by J M Guillen
New York, New York
My eyes snapped open, and I gasped as if I hadn’t breathed in hours.
4:42.
Hadn’t it just said 4:43? I stared at the hotel clock, unable to believe my eyes.
“Look, Liz. I just want to talk.” The uncanny figure spread its arms, palms out. The buzz began to fade.
“Is this how you start every conversation?” I snapped, almost not caring about the true nature of the creature.
Almost.
“I’m sorry if I startled you, but I truly mean you no harm.” Slowly it stepped over to the armchair and leaned on the table nearby. It kept its dark, steady gaze on me the entire time.
“No harm,” I huffed and tried to calm myself. “That’s exactly what I heard about you guys.” I rubbed my forehead; it felt full of pins and needles, as if my skull had fallen asleep.
“Fair assessment.” It gave a half shrug. “Yet it’s true. After I leave, you’ll find your little gift returns. No harm at all.”
Only if I can get away from you.
“Gift?” I breathed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Truthfully, if you hadn’t considered using it against me, you wouldn’t feel the way you do now,” it reasoned.
“So it’s my fault.”
“Liz.” It shook its head in a more-than-slightly patronizing way. “After a fashion, it’s your gift I’m here to speak about. It’s an aberrant talent but an impressive one.”
“I’m pleased you appreciate my talents.” I found it difficult to hold onto my existential horror as the Silent Gentleman chatted me up. Why aren’t I already in the back of a black van? I would be soon if I didn’t come up with a plan.
I needed to think.
“Liz, you’re a big girl. I bet you’ve already heard the whole ‘the world is larger than you believe’ spiel.” It rotated its right wrist as it spoke. “Let me ask you, did that propaganda come from one particular person? Someone who went on to show you how wide the world is? Or do you have other people’s perspectives too?”
“Propaganda? I—” Put that way, my mentorship with Simon sounded small. Play along. I swallowed. Maybe I could find an opportunity. Where are my knives? “I get around,” I huffed. “I’ve learned things.”
“Of course.” The creature smiled just a bit too widely. The tiniest hint of that painful buzz lurked behind its words. “Liz, you’re in a dangerous situation.”
No kidding, I almost blurted.
“We live in a world where things can change very quickly. I worry you don’t understand some of the… long term ramifications of your choices.”
“I see.” I didn’t believe a word it said. “It’s very altruistic of you to watch out for my wellbeing. Since we know each other so well and all.”
“Hah!” It shook its head, the movement so realistic that for a moment, it could have been anyone at all. It looked completely normal.
Just some guy, I marveled. I didn’t know the creature’s true shape, but it mimicked a human impressively.
“That’s fair I suppose.” It extended a hand. “I already know your name. Mine’s Garret. I’m what’s called a Facility Asset.’”
“Nice to meet you, Garret.” I shook its hand, trying not to tremble. Even though I knew it wasn’t really human, its flesh felt soft and warm.
Every nerve ending I had blazed with scarcely held panic.
“Liz, I’m here because it’s possible that people who have recently come into your life aren’t being completely honest with you. Can you see why I might think that?”
“No.”
“Hmm.” It nodded. “Liz, it’s my job to look after people like you. I had hoped by approaching you this way, you would see I’m trying to be a friend.”
‘Look after.’ I shuddered at the thought, but a glint caught the edge of my gaze. “Yeah, I’ve heard just how friendly you all can be,” I said and glanced away briefly, searching.
Found.
My eyes widened as I realized my throwing knives were right there, at the side of the bed. I practically vibrated in place as I waited for “Garret” to glance away.
“Liz,” its voice suddenly weary, “I’ve not offered any violence. I just want to talk.”
“Right. I know.” I gave him a sunny smile and hoped it couldn’t read the desperation in my eyes.
“There’s no reason for you to need the knives. You’d just irritate us both.”
“What?” I half laughed. “What do you mean?” How did it know? Could it literally read my mind?
“You have ten throwing knives in this room in several different kinds of sheaths.” It raised an eyebrow. “Odd choice of weapons.”
“I find they serve very well.” I met its gaze, and my chin jutted forward with cocky aplomb.
Internally, however, I was losing my mind.
“At about the same time you reached your knives, I’d activate my defensive packets again,” it warned, that soft buzz back in its voice. “You’d find yourself on the ground, only this time, when you woke up, we’d be somewhere very far away.”
“I see.” I couldn’t meet the creature’s eyes.
“Liz, that’s not the way I want this to happen. I’ll admit, my own protocols have very specific standards for how an Asset is supposed to act in this situation, but I hoped we could do things differently.” The warbling buzz grew a touch louder.
“Okay.” I took a breath.
“I told you, we’re having this conversation regardless. Wouldn’t it be more pleasant if we had it here, and then you got to return to your little friends?”
“I get to leave after?”
“I can’t see why not.” It smiled again, wide, inhuman. “If that’s what you desire.”
“That would be preferable.” I nodded stiffly. “Yes.”
Gotta run. I didn’t believe for a moment that it would actually allow me to leave. Still, if I didn’t provoke the thing, perhaps I’d get a chance.
