The Oncoming Storm

Ada had to wonder more than once whether their trip into the future was smart move, or not. She had known that there would be some sort of price for asking Theron to help, but she had never expected that he would turn on her so quickly. For a moment, she had wanted to believe that it was all some sort of misunderstanding, but no one ends up five years into the future by way of misunderstanding. Theron really had a price, and she really had to pay it.

The candle she had lit the evening before was nearly burnt down to the holder, and Ada picked idly at the wax that had dripped onto the hardwood floor. She had elected to stay awake while Ghent was sleeping, but so much worry and strain was catching up to her. At times, when she would blink, he eyes wouldn't want to open again, and she'd start to lean, and she would be barely catching herself from falling over and falling asleep. Somehow, she hadn't considered the problem of time-lag when she had packed -- or pajamas.

To keep herself from tumbling over next to the candle, Adalia stood up and tip-toed around the blanket where Ghent was sleeping. He shifted when she passed, and even sat up to look around, but he must have figured that everything was all right, because he settled back down almost immediately.

The binoculars were staged in an area where they would be easily accessible, so Ada had no trouble standing just outside the doorway of one of the front-facing rooms. She lifted the binoculars to her eyes and peered through the old glass of the front windows, glad they were still focused on the guest house down below. Quickly, she scanned over the immediate back and side yards, and then turned her attention towards the windows. For just a moment, she had to wonder why they had never bothered to dress any of the windows, aside from the front windows and the bedroom windows. "People can just look right in," she muttered, mostly to herself. Then again, she never expected that the person who was going to spy on her house was going to be her.

Ada perked up when one of the windows illuminated suddenly. It was one of the kitchen lights, and the moment she had seen it, she had slipped back away from the doorway she had been standing in. As she was pressed back against the hallway wall, she convinced herself that the person in the house wasn't going to be holding a pair of binoculars and looking back, so why was she even hiding?

Outside, the wind was starting to pick up, and she could hear the slow, quiet rumble of thunder off in the distance. It had been so cold and snowy when they had left, but a few months and a few years down the road was suddenly so much more springlike. And then, the soft patter of the rain on the windows drew Ada away from the hallway.

She felt a bit like she was floating down the hallway, past open doors and empty rooms, but the dust made the floor slippery, and she wasn't wearing any shoes. The wind started picking up, causing the ivy on the house to shutter in the wind -- it sounded a bit like rice shifting around a plastic container, and it made it almost seem like the house was giving a ominous shiver. Before Ada could even think to stop herself, she was in the corner room of the manner, staring out the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows. She had never noticed it before, but the sitting room would have had an amazing view of the surrounding land, as well as the guest house. Unfortunately, she also hadn't considered that it would be not only a part of the large manor she could have avoided tracking up, but that it would also be the place where she could be spotted the easiest.

Ada had spent a great many years of her life listening to the weather, and she had never once encountered anything so striking. There was no mistaking the idea that there was something big coming -- she doubted anyone could miss it, if they looked out the windows she was looking out of.

The sheets of rain started pounding heavily against the glass, and an unexpected bolt of lightening caused Adalia to lift her arm instinctively to shield her eyes. Almost immediately, the low grumbling of thunder crept along the sky, moving from behind the manner to the front. And then there was another shiver of ivy, which made itself through the house and all the way into Ada.

She was entranced -- almost bewitched -- by the weather. It was trying to say so many different things that her head sometimes turned like she was actually listening to words. And, despite everything happening so quickly, Ada wondered once again whether or not time was a constant, always-the-same kind of thing. So many steps had been taken on their journey, and yet she still felt like everything was passing lazily by her. Her heartbeat was still sounding in her ears, and when she thought back, she couldn't remember a time when the sound wasn't buzzing in her ears like hummingbird wings.

There was a twitch in her phantom arm, and she saw the movement of the soft blue vapor, before the actual motion registered in her nerves. It didn't seem like it was signaling anything, or that it had even meant to twitch, but Ada still felt it had some significant bearing on the overall pall of the evening. And it seemed to have a hold on her, because she felt as if she was contemplating the universe in a timeless void, while the universe churned and bubbled violently around her.

((This was written for play on January 9th, 2008, and reposted here for continuity purposes. NOTE: Day 2 was at least partially skipped, to allow for the current time and RP time to catch up. No significant advancement was made in the plot. Any questions should be directed by PM or e-mail to Adalia Dodd))

Day 3 | Part 2

It certainly wouldn't pay for the both of them to get caught, anyway. So, Ada stayed as well off the open land as she could, moving her way down towards the guest house. She was a bit chilled in the crisp morning, since she had left her sweater behind, but at least she wasn't wearing all black. That would have caused her to stick out a lot more during the day.

Future Ghent was sitting as well, but not for the same reasons as his other self. He was reading. His search the other night had brought up nothing suspicious, so he wasn't in any alarmed sort of state. He adjusted his glasses and then wiped some of the dust from the book onto the couch. He made a face while doing so.

