Where am I? Who am I?

On the highway, The last day of Summer 2020 France

The phone automatically connected a call into the helmet. Even if I did not answer, I had no choice - the result of the operation depended on it. I could always hang up, of course.

"Estrange?" said the terrified voice at the other end, and I received my second shock in one day.

Why was he calling me? Why torment me? He surely knew what had happened to Vera. Otherwise, why did he need to talk to me?

"What?" I asked, strained.

"Oh, I thought you would not talk to me."

As soon as I heard his voice, I knew he was not doing well. It was difficult to guess his reasons. I had never really understood him, I think. His actions were often based on an extremely complex sense that I did not want to unravel now.

"Leave me alone," I whispered into the void.

"I cannot, Estrange. I need you!" The words were spoken in a flood of hurry, before I hung up.

"I thought you could get by."

"What?" His voice was flat, emotionless.