The Paradox Corridor

Chapter 7: The Custodian

They whirled around, thinking they had been alone. Before them stood some old custodian, with white hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin. He leaned on his mop, but yet gave off the sense of a younger man hidden beneath this old disguise. The friends looked at each other in surprise, confused as to why he of all people was still around. It's not like he could have done anything.

"That was some good thinking on your part, young man" said the custodian, "Of course, it wouldn't have been so useful if I had not intervened."

"Who are you?" asked Amber.

"What do you mean, intervened?" demanded Andrew at the same time, "What did you do?"

"Tell him, James. Tell him what you saw, and felt" replied the custodian, with the air of talking to an old friend. James, somehow, wasn't surprised that this random old dude knew his name, after all, the rest of the day had been pretty crazy, so this was comparatively normal.

"Well...the laser shot was a lot bigger than normal, I think it lasted longer than it should have, and affected the 'time robot' more than it should have. Plus, you were both able to stand on a moving sword, which doesn't happen very often. Plus, we were all able to act and react more quickly and with more ability than we should have" he recalled. "Didn't you notice?"

"The sword thing, I noticed. However, the laser and our jumping skills are a different story. If you didn't didn't notice, our lives were in danger, so no, I didn't notice it!"

"Now, now, there's no need to argue" said the custodian gently. "Come to my office, all of you."

"You have no right ordering us around, custodian!" answered Andrew quite rudely.

"Ah! Hahaha! Custodian. That's one way to describe my job, I suppose." he said with a smile.

"Why so silent, young lady? Is something wrong?" he suddenly asked Amber, who was deep in thought, trying to remember where she knew this man from. Something about...a slideshow? She couldn't remember. She started, and said,

"Nothing, It's just, that, well, I think we should do what he says, Andrew, and before you respond" she said, talking over him as he started to protest, " Remember how I knew you were in danger, and saved your life? Well, I have the same sort of feeling now, except I think this man can be trusted. I don't know about you two, but I'm going with him." The two boys stood in silence for a moment, and then they both nodded their heads.

"Now that that's settled, this way." the custodian said, and he headed off.

"S-Sir?" asked Amber.

"Yes?"

"Do you know whats going on?" she asked. The custodian thought long and hard as he walked along before he answered.

"Does anyone ever truly know? I will tell explain as much as I know in my office." He became silent, and the kids were left to ponder how on earth he would be able to explain any of this.