Chapter Five: Two Faces One of the Same

03/29/2010

Poe jumped from my lap and made his way to the bed. He walked up and then down a few times then at the end of the bed he need for a few minutes then he went around in a circle and plopped down. Poe looked up at me well aren’t you coming to bed? I stood and stretched, “Your right Poe it’s time for bed.”
I lied in bed looking up at the canopy there printed in light pinks, blues, yellows, greens and browns were a scenes of women and men dressed in Victorian clothing picnicking and dancing. The one scene that stood out the most was a small town church with the high steeple which was etched beautifully in the brown and blue. Outside of the church the Bride and groom face each other expressions filled with love. The elegant woman in Victorian weeding dress which was oddly in golden yellow and the groom in green. I nodded my eye brows, how odd and unusual. What became even more unusual about the etchings was they seemed to be moving. The bride and groom seemed to turn towards me and their lips moving as if to say something to me but I couldn’t hear. I closed my eyes tight.
“Sonja your going crazy” I reasoned with myself. I opened my eyes slowly and the couple was still looking down at me and lips loving. I shot out of bed quickly disabusing Poe and he meowed at me annoyed. I walked out of the room.
“It’s official I AM going CRAZY!”
I found my way to the kitchen. In the middle of the over sized kitchen was a wooden island. To the right behind it was the stove which was one of those old fire stoves. I spun around looking up at the zillion cabinets until I finally found the one thing that stood out was the modernized fridge rater. I opened it to only find that it was over stocked with milk, fruits and vegetables, not juice or soda. I took a deep sigh
“looking for something to drink?” came a male voice.
I jumped startled turned around, Noll standing there with a man’s robe and striped pajama bottoms peaking though the bottom. “Yes.”
“You won’t find it in there.” And he started to walk the opposite direction and then despaired.
“Hey! Noll where you…” and I started walking where he despaired and there was an opening a hedge pantry filled with canned goods and heath food snacks and Cheeetos, Scoops, and all kinds of chocolate. I then spotted Noll in the second fridge stocked with water, juice, and soda. I grabbed a Coke. Noll grabbed what looked like cold spinach dip and he grabbed the scoops and he grabbed himself water. I followed him to the TV room equipped with fat screen and the latest blue ray DVD player. All around were surround sound speakers. “Niiice”

“What would you like to watch.”
I shrugged, “ I don’t know what you got?” He rambled off bunch of tittles
“Without a Pattle, A few good men, Dancing with Wolfs, Hope Floats.”
“How about the Princess Bride?” I suggested my favorite movie.
“As you wish.” Noll replied I sat down opening my coke and digging into the snack.
Halfway into the movie I turned to Noll, he never questioned why I was awake I watched as his eyes glowed when he laughed. I started to realize when you gone from this earth. Life keeps on moving. My life keeps on moving while my parents are in another place. I don’t want life to move on without them. Noll caught my eye concern filled his eyes then pained the rest of his face.
“I think my room is haunted.” I say keeping my thoughts of my parents to myself. It seemed like Noll new that’s not what I was thinking.
He smiled rising an eye brow “haunted.” I nodded and I told him about the etchings coming to life and the bride and groom. Noll looked at me straight in the eyes as if he was remembering something. He looked at me as if I were someone else for a moment. It was then the first time I’ve seen sorrow in his eyes he looked like he was about to cry. “There was once a young girl who said the same the same thing. There were nights when she couldn’t sleep. She never found the secrete to that room.” He then looked away from me seeming to watch the movie but he was somewhere else.
I still was looking now at his profile I slowly turned back to the movie sipping my coke. It was strange on how sometimes our conversations sometimes stop abruptly. I chomped on some scoops and dip. Noll you are a strange man you know that? You really are! I thought to myself as I found myself being pulled back into the movie.



