Elevate

Drifting Curtains

“Oh, the Informant.” He said almost in a whisper. He took some glances over the place and moved his face near to us. “Can we talk about this inside my office?” He requested.

The bar had been filled with different clients. The stadium was being hurled by those sleek, pretty young women, getting ready for the latter’s event. The lights were a bit dimmed as the stage was bitten by those beats. His place was now set on both the second and the third grounds. But most of the time, he can be seen in the topmost branch of his business. Mr. Butch Thwight had been occupied by his hectic schedules and daily routine together with Cody as his personal assistant. The man is surely having his great time in managing his errands.

His hair had grown long down to his shoulders and he got a fit, busty body. He pulled his apron, tainted with sauce and spices. When we entered the vicinity, we caught him in the kitchen, making soup and buttered chicken. Now, he’s a bit anxious about his surroundings and would rather let us be inside his abode and settle things in. When he heard about the man, his face became stern.

Clearing his throat, he instructed Cody to fill his place for a while and continued in accommodating the customers. The man nodded in agreement and went to his spot and the rest of us followed Mr. Butch in his office which was in the right corner of the bar, near the stadium. He opened the door for us and hovered in his wooden, long table. His pets which used to be in his old bar in that tiny, astonishing aquarium, the Incys, greeted us with those fins. They have grown a lot bigger than before and their scales were in radiant colors, sparkling in the water.

Still, they’re the man’s luck. Surely, they’re kept for good in his hands and it could clearly be seen that Mr. Butcher is still hooked by them, carefully taking care of them. In the right corner were his shelves filled with thick, used books and newspapers. There was an angel ornament on top of it and a flower vase beside it. The pale yellow clock was ticking continuously on the wall. The sooty, insipid red carpet sagged on the clear, wooden floor. Everything is well organized.

We settled around the couch, facing the man. The kids were inside the other room, playing with some toys he got from before. I thought that it was for his own child. We decided that they should stay here for a while, for them not to know about our discussion. He cleared his throat and his face suddenly went into a stern one. He eyes on us and said, “When did you start searching for that thing?”

Guilbert was the one who answered it. “Last week. We just came home yesterday.” He slowly took the paper from his pocket and carefully laid it on his table. He gradually took it and tried to read it for a while, then he placed it back in front of him. He suddenly let out a chuckle and brushed his fingers through his hair. “He still really was able to write this down. God…”

“We tried to break the code or more like coordinates, but we couldn’t think of anything related to that, not until we saw your name at the back of it. We didn’t know you’re much acquainted with Mr. Elikai than the others.” He added.

“Well, we were. But we decided to keep it a secret and would rather not mind each other. But, we’re still friends. More like…he’s the only real friend I got that time.” He said with his low voice, as if he’s trying to reminisce the things that they have shared with each other.

I was probing to know the history of their relationship and how it ended like they’re strangers and what’s the reason for them to alter their ways in settling down their own lives. So, I asked.

“How did you meet each other?”

The Butcher narrowed his eyes on me and took a breath. “I guessed this is the time that I will tell you my story and somehow a part of Elikai.”

“I was in a relationship with Mariella Nique Jin. But then, I was caught in a fight with her, which was held by Penelope herself, leaving me, as the winner, between choosing if either I would stay in the Royals or I’ll be eliminated. You already knew what I chose between that stuff. Mariella stayed in the level and kept her power. Just before my elimination, Elikai helped me to have an escape.”

“We..left the Royals. I and Elikai were childhood friends and have served Penelope Hamington for years. It was the best thing for us to separate our ways. Our ancestors were the ones who stole the other flower…and we were able to secure it that time and decided to keep it in the hands of a woman. We have abandoned our levels with the hope of setting things right up until now. We went to the first level and blended with the Lowies with the help of the former Linkman. Our names weren’t registered anymore under the Royals and turned out to be Lowies. It was the last day I saw him, at the same time it’s the moment when we decided to have the endearments for ourselves. By that, we would know that it’s us. He’s known for being the Masked Guy before he was officially called as the Informant, while I took the name as the Butcher.” He added.

Everything was silent and was earnestly listening to the man’s storytelling. We heard Miguel took his stand and asked another one for him, putting his hands inside his empty pockets. “Where’s the woman right now?”

