DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, COPY ANYTHING FROM THIS SECTION! THANK YOU.
Alexander Hartdegen stopped. Rather the time machine stopped. He looked around seeing flowers scattered around him. He picked one and studied it. It looked like an Iris, but it was a deep scarlett red. He put the flower into his vest pocket. Alexander pulled the crystal lever out of the machine. Ending up in the middle of a flower garden wasn’t exactly his plan. Alexander found himself smiling as he walked through the garden. Emma would have loved it. His smile faded. He realized he still mourned for his fiancée. "Stop it, Alexander." Alexander scolded himself. "You tried. You tried to save her. It was God’s will for her to be taken from you." He slowly crouched down on a rock. ****** The creature leaned over. It’s leader had sent it out to gather food. The creature moved silently along the branch. It lunged forward infront of the human woman. She screamed in surprise and terror. Alexander’s head snapped to the side. He had certainly heard a scream. He slowly stood up to investigate the noise. It sounded like someone or something was in quite a struggle. Alexander broke through the bushes. He was caught between screaming himself and laughing. The creature grunted again trying to strike the woman. She hit the creature again with a branch as wide as her wrist. The creature fumbled, grunting and groaning. It swung it’s arm in a wide curve. The woman backed up to avoid the creature’s long and sharp fingers. "Morlocks." Alexander whispered. He grabbed a rock and threw it at the Morlock. Missed. "Hey! Yes! You! C’mon and pick on someone your own size!" He yelled. The Morlock roared at Alexander. Alexander frowned reaching for another rock. "Come and get me!" He yelled at it. The woman clubbed the Morlock over the head. The Morlock stumbled for a moment. It shoved her aside into the lake. The woman shrieked as she was plunged into the water. "Go back underground to where you came from!" Alexander ordered. He threw another rock at the Morlock. It stumbled as the rock connected with what looked like the creature’s nose. It screamed at him before running. Alexander took a breath before he felt a jolt of panic hit him. The woman was nowhere to be seen! He raced towards the riverbank. Alexander kneeled down looking for her. She took hold of a rock to try and climb to safety. He took her arm half-pulling, half-carrying her to the grass. She was on her hands and knees trying to catch her breath. Alexander gently brushed some of her wet hair from her face. "It’s alright now." He said. "That Morlock is gone." "Is that wha...what it was? I’ve never seen a Morlock of that kind before." She gasped. Alexander nodded. "You’ve never seen one before?" "Not that kind I’ve only seen the blue-gray shrieking ones." "I’ve seen several. All of which were unpleasent encounters. What is your name?" "Marie." "My name is Alexander Hartdegen." Marie slowly turned over. She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them. "How did you get here Alexander Hartdegen?" "I walked, mostly. You must be freezing. Is there any shelter here?" "With my people." "Are you also Eloi?" "Yes. Are you?" "No. I’m...human, obviously. I don’t come from your tribes." Alexander said. "I’ve never seen your people before. Are there more than one group of Eloi?" Marie studied Alexander. "Many groups. We all live in different places. Where are you from?" "I’ve seen blond Eloi, tanned Eloi, but never brunette Eloi with brown eyes. I’m from New York." Marie adverted her eyes. She wrung out her clothes. She wore a light blue tunic and pants. Over that was a slightly darker long waisted overcoat. The lining of the overcoat was a deep blue. She wore three black straps. One around her waist. The other two started at one corner above the waist and ended at the hip. Alexander blushed. He knew he shouldn’t have been wondering about her clothing. He had never seen anything like it. "The belts are for when a person reaches maturity." Marie said as if reading his mind. "Three belts for a girl, four for a boy. Tell me about your strange clothing." Alexander pinched the fabric of his shirt. It was now a dirty white. "This is a shirt. They’re all button down shirts. This is a common style where I come from." He yanked on his vest explaining that and then his trousers. ****** "Who’s that?" A small girl asked. She raised an eyebrow looking at Alexander. She had blond hair and blue eyes. Alexander blinked. "How?" "Something called mutant genetics." Marie said. "Jamie, meet Alexander Hartdegen." Alexander smiled polietly as the small girl scrutinized him. Finally Jamie trotted off. "She’s shy around people she doesn’t know." Marie explained. ****** Alexander shifted in his sleep. Something was in his dreams. Eyes. Eyes that were as cold as the hardest steel. The flesh of the creature was the same light color as the eyes. It called his name. Alexander... Come to my lair... The voice ordered. Alexander felt himself walking. Walking towards the voice. He couldn’t turn away from the voice. His mind screamed for him to turn and run. He felt himself take another step towards the voice as if his body was controled by the creature. Come... Alexander felt his chin being lifted by an invisible force. He looked up to see a bluish Morlock jump down ontop of him. It bared it’s teeth before aiming for his neck. The scream that threatened to come finally tore its way out of his throat. "Alexander! Alexander!" Marie shook him again. Alexander grabbed at his throat. He relaxed when his hands came away clean. He rubbed his pounding temples. "I just had the most horrible dream..." Jamie ran up the ladder to Marie. Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. "Hey, it was only a dream." Alexander said softly. He patted Jamie’s shoulder. "We’re alright and safe up here." Jamie slowly turned her head toward Alexander. "The Morlocks are here." She said. "One of them touched me." She lifted up her shirt to reveal four identical scratch marks on the side of her thin body. ****** "Why would they want to hurt a child?" Alexander was furious as he paced across the matted floor. "You’re going to wear a hole through that floor." A male Eloi joked. He quickly became silent at one look from Alexander’s piercing blue eyes. "It doesn’t make any sense. These Morlock—arrgghhh!" Alexander stopped in mid sentence to leave the thatched room. Marie got up to follow Alexander. The male Eloi stopped her. "It is not wise for a girl to follow a wild and free spirit." "You said I was no longer a girl. I can follow anyone I like." Marie shot back. "Only a fool would follow a man like that. You will loose your freedom." "You can’t take freedom away from a free man." With a rustle of skirts, Marie was gone. Alexander slowly looked over at Marie. "Are you going to raise a racket against me as well?" He snapped. Marie backed away from the anger in his voice. "I just came to say I wanted to help you." "You want to help me? Fine. Then tell me why everyone is treating Jamie like a leper. Something, maybe a Morlock, hurt her and no one seems to care about her. They’re more concerned about themselves." "It’s not supposed to be talked about." "Then maybe someone should start talking about it." Marie took a deep breath. "The Morlocks will sometimes hurt people to show them they’re in control. They like to keep us living in fear. During certain periods Eloi are taken by the Morlocks." "What happens to them?" "No one knows. They are taken and never come back." "The Morlocks are hurting the Eloi children to keep them in check. Where’s your mother or your father? "They’re gone. They were taken by the Morlocks." Alexander frowned. "Who’s the oldest Eloi here?" "That’d be the one inside the hut." Marie jerked her thumb in the direction. "He’s thirty-six." "Where I come from if you reach thirty then you’re old." "Here if you’re older than five, you’re considered old." "I haven’t heard about people dying that young in a long time." "Here, you either have children or you don’t." "Sounds like my time." Marie shook her head sadly. "We’re not like your time." ****** Alexander pulled out his watch. He flipped it open and then shut it again. He looked over his shoulder to find Jamie. "Hey there..." He said. Jamie ducked behind the thatched doorway. She slowly came out to get another look at Alexander. Alexander smiled at her. She again ducked behind the doorway. "Hm." Alexander mused. He leaned over by the doorway. When Jamie peeked around she saw his smiling face. "Don’t be afraid." He said. Jamie crept forward. She reached out cautiously touching Alexander’s watch. "Do you like it?" Alexander asked. He unhooked the watch handing it to Jamie. Jamie jumped when she fliped the watch open. "It won’t hurt you." Alexander explained. "It’s what people from my period use to see what time it is. How do you tell time?" Jamie pointed to the sun. "Sun dial." Alexander nodded. "That’s how we used to tell time. Why don’t you keep an eye on my watch for me?" "Thank you." Jamie squeaked. Alexander turned. "The children are friendly enough." He said. "They know nothing of the terror the adults face or hatrid." Marie said. "It’d be nice if they could stay that young forever." ****** Jamie leaned over a rock to see the water. She recoiled as a fish jumped from the water. "Do you know how to swim?" Alexander asked. "No. No one does." Jamie said. "Will you show me?" "Would you like to learn? It’s not hard." Alexander pulled off his vest. "Of all the times I need a bathing suit..." "What’s a bathing suit?" "It’s something men and women wear when going swimming." Alexander pulled off his shoes. "When I was first learning a few friends and myself used to see how big of a splash we could make." He rolled up his sleeves and trousers. "Will you show me?" Jamie asked again. "I don’t suppose it could hurt." Alexander jumped into the water. The splash drenched Jamie who started to giggle. She took off her shoes before jumping in. She flopped around before Alexander stedied her. "Try kicking." He said. As Jamie kicked Alexander slowly swam out. "Hold your breath to stay afloat." Jamie began to paddle towards the shore. She watched Alexander go under the water. She was about to call out for help when he surfaced on the other side of the bank. "I think I can swim!" Jamie shrieked with pleasure. "Good girl!" Alexander praised. An eerie wail caught their attention. Jamie immediately climbed out of the water putting her shoes on. "They’re back!" Alexander said. "Jamie, stay with me! You’ll be safe!" The blue Morlocks jumped shrieking. Alexander raced through the trees half-carrying, half-dragging Jamie behind him. A Morlock jumped infront of them shrieking. Alexander groaned as he hit the Morlock as hard as he could with the branch. The Morlock flipped over shrieking with anger. Jamie ducked as a dart went sailing for them. Alexander pulled the dart out of his arm. He smelled the black fuild making a disgusted face. He yelped as a Morlock grabbed him from behind. "Jamie! Go! Run!" Alexander ordered as he was pulled under. ****** Alexander was half dragged to a stairway. The Morlocks did not go into the stairway but rather watched Alexander go. They shut the hard stone door behind him. A glint of silver caught his eye. He reached for the object but quickly recoiled his hand when he realized what it was. A knife had been plunged into the stone. Other objects were near the knife. All with