Broken Dreams and Promises

My hand raked over my face and through my hair as I rolled my shoulders, hearing the muscles clicking from the tension they held. After my third day, scouring registries, census reports, deeds, anything I could get my eyes on –I still had nothing.

Elspeth was gone. I needed to come to grips with that reality. My world ended four days ago. My heart died. It just keeps beating because it doesn't know any better.

My universe flipped upside down. When I returned to her cottage, everything had changed. The ground was barren, the river dry. Trees were dead or dying and their little cottage was a scene for a haunted movie. There were zero signs of life. The place was dilapidated, empty, and void of life. Thick layers of dust covered every surface.

I was at a loss. I still am.

Elspeth just vanished and clearly her place hasn't housed anyone in decades. So, what am I to make of that? Hmm? I keep asking myself, but there are no answers. So, I continue to delve deeper, through row after row of names, marriages, divorces, deeds, contracts, anything that may have her name attached to it. But she left no footprint. No breadcrumbs. No possible way for me to reach her. So, what am I to do?

I've sat in silence among these archives, set in a sterile building housing computers galore. You can find anything here in the records room. No one comes here though. Except for the young boy who's been here every day. We don't acknowledge one another. He sits a few rows from the entrance, beanie pulled down over his eyebrows, jacket collar hiked up around his neck. Not at all suspicious –I say sarcastically.

I pack up my tablet into my satchel and tuck my notebook away. The notes I was taking were for my eyes only, so I was careful, making sure to leave as little of a footprint as possible. As it was, I knew my search engine would be scoured over by bots, checking to see any patterns. I was wise enough to add so much garbage to my searches, which should end up sending them down a few rabbit holes.

I needed to be done. I skidded my chair in, making a screeching sound that I didn’t mean to have happen. The floors in this massive building were of a shiny, marble-like material in deep charcoals and grays. Everything in here oozed with cool, quiet, unattached kind-of vibes. And now I had drawn attention to myself.

At the screeching sound, the young kid glanced up, made eye contact with me, and dropped his head. I had to walk by where he was sitting so I debated - in those few steps before I got to him - if I should engage. I felt we had something in common. I mean, no one else came in, and I felt kind of bad for him, trying to appear so ‘undercover.’

I paused, just hovering over his cubicle, debating if I should open my mouth or keep on going. I thought to myself, if I had someone walk by me, I’d hope they’d just kept walking. I decided to ignore him, but as my foot stepped forward, he looked up at me and that was it. I froze.

Even with him being covered up to his eyebrows, his eyes caught my attention. They were Elspeth’s eyes! I gasped and he jerked his head back down, starting to rake all his piles of papers together, shoving them into his satchel. He was up to something, or he wouldn’t have physical notes.

He wouldn’t look back up at me and I couldn’t get my feet to budge. There was definitely a resemblance to Elle. Those eyes are not something I would ever forget.

“Excuse me.” I guess I’ll just jump in. What’s the worst that can happen? He’s frozen. His hands are in his lap, holding a mess of paperwork. “Hey buddy. I’m not here to get after you or anything, I just…” His face lifts, those eyes captivate me once again and now I find myself staring into his eyes longingly. Probably very creepily. He blinks a few times, glances back to his paperwork, and then looks up again, opening his mouth and then closing it.

I decide to take that as my cue. I’m losing my mind. “Have a good night, Buddy.” I let out as I walk away. As soon as I push open the large glass door, I hear a soft voice calling after me. Frozen in place once again, this eerie feeling floods over my whole body, making me feel like I’m caught in a dream. My spine tingles like sparks shooting off. That tone, it was way too familiar.

Slowly I spin around and there he stands. He’s slight. Barely coming up to my chest. He’s gotta be pretty young. He doesn’t say anything. I don’t say anything either. We just stand, staring at each other.

