Switched and Fears

by Shannon Rieger

  I decided to ask Saige’s husband for help, despite the warnings.

  The hunting cabin was small but the three of us used sleeping bags to keep warm. Meryk hadn’t sent a message. A trill at the window made Amber shriek. The sheer fright of her scream made my pulse almost explode. Green eyes looked inside eagerly, and its mouth opened.

  “The cat is here!” Amber screamed and opened the door. The cat came inside and come to me for a pet.

  “Where were you, you dumb cat?” I said. “I was worried and heartbroken that you didn’t come.”

  “He must have followed us without us seeing.”

  “That’s true. He slinks in the shadows.”

  “I’m glad that you got your cat back,” Ruby smiled. “Now hush, and get some sleep. Who knows what events lay ahead?”

  Amber whispered, “I hoped he’d follow your ham grease smell.”

  “Good call. Likely helped.”

  “As long as the beasts don’t realize that’s your new smell.”

  “It’s sticky and gross.”

  When Amber noticed Sky-Guy licking my arm, she said, “You made a friend.”

  “Sure did.”

  As Amber chattered about her love for the cat, and I stroked the cat’s fur, something dawned on me. Just a few days before I was swarmed in the forest by the Pact, Sky-Guy had found that little robotic insect with glowing eyes. It had spied on me and had sent information about my whereabouts to those in charge.

  It’s likely that Meryk would have moved me from there if he had known that the insect was close enough for Sky-Guy to have caught it. It had already called in the troops by the time Sky-Guy had brought it to me.

  It was also likely that they had changed the target criteria to include that I had a cat as a companion. The cat would likely become a problem for me. I would stand out now. It was likely that the little robotic insect who had been scouting the area had heard my voice. I worried that more could find me.

  I swallowed, my heart thumping and when Ruby shushed Amber again, I used that to keep my mouth shut about my revelation. I was embarrassed by my stupid mistake. I couldn’t handle Meryk finding out and scolding me for not telling him about the bug, and for going out into the forest by myself without telling anyone.

  I could hear the man outside guarding the yard. His keys jingled in my nightmares as I tried to fall asleep. Each time he walked past the cabin on his rounds, it made me ill with anxiety. I hated the sound of keys clamoring.

  In the morning, Ruby read a note from the guard. “Meryk has a new place for us to go. Back where we came from, actually.”

  “Same place?” Amber asked.

  “Nope. Another one.” She sighed.

  Her eyes were tired, dark circles hung beneath. I had to figure out how to find help that didn’t include this family. I knew Meryk would continue to work with his ‘people’ but how could he trust that his family was safe if I was the reason they were in danger in the first place. I made mistake after mistake and I didn’t know if my anxiety could handle putting them in harm’s way.

  I had to find others to help me. I needed to leave this family so they could fight against the bad people without keeping me safe at the same time. I couldn’t put Amber in danger anymore. My decision was made.

  “Change your scent,” Ruby said, as she packed up.

  Amber took out a small clove of garlic.

  Ruby continued, “The pact has been drawn away, Meryk said, and he will come when the coast is clear for him to do so. Two days, he says just to be sure no one is following him. Let’s get moving.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Meryk had suggested that Ruby and Amber leave the apartment often for walks to avoid rumours from neighbours about no movement at the home. I, in turn, spent a lot of time with the cat alone in the apartment playing solitaire. I also began to pack my clothes and a little food, over time, waiting until I had enough to live on my own.

  I had written a letter of thanks and good bye to Meryk, Ruby and Amber. I didn’t forget to ask them to take care of Sky-Guy. I needed to avoid the spies looking for me with the cat. Lastly, I had torn the page of a phone book that I needed and shoved it in the bag.

  Before Amber and Ruby came back from one of their daily walks, I placed the good-bye letters on the table and left the shawl on the chair. I touched it and thought about how much I was going to miss them.

