TANGLED

Vicki was catching up with the latest development in the fashion world when her parents signaled to her,

"Victoria, It's time."

"Grrrrr, why do you guys always hold your meetings at such an inconvenient and ungodly hour?"

She snarled.

"Don't be silly. We've been having these meetings at a fixed schedule even before your birth. Nothing has changed."

Her Mom clarified... as if it was needed.

"Exactly, that's my point. You're always having these meetings at exactly the same time when I want to do something interesting with my life. What's up with that?"

"Quiet Child. Stop complaining and move along."

Her Dad scolded.

"I don't even know why you take those guys seriously. They're too old, I'm pretty sure they can hear the grave calling out to them in their sleep every night."

Vicki said, nonchalantly.

"Quiet Child and move along. This isn't a joke."

"Oh my God. This is a simple physics phenomenon, not some supernatural magical event, there's no need for all these theatrics and occult stuff."

"Don't let them hear you say that."

"They wouldn't hear me if I used a megaphone. They can't hear shit without their hearing aids."

"Another word, young lady, and you won't like what comes next."

"Got it, Dad. I'm sorry."

Vicki went into her room to prepare for the meeting that goes on in the basement of her parent's house, every month.

"Stupid old people with delusions of power."

She muttered under her breath as she prepared.

She went with her parents to the basement where the meeting was being held, it was more like an underground hall than a basement. The room was dimly lit, with a giant round table at the center. The ancient architecture gave it a distinct look. It smelled of wealth and aristocracy.

Around the table were individuals wearing oversized robes with a cowl. They were all in purple with straps around their waists.

"You're late."

A voice spoke from the hooded figures.

"Apologies! We had to enlighten a particular person about her important duties."

Vicki's Mom said as she gave her child an uncomfortable stare.

The room seemed sacred to these people, and the meetings were of high importance. But not to Vicki. Vicki found the meetings unbearably boring and the venue, a show of wealth by bored jobless old people with god complexes. They saw themselves as the chosen ones, "the council of light" they call themselves. How original.... She thought to herself.

"Report Child!"

After giving a bored sigh, She began,

"Eric and his friends found the wormhole, I bet he has figured out a way to open another wormhole and keep it open."

"Is this confirmed, or you're speculating?"

"You wouldn't be asking this question if you know Eric as I do. That boy is a gift to this planet."

"We warned you not to let your personal feelings get in the way."

"Well, my personal feelings are justified given it allows me to get closer to our target."

She responded curtly.

"No. Your personal feelings might compromise the mission."

"It seems you've formed some sort of attachment to this boy. We advise you to exercise caution."

"You guys are taking this thing way too seriously. It's physics, not magic."

"You were not here when the first traveler gave us the prophecy. He showed us the secret to wealth and taught us how to navigate the ocean of time. It will do you good to show some respect, child."

"I apologize for her behavior. She's yet to grasp the gravity of the situation."

"Gravity of the situation, how ironic?"

Vicki muttered to herself.

"So, what's the way forward?"

One of them asked.

"I believe we stick to the plan. We wait for the boy to solve the puzzle and only intervene when necessary."

Another responded.

"Or....we could just ask Eric to join us, tell him everything - if he hasn't already figured it out and ask him to solve the puzzle."

Vicki chipped in.

"No! It's best to keep him at arm's length and watch him from a distance. Besides, I've heard he's too curious for his own good. He might try to unravel the very fabric of our organization. We can't let that happen."

"Agreed."

They responded in unison.

"Who has something else to say?"

Vicki quickly raised her hand...

"What?"

"I suggest we take these meetings online. It is faster and more convenient. Not to mention, it saves time and unnecessary stress....I'm talking about the wardrobe drama."

"Anyone else with a valid contribution?"

Another member asked, ignoring Vicki's remark.

"What about the missing child, what should we do about it?"

"We can't do anything about it. It's all part of the process, everything that has happened, will happen, and is happening, has already happened, will happen, and is happening. There's no escape, we're all pawns in the game of causality."

"For fuck sake."

Vicki whispered to herself.

"Such an easy statement to offer by someone who isn't a victim. She's someone's child. A friend of ours."

"What then will you have me say?"

"Anything but that."

"What?"

"We don't want to hear a pathetic excuse for your incompetence or lack of empathy."

"Enough! There shall be peace in this council. We'll reassemble at another time."

"You mean, "same time, next week?"

Vicki whispered.

Vicki has been attending these meetings since she was a child. According to the council, she's going to be the one to assist 'the wanderer' on his journey through space and time. Fortunately for her, this 'wanderer' turned out to be Eric, according to the council's interpretation of the 'prophecy'.

