The Letter
It seemed a bit like time had suddenly sped up, and everything was passing by so quickly. Ada knew that life, and time had a way of suddenly speeding up, even though there were scientists that had proved that time was a constant. If time was so constant, then it should feel constant. And, if Ada felt like time was whooshing by very quickly, then there had to be something to the idea that time was speeding up.
It just felt so much like she was in slow motion. Emma had found herself a steady job that she obviously liked. Lily had taken to spending some time with Emma while she was working, and the rest of her time was spent socializing. And Ghent... well, Ghent had just gotten busy, and Ada had gotten busy, and before anyone ever realized it had happened, everyone was too busy for everyone else. But, this was just how families were, in Adalia's mind and memory -- when people are comfortable and secure, they usually have no problem spanning lengths of time without seeing each other.
But it was all going so fast. Ada was certain that if time actually kept up going as fast as it was, then she would be looking at middle-age within a week, and death within a month. It was certainly a lot to think about.
So, when the letter arrived, time suddenly screeched to a halt. She had met with her godfather, Theron, earlier in the week. Ada had been fearing the meeting since she had asked Theron to help her take out Jad, who was actually the second victim in a few short days. She was no longer a favorable person in the eyes of her very judgmental and harsh godfather, and would have to pay a price for his services like everyone else. It seemed appropriate that she would follow in her father's footsteps.
Theron had taken the opportunity to warn his goddaughter that his terms were coming. They were a set of instructions that she would have to follow, and when she completed her task, he debt would be forgiven and forgotten. So, the letter, when it finally arrived, made the world seem suddenly very slow to Ada. She could hear her heartbeat in her chest, slow and steady, and could feel the tingling in her fingers as she held the letter in front of her. Everything felt dark and ominous.
She was standing in the front hallway, just staring at the writing on the outside of the envelope. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen that she actually stared at the letter for a full five minutes, silent and still, before she realized it would look more suspicious, the more time passed. So, she moved.
The first place that she could find was the small bench right near the front door. She sat down carefully and turned the letter over to look at the back. There was nothing there but a sealed envelope -- no clue as to what demands were inside. Her mind was racing, trying to imagine what Theron would be asking for; she didn't want to open the letter at all, even if she could find out quickly. But the alternative would likely be much worse.
Her finger wiggled under the glued paper, and she tore along the top of the letter to get it open, using her one hand and a leg to complete the action. Inside the envelope was a folded piece of lined notebook paper, sitting innocently, like it was a letter of salutations or a message of thanks. Ada knew better than that.
Once more, she was forced to glance around and make sure that no one was watching her. When she was satisfied that no one was hanging around and watching her, she opened the letter and held it up to the light to read:
Ada,
Your debt will be fully paid if you follow the instructions contained in this letter. I trust you need not be reminded of what can, and will happen, if you fail to follow these instructions. This is my price:
Tie up your loose ends. Meet me behind your manor, and come prepared.
Theron
The brevity of the letter caused a chill to creep down Ada's spine, and it settled quite firmly into her stomach. The instructions were so vague and yet starkly simple. She read over it one more time, making sure she hadn't missed a word, or misinterpreted what he was demanding. But, even after reading it a second time, everything seemed the same. Time was still creeping slowly by -- she could still feel her heartbeat, but it was so much faster that it seemed almost out of place. She could swear that she could almost tell the difference between one valve of her heart and another.
Tie up your loose ends. That seemed obvious enough -- she would have to make sure that either people knew she could be killed, or knew she would be gone for a while, or knew nothing. However she chose to leave her life behind (even momentarily,) she would have to make sure that no one would come looking for her.
She would then meet Theron behind the manor, which was an easy thing for follow. But, then she looked over the last two words and frowned a little. Come prepared... She wondered what she had to come prepared for. There weren't going to be any fancy dress balls waiting for Ada behind the manor -- that much she knew for certain. And, yet, she still wondered what she was going to face, which would determine what she was going to take. She read it again, and before she could get side-tracked by another thought, she whispered into the quiet hall, "For everything." That was what she was going to do -- at least, when she could bring herself back from the slow-moving, time stretching, moment she was in.
At least she knew she was still alive; everything passed lazily by her, like dust floating aimlessly in the morning light. And, in her ears, the rapid, nervous heartbeat, pounding in her ears. It was probably possible that someone else would be able to hear her heart beating so fast, if they were quiet and listened hard enough.
((This was written for play on January 7th, 2008, and reposted here for continuity purposes.))
