by Jamie Summer
I stared at her. A keyholder? Bring back the dead? My heart started racing as long-forgotten images assaulted my brain. I tried to shut them down, not wanting to relive any second of that awful night.
“Are you all right?” Gwen asked. Her soft green eyes were focused on me, worry etched on her face.
“Yeah… Sorry,” I assured her, hoping she wouldn’t pry.
“Okay.” It was all she said, which I was thankful for. I wasn’t ready for any questions about my past. That specific night was something I’d tried so hard to forget.
He can bring back the dead. Was that possible? Could this keyholder bring back the people we lost? Or was it nothing more than an urban legend people liked to tell themselves around the campfire?
I wasn’t usually one to follow urban legends on a whim, but after reading the paragraph myself, the words struck a chord. The thought of it being the truth, of this keyholder truly existing, made me feel a little bit lighter. As if some of the weight I carried around since that day lifted.
I grabbed the laptop from Gwen and typed “keyholder” in the Google search engine. I needed to know if there was anything like that out there. Thousands of websites opened. It only took skimming through five of them to realize this was an actual legend. The keyholder was believed to be real.
“People from all over the place have been looking for this mysterious person for decades. I mean, look at this. Hundreds of comments.”
Gwen took the laptop back, scanned through the sites I had opened, then went back to the original website.
She continued to make notes on things she found there, which I’m still convinced weren’t there before. Once she seemed satisfied, she closed the laptop and angled her body toward me.
“All right. There are a few more words on it. Wanna see if there’s something that sounds familiar?”
I nodded. I contemplated reminding her of the fact she was still at work, but finding answers was more important to me. For a change, I was being selfish. My eyes scanned the whole list, hoping they made sense when put together.
It didn't work.
“I know!” Gwen yelled. I spit out the coffee I had just taken a sip of. My jeans didn’t appreciate the sentiment. “Sorry about that, but I remember why those words sounded so familiar. They are all things you can find in Lucerne, Switzerland. My brother went there on his honeymoon, then held a lengthy presentation for the family about the beauty of the town. I’ll never forget the smile on his face when he talked about the city. It must be a magical place. I just don’t know what it would have to do with this keyholder business, though. Do you think there’s any truth to it? That there’s something like a keyholder who can bring back the dead? Sounds pretty far-fetched, right?”
I heard the hesitation in Gwen’s voice, knowing there was part of her that was drawn into the mystery as much as I was. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to show her the website.
“It does.” I shrugged. I didn’t want her to know how much I wanted it to be true. How much I wanted to believe there was someone out there who may be able to redo the worst decision of my life.
“You believe it, don’t you?” I was surprised she noticed, but then again, Gwen had shown a few surprising aspects of herself today. I considered lying to her, but she helped me, so she deserved the truth.
“I want to believe it, yes. But it’s an urban legend, nothing more.” Gwen nodded. “Do I want to go after an urban legend? Hell no.”
There was a look of sympathy on her face. Did she believe me? Did she know part of me thought about going back to my apartment, checking my savings, and planning a trip to Lucerne?
“You know, my auntie Sherri always said there are things out there that can’t be explained. And I’m not talking about aliens. She was a believer. I could never get behind it, but she had a strong sense for the supernatural. I don’t think anyone truly knows the extent of our world. Maybe someone like this keyholder actually exists,” Gwen explained. It was rather nice to see her share a piece of herself. She was the kind of person who wanted to know everything about everyone, but there was little I knew about the woman who prepared my drinks.
“Aunt Sherri sounds like a great woman,” I told her.
“She was. She passed away two years ago.”
“I’m so sorry.” I felt bad for opening old wounds.
“No need. She had liver cancer. All that drinking didn’t sit well with her body.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips. Aghast, I put my hand over my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. We always told her drinking wasn’t good for her and that not even her beliefs would save her. She didn’t listen.” Gwen told me a few more things about her aunt, seemingly lost in her memory. I didn’t mind, listening attentively.
“Hey. Move your butt to the counter. You got a job to do.”
We looked up, seeing Gwen’s boss standing there, hands on his hips. I felt bad for having kept her from work. Her boss wasn’t as lenient as Jeff, so I was afraid she’d get into actual trouble.
“He can’t fire me. I’m the only one who puts up with his crap.” She smiled and got up. “If you really want to pursue this, I wouldn’t blame you. Obviously, there’s something bothering you. You might not think very highly of me, but I can see that much. Whatever happened in your past, whatever you think the keyholder might be able to fix, do it. Life isn’t worth living if we don’t take risks every once in a while.”
“It’s Lucerne. I have a job,” I reminded her, voicing the very reasons as to why following this crazy notion was a bad idea.
“I think Jeff would manage fine without you. Now, that’s not to say you aren’t a valued employee, but he can get help within a day. So that isn’t a problem. And Lucerne is beautiful, like I said. If I had something I’d like to change badly enough, and even had an ounce of hope in me, I’d hop on the plane with you.” She grinned, then walked off to get back to work.
