Never Late, Never Away

Chapter 3324 The Raggedy Man
Megan and Donna were flummoxed by some of the feedback posted. It was quite unforeseen that her performance turned out so
poorly in spite of the scripting.
Donna could not help but exhale. “It really backfired on you this time, Megan.”
Never mind reestablishing Jonas, she nearly got herself in an absolute stinker. One consolation though, was that the production
crew came through and managed to craft a few touching scenes for the two of them.
“Oh, it can’t be helped. Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. It was fortunate that Jonas managed to
get back on track though.” Megan leaned back into the couch and smiled casually, taking it all in her stride.
Donna closed the laptop and looked weakly at Megan, bamboozled by the latter’s inexplicable optimism.
“Alright, enough from you. It’s getting late. Aren’t you going back to Jake’s?”
That riposte led Megan’s slumped body to stiffen up on the couch. She smiled broadly and exhibited no inclination to get herself
up. “He’s away for work and won’t be back today. Take me in, Donna.”
Megan’s pitiful expression left Donna with no cause for refusal, or should it be said that she had never intended to turn her away.
After all, they had always lived together.
She regarded Megan smilingly. “Alright, fine. But I’ve to start cooking, so I would appreciate it if you could go out and help get me
some salt.”
Megan immediately jumped up from the couch, rescinded her earlier flippancy, and pulled a straight face in its place. She then
did a curtsy and replied in an even voice, “Yes, Ms. Donna. I’m on it!”
Her impromptu showmanship drew a laugh from Donna who then patted her on the back and shooed her out of the door. “That’s
enough. Get going.”
Megan got herself in check. After she took some money with her, she dashed out of the door with the intention of swiftly swiping
up a packet of salt from the convenience store downstairs.

A few minutes later, Megan was almost there. But before she could make her way in, a shadowy figure shot out and pulled her
into a side alley.
“Megan!”
She was taken aback when a man’s harried and panicky voice exploded in her ears. Its disheveled and unkempt owner was
unrecognizable to her.
“Who are you?”
Megan blinked in bafflement as she attempted to pick out any familiar vibes which may help her identify who the raggedy man in
front of her was, but found none.
“It’s me. Herman! Help me, Megan. Help me!”
Herman seemed beleaguered. Gone were the gold-rimmed spectacles that he used to wear, and his previously scholarly grace
and stoic demeanor were displaced by wildness and hysteria.
The man before her was a complete shell of his former self.
“You’re Herman?” Megan remained unconvinced and thought even racking up a few hundred-thousand in debt at the casino
would not reduce anyone to this state of wretchedness.
Upon hearing Megan’s question, Herman nodded piteously. His eyes darted about from time to time, as though he was hiding
from something.
The man was overwrought and fear-ridden. “Yes, yes. I’m Herman! Someone’s after me, Megan. Hurry up and hide me
somewhere!”
It might have worked better in his favor had he not said that as that made Megan less inclined to help. Is he telling me that there
is someone who cannot be trifled with close by? Why would I want to get on anyone’s bad side on the account of my enemy?
Megan’s expression rapidly grew indifferent at the thought of that. When she regarded the dehumanized Herman, memories of
the past came surging forth.
She sneered and squinted haughtily at the man before her, “You must be begging the wrong person. Isn’t Mia the one you liked
and cared for? Shouldn’t you be calling on her now?”

“I... I’m too ashamed to face her. Please, Megan. Hide me. Those people are coming!”
Herman grew increasingly petrified and gripped onto Megan’s wrist so tightly as if his life literally depended on it.
Megan, however, was able to free herself from his grasp easily and shoved him into the bottomless depths of the raging river.