Around The World With You

FOURTEEN: I found out.

I remember everyone clapping. I remember that feeling stretching from my heart to my arms, my legs and every tingling neuron in my veins.
As I lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I find myself smiling, bathing in the joy of having finishes my first play. A huge success.
Some dude from the Emirates Literature Festival was there. It's an event that's pretty far away. He just came up to me and was like, "A heart touching performance, and to have achieved it at such a young age!" He stretched his hand, "I am Rafeeq, Head Programs Director. Since it was so beautiful, our committee would love it if you would come with your play to Dubai. We'll take care of the promotions, accommodations and your flights. If you are interested, here's my card. It's a good opportunity. I wouldn't recommend you to miss it."  He had spoken with a wide smile and highly raised eyebrows. I had taken the card and copied his smile, "Thank you. I will think about it."
I am just so happy that I jump off my bed and run around the room, letting out a few squeals of excitement. Dubai! Wow.
The door knocked. I let whoever it is come in.
Abigail's face masked face peeked out through the door. She gave yet another toothy smile."You done packing for the trip?"
That's when it hit me. The wedding trip! I had totally forgotten about it.
"Please tell me you have. We have to get to the docks on Monday. And today is Saturday. You have a dress each for a party, engagement, wedding, after party and casual walks right?" Abigail entered the room exasperatedly, seeing the negative look on my face.
"Do I always have to boss you around when it comes to fashion packing? Do you remember last time, you had to go to Rome and you packed your favourite full sleeved shirts? And then you suffered for 3 days under the hot sun in Rome with everything on you?" 
Abigail sat down on my swivel chair and swiveled on it like a pro.
And then she changed her mind and walked to my wardrobe. And she tore the whole thing down to the floor. Smiling devilishly she said. "Let's get started."
I could only groan. It was midnight and I am a tired director of a huge play. Organising dresses was the last thing I expected to do but I comply anyway because I knew I would never do this horrible job myself.
Abigail lifted up an old cardigan."ew. You wear all this? This, is going in the trash."
I shrugged. I really didn't care. To me all clothes were the same.
"So what do you think about Jake?" She asked, comparing two white shirts.
"He is a nice person."
Abi scoffed, "You are too naive, Rach. He just comes in out of nowhere with a bad credit card and a car and  says he has lost his memory. That's high level fishy, don't you think? I don't think you should keep him here."
I sighed. Abigail was always the detective. I remember when she and Ryan once found an old purse hidden in Aunt Paula's backyard. It was later found that it was Big Jim's, the guy who runs the convenience store. There was a huge issue on him losing his purse and lots of money a decade ago. The neighborhood couldn't stop praising Abi and my brother.
"There is no use. We would meet him again anyway. He is in the Invitations."
At that, Abigail purred.  Her signature detective purr.  She trashed away a few more shorts.
"Jake Wiggle right? If he is in the Invitations your grandmother will know him. Definites. And then we can ask him who he is and how he lost his memory. Maybe, he might even meet his family on the ship!" She said all this looking at me. I smiled and nodded."Yeah! That's sounds awesome. Jake is lucky."
"Or not. All this will happen only if it's true. Otherwise, we will find he is a thief and he got his name into the Invitations somehow to either secretly steal or hijack our ship."
Then I stop thinking. I remember how his eyes went red. Not the whites if his eyes. The irises. And I recollected how his face turned to stone when I told him that, like he knew something.
I told Abi about it. Which, was a huge mistake because she just dropped everything and started freaking out.
"A wizard! A troll! An evil fairy! Our world's ending?!" She put down the clothes and sat crosslegged in front of me. She cradled my cheek in her hands and looked at me closely. "Rach, are you okay? I know you're not the type of person who would say something so random out of nowhere...but...are you sure you're okay?"

I debated on continuing the argument and telling her that, no, believe me, I saw that red. But I also knew the consequences of the fact becoming public. Especially the consequences on Jake. I looked up at Abi. Smiled (fake). "I was kidding Abi, geez. You done packing?" 

Abi nodded. "Don't play that on me ever again."

I laughed. 

"Rach, why did you lock those two inside the summerhouse?" 

I looked down, again pondering whether to lie or to say the truth. Lots of things have been going on in my head lately. And I really want to tell someone...but these kind of things, are they to be told to an outsider? I looked up at Abi.

"I was just wondering...what would happen if a Guardian angel and a devil were trapped in the same place together."

Abi looked at me strange. "You've been saying weird things lately. Reading too many books again, huh?" Abigail wished me goodnight and went to her room to sleep.

I lay on my bed, eyes wide open, staring at the golden lights. 

Jake, I know. I know what you are hiding.

Blake, I know. I know you are trying to kill me.

I know everything.

...............................................................

the previous night. a dream. 

I am running, but I don't know what is chasing me. It's dark, then suddenly light covers me all around. A palace. I am standing in a huge hall. There is a throne at the end.

I see a woman. Pretty. Long blonde hair. Long blonde eyelashes. It turns into a man. A woman again. Suddenly, she has wings.

Then.

I am flying. The woman is in the sky next to me. A mirror. I see myself.

I am not myself. But an entity. A soul. Green light pours out of me. I am confused.

"You are special. And that's why you are in danger." 

I am confused. "Who are you?" 

She fades. Another angel appears. Golden wings. A laurel on his head. Short blonde hair. That's Jake. I know. "I'm your Guardian. I'll protect you." 

I look the other way. It's dark. A devil. Black. A purple aura. Long black hair. Ice blue eyes. 

"I'll find you. I'll take it from you."

I am confused. "Take what?"

A loud scream. My voice. Then nothing.

I hear another voice. All around me. 

"Believe, for it is true." 

I look up. "God?"

A flash and I am gone. I am sleeping.

I open my eyes. I am in my room, in a cold sweat. 

I am still confused.