Trunks of Ages: The Seven Seals

by Mary Beth Frank

  Chapter 22 Confinement

  January 3-Present Day

  The sun was streaming through Sebastian's window, taunting him with the knowledge of the brilliant day he was purposefully giving up. It was Sunday, the last day he had of his self-enforced solitude. Tomorrow he would have no choice but to leave his room and face the rest of his family before going to school. The clock next to him indicated that he had successfully wasted the entire morning sleeping, although it was anything but peaceful. He had slept most of the last two days away, tossing and turning with visions of dread-lock clad women and dark beady eye men whose tongues turned into sabers. The few times he did wake was to check Facebook, pee, or shower.

  Each time he opened the door, Gina had been sitting against the wall opposite his room, eyes red, watching him in silence. There was usually a tray of food, which she placed outside the door, but he just ignored it. He had managed to find some boxes of snacks in his room, using those to keep himself from starving to death. Last night, he had left in the middle of the night to go take a shower. Expecting to endure her silence once more, he was surprised to find her asleep on the floor. A small pain tugged at his heart, when he saw her curled up on the cold wood floor. He had debated picking her up and carrying her to the guest room. The need to brood has subsided, his anger simmering down to dull annoyance. Looking at Gina each time he left his room, the desire to reach out to her and comfort her pain grew. And knowing he was the cause of it made him more curious than anything. She acted like they’d been together for some time, but in reality he knew nothing about her. They were still complete strangers, yet he felt they’d been destined to complete each other. The longing to know her better was undeniable, but he couldn't let go that she was in on this whole thing. She had to have known the day she met him at the coffee shop. It wasn't just mere coincidence that she gave him that card.

  But why? Why on earth would anyone in their right mind let him carry on with a trip that nearly cost them their lives? Maybe that was it. Maybe she wasn't in her right mind. Sebastian looked at her. He followed the long, curly strand of black hair that was hanging down across her eyes, touching her small nose. He looked at her pink lips, slightly parted in sleep. His eyes fell on her gentle hands tucked against her chest. No, she wasn't crazy. Not in the least. She was beautiful. He stepped toward her, kneeling down to pick her up. Fear rose in his throat. But this was a different kind of fear than the one he was becoming used to lately. This was a fear of losing something so precious. Losing something before you even had it. He ran to the bathroom to think in the shower, needing to stand in the hot water, hoping it would clear his mind. He stayed in there for more than an hour. But it wasn't working. Nothing was taking away this feeling that something more precious than life itself was waiting for him up in the attic. Something, like Gina, that was worth more than any fear, more than any worry, more than even his life. And he was doing everything he could to lose it. When he came back to his room, Gina was still asleep. Sebastian sat down against his door, thinking about his behavior. What was he doing? He knew he was being foolish, a conclusion he had reached yesterday. He was only delaying the inevitable, knowing that tomorrow he would have to come out of hiding. He knew that this impossible fate that had found him couldn't be ignored or put off any longer. It wouldn't go away, and Gina's presence alone made that much clear. Sebastian put his face in his hands, still unwilling to wrap his brain around everything, unwilling to believe that this was his new reality. He got up, knowing tomorrow it would time to go downstairs.

  With the sun blazing through his windows, Sebastian grabbed his dirty jeans from his trip, throwing them on. He felt in the pocket, making sure the key was still there. It felt good to be returning to the land of the living, even if it meant that it would be drastically different.

  Sounds of teasing and shrieking told him Scotty and Julian were fighting down the hallway. He could smell hints of bacon and toast, as lunch was being made in the kitchen. The smell hit his nose and wafted to his stomach, making it growl at the neglect of real food in the last couple of days. He sat at the end of his bed and ran his hands through his hair. Now that he had decided to come out of his room, he suddenly felt embarrassed by his behavior. No one would laugh at him, but regret threatened to swallow him whole. An apology for being such a jerk was probably required, after which he could try to get on with all of this hoping it would restore things to normal. He grabbed a T-shirt off the floor, opening the door to the hallway. Gina was just waking up when he came out. Sebastian leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. Their eyes met, holding each other’s in a silent gaze. She was biting on her lip again, something that was becoming endearing to him.

  He cleared his throat before whispering, “I'm sorry for being such a jerk. It isn't your fault that all this happened to me. I just wish....” Sebastian didn't finish the sentence, not wanting to get into another argument.

  Gina stood up, silently walking over to him. She put her hands on his forearms running her thumbs lightly across his skin. The feeling sent chills down his spine. Suddenly he realized how good she smelled. He leaned down slightly and put his nose close to her hair. Strawberries.

  Gina looked up at him, her lips pushing against his. This was so unexpected that he went stiff at first, not sure what to do. Even so, kissing her felt as natural as holding her next to him. It felt like he’d known how all along, just never had the opportunity. Their lips moved in sync together, all the pent up frustration being unleashed by both. Sebastian could feel his heart picking up speed, the blood rushing to his cheeks.

  Gina backed up and studied his face. She suddenly burst into laughter, grabbing him by the hand.

  “Come on. Let's go get some lunch.”

  Together they made their way to the kitchen, he worrying about what to say to the others. When they walked in, everyone stopped what they were doing and froze in place. Sebastian nervously glanced around, rocking slightly on his heels, nervously messing with his hair.

  “Uh, I'm sorry for being such a jerk.” Gina raised an eyebrow and crossed her hands over her chest. He'd better think of another line and quick.

  “Well, I thought it was time to come out of my room and get on with it.”

  Alice set down the plate of BLT sandwiches she was serving, putting a hand on the back of one of the chairs. She raised her eyebrows, “Get on with it?” she asked quizzically.

  “Well, it seems like I am doomed to this fate. None of you seem to be going away, and I'm sure the trunks upstairs haven't mysteriously disappeared, although they could go away the same way they got here, for all I care.” Sebastian stopped himself and took a deep breath. He didn't want to get himself all worked up again.

  “I don't know why I'm destined to be some prophecy fulfiller, even though no one asked if I wanted the job. I have no idea what the prophecy says or what these stories say. But I figured that I can't ignore it anymore and am just going to have to accept that my life is going to suck and I am going to be haunted by the ridiculous for the rest of my life.”

  Gina stared at him, her mouth turned down.

  “Very optimistic of you,” she mumbled while heading to the table.

  Throwing up his hands, he felt himself shouting, again. “What? I’m doing the best I can here. I don't see your life thrown upside down and people chasing after you!”

  Gina, without looking up, whispered, “Well, you obviously aren't looking very close.”

  Cyrus calming, but decisively, walked over and put himself directly in front of Sebastian.

  “You aren't the only one affected by all this. We’re all in this together, whether we like it or not. It isn't for us to decide. What's for us to decide is if we're going to do the right thing or if we're going to be selfish by following our own path.” He was gazing at Alice as he said this, tears starting to brim in her eyes.

  Sebastian felt terrible. Now guil
t washed over him like a wave breaking on the rocks of the shore. “I'm sorry. I didn't think. I guess I just need to know why.”

  Gina looked up and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Do you still have that key?” she asked gently.

  Sebastian nodded. He reached in, pulled it out and set it on the island.

  Everyone in the room, especially the older three, became suddenly nervous with the key out in the open. Cyrus backed up a bit, seemingly frightened.

  “Why don't you put that back in your pocket? It's safer in your pocket, OK?”

  Snatching it back off the island, he rolled his eyes.

  “Great, more secrets.” He shoved the key back into his pocket.

  “Well, I'm going up to the attic if anyone wants to come.” Instantly all of them were standing next to him, waiting for him to lead the way.