Clock Work by Erin Bassett

2017-04-19T21:43:00.001-05:00

Hello guys!

Well its finally that time. I have switched over to ebclockwork.com :D

Please follow the rest of the story as it unfolds there and also don't forget about the Clock Work Facebook. The Facebook will keep you up to date on my writing and when new episodes are expected to go up!

Thank you to everyone who shared the beginning of this journey with me and those who will follow on!

e.

ebclockwork.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ebclockwork/

Episode Thirty Eight

2017-02-22T15:50:00.001-06:00

Messages

I am not hiding behind my canvas; I am living in it. -

Sundays in the park with George

The symphonic rock decoupaged over the hum of a busy computer tower. Bright lamp light showered the desk. Curtains opened to a dreary dull evening.

Esther, history book balanced in her lap, chatted idly with Ro; PaintingtheROsesRed. She sighed and once again glanced at the paper minimized to half screen to make room for the chat; the other half glowing with the chat box and list of contacts. The grey contact of Munin denoted he or she was offline. Trying to focus her fingers hovered over the keys as she read the next historic paragraph.

The trill of an incoming chat.

Esther jumped, the history book clattering to floor and sliding on under her desk.

Message from new contact: SimonSays would like to chat.

Esther frowned but clicked the accept YES.

SimonSays: Hey. Its Simon.

Litte_Dove: Hi

SimonSays: I suppose that was obvious.

Giggling Esther wrote back.

Little_Dove: A bit.

SimonSays: I got your IM fro Ro.

Little_Dove: I rem. What’s up?

SimonSays: Studying for earth science. I need a break. You?

Little_Dove: Trying to catch up on history. Math next.

SimonSays: If you need any help Im pretty good at both Im in accelerated courses.

Esther sighed at the history report of barely a paragraph.

Little_Dove: I may do that.

PaintingtheROsesRed: Uh Hello? Saturday at my place or yours?

Little_Dove: sorry. Simon just messages me.

PaintingtheROsesRed: Well. About time.

Little_Dove: ha

PaintingtheROsesred: He ask you out yet?

Little_Dove: its not like that

SimonSays: are you busy?

Little_Dove: Oh, no. sorry. Ro was messaging me.

Munin went green.

Esther’s breath caught.

A new chat box opened.

A knock dislodged her from the potential chat.

“Esther?”

Esther, frantic, hit the minimize button the the chats and the maximized on the history paper.

“Come in.” She bent down to get the book.

Monica opened the door wearing purple scrubs. “Still studying?”

“Yeah.” Esther snatched the book by the binding and was too hasty to rise. She hit her head on the bottom of her desk.

“Ouch! You ok?”

“Ugh...yeah.” Esther closed her eyes a moment.

Monica chucked. “Well I thought I would bring up some brain food before heading out.” She proffered a tray of cookies and steaming mug. Esther could smell the spicy hot chocolate as her guardian set the tray on the edge of the desk. “Careful it doesn’t end up on the floor.”

“I'll do my best.”

“The cookies are those cinnamon ones you liked from that bakery we found on 8th.”

Esther took a cookie and a bite. She covered her mouth to talk with it full. “Yeah. These are really good. Thanks.”

Tinkling, tinny laughter.

“No…”

“What? Are they the wrong ones?”

Esther scanned the ceiling down the window sill. “No...no they are good...Just I thought…” A heavy almost sinus headache feel settled over Esther.

Good. Good. They are...NOT GOOD!

Esther swiveled in her chair towards monica. Light danced duly around her head. An irritation filled Monica’s eyes.

“Thought what?” Her gaze flicked to the screen. “Are you really working? What’s that?” She pointed.

“Uh. Yes.” Esther moved her chair closer to the computer.

“Esther…” Monica sighed.

“I just needed a break.”

“Yes I thought you did so I brought the cookies.” Monica gestured in irritation to the plate. “But it looks like you aren’t working at all. Damn it Esther.” She crossed her arms. “I need a break too, you know? I’ve been running doubles for so long I am seeing the same junkies come in.” A hand went to her head. “And here you are after weeks of therapy not taking anything seriously and chatting with what; some boys?”

“I'm talking with Ro!”

“And Simon? I’m not stupid Esther.”

“No I just--”

“After all this what would Sherri…” The lights above her flickered, Monica blinked. Her hand came down as if she were astonished it had been raised. “I…” She frowned. “I am so sorry.” She shook her head. “I have no idea why I said that. Any of that. Sherri and John would be so proud. Are so proud. I know they are.” She briefly ran a thumb over Esther’s cheek then straightened.

Esther chewed her lip a moment. “It’s ok. No, really. You’re stressed. I get it.”

Monica tried to smiled. “You’re right. I am still sorry. Just get some work done, ok?”

“Ok.”

Monica opened the door. “And drink the cocoa before it gets cold.”

Esther glanced at the ceiling as the door shut, scanning the white texture. The fairies were gone and the heavy feeling she tried to ignore while Monica talked. She sighed.

“Oh crap!” Esther lurched to the chats.

SimonSays: I have a pretty good grasp on history. At least British. And I know the dates of the war.

PaintingtheROesred: I have a test to study for. Later!

SimonSays: But I could let you be.

She clicked the green flashing box of Munin.

Munin: It’s influence.

Little_Dove: Like at school. You washed it away.

Esther stared at the wavy dots indicating Munin was typing.

Munin: You figured it out.

Esther glared at the screen.

Little_Dove: It wasnt that hard. But those things I thought you got rid of them

Munin: In a way. They are still connected to you.

Little_Dove: Monsters

Munin: Not exactly.

Little_Dove: Then what?

She stared at the text box, willing the typing entry to start.

Munin: Not yet. Sorry.

Munin is offline

Esther slid back into her chair. “Of course not…”

Simon’s chat box blinked.

SimonSays: Need any help?

Esther took a breath and leaned forward.

Little_Dove: Yeah. I have US history part 2.

SimonSays: Been there. What do you need?

◙

A bleak morning throng buzzed along the train station.

Esther stood back from the turnstiles, thumb tracing the transportation symbol above Holon’s name, nails against her own pass stacked below. The flow of people slowly increased as the 8am commute hit. Her eyes scanned the people in slow sweeps as she leaned against a pillar, people streaming around each side of her.

Her back lifted from the pilar, eyes alert. A snap of gray military coat, the shoulder lines with black buttons.

Just say--What? I’ve been thinking about you since last night? That's not creepy at all. Her courage rallied, stamping down the negative intrusions. Just say hi. Its that simple. Dont over-think it.. Reach out and--

Her hand grasped the arm firmly so not to loose hm.

"Holon! H--" A pale boy, dark freckles dusting his face and red hair plastered to his forehead by a beanie, turned.

Esther's grips darted backwards. She stopped dead. She saw the confused face a moment before the force of the crowd speed it away like a drowning current.

A patchwork of dark hair caught her eye but when she drew nearer the lack of blue tent convinced her not to touch his shoulder. The PA dinged the new arrival and Esther let herself be shuffled onto a car with the thick weekday crowd. She held onto a handrail as the subway trundled away beneath her feet.

Buy books. Mention this post when ordering any book from a Cyberwizard Productions imprint, and receive 10% off your next order.

New Illustrator

2017-02-22T15:49:00.001-06:00

Hello all!

I would like to welcome Abraham Perez as the new illustrator for Clock Work starting with episode 15.

Please remember to fav/watch the Clock Work Facebook to keep up with the newest news!

e.

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2016-12-14T18:39:00.001-06:00

Episode Thirty-Seven

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened.

-Terry Pratchett

Glasses clinking and soft conversation, which predictably quieted as Lucas and Reimei were seated, gave the cafe a pleasantly populated feel.

Lucas took the proffered menu. “And water please.”

“And you miss?”

“Coffee. Black.”

The waiter missed a beat, gauging if the small girl was serious. “Alright.”

Lucas smirked, straightening his tie. “I used to get chocolate milk at your age.”

“You would.” Reimei shifted the cane to hook onto the table.

“So you wanted to talk about the mission that turned you into a pirate?”

Reimei scrubbed the edge of the patch. “No. You wanted me to.”

“Does it itch?”

“Horribly.” She looked down at the menu. “What’s good?”

“I always get the burger.”

One dark eye lifted from the menu then snapped back.

“There’s a kid’s menu.”

“You’re very close to insulting me.” Reimei slid the menu back onto the table.

“Well. I wouldn’t want to do that.”

“Especially if you want to know how close your current partner is to being right.”

Lucas’ attention fell thoroughly on the small girl. The waiter came up.

“One water. One coffee; black. Do you know what you would like or should I give--”

“I’ll have the strawberry cheesecake.”

“Alright. And you sir?”

“Huh? Oh. Burger; everything on it.With fries.”

“Gottcha.” He picked up the menus.

“Oh and a side of mustard.” Lucas added. “Reimei.”

“Hmm?” She took the coffee cup in hand and sipped. Her eyes closed. “Heaven,” she murmured.

“The mission.”

Reimei wiggled against the restraints of her brace. She took another sip then held the cup close; over the wide arm sling. “Brutal.”

Lucas waited for an elaboration, hand sliding into his jacket pocket.

“You know there’s no smoking in here.”

“What?” Lucas realized embossed metal in his hand. He gazed at his lighter. “Getting harder and harder to find places that allow vice.”

“No one smokes anymore; it's vile. It’ll kill you.” She set the cup on the table.

“Probably not before other things.”

Reimei glanced up at him. “We are ambushed. Like you and Marie as I understand.”

“Not technically.”

“There was a trap. Not a yokai trap. I mean a summoning.”

Lucas’ brows knit. “Where?”

“When we were helping with the evacuation in Bruton. Abraham and I did a last sweep and I registered activity half a mile south. We followed a Kimetic trail and at the end was the runic remains of a summoning. We didn’t trip it but when Abraham tried to dismantle it…” She glared at the coffee cup. “There was an explosion. And after...a lot of Yokai.”

“Alot?”

Remei looked up at him. “Enough to blind me, break my arm, two ribs and shatter my ankle. But I was lucky. Despite our injuries we closed the gate and contained the demons. Pretty sure death would have been next if there hadn’t been another unit looking for us.”

Lucas leaned forward, hands folding together. “Who came?”

“Aloysius and Season.”

“So they saw the summoning circle?”

“I was a little preoccupied trying to keep Abraham from bleeding out.”

“Your order.”

Lucas leaned back as the waiter pushed the burger in front of him.

“Mustard on the side. And cheesecake. Everything look good?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Lucas waited until he had gone to another table. “Rei, I’m sorry.”

Reimei took her fork and stabbed a large bit of the velvety cake. She shoved it in her mouth, cheeks bulging and immediately stabbed the cheesecake again.

“We are just throw away fodder,” she managed around the mouthful.

Lucas dipped a hot fry into the mustard. “Was the circle in your report?” He popped it into his mouth.

“Of course. And Kelly’s. And Luis’.”

“Wait,” a new fry dangling over the plate. “What?”

“Alts talk.” She gulped at the coffee.

“Why haven’t I heard?” Lucas asked, dipping the fry.

Reimei gave him the familiar cool look, which transferred briefly to the dripping fry. “The Alt for Marie Ventras? She’s as close to the inner circle as any of us have gotten.”

“So no one trusts me now?”

Chewing Reimei shook her head.

“Fantastic.” Lucas’ back hit the booth’s cushion. “So it’s only around the rumor mill then.”

“No one and nothing should be able to run open and waiting jaws.”

Lucas sighed, taking up the hamburger. “What’s the play book for this?”

“Not one.” The little Alt shoveled another giant bite into her mouth.

Esther sat in a low gaming chair watching Ro and Simon battle it out in a robotic ninja girl game. The way their fingers skipped back and forth, while a thumb twisted and turned the toggles, Esther couldn’t tell if the movements were skill or luck. Two kittens played near by, one a dusty grey, the other with dark stripes.

“Where are the chips?”

“Those cheese things are over here,” Ro said, rolling from her stomach to sit up right on the floor. The small gray striped kitten hopped into her lap.

“Those will work.”

“Just a sec.” Ro hit a quick combo and her character charged in a burst of blue. “Here!” She tossed the bag at Esther’s head, hurriedly going back to the game as her character attacked.

Esther giggled. Tugging at the bag she winced.

“Fingers?” Simon asked.

“Yeah. Still really hurt.” Esther glanced down at the darkening nails. Two were puffing up and pressure was building.

“Pause.”

“Hey!” Ro jolted forward, kitten tumbling from her lap. “Oops! Sorry Anges…”

Simon reached for the chips.

“Thanks.” Esther messaged her knuckles as he opened the bag with a pop.

Simon nodded. “Count of three.”

“Ok! I’m ready!” Ro sat up on her knees, staring down the large screen.

“One...two...three.”

“Ugh! What the hell?” Ro’s fingers dashed over the controller but her character missed a block and Simon’s character completed a combo.

“No way.” Ro slumped as the Game Over screen flashed. “Man. I almost had you that time. If you hadn’t bloody paused it! Much cheating.” She scooped up Anges. “It’s he a big fat cheater?”
Simon sniffed and reached for the Kleenex box. Esther leaned forward and nudged it closer.

“Cats getting to you, Si?”

“A bit.”

“It’s been a few hours; you could take another allergy pill.”

He stood, going behind his chair to his backpack.

“There’s options in the fridge.” Ro stretched, holding Anges over her head. “Kitty!”

“Want anything?” Simon asked, glancing at Esther.

“That lemon lime soda with the ball on top is really good.” Ro rocked forward and stood. She pressed Anges into Esther’s t-shirt. Esther fumbled to cradle the kitten. Anges mewed and climbed up her shoulder, tiny claws hooking through the thin cotton. She stroked the kitten’s back, half listening to Ro and Simon argue playfully about the game in the media’s room small kitchen. Tiny claws. Soft purring at her ear; like fast fluttering wings.

“That wasn’t the overdrive combo.”

“Dude. It was.”

“Not for that character.”

“What? I’ve been playing Sonica Dolls a million years, Si. And that was Mizumi’s overdrive!”

Esther leaned forward, elbows on her knees. The kitten swiped at her hair. She scratched his neck. The blinking of the screen blurred, the theme music mixing dully with the chatter behind her. Gold shimmered. Wings scattered the tone. Esther shuddered. The kitten hissed and leapt from her grasp.

Ro and Simon gazed down at her, Simon holding three soda bottles. Ro glanced at Simon then sat next to Esther.

“Oh! I’m so sorry. I must have been too rough.”

“Everything ok?”

Esther ran a hand through the ends of her hair. “Oh yeah, just startled the poor thing I guess.”

Simon sat and offered her a bottle. She took one, then he offered one to Ro.

“We can talk about it. You know you’re supposed to talk about it, remember?”

“Yeah. I just…” Esther’s face grew warm as her gaze flicked to Simon.

“I can go.”

“No.” Esther lifted her head. “No, I just mean it's hard to talk about.”

“The girls at school?” Simon prompted.

Esther took a breath. She turned up to him and smiled. “Show me the overdrive? What?” she added as Ro’s look. “Games and fun and kittens, right?”

Ro chuckled. “Games and fun and kittens. Now.” She took up her controller. “I’ll show you that was an overdrive.”

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2016-11-30T17:35:00.000-06:00

Episode Thirty Six

Check Up

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.
-Kurt Vonnegut

Lucas stared unfocused at the empty chair in front of him. He sipped the now tepid coffee. He glanced at his watch.

“Hey; sorry.” Marie came around from behind him and sat quickly in the chair opposite.