Ada had made it down the hill without any obvious discovery, and was creeping up along the back yard, eyeing the kitchen window warily. The light had been on, but it was now off. She assumed that no one was inside, so she grabbed the spare key from in the crook of the windowsill, and opened the kitchen door in the back of the house.

Ever observant, Ghent lifted his eyes from the book. He'd heard the noise, though he couldn't see the door. He figured it was either Ada or one of his sisters coming to visit. With a smile, he set the book down and stood up. He stretched a little before he began to move.

She left the door ajar slightly, and ducked down behind the cabinets, moving to a spot where she imagined she'd be safe from observation. And, of course, when she heard footsteps coming her way, she remained as still and as hidden as she could. Idly, she hoped it wasn't Ghent, since he would likely not give up looking once something seemed amiss.

And when he saw the door open, he lifted a brow. ?Hello? Ada, are you home? Emma?? He waited for an answer. If it was either or the two whose name he'd spoken, they'd speak up. If it was Lily, she'd abandon her trick and scold him for not saying her name.

Ada winced and had to think for a second. If she just tried to wait it out, she was certain she'd be discovered, and if she moved, then there was a chance he would hear her and discover her anyway. She decided that no action was worse, and took very slow, quiet, precise crouched steps. Maybe the open door would buy her some time.

Click. He had pulled back the hammer on his Model 500. He'd kept it handy since the other night. He almost didn't keep it on his person today, simply because nothing suspicious had happened after that first night. He started speaking again. ?Ada, do you need help bringing something in?? The question wasn't genuine. He was just talking to see if there would be any sort of reaction, vocal or otherwise.

She recognized the sound of the hammer being pulled back and locked into place. This Ghent very obviously meant business. Ada stopped on the opposite side of the counter from him and the door, and closed her eyes for just a moment. If she ran for it, she'd have no chance -- even if he didn't shoot her, he'd definitely get her to stop.

Both hands held the weapon, since it was pretty large. He walked in a pattern that sliced the vision of the kitchen for him, cutting it off into segments so he wouldn't be surprised. He saw Ada, but didn't notice the phantom arm yet. So he frowned. ?Honey, what's the matter?? He put his weapon away after speaking.

"I, uh..." Ada tried to get to her feet, but her shoes were muddy, and she only had the one arm to keep her steady. So, one foot slipped, and then the hand slipped, and before she knew it, she was plopped on her butt, looking surprised and shocked. What was she going to say to him? "N-nothing."

It'd been months since their child had been born, but he was still very protective of Ada. It was simply his nature. He moved to go help her. Of course, he looked older. It might have enhanced his looks a little, since he didn't appear quite so youthful. ?Did you see something outside??

For a moment, she felt like something was really looking out for her. She nodded and gestured towards the door. "Yes, yes. There was someone out there, and I'm certain they were watching the house."

?Are you certain?? He sounded a little more grave. He offered her his hand. Even as he did that, he glanced away. If he caught sight of the phantom arm, he'd probably get suspicious.

"Yes, I think so." She took his hand and pulled herself up to her feet, before letting go and backing away a step. "I-I'm going to check on, uh... on the baby." At this point, she was praying that this plan would work.

?All right. Don't come outside no matter what, okay?? If he caught onto the stammering, he likely decided it was because she was afraid of whatever was outside. He closed the couple of steps between them and kissed her cheek. ?It'll be all right.? And then, he moved out of the kitchen through the back door. He shut it behind him.

Immediately, Ada let out a sigh of relief and bolted through the kitchen, heading for the bedrooms. She certainly didn't want to run into herself, but she needed those deeds. After slinking past her door, she stopped at Ghent's bedroom door, only to find her future-self tucked snugly into Ghent's bed. Ada made a frustrated sound and pushed the door open enough to slide through. She would have to work fast, and work quietly, if she didn't want spotted again.

Present Ghent let out a sigh and peeked outside. Ada had been gone for a bit. He was wondering if she was okay. He saw someone moving around outside. The person was crouched and obviously holding a firearm. It must have been himself, he realized. Had he caught Ada? He wasn't sure. Ghent moved to get up near the doorway and slipped on some of the mud they had tracked in. He didn't yell, but he did curse much louder than he intended to.

For a moment, the present Ada watched her future self cautiously, and then got down and looked underneath the bed. She didn't see a particular box right away, since there were many small boxes stored there. But the glisten of metal caught her attention, and she reached under the bed and slid the metal box out, wincing at the noise it made. Talk about a brush with time!

Future Ghent narrowed his eyes. He'd heard the curse, though the voice didn't seem immediately familiar. Present Ghent's voice carried much further than he hoped. He knew he should have closed the door. If he knew himself, his future persona would come up to the manor directly to investigate. Ghent did his best to hide his and Ada's belongings. Somewhere to hide where he wouldn't look, that was an odd thought..

Especially since the future Ghent might remember actually trying to decide that. Still, before he would get too far from the house, the present Ada would be catching up with him, the box in her only hand. "Ghent, wait!" She had to stop him from taking their staging point -- they needed it to stay in contact with Theron.

