by KT Webb
I had only seen the sun through the tinted windows of the hospital; I’d thought it was bright before, but now I realized I didn’t know the half of it. I couldn’t look up at the sky without burnt orange, black, and yellow spots appearing in my vision and remaining there even when I looked away. It didn’t seem right that I would forget something as big as the sun. How had my mind removed something so bothersome from my memories and replaced it with the colorful sky of Riona? I couldn’t focus on what I’d forgotten, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t remember the sun, or anything else.
“Why is it so hot?” I asked, more to myself than to Paula.
“Remember, the sun?” She pointed up to the sky and shook her head at me.
I stuck out my tongue as I’d seen some of the younger kids do. I was rewarded with a hoot of laughter from my nurse.
“Come on, kiddo. We’ve got a date at an ice cream shop.”
I glanced nervously at the vehicles sitting in the parking lot. I knew what cars were, but I couldn’t remember ever riding in one. It seemed silly to tell Paula about my concerns. Luckily, I didn’t have to say anything. We walked right past the cars and strolled through the grass. I couldn’t help myself, I stooped down and caressed the pokey green spikes with my palm. It wasn’t as soft as I thought it would be.
Paula waited patiently for me to move on, she didn’t say a word, just smiled at my impulse. Our walk was filled with smells and sounds I hadn’t imagined I’d encounter. Not all of them were pleasant; in fact, most weren’t. The streets were busy, people slept between buildings, and yellow cars wove in and out of the others on the road. We approached the edge of the sidewalk and waited for the light to give us permission to cross.
On the other side of the road there were more buildings, closer together than I thought possible. I longed to retreat, to escape to the hospital I’d been kept in for the past few years. There were too many people, there was too much noise. Paula must have sensed my discomfort because she looped an arm through mine and gently pulled me along the white lines that marked the gray pavement.
We walked a few blocks until we arrived at our destination. A glorious smell wafted from the door Paula held open for me. I inhaled deeply through my nose and smiled.
“Waffle cones,” Paula whispered.
She must have noticed my confusion because she pointed to the counter at the front of the store. A colorful sign hung by two chains proclaimed our arrival at Scoops. On top of a glass enclosed monstrosity stood a display of cones, one of which was labeled a waffle cone. We approached the young man waiting to take our order.
“What can I get for you today?”
“Well, you may not believe this, but this young woman has never had ice cream before,” Paula explained.
He was unimpressed. “You’re right, I don’t believe it.”
I was quickly learning that people were rude. I tried to smile at the kid who couldn’t have been too much older than my seventeen years.
“What do you suggest I try?” I asked brightly.
“Cookie dough is pretty popular.”
I nodded in appreciation when he pointed to the tub in the glass container. It looked good. “I’ll take that, in a waffle cone.”
Ice cream was glorious. I have since discovered there are hundreds of flavors I enjoy and would probably survive solely on the frozen goodness if it were a viable option. The waffle cone was like crunchy magic; the trick was to eat it before it got soggy, but after it had started to absorb some of the melted ice cream.
After that, Scoops became a regular outing for us. But, our excursions covered more geographical area with each passing week. Paula took great pleasure in hauling me around to show me the things I couldn’t remember from my life before. She took me to Central Park, to the exact location where I’d been found before I was brought to the hospital. We went to a play on Broadway, to the top of the Empire State Building and to see the lights in Time’s Square. I think she secretly hoped something would spark a long-forgotten memory, but nothing ever did.
“Your birthday is coming up,” Paula reminded me, not that they knew for sure when my birthday truly was.
“I know. What’s so special about my birthday?”
I was turning eighteen in a few weeks. All my birthday meant to me was that I would have to leave the only home I remembered. My childhood memories were hazy, I had no idea who my parents were, or where I’d come from. All I had were the recurring dreams that vividly depicted a fantasy world beyond imagination. My dreams were filled with an impossible landscape, a pink sky, and oversized orc-like creatures lumbering around. I’d been writing about my dreams for a few years. It not only occupied my time, but also provided a creative outlet for the thoughts that kept rolling around in my brain.
Because my past was a mystery, there was no way to know exactly when I was born or exactly how old I was. According to various tests and physicals, the doctors believed I was nearly eighteen. Paula told me my birthday was the day I was found by a stranger in Central Park. I hadn’t been reported missing by anyone, I hadn’t had any visitors during my time in the psych ward, and I wasn’t looking forward to leaving.
“I have a surprise for you!” Paula said as she pulled something from her pocket.
It was an envelope that had already been opened. The letterhead on the top left corner read, “Petrano Publishing.” I was at a loss as to who the sender was or why they would be writing me. I cautiously peeked inside as though afraid I would be attacked by the contents. I pulled out a letter and began to read.
Dear Ms. Spencer,
We are very interested in working with you on your fantasy series. The examples you sent to our office were impressive. Please call our query department and set up a time to come in and talk about the contract.
Thank you,
Lisa Petrano
“Who’s this letter for?” I asked Paula in confusion. “What is this letter about?”
