happened to perfectionist Nina, anal about her hairpin matching her damn thong?” she snarked.

“Times like this you improvise.” Nina shot back. “It’s not what we do” She picked the skin-coloured tights and ripped them with a sharp move, separating one thin line from the ruined fabric. She faced the mirror and tied 2 rounds of skin coloured fabric around her neck, leaving a little tongue sticking on the side. Then with a seductive tone “It’s what they wish you would do.”

She squeezed her friends cheeks to shape a kiss with her lips. The girl still managed a response “Kiss me now!”

Nina smiled. Kissed her nose, and stood up. “How’s the crowd?”

“Same as every night for the past 3 years.” The girl stated cleaning her nose from red lipstick.

“Exciting…” Her eyebrows pulled up in sarcasm as she turned. A pat on her ass cheek encouraged her walking out.

The heels had finally surrendered to the shape of her thin feet, making her walk confidently through the narrow corridor that led to the stage. Music grew louder. Her heart pumped, the rhythm got in her bones. She felt her muscles relaxed and rested, ready to hit any pose in her repertoire. She could have done this walk blindfolded and know exactly when the pole was in front of her.

Her walk slowed, her posture changed. The lights shone on her skin and costume. A small group cheered her entrance! It was her time.

Her sparkling eyes scanned the room like laser beams. She wanted a target. A lucky one who’d let her do anything. The challenge had become easier everyday, until someone peculiar caught her attention. Someone who didn’t look too excited to be there. It happened sometimes that friends drag other friends unwillingly to places like this, but at the end they still make it a fun night. Her target was a lonely fish in a thick forest of the second raw. Perfect.

Sure! Mark thought Whatever I do, there will be no consequences after the reset. But I don’t want to spend the last hours of my life in a prison or with a broken nose and a few bent ribs. He contemplated under the loud music as he looked at the bouncers surrounding the place. Suddenly he thought it a coincidence, but when his eyes bounced back to the new dancer, she didn’t look away. He then looked around once more, in the possibility it just happened to be a misunderstanding, but to a big surprise, he was the target of her gaze. The crowd’s loud chatter confirmed her name. Wait. Could she have recognised me? He thought in surprise as a void pierced his stomach. Ok. Ok. Think. Think! But her index pointed at him signalling to come closer. She can’t possibly want to do this here in front of everyone! Mark worried. But men made space for him to reach the front line. The crowed played. He obeyed. A sudden floral wind mixed with manly hormones, alcohol and sun cream hit him the moment Nina got too close. Something good stirred inside him. She kneeled at stage edge, her index poked Mark’s nose as a sensual whisper teased

“Looking for directions? Just ask.” She noticed his clumsiness.

And her hand ran on his head until a fist grabbed tightly. He felt the shift of power he never had. Her back arched suddenly at the beat of the music and her head followed. She was like a never stopping snake.

Mark let her do her thing. He had no control. His hand reached the right pocket pulling out whatever notes he could find. He didn’t even look as he hinged it with the elastic of her bikini and retreated. Play the game He thought.

Nina noticed the gentle insecure move of the boy. She saw the notes: two 100 euros notes. Her eyebrows lifted. She leaned towards him once more, this time with a more seductive motion bringing her breast near his face. Her hands untied the knot on her neck: her colleague’s skin colour pants. She stretched it upwards so everyone could see, and with a slow motion made him understand she was aiming for his mouth.

“First time?” She smiled in irony as her voice kept surprisingly steady while her body twirled and waved in rhythm “It’s not a poker bet…”

Their eyes connected as her hand lowered towards his mouth. His lips opened and his teeth bit the skin coloured tight, already with a salty taste of her sweat on it. Something stirred in him. An exotic feeling. He was fighting an internal war with emotions he hadn’t felt in years. “This world’s last poker bet.” he thought. His right hand slid on the stage floor, between her knees. His fingers held down a 100 euros note hiding a white piece of paper noticeably scrabbled with numbers, deliberately sticking out just enough. His hand kept sliding deeper inwards between her thighs. The music faded. From above him her smile slowly turned into a serious face. Her eyes pierced through his, with a huge question mark. Mark felt the warmth on his hand as he pushed further in. Then a sharp movement of her left arm grabbed his arm and helped him go further under her thighs. His shoulder jolted forward, followed by the whole body until his face pressed on her breast. She arched back slightly as her right hand reached behind her, meeting his with the note and the paper. With a swift movement and in the beat of music, she pushed him away. His arm slid out from underneath her, with a move that destabilised him. But a few men caught him, laughing, unaware.

With a swift movement that resembled that of a cobra swirling up a tree, Nina raised on the pole, distancing herself. Her body moved in unpredictable patters, daring poses and strong rhythms under the flashing lights and pumping music. The whole room played in slow motion to Mark’s eyes. Who took the piece of tight from his teeth. The crowd swallowed him back in 4th raw, but his eyes kept looking at her. “She knows.” He thought, with a sense of achieved responsibility that release a surprising weight off of his shoulder. He had delivered his fifth.