Vicki was the typical hormone-driven teenager. Well, at least on the surface. Beneath the teenage girl and the cravings that follow, lies a polymath. Her parents made it their life's purpose to educate their daughter on every useful subject they can lay their hands on. Vicki was one of the toppers, a fact her colleagues often forget given her social status. It is generally believed that she paid her way through school. This idea mostly runs on the stereotype of the popular, dumb, rich girl.

But she often resets their minds with her excellent performance at regional and national competitions alongside the quizzes. Her mate's perception of her is now more of an act of willful ignorance rather than an expression of valid opinion. It was Jealousy.

Vicki felt sad for her town. She felt sad about the ignorance they wallowed in. Unlike her mates, this wasn't willful ignorance, it was just ignorance. They were ignorant of their ignorance, making it difficult for them to find a way out. However, the recent disappearance should at least stimulate their curiosity. Perhaps, she's not worthy to speak of them in such a manner, given she's speaking from a place of privilege. Her parents are rich and exposed and she also got the chance to be part of an occult group obsessed with breaking the laws of physics.

The council of light is an occult group organized by the founding members of the town after the first temporal event. Their members religiously cling to the belief that they can break the laws of physics, and manipulate time, thereby becoming gods. This belief was drilled into their psyche by someone they called 'the first traveler'. Since then, they've passed this knowledge through generations, waiting for the day 'the wanderer' will finally solve the puzzle of time', giving them the tools to harness and control the flow of time.

Vicki believes all these to be bullshit. This traveler is manipulating the ignorant lot. But she's still yet to figure out the end goal. While her parents hold the teachings with great reverence, she sees it as a source of amusement and an opportunity to spend more quality time with the 'wanderer', something she hasn't been able to do lately due to a minor glitch. Well, at least the glitch is now missing.

"You fucking told her?

Eric was angry.

"Yeah. She's my girlfriend and we can't keep secrets. It's part of the deal."

Tyrell whimpered.

"Pathetic."

Eric responded curtly.

"I can't believe both of you kept this from me."

Erica roared.

"Wait, why are you looking at me, he's your twin brother for fuck sake."

"Yeah, I expected this from him, but not from you."

"Great. How come the asshole always gets away with everything even though it's his fault?"

"Because this asshole is assertive, clear on what he wants, and won't bend over to kiss anybody's ass at his expense. You should try that sometimes, Tyrell."

Eric responded to Tyrell's insults.

"No, you shouldn't. Don't want to look after another robot in human skin."

Erica cautioned.

"We have to tell the town what happened."

She continued.

"And then what?"

Tyrell inquired.

"I don't know... so, they'll investigate the matter further?"

"Yeah. Like they've been investigating for the past eighty years?"

Eric interrupted.

"What? You mean this has happened before?"

"Technically, it's happening now, will happen, and has already happened."

"Not now Eric. Your girlfriend is missing. We gotta act fast."

Eric didn't have the luxury to entertain her sister's remarks, so he ignored her and continued,

"This stuff is more complicated than we realize. Telling the authorities might impair our progress."

"Are you implying a conspiracy?"

"I'm not implying, I'm saying it as it is. The folks of this town are involved in this drama, letting them know about what we know would be putting a target on our backs."

"How do you know all these Eric?"

"Went through Dad's old stuff. Found lots of interesting things."

"How interesting?"

"I meant, interesting to me, not you. It might fuck you up."

"The fact that I actually believe you, bothers me."

Tyrell complained.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

Erica encouraged him.

"How do you live with this guy?"

"The same way you live with a baby with no clue about how human society works."

Erica said, curtly.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean 'nothing'?"

Tyrell gestured

"I mean, nothing. We've already done all we're supposed to do."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Eric sighed,

"You guys are not seeing this are you?"

"Of course not. That's your job, you're the details guy."

"Fine, I'll explain."

"Should've led with that."

Erica complained

"If this has happened before, which it has...... it means they'll be expecting another to happen, I saw it in Dad's journal. And now that it has, they'll keep an eye on the individuals close to the victim right before her disappearance."

"Victim? You mean Katy?"

"Don't interrupt me, Erica!"

This was the only time Erica has seen her twin express genuine emotion. This one was anger, anger, and sadness.

"Jeez, sorry. Continue."

"They'll want to keep track of these individuals to check if they witnessed anything before the disappearance. They'll try to tie up loose ends or at least, keep whatever we know under wraps."

"Ok, ok. But how does this explain why we're doing nothing?"

Tyrell asked.

"Doing nothing will make them come to us. They'll come in the guise of sympathizers while they indirectly try to find out how much we know about the disappearance."

"Exactly."

Eric commended her sister's explanation.

"So, the plan is to keep an eye out for these spies?"

"Yeah. Not only that, with every move they make on us, every question asked, every emotion expressed or repressed, we get a step closer to figuring out what they know and what their intentions are."

