The Mysteries of the Q Files #2: Screens are Cursed Windows

Chapter 15 - All Around the Family Turkey

Trick was delightfully surprised to find out that he would be having Thanksgiving Dinner with not only Naomi and her mom, but also with Agents Miles and Conturbatio. Trick's dad had cooked the turkey to perfection, and Miles brought an excellently seasoned ham to complement it. The Sphinx had baked a delicious potato casserole, and naomi as it turned out could make stuffing that didn't dry your mouth out as fast as a Saltine.

They all had hearty helpings, and a few of them to boot. As Trick stuffed himself, he heard the agents all talk about what had become of the case. Sure enough, the Department of Homeland Security had once again taken over. The whole scenario had been too weird for them to process, so they released a statement that a new hallucinogenic gas had been used on the theater to insight a panic, and that the two attacks had been "training exercises" by terrorists to test the effects of the gas. Thankfully, the boys who had been incarcerated earlier were now released, and some real terrorists had been blamed for what happened. Retaliation efforts were already underway and the whole affair was being quickly swept under the rug to prevent further investigation.

Thankfully, Conturbatio and Miles had secured copies or much of their original evidence during the case from the Jackson family. There was going to be a small hearing to discuss further funds being sent to the Q Files to allow them to behind the scenes further investigate what was causing these Doors and to stop recurring incidents. The Jackson family was going to be relocated for "protection." The victims of the supposed gas attack where all getting government treatment that would persuade them that what they had seen wasn't real. Conturbatio had personally made sure that Trick's and Naomi's fake persona had been erased and there would be no follow up.

For Trick the best news had been that Naomi's friend had turned Brandon down flatter than Belle kicking Gaston to the curb. After all they had gone through, he didn't feel too sorry for the guy. Naomi still missed her Excalibur. Once they had eaten their fill and the adults turned to more boring and responsible topics of conversation, Trick asked Naomi if she wanted to walk off dinner before dessert.

Outside, people were jumping into their cars to take advantage of the Black Friday Sales, even though it was not even 6 p.m. yet. It was cold, and it had drizzled a little. Both of them were well bundled and stuffed as they walked along.

"This is proper fall weather, not like that Utah nonsense," Trick said appreciatively.

"Back to boring normalcy," Naomi quipped. "How are you holding up after our second impromptu adventure with the Q Files?"

"Honestly," Trick said, rubbing his neck. "It has scared me a lot, but at the same time, it has been a lot of fun. You heard them back in there. This was exactly the big break the Q Files needed! Good stuff is going to happen to them now!"

"Hm," Naomi said, sounding unconvinced. "There is still so much that we don't know."

Trick shrugged. "Maybe, but this is just the beginning. I doubt that they'll let us tag along anymore, because that was almost really bad, back in Provo. I'm just glad we could help out as we did."

"Did we really help out though?"

"I think we did. You especially! Brandon only said or did anything because of you! And through that, yeah, you got sucked into a game, but we learned so much!"

"And I got to use Excalibur," she pointed out, smiling.

"That, too. And then you helped fight off that raptor with that cool kicking move. No Naomi, you did a lot this case. I think the agents saw and appreciated that," Trick finished.

"But Trick, still, we have almost no clue what is going on around with those cases. Werewolves, vampires, stories coming to life, a being trying to escape some giant war? He mentioned Guardians. Do they fight with or against the Tscheapwhetzar. What even is a Tscheapwhetzar, and why the terrible name? We have flirted with death, had some great adventures and have gotten to know each other a little bit, sure, but we were still in situation where we could have easily died or been arrested, or any one of three dozen terrible things could have happened to us."

Trick was surprised at the tirade coming from her, but then Naomi softened a bit and said, "Being here and now, I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. But, if we ever find ourselves in a situation where they request our help, we need to seriously consider it. These aren't just adventures anymore, but missions of life and death."

"Well, when you put it that way..." Trick rubbed his neck again. "Let's just enjoy Thanksgiving for now. Besides, with the new funding and everything, the Q Files will probably not need us anymore."

Together they walked around the neighborhood and took in the sights and smells as the light faded.

"I think I am ready for some apple pie," Naomi finally said.

"Same here," Trick agreed.

"And I'm going to eat you under the table," she challenged him.

"Oh, you are so on!"

It wasn't long after Trick and Naomi left on their walk that Conturbatio got a message. He always carried a special phone on his person. One that would only ever be used once and then become disposed. After consulting with the mailbox and when Trick ran inside, Conturbatio had used one of his special phones to make a call to some very important people.

He belonged to an international group of truth seekers, who had connections to some of the greatest knowledge the world had ever known. They made the Illuminati and Mason together pale in comparison. You wanted something from the Vatican Library or from underneath the Kremlin, consider it done. However, this organization had to operate under very strict guidelines, or else they would be discovered. If they ever were, their enemies would wipe them out in a heartbeat. Those who opposed the truth were very strong.

Conturbatio had actually sent them two messages. The first was to tell them of the mailbox and the Tscheapwhetzar. They knew of the old texts that spoke of the ancient being, and the work others had gone through to make sure that such a being was never made known to the public. The second message had been to inform them of what he had heard in the movie theater.

Now he received word from them. The message read: Presence of the Accursed acknowledged and confirmed. They are operational. In two days there will be a call.

On the Browns' porch, he leaned against the wall and heaved a heavy sigh. The council would meet in two days. He would spend that day next to a special machine that he would have to assemble from parts he kept scattered throughout his apartment, in a storage unit, and in a concealed location. This is how they would all communicate. Something big was happening, and he hoped he would finally learn who these Accursed were and what it was that they wanted.

Hopefully, with that information in hand, Conturbatio would be able to pursue the next case where they turned up more effectively. He would then compile his evidence, make a working arguement, and armed with truth and evidence, he would expose the powers that manipulated his world and sought to subjugate his fellow humans. He was so close now. So close to fulfilling the reason why he had tanked his own promising career and joined the Q Files in the first place.