Running was what I was spec’d for, after all.
4
“Look, I’ll cut to the point of my visit.” It peered at me with cool, almost reptilian eyes. “Has anyone warned you about the ramifications of your aberrant talent?”
“Talent?”
“Come now,” it said with a disarming lilt to its voice. “When you first saw me, you were going to alter the axioms of reality. You shape and control the physics of air dynamics, isn’t that right?”
“Um….” Will it know if lie? I gave the creature a half-hearted shrug.
“Just what were you going to do?” Those almost-human brown eyes held a curious glint.
My lips parted to answer him.
“Doesn’t matter.” It held up a hand before I could say a word. “Something painful and possibly gruesome, I expect.” It cleared its throat. “It seems you remain ignorant of the long term effects of your experimentation.”
Breathe. Just the feel of the creature’s eyes on me sent panicky little tremors through my gut.
“What do you mean, experimentation?”
“As I expected.” It shook its head. “I didn’t think you could possibly know. Liz, you seem like a talented girl with a good head on your shoulders. You wouldn’t want to put anyone else in danger.” Its voice reverberated with the slightly mechanical buzz.
“In danger?” I furrowed my brow.
“I’m sure it didn’t take very long for a… more experienced… person to show up and take you under their wing when things started to go irrational on you, did it? Some altruistic, generous fellow who said he just wanted to teach you, show you your new world?”
“Um.” I stood absolutely still and gave the creature my very best blank face. If all this is a hunt for Simon…
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Its lips pulled into a façade of a smile. “Did they ever ask anything from you in return?”
No. I frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?”
“If you’re looking for someo
ne, I can’t help you.”
“Oh! Oh, no, Liz!” The Gentleman chuckled and waved one hand in the air. “I’m not after anyone else.”
“Meaning… you’re after me.” I fought to keep the tremor from my voice.
“In a manner of speaking. You’re thinking too hard.” It shrugged. “It’s just that you’re very bright. It’d sure be a shame if you found yourself on the wrong side of things.”
The wrong side? My hackles went up at the calm certainty in its tone.
“For just a moment, Liz, I’d like you to really hear what I’m saying.” The creature met my gaze, and for the first time I wondered if I’d seen the thing blink. “If I meant to do you harm, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking, would I? Stands to reason that since I’m here, I might actually have something to say.”
“Perhaps.” I leaned back against the wall. For all the uncanny horror of actually speaking with one of the Silent Gentlemen, he hadn’t truly harmed me.
Yet.
“Your mentor, whoever or whatever he is, doesn’t seem to have done the most thorough job with you, Liz.”
“What the h—?” I started to huff, but the static burst back into my mind, just for a moment. The room tilted and crackled like old film.
It moved again. This time, it sat in one of the room’s chairs and regarded me with intent, not-quite-real eyes. One moment it had stood near the door, and less than a blink later, it sat ten feet away.
The unreality of the situation made me nauseous.
“There’s much you don’t know, Liz. I don’t know why your mentor wouldn’t warn you, but somebody’s got to.”
“Warn me about what? Strange men who barge into my bedroom and do whatever they damn well please?” My cheeks burned.
“Liz, what you do—it’s unnatural.” It saw me puff up again and shook its head. “It’s nothing against you. You can’t help it. But doing what you do is dangerous.”
“I can handle myself.” I crossed my arms.
“It’s not dangerous for you. It’s dangerous for everyone else.” Its voice buzzed with mechanical inhumanity.
“Say what now?” I frowned.
“Physics is a certain thing, Liz. Our world works a specific way. Think back to Biology or Earth Science. When you affect a system, there are consequences.” It held up both palms, in a see-saw, weighing scales kind of way. “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, right?”
“Right.” I spoke slowly, searching for the trap.
“It must feel wonderful, I’m certain.” The creature quirked its thin lips. “But what you do strains the very fabric of reality. You have no idea how fragile existence is, nor what lies beyond it just waiting for some unsuspecting innocent to let them in.”
“Them?” I suddenly felt quite cold.
“I won’t tell you the kind of horrors lurking there, Liz. Just trust that I never want you to experience them yourself. Our world is full of half-insane cultists and cabals of despair that worship those dark powers.” It shook its head. “The Facility considers them all reality terrorists, and with good reason.”
Reality terrorists? I thought back on the things Simon told me, about how the Silent Gentlemen appeared wherever supernatural events took place.
“Look, I don’t know why your mentor didn’t tell you, but I can’t say that he doesn’t have some ulterior motive for you. Maybe he has a deal with one of the aberrations that hide behind the world. It’s fairly common for these cultists to make offerings with their pacts.”
“Wait.” I held up a hand. “An offering?”
“I’m saying I don’t know. Maybe the folks you’re involved with have good intentions.” It rubbed its hand across the nape of its neck. “Maybe I’ve just seen too many human sacrifices, too many promising young people exchanged to nameless horrors.”
“Exchanged?” I felt confused again. “For what?” I started to ask another question when Simon’s words, a warning six years old, trickled through my mind.
Universally, stories of the Silent Gentlemen are horrific things, kid. They’re stories where things never end well for whatever they’re chasing.