a thin layer of blood on the blades. He looked up to see hanging chains and Eloi clothing. He felt himself gag. He backed up blinking hard. "Whoa!" He cried out in surprise as he pitched backwards into a pit. "What the?" Alexander gasped. He was in the middle of a pool of... His eyes widened when he saw the skeletal remains of the Eloi. He stumbled to the other end of the pit desperately wanting to get out of the pit. He cried out in horror when he reached the other side. A Morlock grunted pulling Alexander out by his arms. Alexander struggled against his captors. The Morlocks ignored his resistance as they dragged him towards a cave. Both Morlocks howled letting Alexander go suddenly. Alexander shoved one of the creatures out of his way while scrambling for freedom. Alexander fell backwards once he was free from the cave. He laid on his back gasping. The Morlocks had actually spared him. "What happened?" Came the chanted cry as Alexander stumbled back to the Eloi villiage. "The Morlocks..." Alexander began. "How did you escape?" A boy demanded. "I didn’t escape. I was spared." Alexander received several sceptical looks. People began walking away refusing to believe his story. "Were you really spared?" Jamie asked. "What does ‘spared’ mean?" "I was released." Alexander said. "You’re a first." Alexander half nodded. He glanced across the room seeing Marie in a corner fixing something. She looked fustrated and happy to see him at the same time. His eyes followed Jamie out of the room. "She’s a cute little girl." Alexander heard himself say. "Yes she is. It’s sad that one day she may be taken by the Morlocks." Marie said. She jumped when her hand was cut. "What are you working on?" Alexander asked leaning over. "I’m trying to weave. This grass is very stiff and will cut a person open." "Why do you work with it?" "It’s tradition." "Something for your master weavers?" Alexander asked gently taking Marie’s hand. He examined the cut before wiping off the blood with a cloth. Marie jerked her hand back suddenly. A man had never touched her like that. "Sorry." He said tossing the cloth back onto the table. Marie slapped her forehead when Alexander left. "Marie, you’re such an idiot." Alexander groaned. "At first you never looked at Marie sideways. Now why suddenly you’re so interested in her?" "Marie isn’t available." An Eloi man dressed in red said. "Why? Is she to be married?" Alexander asked leaning against a thatched home. "We Eloi can be funny. If we live long enough we are usually betrothed." "So you’re saying Marie is bethrothed?" "Not any more. The Eloi elder, the oldest living Eloi, will chose someone. She is the rebellious one. Always follows her feelings and her brain. Not a good person." The man in red turned to enter the thatched room for a meal. Alexander didn’t move. He wasn’t hungry. "Marie is the only one who wears blue..." He mused. "All the others are dressed in shades of red... No, Jamie isn’t. She wears green. Yes, women are still complicated. Even in this time period." "Last chance to get dinner before the children will eat the table clean." Marie said looking at Alexander. Alexander chuckled. "I’m coming." He sat down taking the meal handed towards him. "This is good." He said after taking a bite. "How fast do the children eat the table clean?" "In less than a minute." "We get hungry!" Jamie squealed. "And the race is on..." Alexander snickered knowing he was the same way when he was Jamie’s age. "I used to race my cousins downstairs to see how much food we could stuff in our faces. We got more than one stomachache from doing that! My cousin Glenn could put three oranges into his mouth at once." Jamie took the nearest apple, or what looked like an apple, before putting it into her mouth. "Don’t stuff yourself like that. You’ll make yourself sick." Marie said. Jamie nodded before craming the remaining two pieces of the fruit into her mouth. She showed her now bulging mouth to Alexander who raised an eyebrow. Four. A new record. Marie shook her head. "Alright big cheeks, spit them out." Jamie moved over to the balcony. She leaned over spitting one piece of fuit out. Fire one. "Argggg!" An angry voice cried from below. "Looks like Jamie clobbered someone." Alexander said. "Ouch." Marie responded. ****** "Your sister is rebellious." The nearest Eloi female said. "Difficult." Jamie blinked and shrugged. "What would you do?" She asked. "Difficulty is bad luck." "Doing nothing is bad luck." "Don’t talk back. Just like your mother." The woman clucked her tounge. "Do you want to be like your mother?" Another shrug. "You’re impossible. Why weren’t you two gotten rid of at birth?" "You mean why weren’t we drowned at birth." Marie corrected. "We all know the stories about the Eloi mothers drowning their children at birth to keep them from being eaten by the Morlocks." She also knew it wasn’t evil that made the mothers destroy their children; it was the hope that the children wouldn’t suffer the same fate they risked every day. "You will be the cause of death for your little sister." The woman warned. "You say that about everyone." Marie said over her shoulder. "You’ve always been the dumbest one." Marie stopped. She looked over her shoulder, her gaze meeting the woman’s. With a small shake of her head Marie dissapeared from view. Jamie trotted off in another direction. She saw Alexander washing his shirt by the river. He put the shirt down when he saw her. "Hello squirt." He said. Jamie gave Alexander a small smile. "Why aren’t you with the other children?" "They don’t like me." "Why?" "They don’t like people who are different. They make fun of me." Alexander held his arms out for Jamie. He pulled her into his lap. "Where I come from lots of people look different. Not