Chapter 25: Uninvited Company
(5 Days Before the Switch)
Location: Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
The first hint of dawn was barely painting the sky when Vivian, clad in her running gear, quietly slipped out of Ben's guest room. Marmalade, a fluffy orange sentinel, stirred from his perch at the foot of her bed, giving a soft, questioning meow.
"Shhh," Vivian whispered, stroking his head. "Just a quick run. Don't go and wake up Ben."
Marmalade blinked his large, golden eyes, then settled back down, seemingly content with her explanation. Not to mention, Ben was too far away in some other room, and it seemed too far to bother.
Vivian smiled, grabbed her phone and earbuds, and stealthily left the apartment, descended the stairs, and stepped out into the cool, foggy morning air. There was a regular route that she liked to run if she stayed over at Ben's and quickly stretched so she could get started.
Vivian began at a steady pace, enjoying the familiar rhythm of her feet on the pavement. Running was her meditation, a way to clear her head and process the chaos of her job, and lately, the increasing strangeness of her life—well, even more strange than usual. The conversation with Alex last night, his probing questions, the unsettling feeling like the start of a Switch as they pulled up to the warehouse—it all swirled in her mind.
She was a few blocks from Ben's building, rounding a corner onto a tree-lined street, when it happened again. An unsettled feeling, this time with a faint, high-pitched buzzing sound that seemed to vibrate directly inside her skull. It wasn't loud, but it was insistent. Simultaneously, her vision blurred, the world around her dissolving into indistinct shapes and shifting colors, like a watercolor painting dissolving in rain.
Vivian stumbled, her stride breaking, and she instinctively reached out, her hand finding the rough bark of a nearby tree. Disorientation washed over her, a sudden, dizzying lurch that left her gasping. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to clear the strange sensation, her heart pounding not from exertion, but from a sudden, inexplicable fear.
"Vivian? Are you alright?"
The voice, calm and deep, cut through the buzzing in her head. Her eyes snapped open, the blurriness slowly receding, and she found Alex Greyson standing a few feet away, dressed in sleek running gear with a form-fitting tech shirt and a light sheen of sweat on his brow. He looked as effortlessly put-together on a morning run as he did in a tailored suit.
"Alex?" Vivian managed, her voice a little breathless. She pushed herself upright, trying to regain her composure. "Yes, I... I'm fine. Just a sudden dizzy spell." She waved a dismissive hand, hoping he hadn't noticed her momentary panic.
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze assessing. "You looked like you were about to collapse. That was more than just 'a dizzy spell.' We can take you back. You probably shouldn't continue."
"I'll be okay. I've never been good with wine."
"Are you sure you should continue?"
"Positive," Vivian insisted, forcing a smile. "I need to run off the food we ate last night. Just need a moment." She took a few deep, deliberate breaths, trying to ground herself. The buzzing had faded, and her vision was clear again, but a lingering unease settled in her stomach.
Alex nodded slowly, then gestured down the street. "I live just a few blocks from here. This is actually part of my usual morning route. There's a fantastic loop through the park up ahead, much better than pounding pavement. Would you like to join me? I can show you."
Vivian's mind raced. Alex, living in Ben's neighborhood? The coincidence felt too neat, too convenient. But the offer of a new running route, and the chance to perhaps glean more information about his true intentions, was tempting. Besides, she was still feeling a little shaky, and it would be better not be alone if she collapsed. "Sure," she said, trying to sound casual. "Lead the way."
They fell into a comfortable pace, Alex setting a rhythm that was challenging but not overwhelming. He pointed out landmarks, a hidden waterfall, and a particularly scenic overlook. He talked about the history of the park, the best times to avoid crowds, his voice easy and engaging. Distracting. He didn't press her about her earlier dizzy spell, but she could feel his subtle glances, his continued assessment.
As their run wound down, they found themselves back on the street leading to Ben's building. Alex, true to his word, had accompanied her the entire way, never breaking stride. They approached the entrance to the apartment complex, and Vivian braced herself for the inevitable awkward goodbye.
"Well, this is me," Vivian said, gesturing towards the entrance. "Thanks for the tour. I probably slowed you down, so thank you for not leaving me in the dust. It was truly enlightening."
Alex stopped, that familiar, knowing smile forming on his lips.
"Enlightening, indeed. You know, it's quite convenient that we share a running route." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the building. "Especially since I also happen to live here."
Vivian chewed at her lip and tilted her head. "You... you live here?"
"Indeed," Alex confirmed, his smile widening. "Own the building, actually. I moved in a few months ago. Thought it was a good investment." He chuckled, a low, rich sound. "So, Vivian, now that we know we're neighbors, and clearly share a passion for morning runs... would you care to make this a regular occurrence? Perhaps tomorrow morning?"
Vivian stared at him, speechless. The buzzing sensation from earlier seemed to echo faintly in her ears. Alex Greyson, the man whose properties she was investigating, the man who was far too perceptive for comfort, was now her neighbor and wanted to be her running buddy. But she also kept finding herself feeling comfortable and at ease in his presence. Which meant this was getting entirely too complicated.
"I should clarify," Vivian stated, regaining her composure. "I'm staying with a friend. This building is a much easier commute right now than my place on the other side of town."
"Then we should make the most of it while you're here," Alex added as if it were a foregone conclusion, the most natural thing in the world. Alex studied her reaction. He smiled at her as she repeated her habit of chewing on her lower lip when she was considering something.
Alex already knew who she was staying with. He knew that she and Ben were childhood friends and grew up together. He even knew that Ben's family practically raised her.
What Alex didn't know was how Vivian was able to look at the world and see what others missed. It was a very useful skill. And one he would like to learn himself.