“Oh, you mean the woman who took the flower. I didn’t see her lately for years now. All I remembered was that she’s one of those vendors selling in the market on the leveled ground. I couldn’t describe how she looked like, but if ever I’ll get to meet her face to face, then I would be certain that it’s her.” He said.

“Do you think the flower is still with her?” Loshiana was now the one who asked.

The man nodded slowly and rubbed his chin. “Yeah. It’s a promise that is meant not to be broken between the three of us. And somehow, the woman is in the same line as ours. She wanted to change the system…”

“Oh. Then, maybe we should start finding the woman, now that her life is also at stake.”

His face stiffened when he heard Miguel. “W-What? What do you mean by that?”

“There is news circling around the city, wherein some have caught the wanderer. They still didn’t close the person’s identity, but one thing is for sure, he has something called as plan. And we thought that he’s also hooked about the other flower.” Loshiana answered.

The man jolted from his seat and walked to them. He kept his pace still as he moved from side to side, trying to figure out who could possibly it may be. “What about those who suddenly vanished after the great destruction? Did the man catch any one of them?”

“No, nothing has followed. Mr. Everdeen is currently occupied with Lylian.” I said.

“Oh, looked like the man got something to make himself busy.” He glanced over the window and perceived the Long Range Fountain in the distance. “Guessed it’s a successful one, don’t you think?”

“I think Lylian is still in its processing stage. Still, Mr. Zyrender had decided to push the launch for such a system. I thought that he just wanted to try it then. Its phase now is somehow alluring though.” I added.

Just thinking that Lylian, the new system built and continued under the rule of the Everdeen's, is running well this time somehow put us in the hope that it would make the Embreal City better. But then, the reason why he needed to keep it by himself about it had filled us with such question of why. Why did Mr. Everdeen choose to hide it from us and most of all to the Embreals? Possible answered have hovered around my mind, yet I couldn’t tell why. I bit my lip.

Mr. Butch stood in front of us. His eyes were filled with woe. To think and to talk about an acquaintance, a family rather, still does hurt him. Mr. Elikai is a man full of words and had helped us so many times. He took a deep, lanky breath and put on a smile on his face. His vibe expeditiously changed, letting us know that he’s moving forward for the future.

He tapped his fingers on the couch twice and raised the paper for us to see. “You’re in the right location but in the wrong place at the same time. You should get yourselves back in that house again and dig his own grave. I’m quite sure that the thing you’re searching for is in there.” He said.

He moved to the bookshelf and grabbed one of those books. He blew it and the dust had soared in different directions. He went back to us and offered the book to Miguel. It was thick. The smell of hardwood sprung to my nose as I watch how intricate those words were being carved on its leathered cover. His name was there, Elikai Bryson.

“You might be needing that. It’s his journal four years ago. He gave it to me once when we met in one of those meetings with a negotiator.” He spoke.

Guilbert tapped his fingers on it and stared. “This will be such of great help. Thank you.”

“No worries. I can consider you as my allies and somehow a family too. Can you give me an update when you find it?”

“We surely will.” Loshiana said. “But…can I ask you something?” Her eyes gleamed in such novelty.

“Sure. Go ahead, Losh.”

Wriggling her fingers, she asked. “Why did Mr. Elikai choose to have that thing to be buried too?”

“It’s simple. No man would choose to dig up someone’s grave when the place is already sinister.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a pit for the dead. His place is the former Neatherock Street during the ruling of the two Founders.”

“We didn’t know anything about it. If he knew that the secret passage is in his lair, then why did he keep it from us? Did he even go to it?” Miguel asked.

He shook his head. “No…The man couldn’t handle the mourning cries of those being buried underneath. It was daunting for him. Somehow, he could clearly hear those things, tainted by those lies made to cover what truly happened. And, it would just make him outlandish and would lose himself right away if he went inside the passage and perceived the falsehood. It was a dwelling of those tormented, restless souls. It was a result and at the same time an evidence of how vile the old system before.” Mr. Butch explicated.

“It’s true that Mr. Bryson couldn’t handle such lies crippling underneath him. But why did he choose to be in that place? Just thinking about how ghastly and woeful to be in there just gave me chills.” I said.

“One of our ancestors under Winston Mieriando told about the eerie place and what happened. The man decided to guard it for the rest of his life that even Penelope wouldn’t know about the old Neatherock. Despite of it, it’s a secret passage to something that we’re seeking right now.” He added.