  When I closed the door, my hand remained on the doorknob before I, finally, let go. Sky-Guy meowed from the other side. I couldn’t risk him following me because then I might be noticed.

  I turned to face the alley. I adjusted my bag. I took a few steps, drew in a breath to stop myself from crying. It was heart wrenching to walk further and further away. I had come to love this family, but this was the reason I needed to leave. They were not safe as long as I stayed with them. The little spies could find me without my knowing.

  If I remained quiet and changed my scent and looks often, I could avoid being sensed by the creatures.

  I left the house with only one destination in mind. I slipped through shadowed alleys, and hid when I knew I might be seen. I took my time and remained cautious with every step. I listened for the whirrs of The Pack.

  I came to the building in which I had planned to live and watched for ten minutes before making my move. I climbed the five steps to the front door and listened to movement within. When I heard nothing stirring, I opened the door and slipped inside. I turned the dead bolt.

  The shelf on the ground over the vent that I had pushed over on the first day of my escape had not been moved. No one had come in while I was gone. The contents of this building were, as far as I was concerned, free for the taking.

  I knew that I could escape down the hatch and hide if something came looking. I kept my bag in the cupboard, out of sight, and did not unpack. I needed to be able to grab it quickly if I was in danger. I gathered the cans that were in the cupboard, along with the can opener. I also took a bowl and a set of utensils and put it in my getaway bag.

  I thought about the clothes in the closet in the hall. I changed into a new set so that I could travel in the streets easier. A light pink top and a pair of black slacks. The socks were still stuffed in the drawer. I found underwear, too.

  I worked on the bathroom window next. It budged after I scraped some of the paint around the edges. It made an echoing screech as I pushed it up, so I left it where it was. I knew I could use it to escape if I had to.

  I shook out the blanket on the mattress next. The dust was caked on it. I used the broom to sweep up the debris and released it into a garbage bin. I used a little water on the mop to clean the dust off the floor.

  I gathered some of the bandages that had fallen to the floor when I grabbed the box the last time. I checked the medications more thoroughly, and took what I thought I could use, and put them in my getaway bag.

  My eyes fell heavy. The sadness returned to my mind as I thought about Amber and the cat. I lay on the mattress and had a nap to build up my strength for my next task.

  A nap turned into a full night’s sleep. In the morning, I took time filling the cracks of the house where I thought a critter could spy. I used what tape I could find, and then I shoved socks into other crevices. I used some of the dirty paper towels, too.

  I practiced lifting the shelf upright and wrenched the grate up until it loosened. I dipped my head into the tunnels to listen for movement. Nothing stirred.

  By afternoon, I was starved. I opened a can of beans and ate it. I felt alone. I missed Amber. I missed Sky-Guy. I reminded myself that I did this for their safety.

  With a full belly, I knew it was time to complete my next task. I dreaded going but knew that it was the only option I had left. I sprinkled baby powder on the floor so that I could tell if someone had come inside my home while I was away. I doused myself with an obnoxious cologne from the bathroom drawer.

  The streets were wet and I skirted around puddles as I made my way to the address that I had torn
from the old phone book. 275 Chestnut Drive. The home of S. Anderson.

  Worms squirmed on the sidewalk. The scent of freshly fallen rain enveloped me as I walked along Chestnut Drive. The rain kept butterflies away. The sun was hidden behind the grey clouds for the first time since I had come to this Edgefield. The sun shone all the time, as if it were magic. Today, it seemed to be an ominous omen to abandon my plan. I didn’t listen.

  A butter yellow bricked two-storey home with a large bay window and wrap around porch stood out from the red brick ranchers on the street. The curved landscaping wound around two large butterfly gardens and led to a burgundy glass-paneled front door. Sun reflected off the bay window as I stood on the dark stained deck.

  What stood behind that door wasn’t my husband and yet I looked like his wife. And I had no idea if he was angry about what my doppelganger had done. I had no idea if he would believe that I came from another world. I didn’t even have an idea what to say first when he answered the door. Or if I should just pretend to be the other Saige and ask for help.