Without words, he motions with his head for me to move, as he's placing where the security cameras are located. Once clear of watching eyes, he pulls the knit cap off his head allowing a swirl of long auburn hair to unfurl, dropping over his shoulders, except it isn’t a he --it’s a she. She raises her eyes to look at me, blinking them slowly before biting her lower lip, seemingly nervous.

I’m at a loss for words. She looks so similar to Elspeth that I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming. “I…” She starts to speak but then freezes again. “Do I know you?” My eyes are scanning her every feature, she looks to be only eighteen or nineteen. I can’t fathom where I would have met her, maybe she’s one of my Newbies that I helped process. A lot of people that work with me on the Relocation Process and then again attended one of my seminars, often feel they know me, so I do get stopped often when I’m in town.

“No.” Her word comes out like a whisper. “What are you doing here?” I know it’s none of my business, but I’m fascinated with her now. “Um…” Her eyes land on mine again. “You’re Mr. Doyle, right? Alister Doyle?” “Riii-ght.” I stretch out the word, scrambling through my brain, trying to place her. She’s so unique, if I’d seen her anywhere, I highly doubt I would’ve forgotten her.

“How do you know me?” “Well, you aren’t a hard person to recognize. You work with the Relocation Process, right?” “Yesss.” I keep looking her over, I probably should stop that. It’s just that her features resemble Elspeth so much, it’s hard to not look at her.

Her gaze leaves me as she starts looking all around us, as if there are people spying on us. I glance around, trying to be with her in solidarity. “Can we talk somewhere?” My eyebrows raise. “Other than here?” She swirls her hair with her hand and lifts it up, pulling her beanie back down past her ears as she tucks the loose hanging hair back up under the cap. And then she flips up her collar.

There wasn’t a pause to answer so I follow her willingly. Why not? I need something to take my mind off my problems. We head down three or four backstreets, finally opening a door to a place that looks like a 24-hour storage unit. She keeps looking back past me, making sure we aren’t being followed as we weave through row after row.

All of a sudden, she stops abruptly, hunching over, punching in a code into a wall keypad. I almost smack right into her, we’d been walking at a brisk pace, so she startled me. I tumble myself over to the side of her, struggling to stay upright as an accordion garage door folds up into itself and she steps inside, waving for me to join her.

“Hurry up.” She snaps at me but then apologizes as I quickly straighten and step inside. She pushes the button to close the door and now it's ’s pitch black, and I’m getting a little nervous that I’ve been abducted or something crazy like that. Obviously, she couldn’t take me, but if she has someone that’s hiding somewhere in the corner… who knows. Before I determine what's going on, another door opens. Light streams in like a beacon and I see her standing. She’s so petite, her jacket is just billowy on her.

She turns my direction, waving her hand, gesturing that I follow her in. “Where are you taking me? What is all this?” She's already stepped through but pauses, turns to face me fully, and opens her mouth. “It’s exactly what it looks like! Now, are you in or not!?” Her hand lands on her hip in irritation. “I’ll take you back if you don’t want to get involved. It’s really no skin off my nose.” “No! I’m in.” I turn away from her mumbling under my breath. “Whatever ‘in’ actually means.” She shifts, giving me a glare. 

“WHAT!?” I revert to being twelve. “Just follow me.” A few choice words cross my mind. The little twit!

I step through the threshold and see several computers lined along one wall, with about nine people sitting behind large screens. That’s it. Nothing else is in here. I’m clueless as to what this is all about.

By the time I turn back to face her, she’s pulled off her beanie and her jacket. Jeez, she’s a real cutie. Petite, but…well, just jeez. A young guy strides over to us, his arm outstretched for a handshake. I shake his hand as he welcomes me by name.

“Alister Doyle. What an honor to have you here.” “I appreciate the welcome but…” I gesture to the row of computer nerds. “Where exactly is here?” He laughs a full belly laugh and the young girl just smiles at him. Her eyes focused fully on what he’s saying.

He looks at her, “have you told him anything yet?” She just shakes her head. “Well then,” he turns back to me, coming around my side, placing his arm lightly at my back. “Let me introduce you to everyone.” I still have no idea who these two are, but he just jumps in. “First off,” his eyes rest on this girl/brat that led me here. “This is Calliope. She’s one of the founders of our rag-tag group.”