“I really hate staying here, Mar.”

“Just another day or two and maybe I can sort something out.”

“Like going back to Iota?”

Marie ran a hand through her hair in frustration. “Uh, I don’t know. I just don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“It was taking little kids. Of course you don’t.”

“I just feel like there’s something else to it. I’ve looked into a few more investigations and there's more of the same. Evacuation orders, missing kids, sudden appearances of powerful Yokai.”

“If there is a pattern, wouldn’t the mucky mucks see it too?”

Lucas swirled the remains of his coffee in the Styrofoam cup.

“Maybe I’m just imagining it.” Marie took a breath.

“It’s a stressful time. But if you want a few more days, I’m game.”

“I’ll get someone to run by your apartment.”

“Thanks. Was worried I’d have to wash my underpinnings in the sink.” He drained his cup.

“Luc, I want you to some some probing.”

Lucas lifted an eyebrow but didn’t rise to the obvious. “Anything in particular?”

“Everything. Layouts of the towns, eyewitnesses, anything and everything you can think of.”

Marie lifted her thumb to her lips, biting the nail. “Even our reports.”

“So you do think it's a upsurge.”

“I don’t know what to think. I want to see where the active pockets are cropping up.”

“Alrighty. So. Going to do a little sightseeing while here?”

Marie glared at him. “I thought about it.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Fine. Just keep your mouth in check.”

They rose from the table and made their way from the cafeteria.

Marie pulled out her phone.

“Newest version of Angry Birds is pretty fun,” Lucas quipped.

Marie ignored him, idly flipping through screens as they walked.

“So how is Ber--Robert?” Lucas amended at her look. “I mean, really,” he added quickly.

Marie hesitated. “Not good.”

“What exactly happened?”

Marie’s gaze lifted from the screen. “I don’t know,” she said defeated. “He said he was fine. What?” She glared at Lucas as they reached an elevator.

“Sorry.” Lucas quickly quelled the chuckle. The elevator’s doors opened. “You just have a tendency to take people at face value. Whatever they say is how it is. That is not always the case, you know?” He braced himself, but Marie just sighed and hit seven. Her gaze returned to her phone with more intensity.

“I know that. I mean I realize it; later. I just figured if he really couldn't go with me he’d say.” She gritted her teeth as Lucas snickered.

“Come on, Mar. Say he couldn’t go on a mission with you? Are you serious.” He shook his head. “You never ask anyway. It’s all orders. ‘We’re going. Open to blah blah blah. Stop whining.’”

“To be fair I only say that to you.” She shoved her phone in her back pocket as the elevator stopped.

“It’s not like you ever give us a chance...Marie?”

She’d turn her head, brown hair shielding her face. “I know that. Don’t you think I do? I’m not stupid, Luc. I pushed him too hard. It’s...” Her hand covered her mouth muffling, “It’s all my fault.”

“Well, I didn't say that.” Lucas scratched his head, awkwardly
gazing down the corridor as he stepped out.

“You don’t have to,” Marie growled, anger bubbling up into her voice. “No one had to say it. It’s the way they look at me when I visit him. It’s the way they talk to me. Or avoid talking to me. But I really didn’t know!” She turned to Lucas, defiant.

“He’d just been slow; tired.” They took a left down a hall and moved to avoid a gurney. The hall was lined with numbers rooms, all with two windows with curtains drawn on the inside.

Lucas sighed. “You don’t get pneumonia out of the blue, Mar. Especially not this bad.”

Marie rubbed a hand over her eyes. “I’m an idiot. We were in the Delsol district, one of teams to help evacuate. He...He’d been coughing on the train so I let him sleep. He never once complained.” She stopped in front of one of the identical rooms. Her gaze dipped to the number to the side of the door. She opened it slowly.

“You mean whine?” Lucas lowered his voice. A man with graying brown hair to his shoulders lay the hospital bed. His breathing wheezed and filled the oxygen mask over his mouth. An IV bag stood to his right, machines softly buzzing near by.

Marie shook her head, gazing down at him. “We found the Yokai; this huge Oni that took over a local brown bear. He was fine. We worked perfectly. But once the layline was secure he just...he…” She shut her eyes a moment. “He collapsed. His fever was so high, Luc. I’m such an idiot. Idiot!” Her fist shot out, hitting the wall by the door with a sickening thud.

Lucas grabbed her wrist before she could do it again. He yanked her forward, holding her tight. “It’s not your fault.”

Marie pushed against him. “Don’t cuddle me, Alt! Don’t you--”

“Shut up.”

The firmness of his voice sucked the energy out of her. She bunched the back of his coat lapel in her fists.

“Shh. He needs to sleep.” Lucas gently lead her from the room. “I know Bert. He’s just as dedicated and stubborn as you are. Hell, he hates that you had to take me. Hates it, Mar. Yeah you need to be more observant when it comes to your Key. But I understand. You’re a complete unit. These things just happen.” He quietly shut the door.

“But if I had known…” She leaned against the window.

“What? You’d abandoned the mission? Give it to someone else? It’s not ok for you; it's not ok for him. You gotta make it ok, Mar. You--”

A clatter in the room behind them and a light went on outside the door. Running echoed down the hall. Two nurses rushed passed them, tearing the door open.

Marie struggled to follow but Lucas held her back. “Make it ok. It’ll really help.”

She nodded.

Lucas followed, but kept just inside the door frame. Robert was on the floor, a horrible rasping cough wracking his body. One nurse was dealing with a dripping IV ripped from its bag. Machines buzzed angrily. The other nurse was desperately trying to get an oxygen mask over Robert’s face.

“Marie!”He shoved the nurse, slapping the mask from her hand. “G-Get away from me!” Robert heaved between coughs.

“Sir, please. You have to back…”She stopped as Marie knelt beside her, a hand on her shoulder. She picked up the mask.

“No! No m-more!” Robert yelled as best he could, a hand gripping his chest, unable to find the strength to even lift his head. “My part-ner’s out...She’s all...all…”

“I’m right here.” Marie put her hand on his fevered cheek.

He started, staring up at her with disbelief in his grey eyes. She placed the mask over his mouth and pulled the strap over auburn hair. Her fingers brushed the silver strands by his face back from his sweat stained forehead.

“And it’s ok Robert. It’s ok.” She stared down at the tile, and even Lucas could see her blushing. “So please. Please get back in bed. Ok?”

“Pl-please?” Robert repeated, still in shock. “Marie?” His breath coated the mask in white. “Take me with y-you. I c-can…” His voice dissolved into coughing.

Marie slid her arm under his and pulled him to sit up. “I know I’m...don’t do this to yourself, Robert. Just rest now and get--” She gasped as his hands gripped her shoulders.

“L-let you down.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Never.” She and a nurse helped him up.

“Those two.” Lucas shook his head. “So lost without each other.”

“It’s pathetic.”

Lucas nearly jumped out of his skin at the small voice.

“Reimei! Good God you need a bell.”

The girl stared, emotionless, at the scene in front of them. Lucas’ gaze went to the bright pink sling her right arm now rested in. “That really must have been a rough assignment.”

She gazed dully up at him with one eye, the left side of her head covered in a thick black patch. “If you really care, buy me dinner.”

“Dinner? Can you have--”

“I hate the food here. I need to get out but no one will take me.”

“Uh. Ok.” Lucas glanced back at Robert’s room. Between Marie and the nurse they had gotten him back in bed and the other was inserting the IV. Marie held Robert’s hand.

“Leave them alone Luc,” Reimei said, walking back up the hall, her little cane clicking on the tile. “We are lucky not to be so dependent.”

“Right…lucky.”

“I’m in room 112. Pick me up at six.”

Lucas sighed. “My lot in life to get bossed around by every woman I meet. Even the miniature ones.”

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2016-11-23T17:05:00.002-06:00

Episode Thirty Five

Cleanse

I'm sorry cause I'm to late

Oh maybe need some sleep

I'm not attending because

I lose my mind

I lose my sense of control

- Lady Gaga

Esther ran, fueled by panic, through the hall; chased but tiny wings and tinny voices. Disoriented, pain forgotten for the moment, she darted right at a crossroads and stopped dead. Panting she glanced at the walls, the doors to the classrooms. A tremor went through the hallway. The walls vibrated and buzzed with iridescent wings. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her knees grow weak as reality slipped from her grasp. The school elongated, blurred, the sound of chattering multiplying.

Something grabbed her arm; preventing her from slumping to her knees. Esther gasped. Holon stood next to her, holding her in a firm grip.

"This way." He pulled her forward, releasing her from the panic. The walls jolted back and order sliced through the chaos.

They traveled quickly down the hall, turned right then Holon stopped. He opened a door to their left and pulled Esther inside. Esther blinked.

"Where...?"

"Music wing." Holon said, gesturing to the baby grand piano in front of a large bank of curved windows. An office with closed doors was in front of them, a door beside it. Holon headed for the door and pushed it open. His hand left her arm as he turned and bolted the door. Esther tried not to stare at the urinal. She went to the sink, looked up at the mirror and gasped.

“Turn.”

“Holon, what’s going on? What’s wrong with me?”

Holon took her shoulders, turning her from the sink. He stared into her eyes. He pulled her close.

“What are…”

“How do you feel?”

Esther took a breath, remembering the sudden intensity of the anger. “Heavy...and...angry…”

“Influence.”

Holon set his hand over her eyes.A blue light trailed from his fingers. It felt warm on her face and seemed to wipe away something she hadn’t realized been there. It was as if the light had pushed away a thin gauze. Her face tingled. What felt almost like tears dripped from her eyes but they were thick, oily. The fluttery sounds faded. She her breath hitched as she rubbed her face. Holon’s hand lowered. Esther looked down at her fingers. They glistened for a moment with something unctuous but the color melted away before her eyes.

“I don’t...Ugh…” The pain in her hand returned and she cringed, holding it close.

“You need to get to Ro,” Holon said, unlocking the door. “Get her to see to that. The lunchroom.”

Esther frowned down at the quickly bruising fingers. “Ok but--”

The door shut.

-O-

Esther held her hand against her neck; the pain shooting down to her elbow. She hurried down from the music wing to the cafeteria. Ro stood across from the soda machines, looking at her phone.

“R-Ro…”

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Her phone vanished inside her backpack.

“My...My fingers…” Esther glanced down, opening her hand. “Rebeca and Sadie caught them in a stall door.”

“Damn!” Ro went to take her hand but Esther instinctively pulled back. “Ok, Let's get something for that. Hold on.”

Esther waited out of the way of the students as Ro went into the cafeteria. She returned quickly with a cup and a Styrofoam bowl.

“Ok, come on.” Ro started to lead the way from the crowded hall, but paused; glancing down the hall Esther had come from.

“Oi! Si! This way.”

The boy heading towards the cafeteria looked up, confused, but followed.

They went up a small incline to outside steps. Rain pattered beyond the roof’s awning. Ro sat, pulling Esther down with her. Simon set his pack down on the top step, frowning over Ro’s shoulder as she poured ice from the cup into the little bowl.

“Some girls smashed her fingers in a stall door,” Ro explained. “Let me see.”

Esther bit her lip and lifted her hand. Simon’s breath hissed between his teeth.

“Oh man,” Ro shook her head. “You’re going to lose those nails, Es.” She turned Esther’s hand over and frowned. “What is this?”

Esther glanced down. The thin scratches could be seen on her wrist. “The door scratched me.”

“Huh…” Ro glanced up at her incredulously. “Put them in this.”

Esther hesitated, but did as she was told. Ro shook more ice over her fingers.

“Ah, ah.” Ro’s hand set on hers, keeping it in place.

Esther stared down at her swollen fingers, tipped with red above the bruising. Three fingers were already turning purple, the middle bruised to the first joint. Her nails were badly scoffed and reddening.

“They’re going to fall off?”

Ro glanced at Simon. “Yeah…I’m sorry.”

Fresh tears filled Esther’s eyes.

“Shhh,” Ro put her arm around Esther’s shoulders. “It’s ok.”

“No! No...it’s not. It’s not ok! Why’d I even come back here? I hate it here. I h-hate…” Esther bent into her stomach, forehead pillowed on her uninjured arm. She shuddered, her hand slipping to her mouth to try to quell the sob.

Ro turned to her backpack. “Easy. I have some Tylenol.”

Esther yanked her hand from the bowl, ice spilling. She glared at her injured hand.

“Esther,” Ro groaned in exasperation. “Put your fingers back.”

“If the nails will fall off anyway what’s the point?”

Simon slowly sat next to her. He carefully righted the bowl in her lap. “Ro can you get the ice?”

Ro plucked the cubes from Esther’s skirt and plopped them back in the bowl. Simon leaned closer to Esther. She glanced sidelong at him. He reached out for her hand, still holding her gaze. Esther let him take her wrist and guide her hand back to the bowl. He pressed the top of her wrist down to fully submerge her fingers.

“It will help with the swelling and pain.”

Esther sniffed, focusing on the freckled hand over hers.

“Better?” Ro asked. She had a small bottle of Tylenol in her hand.

Esther took a shuddering breath, but nodded.

Simon turned, a hand going to his back pocket. He pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief then handed it to her. “It’s clean,” he added.

“Thank you,” Esther said softly.

Simon stood, but bent to his backpack. “And to take the pills.” He handed her a half full water bottle.

Ro took it for her.

“Going to get some food. Want me to bring something back?”

“Esther?”

She shook her head.

“I think we are good.” Ro smiled up at him.

Esther saw his fingers clench in her peripheral.

“Esther. I…” His fist fell open. “See you later.”

Esther nodded vaguely. Simon picked up his backpack and climbed the steps.

Ro thoughtfully watched him through the door window. “Nice kid.”

Esther swiped the handkerchief over her cheek wiping away a strand of hair caught in the tracks of her tears.

“God that slag,” Ro muttered, gazing down at the bowl.

“I think it was because I shoved Molly…”

“You shoved her?” Ro opened the tylenol bottle.

Esther sighed, taking two pills. “I felt so angry, Ro.”

Ro handed her the bottle. “I think that’s natural honestly.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. It was so sudden…” Esther popped the pills under her tongue and took a drink.

“Put some ice in that handkerchief and keep it on your hand, ok?” Ro watched her a moment. “I know you’re still adjusting. I know it must be hard, especially with those wastes of space. But you have to keep going, ok? I really do believe that coming back was best for you. Give it time.”

“I should just ignore it, right? I mean that’s what they say to do.”

“I could always just break their pretty little fingers.”

Esther shook her head. “I think I heard the bell.”

“Yeah.” Ro stood, stretching. “Do you want to go to the nurse?”

The ice rattled from the bowl into the handkerchief. “I don’t think he could do anything.”

“Probably not. Want to head inside?"

Esther stared out into the rainy parking lot. “Yeah.”

“Come on. And this weekend will be fun and food and games, and kittens ok?”

Esther tried to smile. “Ok.”

Buy books. Mention this post when ordering any book from a Cyberwizard Productions imprint, and receive 10% off your next order.

2016-11-16T15:15:00.003-06:00

Episode Thirty Four

Mischievous Echoes

Fairy roses

Fairy Rings

Turn out sometimes

Troublesome Thing

-Will Makepace Thankey

Esther ran water over her charcoal covered fingers. Black swirled down into the drain. She hesitated, then pulled up her sleeve. She winced as the cool water washed over the long cuts.

“Hurry up,” Molly groaned. “We all have to get cleaned up, ya know.”

Esther wrung out her hands then pushed the faucet closed. She flicked the water from her hands. The droplets hung in the air, an odd whisper emerged as the drops slowly moved through the air.

