It was awful knowledge but what was I supposed to do with it? If they were anything like the folks I’d met in that pit they had powers that were far beyond my understanding. I couldn’t stop them, and would the police arrest people who were suspected of being wizards? I think not. Even with all the slackers on the island I don’t think we could cover come what I saw in that hole.

My best guess at a solution was: reunite my friends, and go from there.

The day had started so promising, but the shift that followed was excruciatingly slow. I don’t think there was a minute that passed on that clock that I didn’t see. Anxiety that familiar friend of mine was swelling in my chest. It had something to say about their intentions and it would not be ignored. As if my jaw didn’t hurt enough, all shift my chest was tightening on me, squeezing me, begging me to solve this mystery.

When I was finally released, I shot out of the store, ran across the bridge and entered the town square. The Fighting ring was already set up, and workers were busily setting up booths and seats all across the grounds. There was one booth that was already set up, and had an eager vendor vendor was manning the desk.

The jester from yesterday spotted me across the way, and waved me over. I was trying to catch Victoria before she left Town Hall, but she’d come this way if she walked out. “We meet again.” I said wearily.

The Jester leaned on his table. “You’re the only one who’s rolled a six so far.”

“Sounds like you need new dice.”

He mimed laughter. “But these ones are so fun! They always roll one.”

So the game was rigged. No big surprise there. A cheat and a clown, suddenly being a slacker didn’t sound so bad. “I’d definitely get some new dice then.”

“Have you figured it out yet?” His voice changed, from the friendly upbeat lilt he’d always used. This was something far deeper, and more serious. The tone change hit me like a brick, and seemed to be reflected in his posture. He hands were steepled now, his chin resting on the fingers. This clown wasn’t about to get less weird any time soon.

“I’m figuring a lot of things out right now, you’ll have to be more specific.”

“That is a good answer!” His voice was suddenly care free again. He leaned back in his chair and put his pointy bell shoes up on the table. “I almost want to reward it, but if you knew you’d know. Ya know?”

Hammer Man had said the same thing to me on the train. “You know what you know.”

“You mean with the outsiders, the train, the plantation, that hole and all the monsters.”

“You’re on the right track.” He said with giggle. “Train track that is! Listen you’re not quite out of time but the two forces are heading for a collision.” He rolled up the sleeve of his jester jacket as if to check a watch that wasn’t there. “I’ll give you until end of business tomorrow, 15:00. You better have something to show me for all your hard work.”

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So what was this a job interview? “Forces? What forces?”

“Why the forces of Good and Evil of course.”

“Which is which?”

“It depends on who you’re asking. Since you’re asking me, I say neither is either. Tomorrow I may ask you the same question, and you just might have a different opinion than my own.”

“Well you can all shove it.” I took a step back from his table. “This is my home. I don’t want anything to do with any of you outsiders. We just want to be left alone.” I turned and headed for Town Hall.

“15:00 Sharp!” The clown called after me, his merry cackle echoed around the busy square.

City Hall was part of the same square of buildings as Twilight Tower. The pretty brick building was regal looking, three stories tall with a slanted tile roof. Like most stores it was always open, and I just happened to roll another six when I caught Victoria pacing back and forth down a hall.

“Victoria!” I waved to her. It was good to see she was unharmed. After seeing her so helpless the other day, well that wasn’t like her. The regal self important bearing suited her much better. She’d been handling the stress well, she didn’t appear as distressed by our encounter as you would have thought, of course neither did I. “It’s good to see you.”

She was surprised to see me, and a little annoyed. “You did not come to my place of work.” She whispered as I approached. Then she caught my swollen jaw and couldn’t keep herself from mothering me. “What happened there? Cyrus?”

“Hayden.”

“Oh.” She looked embarrassed. “I really should have warned you.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?” I asked.

“Why did you? They told us not to.”

“He knew we were lying from the start. Hiding it from him wasn’t helping anyone.”

She crossed her arms. “Thanks for leaving it to me to be the adult like always.”

“No problem.” I crossed my arms now. “And since you’re such an adult you can talk to him, and explain what’s going on. They closed the tunnels Victoria. Whatever’s going on it’s getting worse. We all need to stick together if we’re going to figure this out.”

“Us?” She scoffed. “What do you think we can do about all of this? You saw those things.”

“I don’t know but keeping secrets, because some random train wizards asked us to isn’t helping.”

“Victoria.” A man’s voice called. I turned and was nearly knocked out by what I saw. The train wizards themselves, Uniform, Cloak and Hammer Man were walking through City Hall. “Sorry we’re late, we’re still getting our baring around town.” The leader Uniform looked down at me and his eyes flashed with recognition. “You again?” He looked me over once, like he was checking for something. “You still don’t have a level. That’s good, stay out of this and go live your life.”

“I was trying to.” I looked at Victoria, and couldn’t even begin to describe the feeling that surged from me. No wait, I could: complete and utter betrayal. “You’re working with them?” For how long? Is that why she was in the hole? It was now clear why she was willing to lie to Hayden even if it cost my my health and friendship. She was being a good soldier for these invaders! Lying to me would be nothing for her!

“The Mayor’s waiting for you.” She looked past me completely, like I wasn’t even there. “He’s eager to know what your search has turned up.”

“A lot of nothing.” Uniform sighed, and followed Victoria into the Mayor’s office. None of them, not even Victoria bothered to spare me a look, a glance, a care.

I’d never been so mad, so confused. It was dumb. This is the world I’d turned away, not once but twice. I wasn’t one of them, I wasn’t a part of whatever insanity was infecting my island. I was with Andie, the hardware store, Twilight Tower. I wasn’t part of whatever magic was swirling around me. Then why did I keep bumping into it?

Before I knew what was going on I threw the door open. My face as red as Hammer Man’s hair. Victoria and Mr. Mayor himself were both equally scandalized that someone would just barge in. The other three, the outsiders already had weapons drawn.

I stared them down, eye twitching. I wanted them gone, off my island and back to where they came. I only had one shot of removing these idiots and this was it. “I know who you’re looking for.” It was a pleasure to see the shock form on their faces. “And I know where to find them.”