She finally looks up at me, reluctantly reaching her hand out. I take hold of it, practically swallowing it up in my hand, and shake it gently. Now she eyes me up and down, a scowl resting across her face. “Whatever! You don’t need to be careful around me. I may be small, but I’m positive I still could take you.” I wanted to ask her if she’d like to bet on that, but I let it slide. She wants to think she’s tough… that’s fine. “And… She keeps going. “I’m not a little kid, I’m twenty-five.”

My eyebrows raise, my eyes widen. “Is that so!?” “Yes. Good genes.” She smiles a full tooth smile, clearly sarcastically, but little laugh lines show up against those mesmerizing eyes of hers. And for a whole half second, I’m caught up in them, that is until she speaks again. “You’d better stop underestimating me.”

My head jerks back as I find myself shaking it at her. “What the… I’ve only met you, how has there been any time to underestimate you?” Her eyes meet mine and then this look of loathing falls over her face. “I know all too well how guys like you think. And… she looks back up at me, scowling once again. “I know your reputation.”

The guy that introduced us puts his hand on this girl’s arm, trying to calm her. “Calli, I think that’s enough for Mr. Doyle. We can catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.”

He turns from her, leaving her frowning at me. “I’m sorry, let me introduce myself, I’m Rupert, but everyone just calls me Rue.” I nod at him before he goes down the line, introducing me to the nine people behind the computers. Each one pops their head up and nods a hello in my direction.

-

Everything from this point forward was a blur. Before I knew it, I was back at home, trying to sort out all the information I had been given. Every single thought I’d been having about Beginning was true. Only it was so much worse than I could even imagine. This utopian world had become anything but, and now I was unknowingly attached to the group that would be taking them down.

I was to meet up with Calliope at a nearby coffee shop tomorrow morning to be ‘read in,’ but my brain was on fire, spinning out of control as I tried to process everything I already learned. Everything we had been spoon fed all these years were all lies.

I sat on my couch, Haywire lying beside me, his head in my lap, snoring. I couldn’t bring myself to go to bed, so I just sat there, sorting out all the new information about how Beginning is dealing with its citizens to make it a perfect environment –only for the right type of people. What I wanted to know was what were they doing with those less desirable? That - I guess - has to wait until morning. They weren't offering up the farm. I'm guessing they are waiting to see if I'm serious. If I show up or bail.

---

I don’t bother showering; I just change out of my shirt. I’m nervous as hell. I need information, and I need to know why this girl - alright, woman - has such similar features to Elspeth. It’s unnerving.

She’s already at a table, her coat and beanie still on. There are two coffees, along with her satchel. My eyes quickly scan the room. There’s only an elderly couple over in the corner so the place looks safe enough. It’s barely the crack of dawn, too early for most.

I offer a quiet hello that isn’t returned so I sit myself down. She’s looking at her tablet, acting as if I’m not even here. I don’t know how she can do it, but I’m already ticked off at her. I try not to judge people or even get irritated with them. It’s my job to work with all types. But this one here, she’s annoying as hell.

After what I deem long enough, I open my mouth. “Listen, you might not care, but I have a life, and I’d like to get back to it.” She still doesn’t respond. A couple more lengthy minutes pass and I scoot my chair back. “Whatever!” I stand up. “Sit down.” Her tone is low. How dare she treat me like this!

I sit. Finally, her tablet cover flips closed, and she raises her eyes to meet me. “I needed to deal with that, it’s got nothing to do with you.” I try to fight it but can’t help rolling my eyes at her. “A normal human being would apologize and say they're almost finished.” I don’t so much as get a small rise out of her. “This isn’t about any of us. I’m not here to coddle you, if you can’t participate without being pampered, then we don’t need you.”