“You! Delia, don’t be upset, but I sent them a query letter as you and told them about your stories. This is one of the top publishing companies in New York City.”
“Where did the name Spencer come from? I don’t have a last name.”
Paula looked a little embarrassed as she lowered her eyes and spoke from the side of her mouth. “Well, that’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
She sat on the edge of my bed and took both of my hands in hers. “Honey, I’ve been taking care of you for almost five years. I think we know each other fairly well. Did you know that I don’t have any children of my own? I know I’m not too old to have children, but I’ve never met the right man. Spencer is my last name. I know you’re almost a woman, but you’re going to need a name when you leave this place and I would be honored if you’d use mine.”
I blinked back the stinging tears that began to form in my eyes. Paula was the only person I confided in. She was there for me through all my treatments and always comforted me when I was feeling lost.
“Oh, also, I know you’ll need a place to live when you leave here. I have a bedroom all set-up for you if you want it,” she added quickly.
I nodded and threw my arms around her. “I would love to live with you. And, I think Delia Spencer has a nice ring to it.”
I’d nearly forgotten about the letter that lay discarded on the bed. My heart rate quickened when I thought about what it really meant. I hadn’t considered publishing my stories, but if a publishing company was interested in them, it seemed like an obvious decision.
“So, what do I say when I call Petrano Publishing? Do I tell them I can’t meet with them because I’m locked up in the crazy house?”
Paula laughed and shook her head. “Tell them you have some prior engagements over the next few weeks and schedule it for the first week you’re out.”
I had over fifty notebooks filled with things I remembered from my dreams. They didn’t exactly adhere to a specific timeline, but there was enough information to write more than one book. W
ithin a few minutes I went from dreading my impending birthday to being more excited than I had ever been for anything.
I would have a home, a parent, and if everything went well with Lisa Petrano, I’d have a job.
“What do you think?” Paula asked, concern etched into her voice.
I stood in a room, just a room, but it was so much more than that to me. It was what the room represented. I had never seen anything so wonderful; the bed was enormous and covered in a fluffy blanket and oversized pillows. There were bookshelves against the wall, two of them were full, one was mostly empty aside from the notebooks that lined the top two shelves. My notebooks.
“I know you like scribbling in your notebooks, but now that you’re going to be meeting with a big-time publisher, you need to use something a bit less ‘old school’.” Paula walked me to the desk in the corner.
I hadn’t noticed the sleek white laptop with the bright red ribbon tied around it. With one shocked look at Paula, I sank to into the desk chair. It was all too much. Paula was giving me everything I should have had as a child, but couldn’t remember. Strong arms wrapped around me and tender lips kissed the top of my head.
“You deserve it, honey. I’m going to go order pizza. You know where to find me if you need anything.”
Paula left me alone in my room. I sighed, letting the stress and fear flow from my body in a forceful whoosh. A grin spread across my face as I carefully removed the ribbon from my new computer and opened the lid.
My appointment with Petrano Publishing was in just two days. The word processor blinked at me, waiting for me to type my story. It was time to start crafting a book from the notebooks I’d filled with snippets of dreams.
My eyes snapped open. I couldn’t pinpoint what had awakened me, but if I had to guess I would have said it was the steady beeping that assaulted my ears. Something was off; I didn’t know where I was or where my men were.
“Lonzo?” I called into the darkness.
“It’s about time you woke.” The voice that responded was not Lonzo. “I’m going to turn on the light.”
Bright, unnatural light blazed to life overhead. I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain it caused in my head. Taking care not to move too quickly, I carefully began opening my eyes. I was in a bed of some kind, in a white room with various machines sharing the space with me. I’d read enough about Earth to know I was in a hospital. I tried to push my unkempt hair from my face, only to discover my hands were restrained. My heart rate spiked, causing the machine next to me to increase the rate of its incessant beeping.
“Calm down, you’re fine. You’ve been out for a while, but you’ll be alright.”
“How long have I been here?”
“You were found in Central Park with a bunch of other guys. A few of them were dead. The police have been waiting for you all to wake so they can question you.”
I finally opened my eyes enough to focus on the man who was talking to me. He had kind eyes and seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being. Salt and pepper hair spread across his face in a well-trimmed beard, but his head was shiny on the top from receding hair.
“They think I...? No. Those were my men.”
“Your men? I’m not sure I understand.” He leaned forward with interest.
“They were my friends.” I used the only word I could think of that would describe the relationship between us without giving away our status as knights, or telling him we’re from another world.
“I see. Well, you were found covered in their blood so naturally there are questions.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How long have I been here?” I hated to think that my men were lost somewhere in an unfamiliar world while I lay chained to a bed in a hospital.
“You’ve been here for four months.”
I swallowed against the panic that threatened to erupt from my mouth in the form of vomit. “And the others?”
“You were all brought here. No family came forward to claim any of you. That seems odd to me. But, the thing that was oddest of all was the item I found clutched in your hands.”