everyone has the same color hair or eyes. That means you’re special. Let me wring out my shirt and I’ll go find something to do with you." Jamie climbed off Alexander’s lap trotting off. Skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Came the wailing cry. "Not again!" Alexander yelped. He ran towards the wail. Then the cry stopped. Alexander slowed his pace. That was too quick, too easy. "What happened?" He called out. "They only took two Eloi." A voice yelled back. "Who?" "Ce’en and Jamie." Alexander felt his heart stop. "Where’s Marie?" The Eloi looked at eachother exchanging glances. Finally one pointed to the thatched room. Alexander half ran over to Marie. She was gathering equipment. "Don’t tell me you’re going to do what I think you’re going to do." "If you’re thinking I am going to get my little sister back, then you’re right." Marie said. "You’ll never make it back." "If Jamie makes it back alive then it’s worth it." "Don’t be a fool." Marie stopped giving Alexander a look. "You’re sounding just like everyone here." "Marie, you’re being an idiot!" Alexander exploded. "And what would you be doing if you were in this situation?" Marie yelled back. "You two sound like you’re married!" A green-clad Eloi said. Giggles followed the coment. "Shut up!" Marie and Alexander yelled in unison. The giggles became silent. Marie took a ragged breath before the unbreakable dam broke. Marie dissolved into tears. Alexander sat down next to her placing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. ****** "Marie! Running won’t do you any good." Alexander called running after the Eloi. "I’m not running." Marie insisted not bothering to look. "Then what are you... Oh, no. I know what you’re thinking and don’t you dare go and do it." Marie spun around. "Do you have any brothers or sisters? And do you know what it’s like to lose them to the Morlocks?" "I don’t have any siblings, but my parents did die once. I know what it feels like." "Do you?!" "Yes!" Alexander followed Marie into a cave. "Come on back." Marie finally turned to look at her companion. "Come with me!" Alexander pleaded. He seized Marie’s warm hands in his. "Neither of us belong here. Neither of us have a home here. We can get Jamie back and leave. If you can change the future by changing one thing; then let’s change this!" Marie’s brown eyes flicked from Alexander’s face to his hands and back to Alexander’s face. His statement and eyes were pleading. "Please...come with me." He whispered. "Destroy them!" A cold voice ordered. Alexander whirrled around to be rewarded with a sharp slap across his face. The slap sent him sprawling. The Morlocks were suprisingly strong for their scrawny bodies. Marie kicked at the Morlock holding her. She glared at the Uber-Morlock as he entered. His pale eyes matched his skin. He watched Marie struggle against her captors. "Spunky, isn’t she?" He said in his monotone voice. "Let her go!" Alexander ordered. The Uber-Morlock flung his hand in Alexander’s direction. Alexander felt himself being jerked in the direction of the Uber-Morlock. He swung his arms at his invisible bonds. The Uber-Morlock seized Alexander’s throat. He lifted Alexander off the ground. Alexander grabbed at his throat as the Uber-Morlock lifted his feet off the ground. "I can easily crush you right now." The Morlock said. Marie dug her elbows into her captor’s ribs. The Morlock howled with anger and pain. She ducked before kicking the Uber-Morlock in the kneecaps. The Uber-Morlock simply laughed. "Works on Eloi." She said sarcastically. Alexander groaned as he fell to the ground. He knew he was going to hurt come the next day. ...If he lived to see the next day. "Marie!" He shouted as she was sent flying. She bounced off the rocks before hitting the floor. Alexander half bounced, half crawled over to her. A Morlock cut off his route. It jumped infront of him and shrieked. Alexander glared at it. He let out a war cry as he hit it in the stomach. The Morlock folded. Alexander brought the Morlock’s face down on his knee; hitting it on the nose. The most sensitive spot on the Morlock’s anatomy. The Morlock howled with pain and anger clutching it’s bruised nose. The Uber-Morlock charged for Alexander. Alexander yelped as rocks dug their way into his spine. He grabbed the Uber-Morlock’s long hair, head smashing him. He stumbled also stunned from the beating. "Is killing and eating Eloi your way?" Alexander demanded. His knees were bent slightly as if waiting for an attack. "I destroyed your little Eloi girl friend." Uber-Morlock cackled. "That makes two women you cared about. Now you can join them in the after life." He lunged for Alexander. Alexander felt the earth beneath him shift sending him back. The Uber-Morlock had him pinned down as the cold hands wrapped around his throat. Alexander grabbed at the hands to try and free himself. The Uber-Morlock winced before falling forward, stunned. Marie stood over them; hands still clenched in fists. A bruise was forming on the side of her face. Alexander gasped. "Thank you." He croaked sitting up. "Sorry about the delay." Marie said helping him up. Alexander stumbled to his feet. He bent over slightly. His back still stung from being attacked. The Uber-Morlock’s cold eyes scruitinized Alexander. "You are haunted by the ‘what if’. Imagine this." The scenery around them changed. Alexander was back in his labatory. He was formally dressed. A child’s voice was calling for him. "Daddy! Daddy!" The small child cheered. "Emma?" Alexander whispered. Emma sat in the garden holding a baby not more than a year old. "Dada!" The baby said. "Her first word!" Emma gasped. "You’ve been trying to get her to say that for weeks!" Alexander turned to the Uber-Morlock. "No!" He