“Listen!” I shift in my chair, readying myself to crawl across the table and grab hold of that twig neck. It could easily be snapped… “Don’t even think about it!” “What!?!” “You’re such a…” A what!” “Misogynistic…” “Watch it!” A sharp laugh is coughed up from her. She thinks she's so smart. I'm pissed now but she keeps rolling. “You couldn’t take me even with my hands tied behind my back. You’re too soft.” I let out an exasperated exhale.

“Why the Flack did you involve me? Clearly you don’t want me here.” “It wasn’t my decision.” I think for a moment. “Fine. What do I need to know, let’s get this over with.” “If that’s your attitude, then just leave. This isn’t something to just “get over.” Her fingers do air quotations. “God! I can’t win with you!”

She leans forward, her elbows against the table. “Like I said, this isn’t about you, or me, or anyone but those citizens who are losing their lives.” Her voice has dropped to just above a whisper as her steely gaze bores through me. I break off, looking around the room. That was intense.

There’s a line that’s formed since we got here, but everyone’s engrossed in whatever’s on their phones. She doesn't like it though, so she decides to take our conversation outdoors. We grab our coffees - which she already had ordered in to-go cups - and head out. I take a sip, not great but it'll do in a pinch.

There’s a quiet area in Grandeur Park that has benches surrounding a pond. She sits at one of them, so I join her. Things finally have settled down between us and she catches me up to date.

Their group is already at a point to take down those in leadership –those who have been removing citizens that don’t fit into their profile. There are four men in leadership who have reestablished what this new world should look like, and they have a small army, only about thirty or so militant type guys who are dealing with Newbies as they enter Beginning.

“Dungeons!?” My voice cracks as I try to keep it down. “Seriously!?!” Calliope just nods. “They’re using the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. Our sources say they’ve tunneled out kilometers of tunnels to house these people.” I sit dumbfounded as I pick my jaw up off the ground.

“What is it that you’re planning… Well, I mean, what’s your group planning to do then? And how do I fit in?” “You can access all the areas where Newbies are being processed, and we're hoping you can get your crew to join us. We're at a point to get everything scheduled, we just need access to some places that need higher level security clearance, and more bodies. Not just bodies –capable bodies.”

My fingers scratch over my four-day beard. “Woe! I need to know the plan before I commit my people to getting involved.” She rolls her eyes at me. Little Twerp! A lot of expletives scroll across the backs of my eyes. She’s so annoying!

“Listen! I understand your concern for your crew. Honestly, I get it. But this is about saving lives. This small group of misogynistic, racist, bigoted men aren’t going to stop with new citizens entering Beginning. Their plan is to euthanize the elderly, those with disabilities, the wrong color skin, the wrong partner preferences, and those with any form of mental issues. That could wipe out over half the population. I imagine you might be in that last group!

“Hey!” I balk. She grins at me. An actual grin has replaced her scowl. I want to tell her that she’s actually pretty without that horrible scowl she saves only for me, but I don’t want my nuts chopped off so early in the morning. So, I stay quiet.

"I'm joking, but I bet both of us are living with..." She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Depression. Just think about it. Their plans... It's F-ing scary!" A somberness falls over us.

“So... Can I ask a question?”  She tucks her loose-blowing hair behind one ear and turns more to face me. “Of course.” “When is this all going down? And why have you waited so long to get me involved?” She starts biting her lower lip again as she’s thinking about how to answer me. “Well, you must know, if it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would get done.” A heavy sigh escapes me as my eyes roll to the back of my head. “Do you think you could just be straight with me?”

“I’m just trying to loosen you up.” “I’m loose.” My arm waves limply through the air and I can see she’s stifling a smile. “Listen, I understand this is a lot to take in and I apologize for the info-dump. It’s just…”

I feel my eyebrows rising, I’m tired of all this cloak and dagger stuff! “I need to have answers, Calliope. I can’t bring my people on board without knowing the physical cost, or, for that matter, the purpose.”

