Between timelines

Past midnight, September 9th – Bellatorn Estate, Denewood, Surridge

Meanwhile, back in Bo’s basement.

“Where did they go!” asked Nate. “Why can’t I follow them?”

“We are in an alternate frequency,” said Ethriel.

“I can’t move towards the stairs!” said Aria, alarmed.

“All will be well. We must wait here until it’s safe to move,” said Ethriel.

They overheard an Arch “Nate and Aria have disappeared!”

“We’re doomed!” said Nate. “Can we go somewhere else?”

“I need a longer code to create a tunnel out of here,” said Ethriel.

“What code are we in now?”

“It’s a Ballan. We are standing in a random alternate universe where we see their reality.”

“Like ghosts!” Nate’s eyes widened. “Except they are the ghosts, or we are…”

“We are watching from an alternate frequency,” said Ethriel.

“That’s amazing! Great!” said Nate, but when he attempted to move, something thrust him backwards. He shook his head. “Why?” he asked, rubbing his head. “Why can’t we move?”

“We only advance in areas we know well. This is a random frequency, and solving a challenge here might trigger further challenges,” said Ethriel.

“But if we stay here! What if the code fades?” Nate’s breath got caught in his throat.

“If it fades, we run,” said Ethriel, surveying the room. “I need a safe space to create a new code. And help to create a Ballanair.”

“A Ballanair?” asked Nate.

“A code that allows us to jump to a known frequency, and then move towards Bellatorn.”

During their conversation, Aria was silent. Her eyes blinked in slow motion.

“Ah, Mum, meet Ethriel. He’s my RayCrest, and he helped me get back to you.”

Aria was unresponsive.

“I think she’s in shock,” he said to Ethriel. “Mum, Mum, it’s okay,” he said, putting his arm around her. “Don’t worry, Mum, Ethriel will keep us safe.”

Ethriel strengthened a patch of the Ballan code above their heads.

There was stomping above them. The footsteps became louder as they came down to the basement. It was Kit Mannon, Darcy Bruston, and a team of Archs. But close behind them were Kenya and Milon. They had their hands tied.

Nate jolted.

Bo Kinslow came down the steps. His baby was wailing. “Kit, how dare you take my family hostage!”

“Where have they gone?” asked Kit.

More heavy footsteps above. Bo’s wife, Jeanette, with their two-year-old, was crimson and looked about to scream. The Gueye sisters were shaking hugging each other, and Madama Rossi kept shaking her head in denial. There were door slams and shouting.

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“Not here, sir!” said a guard.

“Check the attic. They can’t have gone far.”

Nate shivered as he recognised Ellis’ voice.

Running footsteps filled the cottage, only to be replaced by an eerie silence. The guards’ departure made the air less suffocating.

“You two, that way! Check the path to Bellatorn. Head towards the stables. You, around the maze,” said Ellis.

“They were here one moment and then poof!” a guest said.

Kit scanned every guest around him. He then came within range of Madama Rossi and raised her skirt. The guests drew back in horror as she screamed and blacked out.

“Ellis! Bring the guards! I want every costume checked!” said Kit.

Guards came down the steps and lifted skirts without asking.

“Stop this! What are you doing!” said Bo.

“Whatever you are doing, it has to stop!” said Milon.

The guards pointed guns at the congregation, and they cowered.

“Still no sign of them, sir,” said a guard.

“Yes, I can see that,” said Kit.

He then proceeded to Arch code a Markan.

Everyone froze except for Kit. Nate, Ethriel and Aria were unaffected as well.

“Nate, wherever you are, let’s strike a deal.”

Ethriel signalled for Nate and Aria to stay quiet.

“I know you want Kenya back,” said Kit, scanning the room.

Nate and Aria stayed still.

“Come out from hiding and I promise you can have Kenya to yourself. We will make sure Milon leaves her.”

Nate shook. Ethriel continued to hold him back.

Kit waited. Time moved forward, and the basement became noisy again.

“Cairis will be here soon, and we will head to the Bellatorn portal in a safe Ballanair,” said Ethriel.

“What is going on?” said Aria cataleptic.

“I could have Kenya back,” said Nate to himself. “Wait, I could have Kenya back!”

Ethriel remained silent with a slight smile in his eyes.

“Kenya is with Miles darling, whatever that Kit man is saying is delusional!” said Aria.

Kit then recoded the Markan, this time next to Kenya.

“Nate! Stay with us. We will look after you both. I will give you anything you want.”

Aria was about to speak when Ethriel motioned silence.

Nate’s eyes were over-bright, and he kept darting his gaze between Kenya and Kit.

“Darling, whatever it is,” said Aria in a whisper as Ethriel raised his hand.

Kit picked up a noise just as his Markan subsided and time moved forward again. He left the basement, followed by Jeanette.

Moments later, Jeanette spoke. “What do you want with that?”

He emerged with a sharp knife, and the crowd gasped as he seized Kenya’s hair. Nate saw an Arch and Kit code into a Markan, freezing time. Kenya had frozen mid movement, and she winced from the pull.

“Nate, come out,” Kit boomed, “or she dies.”

Kenya was pale. It was unbearable and Nate moved into an Oran, followed by an Artinian, when he realised he couldn’t code. Wherever they were, codes didn’t work there. Ethriel shook his head, and Nate shuddered.

The time moved forward again, and the gathering moved away terrified. The Archs took Milon upstairs.

“Leave her alone!” shouted Milon, struggling to break free. “Don’t you touch her Kit. I will destroy you!”

The room grew silent except for shuffling feet and occasional coughs. With a signal from Kit, the Archs ushered everyone upstairs.

“Nate, what have you decided?” asked Kit.

“Nate’s here?” Kenya asked, her eyes skimming the room.

Kit pulled her hair, and she grimaced, staying still.

“Nate?” said Kit, twisting Kenya’s hair again.

Nate paced back and forth with his hand to his mouth. He was flushed, and he held a focused glare on Kit and Kenya.

“You psycho!” Nate exploded.

“Aha!” said Kit.

“Leave her alone, you creep!” said Nate.

Ethriel stopped recoding the Ballan.

“Come out now for Kenya’s safety,” Kit said.

“Don’t listen, Nate, don’t! Think of your mother, of The Parallels,” said Kenya.

Kit smiled as he made a shallow cut in her throat.

“I’m not scared Nate! I’m not!” said Kenya.

“Stop it!” said Nate.

“Stop me,” said Kit.

“Nate don’t!” cried Kenya.

Kit made another cut on her neck.

“A deeper cut and that will be it,” said Kit, smiling as Kenya winced. “She has beautiful long hair, doesn’t she, Nate? Pity to see it - ripped off!”

“Get me out of here! Get me out!” screamed Nate.

Ethriel nodded, and Nate reappeared in front of Kit and Kenya.

“What do you want, Kit?” said Nate.

Kit called his Archs back down. They circled the teens.

“Why!” said Kenya, burying her face in Nate’s embrace.

The Archs surrounded them. Nate started a Markan, but the Archs were quick to disrupt his code. Instead, Nate drew on the martial arts training he received from Wade Pearce for these types of situations.

Kenya joined in, throwing objects at their attackers. Nate fought with all his might, his kicks and hits echoing against the backdrop of crashing objects. Kit came back downstairs and began an Arch Markan, which Nate countered with a high kick.

Nate took Kenya’s hand to escape.

They ran outside, but the Archs had surrounded the house. An Arch brought out a gun and pointed it at Nate.

Kenya jumped in front and took the shot.