Forlot: Not What I Am - Book Twenty

Chapter Twenty

I was expecting my evil anti to be a smart aleck and tell me off. Laugh in my face and scold me on how Lean and I were keeping such a deadly secret, causing me to be embarrassed and possibly ashamed. Surprisingly, he did not and kept to himself.

He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on his desk. They were together, and he was twiddling with his thumbs. It seemed as if he were processing my secret.

A few seconds passed by, and I decided to break the silence.

"A-and that is what happened," I stuttered. "I know that you are evil, but...I hope that you understand."

Anti-Caleb pulled his hands off the desk and slouched in the chair. His glasses slid down his nose, and he yanked them off and tossed them onto the desk. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

"Oh, Caleb. I do understand you."

As you might have thought, I was surprised. "You do?"

"Of course. I am you and would have done the same." He snatched his glasses and put them back on. "If LotFor had a Lubriem, I would have helped her."

"You know, Anti-Caleb, I believe that you would. And LotFor already has a Lubriem. In fact, every fictional character has a Lubriem. The Lubriem who thought of me is the same girl who thought of you and loves fictional characters."

He frowned at me. "Do you take me for a fool?"

"No. Not at all. I am just stating that—"

My anti interrupted me. "I am aware that Forlot and LotFor share the same Lubriem. She created both of our worlds and left us for death, and by that, I mean that she died."

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a whoosh of air. "There is another secret that Lean and I have been keeping from you and the Forlot citizens and LotFor citizens."

"Another secret? Gee, for a guy who has anxiety and is hated for his color, sexuality, gender, and beliefs, you sure are good at keeping dirty secrets."

"Dirty? I do not have any dirty secrets." I held up two fingers. "I have only two secrets. One is the fact that my friend Lean and I encouraged the Lubriem to fake her death. The other is the fact that we are the only characters besides the Lubriem herself who know without a doubt that she is alive."

My second statement was enough to silence him for a little bit. Anti-Caleb stared at me as if he were burning my poor soul and rose from his chair. I absolutely hated the eerie silence, so I continued.

"It is a funny story. You are going to laugh all day tomorrow."

"It is already tomorrow," he snarled. "It is almost morning, so you have until then to explain the whole story to me."

"I am sorry. This is only the twentieth book. The backstory should not be revealed until—"

He slammed a fist on the desk. "Your pathetic writer has wasted too much time on other storylines, and none of them are going anywhere!"

It was my turn to frown. "That is where you are—"

"Tell me! Tell me and our readers about the Lubriem and how you and your stupid friend managed to pull off faking the Lubriem's death!"

My eyes darted all around the office. My brain was deciding whether or not to confess the truth. The whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Lean and I made a promise to the Lubriem that we would not tell until it was time. However, Anti-Caleb looked threatening. I was a wimp, and he could easily defeat me.

Not wanting to get beaten to a pulp, I gave in to my evil anti.

"It all started with the Lubriem's birth. She was born and—"

We heard the hinges on the office door squeaking, and I shifted my attention to the new arrival. Or should I say, old friend.

"Caleb!"

I was shocked. "Anti-Lean?"

"No, Caleb. I am the original." Lean, our Lean, floated into the office and said, "Anti-Caleb."

Anti-Caleb returned the sinister look. "Lean Share. I was wondering when you would come back. What brings you here this time?"

The ghost tossed back her long hair. "Not much. Seeing the sights. Reliving old memories." She grasped his suit and pulled him from his seat. "Where is it?"

"Where is what?" By the tone of his voice, I knew that he was lying.

"Do not toy with me." She let go of him, and my anti landed on his two feet. "I am referring to the document."

"Do not look at me," Anti-Caleb said. "Question your friend Caleb. He has it now."

I scratched my cheek. "Are you two talking about the Lubriem document?"

Lean looked at me. "That is the one. Do you have it?"

"Yeah. It is crumpled in my pocket."

"Excellent." She whispered in my ear. "What are you doing with this lowlife?"

"I heard that!" Anti-Caleb exclaimed. "And to answer your question, I am showing him the ropes."

"You had better not plan on choking him with those ropes."

I gagged and wrapped my thumbs and fingers around my throat.

"It is a figure of speech, you dumb ghost."

"I know that. And do not call me dumb or stupid if you know what is good for you."

"Good for me? I am anything but good! Hahaha!"

The ghost girl grabbed my hand. "We need to go, Caleb."

"You two are not going anywhere."

"Over my dead body!" She looked at herself. "Not literally."

Anti-Caleb jumped on top of the desk, put a finger and thumb in his mouth, and whistled. He then snickered and rubbed his hands together.

"I may not be able to take you down, but I know who can."

"No," I whispered.

"Yes! Anti-Lean! Destroy Lean Share!"