Escaping Ordinary

by Scott Reintgen

  She needed to stay focused.

  Beginning seemed to sense her urgency. The young girl dropped the tour-guide act and quickened the pace. Indira was thankful she’d come, as the winding route would have certainly been difficult with just a map. Eventually, they passed through the main section of factories and out the other side. Beginning led them up a final catwalk before gesturing to a latched gateway.

  “This leads to Ordinary,” she announced. “I wish you luck.”

  Indira frowned. “You aren’t going with us?”

  The girl shook her head. “It’s far too risky.”

  Phoenix snorted at that. Indira understood how he felt. It was risky for all of them. She kind of thought the person who ruled over Plot would be willing to go with them at least.

  “We know it’s risky,” Indira pointed out. “But we’re still going.”

  Beginning frowned. “Perhaps I have been unclear. I do not mean that I fear for my own personal health. It’s the same reason you did not see Middle when this rogue Author first appeared. She did not want to take the risk either. Sometimes our appearance can be deceptive. It is easy to think of me as a child. But do not be fooled. I am as old as time itself. I am the first line in every story ever told. I am the opening image. I am the sound of pages turning, the quiet sigh that can be heard whenever someone sets their feet in a new world. I am BEGINNING.”

  That word echoed louder than even the distant machine noise.

  “Our mutual enemy has already broken steps in the Hero’s Journey,” Beginning reminded Indira. “His dark magic has tainted hundreds of stories. Middle and End have already suffered significant injuries because of it. Can you imagine, though, if he found me? The beginning of all? No, I cannot risk entering the city.”

  Indira took a deep breath. “But we can.”

  Beginning grinned. “Precisely. Onward, my champions.”

  They weren’t going to get a better pep talk than that. Taking a deep breath, Indira worked the entry hatch open. A ladder was waiting. She exchanged nods with Phoenix and Cavern, and started the ascent.

  As she climbed, Indira repeated Maxi’s advice. Every bone in her body wanted to take on the threat directly. She didn’t want anyone else to get hurt, anything else to break. Beginning’s fear only confirmed the danger that Joey posed to their world. But she knew Maxi was right. It would be best to combine their strengths, make a plan, and face him together.

  Above, slats in the ceiling cast little slashes of light along the upper walls of the tunnel. They’d arrived. Indira reached up and gave the hatch a healthy shove. It swung upward and then hit something with a resounding bang. All three of them froze.

  “Nice stealth,” Cavern hissed.

  No one moved for a full minute. When no response came—and it seemed as if the noise had gone unnoticed—Indira pulled herself carefully into a dimly lit basement. Another stairwell led up the opposite wall. She couldn’t tell if they’d arrived in a business or a home. It struck her that she’d forgotten to ask Minerva.

  Indira turned to help Phoenix. Instinctively, she reached for Cavern next. His skin grazed hers, and the lights in the room vanished. Indira felt the sudden gusting of a cold and violent wind…

  …before blinking back into the basement.

  “I’m so sorry!” Cavern was saying. “I forgot! I marked you earlier. You’ve been inside the cave. All it takes now is a touch to pull you back. I’ll be more careful next time.”

  The room was spinning a little. Indira shook herself.

  “Marked me? So creepy. When we’re done with this, you’re going to do whatever it takes to remove that. Come on. Let’s keep moving.”

  Up the flight of stairs they went, through a creaking door, and out into what appeared to be a sitting room. Indira’s eyes were still adjusting to the light when she realized where they were.

  “Of course!” she said. “This is my house.”

  As if to confirm the statement, Indira’s pet chicken came marching out of the next room, clucking at them. The creature strutted forward and pecked her hand affectionately.

  “You have a chicken?” Cavern asked.

  “His name is Peck.”

  Cavern barely heard her as he walked around the spacious room, eyeing the decorations. “And you live here?”

  “Just for the scenario,” Indira explained. “This was my assigned home.”

  “It’s so nice,” he replied. “I was assigned to live in a dark cocoon.”

  Indira decided not to ask any follow-up questions to that. “Let’s keep the lights off for right now. And be careful looking out the windows. I don’t want to give Joey any reason to notice us.”

  Outside, the rain was coming down hard. It wasn’t exactly dark, but the absence of the sun definitely cast a grayness over everything. Phoenix made his way over to the nearest window and glanced outside. “Just an alleyway,” he announced. “Where’s the front door, Indira?”

  Peck lifted his head and darted toward the front of the house.

  “Follow the chicken,” Indira suggested.

  All three of them crept down the hallway and crowded around the front entrance. Glass panes ran down both sides of the door, and Indira edged out far enough so that she could spy on the street without being seen. The sight left her breathless.

  “How long were we in the tunnels?”

  Phoenix gasped. “What was Squalls thinking?”

  The entire street was flooded. Thankfully, Indira’s house was slightly elevated. That morning she’d descended a stoop to get down to street level. It had likely saved the house from what was outside. Every street and alleyway had been transformed into a canal. Indira even noticed a pair of neighbors, farther down the street, gliding away in some kind of motorized boat.

  Cavern’s voice sounded doubtful. “It could not have rained this much.”

