"For fuck's sake!" I cried out in frustration, my shoulders hunching and eyes squeezing shut as several pots crashed to the floor with a resounding clang. Gingerly stepping down from the three-stepped stool, I gathered the fallen pots and their accompanying lids, resigning them to the 'I don't remember the last time I used you' corner of the kitchen floor. It was a pile that seemed to be growing larger by the minute.
Pausing, I surveyed the chaos of the morning's work. The kitchen floor was strewn with a random assortment of appliances, pots, pans, and utensils, and most of the benchtops were similarly cluttered. To anyone else, it would look like a war zone, but to me, this disaster had a purpose. My patience for Cody's return with Jeremiah, his Guardian Atum, was wearing thin. To occupy my growing anxiety and restless energy, I had busied myself with pulling items from the farthest corners of the kitchen cupboards, sorting everything into piles: things I used regularly, and things that might be useful to Jamie and whoever else was trapped in Clivilius with him.
Not surprisingly, the piles of items to donate were significantly larger than those I used even on a rare basis. "I really have collected a lot of shit," I mumbled to myself, returning to the stool to continue my impromptu kitchen purge.
As my hand swiped through a thick layer of dust atop the cupboard, a sudden, loud knock at the door cut my next expletive short. "About time," I grumbled under my breath, stepping down from the stool. Dust from my hands clouded the air as I brushed them down my jeans, making my way to the front door.
A second knock, considerably louder than the first, echoed through the hallway.
"I'm coming!" I called out.
I quickly unlatched the chain and unlocked the deadbolt, pulling the front door open. To my utter surprise, it was Abbey, my favourite work colleague, standing on my doorstep. "Abbey!" I exclaimed, completely taken aback. "What are-" My words were cut short as Abbey, the fit, middle-aged woman known for her energetic presence at work, rushed inside and embraced me warmly.
The hug was unexpected, and as it ended, I could feel Abbey's arms trembling. She pulled away, her usually vibrant face now sunken and grave, a stark contrast to the Abbey I knew.
"Abbey, what is it?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. I quickly ushered her inside, mindful to close the door behind us before Snowflake could seize the opportunity to escape.
"An odd man came by the office the other day looking for you," Abbey revealed, pulling me towards the living room as she spoke. Her words came out in a rush, painting a picture of urgency and unease.
My heart skipped a beat. "What man? What did he want?" I pressed, my mind racing through various scenarios, yet drawing a blank. This unsettling news definitely calls for a glass of wine, I thought. I made my way to the cluttered kitchen, weaving through the disarray I had created earlier. I retrieved two wine glasses from the cupboard and a fresh bottle of Shiraz from the pantry, my movements slightly frantic.
"He said his name was Blake," Abbey continued, following me into the kitchen and taking a seat on a barstool by the dining room side of the kitchen bench.
At the mention of the name, a chill ran down my spine, my body stiffening involuntarily. My eyes widened in panic, the name 'Blake' triggering a flood of fear and dark memories. The tendrils of fear and panic weaved their way through me, leaving a cold trail in their wake.
"You know him?" Abbey asked, her eyes searching my face for clues.
I shook my head quickly, "No. The name doesn't sound familiar," I lied, my voice barely steady. Visions of a hooded figure on a dark winter's night from several years ago invaded my thoughts, a memory I had tried so hard to suppress. The details had faded over time, but the man's threat had lingered, a haunting echo in my mind.
The memory of that night, shrouded in the mists of the Bridgewater Jerry as it wound its way down the Derwent River, was still vivid in my mind. The small blade flickering under the soft glow of the streetlight, the short man's gruff voice delivering a chilling message: "Tell your sister that Blake has a message for her."
Frozen in shock, I had listened as Blake continued, his warning clear and ominous. "Tell Beatrix that if she doesn't make good on her end of the deal, there will be extreme consequences." The memory sent shivers down my spine, a reminder of the dangers lurking just beneath the surface of our seemingly mundane lives.
"I don't drink much these days. Just a half-glass will do me," Abbey's voice pulled me abruptly back to the present.
I poured a half-glass for Abbey, my mind still reeling from the memory and the revelations Abbey had brought. As I took a sip from my glass, trying to steady my nerves, Abbey suddenly exclaimed, "What the hell!"
We both turned towards the fridge, which had burst into a spectacle of swirling rainbow colours. “Shit,” I muttered, my heart sinking as I watched Cody stumble into the kitchen through the kaleidoscope that now lit the fridge door.
"Oh, hey," Cody said, surprise evident in his wide eyes as he steadied himself on his feet. It took him a moment to realise we weren't alone.
I bit my lower lip, feeling it begin to quiver. How could I possibly explain this to Abbey? This was Cody's screw-up, and part of me insisted that he should be the one to sort it out. Keeping the wine glass close to my mouth, I was ready to provide comfort or a quick excuse to remain silent, whichever was needed.
