Dalia walked through the park, which was filled with activity. Joggers, people sitting on benches, smaller people...children playing games, a fountain. She wondered what might be happening to her opponent as she learned about this world. This knowledge she was gaining...it had to come at someone's expense. She needed to experience as much as possible, knowing that the more she became part of this world, the less her opponent would be able to stop her, assuming by the time night fell again, she even knew why she was challenging her in the first place.
She continued to realize the simple pleasures. She had chosen her outfit, chosen what to do. She didn't simply wear what was offered to her.
Her phone...well, her new phone, rang, and she answered it automatically. "Hello?"
"Dalia? It's Michaela..."
Michaela....she wasn't sure who that was, so how did she know Dalia's name?
"Rachel wanted you to come by, so she could thank you for yesterday. You know how hard it is for her to say that sometimes," the voice said.
"Yesterday?"
"You know...pretending to be a mannequin all day? And all for nothing because of that gas leak?"
Dalia suddenly got it. This...Michaela...saw her where yesterday, she had seen Carly. She had to see more of this...maybe she should stop by the shop. "Oh, it was...nothing. Like I had been doing it all my life."
"Still...how about you stop by around lunchtime...I'll try to get Rachel to come out with us for a bit, like the old days?"
"Sure..." Dalia said. She hadn't planned on returning to the store till that evening...but part of her wanted to see what is was like to be on the other side. "I'm just have some things I want to do first."