?Hm?? Future Ghent turned his head a little at the sound of Ada's voice. He quit walking and turned back toward the door. He wasn't entirely comfortable with going back inside. He knew he heard something. Present Ghent used the strength his body had to prop himself up in the air at the entrance walkway. He gritted his teeth. He hoped he wouldn't have to stay that way long.

"It's just that... um." She looked at him, stopped in the middle of the field and couldn't help but study his face. He really did look older -- certainly more distinguished, and just as handsome as always. A small smile shined through. "I need you to go home. To just trust me, go home, crawl into bed. Pretend this was a dream, if you have to." It was all she could think to say, since every moment they spent together gave him more opportunity to notice her arm.

Her words didn't alarm him, but they certainly did make him lower his guard. He let the gun and his arms fall a little bit. ?Ada, what in the world is going on?? He was more focused on her face currently, so he still hadn't seen the phantom arm.

"I don't know." It was an honest response, and she glanced up towards the manor, before looking back to him. "But you have to go home." Once again, she looked back at him and stepped forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Please."

?Well, okay.? He nodded a little. She was the only one who would have been able to get him off the trail. ?Don't stay out here too long.? He gave her a kiss, though his was directed on her lips. It wasn't entirely innocent, either. After that, he went back inside the guest house. Present Ghent was straining to keep himself elevated. His muscles were shaking from the stress.

The kiss left her legs feeling a little weak, but she told herself that she had to get back behind cover. Had that really worked? The rest of the distance was cleared very quickly, and she moved through the front door of the manor, closing it behind her. "Ghent? Are you here?" It was an urgent, but quiet question.

When he heard Ada's voice, he dropped. He landed on his feet initially, but immediately fell onto his rear end. He didn't bother to try and move. He needed a few moments to rest.

Ada raised an eyebrow at the now-sitting Ghent, though she didn't seem that surprised. "I got the box. And I met you, but I don't think you knew it was me. I don't know... you could have just been acting like you didn't know who I was, too." She set the box down and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Are you okay?"

?Did I kiss you? I wouldn't if I suspected something.? It was a strange question, but it was true. If he had felt something was amiss, he likely would avoid displaying affection. He continued to sit for another moment before actually answering her question. ?Yes, I'm all right.?

She nodded at his response and ran her hand through her hair subconsciously, trying her best not to blush. The kiss had felt a bit like it had been emblazoned on her lips. "Then you must not have suspected anything..."

It was his turn to lift a brow. He couldn't help but wonder. It only lasted a moment. He nodded. ?Good. Were the papers in the box like I thought??

"I don't know." She put a hand behind the metal box and slid it towards him. "I didn't have the time to go through it there, so I had to bring it back. I saw me, too. I was sleeping in your room." That made her smile, too, since she was just thrilled to think they would still be together and happy in five years.

?Not too surprising, considering.? Another nod. He took the box after she pushed it toward him. It seemed to be closed, but not locked. Ghent lifted a brow again, then glanced to the door. ?I see. He wasn't playing around, was he?? He knew his future self must have had the big gun out, if the box wasn't locked. After opening the box, Ghent turned it toward Ada. There the papers sat.

"No, definitely not. I thought for sure I was going to get shot." Ada took a deep breath and looked at the open box. "Oh, that's a relief. Now, all we need to do is get them to Theron and see what the next step is. I just hope you don't get curious again when you go to put your gun back, and I'm in bed, and the box is gone."

He seemed to consider her last words. ?In that case, we should probably hurry. It won't be long before I'm outside and a little angry, I bet.?

"We need another place to hide." She stood up, leaving the box and taking the papers. "I'll pack up, and we'll move somewhere else." The papers were stuffed into her bag, followed by everything within reach. The idea of a "little angry" future Ghent sort of worried her.

Finally, he returned to his feet. He went to go find his pack, which he slung over both shoulders. ?Do you need help?? The question was quiet. He didn't really want to have to deal with his future self either.

"No, just grab your bag." They didn't have the time to cover up their tracks completely, so anyone would probably be able to tell that they had been there, but at least they wouldn't know exactly who. Adalia slung her pack over her shoulder and waited for him. "Your future self is very handsome." She nodded at the idle comment, thinking back over the meeting.

?Really?? He didn't pause while thinking about her statement, but he was considering it. ?Just how well did he kiss you?? He blinked. His future self must have planted a good one on Ada -- it was the only conclusion he could come to. He was at her side not longer after that.

There was a small, embarrassed giggle, before Ada scooped up the box and headed for the front door. "It was very..." She cleared her throat and held the door open with a foot. "Nice." How else could she describe it? It was still making her swoon a little.

Was it possible to be jealous of oneself? Ghent was, though only for a moment. He grimaced and then followed after Ada, using one of his hands to grab hold of the door.

Hey, at least it had been Ghent, and not someone else. She collected up her umbrella and then kept a cautious eye out for anyone else. It was fully day now, and the storms had started to move away, so they would have to stay hidden from the light.

((This is adapted and edited from the play of January 9th, 2008, with permission. For more information, please PM Adalia Dodd))