yelled with a wave of his arm. "This is a dream! Take it away!" The Uber-Morlock leaned over to Alexander. "But this is what you wanted. You wanted Emma to be alive." "I won’t live in a fantasy! Emma died, these children don’t exist!" "But they could... and can..." "No! Take this illusion away! Torture me no more!" The Uber-Morlock’s mouth turned into a cold smile. "You want me destroyed. Nothing can destroy me." "I can and I will. Even if it takes my dying breath." "Your Eloi friends will never get past my Morlocks. I control them. Leave now and I will let you live. I spared your life once. When you were in the pit." "So you can destroy the Eloi? Never." "Do you want Jamie to live? Then you will leave." Alexander’s blue eyes narrowed. He lunged for the Uber-Morlock throwing punches letting them land where they did. The Uber-Morlock’s face didn’t even flinch. The Uber-Morlock pulled out a knife, aiming it right for Alexander’s guts. He yelled as his arm was pinned to the ground. Marie twisted his arm in an unnatural position again. She wrenched the knife free. She threw it like a dagger at an oncoming Morlock. The Morlock stumbled as it sank to the ground. Alexander felt himself fly backwards. He struck the rocks sinking to the ground. "You’re turn, little girl." The Uber-Morlock cackled. "It’s a pitty. You would’ve made such a fine child bearer." Marie took the knife from the ground. She held it defensively infront of her. "I am no one’s slave." She jumped back as the Uber-Morlock jumped for her. He bent one arm back while reaching for the other. Marie struck him with the knife. The blade broke as it bounced off the metal of his clothes. "I am afraid of nothing." The Uber-Morlock stated. He lifted Marie by her neck. "Say good-bye to your little sister." Marie stuck the Uber-Morlock across the face with the broken blade. It scratched the skin causing him to bleed. "Was that supposed to hurt?" The Morlock taunted. "No, but this should." Marie cut the Morlock down the back of his skull. He roared in anger and pain, throwing Marie like a broken rag doll. He glared at her before turning to Alexander. The Uber-Morlock’s back was dripping with blood. Marie lunged for the broken knife. She brought it down into the Uber-Morlock’s back. She brought the knife down again into the most protected spot on his back. He shrieked shrilly. Marie gagged as he decomposed to his skeletal figure in a matter of seconds. "Jamie?" Marie called. "Where are you?" She started towards the passageways of the caves. "Marie! Marie!" Jamie squeaked. Marie crouched down by the cage. "The Uber-Morlock is gone." "Where is Alexander?" "Alexander!" Marie repeated. "I forgot about him. I hope he’s alright!" She ran for him. Alexander was still propped up by the rocks, unconcious. Marie took his limp form into her arms. "Alexander?" She whispered. ******* Alexander blinked. He shut his eyes again as the world assaulted his senses. He felt himself being held. He secretly hoped the being holding him was friendly. He blinked again and looked up. He felt himself smile slightly as he saw Marie smile in relief. "We were worried about you." She said. "I’m sore, but I should be alright." Alexander explained trying to sit up. His body screamed in pain as he fell back into Marie’s arms. "Maybe I shouldn’t move right now. Tell me, where are the Morlocks?" "The Uber-Morlock is dead. The Morlocks die when their leader is dead. We did it." "No." Alexander corrected. "You did it." He smiled closing his eyes when he felt Marie kiss his forehead. "Come on! Let’s get out of here!" An Eloi boy said. ****** Alexander leaned against a tree, arms folded across his chest. It had been a week since the Morlocks were destroyed. The Eloi were doing well. The adults were teaching the children how to weave and hunt. "No Eloi shall fear the night." He said to himself. "What to do with my machine..." A small giggle caught Alexander’s attention. He saw Jamie creeping towards him. She touched his leg. "You’re it!" She squealed before running in the other direction. Alexander laughed before running after her. He caught her in his arms swinging her around. Jamie shrieked with laughter as Alexander tickled her. "What is this? A tickle war?" The newly appointed Eloi leader asked. Jamie stopped. She threw her arms around Alexander hugging him. "Hug war!" Alexander set the small child down. "Why don’t you go play with the other children. I have something to ask your older sister." Marie tossed another stone across the lake. Skip, skip, skip. She shrugged. Three times wasn’t bad. She smiled when she saw Alexander. "Would you believe I’ve always wanted to try this?" "Skipping stones." Alexander said. "You need a flat rock to use for skipping stones." He handed Marie a flat rock. He picked one up for himself and sent it across the water. It skipped four times. "It’s all in the wrist." He said chuckling. His statement turned serious. "You never did answer my question." "What question was that?" Marie asked raising her eyes to Alexander. "Will you come with me to my time period? We may be able to change the future by changing the past." "Gogogogo!" Jamie chanted. "My spying little sister will have to come..." Marie said. "The little spying sister will come." Alexander stated. He held his hands out to Marie. "Come with me?" Marie slowly slid her hands into his and smiled. Alexander hugged Marie tightly, kissing her cheek. When he pulled away he said "I’ll have to teach you about how women dress, wear their hair, and about children." He cast a glance at Jamie who was smiling and rocking herself. ****** Two weeks later... Jamie pulled herself up onto the parlor’s couch. She slid off. She giggled as she tried to sit on it again. Again she