“Don’t get close to her,” Zac warned, pushing her back slightly, then addressed the woman. “Is it my time? This is not a good moment; my guard needs me.”
“First contact must be made.” The woman reached out to take Zac’s hand and they started to walk away.
“Just a minute. Where are you going?” Val demanded.
The woman guided Zac towards the portal. “Thirty-three twenty-seven’s Ranswar has arrived. They are to meet this night for the first time.”
Val knew exactly what she was talking about. Lailah had been her father’s Ranswar. “Oh, ok when will he return?” The woman’s eyes were a gorgeous honey gold colour. It was no surprise to her that Zac was being so docile; she wanted to go as well.
“He will return if he is needed tonight; if not it will be in the morning.”
“That’s fine.” Val was almost drunk on the woman’s beauty. Zac didn’t even look back and then they were gone and Val was alone and feeling surprisingly romantic. It was as if she had been slapped by cupid.
Now her pal had gone the silence in the flat was unbearable. She didn’t want to be alone and she needed to find out what the symbol on her arm was. Val knew who would help her. She picked up her phone and dialled Wendy’s number. It went to answer machine. “Of course,” Val hissed. Wendy was on her first date. She would try Fran. Once again she got an answering machine; Fran was on a romantic fish and chips date with wonder boy. Who was left? “Ah yes, Sam.” She giggled. The man who was driving her to distraction with his hot and cold attitude. But how would she get to his place? All forms of transport had gone out on one galaxy or another for a romantic evening. She could feel her emotions starting to get the better of her. Her heart was starting to beat faster. Why didn’t this Sam love her? She was going to find out right now. She grabbed her bracelet; a blue spark appeared. And she was off.
Arriving at his front door she stopped for a second to contemplate what she was about to do, but her emotional imbalance was enough to keep her going. She knocked firmly on the cherry wood front door, stood back and waited. Her head was beginning to feel like a gold fish was swimming between her ears. To her satisfaction, the door opened without delay and there stood Sam. He was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a vest; it was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Hi, you’re here for your...” He was cut short as she pushed past him.
“Well, if you’re asking...” she wasn’t sure at this point whether to punch him or kiss him. Walking directly into the kitchen, Val made her way to the fridge, opened it and pulled out a Pepsi. Pulling open the lid she started gulping as if she hadn’t had a drink in weeks.
“Are you ok, Val?” Sam caught up with her.
“What do you think? Wendy has a new boyfriend, Mr Daniel.” She bowed. “Fran and Jason are so very in love and now Zac has to slip off for the night to meet his Ranswar, which is short for alien girlfriend. I’m left at home with another tattoo. But don’t worry, apparently they’re just for the needy who can’t quite work out their destinies.” Val slumped against the fridge, slipping down its cool black front until she was sitting on the floor.
“Have you been drinking?” Sam moved over to her.
“No!” Now she was more annoyed than before. How dare he accuse her of being drunk.
“Can I see your arm please?” Sam sat next to her.
“Look,” she pulled up her sleeve. “Happy now?”
“I recognise that symbol.” He stood up ignoring her moodiness and left the room.
“Yeah, run away. Who cares about Val’s needs?” she called after him. She chugged on her can until it was all gone, then sat, unprepared to leave her precious spot on the floor.
Sam came back with a book in his hands and sat down next to her. “Look, it’s the letter A in Theban.”
She made herself look. He was right. “Great, maybe they’re trying to teach me the alphabet.” She stuck her head between her knees and heaved a great sigh. Her brain wanted her to do one thing and her body another. She needed to stay in control, but she wasn’t sure how long she could keep this up.
“I don’t know, but it’s here and we need to know how you got it.” Sam seemed blind to her emotional state. “This could be a magical tracking system of some sort.” Sam touched the tattoo, tracing the outline of the letter with one finger, and that was it. His contact with her skin sent the message for her body to take over. Before Sam could do anything to defend himself, Val turned on him and got him pinned up against the fridge.
“This is your fault! You’ve broken me. You loved me. You called me your love. I was something in your life. You protected me; you were prepared to die for me, and now here we are and I can’t tell if you even like me. But you can’t hide how you feel when you touch me, Sam. I know you feel the same way.” Val was breathing fast; her face close to his. She could feel him holding his breath under her grip. She felt completely out of control.