My eyes grew wide. Had I actually started to listen to the thing? Buy in?
No. I furrowed my brow.
“These monstrosities often start off by giving gifts. Maybe glimpses of the future, wealth, or trinkets. Artifacts of power.”
“Artifacts?” I leaned closer, unable to help my curiosity.
Gamer ’til I die, yo.
“They usually give little things at first, like a knife that tells you when someone talks about you or dice that always roll sixes. Sound familiar?”
Sixes are a lousy roll—but that thing may not be totally off base. I couldn’t help but remember the talismans Simon wore. He told me how he created such things, enchanting them with the lost Empyrean Names and watchtowers.
Deep in thought, I touched the earring he had given me. Secret power quivered at my touch.
“Abominations from outside our realm are drawn to folks like you, Liz. Every time you use your powers to reshape the rational world, you light up like a Christmas tree to them.”
“The rational world?” My mind spun.
“Our world. Reality,” it vacillated. “Whatever you call it.”
“So, these things,” I spoke slowly, but my mind raced. “They can see when I shape the wind?”
“They come like moths to a flame, and hover about you, unseen. They want you to tinker with reality more, to widen the rift in the veil that protects our world.”
“Why?” Visions of outer planar monsters danced in my head.
“If they ever got in, they would destroy us all. Reality would split asunder. All humanity would become blighted and insane, rotting meat for horrific carrion crows.” Its eyes glazed slightly, but then it shook itself and pierced me with a confident grin. “That’s usually where I come in.”
I eyed him and tried not to shudder.
“Actually, Liz, I would very much like to offer you a… kind of opportunity.” It smiled at me again, a surreal, grotesque parody of a human grin.
“A what?” I didn’t know what to say. “A job? A job like yours?” I shook my head in baffled wonderment. Just the thought of somehow being in league with the creature made my stomach knot up.
The Silent Gentlemen came after people like me; they didn’t hire them.
“Understand what the Facility represents here. I—we—stand against the horrors of the Astral tides. We fight back against the madness and protect humanity from the shadows. And I want you to help us.”
“Me?” I squeaked. “How?”
“I’m sure you’ve been told all kinds of stories about us. Most reality terrorists paint propaganda of us throwing children into black vans or gunning down innocents.” It shrugged. “Liz, have I done anything threatening here today—aside from protect myself from your talent?”
“I didn’t know what you were doing here!” I crossed my arms, irritated that the only one who had been moved to violence was me.
“Of course you didn’t. I’ll admit I slipped up on you, and you had every right to react defensively,” it said with a smile. “But my point is, judging by my actions, I don’t mean you harm. Right?”
“You still haven’t told me exactly what you want from me.”
“On rare occasions, the Facility works with specially talented people.” The inhuman creature shrugged one shoulder. “Those who work with us are decent citizens, trying to protect our world. We have specialized teams who help us work to keep reality nice and orderly.”
No way! That’s insa— I shook my head. I needed to play my part here.
It waited, head tilted just slightly.
“Would I…?” I paused to try to phrase things properly. Simon had warned me about the Silent Gentlemen and their capability to douse a person’s clever knacks. “Would I have to stop shaping the wind?”
“We’d want you to work with us to minimize the damage you cause, that’
s for certain.” It put its hands back in its pockets. “That being said, we’re searching for extra-rational talent. Wouldn’t make sense to deny you your gifts, would it?”
“No.” I allowed a small quirk of my lips. “I suppose it wouldn’t.”
“All I’m asking is for you to consider the idea. I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise we can provide answers. The thing you should consider first is one simple question.”
“Yeah?” I couldn’t help but be intrigued, despite the horrific inhumanity of the thing.
“Would you even consider working with us?” Its face grew serious. “Or do you already assume I’m just here to throw you into the back of a black van?”
“Ha!” I faked the laugh—it all seemed so ridiculous. “I guess I would have to think on that.”
“A fair answer.” It nodded. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I don’t need an answer right now. In fact, I won’t take one today, regardless.” It ran a hand over the back of its neck, then straightened its tie. “I’ll let you mull things over for a few days. Sound reasonable?”
“What if…?” I tapped my foot nervously and felt as if the meeting was almost over. “What if I feel like it’s best for me to decline? Even if it’s just for now?”
“We’re not monsters, Liz. The Facility is quite lenient.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard.” I couldn’t stop the words in time.
“I know you don’t want to be part of destroying reality itself. Wouldn’t you consider cabalists who threaten our world to be more monstrous than those who protect it?”
“Trick question.” I gave it another feigned grin, and tried to pretend my heart wasn’t pounding its way through my chest.
“I imagine if you think things over and have some concerns, we can negotiate for our mutual agreement.”
“I suppose.” I tilted my head in brief acknowledgment. “A few days should do fine.”
“Good.” The creature that named itself Garret stood. “I’m certain you’ll come to the right decision.”
“How will I get a hold of you with my answer?”
“Don’t worry, Liz,” Garret said as it gave me a final glance. “I’ll find you.” Those words buzzed furiously, punctuated by the room crackling and skipping like old film.