I contemplated her words. It was a crazy idea to follow some random website to a different continent, yet here I was, seriously considering it. Part of me always wondered if there was something I could change about that day. Make a different decision. Or just stay home completely.
This letter was the answer to that. Did someone know how badly I wanted to rewind time? How badly I missed her? Throwing this possibility in front of me was like dangling a treat in front of a dog.
I mulled over the idea for ten minutes before realizing there was no way I would be able to ignore it. I knew it was completely crazy, but there was something deep inside me that said it was the right thing to do.
Maybe Gwen’s aunt had a point. Maybe there were forces in this world greater than what our mind could comprehend.
And if it turned out to be a hoax, I could look back on it and say at least I tried.
I am acting like a lunatic.
My parents would freak if they found out. They would have no trouble telling me exactly what they thought about this idea. They’d make sure I knew it was all some random garbage someone had put on the internet. That there was no actual value to it. And I wouldn’t even have anything to prove otherwise.
All I had going for me was my gut feeling, which had already been wrong once.
I shook those thoughts off and lifted my cup, taking a sip of my coffee. If I did this, I needed to tell Jeff as soon as possible. I had some money saved up, so I wouldn’t have to worry about running out of funds too quickly. Jeff would be sad, but it was like Gwen said—he’d find new help soon enough. And I wasn’t going to be gone forever. I merely wanted to take a trip to Lucerne, figure out this legend, and be back within a few days’ time. No problem at all, right? It was basically just a short vacation.
I took out my phone and dialed Jeff’s number. I could’ve simply walked over to the bakery, but I was too chicken. A phone call was better.
Five minutes later, I had taken two weeks’ vacation and hung up with a very happy Jeff. Apparently, according
to him, a vacation was long overdue. I told him there was a family emergency I needed to deal with, so he was quick to give me the time off. Even told me to take two weeks instead of the one week I had asked for. I only hoped Gwen didn’t blow my cover. I called her over to the table right after and told her what I had done. She was quick to agree, telling me she’d confirm my story if anyone asked.
I finished my coffee as I looked for flights online. Before I could back out, I had booked a flight to Lucerne the day after tomorrow. Thanks to my parents’ love for travel, I already had a valid passport.
Two days from now, I would step foot on foreign soil. A continent I hadn’t ever been on. On a mission that might be as crazy as the thought of walking down the street naked.
Who cared? I needed to know. I needed to be sure.
And there was only one way to do that.
Chapter Five
The next day, I went to the bakery for my usual shift, and Jeff didn’t act any differently toward me. He only yelled at me when he wanted something or if I wasn’t moving fast enough. The usual. Everything was normal. Sadly.
Part of me had hoped my mysterious guy would show up and tell me I needed to remember what he had warned me about, but there was none of that.
At six p.m., I left the bakery, stopped at the coffee shop to say bye to Gwen, and went home. My flight left at six tomorrow morning, and I still needed to pack.
It took me a half-hour before I was satisfied I had everything I could possibly need. If I forgot anything, I was certain I could get it abroad. It wasn’t like I was going to the end of the earth.
I was about to turn on the TV and relax when my home phone rang. My parents had insisted we kids always had a landline, wherever we lived, and it stuck with me.
And now it rang.
At nine thirty in the evening.
Who calls at that hour? My parents?
I checked the caller ID, seeing it wasn’t a number I recognized. I was hesitant, but curiosity won out and I picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from it?” A shiver ran down my spine.
What…the…hell?
“How did you get this number?” I asked, trying to figure out if I were angry at him for calling or surprised he would bother.
“I have my ways.”
“Isn’t that comforting,” I told him, not even trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “Why are you calling?”
“You can’t get on that plane tomorrow.”
How he knew about it was beyond me. Anger slowly crept up, the feeling of being violated overruling any other thought I may have had.
“Are you stalking me?” Silence met my question and I rolled my eyes. Too bad he couldn’t see that.
“No, I’m not.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I am getting on that plane tomorrow. I have no idea who you are or why you think you can tell me what to do. You gave me the note, not bothering to explain anything, and now you feel remorse? Did you give it to the wrong person? Do you know the meaning of this letter?” I paused, needing to take a deep breath before I continued. “Listen, I don’t give a shit what you think about my plans. I don’t know your name, how you know me, anything. So excuse me if I don’t take anything you say seriously.”
“My name doesn’t matter,” he simply stated, ignoring the rest of what I said.
“It does to me.”
“So you’d believe me more if you knew my name?” I heard the doubt in his voice.
“Maybe.”
Okay, it was a complete lie. Nothing he could say would make me stay home. Something told me he knew it as well as I did. When he didn’t answer, I sighed.
“Well, it was nice talking to you and thanks for the warning, but I need to go. I have a flight to catch in the morning.” I was about to put the receiver down when I heard his voice again.
“I’m coming with you.”
I blinked. It took a second for that one to register. “Excuse me?”