"I'm Cody," he introduced himself, extending a hand to Abbey.
"Abbey," she replied, gripping Cody's hand and shaking it firmly, her expression a mix of bewilderment and surprise. It was so pronounced that I was amazed she managed to even say her name.
As I watched the interaction, a part of me wondered how Abbey would react to the truth about Cody and the world he came from. Would she believe it, or would it be too much for her to comprehend? The situation was quickly spiralling into uncharted territory, and I braced myself for the explanations and questions that were sure to follow.
Ignoring the bizarre spectacle that had just unfolded in the kitchen, Cody turned to address me. "Jeremiah's not–" His words were abruptly cut off by a sharp knock at the front door.
"That'll be Jeremiah," Cody announced, leaving the kitchen hastily to answer the door.
Left alone with Abbey, I noticed her raise her glass, her eyes peering at me over its rim as she took a sip.
Thanks, Cody, I told him silently sarcastic, not appreciating that he had abandoned me, leaving me to deal with the questions that undoubtedly plagued Abbey's mind.
Trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, I took two more wine glasses from the cupboard and filled them, my hands moving mechanically.
"Gladys," Abbey began, setting her glass down with a gentle clink. "There's something else–"
"I bet they're thirsty," I quickly interrupted her, my voice slightly higher than normal. Part of me was desperately trying to avoid any more unsettling news about Blake. The very mention of his name brought a flood of unwanted emotions and memories.
Balancing the fresh glasses of wine, I walked into the living room, heading towards where Cody and the man I assumed to be Jeremiah were still standing in the hallway. Their voices were a bit louder than they probably realised, their conversation carrying into the room.
As I approached, I could feel Abbey's gaze on my back, her curiosity and concern palpable. I knew that I couldn't avoid her questions for much longer, but for now, the arrival of Jeremiah and the need to play host offered a temporary reprieve.
"She's probably better off with me," the tall, broad, dark-haired man was saying as I drew closer. I surmised this must be Jeremiah, given his commanding presence and the way Cody deferred to him.
"I could find Luke, or Beatrix?" Cody suggested, which caught me off guard. Beatrix? What the hell does she have to do with any of this? I wondered, a frown creasing my forehead.
"I don't think we should-" Jeremiah began, but then abruptly cut himself off as he noticed Abbey and me. "I'm sorry," he continued, his gaze shifting to Abbey, and his piercing dark eyes seeming to weigh the gravity of the situation. As he spoke, the hallway wall erupted into the vibrant colours of Clivilius, the familiar swirl of hues that had become an indicator of the otherworldly aspects of my life.
"But you're a witness now. It's too dangerous for you to stay here," Jeremiah concluded, his voice grave.
A chill ran down my spine at his words. Witness? Dangerous? The situation was rapidly evolving into something far beyond what I had anticipated. I stood there, momentarily frozen, my mind raced with the implications of Jeremiah's statement. The reality that Abbey was now inadvertently involved in this complex and dangerous world filled me with a sense of dread and responsibility.
"Cody, wait!" I called out, a sense of urgency seizing me. Red wine sloshed over the rim of the glass that I had momentarily forgotten I was holding, as I reached out to grab Cody's arm.
Cody, seemingly determined, grabbed Abbey's arm and attempted to drag her towards the swirling, buzzing wall that had appeared. Abbey's reaction was immediate and fierce. "I can't," she cried out, her struggle causing her wine glass to crash to the floor.
Jeremiah was quick to aid Cody, adding his strength to the effort. But Abbey was fighting back with a fervour I hadn't seen before. "You don't understand!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with panic and desperation as she struggled against the grip of both Guardians.
"Is this really necessary, Cody?" I asked, my voice laced with desperation. I tried to intervene, to find some semblance of reason in this chaos. "I've seen the Portal and I'm still here," I reasoned.
Jeremiah turned to me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that was almost palpable. "For now," he said ominously, his words sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Abbey, her frustration reaching its peak, resorted to physical measures. With a loud huff, she stomped on Jeremiah's foot, causing him to release her arm instantly as he cried out in pain. She followed up with a quick elbow to Cody's gut, forcing him to release her other arm.
"Cody!" I cried out, alarmed, as I rushed towards him. He was bent in half, clutching at the impact site, clearly in pain.
Jeremiah began to approach again, but Abbey commanded, "Stand down!" Her hands were raised defensively in front of her, and to my surprise, both men hesitated, throwing quick glances at each other as if recalculating their strategy.
"Please!" I pleaded, my voice echoing my desperation. "If we explain the situation, I'm sure Abbey will understand the importance of secrecy."
"I'm sorry, Gladys," Jeremiah responded, his tone final. "It's a risk we can't afford to take right now."
"Oh, come on!" I protested, unable to accept that this was the only solution. "Surely–"
"It's okay, Gladys," Abbey interjected, her voice unexpectedly calm as she glanced my way.