“Ugh. Come on!” Molly elbowed her.

The water hit the sink, and angry ignited, Esther whirled and shoved Molly backwards.

Molly stumbled into the line of students waiting for the sink.

“What the hell!”

Esther blinked and felt terror replace the anger. “Oh my God...Oh my God. I…”

“What is wrong with you?”

The bell screeched. Slinging her bag over her shoulder she bolted for the art room door. A hand clamped over her wrist as she passed, nearly snagging her fingers. Pain spiked. Esther yelped and yanked away. Clasping her hand to her chest, she fled; but could hear steps quicken behind her.

Desperate, Esther ran passed several students, and headed to the closest bathroom. She skidded around the corner and gasped. Gus, Rebeca and Sadie stood at the lockers outside the bathroom.

Refusing to slow momentum, Esther charged past them; hearing Gus shout, and burst into the bathroom. She panted against the door a moment, straining to hear the conversation outside.

“Hey Molly; what’s with the freak?” Gus asked.

“Oh you totally missed it.”

“Missed what?” Rebeca said.

“Holon tried to hold that freak girl’s hand in Art.”

Rebeca’s voice went ridged. “What?”

“Yeah,” Molly said. “She totally spazzed out, after shoving me, and ran for the bathroom.”

“What are you gonna do?” Gus asked, excited.

“Gonna teach that little slut her place.”

Esther backed away from the door and went to the sinks. Panting, she stared at herself in the mirror. The memory of her hair pulling back, the strange buzzing; Esther shut her eyes and tried to calm her breathing.

“It’s all in your head...It’s all in your head…” Her fists pushed against her forehead, eyes shut tight. “It’s all…”

In your head….your head...head...head…

Esther gasped and spun around. Her gaze darted around empty stalls. The voices had been close, high pitched, teasing. She thought she felt something flutter by her cheek.

The door burst open. Rebeca, Sadie in tow and Esther caught a glimpse of Molly and Gus in the hall.

“This is gonna be good,” Gus hissed as the door swung shut.

“I’ll get her. Just watch.” Rebeca grinned.

Esther stared at the girls standing in front of the bathroom door. Rebeca put a hand on her hip, a smile snaking across her lips.

I’ll get her...Ill get her...Watch...You. Watch.

The world stretched and echoed in a multitonal hiss that pricked the eardrum. Esther's eyes darted to the ceiling, the walls, the line of sinks. The tiles, the glass and porcelain rang with tiny voices.

Watch us...Watch. Watch us.We'll get her. We'll get her.

Esther shook her head, trying to clear the noise; and the growing angry.

“God, you’re such a freak.” Rebeca laughed.

“No escape!”

Esther backed towards the wall, heart racing, Her clammy fingers slid towards the tile. She hesitated, glancing up at the window on the far wall up by the pipes. One good leap and...Shadows pulsed across her vision. A soft tinkle of chain. A flash of gold.

No...Escape...no, no, no. The voices grew bright and clear. Watch us. No escape. Esther. Yes. Watch us!

“Hey!”

Esther glanced from Rebeca to Sadie, the immediate danger coming back into focus. “Uhmm…” She pushed away from the wall and through open the door to the nearest stall; trying to get in and lock the door.

The girls ran forward.

“No you don’t” Rebeca grabbed the top of the door. “Get the bottom!”

Sadie’s fingers snapped around the bottom of the door.

Esther braced a foot against stall. Her fingers slipped on the lock and she grabbed at the edge of the door. Rebeca yanked forward. Esther's fingers scraped the frame, the door forced the wrong way. She gasped at the sudden pain as her hand was trapped between door and frame.

Rebeca released the door and it swung back, racking Esther's fingers and re-doubling the pain as the metal clinched her fingers. Her breath sped, tears burning and blurring her eyes, turning the stall door a haze of color.

“It's always worse if you struggle, loser." Rebeca sneered. She shoved the door. The hinges creaked as they righted and Esther yanked free. Her fingers slid out with such force she reeled;. heel hitting the edge of the toilet and she tripped, falling hard into the open lid.

The girls giggled. Rebeca leaned into the stall as the door swung in.

A flutter of dragonfly wings, a waft of air by her face. Esther rammed the door aside and burst into the hall, bounced off of something, spun backwards and felt someone grasp her arms.

"...couldn't hide forever!" Gus leered, moving together in darkness, his grip on her shoulders deepening. Esther's head shot up. Gus gasped. Her foot slammed against his knee. Rebeca grabbed his arm before he hit the ground, staring as Esther pelted up the hall and vanished around the corner.

"She should join the track team..." she said idly.

"What the hell was that?" Jacob gripped. "She kicked you?"

"Dude..." Gus hissed. "Did you..."

"Did I what? See her almost take out your knee?"

"Her eyes...Her eyes!" Gus lifted his head. His face was ashen. "They were black..."

Buy books. Mention this post when ordering any book from a Cyberwizard Productions imprint, and receive 10% off your next order.

Episode Thirty Three - Uninvited

2014-02-15T20:34:00.001-06:00

Episode Thirty Three

Uninvited

It is utterly beyond our power to measure the changes of things by time. Quite the contrary, time is an abstraction at which we arrive by means of the changes of things.

-Ernst Mach

Twilight painted the room in the fading light of a rainy day. It should have been her room. Every fiber of her being was certain it should have been her room, but that certainty solidified in the fact it wasn't. It wasn't her room. Her room wasn't blank and empty save the quickly draining light trickling in from windows she couldn't see from a source that couldn't exist. There was no radiation of light, no hint of where the light was coming from. Just a lighter color painted against the black the way an artist would create the essence of light without the natural reality of it. She wasn't sitting in her chair. Not her chair. She didn't own anything as roughly made and badly sanded as the twisted thing she sat in. And even as she reassured herself the stark white walls, the blank floor and even the fading light itself wasn't real the insistence of the wrongness of it all welded up, threatening to overtake her carefully manufactured calm.

She forced her breathing to remain slow and steady, even as slats of muddy gold slanted, skewed and seemed to run against the white walls. Darkness crept up, overtaking the room in inky lines like knurled fingers and Esther gripped her knees as all luminance winked out.

As perfectly white as the room had been was how darkly black it was not. And quiet. It was so very quiet. She could hear herself breathing as if wearing a mask underwater; the sound reverberating in her head and feeling louder and more awkward and out of place then it should be. She hadn't been here before. Not here in this exact place, but the feelings and certainty on its otherness was all too familiar. Something would come. For her, something would slither or rattle or skitter across the floor she could no longer see. She slid her heel up against her thighs, bare toes dangling on the edge of the chair. She waited.

Soft rustling in the dark. Scraping and fluttering. Esther wrapped her arms around her legs, burying her head against her knees. The darkness pulsed and pushed in.

Then, with the subtly of a blooming rose, a gentle light shimmered in the gloom. It made no sound, but Esther lifted her head to search for it. Blue and wafting in an unfelt breeze, the light danced closer in the dark. A flutter grew from the light, somehow calm against the raging blackness. As Esther focused, another light appeared. Then another. Soothing whispered accompanied the wings.

The light drew closer and a strange form materialized from under its glow. The light emanated from large butterfly wings, about the size of Esther’s palm. She could see tiny veins beneath the light as they fluttered nearer. The wings attached to the shoulder blade of small human like creatures with all manner of hair style and dress, but all seemingly made from plants or flowers. One wore a dress of browning leaves tied with twine, another a shirt of dried petals. Their bodies were impossibly thin, their legs and arms reminding Esther of toothpicks. They swirled around her, the soft whispers and giggles growing.

Esther raised her hand. The soft blue shimmered. Her finger lifted. The color drained into a fiery red. Esther barely hand time to yank away before long needle like talons sprang from the tiny fingers and racked the air where her hand had been. The room filled with a dark susurrus and a red glow spread out among the creatures, the flutter turning to more a buzz of an angry swarm. A wall of red pulsed through the room and the darkness receded with an overwhelming squeeze to the air. The glowed filled with furious hissings on the verge of hearing, just barely being able to be heard but very definite in their malicious intent. Esther felt pieces of her hair lift and yank back. She batted her hands over her head and a cold claw slashes across her arm. The flurry increased and swirled up, a tornado of angry whispers and blinding light. Esther clung to her chair, covering her head with her arms. The faeries descended and a rush covering her in red and pain. Esther felt the chair tip, her hair pulled and fell. She screamed. The light changed from bright red even through her eye lids to a yellow. The defending flutter of ragged wings vanished just as Esther hit, not the stark floor of the room that never was, but the icy floor of--

"Westin?"

A breathless pause gave birth to a sudden laugh. Then more. Esther opened her eyes.

"Miss St. Clair! Miss St. Clair!"

Esther blinked and looked up. The bleary form of Aulder stared down at her.

"Are you alright?"

"I...I..." She looked up passed the professor and saw Holon gazing down at her as well.

"She just fell asleep." He met her eyes and nodded.

"Miss St. Clair?"

"I guess so. I'm sorry..."

The art teacher sighed with relief but looked annoyed. "Back in your seat. And try to stay awake."

"Yes ma'am, I'm sorry."

"I don't want your apologies, Miss St. Claire." Art stood and headed back to the front of the class. "I want your attention."

Esther slunk back in her chair.

"Now I want no more interruptions and please finish your sketches for the day."

Esther reached for her charcoal and winced. She slowly pulled back her sweater. Her lip slid between her teeth. Two long lines with dots of blood along the scratches that vanished up her sleeve, over the nearly healed lines. Panic synched her chest and she clenched her sleeve so tightly over the marks the pain redoubled.

Episode Thirty Two

2014-01-10T19:18:00.001-06:00

Episode Thirty Two:

Closer

Darkness isn't the opposite of light, it is simply its absence.

-Terry Pratchett

     Simon and Ro sat on one of the benches against the ivy wall at the cross of Macmillan Gardens and Morland Avenue; Simon atop with his back against the ivy.
     "Hey," Esther said, quietly.
     "Sup!" Ro hopped up. "So when are you gonna tell me where you go each week?"
Esther started, the blood draining from her face as she glanced at Simon. "I...I..."
     “Ok, ok never mind. Just a suggestion," Ro back peddled. "You guys free this weekend?"
     "Yeah." Simon stepped down from the bench.
     The three of them crossed the street.
    "I think Monica is on double shift at the hospital Saturday."
     "Awesome! How about a hang out day at my place? You got allergy meds, right Si?"
     He looked at her blankly.
     "I still got the kitten brigade."
     "Oh, right. Yeah."
     As they got to the steep incline, Esther slowed. She turned to the street; an odd feeling creeping into her stomach.
     "Hey, what's up?" Ro stopped, waiting for her.
     Esther frowned. "Like de ja vu...or something..."
     "There's a glitch in the Matrix."
     Esther looked up at Simon. Ro laughed.
     "Did the ginger just make a funny? Hurry up, Neo."

     Rounding the ivy walls they headed up the front entrance to Westin.
     The closer they got to the school the harder Esther gripped the strap of her satchel. She kept her eyes on her shoes even as Ro rattled on about the games she had or the movies they could watch. Esther glanced to her left, sure she heard a familiar giggle.
     Rebeca, Isabella and Sadie stood in a semi-circle around Tobie, Jacob, Gus and Holon. Tobie leaned into Rebeca, who was twirling her hair around a manicured finger. Gus talked with Jacob, pretending not to notice the pair, but his gaze darted to them every so often with an ill-concealed frown.
      Esther glanced at Holon. His gaze, intent on the scene in front of him, flickered immediately to her. Esther's breath caught in her throat. Sadie, noticing Holon's switch in interest, turned. So did Isabella, then Rebeca, quick as a cat. Esther jerked her head down, feeling the nasty scrutiny of all three girls as they passed.
     "Morning ladies," Ro said, cheerfully waving. "And jerks."
     "Stop it, Ro!" Esther grabbed her arm, picking up her pace. She couldn't help but glance back. The girls were ignoring them, and Holon had turned forward. Rebeca was preening again for Tobie, her smile suggestive, her hand on his chest. A shimmer of light darted across Rebeca's fingers then over her hair. Esther's eyes narrowed, but the refraction skipped away.
     "Oh you stop it." Ro twisted out of her grip. "Show them they can't get to you and they'll get bored. And seriously, what's the worst they could do?"
     Esther bit her lip. "I'd rather not find out." As she turned forward, the refraction darted in front of her eyes with a barely audible buzz. She lost mastery of her left foot as it collided with her right heel and tripped; skinning her knee just above her socks as her satchel thumped to the ground, spitting out her books. The expected laughter still brought tears to her eyes, more than the pain.
     "You ok?" Simon asked, a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and his hand recoiled, as if bitten.
     "Geez, Es," Ro said from behind her. "You were even too fast for Si. E for effort though, man."
Esther stared at Simon's arm a moment, the awkwardness setting it. Turning away she lifted her arm slightly. Simon's hand slipped under her. Esther leaned into him, letting him help her up. She stood, trying to control her breathing, trying to keep the tears in place.
      "Y-Yeah. I'm fine."
      “You're bleeding," Ro pointed out.

     "I'm fine."
     Simon handed her the books. "What's their problem?"
     "Demented followers of the false god," Ro said loftily. "They're so damn full of themselves you'd think they'd float away. Or been beheaded by now."
     "I need to go clean up." Esther hurried ahead. "I'll see you guys later."
     "Meet for lunch?" Ro called after her.
     "Yeah."

Episode Thirty One

2014-01-10T19:15:00.000-06:00

Episode Thirty One

Visitation

I sense there's something in the wind
That feels like tragedy's at hand
And though I'd like to stand by him
Can't shake this feeling that I have
-Sally

     Esther sank back in a heavy gloom and waited. She let the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock to the left of Dr. Belane's desk melt away. The street sounds outside the window decrescendo and the slight scratch of the couch's upholstery beneath her faded. Somehow it was easier this time to slip into the void. Somehow it was almost...pleasant.
     She knew Dr. Belane was talking, couching her. She wasn't sure if she were ignoring the words or just couldn't hear them anymore. The familiar sound was on the cusp of her hearing, just on the edge of shadows and she had no desire to amplify them with concentration.
     I could fall asleep. Or maybe I am...
     The spark descended in the dark; slow, dripping as thick honey down a straw. She waited, expecting the jolt of fear. Even as the gold swayed, parted and outlined a round shape that spiraled so fast it sent ripples in the dark she felt...calm. The fast sway and spin of the undefinable object lulled her. She watched the ripples of the dark pool and multiply.
     A swell sharpened.
     Esther focused. A small bit of shadow pulled away from the rest. It stretched and barbed as another bit dripped upwards and bulged to form a globe. As the object swayed the gold illuminated a form rising up from the ripples. A creature, barely distinguished from the dark, lifted another sharp arm from the darkness, shadows dripping off a form like runny tar.
     Chatter, delicate and soft at first, filled the darkness. Esther's heartbeat sped, pounding in her chest. Another arm, claws at the end, surfaced from the shadows. Then another. The ripples accelerated, clashed against one another, spread. And each seemed to bring up an arm, claws, a...head.
     The comforting tones of Dr. Belane echoed eerily, muffled by shadows. The silence within the scape turned sinister with clashing chatters and foreign whispers. The darkness reached for the thin golden line. Claws surrounded the object. The thick background of black undulated, pulling the gold into it. The gold sunk, darkness folding over it like a curtain, strange creatures pulling, tugging, forcing it under. Esther struggled against it, willing the gold to ascend. But a small articulation, a sound that resonated with her voice purred against her ear.
     "Let it go. Let it go. Let...it...go..."
     Terror poured into her, hot and weightless, and with it a new and familiar voice. "Its just a dream...Wake up. Wake up Esther. Wake up!"
     "Esther!"
     Dr. Belane...
     "Open your eyes, Esther."
     She struggled against the growing dark, the vanishing gold, the rising claws.
     "Listen to me. Focus on my voice. Open your eyes."
     The voice sharpened. The crisp shadows lost their edge.
     "Esther."
     The scape shuddered. The chatter lessened. The gold glowed. It tore through the dark, creating seams of light. A shriek. All was gold and light and...
     With a gasp Esther opened her eyes.

