Richard... and Noah

The rain was getting heavier, but robotess didn't pay attention to it - her temperature maintenance system successfully coped with any bad weather. She felt cozy and warm under the thick fabric of her raincoat, despite the noise of the rain deafening the city. But suddenly, when she was already approaching the entrance, a man jumped out from around the corner of the house. Delia Asia Vieira shuddered and froze, instinctively tensing up, ready for possible danger.

The stranger seemed to appear out of nowhere, like a shadow falling out of the darkness. He wore a long black cloak that reached to his feet and a wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face. Under the cloak, only his legs and part of his face were visible, barely visible in the light of the lantern. He ran so quickly and easily that for a moment it seemed as if he had no legs at all, just one solid dark spot sliding along the ground.

They almost collided at the very entrance to her building. Delia Asia Vieira stopped and tensed up even more, preparing to defend herself, but the stranger suddenly slowed down and stopped in front of her. A slight smile flashed across his face, partially hidden by his hat.

"I've been waiting for you!" he said, and his voice, oddly enough, sounded soft and warm, despite the noise of the rain around him.

Delia Asia Vieira froze, trying to understand what it meant and who was standing in front of her. The man extended his hand, as if inviting her to shake it, but the robotess only looked at him warily. She did not offer her hand, feeling awkward and vaguely uneasy, but the man did not retreat.

"Sorry for the surprise," he said, clearly noticing her confusion. "My name is Richard." His voice was more urgent this time, as if he wanted to get down to business. "You're here to see me, aren't you?"

Delia Asia Vieira blinked, trying to process his words. She had come here to meet Noah, but this Richard was obviously waiting for her. How was that possible?

"I don't..." she began, but was interrupted by a sharp gust of wind, causing them both to pull their heads into their shoulders from the cold. The man, without waiting for an answer, carefully took her by the elbow, leading her to the front door.

"Let's go inside and we'll talk there," he added, casting a quick glance around, as if afraid of something in the surrounding darkness.

Delia Asia Vieira felt his fingers, long and cold, squeeze her hand. They were shaking, but she couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from some inner turmoil. They entered the entrance, and the man confidently took a bunch of keys from his pocket, opening the door as if he lived there. Delia Asia Vieira didn't have time to say anything, as they were already in a damp and dark hallway that smelled of mold and old plaster.

"Let's go upstairs," Richard waved his hand towards the stairs leading to the top floor. "We're safe here."

She didn't understand what was happening, but her internal compass of logic told her that there was no turning back. Stepping carefully on the slippery steps, Delia Asia Vieira followed him, tensely listening to every sound in the silence of the entrance. With each passing second, her anxiety grew, but she could no longer refuse and leave.

At the top, Richard stopped again, took off his hat, and raised his head so that his face was only a few centimeters from hers.

"Well then," he said quietly, his eyes glittering in the dim light from the overhead bulb. "Welcome."

Delia Asia Vieira walked into the dark, half-empty room when Richard opened the door for her. She was greeted by old walls peeling from dampness and a dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting uneven shadows on the furniture. The air was filled with the faint smell of mold and old dust.

"Come in, sit down," Richard invited her, pointing to a wooden stool near the table.

Delia Asia Vieira hesitated a moment before sitting down on the offered stool, nervously adjusting the hem of her cloak. She crossed her legs and, avoiding Richard's gaze, looked down. Her artificial toes seemed more tense than usual, and her gaze was fixed on the old, worn boards beneath her feet. Her silence was heavy, almost tangible.

Richard, in turn, sat down opposite her, at a roughly knocked together wooden table. A look of curiosity flashed in his eyes, but he did not ask questions. He felt that his guest did not want to be frank with him, and he understood that she had her reasons.

The room was plunged into a heavy silence, broken only by the distant sound of rain outside the window. Time seemed to have stopped. Delia Asia Vieira sat motionless as a statue, staring at one point. She tried to collect her thoughts, but something inside prevented her from speaking. Finally, she exhaled quietly, still not raising her eyes.

"I need to meet someone here, on this street," she said barely audibly, as if to herself.

Richard nodded, listening to her words, but did not pester her with questions. He noticed how she avoided his gaze, and chose not to press him. It seemed that something was gnawing at her insides, but she was clearly not ready to share it. He silently picked up an old silver lighter and began to twirl it between his fingers, giving her space.

"You can wait here if you like," he suggested calmly, trying not to frighten her with his concern. "I won't interfere."

Delia Asia Vieira nodded, but remained still. Her internal processes were feverishly analyzing what was happening. She needed to get out of here as soon as possible and find Noah, but something about Richard's behavior was unsettling her. Like he knew more than he was letting on.

Several minutes of silence passed. Richard's gaze studied her steadily, but his eyes remained soft, almost tired. Delia Asia Vieira realized that he was hiding something, but what exactly remained a mystery.

"If you need, I can walk you there," he finally offered, as if reading her thoughts.