Chapter Text
Geoff didn’t know where he was.
The last thing he remembered was sitting somewhere, a bottle in his hand that was more air than liquid. He remembered drinking like it was his only instinct. He remembered seeing someone in the alley with him. He assumed it was someone who wanted to kill him. There were enough of them.
The street lamp silhouetted the figure, casting a halo over them. Geoff remembered thinking maybe he would finally see heaven, after hundred of years. Maybe he would stop being punished.
When we did wake up, he didn’t recognise the room he was in. It was clean, but obviously lived in. There was a blanket covering him with a strange embroidery on it, and a full cup of water next to him. He gulped it down, sitting up and trying to orientate himself. There didn’t seem to be anyone else in the room (apartment? House?) so Geoff stood up. He saw his shoes next to the sofa he was laid on and slipped his feet into them.
“I found you.” A voice rang out, making Geoff whip around. He almost reached for a gun he didn’t carry anymore, but he relaxed when he saw who was speaking.
“What?”
“I found you in that alley. Drunk.” The person said, stepping into the light of the window. It was a woman, wearing a dress that would have looked just a bit behind the times to anyone who kept their mind in the present. The dress itself wouldn’t have aroused too much suspicion, but the fact it was a tad too large for her frame, and the bodice didn’t fit would have to anyone who looked at her closely enough.
“So why didn’t you leave me?” Geoff asked, his voice cracking. The woman looked at him gently.
“There’s a bathroom just down the hallway if you want to freshen up.” She said, avoiding the question.
“Don’t change the subject, why did you help me?” Geoff said. The woman looked him in the eye and he faltered. The look in her eye was cold and impressive. But she relented and gestured to the sofa. Geoff sat back down and watched as she moved to sit beside him.
“I helped you, because I know what you are.” The woman said hesitantly, fiddling with her skirt.
“What am I?” Geoff asked gently.
“You’re out of your time.” The woman said quietly, as if afraid someone would overhear. “You can’t die. At least not permanently.”
Geoff stilled. That had to be a joke.
“Yeah? How would you know?” He asked, hardening his voice a bit.
“Because I am too.” She said.
“Bullshit.” Geoff said automatically. She was fucking with him. He thought he was the only one. He was the forsaken one. Cursed to live forever and never meet his loved ones again. She could be like him.
“Yeah?” The woman said, standing up and going over to a desk in the corner. She pulled over a drawer and rifled through, pulling out a small revolver and pressing it into Geoff’s hand. “Try it.”
“What?” Geoff said, hating the way his hand curled around the gun instinctively.
“Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it. Shoot me.” The woman challenged, taking a step back. Geoff raised the gun and levelled it, his body automatically positioning itself for him to shoot. The woman didn’t flinch.
“How did you know?” Geoff asked, not lowering the gun. “That you were like me?”
“Because your heart stopped last night in the alley. I watched you die and then your heart started again and you were breathing but you didn’t wake up.” The woman said.
“How did you know you were like me?” Geoff repeated. “How did you die?”
“I was beaten to death. I bled out and then I woke up again, as if nothing had happened.” She said, her voice hard.
“Who beat you? You’re husband?” Geoff asked.
“My neighbours.” The woman said stiffly. “I’ve never had a husband.”
“A lovely lady like you never found a husband?” Geoff said, a note of disbelief in his voice. It was only then did he lower the gun. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Jack.” She said, extending her hand.
“Geoffrey.” Geoff said, hesitantly shaking her hand. It felt strange, like admitting an alliance. He knew he should have been more suspicious, more wary, but there was something in his gut telling him that Jack was being truthful. That he’d found someone he could trust.