Send her a message

She was my best bet.

I sent a message to the number written on the note, asking to meet during lunch at a cafe near the campus. It didn't take long to get an answer in the form of flirty emojis.

Claire peeked over my shoulder to read the text, a confused look on her face. "Wait, is the monster you mentioned really using emojis like a schoolgirl?"

"Seems like it. Anyway, get ready for work, I'll deal with that myself." I shooed her away and went to the bathroom. I needed a shower after the awful night I went through.

During the shower, I let free the spines once again, observing them in all of their alien glory.

A part of me was still disgusted by these new bones I now had, but another was starting to get used to it, as if it was natural. In the back of my mind, there was a small but nagging impulse to use them on someone. I shook my head and retracted the spines. I couldn't start stabbing people with them like that.

I left the bathroom, seeing Claire fully dressed, ready to go. She smiled weakly at me. "Please, call me after the meeting, alright? Just to make sure you're okay."

I smiled back. "It'll be fine, don't worry. And I planned to call you afterwards anyway."

"Good luck, Ed." She waved and closed the door behind her.

I still had some time to kill before having to leave, so I took one of my comics and read. I always loved superheroes, they were so inspiring, paragons of justice fighting to help and protect the weak. It was how I forged my morality, to the dismay of my almost supervillainous parents.

Finally, after a good read of Batman kicking asses, it was time for me to go. I took another deep breath and went on my way to the cafe.