“He has acted.”
“Already?”
“Even in slumber, his powers know no bounds.”
“What should we do?”
The murmurs intensified.
“Silence. Do not disturb his sleep or face the consequences.”
The stillness returns. Satisfied, the shadow vanishes.
-
Noisy. Allen turned in his sleep, floating between sleep and wake, before settling into the embrace of slumber once more. Sleep beckoned him, promising a tranquility and creativity his conscious mind could never master. They painted visions of enchanting dreams, vivid in detail:
Miss. Moon glanced shyly at him, her big round face aglow with a smile. The stars sat patiently in silence, anticipating his attention. They contorted themselves into difficult positions to amuse his wandering thoughts. A particular arrangement of celestial bodies, a long shaft crowned with two circles, prompted a chuckle.
No sound emerged in the dark space, but an invisible wave vibrated through the surroundings. A ripple passed through the closest stars out to those on the fringes of his vision and perhaps even further.
A floral sweetness rode the breeze, teasing his nostrils as he inhaled deeply. It journeyed down his throat, triggering his taste buds to life. He could taste it, a tantalizing sweetness.
Something floated closer to his face, pink and... succulent. He knew, despite his memory eluding him. Gradually, the lotus blossomed from 360p to full HD, suspended in space before him. An offering.
‘Take a bite.’
He obliged. The flower burst in his mouth, overwhelming his taste buds with the cleanest sweetness, accompanied by just the right amount of tartness. The refreshing balance was perfection, a creation only nature could conceive.
Too soon, it was gone. He sighed, settling back as his eyes unfocused. The stars blurred in his vision, dimming as he returned to the depths of slumber. He floated away like a dandelion seed in the wind, dancing to a lullaby that graced only his ears.
-
“Do the windows appear clean enough to you? Perhaps sufficiently clean to forgo any additional efforts on my part?”
/Meow./
“Hmmm. I suppose wet windows could be a bit deceptive when it comes to judging their true cleanliness. Do you propose I wait before making a decision?”
/Meow./
“Well, you know what? I think the shelves could use some tidying. I’ll make my decision once I finish that task.”
The cat did not grace his words with a reply, only rewarding him with a passing gaze that Allen interpreted as disdain. How very ‘cat’ of her. He appreciated her honestly, he truly did. Surely, there was no way he felt hurt by imaginary judgment from an animal.
The shelves were impeccably tidy, leaving Allen feeling somewhat sheepish about his earlier words. Nevertheless, he kept himself occupied, running his hands over the various textures. The diverse sensations under his fingertips sparked a small symphony of fireworks in his fatigued mind.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
His sleep had been fitful in the past few days, disrupted by sporadic awakenings. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't identify the cause of these disturbances, as they vanished the moment his consciousness returned. No discernible sound or object could be detected, and the intruder remained elusive.
The lack of answers only fueled his irritation, and he vowed to exact payment from whoever or whatever was interrupting his sleep if he ever managed to catch them. They better hope to remain as elusive as they seemed at this moment for the rest of eternity.
Smooth. His fingers halted upon encountering a leathery cover. Authentic leather.
Allen retrieved the medium-sized book from the shelves, tilting the adjacent one sideways to serve as a marker for later. Stepping away from the seemingly endless shelves, he couldn't help but be reminded of the tent described in a book about a young wizard attending a school of magic. It had been a delightful read, offering comfort during rainy days.
Back at the front desk, he immersed himself in the book, pretending to have forgotten about the windows. The narrative, uninteresting under ordinary circumstances, now held a peculiar fascination.
Regrettably, the appreciation was short-lived. The romance proved tiresome, draining the vitality from the book as it meandered through a series of misunderstandings. It felt painfully unrealistic. Not that he would know.
He sniffed, offended by the involuntary assumption that popped into his mind. What a waste of authentic leather on such a mediocre piece of writing.
Shelving the book along with any lingering childish sentiments, Allen pondered whether today was suitable for exploration. The sun beamed brightly outside, rejuvenated after a long vacation. The pearls of water droplets clinging to the glass sparkled with refracted light. He could almost smell the freshly fallen rain lingering in the air.
He had been cooped inside for a few days, but it didn’t bother him too much. Despite thoroughly enjoying the comfort of being indoors, he knew there were more important activities on the agenda. “Midnight dear, would you care to join me on a walk after a nice meal?”
/Meow~/
Eagerness radiated from the cat, a newfound energy that often surfaced at the mere mention of 'food' or 'meal.' Allen took it as a yes. Although chubby cats were adorable, he couldn't afford a hefty medical bill right now.
"I'll send you back to the streets if you get fat," Allen teased the purring dark mass leisurely sprawled on his desk.
~
James
“Ringing?”
“Yes, it is documented to be the second time this type of event has occurred.” The blond man pushed the spectacles sitting on the bridge of his nose with his middle finger, before continuing without needing to be prompted. “The first event led to the discovery of the object. It is written that the ringing will subside after a time. The discoverer did not release any additional details.”
James scrutinized the document handed over to him. It was as Sam said, and the lack of information gave him a headache. Confirming a danger was better than being in the dark about a possible one. Well, preparations should still be performed as per procedures.
“Any news from Dr. Issac?”
“Professor is gathering information to prepare the right wards and other protective equipment before proceeding with a…different approach. He hopes to prove his conjectures through this new direction.”
James paused at the wording and glanced up at his assistant who looked as stoic as ever. He had never witnessed the young man show any expression besides one of neutral seriousness. “And what might this new ‘direction’ entail?”
“He has decided to interact with the ringing at the earliest notice despite the concerns of the other researchers.”
“What are your thoughts on that decision?” James trusted the young man to provide him with an unbiased answer based only on logic and facts.
“Professor Issac might appear eccentric when it comes to discoveries, but he remains professional. The path he proposed is the most promising and, ultimately, a necessary one. It is simply a matter of time. ”
After a brief pause to gather his thoughts, Sam continues with an unwavering tone. “He is employing as many safety measures as possible. Also, he is requesting access to free use of disposables in case of unforeseen circumstances that could interrupt the time-sensitive research. The ringing is believed to be random and does not have an established pattern.”
James rubbed the stubble on his chin as he processed the new information. Part of him desired to wait until more details emerged, but he recognized the critical nature of each passing minute when confronting potential danger.
Approaching the window, he gazed at the bustling street below. No sound passed through the sound ward, but he envisioned the ordinary hum of daily conversation and the clattering of carriage wheels across cobblestone. The mundane scene belied the growing unrest lurking in the shadows.
“Allow him to proceed as he wishes. His instincts have always been sharper than the rest of them.”
Time is a dwindling luxury, and there was no room for cautious patience.