They walked into the cool, quiet lobby of the apartment building. Alex pressed the call button for the elevator, and a moment later, the doors slid open. Vivian stepped inside, and Alex followed, the silence stretching between them once more as the elevator began its ascent. Ben's floor was only a few levels up, while Alex's (Vivian guessed) was probably much higher.
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened on Ben's floor. Vivian stepped out, a sense of relief washing over her. "Well, I'll get out here," she said, trying to sound casual, but she could feel Alex's gaze on her.
"Of course," Alex replied. "I'll see you around, Vivian." The doors began to slide shut, his eyes holding hers until the last possible moment. "Perhaps tomorrow morning?"
Vivian let out a long, slow breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She turned and walked down the familiar hallway to Ben's apartment, fumbling slightly with the keys. The quiet click of the lock was a comforting sound.
As she pushed the door open, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted her. Marmalade, in all of his fluffy orange fluffiness, sprinted to wind figure-eights around Vivian's legs. Ben was standing by the small kitchen island, a steaming mug in his hand, looking surprisingly alert for this hour.
"Morning, Viv," Ben said, his gaze immediately sharpening as he took in her slightly post-run appearance. "Coffee's ready. You're back early."
Vivian dropped her phone and keys on the entry table and immediately knelt to scoop up Marmalade, burying her face in his soft fur. The purring vibrated through her, a grounding sensation. "Hey, fluffy monster. Did you go wake up Ben? I thought we had an understanding," she murmured, before looking up at Ben. "Something weird happened on my run."
Ben set his mug down. "Weird? What kind of weird?" His voice was already laced with concern, his protective instincts kicking in.
Vivian stood, Marmalade still purring in her arms. "I'm not going to tell you if you're already this worked up."
Ben sighed, knowing she was right. But weird things had been happening to Vivian since she was just a kid, and Ben was there for most of it. From making excuses when Vivian needed to be absent to babysitting Ally when she was Switched with Vivian. He'd been on the whole ride as both protector and conspirator. "Okay. I'm listening."
Vivian nodded. "I was a few blocks out, and I heard this faint buzzing sound, almost like it was inside my head." Vivian gestured to her head, wiggling her fingers, which made Marmalade try to swipe at them. "And then my vision just... blurred. Everything went wavy and indistinct, like I was looking through rainbow-colored water." She paused, her brow furrowed. "For a moment, I thought I saw... shapes. Like the outlines of things from Ally's world, flickering at the edges of my sight. It was disorienting."
Ben's face tightened. He walked over and gently took Marmalade from her arms, setting the cat down. He then placed his hands on her shoulders, his gaze serious. "Are you okay now? Did it feel like... a Switch?"
Vivian shook her head. "No, not a full Switch. It was just a momentary blur, a flicker. But it felt... connected. Like a ripple from something, or a brief glimpse." She shivered despite herself. "I don't know. It just unsettled me."
Ben nodded slowly, his eyes distant as he processed her words. "And it's never felt like that before? I actually don't know what usually happens when you Switch. I just discover Ally's terse responses coming out of your mouth, accompanied by 'Friend Ben.'"
"It's hard to explain. I'm just there continuing whatever it is she is doing as if I were doing it myself all along. Then I gain control of her body and move around as her myself. It's nearly instant, and still doesn't feel as disorienting as what happened this morning."
"We'll keep an eye on it. And I am concerned about you going running alone, so let's rethink that."
Vivian hesitated, then sighed. "I wasn't actually alone..."
Ben looked at her, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Alex Greyson."
Ben's jaw visibly clenched. "What about him? Did he bother you? I swear, if he tried anything..."
"No, no, nothing like that," Vivian quickly interjected. "He was out for a run, too. He saw me stumble when the buzzing happened. He asked if I was okay." She took a deep breath. "And then he offered to show me his favorite running route."
Ben's eyebrows shot up. "He what? Viv, you didn't actually go running with him, did you?" His voice was rising with incredulity.
"I did," Vivian admitted, wincing. "I was still a little disoriented, and... he was just there. It seemed wiser than running alone in case it happened again. And then, when we got back here, to the building..."
She paused, watching Ben's face.
"What, Viv? What happened?" Ben prompted, his voice dangerously quiet.
"He told me he lives here," Vivian blurted out and continued at a very fast pace. "In this building. And he owns it. He asked if I wanted to make our morning runs a regular occurrence."
Ben stared at her, his mouth slightly agape. His initial shock quickly morphed into a profound look of displeasure. "He lives here? And he wants to run with you? Viv, this is not a coincidence. This is him pushing. He's trying to get closer to you. This is exactly what I was worried about." He ran his hand through his already messy hair until he could rub the back of his neck, the very picture of exasperation. "You cannot be serious about this, Viv. You can't actually do these runs with him."
Vivian sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's... complicated."
"This is me uncomplicating it, Viv!" Ben countered, his voice rising again. "No. Not happening." He paced a few steps, then turned back to her. "We need to figure out what that buzzing was. And we need to figure out how to get rid of Alex Greyson before he sinks his shark-y teeth in."
Vivian blinked and then started to giggle.
Ben was disarmed by her giggle. "What's so funny?"
"You sounded just like your dad," Vivian responded as her giggle turned into a laugh.
Ben shook his head. "That's… Fine. And now I know how he felt all of those years."
"Ben. I'm always glad that you're on my side, and I know that I rely on you way too much. But I feel like you're much more worked up than usual." Vivian's tone was calm and even. "I need to take a shower. So please save some of that coffee for me?"
Ben's expression had softened, but he was clearly still frustrated. He knew Vivian was quite capable of physically protecting herself and him, which she had on several occasions growing up. And despite her abnormal home life, he knew she still always saw the best in people. As he watched her retreat into the guest bathroom, Ben looked at Marmalade and said, "Let's work from home today, okay buddy?"
Marmalade mewled in response.