  “Are you sure?” Indira asked.

  “We weren’t in the dark for long. Even torrential rains wouldn’t cause such flooding.”

  Something else caught Indira’s eye. Down at the bottom of her house’s entryway, a small boat was tied to one of the handrails. Indira didn’t remember it being there the first day.

  “Why would we even have a boat?” she asked herself.

  Phoenix glanced over. “What?”

  She pointed. “That boat right there. This town isn’t near a lake or an ocean. Why would there be a boat tied to the front of our house? There were people down the road in a boat too.”

  “You’re right. It doesn’t make any sense,” Phoenix said. “Which means it connects back to Joey. Anything that doesn’t fit the scenario has his handwriting all over it. I mean, if he can make the outer walls higher, he’s powerful enough to turn the streets into canals.”

  Indira shook her head. “But what’s the point? Why canals?”

  Cavern let out an annoyed noise. “Is that what you good guys spend all your time doing? Talking about every little detail? No wonder our books take so long. Come on.”

  He opened the door and crept out onto the stoop. Indira and Phoenix followed, pulling their cloaks tighter as the rain started to soak them from above. Peck darted out ahead of them and leaped into the boat. Indira’s eyes traced up and down the street that had been transformed into a canal. It looked empty for now.

  Cavern gestured to the chicken. “Not exactly a stealthy animal.”

  “We can’t just leave him,” Indira replied.

  Cavern nodded. “You’re right. He might be a valuable food resource.”

  Indira shot him a scandalized look. “You don’t eat the lovable pet. That’s like the most basic rule of Sympathetic Characters. What’s wrong with you?”

  He shrugged. “I’m usually the bad guy.”

  Luckily, the waiting boat was big enough for all four of them. Indira climbed in and forced
Peck to the front of the boat, carefully away from Cavern. The boat came with more surprises. Instead of the typical control system she’d expected to find…

  “Is that a video-game controller?” Indira asked.

  A black cord connected the handheld controller to the central console. Phoenix picked up the controller like it was second nature. “Speaking of Sympathetic Characters class, I did a whole side project on video games last year. It was my choice for the ‘skill readers can identify with.’ Let me take a look. Pretty sure I can figure it out.”

  He eyed the buttons for a second before jamming his finger down on a brightly colored B. Their boat lurched forward so quickly that Indira almost went toppling over the side. Cavern caught her—barely avoiding skin-to-skin contact—and the two of them settled back into their seats as Phoenix guided them out over the water.

  In any other situation, Indira would have thought this was pretty cool. They were in a town with canals for streets, driving a boat using a video-game controller. It was harder to enjoy when she knew each new detail led back to such a dangerous source.

  Joey was here somewhere. She shivered as their boat picked up speed. Phoenix guided them to the far right side of the road, carefully moving them into the shadows of the nearest buildings. Every few seconds, Indira thought she spied movement down adjacent streets or back alleys, but no other boats appeared.

  When they reached the end of the road, Indira remembered this was the same route she’d taken to school a few mornings before. She’d made the same turn, walked up the street, and bumped right into Ledge Woods. She wondered if he was still here somewhere.

  Phoenix slowed the boat down, idling it against the nearest building before making the turn. Their position offered them a view of the main strip. There were a few boats, but they looked like they were well down the road. For the first time inside the city, Indira heard cannons firing.

  “What is he doing to them?” she asked nervously.

  “I don’t know,” Phoenix whispered back. “But let’s focus on the mission for now. Get to the workshop. Get Gadget’s recording device. Get out.”

  Indira nodded. “Do you think we can cross without being seen?”

  Phoenix watched the distant movement. When one of the final boats rounded a corner, he punched the accelerator again. Their boat darted forward like a fish, stuttering only slightly before picking up speed. “Which building is it?” he asked.

  “The fourth one. Up ahead. Go into the alley there.”

  There were shouts behind them, but Indira thought they sounded distant. A glance back showed an empty waterway. Phoenix nosed them around a half-drowned oak tree before slipping into the quiet of the workshop’s alleyway.

  When Indira had passed it the first time, the shop had been busy with customers and shopkeepers, all dancing around a slew of whizzing inventions. Now the front doors were shut and the entire store appeared unlit. Indira tried to glance through the windows, but all she could see was the reflected thunderheads above. It was still raining lightly.

  “The window there.” Cavern pointed. “I think even I can fit through it.”

  Indira had forgotten how massive their antagonist ally was. She squinted before nodding. “I think so too. Stop right there, Phoenix. We’ll have to tie up the boat.”

  Peck squawked a little. Indira reached out and stroked the bird’s head gently as the nervous seconds stretched. Phoenix idled against the wall nearest the window, killed the engines, and reached for the same rope that had been used to tie the boat to her house’s stoop.

  Fresh cannon fire shook the buildings a few streets away. Closer this time. Indira could only guess what kind of mayhem Joey was creating. It was a small relief to remember that any town resident who was hurt badly enough would reappear back at the Ninth Hearth.

  At least no one would die for real.