“Val, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but this is not ok.” He was trying desperately to stay calm but she could tell he wasn’t succeeding. Her senses were out the window, but she knew exactly how he was feeling about her in that moment. “Please Val!” Finally he pulled away from her.
What was she doing? She pulled back, slumping into a kneeling position. “Oh my God, Sam, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She bent forward resting her head on the kitchen floor. “I’m spiralling,” she sobbed.
“Talk to me. I can’t help you if we don’t talk.” Sam helped her to sit up then hunkered down beside her.
“It hurts so bad, Sam.”
He put his arm around her, but stayed silent, waiting for her to go on.
“We lived another life together and you loved me; you were my soul mate, I know you were. And now… now, here we are and I have memories and you don’t.”
“I’m so sorry,” He pulled her in close.
“It’s not your fault.” Val looked into his eyes. Knowing he understood, she put her head onto his chest.
“So, was I brave?” he asked.
“Very. You saved me from Excariot.”
“Really. Wow! That’s good news”
“Please don’t tell the others; they wouldn’t understand.” She wiped her face.
“It’s our secret,” he assured her gently. “Now let’s find you a new ear piece, that’s what you need isn’t it?” He knew how to make a girl feel better: a replacement gadget. He helped her up and they headed out to the hall, up the stairs and along the landing.
They came to a door. It looked like all the others, nothing special.
“Open the door,” Sam said stepping to one side.
“Chivalry really has died.” Val tried to turn the handle, it didn’t budge. “Ok, funny it’s locked,” she said looking for a keyhole.
“No, it’s made the same way as your sword.” He reached out to turn the handle, which proceeded to light up in recognition of his hand.
“Impressive!” She followed him into a room which lit up automatically as they entered. The walls were bare, but she knew that she would only see what he wanted her to see.
“Yes, isn’t it?” Sam agreed. He walked over to a drawer and pressed the front, and it slid open. Inside was a collection of boxes. He moved them around until he found the one he wanted. “Please don’t lose this, ok,” he said, handing it to her.
“Well, I try to stay safe but it doesn’t always work,” she said pushing the little box deep into her pocket. “So, are you hungry?”
“Yes, as long as you’re cooking.” If she was honest after her funny turn she was ravenous. It was odd, even though telling him how she actually felt, had felt like the worst thing to do, she was relieved that he knew. Now all she had to do was accept that he wasn’t her dream Sam, he was just a great guy.
“What’s that noise?” Sam asked.
“Me.” Val pulled the phone out of her pocket and flipped it open. “What’s up, mate?” Val’s expression started to change. “No, she left the shop to come to you.” She fell silent again, listening intently. “I’m coming,” she said after a moment. “Listen to me, Jason, don’t panic. I’ll find her.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Fran. She never made it back to Jason.”
Val put her phone back in her pocket and stood for a second processing all the information Jason had given her.
“Are you serious?” Sam asked.
“Very. He said that he went to the bookshop on his bike about ten minutes ago and there was no one there. He called her mobile and there was no answer. I called her earlier as well, but I thought she was with Jason. I need to get to him now.” she was just about to teleport.
“Stop, wait a minute. Where are they? I can help look for her,” Sam started to open drawers revealing various gadgets Val had never seen, plus his trusty light sword.
“Jason and Shane are at the parlour, meet us there,” she responded and was gone.
Val arrived at the gym, knowing she would be in trouble for making another unofficial jump, but that didn’t matter when a friend’s safety was at stake.
“Any news?” she asked Jason who was prowling up and down.
“Thank God you’re here. Where’s Zac?” Jason looked around fretfully.
“He had to go back to Alchany.” Now wasn’t the time for Ranswar explanations. “Do we have any clues? Have you called Fran’s parents?” she asked.
“No. She seems to have disappeared into thin air,” Shane said as Jason continued pacing while trying, over and over again, to dial her number.
“Maybe I should wait at the bookshop; she may go back there,” said Val.
“Maybe we should call the police.” Jason started to dial.
“Son, I’ve told you we can’t do that. You know what would happen to Val if they found out about her.”
