So Many Questions
Update for October 2024
“Ohh, not this again…” Brady groaned as he took in at the dim hallway lined with doors. Beside him, Marcus glanced around in wonder, then turned an inquisitive gaze toward his guide.
“Is this—still the hospital? I thought you said we were going outside.”
“No. And we were. It looks like we’ve been detoured.”
“Detoured by who?”
Brady ignored the question as he tried the latch of the door at the end of the room, but it didn’t open. He turned his attention to a bulletin board next to it and narrowed his eyes as he read the papers pinned there.
“What’s going on?” Marcus’s voice held just the slightest tremble, and Brady sighed as he returned to his companion.
“Last time I was here, she actually went to the trouble of explaining things, but I guess we don’t get even that courtesy anymore. Come here—at least there’s a place for us to sit down now.”
Questions swam in Marcus’s eyes, but he followed Brady to a long, perpendicular room that ran across the end of the hallway and took a seat on a concrete bench opposite a screen that currently projected a surprisingly accurate depiction of the view from the front of the medical center. Brady instinctively reached for his sunglasses before catching himself with a disgusted shake of his head.
“So?” Marcus prodded softly, and Brady exhaled a long breath.
“I don’t even know where to start. There was enough to explain before this, but now—”
“Can you just…try? I don’t get any of what’s happened today.”
“I know.” Brady closed his eyes for a second, then straightened his shoulders and faced Marcus again. “What’s going on here is that—apparently we’re characters in a book. Or maybe more than one. Which—”
“Explains so much of the weird stuff that’s going on!” Marcus’s entire face lit up, and Brady couldn’t help a chuckle.
“Exactly. Although why on earth she brings us out here to give her announcements, I still can’t understand. But if we’re going to end up back at whatever our story is supposed to be, I guess we should get them over with. First off, she apologizes for this being late, which is absolutely not our fault, even though she somehow thinks it should be. Second, if anyone isn’t already following along with the serial and wants to meet you—officially—they can find us at the link below.”
“And if you’re just hearing about this or didn’t follow along for the last couple of years, you can now get the whole first season together either in ebook or in paperback. It’s—kind of scary that we’ve got enough stories to fill a paperback, honestly.”
“And finally, if you also happen to be a writer and want to get sneak peeks at what she’s working on this month, which according to her is, quote, a hodgepodge, she’ll also have the link to that below. I think that’s it for now.”
Brady stood and started back toward the door they’d come from, and Marcus scrambled to follow him.
“Hey, wait! What about the rest of the explanations? Didn’t you say—”
“Yeah, you’re probably supposed to be getting those in the book, not here.” Brady grimaced as he glanced back toward the author’s closed door. “But you know what, you’re not going to remember it anyway. So really quick—one question, and I’ll answer it.”
Marcus’s forehead furrowed as he thought for a second, then looked up eagerly.
“Okay. One question. What kind of story are we in?”
“Not bad.” Brady smirked and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Superheroes.”
“No. Way.” Marcus stood stunned for a moment as Brady disappeared through the open door, then ran to follow him. “Wait! I have tons more questions!”
The door closed behind them, and the screen went black.