slid off until she disolved into giggles. "The trick is to keep your toes pressed against the floor." Alexander demonstrated. He let his feet relax and slid to the floor. "That was kind of fun. I had a caretaker who’s now helping raise David’s son. It’s just the three of us now. I suppose there’s something you’re wondering about." Jamie looked up at Alexander before opening her mouth. "Why do women always faint?" "I’d say it’s the corsets." Alexander guessed. "Why?" "I saw a woman wearing a purple dress faint." "Oh. How do you like it here?" "Nice." "Where is your older sister?" Alexander asked looking around. "I’m here." Marie said slowly entering the room. She wore a dark maroon dress. Gold buttons dotted themselves down the front of the blouse. A large ruffle started at her hip and cirlcled around her waist. She walked in slowly. Marie clutched the wall to keep from tripping. "How can women wear these shoes?" She asked. Alexander shrugged. "You’ll get used to them." He kneeled down next to Jamie. "Care for an escort, m’lady?" He asked. Jamie smiled as she seized Alexander’s arm. He picked her up spinning in wide cirlces. "The best lady dancer! And only seven-years-old." He set the half-dizzy Jamie on the floor. "Alexander! No!" Marie yelled as Alexander took her hands also spinning her around in a wide circle. "It’s been sooo-oooo long since I’ve last danced." Alexander said. "I’ve never danced." Alexander pulled Marie to him. "Then it’s time you learned." He said. "Do you think I can? Learn to dance, I mean." "Of course you can!" Alexander encouraged. "I learned after all." ****** "I think we’ve got to sit." Alexander gasped. "I’ve forgotten how much energy those dances can take. I haven’t sang and danced like that since I was thirteen." "I never knew you could sing ‘December, the twenty-fifth’." Marie said. "You try dancing with a corset on." "You held out rather well. Every Christmas day my grandparents would invite the town to a big get together. Every year everyone played the minister’s cat and danced." "The minister’s cat?" "It’s a game. Someone starts off saying ‘the minister’s cat is a...cat.’ Then the next person says something starting with the same letter. After you get through one set of words, another set is picked." Alexander clapped lightly. "The minister’s cat is a nobel cat...the minister’s cat is a nosey cat...the minister’s cat is a...a..." "Nasty cat?" Marie finished. "Yes. When someone can’t think of a word then they’re out. This goes on until one person remains." Alexander grinned. "What do you say to we all put on some outside clothes and go for a stroll?" "Outside clothes? How many times do women in your culture change their clothes?" Marie raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you." Alexander said stretching. "Mrs. Schewe said she’d help you with choosing clothes. I told her you and Jamie weren’t from around here." Alexander retied his tie again. He frowned knowing that he was falling in love again. "I really need to learn how to control my emotions." He muttered to himself. "Don’t tell me you still think about that ‘gentlemen have feelings, but never show them’ ideas." A voice behind Alexander said. "David Philby!" Alexander cried smiling. "How have you been? Where is your boy?" David grinned. "He’s growing. He’s nine already. You haven’t seen him in a while." His statement turned serious. "Who is the lady and little girl in the house?" "Oh, that’s Marie. She’s helping me clean up this home." Alexander lied. "The girl is her little sister. They lost their home and I offered them a job. It seemed like the decent thing to do." "You’re all heart, some brain." Alexander smirked, shaking his head. "Maybe little Jamie could be a playmate for your boy?" "Is she afraid of little boys?" David asked. "Not that I know of." "If you wait here I’ll go get my boy." "Jamie..." Alexander called. "How would you like to have a playmate?" Jamie trotted down the stairs stopping infront of Alexander. She shrugged. "Who?" "His name is James. He’s a few years older than you are. Everyone calls him Jamie." Alexander kneeled infront of the girl. "Is Jamie short for anything?" "Nope." "Here he is!" David said leading a small boy in. "This is James." James had the same colored hair as his father. He was thinly built with wide green eyes. He trotted over to Jamie inspecting her. She rewarded him with a punch to the stomach. "Jamie!" Alexander and Marie scolded. Marie picked up her white skirts as she half ran half flew down the stairs. "You shouldn’t be hitting people." Marie said. Jamie looked at James. He tackled her. The two wrestled until pulled apart. Jamie was smiling in her mysterious way. "You two planned this, didn’t you?" Marie asked holding her little sister. Jamie looked up at Marie and started to laugh. She was followed suit by James. Marie set Jamie down. "Want to see my rock collection? I started it two days ago." Jamie said. She took James’ hand taking him to her room. ****** "Why is it little kids can have so much energy why we can’t?" Alexander asked falling into the parlor couch. Marie plopped down next to him. "They’re little kids. They’re supposed to have energy." Alexander let his head fall back. He closed his eyes for a minute before looking at Marie. "When I was a boy I was expected to act like a man. That’s not easy when you’re Jamie’s age. Children were and sometimes still are considered miniture adults." "I never had much of a childhood. Neither did Jamie. She never knew her mother." Marie said letting her head rest against the pillow. "Your mother was chosen for the...?" Alexander started. He forced the memory of the skeletons of the dead Eloi from his mind. "Yes." "I’m sorry. I lost Emma." Jamie bounced into the parlor