The Key To Eternity

Chapter 1-5

The bistro had a beautiful ocean view. Lia could see the jetties and the sea lions in the distance. The air smelled like salt. A shack in pitiful condition sat in the middle of the beach, breaking the ambiance. Other than that, it was a dream place for a bed and breakfast.

People in varying states of undress walked the street as if it was the most natural thing in the world. A juggler showed his amazing skill, throwing and catching running chainsaws. Lia had never seen so many weird characters in one place. Venice Beach is definitely a world in its own. Her mind started spinning with details that would make her project blend and, at the same, become iconic in this eclectic place.

She craned her neck and looked carefully at the location of the building—the light, the ground, and the dimensions—as much as she could from the bistro. A Victorian manor house, which looked as if it hadn’t been updated since it was built, hunkered across the street from the beach, its peeling paint and cracked windows forlorn. I’ll have a closer look before going back to the office.

There’s beauty in its bones, though, she thought. With some love, and a historical registration, people will line up to stay here. She stared harder. Wait, wasn’t the carport on the right? Wasn’t that bay window on the left?

Her breath caught. The picture in front of her was not the same as the one in her plans. Nothing I’ve done so far is going to work; I have to redo my sketches from scratch.

“Sure, no problem. We can have the final proposal for next Monday. We have it almost nailed by now.” Jerry´s voice intruded in her consciousness.

She looked at him, her eyes wide.

“Something to say, Miss MacArthur? Isn´t the Burton and Burton star architect able to finish the proposal in time?” Earl sneered, smiling his oily smile.

“I would,” she said spitting her words, “if I had been provided with accurate information. Look at the building! Everything is wrong!”

“What are you talking about, Lia?” Jerry gave her the look. She knew that look. It meant do not discuss anything in public.

“Nothing,” she muttered. “I need to see the building up close. If you’ll excuse me…”

* * * *

Lia lifted her head from the plans she’d been working on all day, trying to fix the differences between reality and the material she had received. She examined the measurements and pictures her people had taken two months before, and they supported the information provided.

It’s so weird, almost as if the place rotated and twisted. How could the terrain change?

True, Los Angeles had been built near a fault line, and the land could undergo seismic shifts, but what about the building on it? Wouldn´t it break apart if the land underneath just changed its shape? Yet, there it was, in one piece, but different. Like magic.

A creeping sense of emptiness crept up her spine, and she realized the office the building team had provided for her use was deserted. Her computer marked 6:30 local time. She shivered and the hair on the back of her neck lifted. She had no idea why.

Fear gripped her, and she couldn´t stay a minute longer. This is a problem. How am I going to finish the project in the time projected if I can only work regular hours?

Unable to resist the compulsion to leave, she gathered her papers. Fine, I’ll work at the townhouse.

She remembered Mr. Tall, Tanned and Disgusting, and her angst grew. She could almost see his eyes like black pits, boring holes in her soul. The uneasy feeling grew even more, touching the dangerous border of hysteria.

“I have to get out of here,” she muttered. She picked up her bag and some papers and ran out of the office, forgetting half of the material she needed to go on working at home.