     For a moment silence pressed down on her like a weight. Then...the scratch of upholstery beneath her fingers. the soft whoosh of traffic outside a window. Her own panting breath. The doctor's office coalesced, the concerned face of Dr. Belane looming over her.
     "D-Doctor?"
     Belane smiled. "There you are. No, don't sit up. I'll get you some water."
     Pressure lifted from the couch as Belane stood.
     Esther blinked up at the ceiling; sure her body was at once reeling and still.
     "Take slow deep breaths." Belane sat beside her, offering a small plastic cup.
     Slowly Esther pushed herself up against the arm rest and took the cup. Sipping at the water she tried to ignore a gnawing urge to close her eyes and escape back to...what exactly?
     "What was that?" she asked. "I couldn't control it at all. All this darkness swelled up and..." Her hand tightened on the cup and she took another sip.
     "It's ok. Sometimes our subconscious gets the better of us. We might be trying too hard."    Belane took the cup and set it on the coffee table. "How do you feel?"
     Esther swallowed. "I'm ok."
     "Are you sure?"
     "Yes." She sat up straighter.
     "Good." Belane smiled, though Esther had a feeling she wasn't buying it. "Just sit for a while before you head out, ok?"
     Esther nodded.
     The iron gate squeaked as it closed. Esther glanced back. Dr. Belane was on the porch. She waved. Esther forced a smile and hurried onto the sidewalk.

An odd rustle punctuated the still air behind her. She glanced up at the trees lining the avenue as she continued down the sidewalk to the Underground.

New Year New Time Same Bat Channel

2014-01-09T22:15:00.000-06:00

New year and new goals. Finish Clock Work!

Episodes will be going up the 10th of the month now.

Going through I think I missed an ep between the last two. I am having an editor go back and make sure, but there might be an adjustment. If there is, I WILL LET YOU GUYS KNOW! I usually annouce on twitter and the CW facebook any new eps or such.

And for being such good fans and putting up with my random idiocy I will post two eps if that is the case. DERP. It is strong with me.

So follow me on twitter @10thmuse or come hang out on the Clock Work facebook!

Thank yall so so much for the patience and support.

xoxo
e.

Episode Thirty: New Oceans

2012-11-05T17:49:00.002-06:00

Episode Thirty

New Oceans

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

-Andre Gide

     Tobie leaned into the door, his key scratching the edges of the key hole. He tried to focus through the intensifying pain in his arm. The door opened.
     Holon gazed down at him, bent over his injured arm. "Welcome home." He offered his hand.
     Avoiding it, Tobie hobbled into the hallway. Skirting the coffee table he collapsed on the couch, holding his arm. Warning bells and a soft slosh of water. Anemone materialized out of a descending ball of mist. She perched on the couch arm, cooing in pigeon calls and the undertones of tinkling bells. Her fingers reached for Tobie's sleeve.
     Tobie glared at the apparition. "She's not touching me."
     "As you wish." Holon stood and headed towards his room.
     Tobie closed his eyes. The pain settled deeper into his skin, causing his breathing to shallow. A softness caressed his arm. "Back off," he growled, not opening his eyes. The comfort slipped away with a sad chime.
     Hearing a door close, he looked up. Holon came from his room, a ball of bandages and a bottle of antiseptic in hand. Tobie gazed at the floor as he sat beside him. He saw Holon open his hand in his peripheral and with a sigh unwrapped his fingers from his arm.
     Holon examined the streaks of burnt flesh, pulling up the edge of Tobie's polo to look at his shoulder.
"Its not bad."
     "Well it doesn't feel good," Tobie muttered. He glared at the bottle Holon was upending into a strip of bandage. "Is that gonna hurt?"
     "Probably."
     Tobie rolled his eyes. "Great."
     "You should be proud. Sending a Glimmer back. Good work."
     "You're just happy I didn't discorporate it."
     Holon smiled. "I'm not sure that means what you think it means."
     "Whatever." Tobie cringed. Holon's grip tightened.
     "I haven't even touched you." The damp bandage hovered an inch from his skin.
     "Yeah, well...Just...get it over with."
     Holon, watching Tobie, dabbed the cloth against his arm. Tobie shuttered and bit his lip, but remain quiet. Holon continued cleaning the burns then set about wrapping the boy's arm.
     "You could have waited," he mentioned lightly.
     Tobie glared up at him. "Yeah? Waited for what?"
     "If the Glimmer had enough presence in this world to do this," Holon said, indicating the gashes caused by the Glimmer's anger, "It could have proved more dangerous. I assume the girl was unharmed?"
     "She got a little banged up, but she was fine. I got her home." Tobie glanced at the carpet. "Jacob was hard to convince she just fell down the hill while playing."
     "But you did convince him."
    "Yeah, yeah. I did. Would have been easier I guess if you had just blanked her..."
     "So you should have wait--"
     Tobie ran a hand over his eyes. "Get off my case, man. I don't need you keeping tabs on me."
     "Wouldn't have to if you kept--"
     "What? My place?" Tobie winced as Holon dabbed antiseptic over the burn like gashes on his arm.
     "If you reasoned that way you wouldn't have gone after the Glimmer alone."
     Tobie grunted, chin plopping into his hand as Holon secured the gauze. "You're one to talk."
     Holon tucked the end of the gauze over Tobie's knuckles. He stood, picking up the bottle and unused antiseptic. "We have a few sensitives we should keep an eye on as well."
     "Sensitives? You think Jacob and his sister are...Tch. Great. More work. I'm already behind." Tobie flexed his fingers, testing the subsiding pain. He glanced up at Holon's retreating back. "So...uh. I tried to contact Luc."
     Holon turned to him. Tobie quavered under his cool expression.
     "Where you in need?"
     "No! I said I handled it. I just...That thing tried to take a chunk outta my face so I wanted to tell him I was ok is all." He stretched across the couch, injured arm over his forehead. "And I got nothing back." At Holon's silence he continued angrily. "So? What does that mean?"
     "Any number of things." Holon headed towards his room.
     "Well thanks for being so helpful," Tobie griped, raising up a bit to throw the antiseptic bottle in annoyance. It hit a shut door.

So, Uhm...HI!

2012-10-21T16:20:00.002-05:00

Hey Everypony! (Can you tell what I'm currently obsessed with?)

So...yeah been kinda qiuet here. Sorry about that! Life really knocked the wind outta me and I've been dealing with lots of medical issues and its really zapped my energy levels.

BUT! I just turned in the 7th ep to Beam Me Up podcost and we should have the Latest Audio up and running soon. And the wonderfully talented Sara Shaw finished up the illu for Ep 12! Excite!

Be sure to watch the CW FaceBook for updates and links to the audio production!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clock-Work/80408507198?ref=ts&fref=ts

But thanks so much for all the support and look for a new episode next month!

e.

Buy books. Mention this post when ordering any book from a Cyberwizard Productions imprint, and receive 10% off your next order.

Episode Twenty Nine

2012-08-05T23:36:00.001-05:00

Episode Twenty Nine

Unrequited

We must be careful about what we pretend to be.

-Vonaget

      Tobie stared up at a quickly darkening sky, the rustle of leaves peppering the air. The placement of the trees below that sky, the way the wind blew through them, seemed, for a split second, frighteningly foreign. He refused the synch of panic in his chest and forced a deep breath. Be calm. Think. Just think. An ache rang down his side, his arm. Familiarity resonated. Angry red marks, like burns, streaked down to his wrist. His fingers burned. A smile creased his face. He'd sent the Glimmer back.
      "Oh man..." He rolled to his side with a wince then hugged his knees, his breath hitching on the pain. "Ugh." He pulled his cell from his pocket.
      Two Text Messages
      Gus: 1:35 Got Jacob home. He and Leyas are fine.
      Gus: 3:12 You ok man?
      Tobie hesitated. He texted: Yeah. Then his hand went to his ear cuff. His eyes closed.
      Hey, Luc. You busy?
      The leaves swooshed, evening set in and the light dimmed. Tobie rose, stretched, and headed back towards the dorms. He shoved his hands into his grass stained pockets.
      Forget it.

     "Pay attention Alt."
      Lucas' hand and attention jumped from the silver cuff at his ear back to Aloysius. "Oh please forgive me. Go on."
      "Apologize to your partner. You’re wasting her time here."
      Lucas frowned as Marie continued.
      "There's more to the Iota problem then the disappearances. We must take the malformed creature we found there into account."
      "Miss Ventras, there is no link from the missing children to the demon you exercised in the prefecture." Hasford held up his hand before she could interrupt. "We have looked into it and are continuing to attempt some sort of connection since your report but the research shows that the appearance was a coincidence. We can not argue against the results."
      "What if the results are wrong?"
      "Like a false positive," Lucas added, gaining a glare from Joseil.
      The room was silent a moment, calculated stares pinning Marie.
Joseil rolled her eyes. "Speak your mind, Miss Ventras."
      Marie wet her dry lips. "The Iota prefecture is a precursor."
      "Is that your opinion?" Aloysius grinned lazily.
      "It's an informed observation."
      Lucas glanced at Marie, realization dawning. You called this meeting?
      "A single incident doesn't an invasion make."
      Marie bristled. "We shouldn't be so dismissive of anything so...so..."
      "What? While you might find this new and threatening, more seasoned Agents might not see it as such."

     Lucas raised an eye brow at the cynicism, Marie seethed below a quickly cracking veneer of calm.
      "Please, there doesn't need to be any animosity," Hasford said, waving a hand as if to physically clear the air. "We aren't dismissing your claim out right, Miss Ventres. Do know that. However, there is no direct link so far in the research and no other phenomena has been reported. And you shouldn’t concern yourself with the incident more than what is necessary."
      "So we are just supposed to wait and let others go missing?"
      "No, we are to wait for orders." Joseil crossed her arms. "We don't go rushing after half-baked hunches."
      "I don't see why--"
      "No, you don't." Aloysius sneered. "The efforts of our illustrious staff are focusing on controlling the northern block of instances, as well as monitoring the current awakening of a new operative. No one needs to be rushing off after red herrings." He glanced at Lucas. "By the way, hear from your little one lately? He's not been filing his reports on time from what I gather. Wonder where he picked up that lazy habit."
      Lucas smiled. "Nice to hear your concern, Al." He glanced at Hasford. "If this is deteriorating into small talk I take it the meeting is over?"

Hasford sighed. “Yes, I believe so.”

Lucas stood before Hasford finished the sentence. “Great to see all of you.” He heard Marie make a her hasty goodbyes and follow. Ignoring the halls, he crossed one and turned blindly down another before he turned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Marie glanced up at him, crossing her arms. “I didn’t think I would be heard so soon.”

“Bull. Come on Marie. You should have at least…said something. I’m your partner.”

Her mouth twisted, as if holding something back.

     “Yeah, I know. For now.” Lucas leaned against a row of interior windows, running a hand through his dark hair. “Still. I deserve to know something like our missions being covered up or…whatever. I expected that from you.”
      Marie sighed. "And they expect loyalty."
      "This," Lucas rammed a finger at the cuff on his left ear. "This is my loyalty."
      Marie blinked. "I...I didn't say..." She collected herself. "Come on, Luc. You know I didn't mean it like, well, they mean it."
Lucas glanced at her. "Yeah I know. I know. Those guys just..."

"Intimidate."

"Something like that." Lucas said, slowly.
Picking up on his surprise Marie continued. "I mean they do it on purpose.”

Lucas watched her vanish around the corner and pulled out his cigarettes and lighter. With a surreptitious look around he continued down the hall, turning the opposite corner while lifting the flame.
“Don’t let them see you so shaken.”

Lucas fumbled with his lighter. “Raimei.”

A small Asian girl with white bandages over her glossy black pig tails stood facing a long curtained row of windows. Her gaze shifted from the glass, a white stick stuck out of her mouth, lollipop clicking against her teeth as she spoke. She readjusted a sling on her right arm. “You do realize that was a complete farce.”

Lucas shoved the lighter in his pocket. “And you would know?”

“Everyone knows.”

“Good to know.” Lucas smiled down at her. “What are you doing down here?”

“Visiting.”

Lucas tilted his head, seeing through a small sliver of curtain. A bed with silver rails lay beyond, a box with tubes and, as he moved in, could see a body on the bed; the blanket over his chest barely moving.

“Is that as bad as it looks?”

“Probably worse.” Her eyes shifted upwards in the glass. “But it usually is, don’t you think?”

Lucas took in the little girl’s covered eye and small cane at her side; a long pleated blue skirt over he couldn’t guess what kinds of injuries.

“I think that is what they want us to think. And we are good at that.”

“Such submissive terms. It’s too much like a mongrel.”

"Mongrel." Lucas found himself smiling. “What’s wrong with dogs?”

“Nothing. If you like brutish, slobbering beasts.”

Lucas leaned in close to her ear. “Woof.”

Raimei started.

Lucas smirked as he continued down to the elevators at the end of the corridor. “Don’t them see ya shake, right kid?”

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Episode Twenty Eight

2012-04-05T23:58:00.002-05:00

Episode Twenty Eight

The Underground

It's vital to remember who you really are. It's very important. It isn't a good idea to rely on other people or things to do it for you, you see. They always get it wrong.

-Rincewind

The elevator pinged and the door slid open. Lucas hesitated.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared,” Marie said, stepping in with a smirk.

“Scared? Pfft.” Lucas’ wary glance at the closing elevator doors bellied the easy nonchalance.

"Surface buildings are too easily detectable. Along with what they house."

The elevator glided downward, the numbers above their heads quickly lighting up as they passed levels four, seven, ten, fifteen. The light reacted with a symbol, second to last in line of the numbers, and the elevator gave a small lurch as it stopped.

"Just because the logic is sound doesn't mean I have to like all the Raccoon City BS. Hmm?"

Marie unconcernedly stepped out of the elevator and headed down the hall. Lucas followed.

The hallways in the lower level gave no nod to corporate décor. The walls were sterile, an off white too reminiscent of a hospital. No picture frames, or fake views.

“So, how's Bert my ol' buddy ol' pal?" Lucas said into her ear, hoping to make her jump.

Marie merely shook her hair back, dislodging his voice. She stopped at a window set into the right wall. She leaned down to speak to the older women on the other side. “Marie Ventras. I was called—”

The woman paused in typing into a computer. “Yes ma’am. I have your briefing.” She handed a folder held on a clipboard through a slit in the glass. “If you could sign the paper at your right. They are in BR 107.”

“Thank you.” Marie set the pen down and continued down the hall.

"New assignment?" Lucas snatched at the folder.

Marie deftly deflected him with a sharp right turn down a wide corridor. “It’s further information on the vanishing kids in Iota.”

Lucas' grin vanished. "How many?"

Marie stopped in front of two double doors at their left. She glanced up at Lucas, a hand on her hip. "None."

Lucas snatched at the clipboard again. Marie dropped it to her side, out of reach. Lucas groaned.

"May I please see the report, Miss Marie?"