Guilbert and Loshiana stood from their seats and looked at us. “We should get going then. Are you coming with us?” She asked the Butcher.

“Well, even if I wanted to, I still have a business to run every day. I’m free every late night. You can call me anytime if you need something.”

“Okay. Rest assured that we will keep you updated about it. How about you two? Do you want to join?” Guilbert said, referring to us.

I looked at Miguel. He rubbed his temple and answered. “I think, I’ll pass for now. I wanted to come with Cody to have the kids get back in their home.” He glanced at me. “What’s your plan, Vixen?”

“Well…I wanted to see and go to Mr. Elikai’s abode for now. Cody should go with you and take the kids home. Is it alright?”

“No worries. I guessed it’s settled down then. Let’s just update ourselves tomorrow about what will happen. We’re thinking of staying for a day in the man’s lair. How about you and the kids, Miguel?” Guilbert said.

“We’ll just go home straight after we took the kids. Cody and I have something to do too. We’ll just wait for you three in the base.”

“Sounds great. Okay, we’re going now.” Loshiana uttered.

I grabbed my auburn pouch and followed Guilbert and Loshiana who’re also getting themselves ready. Mr. Butch was just waiting for us. Guilbert gave the book which’s Mr. Elikai’s notes to Miguel and spoke, “Take this with you and have some time to read it together with Cody.”

“Sure.” Miguel took it and placed it inside his bag.

When everything is ready, we asked for our leave from Mr. Butch. He led the way out from his office, then we saw Cody standing still in front of us. He was patiently waiting as he held a tray of bottled juice. “Juice?” He offered.

I smiled at him and took one, tapping on his shoulder. The others had also taken theirs as well as the Butcher. Each one of us just gave him a tap in return for having him to pout on us. Miguel hovered to the other room and took the kids with him. We perceived Cody following us with a snoopy face.

“Care to explain what’s happening?” He said.

I heard Loshiana chuckled. “I’m sorry, Cody. We’ll just explain it to you tomorrow. You go get the kids to their house safe. Miguel will come with you. Might as well consider him as the one who will discuss about the things we just talked about here.”

“Oh…” He glanced over Miguel who just gave him a thumbs-up as the kids were hugging him by the legs.

Hannah looked at Aunt Vixen. “Aren’t you going with us?” Her voice was low and somehow it felt like she’s in woe. The girl wanted the woman to give her a visit to their house and talk to her parents. But still, she knew that her aunt is not in the right condition to listen to her mother.

I knelt in front of her and pinched her cheek. “I’ll visit you one of these days. I promise. Aunt Vixen will just be going to another place for now. Can you wait for me?”

The girl attentively nodded and hugged her tight. “I will. Take care, Aunt.”

Macky moved and hugged me too. These kids are surely going to be missed. They wanted to stay for long inside the base, but they needed to come back home to settle things around. I rubbed their heads and chuckled. “Okay. Now, do good with your uncles and don’t be a pain in the ass.”

“Aye, captain!”

They went back to their Uncle Miguel while they waited for Cody to finish his preparation, brushing his hair and tugging his shirt well underneath his pants. I winked at him and laid the rest to them. We first moved outside the vicinity together with Mr. Butch. He thanked us for the time and we also did. Somehow, he reminds me of the old man.

We took ourselves out and perceived how clear the sky is, like the waves of the ocean from how Kinzel depicted it. It was a paradise for us. Loshiana suddenly held me, wrapping her soft, delicate arms around me. She gave me a warm smile as we moved back to the first level.

“When we get there, I hope you can deal with those mourns of the past too…” She said to me.

I tapped her hand and smiled, reassuring her that it will be fine. “I know…”

“I want you two to move straight in his place when we get there. Look for the secret passage, it’s opening, while I dig his pit.” Guilbert said.

“Okay.”

I took a deep whiff as we faced another journey. The future is too elusive for us to know the truth. It would surely be an astounding venture for us, wherein the verity can be maneuvered by what we called as falsehood.

Yet, we chose to face it with such vigor that we could be able to hold unto it as if we had already owned it. The air drifted on us, the same goes for my thoughts that I wanted to be cleared inside me. I needed some answers, somehow those that would put my curiosity to rest as well as those who're still restless - a result of someone's obstruction.