  Standing on the porch, I stood fidgeting and biting my nails.

  I recalled the day I showed up on the streets of this world with a man shouting at me to hurry. Was the other Saige married to the man in the expensive suit with the Rolex on his wrist? I recalled what he looked like from that first day in this world. If he was my husband, why hadn’t he visited me in jail? Was he allowed? Was he disappointed in what his wife was capable of doing to another person? If he hated me, would he help me now? Maybe he knew what his wife had done to me.

  The familiar man in the expensive suit opened the door, sipping his coffee, which he sprayed on me. “Saige?!” He wiped his beard with his hand. His eyes were such a dark brown, they were like shiny black beetles. That made me shudder. “Sorry. I didn’t expect you back…”

  I nodded at him.

  “What…happened?” He placed his mug on the foyer table. “Why are you back so soon? Did it not…go well?”

  “I’m not who you think I am…You need to let me come in. Please.”

  “Come in?”

  Wouldn’t he have heard about my escape already? Surely, they had come and asked him questions. I narrowed my eyes at him. He took it as anger. I scanned the roads for vehicles watching his house. “Let me in.”

  “But why are you...”

  “I need your help!”

  He stepped aside as I pushed through, stomping into the foyer. He called to me as I charged towards the living room. A huge television hung on the wall and it caught my attention. The glass-tiled fireplace. The white furniture and white wood trim. The pale-yellow walls. The room was gorgeous, except for the monstrous sized television. I peered through the large, bay window. The view from the road worried me. If anyone came by the house, I needed to protect myself from being seen. I led him to the back of the house where it was safely out of view.

  “What happened, Saige? Are you alright? Did something happen?”

  “I’m not your wife. I have not committed a crime.”

  “What are you talking about, Saige?”

  “I am not the woman you married.”

  He, suddenly, stopped and watched me. “Wait. What?”

  “I’m not your wife.”

  “What do you…mean?”

  “I didn’t do anything. But your wife did…” I groaned in frustration.

  His eyes grew and he glanced around the room, looking for something. Maybe for a weapon. What was he thinking?

  I continued, trying to keep him calm as his eyes shuffled about his house. “Your wife committed a heinous crime, but didn’t want to deal with the consequences. So, she…well, somehow, switched with me. I came to this world, and I am under the assumption that she went to mine. I need to go back home.”

  “You are serious.” He glared at me, his mouth gaping.

  “Did your wife ever talk about another world. Or about escaping this one? Or did she talking about running away? Anything?”

  He cleared his throat. Then he panicked about my presence and said, “I don’t understand what you are trying to tell me, Saige.” He crossed his arms but still his eyes fluttered around.

  “Listen to me. There must have been something you remember leading up to the day I was arrested. Think, darn it!”

  “Let me think,” he said, and backed away. He didn’t believe a word I said.

  “Why did she do it?” I whispered.

  He watched me for a moment.

  I grunted. “Are you still not understanding?” I stomped around the kitchen. “I guess I wouldn’t believe me either. I sound crazy…”

  He nodded.

  I stopped and studied his face. “I’m not lying. I need help. I need to know how your wife pulled it off.”

  “I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he, blankly, said.

  I groaned in frustration again. “I didn’t kill anyone. Your wife did and she had to have had a reason. I’m here to find out how she switched places with me…I want to know how to go home.” I mumbled to myself, “I’m not going to get through to you. Why bother? Listen you can’t…” I stormed towards the back door.

  “Hang on, right here. I would like to understand. I would. You are my wife and I’m listening…but you aren’t making sense.” His facial expression suggested that something had triggered a thought or memory. Maybe now he remembered something about what his wife had done or said.