She nodded with curt satisfaction, handing him the clipboard.

"Thank you." He whipped it from her fingers, turning his back on her. "No kidnappings..." he muttered. "No kidnappings, my...What the hell?"

"Told ya." Marie pressed her palm into the LCD embedded in the wall. A map of her skin, in heat signature colors lit up the screen. Heavy locks clicked and slid as a mechanical voice intoned over head:

Acknowledged. Marie Ventras. Welcome.

"Wait a sec." Lucas slid through the quickly closing level security door. "Marie. This...this..."

"It doesn't make since. I know."

Lucas flipped report pages. “The recent census reported fifteen children living in Iota."

"Yes."

"But." His eyes scanned the page, flipped it and scanned. "When the field reporters went back to check with the families, only ten children of the original were counted? Or could be accounted for?"

"Yes."

Lucas stared down at the floor. "Even if the census takers were wrong or if people didn't answer honestly that's too large of an error margin."

Marie glanced over her shoulder as she reached for metal etched door handle. "I know."

She opened the door to a conference room, one wall a projection screen and a long table in the center. Four people sat at the end closest to the screen. The smile on the man's face closest to him made Lucas feel instantly flat footed.

"Welcome to the War Room, Alt."

"Aloysius?" Lucas looked to Marie, already taking a seat. "What is this?"

"The inner circle."

"Is there need for your Alt here, Ventras?" A fair haired women Lucas didn't recognize asked. She glanced at Lucas over the top of pearlized reading glasses.

Marie set the clipboard on the table with an audible click. "Robert's condition is not improving as quickly as hoped. I'm afraid we must assume current and near future missions will include an Alt."

"Or just intact Keys."

Marie gave Aloysius a cool stare.

A broad shouldered African man stood quickly from the left side of the room. "Please join us," he said with a light British accent. "And I believe introductions are in order. I am Paul Hasford, Key of Juliet Meadows. This," he indicated the older man next to him with a graying ponytail, "is Jonah Welks, Key of Gabriel Onedas. The lovely lady in front of him is Joseil Canyers, Key of Andrea Holt. And—"

"He knows me," Aloysius interrupted with a wink.

Lucas winced. "Uh, yeah." He stepped up cautiously to the table and the four most powerful intake Keys the Factory had to offer.

"Lucas Mannor."

"Alt," Joseil added with a dark grin.

“Alt, yes.” Lucas sat next to Marie.

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Radio Play

2012-02-20T18:50:00.005-06:00

Hey guys!

So, you noticed no update this month. I have been trying to get something special together for y'all but its no working. (Mostly because Im not tech savvy) So here is the link to (drum roll PLEASE!)

THE RADIO PLAY! YAY!

The first episode is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1xdwD7gCeI&context=C36d50c5ADOEgsToPDskIC8v1ea4lVqnueFpDBFXSX

Please listen, comment and subscribe! We are also playing the episodes on Beam Me Up podcast.

Thanks for all the support!

e.

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Episode Twenty Seven: Glow

2012-01-05T20:12:00.002-06:00

Episode Twenty Seven

Glow

Sometimes glass glitters more then diamonds because it has more to prove.
-Terry Pratchett

     The trail thickened. Tobie rounded the art building and paused. The great tree in the center of the sculptures rustled in the cold wind, bringing with it a foul smell and subtle color. Forcing himself not to shiver he continued towards the back of the school.

     The trees thinned out. The hedges lost their prune. Grass turned wild as the gardener's boundaries came under foot. A bush and tree lined footpath lead to the dirt clearing, overlooking the city; a popular place for couples to sneak away from the school's many watchful eyes. The view now was distorted, magnified through a huge undulating mirror. An oily miasma lifted up from the ground, curling in the air. The Glimmer's enlargement created an oily spot in it center. Oily with a slight iridescence, it pulsed and revolved slowly with each liquid movement.

     Tobie glared at the sized up Glimmer; Layah cradled gently in the tentacle like protrusions jutting out from the jelly body. "This little obsession has gone far enough. Set her down. Now."

     More glassy tentacles snaked from the body, coiling around the girl. It was oddly...protective.
Tobie laughed derisively. "You like her," he heckled. "What a joke! Pathetic little baby demon, not even fully realized yet, only a Glimmer of potential in love with a human. Tch." He crossed his arms. "Figures. How completely lame. Oh well." He smirked. "This'll be quick."

     Amber crackled over his knuckles. He envisioned a tight net around it, thick amber strands tightening against its core, conveniently leaving Layah free of its confines. His hand rose. Fingers flexed. The Glimmer swayed, flattening to the ground and scraping Layah's side across the dirt. The bright net collapsed and spurted out just where it had been. The image solid in his mind; Tobie materialized it faster. The Glimmer spun, swirling. It lifted Layah into the air, her body limp, feet dangling below her Dora the Explorer skirt. A tentacle wrapped around her ankle and her foot slipped into the gelatinous mass. The dark mass in the center crackled.

     Sweat beaded Tobie's forehead and he grit his teeth."Hold still." A net, twisting escape; net, dodge. The Glimmer twisted and whirled faster and faster, lifting the girl higher each time, a little more sliding into the Glimmer, the clear jelly contorting her small body. "Ugh!" A shot of concentrated amber cut through the air.

     A tentacle of translucent light lifted from the body, batting the amber away as easily as a buzzing fly.

     Shock stroked through Tobie's veins, momentarily freezing him in place. His legs, on autopilot, jerked him down just as his own attack flew past him, singing the hair by his earring. The metal heated, glowed. Tobie rolled, then balanced up on his knee, hand slapping at the side of his head. "I'm fine. Assurance. All's well, Luc." Tobie rolled to dodge an attack. "Not that your listening..."

***

     "Are you listening? Luc!" Marie slammed the report down, clipboard banging on the table. She leaned forward with a glare. Lucas squinted up at her then went back to staring blankly at the opposite wall. His breath hitched.

     "I said--"

     Lucas tensed, his eyes closing.

     "Don't ignore--"

     Rocketing forward, Lucas sneezed. Marie flipped the report up to shield her face just in time.

"     ...gross..."

     "Ugh." Lucas sniffed, running a finger under his nose.

     "Use a tissue," Marie admonished, shoving the box on the table at him.

     Lucas took a few and blew his nose noisily. "Sorry. What'd ya say?"

     Marie sighed. She set the report on the table and slid it towards him. "More info on the Iota prefecture."
"The perfecter with the disappearing act." Lucas tossed the used tissue into the waste paper basket below the table and picked up the clipboard. He grimaced and wiped the first piece of paper with his cuff. "So what--"

     Marie shook her head and cupped her ear, raising a finger. She glanced at the ceiling, teeth sliding over her lip.

     Lucas held impatient silence, eyes fixed on Marie.

     Finally she took a breath.

     "What's up with upper management?"

     Marie turned to the door. "Going to find out now. I'm headed by notations. Come on."

     "Oh? The lowly Alt is invited?" Lucas stood with mock surprise.

     Marie opened the door and turned back with a sigh. "Just behave. And don't sneeze on anyone."

***

     Tobie ran up the clearing, tentacles crashing into the ground just behind his steps. Running out of dirt, he whirled, knee striking the earth, arms crossing above his face. Three glassy tentacles raced his way, braiding together ready to spear him through. Just as they reached him a field of light blossomed over Tobie's arms. A shield, threads weaving themselves in a round shield of light wrapped two strong bands sent a shock through the tentacles. Twisting to lower the shield Tobie took another shot, rolling on his side inches from the drop off. The amber connected to the shifting air, blowing a foot wide hole in the Glimmer. It howled. Layah dropped, was caught by a tentacle and jerked right, loosing a shoe. Tentacles wrapped around her neck and torso, pulling her closer; engulfing her far enough to make her limbs protrude like a drooping doll. Her face flushed a bright pink, a small coo emitted from her parted lips.

     "Don't you dare." Tobie was on his feet. "She belongs here! Not like you." The shield unraveled, filling his hand filled with light. "I'll send you back in pieces!" An amber short sword hit the glimmer's protective wall of poisons. A jet of foul air hissed from the shield. The Glimmer shifted backwards, closer to the cliff. Tobie's hand went to the pommel, forcing all his strength down into the spirit. The sword sunk, Tobie let out a yell and the hilt slammed into the edge of the shield. The air erupted with a scream of steam and shattering glass. Tobie lifted a hand, palm filling with light. He shoved it into the hole created by his last attack, now approachable with out the shield, and detonated the amber. The Glimmer filled with refracting light. Tobie twisted the blade and urged it further into the spirit. The tip edged towards the oily molten center, hitting it just as Layah let out a gurgle and went limp. Amber and oil clashed, rebounded then set against each other. With a determined cry the amber won. An explosion of kimetic energy ripped through the clearing, blinding, and deafening; painting the clearing a warm but dirty yellow.

     In the shocked silence that followed a shadow dropped from a twisted tree near the edge of the clearing. Brushing leaves from the leaves of a military coat, he strode towards Tobie's body.

     The soft tinkle of bells.

     "He did well," Holon said, kneeling next to Tobie. "Help him now."

     Defiant whoosh of agitated wind. A ball of light streamed out towards the ground, and the spite Anemone materialized; wagging her finger and glaring at Tobie.

     Holon smiled. "Aye. But for the child's sake, revive him."

     Anemone crossed her arms, but her sparkling gaze wandered towards Layah; motionless in the grass. Her mouth twisted with deliberation.

     "That's my girl," Holon whispered as she knelt beside Tobie. "Let him wake on his own." Holon turned back towards the school at the sound of foot steps and a distant, "Layah!"

     Light filled the space between Anemone's palms, just above Tobie's chest. It sank into his coat, shining against his zipper a moment before vanishing. Tobie groaned, taking a deep breath.

     "Come."

     Anemone stood, the edges of her body fading as she reverted back to the small orb that darted back to Holon. Just as they vanished into the treeline, Tobie's eyes opened.

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Episode Twenty Six

2011-10-05T23:04:00.001-05:00

Episode Twenty Six

Exits

Living just to keep going
Going just to stay sane
All the while never knowing
It's such a shame

-Black Keys

     Tobie opened a groggy eye to the sound of a text message alert. With a groan he swept an arm over the window sill and grabbed the phone.

     :Hey man. Bec and I wanna hang today around 1. You down?:: Gus

     Tobie glanced at his alarm clock.

     12:36

     He rubbed his eyes and pulled the phone under the blanket.

     ::Sure:: He typed. ::Meet at Westin::

     He tossed the phone on the pillow and enjoyed a few more moments under the covers before sitting up.

     After a hot shower, and even hotter coffee, Tobie locked the door to his and Holon's apartment and headed down the stairs. The hallway was chilled with the winter wind and he zipped up his jacket before going outside.

     Near the entrance to Westin, he glimpsed Gus' puffy silver jacket. Rebeca stood next to him, her blond waves wafting up from her shoulders in the icy breeze.

     Bike wheels stuck out in front of them.

     "Hey man," Gus said, turning. "Look who we found."

     Jacob peeked out from behind Gus with an embarrassed smile. "Hey Tobie."

"Hey," Tobie said blankly. "What are you doing here?"

Jacob jerked his head towards the sidewalk just beyond the school. Leyah hopped up and down on her hop scotch path, happily singing to herself.

"She wouldn't stop begging, so...yeah."

"Giving in won't shut her up for long,“ Gus said.

"Yeah, probably not. So what's up?"

"Gonna go see a movie or something," Tobie shrugged. "You down?"

"Sure. Lemme just drop off the squirt and I'll meet you guys." He threw a leg over his bike and kicked off, headed towards the sidewalk.

Layah glanced up from her hoping. "Those your friends?" she asked as Jacob braked. "Do they wanna play too?" Her grin faded as Jacob rubbed his eyes. "Alright, brother?"

"I'm fine."

"'nuther headache?'

"Yeah."

"You have pills?"

     "Ran out." He squinted towards the tree line. "Just...so suddenly lately." He swallowed and swung a leg over the bike. "You ready?"

     "I wanna play."

     "We gotta get you home."

     "But I wanna stay with--"

     "Layah! Shut up and get on the damn bike, ok? I've had enough with your stupid imaginary friend. Get on the bike! Now!"

     Layah shuddered, rounded the bike and quickly climbed up on the rack. "You're so mean. Stupid."

     "Yeah, yeah."

     "If you weren't here I'd get to play..."

     The air thickened, titled, sparkled. A mass broke free, swelled and glistened. Jacob pushed off. They traveled towards Westin's edge and were about to vanish down the hill; when, the bike wobbled.

Tobie jolted as the pressure deepen even from the end of the sidewalk. The air around the bike crackled and sparked. Jacob slumped over the handlebars. The bike toppled and vanished. A high pitched scream echoed up from the street.

"Layah!" Tobie rushed up the sidewalk, Gus and Rebeca on his heels. He leapt over the top, hearing Gus slid to a halt behind him.

Jacob lay half way down the hill, on his side, motionless. Layah was a few feet above him, under the bike; its revolving back wheel in the air; clackers eerily peppering the air.

     "Gus, get Jake." Tobie called, skidding forward and kneeling next to the bike. He untwisted her legs from the bike frame and flipped the bike off her. It slid down the hill, screeching against the tarmac. "Layah! You ok?"

     She stared up at him, dark eyes overflowing with tears. "I...think s-so...b-brother...?"

     Tobie glanced over at Gus, standing over Jacob, then back at Layah. "Anything really hurt?" He checked her arms, her legs. Her knees and elbows were skinned, and two sharp bruises were appearing on her legs, but nothing seemed broken. "Stand up for me." He helped her get to her feet. Blood trickled down from her forehead. "Hold still." He pushed back her hair to see a small cut just above her right temple, where the rack could have hit it on the way down.

     "Her wrist looks swollen," Rebeca said, behind him.

     "You think so?"

     "B-brother," she whimpered. "Wh-wheres my brother?"

     "Shh, give me your wrist." Tobie held it gently, twisting it. Layah whimpered, but didn't pull away.

     "Is it broken? Do I need to call my dad?" Rebeca asked, sitting next to Layah.

     "I don't think so. Maybe sprained. Hey, Gus! How's Jake?"

     Gus looked up, kneeling next to Jacob. "I don't think he's conscious, man." He shook Jacob's shoulder. "Jacob? Hey!"

     "Take her." Tobie pressed Layah into Rebecca’s arms.

     She nodded and smiled gently at Layah. "Come here. I have some band-aids in my purse."

     "But...Brother." Layah strained to watch Tobie hurry over to Gus and Jacob.

     "It's alright. Tobie will take care of him. Turn towards me."

     Tobie glanced over his shoulder. The haze retreated to the tree line, the colors fading back into nothing, the thickness in the air lifting.

     "Man...I-I don't think he's breathing," Gus stammered, getting out of the way as Tobie knelt. He pushed Jacob gently onto his back, a scraped and bloody arm flopping back on the road. He put his ear near Jacob's mouth and frowned. "Got your glasses on you?"

     "Yeah." Gus fished a slim case out of his back pocket and took out a pair of glasses. He handed them down to Tobie. He angled them towards Jacob's mouth. A white haze fogged the glass.

     Tobie leaned forward, two fingers at Jacob's temple. A shot of amber frizzled between their skin, like a small electric shock. "Jake. Come on, Jake. You're freakin Layah out. Wake up man."

     Jacob moaned. His eyes opened. "Wh-what happened?" Tobie took his arm and helped him slowly sit up. He reeled forward, but caught himself on Tobie's knee. Eyes shut tight, he ran a hand over his forehead.