“No. Call them. I will work from my end with Sam. Anyone who can help us find her should be on board.” Val stepped into Jason’s path. “We will find her, Jason, I promise you that.” She could feel tears welling in her eyes, he looked so completely lost. The mighty boxer felled with one punch to the heart and it hurt her to her core. He nodded and started to dial. Val grabbed her bracelet and teleported back to the bookshop.
She arrived to darkness and silence: no Wendy, no Zac, nothing. She was completely alone, not a feeling she was accustomed to. She needed to get Zac, but how? She had already broken the rules three times so what difference would it make if she did it again? She decided to go to Alchany and get him back. She flicked the lights on, meaning to go straight upstairs, but her attention was drawn to the counter. There, on its dark wooden top, was a stark white envelope, with her name on the front. “Delta,” she hissed. How had she gotten into the shop? She held it in her hand for a moment; even the touch of it made her uneasy; she knew this wouldn’t be good news. It opened easily and its contents were just as bad as she had feared. She found herself looking at a picture of Fran, tied to a chair. She turned it over and on the back was written:
A promise is a promise, Alien.
Val pulled out her phone and rang Jason. Things had just taken a turn for the worse in more ways than one, but at least she knew who had Fran. “You need to come to the bookshop now with your dad. I know who has her. No, I can’t explain over the phone.” She flipped the picture over in her fingers. “Tell the police it’s a false alarm. Get rid of them. Tell them she has turned up. And trust me.” She hung up and headed towards the flat; she needed to get ready.
As Jason and Shane arrived at the bookshop so did Wendy, returning from her first date with Daniel. She stepped out of the car, romance fresh in her cheeks, like a flower that had just been allowed to breathe its first breath of spring. She glowed with happiness. Daniel followed her as she made her way over to Jason who hadn’t noticed her arrival.
She tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, you, gone blind?”
Jason turned. “What?” He spotted Daniel and carried on towards the shop, Shane close behind him.
“Shane, what’s wrong?” Wendy was clever enough to know by now that something was going on. She stopped, turning towards Daniel who almost fell over her. “I have to go.” She put her hand on his chest to stop and support him at the same time.
“Oh, but I thought...”
“Not now.” She walked away from him and towards the real world waiting for her behind the bookshop doors. Daniel watched her go, then he retreated to his car and left.
“Ok, what is going on?” Wendy asked.
“Fran has gone missing, and we now have this picture of her,” Shane passed it to Wendy.
“Oh no! When did this happen? Why didn’t you call me? Jason, we will get her back.” Wendy was shaking so Shane removed the picture from her hand and put an arm around her tiny frame.
Val stood behind the counter suited and booted, ready to go. “I need to go and find Zac first.”
She had barely spoken the sentence when he walked though the private door. “Zac! You’re back early.” Val was pleased she had been able to avoid going through the portal, but she was also concerned that he was back so soon.
“The Ranswar that was selected for me did not find me suitable.” Zac seemed matter of fact about his rejection, but Val knew it was a little bit of show.
“Well, her loss and we need you here. Things are not going well. Fran has been taken and I know who’s done it, but they don’t,” Val pointed to the others.
“You know? Tell me now! What’s wrong with you?” Jason shouted at Val.
“Because it’s not that simple,” Val spoke softly; she could tell Jason was at breaking point.
Zac turned the picture around in his hand. “I see. So it’s your ex friend Delta. I warned you about this; they are going to need all the information you can give them if they are going to get through this.”
“I know and I...” Val was interrupted by the bell as Sam walked in.
“Hello, I guessed you might be here.” He walked straight over to Jason and put his arm around him. Jason lowered his forehead onto Sam’s chest. “Well get her back, don’t worry mate.”
Val knew that if she allowed them to remember Delta it may put her parents at risk, but enough was enough. “Wendy, I need you to do something really important for me. Long story short: I had a friend. She was a traitor and she betrayed us all. When I came back from sixteen forty-five you guys didn’t remember her. Zac told me that was because she didn’t come back with me on my timeline, and so she became one of the ‘forgotten’. I left it alone thinking this particular ghost would never come back to haunt me, but I underestimated her greatly. She is the one who has Fran and I need you guys to remember her. Now can you do anything to make that happen?”