Ascension

by C J M Naylor

  But I was going to get him back. I had to hang on to that thought. I was going to get him back.

  There was a creaking sound as the door to the bedroom opened and closed.

  "Abby?" Alma's voice came out of the darkness.

  "Yes?"

  "I'm sorry if I woke you," Alma said, coming to my side of the bed and falling to her knees. I could make her out in the moonlight pouring in through the bedroom window.

  "It's fine, I wasn't really sleeping at all."

  I could tell that Alma was visibly nervous. She was playing with her hands and rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. I reached around her and clicked on the bedside lamp.

  "Is everything okay?"

  She looked away for a moment and then looked back, shaking her head.

  "Tomorrow, or well, today now," she began, "well, it could change everything. This is about Oliver and, well, he hasn't expressed any interest in me."

  I knew that a smile was growing on my face.

  "I'm fairly certain he's interested."

  "Then why won't he tell me?" she asked.

  "Maybe he's afraid?" I suggested. "There is a lot going on right now."

  Alma nodded, looking down. "I know there is. I just want to be with him."

  Reaching out, I touched the tip of Alma's chin and she looked back up at me.

  "Tell him," I told her. "Tell him how you feel. Remember, you said tomorrow could change everything. Maybe it's now or never? Tell him."

  "You think so?"

  "I know so," I responded. "Tell him."

  Alma extended her arms and pulled me into an embrace. We held each other, in that moment, as if tomorrow would never come. But the truth was, it already had.

  Alma went back to her room and I fell back asleep. This time, I was able to stay asleep, and it was actually peaceful. Talking to her had given me hope. Hope that everything would turn out okay. Hope that I would fix everything. Hope that nothing would go wrong.

  A chirp, chirp, chirp from outside my bedroom window woke me in the morning. When I opened my eyes, I looked over to see a robin perched on the windowsill. And a memory came back to me, from all those months ago, back when I was in London with Bridget. Back before everything about my life, except for the fact that I was a Timekeeper, had changed forever.

  She had said that the robin lives each day with no worries and no fears. She had said I was clearly going through many things in my life right now and shouldn't be afraid. And here I was, almost a year later, living in a world without her, without my parents, without Phillip. And now without Thomas.

  But the strange thing about it all was I wasn't afraid. I was no longer afraid of the darkness. I was no longer afraid of what would happen. Because I knew that I had to fix this. That I would fix this or I would die trying. And so, I climbed out of the bed and walked over to the window, looking at the robin still perched on the windowsill.

  "Whatever happens, happens," I said to the robin. "And I won't be afraid."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The four of us made our way to the Paris Headquarters early that morning. Perrine had done quite the job on making Alma and Oliver look completely different using some makeup as well as a few changes to their hairstyles. And my heart had lit up when I walked into the kitchen finding the two of them holding hands. Upon seeing me, they had quickly pulled away from each other, their faces growing red. I simply smiled and went about my business.

  Now as we walked through the streets of Paris, Alma and Oliver hovering somewhere behind us so as not to draw attention, my thoughts were focused on the task ahead. I had to get into the original Headquarters and turn back time. Getting in wouldn't be the problem. It would be getting around Lucinda and whatever she had planned. And I hoped my mother was ready to do whatever she needed to do. Because now was the time.

  As we walked toward the Eiffel Tower, the only thing going through my mind was the fact that this was it. This was the end. And I hoped, I prayed, that it would end in my favor.

  "Of course, they would put the Headquarters under the Eiffel Tower," I said to Perrine as we drew closer.

  She looked back at me and smiled. "I forget you're still new to all of this. It's actually the other way around. Non-Timekeepers put the Eiffel Tower on top of the Headquarters."

  I nodded. I should have remembered this. Mathias had explained it to me once when I inquired about the London Headquarters and its location under Big Ben.

  "Are you afraid?" Perrine asked as we drew closer.

  “No. I've spent so long being afraid that I can't be anymore. Now I'm just angry. And determined to end all of this."

  “I can understand wanting it to be over, but make sure you're careful. Also, once we get closer, I will have to take you in as if you're a prisoner."

  "I understand," I said.

  The temperature was continuing to drop. I hugged myself. We were walking across the grass now, approaching the tower.

  "We have to take the elevator when no one else is on it," Perrine said.

  I nodded and when we approached the ground floor elevator, we waited until we would be the only ones on board, plus Oliver and Alma. They stood off to the side, appearing as if they had no connection with us at all. The doors closed and Perrine took a pocket watch from around her neck and tapped it on the elevator panel. All of the buttons lit up simultaneously and then the elevator began to descend into darkness. And then there was light as we descended into the Paris Headquarters. It was everywhere. Lights dangled from the ceilings in strips, twinkling. Balls of light were attached to long cords that fell from the ceiling. In the middle of the room stood a giant clock, the hands removed to represent that time was forever—it never ended.

  "We take the name City of Lights seriously here at the Paris Headquarters," Perrine said, a smile on her face.

