Psycher Chronicles

Prologue III

(Hasty)

Is it wrong to hate an unborn child?

This was the question currently going through Hasty's mind as attended a baby shower for her Favorite assistant and right-hand woman Ms. Delaney. Yet, recently Hasty couldn't help but notice that her assistant had changed.

Not only had she abruptly quit her role and position as Hasty's secretary, but now she even seemed off? Or maybe forced is a better word. Worse, she couldn't help but feel that Ms. Delaney would stare coldly at her when she wasn't looking.

Hasty reviewed the video tape, only to find that each time she felt her staring was at a time when Ms. Delaney's face was just hidden by the angle of the camera. Meaning the slight scowl and intense glares she now felt couldn't be proven.

Ultimately, she chalked it up to stress. To the stress of realizing that the one person she could trust was now calling it quits to take maternal leave.

That was why she came here to this bridal shower, a final show of the bond these two once had. Yet, there was a problem.

There was an indescribable air of suffocation that seemed to oppress her the moment she stepped out of her vehicle. Pausing for a moment, she gathered herself, and found herself looking to her right, to see that her new assistant Angelica Flavin had a stack of premium presents all for the unborn child.

Looking at Angelica's relaxed posture, Hasty felt confused for a moment. Then as if seeing her, Angelica looked confused for a moment and then smile, "you okay?"

"Yeah, I just feel odd," Hasty confirmed.

Then Angelica just nodded, and balancing the stack of presents on one hand managed to reach out and pat Hasty gently on the shoulder. "It's okay, I understand this will be hard."

Aided by the comforting pat, Hasty nodded to herself and reached out to ring the bell.

Badump-bamp-bump.

Instantly, music could be heard as the door was opened, showing either just how oblivious Hasty had been to the sound before, or how well soundproof the house of her former secretary was.

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To her surprise the person to answer the door was the now very pregnant Ms. Delaney herself.

"Hello! Oh, I am so glad you came!" Ms. Delaney cried out excitedly at seeing both Hasty and her new primary assistant.

"Missy!" Angelica cried out, causing a burst of insight to happen as she had totally forgotten her good friend's first name. Fortunately, her look of confusion was covered by the fact that Missy Delaney was giving a quick hug to Angelica.

"Please feel free to put the presents down right there," Missy Delaney stated, while pointing to a spot just inside the door. Angelica nodded and began moving excitedly, no doubt ready to put down the arm load of presents.

Then it was just Hasty and Missy, "hey."

"Hey stranger, come on in," Missy began as she quickly hugged her former boss, and with that Hasty nodded and felt that her fears were completely unfounded. What she missed was the way Missy's face involuntarily flashed a spark of anger at touching Hasty. Fortunately, Missy was able to control her micro-expression of anger a moment later, but it was there had anyone been in position to see.

"Oh!" Missy hissed out, as she broke free from the embrace, "baby's kicking!"

"Really?" Hasty asked and then held out her hand to try to touch and feel the squirming mass, only to be stopped by Missy's hand.

"Oh, this is one of those times where a grown woman is going to have to immediately leave before she embarrasses herself, excuse me." Missy stated, showing some of her playful side as she pushed Hasty's hand away and began waddling quickly away from the door.

"Harold! Take the door!" Missy cried out to somewhere in the house, then not even checking to see that her words were followed she quickly went to the nearest bathroom.

Hasty chose that moment to come in, gently close the door behind her and then look around at the gathered guests.

It was only now that Hasty realized she didn't know anyone here. Just how out of touch with Missy's social life was she that no one here even looked similar.

A second later a well-dressed muscular man came forward in a cream white suit and flashing a dazzlingly white smile at Hasty. As usual his smile never touched his eyes, but this was to be expected from Harold, as Hasty was responsible for many late nights and missed holidays of Ms. Delaney.

"Welcome, Ms. Hasty, please make yourself at home," Harold said, as he gestured for Hasty to come forward. Hasty did, but instantly felt like something was off. There was an odd conspiratorial energy that seemed to fill the room. As she entered different rooms, she could almost feel conversations die down. While she was fairly used to this, due to her celebrity status, this time it was different. This time, there was almost an air of hostility towards her.

For a moment she thought about leaving, but then quickly found Angelica and felt reassured due to her presence alone.

Moving forward, it was clear that Angelica was already socializing with someone she found here at the party. Pausing for a moment at Angelica's random interlocutor, Hasty felt her heartbeat quicken as she could swear she had seen that face before. The red hair and strikingly green eyes were a dead match for the person she had been searching for. The person who saved her life. A person she still wished to thank. For a moment, Hasty almost thought that this person could be the same one, but there were a few differences, first this person was smaller. Not super small, but regular size standing at around Hasty's height. Then there was the fac that this person was older, even after not seeing the woman in a few years, she wouldn't have aged this much. But the resemblance was uncanny. That was why, Hasty felt herself being drawn forward, only to see that the woman she was approaching was also very pregnant as well.

"Hello," Hasty stated interjecting herself directly into Angellica and this oddly familiar lady's conversation.

"Oh, this is my boss, World Famous singer Hasty!" Angelica exclaimed excitedly.

"Who?" Was all the woman asked, instantly squashing any thoughts of having an easy time conversing with this person.

"Just a singer," Hasty cut in and held out her hand to meet the woman. Fortunately, the woman was respectable and held out her own hand. "Hasty, Jewel Hasty."

"Tulley, Andrea Tulley," the red haired woman declared keeping the same naming cadence that Hasty had used. And with that, Hasty's thoughts were almost confirmed, but she had to ask.

"Do you happen to have a daughter by any chance?"