Day 4

The next morning, he catches a glimpse of himself in the shattered glass of the thrift store painting. His jaw hangs loose, exposing his teeth and tongue. And his tongue is what draws his attention. He flicks it up quickly, wetting one of his eyes like a frog. He stands realizing how hunched the fin growing on his back is making him. His taloned fingers reach out before him as though he were trying to claw something closer. He looks hungry. He feels hungry.

He tears his gaze away from his reflection as a feeling bubbles up inside him. Something is going to go wrong today. He can just sense it.

From the common room, he hears a noise. He moves quickly forward, flinging open the door of his bedroom. In the common room, Geneva has the radio out. It just crackled to life. She sits nude in front of it and you realize you must have torn her only set yesterday.

The radio speaks: “This is Rader Station, come in.”

She freezes. She wants to tell them what happened yesterday. But she can’t. She’d be admitting to having sex with her colleague. And what would they ask in return? What was she wearing? Did she cum? Did she try to fight back? She clicks the microphone on and opens her mouth to speak. Nothing comes out.

He crosses the room and turns the receiver to himself. “Sorry Rader Station, no updates. Just testing.”

He looks down into her terrified eyes and he turns the radio off. She pushes back her chair as fast as she can and runs back to her room. Softly she starts to sob again. He tries the handle and realizes that she’s locked herself in.

He decides not to go into the field today. He needs her. And he’s willing to wait.