  "I think it's beautiful. Is Headrick stationed here then?"

  "She technically still has her old office here," Perrine responded. "But most days she's at the Central Headquarters."

  "I see."

  "But now I have to take you prisoner," Perrine said. "Are you ready?"

  I looked at her and nodded. She gripped my arm as if she was using force to bring me in and then when the elevator came to a stop, the doors opening, she led me out and up to a desk not too far away where a receptionist sat.

  "I need to see Angela Headrick immediately," Perrine said to the receptionist. "Tell her I have Abigail Jordan in custody."

  Guards came and led Perrine and I to a set of stairs. They led us further and further down until we came to a single door. A plaque on the door read Councilor Angela Headrick. The guard pushed open the door and I was led into a spacious, round office. Lining the walls were various portraits of events in history. And in the center of the room was a large mahogany desk. Lucinda sat behind it and standing near her was Headrick.

  "Thank you, gentlemen," Headrick said to the guards. "You are dismissed."

  Headrick looked over to Perrine. "You've proven yourself to be quite dependent Ms. Naudé. I assume you have other business to attend to, but if you'd like to stay, you are most welcome. We could always use some additional assistance."

  "I'd like to stay if that's alright, ma'am," Perrine said.

  "Very well."

  Once the guards left the room, Lucinda stood and walked over to me. Her heels clicked against the floor menacingly as she circled me. I had no idea what she was doing or if she was looking for something. And then she looked at Headrick and spoke.

  "Will you excuse us, Angela?"

  Headrick nodded and beckoned for Perrine to follow her out of her office, closing the door behind her.

  Lucinda turned back to me and then walked back to the front of the desk, perching herself on the tip of it, crossing her arms, and looking at me.

  "You and I are similar, Abigail."

  "I'm nothing like you."

  She smiled. "Oh, on the contrary, you are. You see we've both felt like outsiders at one point or a
nother. You used to believe you were insane because you heard those whispers growing up. You were afraid to tell anyone about it. If I remember correctly, Melanie even told me friend of yours, Bridget, thought you should seek help for it. Melanie's been listening to you for a long time, you see. I too have felt the shame of having to hide my true self from the world. And with this prophecy, with what it entails, we will no longer have to hide. We will rise above everyone else as the dominant and more superior race."

  "Rise above who?" I asked. "Everyone's going to die given the Time Line resetting itself."

  Lucinda grinned again. "People will die, yes, but people will live too. Humans have survived an Ice Age before. Believe me I know. I was there."

  "How old are you?" I asked her.

  Lucinda shrugged. "You lose track after a while. But believe me Abigail, I've been around long enough to know that humans are never going to change. Unless we reset the scales and show our true selves from the beginning, they will always live in fear of us should we expose ourselves. They will always fight against us and attempt to destroy us. It's ironic, given the fact they can't live without us."

  "I'm done listening to you. I won't help you."

  And then she smiled that smile again. That smile that made my skin crawl.

  She walked over to me and leaned in close, whispering into my ear.

  "I don't need your help," she said. "I already have you. And that will suffice. Forgive me for trying to make things a little better for you."

  She stood up straight and called out, "Angela."

  The door to the office opened and Headrick peeked in. "Yes, ma'am?"

  "Have Ms. Naudé take her to a cell. Prepare for travel. We will depart in the morning."

  Headrick nodded and Perrine gripped my arm again and took me away. As she did, I hoped against all hope I'd be able to see Thomas.

  Perrine led me to the Time Line of the Paris Headquarters.

  "The prison for Timekeepers is at Central Headquarters," she said as we descended another level.

  "Will Thomas be there?" I asked.

  “He should be."

  "And what about Oliver and Alma?"

  Perrine glanced about as we walked through the corridors, most likely checking to make sure that we were alone.

  "They'll have to hide away here tonight and follow us in the morning," she finally said. "I'll keep them informed."

  It was then I realized we had ended up at the end of a corridor, a large door from floor to ceiling rising in front of me. Perrine took out her pocket watch and placed it in a circular indention in the door. The oak door lit up and then began to ascend, slowly sliding up into the ceiling, revealing the Time Line behind it.

  "It's always fascinated me how every Headquarters is different," I said to her. "The London Headquarters always seemed so simple. And then the San Francisco Headquarters felt grand and made the world seem so much larger. This place makes it feel like a different world entirely."

  Perrine looked over and smiled. "I suppose it just shows how different we all are underneath. No one person is the same. Something Lucinda doesn't seem to grasp."

  "She's lived for thousands of years," I confided in Perrine. "She's been alive all this time. She's seen it all. How am I possibly going to stop her?"

  Perrine squeezed my arm. It wasn't painful, but reassuring.

  "You've made it this far Abigail Jordan," she said. "Now isn't the time to start doubting yourself."

  I looked ahead at the Time Line. "I won't be afraid."

