Fast Forward In Time - Chapter 5

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Madrid

Elizabeth and Angela had been led around Madrid all morning by a tour guide who spoke incredibly well in english. Angela had gone on and on about how beautiful it was but Elizabeth hadn't been impressed. It wasn't because the city wasn't beautiful, it was because she hadn't been inspired at all by it. None of the older parts, not any of the churches, nothing had sparked anything in her that she knew was needed for this layout she had been assigned. She knew it was because of the dream she had had about Lucky, but she couldn't seem to get it out of her mind. Angela was being especially happy this morning and Elizabeth couldn't figure out why. She made a mental note to ask her when they got back to the hotel.

"The next stop we have is a place called ‘Anita' owned by a Donick Schlage," she told the guide.

"Ah! I know this place. He has granted you permission to tour his estate?" he asked her surprised.

"Yes," thinking of the E-Mail she had personally received from him, "In fact he requested it."

The guide looked at her puzzled in the rearview mirror of his car. "Then you must be a very important person. Schlage never lets strangers roam his property. He is a very private man."

Angela turned to her then from the front passenger seat, "I guess he saw some of your work and really liked it."

"Yeah, I guess so," Elizabeth said in return.

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Lucky had been allowed outside of his room for an hour everyday to "get some color in his face" as Faison put it. He was always accompanied by three guards who stood and watched him the whole time as he jogged around the enclosed pen. It is just like a prison yard with barbed wire and concrete walls. There is even a basketball net where he shoots hoops by himself. He didn't usually go outside until just after lunch so he was surprised when the guards started knocking on his door to tell him to get ready to go out in the middle of the morning. He had been writing about Elizabeth and had not wanted to stop so he had told them he wasn't going outside today. Shortly after that Faison showed up.

As he remote opened Luckys' door and walked into his room Faison said, "Lucas, you are not going outside to run until this afternoon, you know that. Come. I have a treat for you," he said with only a slight smirk and an uncharacteristically soft voice.

Lucky noticed Faisons' odd tone but quickly forgot it. Without looking up from his book, he exhaled sharply and said, "I'm busy."

"I thought seeing the lovely Miss Webber again was something you wanted," Faison said.

Lucky quickly looked at him. Without saying a word he closed his notebook and stood from his desk, his eyes never leaving Faisons'.

"Haven't you been waiting eight long years for this? Come on," Faison said, "We have to prepare for her arrival, and I am looking forward to finally showing you my home."

Lucky followed Faison through the doors all the way to the outside of the building. He had never been out here before and he was thrown by the beauty of the land. There were large, full trees and the greenest grass he had ever seen that stretched for miles. It was incredible. Before he got into the back of Faisons' van with an armed guard, he turned around to look at what had been his home for the past eight years. It appeared from the outside to be a large abandoned barn that had part of its roof missing. There were no signs of anything suspicious going on inside its walls. As they headed to Faisons' home, Lucky watched out the side window of the van and took everything in. There were vast amounts of flowers of all colors along the driveway and there was a huge fountain in the shape of a little girl holding a puppy as they came up towards the large mansion. Lucky would have laughed if he hadn't been so surprised at how big and cozy the house Faison claimed to live in was. He had always pictured it as looking like one of the haunted houses he saw in movies when he was a child. But this, this was amazing. It was a pale yellow with large bay windows. The large wooden front doors had crosses for windows like those of a church. It was three stories high and had wrap around balconies for every level. There were no guard dogs, no fences, not even any guys with guns surrounding the many acres of land. Lucky had known for a while that he was in Madrid, but he had never known how close he was to where Faison lived, or how normal Faisons' life appeared. No wonder no one had ever known where to search for him.

The van continued around the driveway to the back of the house. Faison had been pleased with Luckys' obvious surprise and liking of his home. He had been watching him since the moment they stepped out of the barn, and he could read his expression well. Lucky knew that there was never any doubt that he would die here if he wanted him to. Faison had sent his wife and child to England to their new home shortly after he told Lucky that Elizabeth was coming. They knew nothing about him and he wanted it to stay that way. In a few days he wouldn't have to worry about them ever finding out. He would be joining them himself soon. Alone.

"I can tell from the look on your face that this isn't what you had in mind for my home," Faison said while they were still seated in the van, "You were expecting something ..."

Lucky cut him off suddenly, "What are you going to do?" he asked him quietly, "Why did you bring me here?"

Faison looked at Lucky and noticed the obvious distress in his features. "Patience Lucky, patience," was all he said before entering his house through the back door.