"So, they'll think they're the ones investigating us, but we're the ones investigating them."

"Yes, Tyrell."

"Wow! This sounds interesting.

"Well, I doubt they'll be investigating us."

"But you just said..........huhhhhh."

"It's safe to assume that they already know all that we know, maybe even more. They're just checking to keep us in line, to make sure we don't cause any problems for them."

"This sounds like work, Eric. I won't be surprised if you're getting a serious hard-on from this."

Tyrell mocked.

"Why do you keep saying 'They'? Who are the 'They' you keep referring to?

Erica asked.

"Some deluded set of individuals who call themselves 'The council of Light'"

"' Council of Light' ha, how original..."

Tyrell mocked.

"Great, we have an Illuminati group in Loja. Just great, how fucking great."

Erica complained.

"But, Eric, don't you find it a little strange that all this info was just there, waiting for you? It's too convenient if you ask me. I don't like it."

"I'm glad you brought that up, Tyrell. To be honest, I believe we're just playing a script and this is all a waste of time and effort."

"The fuck? Then why do anything?"

"Because we have no choice. We all know we're going to die someday, but that doesn't mean we'll stay in bed and wait for death. We gotta dance to nature's tune. We'll die anyway, why not make the most of it?"

"I don't like the way you're sounding Eric. Are you saying we might die on this quest?"

"Let me clarify. We're dealing with a generational cult in bed with aliens who happen to have the power to control spacetime, heck, reality itself. I'm sorry to disappoint you folks, but this is not going to be a walk in the park."

"But what if, what if Katy's already........"

"Don't you dare complete that sentence?"

Erica interrupted Tyrell.

"Technically, we're already dead. Everybody alive is. We're just not at that point when it happens or will happen."

Eric tried to ease their worries.

"So, how do we start? Are we going to learn dark psychology, manipulative tactics, spy stuff?"

"We start by studying, Tyrell. An attack done in ignorance can never be effective."

"Hmm, 'The art of war by Eric Norton'. Catchy, isn't it?"

Tyrell mocked.

"Your attempt at humor exposes the fear you're trying so hard to conceal."

"Seriously Eric, when are you going to write a book?"

"Erica, can you please tell your pet to shut up?"

"I can put him back on a leash if you want?"

"Please do."

"Uhm.. guys, I'm right here."

"He's still speaking."

"Be quiet, pet. Sit and be quiet."

"Fuck you both."

"Tempting offer, but no, thanks."

Erica said with a smirk. Eric supported her with a smile.

"What the fuck is wrong with both of you? You know what, I'm out. I'll be in the kitchen purging my mind of the vulgarity I just witnessed."

He left the twins alone, Tyrell was hungry.

"You okay?"

Erica asked her twin in a compassionate tone."I'm fine, Erica."

He said curtly.

She inquired no further.

***********************************************************************************************

"So, you're telling me that a wormhole appeared in your universe and teleported you here?"

"Yes, no. It was the second one, not the first."

"Oh, I see, two wormholes, how fascinating."

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Stop responding to me like I'm crazy."

"That's no way to treat our guest, Eric."

Mr. Richardson cautioned Eric as he stepped into the room.

Katy has been at his facility for some weeks now, she hated it at first, but she grew more comfortable as she saw that Mr. Richards took her plight seriously. Although she's still confused about a lot of things, she gets to be in the presence of great minds working on innovative technology. But in truth, the main reason for her excitement was Eric.

After her arrival, Mr. Richards explained to her how he has helped gifted orphans and abandoned children make their way through this world. That was when he introduced her to Eric. She was elated to find out that Eric's doppelganger shared similarities with her own Eric. They were the same. Except for some tiny detail. She can't really place her finger on it, but this Eric lacks that spark, the spark her own Eric carries.

But this will suffice for the meantime as she tries her best to understand what's going on around her.

"So, what have you two been up to lately?"

Mr. Richards asked like a concerned parent.

"Same thing we do every day, Eric making fun of me."

"I'm sorry Erica. But I think we ought to put this into a book, perhaps, a movie. You have movies in your universe right?"

Eric inquired.

"What?! Of course, we do. What's wrong with you?"

Katy still couldn't believe her senses. She's in an alternate universe, having a conversation with Eric, who's not actually Eric. And she got here through a wormhole.

It was like a dream to her, it was all too daunting. The best she could do was to make the most of every moment she got. She might never get the chance to go back home. This thought crossed her mind.

***********************************************************************************************

Eric was busy going through books with countless sheets scattered all over the floor when he heard a knock on the door.

"I thought I said no disturbance."

"Sorry, it's Vicky. May I come in?"

Upon hearing her voice, Eric quickly scrambled to put his room in order.

"Hold on, I'm coming."

After a few minutes, he approached the door.

"Hey, Eric. You got a moment?"