I woke up late morning laying on the couch I shared with Noll late last night with cover over me. I sat up and stretched.
“Good morning sleepy head.” Came the warm voice of my Aunt Rosemary.
“Morning”
“Hurry and get ready.”
“Aunt Rosemary?”
“Yes little one?” I liked it when she called me and my brother little one it made me feel special.
“What are we doing today?” the look on Aunt Rosemary’s face was if I asked her why the sky was blue and a mixture of sorrow.
“Your parents memorial” her tone was monotone. I looked away. I honestly didn’t think that they would bother with that. Considering who did and what if they showed up? What if I don’t want to go? But I knew if I expressed those worse my Aunt Rosemary won’t hear of it. She’s in one of her moods… who can blame her.
There is one thing I’m tired of all this walking now the sun was at its high point in the cool blue sky. Making the woods we were walking in glow gold and red. There’s a ghost who’s been following us since we left. The glow making it almost invisible, it was of a young boy he looked depressed and dejected. Maybe he too knew my parents. I didn’t mention the ghost boy to my Aunt or Noll.
As we walked deeper into the woods the trees seemed grow closer and uninviting. It was almost dizzying and I almost lost my footing. I started to get agitated, why have a memorial in the middle of the woods? What is wrong with these people! Going though outrageous things to have a bloody memorial for my parents! Has anyone asked me if I wanted one? They are MY parents. If let a genital hand on my solder. It was Noll and he pointed to the left and my aunt was little ahead of us and I was going the wrong way.
“Your parents were also sister and brother, aunt, uncle and friends.” Noll whispered gently.
I stood there I wanted to punch him! But he was too far away to touch getting further away so I picked up my pace and followed. He’s definitely a mind reader! I suddenly stopped in my tracks as the sun blinding light caught my eyes. It took awhile for my eyes to adjust and I started to see shadows then figures and then bodies with cloths and faces unique faces. It was family members I haven’t seen in years and my parents friends. In the middle of the all were flower arrangements and pictures of mom and dad and me, Sade. It was my favorite picture it hung on the wall going up the stairs. I started to look for Sade but then I remembered he was far away. I then longed for Hiro and I felt the amulet warm against my skin I then touched it though my shirt.
I looked around the crowed of family and friends and I saw ghost boy looking away as if he sees something we don’t. I then thought maybe my parents I start walking towards him and I see in the distant a figure but couldn’t make out a face. I wondered who lurking in the shadow. I was about to yell to yell at it to show himself when Aunt Rosemary was calling my name.
“I’m Sorry Aunt Rosemary.” She seemed to be calling me for a while drawing attention. She then started to start the memorial service. Still annoyed it’s in the middle of the woods. My parents wouldn’t want such a place. I don’t get it why here?
“I know this place doesn’t seem like it doesn’t have much meaning” I heard Aunt Rosmary as she looked at me. “But this is the place where my sister Rosalie who was saved heroically by Emerson. You see, my twin sister never really told me what happened out here only that she meet the one. And ever since this used to be their secret place to meet until he proposed. See there the picture if their family is where she said he proposed on his knee.”
My eyes started to fill how could I be stupid why did I get so anger! I should have known there had been a reason. My Aunt Rosemary finished speaking and she glided over to me and embraced me. “I’m sorry…”was all could come out. I suddenly started to smile I heard I wasn’t sure where it was coming from but my parent’s song came over us. It was bitter sweet. It was The Archies, Sugar, Sugar. I couldn’t help but sing along it was almost like my parents were with us as if they were dancing with each other moving around everyone.
Something inside me told me to look behind me as I did it was that figure still there and it was still hard to see his face. It moved away from the tree and stood there in a long coat and one of those hats was worn in the 1940’s. He tipped his head brining his hand to his hat and the turned and started to walk away. I was once again to yell out “Hey! Stop! Who are you?!” But he seemed to disappear.
“What is with you Sonja you’ve lost your mind” I said aloud to myself.



Cloven

“You brainless, senseless, FOOLS!” He growled furiously he eyes glowed with anger and the whites of his eyes turning reader and reader! He viciously pointed his finger at the useless goons he haired.
“HOW COULD WE LOOSE THEM!” his face turning deep crimson red, “get out of the car!”
“NOW!”
They all compiled and the scared away from the car the goons shudders thinking about the last time and their boss killed one of their own. The last time he was madly crazy like this was when ongoing unending war with Luca James Halifax and anything that their boss did was retaliated to get back at Luca. Some don’t even remember how or why this all started.
“Lawrence!” Cloven called.
Lawrence froze in fear “Lawrence, don’t test my patients!” Lawrence quickly walked over to the car and stiffly got into the car he prayed silently that his life will be spared. He looked at his boss who seemed to calm down but could be ready to explode any second. He reminded himself to say a few words and to only answer when addressed. He cleared his throat.
“Yes sir.”
“I want you, Charna and Odol, to go north of here and look for that girl! And I want her alive! Keep Charna on a sharp leash! There will consequences and it won’t be pretty.”

“Yes Sir.”
“Now!”
“Yes Sir.” And Lawrence called Charna and Odol.
“Boss wants us to go north and he wants her alive or consequences.” And he looked at Charna.
“Okay! I got it!”
“I’m driving; I don’t trust the two of you.” Odol said as he headed to his black BMW X6.
“But your such a grandpa when you drive.” Complained Charna
“And you drive like you have a death wish.”
“It’s better than you old man!”
“ENOUGH! I would like to go in peace!” Lawrence hissed. He didn’t really care who dive only as long as they find the girl.
They got in the car and things were quiet for only a few minus. Cloven was getting worried to paired those three together but they were his best goons. The then started angrily barking orders to the rest of the fools.
Cloven himself drove east on the parkway. He was determined to find the girl. He then calls Lilith who’s in California looking for the boy.



The rest of the memorial was held at the Grave Yard Mansion. I started away walking aimlessly down one of the hall ways that seemed to have no end. I started to nice old painted pictures on the walls with a soft light illuminating them. I looked at each of them and I studdely stopped at one that looked just like me but only if I were a male. My face had soft features while his had hard handsome sharp features. We had the same hazel/ blue eyes long nose high cheeks and light brown hair. I was tall enough to touch the painting his lips soft pink like mine. It shared one of my pouty annoyed gets this over with look the same.
Who is this? I run my fingers across the eye brows, news eyes lips. I was mesmerized how it was me but it wasn’t me. I heard a cough and I turned to see Noll smiling amused. I turn bright red.
“That’s Luca James Halifax”
My mouth open and closed “G-G-“ I babbled like an idiot. Noll just smiled almost teasingly.
“Great, Great Grandpa? We, We look exactly alike!”