10 hrs earlier

The crowd cheered the next girl as Mark downed a bitter cocktail at the bar. He contemplated going back home, but the idea of having to face his brother and Jennie is what made him order the  worst drink they bar had to offer. They will have better ways to spend the bleeding without me. He thought, when suddenly the same floral smell from earlier on stage blurred his thoughts, followed by a familiar voice. “No better ways to spend your last hours than cheap alcohol at a strip club?” Nina ironised sitting next to him.

“Hope you’ll have better luck with your anchor? Some rich billionaire on a yacht sailing the Mediterranean?” He tried to pull a serious face.

She smiled but shrouded. “Maybe… but you did your part, why are you still here?”

“I spent all my money on a strip dance. That’s the best I can afford.” He joked back hinting at the glass.

“I am sure she deserved all of it.” She replied proudly as she leaned on the desk and ordered two of the same drink he was drinking. “Round’s on me.” She winked.

The music was loud enough. Mark smiled and looked around. “Shouldn’t you be busy saving the world?” He asked almost careless.

“Mhh.” She shrugged. “If you’re right, my anchor won’t be too happy to receive my fifth.”

Mark smiled as she dished out the same irony he served her. But something in her words faded his enjoyment.

“Do you think that’s why we were chosen? To…”.

“Well. If my ass was sunbathing on the hot surface of a yacht sailing the Mediterranean, I’d rather gamble my future for the present.” The answer was exactly what he feared.

His thoughts mixed with each other blending with the loud beat of the music playing.“There’s nothing wrong with that.” She screamed to be heard. Then she turned towards the dance floor, were people moved, talked, drank and enjoyed the night. “None of them know these are going to be the last hours of life as they know it. This will be a sort of dream they vaguely think they had.” She smiled and looked at him. “Strange no? To know that you are alive in an alternate future, and you are about to create a knew one.” Mark smiled but remained silent on hearing her words. Her perspective unlocked doors of thoughts he couldn’t explore. He looked at those people. “ “I don’t mean to scare you. I figured I have some time you know… for a last chat. We share something huge me and you. And you might be the last person I get to spend my last hours with.” Her tone serious. The drinks were ready, she picked them and stood up. “Come…”

“Oh… I don’t know… ” Mark hesitated.

“Come on! I am not trying to flirt!” She joked “Follow me.” and walked towards the crowd. Mark obeyed.

With Nina leading, they passed through a small door that once shut, faded all the noise behind. Mark felt a sense of relief being in a quiet place.

“Shouldn’t you hurry with the equation?” He asked nervous. She looked back at him and smiled as she kept leading him through a general white corridor.

“What happens if I don’t?” She teased.

“Ohh, not you as well…’ Mark murmured. He pulled her arm to a stop. “Listen if you have no intention to…”

“Relax!” She cut him off with a comforting smile. “I have no intentions…’ She escaped from his arm and opened the door ahead. She made sign for him to follow. Mark looked back and obeyed. Again.

Dresses, shoes, bras and all sorts of jewelries all covering the room. There was no system to it all in Mark’s eyes. Nina cleared her desk, throwing things on the floor.

“Sit there” she pointed at a red couch.

She cleared the mirror from photos and notes. Took a red lipstick out of her bra and  bit the lid away spitting it on the floor. Mark leaned to collect it then looked towards her, curious. Her tight hand held the paper while her left started drawing red lines that covered the reflection of her face.

She began from the top, and continued without hesitation. Mark looked in awe at the speed her hand was following the train of calculus. The mirror turned more and more red with numbers and letters. A few hair fell from the pony tail getting in the way of her eyes, but she didn’t care. He noticed how her eyes followed carefully her hand, curious, like she seemed to enjoy numbers. He looked down at her dress, her crushed position on her knees, leaning forward towards the mirror. He smiled at the sight.

“You didn’t look at me like that back on stage.” He voice broke the silence. She had turned to him. Mark looked her in the eyes.

“What? Oh yeh…” He blushed. “Sorry, I don’t really know how strip clubs work.” He tried to avoid the awkward confrontation. But her smile let him know she understood.

“Don’t just sit there. Help me, I need a new lipstick. Open that draw over there.”

Right then the door slammed open, letting in the loud lamenting of a male voice. “Fucking asshole…I told you to..” A Transgender queen stopped at the sight of Mark. “Oh Hello! Who is this?”  Turning to Nina.

Nina smiled and looked at him. “A friend!”

“Well hello friend.” She shook hands.

“Monica, Mark. Mark, Monica. Now can someone give me a new lipstick?” She pointed at the desk. Monica walked in.

“See, that’s why you’re alone!” Monica noticed all the mathematical scrabbling. “People think her a sweet innocent bitch, until they get to know the real her.” She opened the draw and picked a new lipstick. “Books, numbers, letters, pyjama, boring, boring, boring…”