One Strange House

Chapter Seven

Jack and I had our sleeping quarters situated in the house above the tunnels, so I got to wake up to the sun streaming in, a marion peeking through the window corner, and the scent of evergreens wafting through the cracked wooden slats of the walls. I think I could get used to this, I think to myself as I stretch out on the bed. Better check up on Jack, I feel like he won't ever get used to being around the marions.

I slide out of bed and, seeing as I'm in a nightgown and socks, change into the first layer of my armor. Breathable but protective cloth, reminiscent of a primitive kevlar, paired with boots over which would've had the second layer of armor fitted over it, were I wearing it. It was a small house, more like a hut, so I had no trouble finding Jack's room. I tiptoed up to the door and slammed on it, screaming "THIS IS THE POLICE!" knowing full well he probably wouldn't fall for that trick. That is, until I heard a yell and the distinct thunk of a body hitting the floor. More precisely, his body. Quite possibly off the bed. Did he just wake up?? Laughing, I shout through the door that it's just me and that I'm coming in. I open the door, and immediately get hit in the face with his pillow.

"Ew!!" I shriek, "This things so wet! How much do you drool??"

"Ignore it," he mumbles, "Why are you here?"

"Just checking up on you. You are just like a brother to me, after all," I tease him. He's face down on the bed now, and I recall that he is not a morning person. I take this time to inspect his room, and find one marion spying through a hole in the wall, and another peeking over the windowsill.

"Oh, so you have two.." I observe.

"Two what?"

"Marions. Have you gotten used to them yet?"

"No. They creep me out. You know what Father Ka told me?"

"Probably not."

"Well you remember a while ago when you asked why he spends his time in those tunnels and he said 'Because I want to live' like a cryptic weirdo?"

"Yeah of course, but I think it's just because he doesn't like the marions and shadrahks."

"You don't know jack--"

"Actually, yes I do, I'm talking to him right now"

"Shut up. Anyway, it's much more than that. I won't tell you anything about it because he's talking to us alone soon, and I'm assuming he'll say it then, but it's serious stuff. I wanted to bring it up so you'd know and not be a twit about it."

"Hm. Did he say when?"

"He said he'd come by my room then yours. He should be along soon. In the meantime, how are you? Did you sleep well, beauty-- sorry, drag queen?"

"See, if you're nice you get answers, but being like that gets you nothing." And I punctuated that by swinging the pillow down on his face. He kicked his legs and yelped just as we heard a slow, low knock. I opened it to find Father Ka, who looked not the least bit surprised to see me in Jack's room. Instead, he shuffled past the door and took a seat in an old wooden chair.

In his rumbling drawl, Father Ka said to us, "I need to speak to you two about something very important to me, and you must promise not to tell anyone, especially not Emma." After swearing we wouldn't tell a soul, he continued, "Do you know why I stay holed up in these blasted tunnels? You may think it's the marions and shadrahki, but it's because of what they symbolize. I hate seeing them. I've lost everything to them; my friends, my family, my love. My own children got swept up in their gaze; only to later on lose themselves in it. I have no one left. The closest thing to family I have left is Emma.

"I have decided that she is to go with you to eradicate these threats, but then you will not return to this land. All three of you will go to your homeland, because I cannot lose her to these creatures. She's all I have left, and I'd rather she live a long and fruitful life than shrivel up here with an old man such as myself, just waiting to be taken by the curse. I know she already challenges the marion's searching eye, which is all the more reason she must leave as soon as possible. Please, it's my only request," Father looked at us with such sad and damaged eyes that we, or at least I, had to accept.

"I solemnly swear we will accept her on our mission and to assist her in her transition to our world," I say, much to his relief.

"How will you get her to accept though? She'll never leave you, and I doubt she's exactly game to stay in our world, which doesn't come complete with it's own Father Ka," Jack addresses the elephant in the room. Ever to the point, that boy.

"I'll have that talk with her myself." And with that, Father Ka rose from his seat and began to leave. He stopped at the door, turned, and gave one short, solemn nod before leaving.

"Well that was interesting," Jack says, staring at me.

"Quite."

I get up and leave the room, deciding to go find Emma so that we could talk. After scouring the house with no sight of her, I go down into the tunnels for a long walk in the dark getting lost and searching for her. Finally, I stumble across a double set of doors rather large in size and cracked open to leak out a bright sliver of light. Peeking through the cracked doors, I saw a huge library and Emma in a corner pouring over it's books. I knock on the doors to let her know I'm there, and then stroll in. She glances at me, waves, and motions to the seat across from her. When I take a seat, she slides a book in front of me and taps the cover, then goes back to reading. The book is called "In the Realms of the Unreal" and it's insanely thick. I look up at Emma and she winks, then quickly returns to the pages of her book. I open it up and begin reading, and find that it's actually really good. A little confusing sometimes, but nonetheless fantastic. Eventually she shuts her book and asks "How is it so far?"

I take my time to reply, first finishing the paragraph I'm on, and then pausing to say "Fantastic," before continuing on.

"Thought so," she chuckles. "You can have it; I've practically memorized it, what with how many times I've read and reread it."

"For reals??" I snap to attention with a huge smile and begin thanking her profusely, to which she just waves me away. We ended up talking for a while longer, and I don't think I'll mind taking her with us to the real world. Maybe she'll bunk with me for a while; that sounds exciting. This is wrapping up pretty nicely, if I do say so myself.