I froze. The Bloodstone. “Where is it?”
He blinked at me, slowly, before rising and walking to the corner. From within a cabinet, he withdrew the leather pouch I knew so well.
“I’ve kept it safe. I’m not going to lie to you, this is not the first time I’ve seen this necklace, but I can’t figure out why you brought it to Earth.”
I watched him round my bed and return to his seat. He regarded me with what could only be described as confusion. The man by my bed spoke as though he wasn’t from Earth, as though he was from...but that was impossible. He couldn’t be from Riona. All our scouts had come back safely, hadn’t they?
“What’s your name?” He asked. When I refused to answer, he continued. “My name is Orin, Knight of Riona.”
Chills covered my body, every hair on stood on end. This man not only knew what Riona was, he was from my home. I recognized the name from the journals kept by Paloni. Orin had been a scout on Earth. It wasn’t clear why, but he had elected not to return to Riona after his last mission. Of all the people to find on Earth, I found the one person who would understand the importance of my mission. I tried not to let my elation show on my face, but it was difficult to conceal.
“I am Taeren, Knight of Riona and commander of the Rionian Guard.”
“Commander? You’re so young. Tell me, what has changed that you would bring this to Earth.” He held the amulet up for me to see.
I sighed. “Riona is dying. A dark force called the Sideon enslaved the Gorum and invaded our world, they killed both the Queen and her King. Princess Delia was thrown through a portal to Earth.”
“And you’ve come to find her? Do you have any idea how vast this world is?” Orin whistled between his teeth.
“How did you come to be here?”
“I served under Theophilus when he was the Commander of the Royal Guard. I was one of the first scouts to explore Earth. We were sent on individual scouting trips to study and learn from the people here. I chose not to return.”
“What made you stay?”
“A woman. I met her on my second scouting mission and fell in love with her. Something about her completed everything that was missing in me. I went to college, I became a doctor and have made a great living for myself.”
A thought struck me. “Were you unconscious upon arrival too?”
He shook his head. “No. I just walked through the door and into Central Park. Did you use the archway?”
“It was destroyed by the Gorum. They threw Delia and she was snatched by the light coming from the portal, then the great brute was so angry he smashed the arch.”
“Then how did you come here?”
My eyes quickly flit to the amulet he still clutched in his hand. “The amulet carries the blood of the alchemist in it. It brought us here because Delia is on Earth. I remember the pieces of the arch reassembling, it must not have been complete.”
Orin looked impressed. “Handy.”
I didn’t entirely understand, so I nodded, never taking my eyes off the pouch he held. “I need to get out of here. I’ve got to gather my men and begin our search for the princess.”
“I’m going to help you. I may not be a knight anymore, but I would be honored to help you get the lay of the land.”
I was grateful for the offer. I thanked him for his help, then instructed him to get the police so they could question me. The sooner I spoke to them, the sooner we could leave. He warned me that they would ask questions that I may not understand and insisted that I answer with care.
The interview was long and pointless. They asked if we’d killed the men, if we’d played tug of war with them until their arms detached from their bodies. I was particularly disappointed in that line of questioning; how could they even think that was a possibility? What kind of monsters lived on Earth that would make them think that was a viable conclusion?
When they were finall
y satisfied that I didn’t know what happened to my friends, they told me I was free to go but not to leave the city. I knew they were lying, but they told me there may be a need to question me further. If they were being honest, they’d have admitted that finding two dead, unidentifiable men in Central Park was the least of their worries.
As soon as the police left, Orin returned. “We need to get you out of here. They’re done questioning everyone and won’t be holding any of you. You’re free to go.”
“Good, will the others be going with me?”
Orin nodded his confirmation. “They’re waiting for you downstairs in the lobby. You’re the only one they found covered in blood so they questioned you more extensively than the others.”
I dressed in the clothes Orin brought me. First, he provided me with a tight-fitting garment that I was informed was meant to hold my tender bits in place. I’d never seen anything like them and was skeptical about putting them on. The bottoms were a heavy, blue material that felt stiff against my legs. The top was a light-weight, soft material that had a swooping symbol on the front.
“Good thing the shaggy look is in for kids your age.” Orin remarked as he eyed my unkempt mane.
I ignored him and insisted we go to my men. We’d already been delayed long enough, there was no telling what state Riona would be in if or when we returned. Lonzo was the first to spot me when I stepped off the metal contraption Orin called an elevator. He rushed forward and pulled me into a strong embrace.
“Two men and four months lost. Tell me you have a plan, brother.”
I surveyed the men around me, they looked anxious. It was time to put my own concerns aside and show the men that we would succeed in spite of the setbacks we’d experienced.
“I’m sure you’ve all met Orin. He is going to help us begin our search. We must remain vigilant in every way if we are to find Delia in time to save our world.”
Orin cleared his throat. “Look, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but we do need to take this pep rally somewhere else. The last thing we need is for someone to hear you and lock you up in a mental health facility.”