shadows

they came for her, stayed for him (2)

Fanny was glaring at her phone. Her anger only multiplied many times over by Emilia’s sniggering and Emil’s giggling.

“It’s not funny,” Fanny said.

“It is,” Emilia said, pinching the air between her thumb and her index. “You must admit. It is just a teeny bit very funny.”

Fanny had received a call from home. From her mother, who wanted her to come home right now.

“She sounded angry,” Fanny said. “Why do you think she was angry?”

“Hmm,” Emilia said tapping her chin. “Maybe because you managed to make her angry? How do you think you achieved that? How about, disappearing for days? Did you tell anyone before rushing over? Did you call home after? Did you tell anyone anything at all?”

Fanny hung her head. And Emilia continued.

“Or, maybe, it’s this suite. You made the reservation on your card, didn’t you? Do you really think the bank didn’t even send a message or an email? How do you think they would react to that?”

“Alright, stop,” Fanny said, conceding defeat. “I must go home. Will you be okay? Alone?”

“I think I can manage a few hours,” Emilia said. “We’ve got a mother and the son between us. That’s two thirds complete.”

Emilia’s smile masked everything inside. It was another reminder of how much she had changed.

Before, Fanny could read her friend’s mind like it was her own. Like the two were one. And it was more than time. Emilia was almost a whole other person. Fanny had changed too. But hers was incomparable to Emilia’s. Did a baby do that to everyone?

“Alright,” Fanny said. “But you must call me if anything happens. Even the smallest thing. Promise me that.”

“I promise,” Emilia said.

“I mean it. I don’t want you to be strong. And call me only when it’s almost completely out of your hands.”

“I understand. Fanny, darling, I will call you for even the littlest thing. Promise. Now, go.”

“Yeah. I will be back tonight. Earlier. Earliest I can.”

“Yeah. Come one Emil. Say goodbye to mommy.”

Emil giggled in his sleep. And it sounded very much like a goodbye.

Fanny reluctantly left. Emilia lay in bed, her arm around Emil. And the mother and son quickly fell asleep.

-

“Get the car ready,” Green said in the morning.

First it was the storm. Then the vision. Neither had seen much sleep last night. Ray was expecting something like this.

“Yes master,” Ray said.

She made tea. Which the two had, along with butter cookies and a slice of marble cake each. That was breakfast. And then, Ray brought the car out of the garage. Green sat in the back.

“Where to, master?”

Green had gone stiff. Her eyes flashing green. And her voice coming from much deeper than she really was.

“Augustine’s General Hospital.”

Ray nodded. And drove off.

The car was old and unremarkable from the outside. One would have to be very much into cars to recognise the model and the make of the car. And only they would be impressed. The car was quietly regal.

The inside was a whole other story. The seats were plush leather, of the best kind. Inside the cabin, you didn’t feel a bump. A decent driver guaranteed a buttery smooth ride. And Ray was so much more than a decent driver.

To Green, and Ray, it felt no different than sitting at home.

At the hospital, Green directed them to the suites. They stopped outside the one with the two new mothers and their little baby boy.

“Which is it?” Ray asked.

Green’s eyes were upon the mother who had given birth. Ray got her answer. And the two continued studying the mother, Emilia.

The next two days, they followed Emilia. Unnoticed by all. The third morning, they followed Emilia to the hotel. Waited until the other mother, Fanny, left. And then, they went up to the suite. And rang the doorbell.

-

She was back. Wearing white. Floating underneath the endlessly quiet sea. All around her a shade of blue and green and a mix of both. But there was nothing in the depths. No voice. No shadow. No anything. Just the woman. All alone.

Just her. All alone. And so she knew it was truly over. She had lived. Her boy was out there in the waking world. Everything was okay. She allowed herself a smile. That grew into a laugh.

Then, it was time for goodbye. She wouldn’t be returning.

-

Her eyes were open. She was groggy. She could feel her boy in her arms. And that was enough. Turning deaf to all else, she let her mind wake up fully. And then, as she sat up, she heard what had woken her up. The doorbell.

“Sleep, little guy,” she whispered, kissing her sleeping baby.

Then, she walked over to open the door. On the other side were two women. One older. The other closer to her in age. There wasn’t much else she observed about them.

“Hello. Can I help you?” Emilia asked in her nicest voice.

“Hello dear,” the older woman said with a smile. “My name is Green. This is my apprentice, Ray. May we come in?”

Emilia’s smile was unchanged, as she stood unmoved.

Green sighed, and continued.

“We’ve come for you, Emilia. We want to speak to you about three nights ago. About the shadow. Please, do not fear. We certainly aren’t friends or anything like that with the shadow. We are merely aware, and so, curious.”

Emilia was startled. Then terrified. And then calmed. All while Green spoke. She was sold on what the old woman said. And Green looked trustworthy. Which was all the more reason she wasn’t convinced. Or moved.

“What do you want to know?” She asked from the doorway.

Green shook her head slowly.

“I understand, Emilia. You don’t know me. You don’t know us. There’s absolutely no reason to trust us. And that is all the more reason to hear us out.”

“No, madam Green. You know about the shadow. Then you also know about my baby. He’s asleep inside. That is exactly why I cannot let you in, you who I know nothing about. Like you said, no reason at all to trust you.”

She saw Ray’s expression, the confusion and the doubt. And felt something was wrong. And then, she saw Green’s face. And that confirmed it.

“What?” She asked.

“Okay,” Green answered. “Don’t trust us. But trust yourself. I told you my name was Green. But you called me madam Green. Of your own accord. That is telling. You can trust me, even if you don’t yet know me. Please. Let me in. I assure you, this is important.”

Emilia wanted to refuse. But she could see that Green and Ray were not going to take no for an answer. They weren’t going to give up until she let them in. And she needed to be back with Emil. There was no winning this.

“Fine. Come in. Please keep your voices low. I don’t want my son disturbed.”

“Of course,” Green said, smiling.

Emilia returned to the bed, to Emil’s side. He was still asleep. But the moment she sat next to him and put her arm over him, he smiled every so slightly. She wouldn’t hesitate swearing on it.

The guests pulled two chairs over, not too far and not too near, and sat down. Ray leaned as far as she could, to get a good look at the sleeping baby.

“You can come over,” Emilia said. “You’re here anyway.”

Ray jumped at the chance.

“He’s cute,” she said, gushing over the handsome little boy. “He’s going to be a heartthrob. I was born too early.”

Emilia went quiet. Especially since she could see that Ray meant it. And she didn’t know how to deal with such a Ray.

“Um, thank you, I guess?” Emilia said.

Green sighed and went over.

“You can still be a mother yourself, Ray. It’s not too late. And yes, he is handsome. Emil. A handsome name for a handsome boy. Have you decided on blessing him?”

“I’m sorry,” Emilia said, confused. “Blessing him?”

“You aren’t religious,” Green noted. “A blessing is like a protection. From a god. Might just brighten his fortunes. Maybe even better his fate. Ah, maybe you wouldn’t need much bettering.”

That Emilia did understand. And suddenly she knew what they had come for. She knew they were mistaken. They said they had come for her. They believed they had come for her.

They were wrong.