Lucky was lead into a room that Faison used to listen to his operas. It was on the first floor of the house and it was sound proof so that Anita wouldn't be bothered while she taught her one on one music lessons. When he had remodeled the house he had the wall between this room and the family room, where she taught her students, made out of two-way sound proof mirrors so that he could watch her at work. He loved to watch her. He would sit in there for hours at a time and lose himself in the music and her beauty. He never knew this room would be used by anyone but himself until he had received word of Elizabeths' trip. That was when he had come up with this idea.

As soon as Lucky saw the wall he knew what Faison was going to do. He was trying to stay calm. He didn't want to give Faison any reason to hurt Elizabeth. ‘I've got to keep my emotions under control. Elizabeths' life depends on it.' he thought to himself. So he never said anything. He sat on the floor staring into the family room and waited.

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As the guide drove the car closer and closer to Schlages' house Elizabeth was overcome with anticipation. As they started along the driveway she noticed an old barn on the property. She felt drawn to it. Like she had been searching for something that would be found inside its walls. ‘What is wrong with me? Where is this feeling coming from?', she thought to herself. She couldn't understand how she could feel drawn to this place when she had never been here before. ‘That is what I've needed.' She was still staring at the barn, now tiny in the distance, when she felt the car come to a stop.

"Okay, we are here." The guide said. "Page me on my beeper when you are ready to be picked up."

With that Angela and Elizabeth got out of the car and took in the beauty surrounding them.

"WOW!" Angela exclaimed, "this place is like Eden. It's so beautiful and peaceful. Look at that fountain, isn't that great?"

Although Elizabeth was still drawn to the old barn, she couldn't help but admire the estate. The house fit so well with the grounds. It was amazing.

Faison had heard the car pull up and was watching them through a window. He could tell Elizabeth liked what she saw. He turned on the sound system he had installed so Lucky could hear them, and went outside to introduce himself. As he opened the doors Elizabeth and Angela turned to look at him, ‘Where was Nicolas? No matter'. "It is nice to see you taking in the beauty of my home ladies," he said walking towards them, only looking at Elizabeth. "How long have you been standing out here?" Both women continued to stare at him as he stretched out his hand, "Hi, it's nice to meet you Elizabeth," she shook his hand, "and you too Angela," she shook his hand as well. "You may call me Donique."

Elizabeth started to feel different. This man, this Donick Schlage was making her very nervous. He was looking at her like he already knew her. ‘How would he know that I was Elizabeth and not Angela.'

Angela, on the other hand, took to him right away. "It is very nice to meet you too, Donick, and may I say you have incredible taste. You're home and the grounds are beautiful." Angela said.

Faison turned to Elizabeth who was staring at him, "What do you think?"

"Yes, very beautiful. The grounds are very beautiful," was all she could say.

"Please, come inside, it is smoldering out here. I'll fix you something to drink and then we'll take a walk around the estate." Faison was saying as he entered his house with Elizabeth and Angela behind him.

Lucky was still sitting on the floor when he heard Faison telling someone to go into the family room and make themselves comfortable. He then heard something about a bathroom from a voice that sounded familiar to him. ‘Angela! Nicolas' wife. Oh God! She's here!' he was thinking as he slowly stood up and looked towards the door. The door opened as Elizabeth slowly pushed it open. He felt that gone but not forgotten tingle throughout his body. The one he always got when he was sixteen right before he saw her. Then there she was. She looked so beautiful. He hair was pulled back into a french twist except a few strands that were framing her face, so he could see the long lines of her neck. She was wearing a short sleeve floor length dress that was loose for the heat. She had grown a few inches since he last saw her, but she was still so petite. His knees grew weak as she appeared as though she were floating across the room. Lucky lost his breath as he stood shaking from head to toe. His eyes were wide as the tears flowed from them down his cheeks. His mouth was hanging open and his bottom lip was trembling. He placed his right hand against the glass to steady himself and his left hand on his heart. It was beating so hard and so fast that he couldn't hear anything else. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, he didn't even want to blink for fear that she would disappear.

Elizabeth had tentatively stepped into the room. She was nervous at first but when she got in there she felt this peace come over her like she was being looked out for. Then she saw the mirrored wall with the tiny vine design going through it. She walked over to it as if she were in a trance, lightly traced her hand across a leaf, and smiled.

Lucky had removed his hand from the glass as she approached it. He was so enthralled with being so close to her that he forgot the glass was between them. Tears were still flowing from his eyes and his lips were still trembling. As he reached out to take her face in his hands and came in contact with the glass he let out an anguished cry, "OH GOD, ELIZABETH!" He placed both his hands on the glass, one stroking her face and one where her hand was on the other side. He never took his eyes off hers. He was crying hard now.

Elizabeth had felt this sudden pain shooting through her heart. She didn't know why, but she could sense Luckys' heartache right now stronger than she ever had before. "Lucky, I'm right here." She said aloud as she leaned her forehead against the glass and thought of him, "Lucky, please hear me. Lucky, Lucky", she whispered. She had become overwhelmed with the desire to say his name and she had softly begun to cry.