She nods and shifts to biting her cuticles. “We have scouts out there, watching people.” “Like me?” She ignores my question. “We now know that there are only the handful of men in their little gang. Most in Beginning’s ranks still live by and value the models that the Originals created.

“We weren’t sure where you stood. I’ve seen the work you do. Everything on the surface seems like you really care for the people. We had talked about reading you in, finding out where you stood. But the main reason for the timing…” she trails off. “Word just got to me a few days ago.” “Word?” I blink hard. “By whom?”

She lets out a long exhale. “Let me just tell you this. There are people in your life who are a part of this.” “What!? You mean like planted to watch me?” “No, more like –they were a part of us before they became a friend of yours.” “Name Names!”

“Can you just get over yourself for two minutes and focus on what’s important? This is a crisis! We need to act now! People will be dying if we don’t act!” My head drops. “I’m sorry. Continue.” “I found out you were with Elspeth.” I stiffen. “What?! How’d you know about her?”

“I know about you through her.” “Wait!” I stand, running my hand through my hair, turning in circles before I sit back down. “How?” I blow out a ragged breath, my vision blurs. “She's never been here. Where is she? I need to get to her!” My brain smashes into the front of my skull. “Did you take her!? Is that what this is about?”

Calliope’s hand reaches over, landing on my thigh. She’s trying to calm me. “Alister.” My eyes are darting around, I can’t focus on her. “Alister!” I pause, look into her eyes, and ask again where Elle is.

“Elspeth was my great-grand aunt.” “What the hell!?! Your what?” “Alister. I don’t know how, but when you found Elspeth, you somehow passed through time. She’s been dead for over fifty years. The Elspeth you know is of the past.”

I'm hyperventilating. “How can that be?” My brain is free falling, trying to catch up. “Is that why the cottage looks like it does?” “You’ve been able to go to the cottage after she disappeared?” “Yes.” I breathe out. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” Calliope stands up, rubbing her palms over her slacks before she sits again.

“Your Elspeth - the one you fell in love with - was sisters with my great grandmother. Twins separated at birth. Do you know the story?" "Just what Elle told me, sounds like a dead-beat dad situation." "Well, yes, but their mother did just die!" "True."

"When my great grandmother was old enough, she searched for Elspeth. There's a story for another time. She actually found her not long after you were gone."

“Elspeth figured out you were from the future. I guess the things you shared with her about your concerns for Beginning, those are the things she spent her life fighting against. Making sure that people would be prepared. She and my great grandmother fought side by side for environmental changes. Over the years, these stories have been passed down, with every generation doing their part.”

This was all too much to handle. I couldn’t wrap my head around it all. But I needed more information. “How did she know, why didn't she tell me?”

“I can't get into that all right now. But it turns out, because of your relationship with Elspeth, we had the ammunition we needed. We wouldn’t have known what to look for without the information and the work she did. Both the sisters were actually advisors to some of the older Originals.”

“When you told your friends that Elspeth disappeared, word got back to me, and that’s when Rue decided it was time to bring you in.” “Why now, why not earlier, when I could have talked to Elle about all of this. I could have given her more information. This could all have been prevented. Why'd you wait?”

“Let’s just say, I didn’t trust you.” “Why!? You don’t even know me!” “I know your reputation. You’re a loose cannon, you’ve never settled down, you go through women like…” “Alright! I get it!” “Since you’ve been searching for her, Rue convinced me that we should trust you.”

“And now? How do you feel about me? I mean –you’re sharing everything, right?” “Mostly.” I nod. “Mostly… Alright.” My eyes drift over to a bunch of robins that just flew in, pecking at the grass. “What do you need from me? Specifically.” I look back up at her. I guess we're doing this.

We talked for another good hour while she brought me up to date with everything they knew. Their teams were ready, they had people in all segments of government, working for this cause. They knew what they were doing. I was impressed. All they needed was my access, and my crew. I was positive everyone would be on board. We want Beginning to work because we know there's no other option.

There was no way we could stand by without doing everything within our power to undo this nightmare. These nut-jobs needed to be taken down.