  I wasn't necessarily speaking to her, or to anyone. Maybe I was speaking to myself? I didn't know. But I had to remind myself of this morning. Of the robin. And how I couldn't be afraid of what was to come. How I had to let whatever would happen, happen.

  "I can't go with you, I'm afraid," Perrine said.

  “I figured as much."

  "Are you ready?"

  Looking back at the Time Line, I hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

  "Whatever happens, happens," I said, and I took a step forward.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Upon arriving at the Central Headquarters, I was immediately taken down to the prison. When they mentioned the word "prison," I had assumed it would look like a normal prison, but that was far from the truth. The Timekeeper's Prison was made up of a single, wide-open room with large circles in various spots. These circles represented clocks.

  The guard who had escorted me down to the prison took me to an open circle. And as he took out his pocket watch and laid it into an indent in the floor outside of the circle, I realized Thomas was in the circle next to mine. His back was to me, which was why I hadn’t seen him upon entering the room, and he appeared to be sleeping. The entire room was rather odd and I didn't quite understand it until the guard placed me inside the circle and walked away. Curious, I reached up and out and found myself trapped by an invisible wall.

  Throughout the room, other circles were filled with people, about ten in all. Most of them were asleep, but some of them stared off at the wall, completely out of touch with reality. To me it felt worse than a normal prison. There were no beds. Were we expected to sleep on the cold, stone floor? Did they feed us? Did they allow us to use a bathroom? None of these questions had been answered for me. And while I knew it would be rude to those around me, I knew I needed to talk to Thomas. And so I said his name. But he didn't respond.

  "Thomas," I said louder.

  Looking around me, I was surprised to see no one paying attention to my raised voice. So, I screamed, but nobody flinched. They couldn't hear me. Whatever this barrier did, one of its powers was keeping out all sound. Or, not keeping it out, but keeping it in.

  Knowing Thomas would wake up at some point, I let myself fall back against the invisible barrier and sit on the floor. I couldn't sleep though. He could wake up at any time and I needed to be ready when he did. Hugging my knees to my chest, I waited for Thomas.

  The strangest thing about being in a circular prison that most likely represented a clock was that I had no idea how much time had passed and no way of keeping track. I might have been sitting there for hours for all I knew. But it was also possible only a short amount of time had passed. Finally, Thomas began to stir, stretching his arms out in front of him. He then stood up and walked around his circle, stretching his legs. I stood up so he could see me more clearly, and when he looked up and saw me staring at him, his face went through several different expressions.

  At first, he seemed angry, but the anger was quickly wiped away and replaced with concern. He looked at me with so much concern I knew in that moment we would always come back to each other, even after the worst of our arguments.

  He moved his lips.

  Can you read them? he asked.

  I nodded and then used my lips as well.

  I might not be the best interpreter though.

  He smiled, holding up his hand to the invisible wall. I did the same and imagined that I could feel the palm of his hand against mine, our fingers curling together, even though we were in different circles.

  I'm sorry I kept the truth from you, I said. I just didn't want you to get hurt.

  He nodded in understanding, absentmindedly tracing his index finger over the wall.

  From now on, he said, you need to know you can tell me anything. Anything.

  I will.

  I yawned, confirming my suspicion that I had been there for quite some time. I needed rest.

  Get some sleep, Thomas lipped to me. I'll be here when you wake up.

  I love you, I said to him through the glass.

  It was the first time that I had said it to him. He had said to me at a time when I thought my world would never be the same. We had said it about each other to others. But I had never said it to him. And his face changed then. It turned into something that expressed how much he wanted to bring down the barriers between us.

  I love you, too, he said.

  And with that, I let myself slide back against the wall an
d slowly fall asleep.

  "Wake up."

  I heard the words and I knew the voice. Ian. I couldn't fathom the idea of looking at him, so I kept my eyes shut. And then came a kick that made me cry out in pain.

  "Don't you fucking touch her!" I heard Thomas shout.

  And then I heard a groan of pain from Thomas and my eyes flashed open, finding him out of his cell and on the floor in pain, a guard standing next to him.

  "I don't recall asking you to speak," Ian said, looking down at Thomas.

  Thomas looked up at Ian with daggers in his eyes but didn't say anything more. Ian looked back at me watching the two of them and smiled.

  "Hello, Abby."

  I shook my head at him. "You've lost the right to call me that. You've lost the right to even use my name."

  Ian shrugged. "Very well."

  He stepped forward and grabbed my arm, wrenching me up off the floor and causing me to groan in pain again.

  And then everything else happened in a split second. Thomas broke free of the guard's restraint and was barreling across the room. Ian didn't even have time to be surprised before Thomas threw himself into him, slamming him against the wall and punching him square in the face. Ian slumped to the floor and the guards ran across the room and threw Thomas to the ground.

  Clicks of heels against the stone floor pulled everyone's attention away from Ian. We looked over to see Lucinda entering the room, already dressed for travel in a trench coat.

  "My, my," she said looking around the room. "Ian, don't you think it is at all possible for you to complete the simplest of tasks without a revolution breaking out?"