     "You tell us." Gus slipped his glasses back into the case.

     "Don't...know...Just felt this pain and..." His eyes flashed open. "Layah!" He lurched forward, as if to get up, but caught his shoulder with a gasp.

     "She's ok."

     They looked up. Rebeca walked towards them, Layah clinging onto her skirt. The little girl's face was clean, a pink band-aid above her eyebrow. The second Jacob turned around, she bolted. "Brother!" She tore from Rebeca’s grip and ran down the hill, tackling Jacob around the middle.

     "Easy. Easy, kid!" Jacob winced as her arms cinched around him.

     "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she cried, face pressed against his polo.

     Jacob slipped an arm around her. "You didn't do anything. It's ok."

     Tobie stood, dusting off his knees. "Gus, Beca, help these two home. Jake, if you're in pain call a cab or something. Other wise take the subway." He turned up the hill, hands sliding into his pockets.

     "What?" Gus started. "Where are you--"

     "Make sure they get home safely," Tobie called, cresting the hill.

     "Gus?"

     "Yeah, Jake?"

     "Is it...d-dark." Jacob slumped against Layah, then fell forward.

     "Jake!" Rebeca squealed, dropping to her knees.

     "Oh man." Gus lifted him off Layah, who’s cries caught a frantic tinge to them, and laid him back down on the ground. "What do we do?"

     Rebeca knelt, digging in her purse. "It's ok, Layah. It's ok."

     Layah quieted in an instant.

     "Just hold on Jake." Rebeca yanked her phone out of her purse and dialed 911.

Layah stood.

"Help’s coming. Gus, make sure he’s still breathing!"

      "Uh, hey, Layah's leaving."

     Rebeca's head whipped around. "Layah! Layah stay here--"

     The girl turned. Rebeca nearly dropped the phone. A voice startled her from the other line.

     "911, what’s your emergency?"

     "I, uh, I." Rebeca blinked. "My friend crashed his bike. He seemed ok, but he just passed out."

     "Remain calm. Is he breathing?"

     "Gus is he..."

     "Yeah, he's breathing. Jacob! What the hell man?"

     Rebeca glanced back. "Yeah he's...breathing..." Layah was gone. She put a hand over the mic. "Layah? Ley--"

     "Miss? Are you there?"

     Rebeca scanned the quad. "Yeah, yeah I'm here. Gus! Go find Layah!"

     "Ok. Take care of him." Gus headed in the direction Rebeca pointed, stilling talking to the dispatcher.

     "Layah? Hey Layah!"

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Episode Twenty Five

2011-08-06T23:08:00.000-05:00

Episode Twenty Five

Game

Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do the day after.
~ The White Queen

     Rain speckled the lawn, turning the grass slick. Tobie drove the ball between a left fielder's legs, caught up with it, and headed to the goal.

     Gus ran up beside him, quick to match his pace.

     With a grin Tobie jooked left, juggling the ball. Gus fell for it, literally diving for the ball too hard to stop his momentum and belly flopped to the grass, sending up a wave of icy water from the blades. Uninhibited, Tobie picked up speed towards the goal. Grinning at the goalie's obvious nervous expression he counted to three in his head, hit the outside of the box and kicked. The goalie leapt into the air.

     "Goal!" Couch Areney yelled and blew the whistle. “Game. Skins win.”

     Tobie slowed and slid expertly across the wet field, grabbing the goal post. His team mates were quick to run up with high fives and smiles. Tobie nodded, soaking it up as they walked back down the field. He stopped at Gus, sitting up from the grass. "Nice spill." He reached down.

     Gus, hands on his knees, glared up at Tobie. "Yeah, thanks alot." He grasped Tobie's hand and let him pull him up. Tobie clapped his shoulder and they headed over to the coach, already in the middle of next practice's assignments.

     "...and our first game is against Rulster High. So we need to be sharp. Sinclair." He pointed as Tobie took a knee. "Great job out there. Good hustle. Keep it up. Weldon. Work on your footwork. And balance. You could learn a thing or two from Sinclair's form. Alright guys. See you next practice. Go get warm."

     "Learn something my ass," Gus grumbled as they headed to the benches.

     "You could use a refresher course." Tobie's smirk faltered.

     Gus was staring up at the stands." She stayed the whole game, man," he said wistfully, waving at Rebeca who had her umbrella tightly clenched to her chest. "She stayed in the rain. That's gotta mean something." Gus grinned up at the stands as he toweled off his arms.

     "Yeah. It means she was enjoying watching you belly flop across the field. Gotta say it was very entertaining."

     Gus' attention came back to Tobie with a glare. "Shut up, man."

     Tobie laughed, toweling off his legs. He pulled off his cleats, kicking his bag out from under the benches. Shoving the damp cleats into the bag he slid on his trainers. "I'll leave ya to walk her home then?"

     "Yeah, you will," Gus muttered, viciously tying up his trainers.

     Tobie shouldered his duffel bag and headed towards the edge of the stands. He threw a grin and wave to Rebeca, who waved back and yelled, "Good game!" her umbrella wobbling as she leaned over the stand. Chuckling, Tobie rounded the edge.

     "Good game, indeed."

     Tobie jumped. "Shit! Holon...Man don't do that." He readjusted the duffel. "You here the whole time?"

     "Saw enough. Can't play indoors?"

     "Coach wanted us to get some grass in our cleats. Rain or shine. You know how it is."

     Holon glanced at the wet stands. "Good way to catch cold." He glanced at the bag. The zipper slid back.

     Tobie glared at him then reached into the opened slot. "Pfft..." He pulled out a sweatshirt.

     Holon turned way from the field, encouraging Tobie to walk with him. "There's been an influx."

     "Well no sh--"

     "Noticed the spirit outside the school?"

     "Yeah I saw it. But it dissipated too quickly. And there were too many civilians around." Tobie pulled the sweatshirt over his head.

     Holon looked blank. "Too many civilians."

     "Yeah. Jacob and Layah, Gus and Rebeca."

     "You let a few on looking civilians get in the way of doing your job."

     Tobie stopped dead. "Wh--I didn't--That...It’s not like that!" he spat. "I don't have your..." He lowered his voice, glancing back at the stands. "...abilities. And they don't need to know. Besides," he added, the easy swagger coming back into his voice. "You're getting too much attention as it is. Eddie is gunning for you now, you know. Hassled me earlier. You gotta blend in more, man. Student like, ya know." He slicked back his blonde hair.

     Holon gave him an appraising looking that went on a half second longer then comfort allowed. Tobie shifted on his feet.

     "Keep vigilant." Holon turned away from the path leading back to the student apartments and towards the tennis courts. "And an eye on those two."

"Who?"

"Lenburt and his sister."

Tobie’s eyes narrowed. "Why?"

“They are of interest.”

     Tobie half halfheartedly resigned himself to not getting a detailed answer and re-gripped his duffle. "Fine. You know; I could come with you..."

     Holon paused, looking over his shoulder. "Pardon?"

     "Nothing. Never mind." Tobie grumbled. "Later."

     They parted, in decided different directions, as the rain gained weight and pounded down on the soggy campus.

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Episode Twenty Four

2011-07-05T20:45:00.000-05:00

Episode Twenty Four

New Silence

De omnibus dubitandum.
All is to be doubted.
-Rene Descartes

   As he dumped his trash, Tobie glanced at the table near the front of the cafeteria and smirked. Two chairs were conspicuously empty. He placed his tray in the receptacle, waited while Gus did the same, and then headed back to Mayan's Hall.

   Gus prattled on about Rebeca and Sadie and Tobie tuned it out while scanning the premises. No activity. Nothing amiss. He slid back the door to 12A.

   Gus elbowed his arm. "Dude, you hear me at all?"

   This again…I have more important things to do besides listen to you pinning over girls you’ll never get. "Yeah, yeah," Tobie waved dismissively as they walked to their row. "You got it bad for Beca and Sadie and half the other hot girls. You're a broken record, man. Give it a rest."

   Tobie caught a scramble of paper from the first row and picked up the pace, rounded Brooke Kent’s desk where she was re-braiding her hair, and hurried down his row.

   A bark from the other side of the room."Sinclair."

   Tobie looked up from setting his bag on his desk. Eddie heading for his row. Great. "Yeah, what?"

   Eddie adjusted his golden watch with an imperious rattle as he walked between the desks, his light eyes filled with suspicion. "Where's your buddy?"

   "Why whoever do you mean, Edward?" Tobie looped his satchel’s strap around the back of the chair.

   Eddie grasped the clip board with both hands, looking as if he were about to pass judgment. "Where's Hughes?"

   Tobie straightened, a few muscle’s in his arm itching to bunch. "No idea, man. Not a clue."

   "He's consistently late." Eddie squared his shoulders, glancing down at his clip board and flipping a few pages. “Yesterday, two days before….”

   "Yeah? So? Take it up with him." Tobie could feel his patience about to snap. Holon, man you so owe me!

   Eddie gave Tobie a cool look. His eyes narrowed. "Something is going on here. You know something, Sinclair."

   A rush of panic cooled the bubbling anger. Tobie tried to let it dissipate with a short laugh. "Man, you're paranoid. As far as I know, he went home for lunch and lost track of time."

   "Losses track of time allot."

   Tobie's hands slid out of his pockets. He did his best not to let them form fists. "Why ya hassling me, Ed?" Their eyes locked.

   Gus looked sidelong at Tobie. The tension between the boys had ramped up a few notches. He stood up.

   Eddie licked his lips, gaze flicking to Gus then back to Tobie. "You're…you’re his roommate," he said, his voice loosing the haughty overtones.

   "Yeah. Not his handler. Lay off."

   “We don’t have time to play messenger, Ed,” Gus put in, bracing himself on Tobie’s desk to lean closer to Eddie. “Do your own job.”

   Eddie took a step backwards, tripping on Saddie’s backpack. "Well…you…He’s…He's getting detention for this," he finished, voice a bit higher.

   "Yeah, ok Eddie.” Tobie rolled his eyes, reaching down to right Saddie’s bag just as she did. Getting to it first, he gave her a winning smile and set it upright. “You just let him know that.”

   "If he shows up, I will." Eddie backed down Tobie's row. "If he shows up."

   The door slid back and Rebeca walked through. Waving at Sadie, who was already tearing paper out of the notebook, she headed to her desk.

   Lampman entered closely after and the classroom's volume went down a notch. "Hope everyone had a good lunch." He set his bag on his chair and pulled out his notebooks.

   The door slid back just as the bell rang. Eddie's head shot up like a cat hearing a distant mouse.

   Esther came in quickly, both hands on her satchel strap, and hurried to the other side of the classroom.

   Tobie grinned at Eddie's obvious disappointment.

   Lampman stood back from the mess of equations on the white board. "And that’s the basis theory of Sentential Logic." He dusted his hands off as the bell rang. "I will be going over it in detail next lesson. Do pages 114 and 126 in your work book, evens only," he added over the growing din of students quickly packing away their supplies. "Have a good weekend everyone."

   Gus swiveled towards Rebeca’s desk. "Gonna watch us today after school?"

   Rebeca threw Sadie a look.

   Sadie rolled her eyes while packing up her algebra book.

   "Come with us, Bec. Come on." Gus practically pleaded.

   Rebeca tossed her pretty hair over her shoulder, glanced at Tobie.

   Gus stepped closer to her. "It'll be a good game. Promise."

   She rested her chin on her hand with a pout. "I don't really get soccer. And Sadie has to get home. Not much fun sitting in the stands by yourself."

   Tobie grinned at Gus' deflated look. "Hey Jake, wanna keep Bec company at our game?"

   Jacob looked up from Adan's desk. "Sure. Gotta get my bike though. Walk me out?"

   "Come on, Bec." Tobie winked, inwardly smirking when her checks flushed a soft pink. "Let’s walk them out together."

   Rebeca stood up faster then even Tobie expected. "Ok."

   The four headed out into the chilly afternoon, rain clouds threatening overhead adding murky gloom to the day.

   Rebeca stopped just before the bike rack. "Who’s that?"

   Jacob turned from unlocking his bike. He sighed. "Ugh...man...That's my baby sister..."

   "What's she doing here?" Rebeca squinted at the little girl hopping up the side walk on one leg, then switching to two, then back to one.

   “Looks like Hop Scotch,” said Tobie.

   Rebeca laughed.

   "She goes to Wintin Conservatory, down the hill." Jacob pulled the lock off his bike and unraveled the chain from around the tiers. "She started walking up here like a week ago after they let out. Freaked her nanny the first time when she couldn't find her. Then she started just...showing up."

   "So she waits for you after school?" Rebeca smiled at the little girl skipping along the avenue, singing softly. "That's so sweet."

   "Nah," Jacob said, running an embarrassed hand through his hair. "She just likes to play up here. She says she has a friend," he added, putting air quotes around "friend."

   Rebeca nodded knowingly. "My youngest brother had one of those."

   "Dad's tried to put a stop to it, but nothing's worked so far. She just keeps coming up here to play."

   "Have you tried drugs?"

   Jacob glared at Gus. "She's only six, man. It’s just a phase." He pulled his hair back and put on his cap. "She'll grow out of it." He kicked off, stirring the bike down Westin's front drive. "Looks like I can't stay though. Sorry Beca. Later."

   "Let's get back," Gus prodded, turning with Rebeca to head back up the Quad. "Don't need coach on my ass anymore. It won’t be a long game, Bec."

   "Yeah, whatever man." Tobie, said, watching Jacob ride up to Layah, his feet leaving the peddles to skim along the sidewalk.

   Layah straightened from searching for the rock skipped into the flowerbed around the grated trees. She let Jacob help her onto the book rack on the back of the bike. Leaning backwards she laced her fingers between the metal rungs of the rack, lurching as Jacob kicked off. Grinning, she waved back towards the Hop Scotch spot.

   Tobie turned to follow Gus and Rebeca. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a thin glistening bit of air raise wavering from the ground, and wave back before fading away.

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Twenty Three

2011-06-06T05:36:00.000-05:00

Episode Twenty Three

Engage

You're happy to believe in something that's invisible but if it's staring you in the face— nope, can't see it! There's a scientific explanation for that: You're thick!

- The Doctor

"So..." Tobie glanced sidelong at Holon. "How were things?"

"Eventful."

Tobie could hear the tinny way Holon’s breath hissed in and out. His gaze strayed to the slight spotting of blood around the other boy’s neck and he rolled his eyes. They walked in silence for a while, passing the library. "And the new demon?"

"No sign of it. No dissipation of energy. No morphic residue. No leads."

"So it really is attached to Layah." Tobie shook his head. "This is going to get..."

"Complicated."

As they reached Mayan's Hall and entered the throng, Holon stopped dead. A few students bunched up behind him, the stream momentarily dammed. He turned against them and headed back down the stairs, ignoring the irritated remarks. Tobie, holding the door open at the top, sighed. He squeezed through the students, reached the side of the building, and vaulted over the rail.

Holon was nearly at the quad when he caught up.

"What?"

"Presence." Holon picked up speed, hands leaving his pockets, coat flapping behind him as ran.

Tobie kept pace, alert, scanning the school grounds.

Holon slowed at the entrance to Westin's; the tall ivy covered iron gates. A bike zoomed up the drive. Its rider glanced at the boys ahead and fingers squeezed the breaks.

"Hey guys." Jacob's trainers skidded over the gravel as he came to a stop in front of them.

"Morning," Holon said. "Where's your sister?"

"Oh, I dropped her off." Jacob swung a leg over the bike. "Dad was livid about the last time so I made sure she got to her class before coming up." He rubbed his forehead. "What's up?"

