Egredior - Chapter 3

Egredior - Chapter 3

‘Mum? Mum, are you okay? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me!’ Holly’s resounding voice rang in Julie’s ears. ‘My… Aeron’ she spoke wearily as she slowly sat up from the wooden floorboards. Both Aeron and Holly were gathered over her. ‘But how?’ A look of confusion and fear struck her face and it was only at that moment that Aeron realised he hasn’t informed her of what had transpired. The look soon dissipated as Julie realised it really was him – to be replaced by a look of sheer joy, closely followed by a suffocating embrace. ‘Eh… mum… ill explain if you…’ she released him. ‘Yes’ Holly began ‘I’d like to hear this too’ she smirked.
A short time later, the three of them sat at a right angle in the sofas of the living room. Taking a deep breath, Aeron began to recount the events of the previous day and his encounter with a person from the future detailing what was yet to happen – however, he refrained from telling his mother that he had met her in the future seeing as she had said ‘it would cause a massive tear in the fabric of space and time’ he continued detailing how they set up an anti-mayor organisation and what could be done thence forth.
‘So we have to stop the newly inaugurated mayor from taking over the world?’ Holly said, squinting one eye slightly. ‘Sounds like you’ve been on a trip to me – in more than one way!’
‘Hey – my visit to the future was real!’ he protested. ‘Do you know how stupid that sounds!?’ Holly started, surprising him. ‘Whatever you’ve been up to, mum and I have been worried sick for the past three months.’ ‘Months?’ ‘Yes, months!’ ‘It was only a day for me.’ ‘Well, lucky you!’
‘Enough!’ Julie sternly interrupted. Holly sat. ‘Aeron, how can you be sure of this?’ ‘I was told’ ‘By who?’ Aeron swallowed. ‘I can’t tell you.’ ‘Oh, convenient.’ Holly interrupted. ‘Holly…’ Julie returned. ‘Aeron, as much as I’d like to believe it, it sounds a little too far fetched this time. I just hope whatever you’ve been doing, you’re okay now, and…’ she sighed and smiled. ‘I’m just glad to have you back.’
‘But… but, I used a vortex in time that’s embedded in the candelabrum!’ he protested, pointing to the fat red wax candle that stood silently on the mantelpiece. Julie and Holly also remained silent. ‘Okay honey’ Aeron stood there open-mouthed. ‘You can’t do this! I’m telling the truth!’ ‘Aeron, honey, let’s continue this in the morning.’ As she said it, the clock on the mantelpiece also struck 1. ‘As I said… get some rest.’ Julie and Holly exited the room as Aeron still stood there gaping. After a moment, he sighed. ‘So, I guess I can count my family out with this.’ He switched off the light and trudged upstairs.
When Aeron opened the door, the room was nearly exactly as he had left it. Apart from a cleared path through the mess on the floor, everything else was untouched. Aeron closed the door and paced over to his desk, the moonlight illuminating the room in its usual silent, pale glow. He was about to put away his bag filled with a mixture of schoolbooks and alcohol when he remembered the note. The note he felt his mother place in his hand before he returned to the past. He reached out and uncrumpled the white paper. Written in ink was his mother’s handwriting which read ‘Find the hidden tent in the market – you’ll know it when you find it. She will be there.’ He looked up. ‘Since when was my mother cryptic?’ Aeron spoke aloud. He placed the note in his drawer and proceeded to climb onto the bed not bothering to change. Tiredness washed over him suddenly as a wave would hit the shoreline. Soon he became oblivious to the owl hooting at him from outside the window and darkness became conscious. For a moment all was dark, then the dream came again… the same dream… of the rooftop.