with the force of a tornado, and about as much noise. "Want to go around town?" She asked jumping onto the couch. "This one will never learn to be a lady." Alexander joked. "Not until she’s older." Marie said. "I think she won’t leave us alone until she gets to see New York." Marie slowly stood up. "In that case we better get going before it gets dark." Alexander stood up opening the door. "After you, ladies." He said. He snagged a jacket out of the closet. He had to laugh when Jamie pulled at her blond braids and straightened her brown smock-like dress. "So now you’re a lady." Marie fixed her collar again. Below the collar was a wide black ribbon tied into a bow. She had a wide black sash around her waist also tied into a bow at the back. The ruffle at the bottom was trimmed with a black ribbon. The rest of the dress was white and pleated. "I’m honored to have the company of two lovely ladies." Alexander said. "Flatterer." Marie shot back. "I call them the way I see them." "Is that how it is?" "Pretty much." ****** "This is a haunted house. It’s almost Halloween." Alexander said pointing to the Victorian that had been decorated. "Do you think you’re brave enough to go through the house?" Jamie put her hands on her hips in a small act of defiance. "Of course I can!" Alexander chuckled. "Alright, but I’ll go in there with you. To see that you don’t get scared." "I’m brave ’nough." "I believe you are." Alexander took Jamie’s hand leaving Marie on the sidewalk trying not to laugh. "Wait for one moment here. Don’t move." He told Jamie. He trotted over to Marie and whispered, "don’t spoil the joke for her. And please don’t make fun of me after we get through the house." "Fine." Marie said, still smiling. Alexander smiled and winked before going back to Jamie. "Ready, kiddo?" "Ready!" Jamie half-cried. "Ooooooooo, it’s dark inside of here..." Alexander said pretending to be afraid. He hoped he could keep his acting ability up without laughing. "It’s not that dark." Jamie said pulling Alexander along. "Aaaaaaaaaahhh! A spook!" Alexander crouched behind Jamie. Jamie looked up. She poked at the "ghost". "It’s a bed sheet!" Alexander stood back up. "Well, if you say so. Lead on brave little one." Marie looked down at the watch Alexander had asked her to hold onto. Five minutes. The average time inside the house was seven minutes. She snickered, poor Alexander. He’d never live it down. She smiled when she saw them leave the house. "How’d it go?" "Little Jamie is certainly a brave little girl." Alexander reported. Jamie beamed with pride. "And how were you inside the house?" Marie asked remembering her lines. Alexander took a deep breath like practiced. "I was not so brave." Marie hugged Alexander. "There, there." She said. She buried her face in Alexander’s shoulder to smother her laughter. Alexander forced himself to kill a smile that threatened to form. ****** "What’s that?" Jamie asked. She leaned over the kitchen table to get a closer look. "It’s a pearl ring." Alexander said. "For you?" "No." "For who?" "Your sister." Jamie’s mouth dropped open. "Really?" "I’m going to ask her to marry me." Alexander said putting the ring into his pocket. Jamie’s mouth dropped to the floor. "You won’t say anything?" "No. Never." "Good girl." Alexander ruffled her hair. "Alexander?" "Hm?" "Who watches me then?" "Mrs. Schewe said she would." "Oh! Story time!" Jamie said gleefully. Alexander chuckled. "She does tell good stories, doesn’t she? She was telling me stories since I was your age." "Oooooooo." Jamie cooed. "When are you gonna ask Marie?" "Ask me what?" Marie asked entering the kitchen. "Uh, come with me, Marie." Alexander asked. "What’s going on?" Marie asked as Alexander shut the door behind them. "Come with me. Something like this should be asked in a nice area." Alexander looked around. "How about the park? I’ve never shown you the park." He offered his arm to Marie and took her there. "Are you alright?" Marie asked. "Not really..." Alexander said. "There is one thing I’ve got to say." "What’s that?" Alexander moved infront of Marie. "Marie, please marry me." He began to shift through his pockets. "Not again. I almost lost my ring infront of Emma." He mumbled. "The legacy lives on. Aha!" He smiled as he pulled the ring out. "It’s a pearl ring. I know it’s not a diamond. I thought you might like this." Marie looked at Alexander. "Let me say this before something happens that will throw us off course again: yes, I will marry you." "Aw, isn’t that sweet." A voice said from the bushes. Alexander felt his blood run cold. He knew that voice. It was the voice of the man who robbed him and killed Emma. "Alexander, are you alright?" Marie whispered. "No." Alexander said pushing Marie behind him. "What do you want?" He demanded of the robber. "I’ve seen you before." The robber said pausing. He motioned to Marie. "You I have never seen. No point in making a racket." "You dare hurt her and I will..." "You will what?" The robber interrupted. "Watch her die and mourn? Give me your watch." "Take it from me." Alexander’s jaw tightened. "I have a pistol. You wouldn’t want me to use it on your lovely lady. As I said before consider this a bump in wedded bliss." "And I said take the watch from me." Alexander said stalling for time. "Oh!" Marie cried. "I think I’ve hurt my ankle." She bent down as if rubbing her sore ankle. "I can’t put any weight on it." "Then stand on the foot that doesn’t hurt." The robber said getting more impatient. Marie bent down more taking a large branch into her hand. She hid it in the folds of her skirt. She leaned over to one side. "Alexander, duck!" She ordered clobbering the robber’s arm with the branch. Alexander lunged for the robber sending them both to the