Tobie glanced at Holon, then back to Jacob. He quickly pulled up a grin. "Oh, nothing. Just saw ya coming up and thought we'd meet ya. Finish the math homework?" He started walking backwards, encouraging Jacob to walk the bike beside him.

"Barely. Just this morning. Man algebra sucks."

"To the inth degree," Tobie laughed, eyes on Holon.

"Have a headache?"

Jacob glanced over his shoulder. Holon stared down the quad, back to them.

"Huh?"

Holon turned, considered him a moment, then walked forward. "Do you have a headache?"

Tobie shot him a glare, which was ignored.

"Oh. Yeah. Not bad. I've been getting them in the mornings. It's weird though," Jacob added as the three of them headed towards Mayan's Hall. "They always spike right when I get to school. Must be environmentally triggered." He laughed.

Tobie joined in unenthusiastically, eyes on Holon.

∞

The buzz of a teacher-less classroom rose as Tobie slid the door to 12B aside. They nodded to Eddie; at his desk but with the attendance role held regally before him.

"Hey Jake!" Daniel called, sitting on top of Eddie's seat. "Where you online last night?"

"I'll catch y'all at lunch," Jacob said to Tobie and Holon, heading to his seat.

Tobie nodded, heading to his row.

Gus reclined in his seat, feet propped up on the back of Esther's chair, arms crossed with a smug grin. "Hey."

"Morning."

"Talked to coach earlier."

"Oh yeah?" Tobie set his bag in his chair.

"Yep." Gus turned his smirk up to him as Lampman entered the classroom. "Said I could play forward for the shirts today."

Tobie's eye brows rose. "Did he?"

"Yep." Gus grinned. "You're going down Sinclair."

Tobie matched his smile and leaned into his desk. "Bring it."

The squeak of marker on dry erase board broke their friendly competition. Tobie lowered his bag to the floor and sat.

Morning passed with Lampman attempting to engage the class in their history lesson. A listlessness encompassed everyone and when the bell rang for lunch he looked as relieved as the students.

Tobie followed Holon out into the hall and waited by his locker for Gus and Jacob to catch up.

"So ready for lunch. You feelin pizza today?"

"I have to go."

"Go?" Tobie frowned blankly. "Go...Oh. Lets go then."

"No." Holon shoved his books into the locker and closed it with a snap.

"Oh come on--"

"You will stay here. Watch for influx."

"Man." Tobie's shoulder fell against the lockers. "You gotta be kidding me. Baby sitting again?"

Holon glanced up at him, meeting his eyes.

"Yeah. Ok, fine." Tobie shoved his hands in his pockets.

Holon turned and headed towards Mayan's large double doors.

"Hey," Gus said, pushing through the throng of students. "Jacob's meeting us. Hey, where’s Holon Is he taking off?"

"Looks like." Tobie turned back to the hall.

"Whoa. Skipping out now."

"Whatever. " Tobie stopped. "I'll meet ya there." Gus shrugged and continued down the hall, catching Jacob near the classroom.

Tobie’s teeth ground as he veered towards the large windows by the door. "What are you doing, stalker?"

Esther jumped guiltily, bag banging against the glass.

Tobie snatched the strap, ripping it from her shoulder while stepping close enough to make her jerk backwards and into the window. A few passing students laughed.

Esther’s hands curled at her chest, not daring to reach for her satchel.

"Listen good, freak, because I'm not going to keep repeating myself. Keep. Your. Distance." His fist tightened, twisting her hip towards him. "Hear me?"

Esther cringed, staring at the tiny space between them.

"I said--"

"Sinclare."

Tobie glanced up to see Dr. Walker, 10A's homeroom professor, gazing at them impassively a classroom away.

"Stop loitering."

"Yes sir." Tobie grinned. "Just saying a little goodbye." He leaned over Esther, lips brushing her ear. "See you later, sweetheart," he growl as she flinched. With a glance at Walker, busily haranguing a student for running, he dropped the bag.

Esther let it hit the floor, turning to the window, one hand on the pane. Her breath fogged the cold window.

"Watch yourself." Tobie threw her a wave over his shoulder, missing her lift a shaky finger and write one cramped word into the breath of glass.

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Episode Twenty Two: Exsistence

2011-05-05T13:48:00.003-05:00

Existence is random. Has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it for too long. No meaning save what we choose to impose.
-Rorschach

The city night sparkled with multicolored lights. Downtown buzzed with activity in the predawn hours with its walkers, vendors, and taxis littering the sidewalks and streets. The exits from the underground, deep caves in the sidewalk, spit out a steady, if not thin, stream of people.

A light fog congealed the air around the ankles. A blur of night darted across the street, tarnishing the air and springing up the side of a window fronted building. Another followed, thicker, silvery, sending a jet of icy wind over the sidewalk below to rock the parallel parked cars. Alarms filled the night, echoing upwards, mingled with startled cries.

Both smears of darkness and light, vibrating as if not quite contained in this world, careened over the skyscraper, bursting over the antennas at the top. Falling, one twisted, slowed and, took on form with more silvery tint.

The momentum arched, aiming both towards the brick lined pathway of a small park. Trees shuddered as the first bit of energy hit, cracking the concrete as it bounced up to a lamp post that creaked under its weight; crushing a spider and its web, each slowly absorbed by the dripping edges of the creature.

The second hit. The silver energy dissipated as a whirlwind losing its velocity. Holon knelt at the core. He waited for the trickles of inertia to congeal into the small sprite; her form wavy and dreamlike.

"Much thanks Anemone." Holon raised his head. "Done running?"

The undulating mass atop the lamppost glinted as an oil spill in the sun.

"Very done." He allowed a smile. "Good."

A pulse flitted over the shadows. It flowered, grew, split and the lamp posts along the pathway shivered in the reverberating hum of flexing energy. Splintering glass filled the air moments before a far lamp exploded into fireworks of sparks and glass. One by one the bulb's integrity failed, showering the pathway. Darkness descended.

A piecing sound filled the air. Holon's right arm jerked to the side, his hand rising up just as fast. A pin point of darkness, thin and serrated, quivered in a silver arc of light emanating from his fingertips. Another whistle. Holon spun on a heel, catching a second, then a third dart of darkness with light. He withdrew a hand, finger at the tip of one crest of silver, drawing it to the next to create a shield.

With a provocative scream, six shadows congealed into lines behind him. They pressed onto an unsupervised silver arc. Holon whirled to push it back, but the lines attached. The power magnified and the shield shattered as the glass bulbs. Anemonè fell to her knees.

Holon's body jerked, arms thrown back into the pitch, caught in the threads as a fly in a web; the uncompleted shield wavering at his side. The chittering grew louder and the web hummed. He twisted his elbow and wrist, trying to grab the darkness. His fingertips touched. He closed his eyes. Silver mist rose, obscuring his hand even as a whip of black snapped around his throat and around his chest. The light wavered as the strands squeezed, causing a strangled sound. Heat and pain rushed up his neck, filling his head. Silver drained. Vision strobeing, he managed one word.

"Anem...onè..."

The arcs of light, the shield, vanished.

A chime of bells. The air above them split like a seam and flash of silver darted out and over the creature. It sped through the web, snapping lines, disintegrating the darkness with barely a touch. The length around his neck slackened and Holon hit his feet. The darkness shuttered, moving to solidify. Holon twisted out of its grip and flung the crescent shield into the web. It sliced the darkness, arced, then hurdled back. Each cut length rose into the air, floating as gossamer, then evaporated without a sound.

The ground ignited with silver. The spirit fell from the disintegrating web with a screech. Eight legs twitched and pushed against the ground, attempting to rise. One, little more than an inky shoot, discharged, aimed at Holon.

He dropped the shield, and caught the elongated spider leg. It wrapped around his wrist, the tiny sharp hairs digging into his sleeve for purchase and elicited a vicious tug. Holon stepped back, wrist rising, then snapped it down as if holding a whip. The spirit lashed backwards, slamming into the ground. As it hit, darkness broke off and evaporated from it form.

"Couldn't reach any positive potential. Had to go into the dark. Such a shame. Where are the others?"

The half formed creature writhed, twisted, spun itself up in the small bit of darkness that clung to it. Holon barely budged. He held the darkness, closing his eyes. The tug and flow, reversed. The thin lines snapped. They revolved into a whirl then evaporated, leaving an inky smell.

"Wraith." His eyes opened.

Anemone raised her hand, silver light glowing at her fingertips. A whisper of wind and she slid her hand forward, silvery fingers vanishing up to the second knuckle casing the air to part as if into a curtain of water. Space shivered, then ignited in a thin line, ripping upwards. She yanked down, ripping it open.

The darkness wrapping further up his arm, Holon calmly walked towards the fissure. He lowered his hand with the spirit's leg towards the silver. Anemone stepped back. The darkness unraveled from his body in a violent spin. The spirit screamed, scrabbling at the ground with all 7 legs. With a crack they snapped backwards. The creature screamed as the force of the fissure drug it across the pathway. At the mouth the legs extended outward desperately, pinning to the air around the tear.

Holon stared into its eyeless face before the legs fractured and the creature vanished into the other space. Just as its head was to go through, Holon nodded. Anemone turned away sorrowfully and closed her fist. The split sealed, biting off the head and evaporated with a hiss of black fumes.

The head rolled at Holon’s feet. It lay steaming on the ground with the tips of two spiked legs. It jerked, twitched, then began to melt.

"Such...a pity." Holon coughed, rubbing his neck, smearing the dots of blood from the sharp hairs. He glanced at the sky. The edges were tinged with blue, a pink rising up. Soft fingers at his neck. He took a deep breath. The raw, tight pain ebbed as the deep burns from the spirit healed. He turned and cupped Anemone's check. "Mòran taing. Time to go I think."

***

The alarm screeched. Tobie swung a drowsy arm in the direction of the window sill, knocking his mp3 player and jostling the headphones. The screech ended with bang as his fist came down on snooze.

Ten minutes later the ritual restarted; culminating with the alarm slamming into the window pane and dropping between the bed and the wall. With a groan he sat up, ran a hand through disheveled blond hair and yawned.

Showered and dressed, his tie loose, Tobie slipped into his shoes by the door, grabbed his satchel and, keys in his mouth, headed for the stairs. The wind bit through his blazer the second he stepped outside and he thought wistfully about his overcoat and scarf.

Someone was sitting on the low brick wall that decorated the entrance to the student dorms. The sight banished the deliberation. He sighed. "Don't you ever sleep?"

Holon hopped off the wall, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. They fell easily into step.

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Episode Twenty One

2011-04-05T22:31:00.004-05:00

Episode Twenty One

Again and Again

we are made to bleed
and scab and heal and bleed again
and turn every scar into a joke
~Ani Difranco

   The bell rang. Tobie dumped his books into his satchel and stood, waiting for Holon who was still writing in his notebook.

   "Up for a game tonight?" Gus asked, shrugging off his uniform jacket. "Bet we could reach Prestige."

   "Might later, yeah." Tobie pulled his bag over his shoulder as Holon gathered his things.

   "Cool. See ya then." Gus snatched his books and hurried up the row. "Hey, Beca! Wait up will ya?"

   "Working tonight?" Tobie leaning into Holon's desk, his hand rubbing over his cheekbone. The crackled of dried blood flaked under his fingers.

   "Probably."

   "How 'bout a sweep before we leave campus?"

   "If you're thinking of pursuing a particular spirit, it has no intentions of staying in the area without the girl." Holon pulled his bag over his shoulder, wincing slightly. "I will have Anemonè see if she can detect a presence, but it’s doubtful it left any trace behind." He glanced at Tobie. "Go home."

   Tobie's jaw set as Holon passed him up the row. "If you're going--"

   Holon didn't turn. "Go home, Tobie."

   "I don't take you're orders."

   "If you boys aren't on cleaning duty, get outta here will ya?"

   They both looked up. Lampman glanced at them, snapping his briefcase together.

   "Yes, sir." Holon headed for the door.

   Tobie followed with an exasperated sigh.

∞

   Walking the South Quad, Tobie passed the Library and crossed the small memorial gardens between the media art buildings. The wind picked up as he mounted the stairs to Clark Hall. He shoved his hands in his pockets, searching for his wallet. Flipping it open he selected a key card and slid it into the reader by the large glass fronted door. A light at the top of the reader blinked green, the heavy metal locks clicked and he yanked the door open.

   After three flights of stairs, and more digging in his pockets, Tobie stopped in front of apartment 317. Taking a breath he unlocked the door. Keeping the door ajar with a hip he pulled his bag over his head and kicked off his shoes in the cramped entry way to leave each where they dropped. He turned towards the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and with one hand clawing at his tie he walked back across the entry way to his bedroom.

   Tossing tie and jacket to his desk chair Tobie flopped onto the bed. Staring up at the ceiling he groped blindly for the edge of the window and the mp3 player stashed on the sill while pulling a large set of noise canceling headphones out from under his pillow. He plugged them in and selected Arctic Monkeys. Slipping the head phones on he leaned back.

   Just as the drums cascaded into A Certain Romance, a spark of electricity trickled down Tobie’s spine. He lifted an earpiece. The front door shut softly and foot steps crossed the living room. Throwing the headphones to the bed, he swung his feet to the floor.

   The bedroom door near the kitchen was open, light from the inside bathroom spilling across the gloom. A military coat lay neatly on the bed, along with a Westin jacket. Tobie peered into the bathroom. Holon stood at the sink, both sleeves rolled up past his elbows, tie slung over his shoulder. Tobie leaned against the door frame. "How'd they manage to bite you?"

   Holon didn't look up from unwrapping the bandages from around his wrist; the strips closer to his palm pulling away with clotted red. "Swarmed the power shed on the roof." He peeled the last bit of cloth from his hand, soaked through and sticking to pull up the skin. Six deep, purple ringed, puncture marks oozed blood along the top of his right hand -- echoed by dots of blue and purple along his palm.

   Tobie squirmed, back pressing into the door frame. "Has...has Nim seen that?"

   Holon elbowed the bandages into the trash can beside the toilet then turned on the facet. "Not yet."

   "Where is she?"

   "Resting."

   Tobie chewed his lip, watching Holon pumped soap onto his hand and rinse it in the steaming water. Red frothed into the bubbles, then pooled, staining the white porcelain. "That won't help, ya know."

   Holon pumped more soap, smearing it over the Gremlin bites and pushed his hand back under the scalding water.
With a sigh Tobie grabbed a hand towel from the wall. He waited until the foam circled down the drain, then snatched Holon's wrist before he could cover his hand with even more soap.

   "You can't just keep cleaning it like that," he muttered, dabbing Holon's hand, leaving smears of blood on the gray towel. He pulled it away, examining the wound in the light. "If you don't purify it, it'll just keep bleeding." He glanced at Holon who was staring transfixed at the soap pump. Tobie rolled his eyes. "Leave it alone and just call Nim, will ya?" He dropped Holon's wrist. "You're no good to anyone poisoned. Hungry?" He tossed the towel across the shower rod and headed into the kitchen. He had already started a pan of fettuccine when Holon came into the living room and sank heavily on the couch, eyes closed, his injured hand resting on his chest, bites once again weeping.

   "Call her," Tobie said, irritation punctuating his voice as he glared over the bar. "Or I will."

   Holon took a slow breath through his nose, and exhaled through his mouth. The air around him shivered and distorted as a heat haze. "Anemonè."