It seemed a bit like time had suddenly sped up, and everything was passing by so quickly. Ada knew that life, and time had a way of suddenly speeding up, even though there were scientists that had proved that time was a constant. If time was so constant, then it should feel constant. And, if Ada felt like time was whooshing by very quickly, then there had to be something to the idea that time was speeding up.
It just felt so much like she was in slow motion. Emma had found herself a steady job that she obviously liked. Lily had taken to spending some time with Emma while she was working, and the rest of her time was spent socializing. And Ghent... well, Ghent had just gotten busy, and Ada had gotten busy, and before anyone ever realized it had happened, everyone was too busy for everyone else. But, this was just how families were, in Adalia's mind and memory -- when people are comfortable and secure, they usually have no problem spanning lengths of time without seeing each other.
But it was all going so fast. Ada was certain that if time actually kept up going as fast as it was, then she would be looking at middle-age within a week, and death within a month. It was certainly a lot to think about.
So, when the letter arrived, time suddenly screeched to a halt. She had met with her godfather, Theron, earlier in the week. Ada had been fearing the meeting since she had asked Theron to help her take out Jad, who was actually the second victim in a few short days. She was no longer a favorable person in the eyes of her very judgmental and harsh godfather, and would have to pay a price for his services like everyone else. It seemed appropriate that she would follow in her father's footsteps.
Theron had taken the opportunity to warn his goddaughter that his terms were coming. They were a set of instructions that she would have to follow, and when she completed her task, he debt would be forgiven and forgotten. So, the letter, when it finally arrived, made the world seem suddenly very slow to Ada. She could hear her heartbeat in her chest, slow and steady, and could feel the tingling in her fingers as she held the letter in front of her. Everything felt dark and ominous.
She was standing in the front hallway, just staring at the writing on the outside of the envelope. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen that she actually stared at the letter for a full five minutes, silent and still, before she realized it would look more suspicious, the more time passed. So, she moved.
The first place that she could find was the small bench right near the front door. She sat down carefully and turned the letter over to look at the back. There was nothing there but a sealed envelope -- no clue as to what demands were inside. Her mind was racing, trying to imagine what Theron would be asking for; she didn't want to open the letter at all, even if she could find out quickly. But the alternative would likely be much worse.
Her finger wiggled under the glued paper, and she tore along the top of the letter to get it open, using her one hand and a leg to complete the action. Inside the envelope was a folded piece of lined notebook paper, sitting innocently, like it was a letter of salutations or a message of thanks. Ada knew better than that.
Once more, she was forced to glance around and make sure that no one was watching her. When she was satisfied that no one was hanging around and watching her, she opened the letter and held it up to the light to read:
Ada,
Your debt will be fully paid if you follow the instructions contained in this letter. I trust you need not be reminded of what can, and will happen, if you fail to follow these instructions. This is my price:
Tie up your loose ends. Meet me behind your manor, and come prepared.
Theron
The brevity of the letter caused a chill to creep down Ada's spine, and it settled quite firmly into her stomach. The instructions were so vague and yet starkly simple. She read over it one more time, making sure she hadn't missed a word, or misinterpreted what he was demanding. But, even after reading it a second time, everything seemed the same. Time was still creeping slowly by -- she could still feel her heartbeat, but it was so much faster that it seemed almost out of place. She could swear that she could almost tell the difference between one valve of her heart and another.
Tie up your loose ends. That seemed obvious enough -- she would have to make sure that either people knew she could be killed, or knew she would be gone for a while, or knew nothing. However she chose to leave her life behind (even momentarily,) she would have to make sure that no one would come looking for her.
She would then meet Theron behind the manor, which was an easy thing for follow. But, then she looked over the last two words and frowned a little. Come prepared... She wondered what she had to come prepared for. There weren't going to be any fancy dress balls waiting for Ada behind the manor -- that much she knew for certain. And, yet, she still wondered what she was going to face, which would determine what she was going to take. She read it again, and before she could get side-tracked by another thought, she whispered into the quiet hall, "For everything." That was what she was going to do -- at least, when she could bring herself back from the slow-moving, time stretching, moment she was in.
At least she knew she was still alive; everything passed lazily by her, like dust floating aimlessly in the morning light. And, in her ears, the rapid, nervous heartbeat, pounding in her ears. It was probably possible that someone else would be able to hear her heart beating so fast, if they were quiet and listened hard enough.
((This was written for play on January 7th, 2008, and reposted here for continuity purposes.))