"Say it again Elizabeth," he pleaded with her, "PLEASE! Say it again." He was on his knees now staring up into her face. Watching her, listening as she said his name over and over. Reveling in the sound of her voice.

"Elizabeth? Are you okay?" Angela had entered the room and saw her leaning against the mirrors. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly as she walked up behind her.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and without removing her forehead from the wall dabbed her eyes of her tears. "I'm feeling a little sick from the heat and all the traveling. I just need to sit down and relax for a minute."

Angela couldn't hold her news in any longer and suddenly decided to tell her about the baby. "I have some news that might make you feel better." She paused for a second, "I'm pregnant!" She said grinning, "Nicolas and I are going to have a baby. Can you believe it?"

"Oh my God!" Elizabeth and Lucky said at the same time.

Lucky couldn't believe it. His brother was going to be a dad and he was going to be an uncle.

"That is so wonderful," Elizabeth said as she turned around and hugged Angela, "You guys are gonna be such great parents. I'm so happy for you."

"Well, I haven't been to a doctor yet, so although the test we took is supposed to be accurate we are not completely sure. But if having to use the ladies room constantly is a sign than I am definitely with child. I'll be right back" Angela rushed out through the door, and headed for the bathroom again. Elizabeth stood smiling after her.

Faison had watched the earlier display between Lucky and Elizabeth on a monitor in another room and was moved in spite of himself. As he entered his family room after Angela had left he stood there watching Elizabeth with a tray of lemonade in his hands. He now knew he was doing the right thing.

Lucky saw Faison enter the room and started screaming, "ELIZABETH! ELIZABETH! GET OUT OF HERE! GET OUT OF HERE NOW! PLEASE!", he was sobbing, "OH GOD! I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO BUT YOU HAVE TO! PLEASE!" He was banging on the glass frantically, begging and pleading with her.

While she was looking at a painting of a little girl, Elizabeth caught sight of Faison. "I'm sorry Mr. Schlage, I didn't see you there."

Lucky could feel his anger rising. ‘Who the hell is Schlage?' he thought to himself before screaming at the glass "STAY AWAY FROM HER."

"Please call me Donick. Do you like the painting?" he asked her as he laid down the tray of drinks on a table and glanced at the mirrored wall.

Elizabeth looked back to it, "Yes I do. It's very beautiful."

Faison walked up and stood next to her and handed her a glass of lemonade. He knew Lucky was watching and listening. "My wife painted it", he said taking a sip of his own drink, "the little girl is my four year old daughter Jacinth."

Lucky couldn't believe his ears, ‘his wife and daughter' he thought. "YOU SON OF A BITCH", he cried smacking the glass, "YOU KEPT ME FROM MY LIFE AND ALL ALONG YOU WERE LIVING YOURS?" He placed his hands on his head and started to sob saying, "That's so unfair. That's so unfair." All along Lucky had assumed that Faisons' only purpose was to torture him. Now he knew that Faison had a life outside of that and it hurt like hell.

Elizabeth was a little taken back by that, "She's talented your wife. Where are they if you don't mind me asking?"

"They are on vacation actually." He lied. "They wanted to spend some quality mother daughter time. Do you have any children Elizabeth?" He already knew the answer to that. He only asked so that Lucky wouldn't get suspicious.

Lucky saw the pain in Elizabeths' eyes. Faison was deliberately trying to hurt her. "LEAVE HER ALONE!", he screamed, "PLEASE!"

Elizabeth walked back over to the mirrored wall. "No, I don't have any children." she said softly.

"Why not?" he asked her softly.

Angela came back in the room almost on cue. "Sorry for the disappearing act," she said. "Are we going to walk around the grounds? I can't wait to see the rest of it."

Lucky was relieved to see that Elizabeth wasn't alone with Faison anymore but he was still concerned for her safety. "What the hell are you up to Faison? What the hell are you up to."

"Let's go then." Faison said heading out through the door. He was glad that the conversation had been cut short.

Angela was following him until she noticed Elizabeth hesitating, "Are you coming?"

Elizabeth placed her untouched glass of lemonade on the tray and looked back at the mirrored wall before saying, "Yeah, I am."

Lucky was standing there watching her leave the room and he felt his heart break. Now that he had seen her again all the pain of the last eight years came rushing back to him full force. He had missed out on so much. ‘Will I get to see my family again? Will I get to see Nicolas' baby? Will I get to have my own?' he thought to himself. "Oh God," he prayed aloud, "Please take care of everyone I love. That's all I really want. I just want them to be safe." That was why he had sacrificed his own life. He had given Faison his so that everyone else could have theirs.