   A soft shimmer caught the back of the couch. It gathered, twirled and etched the air in an outline of a girl in a simple white dress, long silvery hair flowing down to her bare feet, perching just behind Holon's shoulder. Slowly the image solidified, color seeping in from the edges as watery paint flowing free over too thin paper. Strands of silver hair cascaded over the brown upholstery, soft light moving up and down like iridescent metal playing with the sun.

   "Feasgar math, mo gradh," Holon murmured, eyes still shut.

   A glistening hand touched his temple, and then slid to his injured hand as the sprite knelt beside him on the cushion. Her delicate mouth moved, whispering with the sound of a distant brook, slow and calming. Holon winced as she threaded her fingers between his, her free hand pressing against his shirt, just over his heart. Silver drained from her form, pooling around his hand and staining his shirt, leaving an imprint of silver and white. The sounds of a brook melted into an irritated chatter of leaves in the wind. Holon opened his eyes. Anemonè's large doe like eyes were clouded, her cupid's bow a pout.

   Holon's free hand gently clasped the wrist at his chest. "Careless. Yes. Apologies. I will be less so." The leaves calmed, light left his body and flowed upwards, once again filling in the outlines of the sprite. She ran delicate fingers through his hair, the silver igniting each deep indigo strand.

   "Have my smokes, you little thief?"

   The sprite jerked back from Holon, leaving thin silvery vapor trails across the space between them, and, spinning on her tip toes, perched on the edge of the couch; hair tumbling around her.

   "The demon today." Tobie slammed the pan down and came around the bar, arms crossed over his chest. "The one with Layah. What does she know about it?"

   Form still heavy on the couch, Holon tilted his head towards the sprite. "Do you know what it was?"

   A tinkle of wind chimes, then the gentle lap of water in a shallow pond. Tobie looked to Holon.

   "A spirit." Holon gazed down at his hand.

"Well no shi--"

   "From the ether." The deep purple bruises slowly seeped into his skin, the holes shrinking. "Tapad leibh, Anemonè."

   The sprite giggled in cat bells and falling rain.

   "Wait." Tobie's arms fell to his sides. "A new demon? She's creating..."

   "She's not creating anything. She couldn't do that without purpose."

   "Sure about that?"

   Holon leaned back on the cushions, the slur of exhausting creeping into his voice. "She's just creating interest. Everything within this sector can feel her presence. She's pulling at lesser spirits. Making them curious."

   Tobie laughed. Holon glanced up. "Sorry. I just heard Luc’s voice in my head say something about a disturbance in the force."

Holon shut his eyes. "Wouldn't be entirely inaccurate..."

   "So really this is your fault. For triggering her. Early."

   "It wasn't early. It was convenient. I saw an opportunity to expedite the acknowledgment of her abilities and took it. An influx always happens at initial resonance." He lifted his healed hand and cupped Anemonè's cheek. A wave of gold rushed down from his fingers. "Rest. I'll call you again soon."

   The little sprite nodded and smiled. She stood up on the armrest and backed away, feet standing firmly on thin air, outlines fading, form loosing solidity. She melted into a misty version of herself, a vaporous ghost. Then, just as she would have hit the kitchen bar, she vanished.

   Holon took a breath and heaved himself up from the couch.

   Tobie glared at the bar. "You going out again?"
   "In an hour." Holon passed Tobie on the way to his room.

   "I'll leave food out. Eat."

   Holon stepped into his room without acknowledgment and shut the door.

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Episode Twenty

2011-03-05T01:42:00.001-06:00

Life is an incessant series of problems. All difficult, with brutally limited choices...and a time limit.
~Chapel the Evergreen

Tobie drank deeply from the fountain, gulping the icy water as fast as he dared without drawing too much attention. Though with Gus glowering over him, there wasn't much call for being surreptitious.

"Come on, man," Gus whined. "You don't have to drink all of it, ya know."

Tobie held up a finger, taking a few more gulps, then straightened, touching the cuff of his sleeve to his mouth then delicately to his cheek. A thin line of blood dyed the white cotton. He glared at it before turning to Gus. "Alright.”.

"Freakin’ camel..." Gus shook his head as they continued down to homeroom.

Passing Edward just inside the classroom door, who eyed them over the attendance clipboard he griped firmly in hand, they made their way to their desks.

Rebeca swiveled in her chair, flashing a radiant smile. "Hi Tobie," she purred. "How's Shakespeare?"

Tobie glanced up the row. Teddy Logan and Adan Schrobrick were watching him; with ill concealed interest. "Boring. Jake and I skipped out half way through." He caught Teddy glance over his glasses at Adan.

Rebeca's eyebrow rose, the smile deepening. "Cool. Tobie, what happened to your face?" Her hand reached out to touch his cheek.

Tobie jerked away from her fingers, reclining further back in his chair. "Just... got shoved into an open locker during passing period."

"Who shoved you?" Rebeca's hand quickly pushed her hair behind her ear, as if pretending Tobie's reaction hadn't happened.

"Fight broke out. Don't worry. I took care of it."

"I'm sure you did. So." She leaned closer, her voice an urgent whisper. "What's the deal with your friend?"

Tobie forced his expression not to change. "Holon? What about him?" Movement caught his eye as Esther walked passed the front of the row.

"He was late today. And Jessica K said he was bleeding in art. Had bandages up to his elbows," Rebeca chattered, eyes bright with gossip.

Tobie propped his feet up on the back of her seat and she leaned nearer. "Gets into fights allot. He's got a nasty temper."

“Hmm…” Rebeca squinted at Holon's empty chair as if it had somehow offended her. "Seems like such a quiet guy."

"Yeah, well you know what they say. It's always the quiet ones. Was sent to the office last period, too."

Rebeca's eyes widened.

"Hey, Beca, you coming to our practice Friday?" Gus asked with mock nonchalance. "After school we're having a scrimmage."

Rebeca tossed her hair over her shoulder. "And why would I want to do that?"

Gus faltered. "Uh, to… cheer us on?"

"Isn't that when you play each other?" she scoffed.

"How about to cheer me on?" Tobie crossed his arms, grinning at Gus' scowl.

Rebeca's smile returned as she rested an arm over her desk. "What time?"

Gus brightened. "Probably right after practice. So, like 4:30."

"I'll see." She tucked her knees under her desk and faced front as Lampman entered the classroom.

"Hope everyone had fun in their respective electives." The bell rang and he set his briefcase on his desk. "Take your seats please. Mr. Logan, thank you." He opened his schedule and flipped a few pages. "Let's start with..." The door opened. Lampman paused with a sigh. "Late again, Mr. Huges."

"Apologies, sir."

"And no pass? Thought the Academy would've prepared you better. Take your seat. Alright, guys we have exams in a few weeks and your papers will be up for review before that. Lots to do, lots to cover. I know the holidays are coming up, but stay serious. Stay focused. I don't want to see any of you in this classroom next year for anything other then visiting a favorite prof, alright? Okay, open your English books to page 243."

Tobie pivoted in his chair as Holon passed him. "You sweep?"

Holon nodded as he sat and reached into his bag for his book.

"Anything?"

Holon shook his head. The top of "Inked Guide to Literary Analysis" edged up passed the zipper; then slipped from his grip. The book hit the floor with a bang, flipping the bag and sending notebooks skidding across to the next row of desks. Gus rocked back in his seat in surprise, jolting Esther. Rebeca and Sadie turned simultaneously in their chairs. Tobie glanced at the spilled papers and notebooks, settling under Row Four's desks, then at Holon. Two thin trickles of blood dripped down Holon's fingers. His fists closed slowly, thumb smearing the blood across his knuckles.

"What the hell, man?" Tobie dipped, snatching up the book and a few loose sheets from under his desk. He slid them onto the desk top, glaring at Holon; still bent slightly to the side of his desk, head lowered, not moving.

"Everything alright back there?" Lampman asked, pausing from setting up the over head.

"Fine, sir! Everything's fine." Tobie reached into his bag and took out a small packet of tissues. "Clean yourself up," he hissed, tossing them on Holon's desk.

"You...dropped these..."

Tobie's glare transferred to Esther, reaching across the row with a set of three notebooks in her hand. Her gaze flicked to him, then quickly back to Holon.

Holon pulled in his bleeding hand, shifting in his desk to take the stack.

"If you're still bleeding, you should go to the nurse," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

Tobie griped the back of his seat. "Mind your own business or you'll be the one bleeding." He smirked as she cringed and instantly turned forward. "We can't let this go, Hol," he said, lowering his voice as Holon straightened, setting the notebooks in his bag. "That... thing is dangerous. We need to find it and send it back."

Holon glanced up at him, taking the tissue packet.

"Alright, Mr. Sinclair, I think Mr. Huge's had all the assistance he requires. Eyes front."

Tobie rolled his eyes and swung his legs under his chair. The desk behind him creaked as Holon bent forward.

"It is gone."

Tobie frowned at his notebook as Lampman began the lesson. "Completely?"

"I doubt it has any interest in being here without the girl."

Tobie shut his eyes for a brief moment, then stared up at the ceiling.

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Episode Nineteen: Concepts

2011-02-11T18:31:00.002-06:00

Episode Nineteen

Concepts

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
-Voltaire

   Aulder turned to find her entire class gathered around the windows, gawking at the child below; sketches and artifacts abandoned. "Goodness! This does not concern all of you. Sit! Take your seats." She shooed them back with an agitated hand.

   "I could get her ma'am!" Meagan volunteered, hand in the air.

   Aulder raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do you know her?"

   "Uh...no...But I'm good with kids."

   Aulder thoughtfully pursed her lips. The class paused in their retreat. "No. Someone she knows or a teacher should get her. Miss St. Claire."

   Esther glanced up guiltily from the window, her hand still on the glass. "Yes mi...ma'am?"

   "You know her don't you?"

   "No ma'am! Just...just her brother."

   Audler sighed theatrically. "Oh, fine. All of you stay in your seats. I will deduct 5 points from your assignment if I see anyone pressing their nosy little noses against these windows." She headed to the door, grabbing a large knit shawl from her desk. "I'll be right--"

   "Mrs. Aulder!" Meagan shot up from her chair.

   "Sit down, Miss Elione."

   "But someone's already down there."

   Students rushed back to the windows, ignoring Audler's exasperated threats. Pushed aside, Esther caught a glimpse of blond hair and hint of silhouette. She backed away from the windows, hand pressed against her chest.

∞

   Tobie waited beside Jacob near the front office desk as the secretary searched for the medicine cabinet key. His gaze darted to the door, leg bouncing as he leaned against the wall.

   "You alright?"

   Tobie grinned down at him, sitting on the bench along the wall. "You asking me that?"

   "You seem kinda distracted. Vanessa get to you?"

   Tobie shook his head, eyes back on the door. "Nah. I just thought I saw..."

   "Jacob Linbert?"

   Jacob rose with a wince. "Right back man," he mumbled and followed the secretary to a far office.

   "Yeah...Ok..." Tobie ran a hand through his hair, fingers pausing to squeeze his ear-cuff. Staring down at his feet, his brow wrinkled. He lifted his head, staring blankly into the office a moment. Turning on his heel he slipped out the door. As he reached the front entrance to the English Building, a door opened.

Holon glanced up at him and nodded without breaking stride. Tobie hopped down the steps and was over the railing before the door closed.

∞

   Following the wisps of quickly evaporating mist, Tobie rounded the English Building. Tall interpretive sculptures sat along the manicured lawn, shaded by a large oak. Below it a small girl poked a pile of mud reverentially with a stick, speaking quietly as if to herself.

   Sighing, Tobie shook his head. "What're you doing here, Layah?"

   "I'm building a castle," Layah answered, not looking up. She patted the mud pile's sides until it was smooth under her small fingers.

   Tobie stared at the dirt down the front of her pinafore and coating her hands. He rolled his eyes. "This is no place to play in the mud, kid."

   "I am not playing," Layah insisted with as much oulter as a six year old could muster. "I am the royal castle builder and I have to finish the princess' castle before the dragon comes to eat her up." She scooped more cold mud with her stick and deposited it on the side of the pile; splat.

   Tobie closed his eyes a moment and took a breath. "Layah, ," he said, impatience rising into his voice. "You need to come with me now." He reached down for her, but she yanked the stick up, slinging mud across his slacks.

   "No!"

   Tobie’s mouth rounded for a yell, but a shimmer behind the girl shut it. A blob of air glistened, shifted and grew along the tree trunk; bits of it reaching up into the branches. "Layah," he said cautiously, not bending down to her this time. "Leave the mud and come on, will ya?"

   "I said it’s a castle. It's a castle!"

   Tobie winced at her shrill pitch, but beneath the girl the mud shifted. A tiny bit of the side reached up towards the sky, rounded, grew little lumps of mud at the top. Arches carved themselves in the sides. A wider arch, drawn slowly and meticulously, curved across the front as the other side, eliciting a heady scent of wet earth as it shuddered and stretched into a battlement.

   Tobie glared at the evolving mud, then up at the shimmer that wafted gently to and fro above the child, edges glistening as if catching the light. "Come on kid. We need to get you back to the Conservatory before you get into trouble."

   Layah ignored him, talking quietly to the mud, drawing squiggly lines around the castle.

   Tobie's jaw set. "I don't have time for this." He leaned down for her arm. The stick shot up and rapt him hard across his knuckles. He jerked back in surprise, a thin line of mud speckling his hand. Vacillating colors, iridescent and light, curled over the girl's wrist.

   Layah leaned back, her little face scrunched up, and glared at Tobie. "You stay away."

   "Layah, its me. Tobie. You know me."

   Layah jammed the stick beside the castle with satisfaction. "We know what you are."

   "What I..." Tobie glanced at the haze. It rippled. Subtle colors rose up around its middle and played as reflections along its sides, refracting prism-like behind the girl. "It's ok, Layah." He knelt, watching the colors carefully. His hand stretched out again; slowly, as if to a skiddish animal. The haze shuddered, the colors multiplied. A soft hum caught the air as a thin bit of crystallized pastel, long and thin as a whipped fishing line, flicked forward and slashed at Tobie's face. Layah screamed, her hands covering her ears.

   "Stop it! Get away! She's mine!"

   "Layah!"

   Her head shot up. The anger and fear drained as her hands lowered.

   Jacob rounded the sculptures and dashed towards them. "What the he--" He swallowed. "What are you doing here? Dad's gonna kill me!" He marched past Tobie, kneeling motionless in the yard, and grabbed his sister's arm. The haze shrunk back, settling into a muted glisten.

   "I just wanted to play..." Layah whimpered as Jacob hosted her to her feet.

   "You can't 'play' here, Layah! Oh, man look at your uniform!" Jacob grimaced, dropping her arm to run a a hand over his forehead. "Geez, we've been over this."

   "Brother...?" Her hand touched the top of his.

   Jacob sighed and knelt in front of her. The haze rippled, its form pulling in, seeping clear, shrinking down. " Let's get you back, alright?" He took her hand and stood, turning to go, but paused when she didn't budge.

   "Will...will you tell Daddy?" Layah asked, fidgeting with the edge of her soiled skirt.

   Jacob pressed a knuckle between his brows. "No. Not if you go right now. And we'll tell Susan you...fell at recess."

   "Ok." Layah nodded and stepped over her castle, which shivered as if doused with water and collapsed back into a pile of mud.

   "So this is what distracted you," Jacob said as they turned to Tobie.

   "Uh...yeah." Tobie stood quickly. "Tried to get her for you..."

   "Thanks man. Come on, kid."

   Glaring at the quickly vanishing haze, Tobie lifted his hand to his cheek; sliding over his face to the place the ungula had lashed him. His fingers came away sticky.

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