Chapter 156A Site that Speaks

The streets felt colder as the rain and wind had cleaned them. There was a storm coming tonight, the wind was definitely picking up. Despite all this, the Broken Path hotel looked like a fireplace in the cold. It was warm, friendly and open.

Of course my destination wasn't there, but the cold, dark, very wet build site opposite.

Things had changed though. Rather than the frame of a building that was there before, now it was like a proper blueprint of a building. All the walls were there, but no windows or doorways. As I walked inside I noticed all kinds of tools and boxes laying around. Boxes of cable and little connectors. Here and there, bundles of cable came from the ceiling or were going up. I guess this was no longer a skeleton of a building, but the bones and muscle. All ready for the layer of skin to cover it and the organs to make it working.

It should have felt more spooky.

But it was quite relaxing to walk here. Though I was a trespasser, I felt calm and walked easily among the many large rooms. It occurred to me that only the big walls were standing, the thin walls between offices would probably be added and moved at their convenience. The little I'd seen of offices was that they took their layout lightly.

It wasn't time yet.

Through the windows I could see the streets. Thanks to my sharp eyes and the abundant light of the hotel, I would be able to clearly see anyone who would venture near. It was still a quarter hour to midnight, so chances were he wasn't here yet. Although, Janus did appear to be someone who liked to have things on his side. Perhaps I could even try and find out who he was.

"You're early, Amy."

I sighed. It wasn't fair that some people always felt one step ahead of me. "So are you, Janus."

I guess this was my chance. "Or should I say Kai?" I turned around.

He was standing in the light of one of the street lamps outside, not trying to hide himself. It wouldn't have mattered much. Without a light to blind me, I would have been able to see him in the shallow darkness of this building.

But he didn't answer my question, just letting me see him instead. My eyes grew large in the surprise I felt. He really looked like him, but there were some subtle details. The expression was different, the hair was neater. His stance was different as well. All much more controlled and calm than Kai would be...

But he looked exactly like him.

He smiled. "I'm not Kai, I'm Janus. But there is a reason we're very much alike."

I took a deep breath. "Does he know about you?"

He shook his head. "I sincerely doubt it. I only found out by accident. But this is not why I called you here. There are people looking for Nuru, but this is only a minor concern for you. Someone is leading Khuna and Valerie into a trap."

"What? Why?" And more importantly, how did he know?

"It's Isabel, she's sent them to find the last of the three you're wearing. The missing bracelet."

I looked at the bracelet I was wearing. "Is there anything special about these three?"

He shrugged. "Not that I know of, but I think Isabel merely used it as a reason to get Khuna and Valerie to do as she wishes. She's very cunning from what I've seen."

He walked closer to the window and looked outside. He sighed deeply and let his head hang for a moment. Everything about him felt so sad back then. There was something wrong but I couldn't quite grasp it. Couldn't he warn Khuna or Valerie? Couldn't he help them stay away from Isabel's path?

"Janus, why are you telling me, and not them?"

A deep sigh. "I can't. They won't be able to see me as you do..."

"What can I do?" I walked closer to him.

He looked at me sideways, not leaving the window. "That's the problem, I'm not sure, I'm not used to interfering. And talking to you has been harder than you can imagine. But... You've changed so much about our lives. It's not for the worst either. We had been slowly losing what it meant to be alive. We didn't chase any dreams or desires. We just fed ourselves when we needed and existed otherwise."

He smiled grimly. "I guess we were just youth, frozen in time."

I stood close to him, unsure what to say. "I'm sorry?"

His expression changed, from surprised to amusement. "Don't be. You've brought warmth to our lives, Amy. More than you know. Maybe even so much that I'm no longer needed."

I blushed.

"Don't change, Amy. It's who you are that makes people alive, regardless of the state of your body." He took a breath. "If you see Kai again, tell him that I give him my regards and that you know about me and him."

I hesitated. "But I don't... I don't understand."

He smiled. "You will. Tell him he DID know me."

To my surprise he leapt out of the window and ran swiftly away after a neat landing. I didn't follow him, too much going on in my mind. I had no idea what he meant and a feeling it still wasn't all as clear as I wanted it to be.

What could I do about Khuna and Valerie? I didn't know where they were or where they were going. What trap was set, what bait? And what part did Isabel have in this. I walked to the roof of the building and stood there, unsure of where to go.

Back to those that make me warm I supposed.

I rose up in the air and enjoyed the feel of the city below me. If only I could shake of this feeling of two eyes staring at me below.

Isabel was still somewhere out there.