“I’m coming with you. You have no idea what you’re getting involved in.” His voice had turned more urgent, and for a split second, I reconsidered the whole thing. His opinion about this letter was so strong, he’d come with me? A stranger? Why?
“What do you know about the website that I don’t?” I ended up asking. There had to be something he wasn’t telling me, a part of this huge puzzle I wasn’t privy to. He seemed to have all the information.
“I know it’s a dangerous thing to go searching for answers in places like Lucerne. I know it’s dangerous to go after something that could potentially get you killed.”
Whoa, hold the horses…
“What do you mean killed?” At this point, I started to doubt my choices. How had this conversation taken such a turn?
“Please, don’t go.”
The fact he said please made everything so much worse. He had pulled out the big guns. I considered his words. It was crazy to chase after something I’d read in a single paragraph. Something I had no proof existed.
This whole thing had turned me into a mess before it even began. He had to know something. Something he kept from me. There was no other explanation. He was a stranger telling me, in no uncertain terms, I would not be going on this trip by myself.
“It can get you killed.” His voice was barely audible, as if admitting it pained him.
“Why would it get me…?” Then it dawned on me. “The letter… It said it was do or die. Or at least something along those lines.”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. “Dammit. Why didn’t you tell me? We have to go.”
“Tell you? You gave me the letter.” Now he told me we had to go? This guy was starting to give me mental whiplash. “What is your deal? Seriously? Tell me what you know about this letter.”
“I can’t. The only thing I can tell you is that you weren’t chosen at random. Someone knows about you. Someone knows exactly what you would be willing to give up for a chance at the past again.” He sounded sad and sorry at the same time. “I’m sorry, Emlyn. I wish I could tell you more. There’s so many missing… Never mind. I’m going with you. End of discussion.”
I hadn’t argued yet, but definitely would have. He couldn’t come with me. No matter what he said, there was no way I was taking a stranger on this journey. Especially one so adamant on ruining it before it even started.
“How do you know my name?”
Silence.
“Is this another one of those ‘you have your methods’ kind of thing?”
More silence. I gritted my teeth, trying not to smash the phone against the wall.
“You can’t go with me. End of discussion. Again, thank you so much for calling, but that’s it. I’m not taking you with me.”
“I’m not asking. I’m telling you I’m coming with. Just think of me as an advisor.” I didn’t need, or want, an adviser.
“No.”
“Yes.
“No,” I ground out.
“Yes.” I heard the smirk in his voice.
I sighed, knowing there was no use in trying to talk him out of it. “You’re not gonna listen to anything I say, are you?”
“No, but it should be a feeling you’re familiar with. See you tomorrow, Emlyn.” I groaned. “By the way, my name is Nathan. Nathan Holwell.” With that, he hung up.
A six a.m. flight wasn’t what I would’ve chosen before coming here, but working at a bakery made me more open to dealing with early mornings. I was up and drinking coffee by three thirty. It was only a half-hour drive to the airport, but I wanted to leave early so as not to take any chances.
I grabbed my luggage and to-go cup of coffee, then left my apartment. The drive took exactly twenty-seven minutes, and before long, I was in the check-in line. I had a layover in Frankfurt, Germany, before catching my flight to Zurich, then a train to Lucerne. If all worked perfectly, I should get to Lucerne in the evening.
“Hey, early
bird.”
I took a deep breath and turned around.
He looked just as good as the first two times I’d seen him. His hair, a perfect shade of blond, had the typical messy look women loved. I couldn’t say I was immune since the slightly longer strands made me want to reach out and touch them. His silver eyes watched me expectantly.
“Coffee?” he asked, the smirk on his face letting me know it probably wasn’t the first time. I had no doubt he caught me staring, but I was too wired to care. He put me on edge. I didn’t know him, and trusted him even less.
“Yes. Coffee would be amazing,” I replied. He walked off to the closest coffee station, a Starbucks. I checked in, leaving my bag with the lady at the counter.
“Here you go.” I turned to see him holding out a cup. “Vanilla latte. Venti, since I figured it was early enough to warrant that.”
“Thanks. And yes, it’s definitely early enough for that. How did you know I wanted a vanilla latte?”
“I can read minds.” Judging by the huge grin on his face, I knew he was joking, but something about the statement irked me. “I saw your order at the coffee shop. I used to work in one myself, so I read the label,” he added, maybe having sensed I wasn’t impressed with his answer.
“Good. It definitely makes me sleep better at night.”
His grin spread and he started walking toward the gates. I followed. “Is there anything you want to tell me before we start our journey?”
“Emlyn, I told you. I can’t tell you anything because I don’t know all the details myself. The only thing I know is we need to go on this trip.” He ran a hand through his hair, confusion marring his beautiful face. I was supposed to be the confused one, not him. He was the one with the answers he didn’t want to share.
He blew out a breath. “Can I ask you a favor? Can we not talk about this anymore? Can we simply think of this as a trip amongst friends?”
It was all I could think about, so how could he ask something like that? And friends? I barely knew him, so the last thing I considered him was a friend.