I looked at her, my eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. Her composure in such a bizarre and threatening situation was unnerving.
As Abbey slowly lowered her hands, her left fist unfurled, revealing a device in her palm. "Abbey!" I gasped, recognising the familiar Guardian device.
"I'm a Guardian too," Abbey revealed, her words hanging in the air, heavy with meaning.
The revelation hit me like a thunderbolt. Abbey, a Guardian?
Cody and Jeremiah turned to face each other, their expressions mirroring one another's exasperation and complete surprise.
"But how? When?" I stuttered, my mind racing with questions.
Abbey reached out, touching my elbow gently, grounding me in the whirlwind of confusion. "It's been a few years," she said, her voice calm yet revealing the depth of her secret.
My brow furrowed as a dozen confusing questions jostled for attention in my mind, each one smothering any chance of a coherent thought forming.
"I'm the last member of my Guardian Group," Abbey disclosed, adding yet another layer to her already surprising news.
"What's your settlement?" Jeremiah asked, his tone businesslike.
"Enders Climb. It's near the Capital, Port Stower. Well, it was the capital!" Abbey replied, her words hinting at a story filled with change and perhaps loss.
"Yeah, we know about the unfortunate fall of Port Stower," Jeremiah acknowledged, his voice carrying a hint of sombre understanding.
The names and details about Clivilius were overwhelming, causing me to realise just how much more there was to this world than I had known. The complexity of it all was boggling my mind.
As I saw Cody's mouth open, presumably to add more details about Clivilius, I quickly hushed him with a wave of my hand. The current situation was becoming increasingly convoluted, and I felt a growing need for more wine. These Guardians are going to be the death of me, of that I am certain! I thought, half in exasperation, half in jest.
"And close that bloody Portal!" I directed Jeremiah, eyeing him sternly. I bent down to pick up Snowflake, who was showing a dangerous level of curiosity towards the swirling colours of the Portal. "I can't afford to lose a second baby!" I exclaimed, holding Snowflake protectively against my chest.
Leaving the three Guardians in the hallway, I retreated to the kitchen, setting Snowflake down. She immediately began to weave in and out of my legs, her meows insistent and loud, as I reached for two more glasses from the cupboard. Pouring myself another generous serving of red wine, I tried to push the chaos to the back of my mind.
"Fine," I muttered to Snowflake, acknowledging her demands. "I'll feed you first." As I fed her, the sound of her biscuit-crunching provided a momentary, comforting background noise, a small semblance of normality amidst the surreal events.
Once Snowflake was content with her meal, I gathered myself and re-entered the living room, glasses of wine in hand. I offered Abbey and Jeremiah their drinks. Jeremiah initially refused, waving his hands in front of him, but I insisted, "Yes, thank you," and gently forced the glass into his reluctant hands.
As I stood there, the voices of the three Guardians melded into a foggy haze in my mind. Their conversation, their presence, demanded attention I couldn’t quite muster at the moment. Sipping my wine, I stood apart, observing their interaction in a state of detached bewilderment. It was as if I were in a fog-of-war, where nothing they said or did made any sense to me. My brain simply couldn't process any more information.
"There is only so long you can remain a bystander, Gladys," Jeremiah's words were firm, his hand squeezing my shoulder in a way that felt both reassuring and imposing. His gaze was intense, almost penetrating, and it made me uncomfortable. "Soon, you will need to make a choice on which role you want to play."
My brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh?" was the only response I managed, my mind struggling to keep up with the rapid developments.
"Either you become a Guardian or a Clivilius citizen. Remaining on Earth is not an option for you, Gladys," Jeremiah continued, his unblinking eyes locking onto mine, making me squirm under his intense scrutiny.
Before I could process his words fully, setting the hallway wall ablaze with colour, Jeremiah promptly left.
"Sorry, Gladys, Jeremiah is right," Abbey chimed in, her eyes shifting to Cody. "You need to make a choice. And soon."
The weight of their words was overwhelming. My brain throbbed with a pain so intense it felt like it might crack my skull open. "Please go," I whispered, my voice barely audible, unable to bear their gazes any longer.
Cody hesitated for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and something else I couldn't quite discern. Then, like Jeremiah, he and Abbey each vanished in their own swirl of magical colours, leaving me alone in the room.
Snowflake's presence was the only comfort as she weaved between my legs. I stood there, alone in my living room, my glass pressed to my lips. The options they laid out weighed heavily on me. Guardian or Clivilian? The choices weren't straightforward. Even if I decided to become a Guardian, where would that lead me? Would I join Luke or Cody? Or even Abbey? The enormity of the decision was daunting.
Shit! It's too much, I thought to myself, trying to drown out the sinking thoughts with a large gulp of wine. But the wine provided little solace. The reality of my situation was inescapable, and the choices I faced were not just about where I would go, but who I would become. Guardian or Clivilius citizen – each path held its own set of uncertainties and consequences.
