An Empty Home

Halliday felt something was wrong right away. The room had an quiet, empty feeling. Earlier that morning, Karen had rushed him in when he had come home, now she was nowhere to be seen. He looked over to the open hall closet. Her red running shoes and blue hooded jacket were gone.

“Karen?” Halliday uttered into the void, as Silas came out of the hall. Halliday scanned the apartment, but no one appeared. “Wait here,” he whispered to Silas, guiding him inside the open closet.

The room was eerily quiet. Halliday walked into the apartment softly, trying to make as little noise as possible. He looked into the kitchen and it looked like she had left in a hurry. A bowl of whisked eggs was on the counter and the side of the kettle was still hot. The door to their bedroom was open. Halliday walked across the carpet in Silas’ view, the boy staring at him worriedly as he passed by. Halliday raised his hand, motioning Silas to stay hidden for the moment.

Halliday entered the bedroom to see clothes strewn about the bed and dresser drawers left wide open. Boxes and mementos lie on the floor outside the open closet.

He looked to his bedside table and saw his computer from TerraCode was flipped open. He couldn’t remember if he’d logged off from his last session. He walked over to it and waved his hand over the display. All of his files were still open.

Halliday saw a new message blinking at the bottom of the screen. He clicked on the icon and the short message screamed back at him. ‘HOW COULD YOU GIVE THEM A FAKE!!!’

Panic shot into every nerve in Halliday’s body. He stepped back, stunned, knocking the computer off of the table. He happened to look into the closet on the other side of the room. There was a gaping hole in the items that had been neatly stored away. Karen’s suitcase was gone. Silas heard the crash and came into the room.

“Dad, where’s Mom?” Silas asked, a lilt in his voice. He was almost in tears.

Halliday slumped against the wall, shocked to what must have taken place since he’d left. His face was an image of torment. His mouth gaped open and he squeezed his eyes shut in a silent cry. As Silas came over and placed a hand on his knee. Halliday opened his eyes searching the face of his son for forgiveness.

Halliday has returned home to find that Karen, his wife, has discovered information about the existence of the Earth sphere. Worse still, the harsh message she has left behind is a realization that she knows about the plan Terracode developed to ensure Munro’s return. Now she’s gone.

Sylvie

Jens reached over to the drawer at his bedside table. He pulled it open and looked at his most personal possessions: a pocketknife, a gold watch, a jacket pin, and a small strip of photos all neatly tucked away in a clear nylon bag. He picked up the bag and took out the pin, rolling it on the tips of his fingers, polishing the face with his thumb. The metal brightened as his thumb rubbed the silvery body of the dove, its wings spread out in flight. A small branch extended from its beak, its five green leaves and low-hung grapes swept into the air completed the symbol of peace. Jens sought solace in the pin, but he knew it would not be that easy. Too many miles lay between him and the angel who had given it to him. Jens took out the small photographs and put the bag into the drawer. He lie back on his bed, clutching the pin in the palm of his hand, trying to remove his mind from the present and drift back to a better day in his memory.

Jens looked at the little girl who sat beside him in the photos. It seemed like only yesterday when Sylvie pulled him into the corner store. His grand-daughter had insisted on pulling him into that shop even though he had the day planned for them. She had practically led them straight to it. Inside, there was every type of stuffed animal a young girl could imagine. He remembered his immediate reaction was  that he would be leaving the store with much less money than he came in with.

Sylvie dragged him by the arm even though he went freely. Her little body leaned into the effort like a one-way tug-of-war. She led them past row upon row of displays filled with toys, and gadgets for young and old alike. He began to worry the most expensive items were at the rear of the store. He protested a little and her tugging became less insistent. ‘We’re almost there,’ she said, trying to reassure him. Once they reached her goal, she stopped and turned to face her grand-dad.

“All right, which one is it?” Jens asked, resigned to making a purchase, “we can’t stay here long.”

“Which one what?” Sylvie replied.

“Which gizmo is it you want me to buy for you?” he answered, scratching his beard nervously.

“It’s not a gizmo, whatever that is,” Sylvie answered, “It’s this here!”

The days on The Eye are growing longer as Jens feels further apart from the grand-daughter he is helping by doing Khai’s bidding. Seeing how Munro has been mistreated at the hands of Khai has not set well with him. His only hope is that Sylvie is safe and being treated much better while he is away.

There are new photos to take, and new memories to make.