Destination Everywhere

Part 3

It is an absolutely beautiful day outside, Vanessa thinks to herself. She is enjoying the perfect weather, cloudless sky, and chirping birds from the porch swing of her house.

All is well with the world until a man walks up to her. "Oh, dear Vanessa," he sounds somewhat disappointed.

Vanessa leaps from her chair, defensive of the male stranger.

"Please do not fear, I have no intention of harming you. My name is David Coldwell, and I've come to tell you that you are allowed to remember everything that I've told you to forget." He turns and leaves without another word, not even looking back to see the damage he'd caused.

Vanessa falls back into her swinging bench, her eyes blurry as she desperately grabs at the sides of the chair to try and regain her balance. Her mind feels like a whirlwind as what he'd said comes true: she remembers the things she was magically forced to forget. Once the nauseous feeling passed, she hurried inside and uncovers the compartment she had hidden from herself before she'd lost her memories.

She puts on the soft, dark, green-gray business suit and kissed her husband goodbye, saying that she should be home this evening but not to worry about here, it's only "a work emergency."

Vanessa drives over to the Coldwell building and gets in the elevator with Davis along with six other people. These six are all recruits.

Without a word, she listened as one recruit questions David and is shamed because of it. Vanessa enjoys watching the recruits awe over the office space, and sits with them when David gives them the welcoming challenge speech.

She is surprised at how quickly one young man agreed to the challenge. The other five are more hesitant. Four of them accept the challenge, but the fifth backs out. Their memory of the elevator meeting is erased before they are escorted out without a job.

David goes and sits in front of Vanessa, smiling. "I'm so glad you're back."

"Thank you for allowing me to return in such a short time," Vanessa agreed.

"Short?" David chuckled. "Is fifteen years short for an immortal?"

"Yes," Vanessa smiled. "Time does fly. But, you? You look amazing, Mr. Coldwell."

"Don't try to flatter me," David becomes serious. "We are forbidden from having any kind of an affair."

"I understand," Vanessa straightens up. "What is this about? Why have you brought me back to the MPA?"

"This is about our CEO," David stated. "He has requested your company. At his office."

Vanessa gasps. "You can't be serious! No one is allowed in the CEO's office. Where in time did you hear news such as this?"

"He sent me a coded voice message," David is proud of himself. "You have a set of instructions in your office, I wish you the very best of luck."

They both stand and shake hands. "Welcome back to the MPA, Vanessa," David congratulated her.

"I am so happy to be back," Vanessa agreed.

After their meeting concludes, Vanessa heads into one of the side rooms. It is her office, and she doesn't remember it being this dirty when she'd left. But, there is now a stack of envelopes on her desk. She gets to work immediately reading through the encoded messages. It takes her some time, but she is certain of where she needs to go by the time she's done. Vanessa gets up from her desk and thoroughly burns the papers before going to knock on David's door.

"Done so soon?" David asks after allowing her to come in.

"I've worked in and out of the MPA for decades, I know what I'm doing," Vanessa assures him.

"Yes, I know," David gives a sad smile.

"I will not let the CEO hurt me," Vanessa promised.

David nods. "I suppose you'll be off, then. I hope to see you again, milady." With this, David goes and does the riskiest thing a man in his position could ever do. He reaches over and kissed the back of Vanessa's hand.