Lost In Time

Hidden Dilemmas

Hope everyone is having a good day when reading this, I may or may not have updated this in the middle of my class....xD

*Roger's pov*

He doesn't know. He doesn't know. Eliana's words kept repeating in my head even as I carefully set aside her many packages, careful not to make too much noise as to awake the distraught girl, all curled up in her desk chair. My heart squeezed in sympathy. Poor Eli. It seemed like only yesterday had she walked in here for the first time, beautiful blue and green eyes sparkling with the wonder of it all, toddling in after her Dad and Grandad. She had been amazed with my little magic tricks, I remembered fondly. Being able to touch an object and project the memories outwards, like a movie. It had delighted her for hours. Her childish giggles rang through my mind as I remembered her chasing after the flower petals in the air, dancing round and round. She had captured all of their hearts from day one, and she had only been four years old. Carter had brought her along to work every day since, and she had learned from all of them her Alphabet, numbers, her everything. Michael had always just sat there, leaning back in the chair, drinking his old pop, eyes always sparkling with pride at his granddaughter. Oh, if only he could see her now. He would still be proud, but she had grown so much. Now having to deal with so much more than Michael or Carter ever wished she would have to. Sighing heavily, I summoned the sleeping cot from my office, and it appeared, floating gently in the air. As it settled itself down, I reached around and gently picked up Eli, settling her into the clean sheets. She needed her rest tonight. She kept that letter tucked dearly to her chest. She missed them both so much. She always tried to hide just how bad it was, living with her mom and that family, but we all knew. If Carter could see her now...I sniffed, breaking that train of thought. It was Michael we had to worry about now. He doesn't know. Sighing heavily once more, I shut the door quietly behind me.

I looked down the hall to my right, where my office was, then slowly turned left, looking sadly at the two closed doors. The last two of the hall. Michael and Carter Bishop's offices. One would never be the same again. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Taking out my mastery keys, I took my time unlocking Michael's office, feeling like I was invading. Flicking on the lights, I looked at the contents. A cozy futon with an end table with that dratted fake plant winking at me, all covered in dust. I smiled as I remembered our argument over it. It's a dust trap Michael! Get an actual plant, it's better for the environment and air quality! Air quality? What are you, a housewife of Virginia? Fake plants can't die Roge! I never seemed to win that argument, but it had been fun all the same. The walls were covered with pictures of the world, and his Travels, his army days, his son and granddaughter. Walking around the desk, I sat at his unused computer monitor, running my hand through the dust on his mahogany desk. There were two picture frames. One of him and his late wife, whose name I didn't know, and one of the three Bishops together, as a family, smiles on the beach fun and filled with laughter. Frozen in time. Never to be the same way again. A tear ran down my face at the wrongness of that. Heavily sighing for a final time, I locked the office up again, leaving it the way it was. I took my time walking down to my office, intent on calling Simon, and telling him the news. Michael Bishop didn't know his son was dead. We had one week to prepare, because you never knew what he would do if trifled with.

Sunday, August 16th.

*Eli's pov*

My eyelids felt glued shut. I ached everywhere, and really didn't want to move. I was too warm, too comfortable, and too exhausted. But why? Groaning, I slowly stretched out a single arm, and rubbed an eye, forcing it open. The first thing I saw was the letter bag, and the memories hit me like a wrecking ball. He doesn't know. Pop didn't know. And I would have to tell him. Suddenly, I felt like I wanted to fall asleep and never, ever wake up. Wimp. I chided, forcing myself, with difficulty, to get up and stretch. I didn't let go of the letter, not until I remembered the egg. My griffin egg. My responsibility. Oh shit. I dove to the floor, setting it gently on the ground and opening the case after a few minutes of stupid belts and latches. I breathed a sigh of relief as I ran my hands up and down the egg.