ground. Alexander kicked the pistol away as he struggled with the robber. Alexander striked the robber under the rib cages with his fingers. The robber doubled over in pain. "Sir, this man tried to rob us." Marie explained to the police officer. "D. Duane." The police officer said. "We knew we’d catch you one of these days." He called three more officers. They hauled Duane to his feet taking him away. A fourth took the pistol. "Why’d you hit that man under the rib cage?" Marie asked. "There’s a bundle of nerves under there. It can end a fight in a matter of seconds." Alexander explained. "Are you alright?" "I’m fine. You?" "My watch has been crushed. I have more at home. Let’s get out of here." Alexander hailed a carriage. Once home he pushed the door open. "You’re home early." Mrs. Schewe said looking up. Jamie sat beside her half asleep. "A man tried to rob us." Alexander said. "How horrible! Are you two hurt?" "No." "Thank goodness for that." ****** Mrs. Schewe scrawled out small notes onto pieces of yellow paper. She passed the paper onto Jamie who rolled it up and tied it with ribbons. "Finish with the ribbon, my dear. I’ve got to get my Bonnach Salainn." "What’s Bonnach Salainn?" Jamie asked. "It’s a salty Scottish oatcake." "What’s it do?" "It’s a tradition with Halloween dear. We tie the Bonnach Salainn up in paper and ribbons. Everyone eats one without talking or drinking water. Their true love brings them a glass of water in their dreams. It’s called a dream pill or dream cake." "But we know who Alexander and Marie will dream about." Jamie insisted. She looked over a note; "‘Look towards the door, who next comes through has very important news for you.’" She looked at the door. "Hey kiddo." Alexander said, shutting the door. "Do you have important news?" Jamie innocently asked. Alexander pursed his lips. "Important news... I guess you could say that. Do you consider being able to stay up for the Halloween party important news?" He smiled like a small child. "You can stay up until you fall asleep in a chair." Jamie jumped up hugging Alexander. He laughed putting her back down on the chair. "What’s this? ‘Close your eyes and count to three, The name you near said next is she, Who’s always loved you secretly’." "Fortunes." Mrs. Schewe said. "We used to have them when we were children. Why don’t you make one up for Jamie?" "...The handsome boy on your right would rather...play than...fight." Alexander started. "One for the kids. Where’s Marie?" "Gathering autum leaves." "I’ll go find her." Alexander reached the back door in a near jog nearly bringing Marie down with the door. He took her into his arms kissing her. Mrs. Schewe’s surpise turned to amusement. It was six seconds before Marie could free herself. Even Alexander seemed surprised by his actions. "Marie, marry me. Tonight." Alexander said. "Tonight? But...but the Halloween party we all planned." Marie said still startled. "We’ll be married during the party. The pastor is coming over." Marie smiled. "We’ll be married tonight." "’Tis the night—the night, Of the grave’s delight, And the warlocks are at play! Ye think that without, The wild winds shout, But no, it is they—it is they!" Jamie recited. Marie leaned against Alexander. "She’s looking forward to tonight." "Have you ever seen her that excited?" "Never." Jamie wrapped up another greeting. "There." She said once they were finished. ****** Jamie and James Philby scurried down the stairs. James stifled his giggles. He put on and adjusted his mask. It was a green goblin’s mask that the theater owner had loaned him. Jamie held onto her now carved jack-o-lantern. She yanked the scarf down over her face and neck. She shook to get Mrs. Shewe’s coat tails behind her. The sleeves went down over her small hands. "I’m the headless horseman." She insisted. James held a finger to his lips. He slid down the banister followed by Jamie. He threw his arms out, hollering. Jamie followed by holding her jack-o-lantern and trying to make it talk. A few people screamed, Marie laughed, and others looked on blankly. "Boo!" James yelled. A few more screams. "Now you wouldn’t scare a woman now would you?" Marie asked going up to the goblin. "I would." James growled as best as his vocal chords would allow. Marie took a small piece of candy and popped it into James’ mouth. "There." She said. "Yum." James smiled from behind his mask. Marie handed one to Jamie. "And one for our headless friend." "I’m the headless horseman." Jamie said. "Did I just tame our little horrifying friends?" "Do our little friends care to stay for the wedding?" Alexander asked. He realized he had forgotten his watch. Mrs. Shewe was there ready to present him with it. "Thank you." Alexander said blushing. He attached it to his black vest. He felt a little odd being decked out in black instead of the usual brownish colors. Marie wore a flat brimmed hat. It was a pale pastel blue that matched her dress. The dress had a high colar and was fairly simple. The dress had narrow sleeves that covered her arms. Shorter and ruffled sleeves went over the narrow sleeves. The skirt was long and gathered. She wore lace gloves like many of the other women at the party. James was the first to pull up a chair followed by Jamie. James polietly took off his hat reavealing the top of his mask. Jamie put her "head" in her lap. James made a kissing sound when the preacher said, "you may kiss the bride." Alexander tried to hold his laughter in. It came out as a snort. "Sorry." He appologized covering his mouth. "I present Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hartdegen." The preacher finished. "What does that make me?" Jamie asked. "It makes you young Jamie Hartdegen. The little sister of Marie." Mrs. Shewe said.