  He went to the other room. I paced. A photo of the man and my doppelganger hung on the wall. Another one on the shelf of their wedding day. It was unnerving to see my face in the pictures. He came back with Scotch. “Let’s have a drink. Calm down. Talk.”

  This is when I noticed a silhouette through the window, beckoning me. Jaxson stood at the rear of the yard, waving his arms to come out to him. My eyes widened.

  I faced my doppelganger’s husband. My mind spun. “Can you…get me some clean clothes?” I wanted him to leave the floor so that I could see what was happening outside. I didn’t want this man to get hurt.

  He stared at me, and then nodded. He placed the bottle of scotch on the counter and went to the stairway, disappearing up the stairs.

  I went to the patio door, slid it open as Jaxson rushed towards me.

  “Jaxson!” I whispered.

  “He is going to call the police. They are coming for you…you will be captured.”

  “How do I know I can trust you?”

  “They didn’t learn that I was a part of your escape. Nothing has happened to me. Yet! But if you don’t get out of here right now, you are going to force me to get involved.”

  I heard ‘expensive suit’ coming back, the squeak of the floor boards above me.

  Jaxson extended his hand, and before I knew it, I grasped on and he pulled me out the door, closing it behind me.

  “Run. Now.” Jaxson looked to his left. “They are already here.”

  I ran to the emerald cedars lining the back fence.

  “Climb up and over. Run through the yards until you find a place to hide.”

  “Come with me.”

  “No, I have to blend in. Pretend that I have come for you. They think I’m on their side. They must never know.”

  Jaxson helped me over and then returned to the house. He climbed the steps of the porch just as the other guards showed up from either side of the house. I could only assume that the place had been surrounded. I ran as I heard the barking of demands at the patio door.

  I jumped fence after fence and then fear prickled up my spine when I heard the reptilian insect squeals. I had to change my scent. In an open garage, I, ironically, found a fragrant bug guard spray and doused myself in it.

  I ran to the garage door which lead to the house and tried the knob. It opened. I slid inside just as the yips of the insects echoed through the garage. A set of stairs into the basement just to the right. No one stirred. I fled down the steps and then found a closet to hide in. My body trembled.

  I listened and at the silence, I slid u
ntil I sat down on the closet floor. I thought about Jaxson's eyes. He had lost the fire in them. He had stopped taking the medication and was pretending to fight on their side. Within seconds, I would’ve been caught.

  My eyelids were heavy. I waited for a long time before attempting to leave my hiding place. Only once did I hear any noise coming from upstairs. It scared me to the very pit of my stomach. I had no indication that it was someone looking for me in the house; no voices, no hastened steps, no robotic claw sounds against the flooring. They would have the place surrounded. How would I ever find a safe way to travel with those insects tracking me? I sprayed my body again.

  When I exited my hiding place and took careful steps up the stairs, I crossed the landing to a hallway. I looked both ways before entering. I listened for someone in the house. I crept through a laundry room and into a hallway. Movement near the front door caused me to freeze against the wall. I couldn’t see over the cabinets and shelving; A half wall hid what was moving near the door.

  I glanced to my right into a kitchen. A back door lay beyond. A whirring sound erupted the silence once more. A decision to be made. Retreat to the back door just through the kitchen or back where I had come from through the garage.

  The garage was at the front of the house. If there were guards searching, I’d risk being sighted. Something caught my attention on the other side of the half wall partition between the hallway and the front door, a dining room on the one side, the foyer on the other.

  I crouched and then decided to crawl towards the half wall on the side of the dining room, the carpeting likely to quiet my shuffling.

  But just as I began to crawl past the dining room table to hide in the corner build-in shelving unit, a light alerted me to something watching through the window. One of the robotic insects!

  An alarm rose to an ear-piercing level, lights flashing in reds and yellows. I took a chance with the back door through the kitchen. The whirring remained near the doorway. I glanced back to see if creatures pursued me. A vacuum robot made its way through the foyer, whirring and spinning. I had been spooked by a vacuum?!