  Cavern let out a little grunt as he pried the stubborn window open. It groaned, but the sound of the rain was louder. It was a tight squeeze, but Cavern managed to wedge himself inside. Indira was impressed by the soundless descent he made entering the building. She did her best to channel the same stealth. It took some effort to twist her body and land lightly at the same time.

  The drop was surprisingly short. Just a few feet. New smells and sounds greeted her. Some kind of shaved-wood scent. The echo of silence. Cavern helped Phoenix inside. Indira stared at him for a second. “Where’s the bird?”

  He stared at her. “In the boat?”

  She glanced back out the window. To her surprise, Peck had curled up in the very front of the boat. She shot Phoenix a look. “If we lose him, it’ll be your fault.”

  “If we lose him, that means we lost the boat. We’ll have bigger problems if that happens.”

  Cavern hissed at them. “Quit wasting time. Where’s this device?”

  The window had dropped them on a landing inside the workshop. It was the turning point in a set of stairs. The staircase on their right led down, and the one on the left led up. Indira considered both options before remembering what Gadget had said the day they first arrived.

  “She lives above the workshop. This way.”

  Phoenix gestured. “There’s a switch here. We could use a little light.”

  Before Indira could protest, Phoenix shoved the massive switch upward. A blast of noise and light thundered around them. Their jaws dropped as the entire workshop came to life. Circuits fired; engines spun. She watched an electric train begin chugging around a track. Some kind of espresso machine huffed smoke as it poured a steaming mug of coffee. Little helicopters buzzed into the air, circling the room.

  Indira snapped, “Shut it off!”

  Phoenix slammed the switch back down. Most of the room went quiet, the lights flickering out, but the remaining charge forced a few of the devices to finish whatever action they’d been performing.

  “Move.” Indira shoved Phoenix up the stairs. “Now.”

  Cavern led the way. Indira was blinking—still blinded by the flash of lights—but Cavern seemed unaffected. He marched down a hallway, checking doors as he went.

  “How can you see anything?” Indira hissed.

  “I’ve been through the darkspring,” he replied. “It gifted me with night vision.”

  Indira raised an eyebrow. That could be useful. For now they needed to move quickly. Phoenix’s mistake would definitely draw attention to this building. She was dead certain that the thunderous noise—however brief—had been loud enough to turn some heads.

  Cavern opened a final room. “Ah. Your scientist lives here.”

  He was right. Indira saw abandoned projects and half-finished sketches. All the devices would have fit Gadget’s personality well. “Okay. The computer is inside a briefcase. Gadget said it has a brown handle that’s slightly faded.”

  All three of them spread out. Cavern went for the closet. Phoenix headed straight for a distant bookshelf. Indira searched a pair of nightstands before checking under the bed. It reminded her of searching through Brainstorm Ketty’s house with Maxi last year. That had been her first taste of real detective work. It had also gotten her into trouble with the Grammar Police.

  She coughed, trying to fight off the swirling dust, when Cavern made a satisfied noise.

  “Found it.”

  He turned to them, holding up a brown briefcase. Indira saw the edge of a computer sticking out of one corner. “Nicely done. Let’s get—”

  A burst of light.

  Indira flinched. All the thunderous noises downstairs clicked to life again. Someone had turned the switch back on. Footsteps sounded too. An intruder was approaching. Cavern tightened his grip on the briefcase. Indira lifted her hammer expectantly. She watched a gloved hand push open the door.

  It wasn’t Joey. It was Ledge Woods.

  His eyes widened. “What are you doing here? Are you out
of your minds?”

  Indira could only stare. It wasn’t the same aggressive tone he’d used before. Ledge stared at her like she had three eyes, then caught sight of Cavern standing in the corner.

  “Cavern? You’re here with them?”

  The giant antagonist waved. “What’s up, Ledge?”

  Ledge looked on the verge of a panic attack. “I don’t know how you got into the city, but you need to get out now. He’s coming. He’s coming here! I’ll do my best to stall him.”

  “Wait,” Indira said as Ledge turned. “Tell us what’s happening. We need to know as much as we can about what Joey’s been doing.”

  Cannon fire boomed outside. Indira thought she could hear the faint sound of laughter. Ledge actually shivered. “It’s a game. He took over the town. I don’t know. It’s strange. He makes us fight. We’re either marines or pirates. And he just keeps making us play the same game over and over again.” Another boom sounded. “You need to leave now! Get help!”

  Indira nodded, storing that information. The group descended the stairs together. Ledge had thrown the same switch that Phoenix had as a diversion. The entire workshop hummed with life. When they reached the landing, Indira saw movement near the front entrance.

  A voice called from outside. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!”

  Ledge whispered, “He thinks I’m his scout. Hurry up. Get back in your boat and go!”

  Indira thanked him. Cavern went first, wedging himself up and out. Phoenix went next. Indira hadn’t exactly liked Ledge earlier that day, but at least he was helping them now.

  She felt bad leaving him.

  “Come with us,” she whispered. “It would help to have someone who was on the inside.”

  He took a deep breath. “Fine. Just hurry up. I’ll come with you.”

  Indira nodded, pulling herself through the open window. Phoenix helped her silently into the boat. Peck gave a happy shake of feathers seeing her, but thankfully didn’t make more noise.