Under And Beneath

"I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone's hand."

- Benjamin Alire Sáenz

"You're thinking again. No, wait. You don't just think, you literally space off within ten seconds. Is that even normal?" How in the world is it that every single person who has known me remembers this habit of mine? Even this nutty Delran? Was it that bad?

"It's like the pot calling the kettle black." I retorted.

Perplexity was evident as bright as day in Elwyn's eyes, not knowing what to do. He must be finding it hard to digest all that had been spoken. I could see him struggling to say something but he clearly couldn't find the right words in this situation. I felt sorry for Delran too. But as they say, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I never held anything else against Delran, except for the time I was jealous of him because he was closer to Loralie. Just as I was about to let him go feeling the chill of our surroundings intensify, another phone call rang in the silence of the forest.

"Who might it be this time?" Elwyn mumbled.

"Don't go answering every single call from my phone! Give it back you dimbo!" Delran yelled and tried to set himself free from my grasp, and I held him tighter and shoved his head to the ground due to reflex.

"Calm down. It might only be Montel or Tzion." I said.

"Or a private number." Elwyn added,and Delran's head snapped up to look at his phone and he started to become panicky like a fish out of water.

"Give it back! That's a very important call! Look, I need to leave. I won't tell anyone about what happened here. Just give me back my phone and let me go...and we can forget today ever happened."

Elwyn looked down at him with an expression I couldn't decipher. "Important, you say? How important? Judging by the way you're acting now, looks like you don't want us to pick your call. Plus, it's a private number. Who's this person who went to the extent to have their own private number?"

"It's-it's my boss, from work. I was waiting for his call and I was to talk to him about this uh, project on top of that."

"Oh, really? Is that so? Then, shall I tell this boss of yours that you're in a....situation? That'll help you feel less alarmed. Should we do that?"

That was weird, coming from Elwyn. The ringing stopped and he put the phone in his pocket.

"Just let me go. Even your touch repulses me. Those are the hands of a sinner." He barked.

"You're no saint either. You want to talk about sins? I have an endless list of yours."

"It's cold. Please, let me go."

"Not as willful and strong as you once were, aren't you? You're all talk, Delran."

"Say what you want. How long do you intend to keep me pinned under you like this? I don't have the information you seek. So, why don't you just let me go?"

"No don't, Blaine. Something is not right about him. Are you sure it was your boss? Who the hell calls someone for work on Christmas?! Doesn't he have a family? Okay, either you're shamelessly lying again or this boss of yours is too brazen for giving you work during a festival."

"That was my boss you nincompoop! How many times will you make me say it?"

"Shhh wait, someone else is calling. Oh, it's Tzion now. Let's see what the eldest has to say."

Without warning, Elwyn picked the call. I couldn't understand why he was acting rude with Delran all of a sudden.

"Delran, my brother. You need to leave that place as soon as possible. I got news that Blaine is in town and I don't want you to cross paths with him or anyone else from there. Get back to London on the first flight you find. Delran? Hello?"

"Greetings, old friend. Delran is unavailable at the moment. Hope you haven't forgotten my voice, have you Tzion?"

"Jesus! Blaine? What–how- oh...hey Blaine! How have you been?"

"Brilliant, actually."

"Yeah, um, may I know what Delran is doing at the moment?"

"Oh you'll know. But mind telling me why you asked him to refrain from having any contact with me?"

"That's nothing. You guys have never been in good terms with each other, so I thought it would be better if you didn't you know, chance upon each other."

He nervously laughed.

"You're not hiding anything from me, by chance. Are you?"

"No, not at all! There's nothing. Why would you say that? I only want him to get home. I mean, it's Christmas today so I wanted to have some family time with everyone."

"Tzion, is that Delran on the phone?"

My blood ran cold upon hearing a voice other than that of Tzion. A very familiar and feminine voice. I then heard heard hushes and shuffling before Tzion spoke again.

"So, if you would be kind enough to pass the phone to Delran, he'll be on his way then."

"Who's with you?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"There was someone else with you just now. A female. Why do I find her voice uncommonly similar to Loralie's?"

"With all due respect Blaine, I ask you to watch your words. Loralie has long been gone. We don't want to raise our fingers toward who must be blamed, should we now?"

"Okay, then. I suppose you won't mind my intrusion upon your house. I want to meet the people who considered me their friends once. I'll join you in London, with Delran by my side."

"A famly gathering is called a family gathering for a reason. It's only for the members of our family."

"I'm aware of that. I'll just pay you a visit and leave soon after that. My company's headquarters are being shifted permanently to London so I'll get to have a look at the preparations as well. I will put myself in your care for the little time I am going to spend with you. And don't you worry. Delran is safe with me. Bye now."

I felt like I was being tossed around like a frisbee. That voice...I could be wrong too but the only way I could be proved wrong is when I go and see for myself.

"We're going to London. I'm going to London with you." I informed Delran. He didn't move. Then I realized he must've fainted due to the stress I put him through. I let go of him and turned him so that he was lying on his back and patted his cheeks, trying to make him regain his consciousness.

"Oh my God, this is not how I wanted things to turn out! Elwyn I think he passed out!"

When I got up, like one of those ghosts in haunted houses, he suddenly sprang up and pricked my thigh with something. I wanted to move my leg, but I couldn't. He then did the same for Elwyn, sooner than we could register what was happening. Picking up his coat and wearing it, he spoke:

"Curare."

I didn't understand. "What?"

"Curare. It's a paralyzing poison. You'll be dead in the snowstorm by the time you'll be able to recover from its effects. You see, I'm always one step ahead of you. The ones who are going to die here are gonna be you both, not me. Farewell Bennett, Belcher."