O.M.G: Oh My Gravity

It seemed like years before I recovered from my shock. I wasn’t fully recovered but I was recovered enough to get up from my recently switched off computer and walk to the elevator at the end of the hallway.

“Level one hundred and forty-three, please,” I mumbled to the elevator, looking at my feet.

“Yes, Alex,” replied the electronic voice of the elevator.

The elevator started to descend and halted smoothly on Level 143.

I got out and shuffled my feet along the marble floor. I didn’t care if I scratched it or dirtied it. That was a minor problem compared to the one I had just figured out.

I gazed sheepishly up at the room numbers until I found the one displayed on my room key.

Number 8.

I slid the key into the lock and let myself in. Automatic lights flashed on and an automated voice came through the speakers over head.

“Welcome, Alexander Whitmore,” the voice said. “I hope you enjoy your stay at Super Human Headquarters. You will find your toilet to your right, kitchen to your left, lounge area straight ahead and bed room to the right down a small hallway. Have a lovely night!”

The speaker crackled, the voice disappeared and I was left to myself. I didn’t bother taking in what the speaker said. I would have to find my own way around after this shock has passed, after my thoughts cleared up. The only thing I did hear was that my bedroom was to the right and down a small hallway. I searched for it and when I found it I rushed straight into my bedroom pulling off my battered, sandy shoes. I could hardly see what I was doing as I unlaced my shoe laces because the sun shone brightly in this part of the room. I looked to the sides of the window and saw large velvet pieces hanging there. Good thing I had curtains, I thought to myself.

Curtains... Oh, God. Curtains!

I hurried over to them and closed them quickly, not wanting to touch them. It reminded me of that boy. I couldn’t bring myself to say his name. I couldn’t think of him as part of my family.

I tried to push those thoughts aside while I slid into the plush, king-sized bed. I lay there for a few moments unable to bring my muscles to move. Unable to forget about the boy.

Just when I thought I would get no sleep, my mind wandered to Shadow and her smooth lips pressing to my cheek. I was out like a light, not expecting to be dragged into the world of dreams.

I walked down a slippery black street in the dim city of London on a thin walkway next to the road. The early morning sky was grey and the rain pelted down from the heavens. Cars drove by at the set speed with the occasional rule breaker speeding by. Tall buildings surrounded me on either side, but it wasn’t just me that they were surrounding. I soon became aware of a small boy walking beside me.

He had the exact same features as me and looked a lot like the boy I saw in reality. The boy that was my twin brother. He was laughing mischievously and I was laughing along with him as we swerved from the speeding cars. Our voices sounded distorted and echoey.

“Alex,” my brother laughed. “Are we even aloud to go out without mum? We’re only 9.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “Dad said yes so it should be ok. I mean, we’re only around the corner from our house so if anything happens we can run back home. Right?”

The smile slid of Daniel’s face and he looked at me. It was like I was gazing into a mirror.

“Don’t say that,” he yelled at me and punched me in the shoulder. “We should go home... I don’t trust walking around alone. Especially with these cars speeding... This game is dangerous, Alex. Take me home.”

I sighed and nodded.

“Just let me go and buy bread for mum,” I told him. “I promise I’ll take you home after that. Okay?”

“Fine,” he said and walked along with me to the bakery.

It was warm inside the bakery compared to the cold Autumn day outside. It was filled with smells of fresh bread and sweets. The lights shone a dim warm light across the raw wooden floor and reminded me of the last time I went to the bakery with mum... without a brother accompanying us.

I walked up to the counter with Daniel and handed over enough money to buy a few loaves of bread.

“Three loaves of fresh bread, please,” I ordered confidently.

“Sure, lovey,” said the plump woman behind the counter as she turned to fetch some fresh bread. She took the money and handed over the bag. “Where’s your mum today boy’s?”

“Still sleeping,” Daniel and I said in unison.

“I can never understand how you boys always do that,” She said. “Have a lovely day!”

“You too, Miss,” we both said and walked out of the bakery. I could still hear the woman laughing as I stepped back into the cold rain.

I smiled to myself when suddenly Daniel yanked on my arm with a petrified look on his face.

“I can hear a loud ringing in my ears,” he said, his voice quivering with panic. “It’s not going away!”

He puffed and closed his eyes trying to get himself back together. But the strangest thing happened.

An ice-cream cone materialised in Daniel’s clenched fist and he opened his eyes suddenly.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he said looking at the ice-cream. He licked it and turned to me with a serious look on his face. “It’s strawberry.”

He threw the ice-cream cone on the floor and looked at me. I was shocked.

“The ringing is still there,” Daniel shouted.

I shushed him.

“We need to tell mum when we get home,” I said. “Come.”

We began walking, arm in arm, back from the direction we came. The rain hammered down on us and our clothes were soaked through. I hurried us along, beginning to freeze as the wind blew against my cold hair.

“Not long,” I said. “Nearly home.”

Then, out of nowhere, we were dragged aside into a small alley between a rusted red building and an army green building.

It was a man holding us, covering our mouths so we don’t scream.

“Don’t be alarmed,” the mans voice was smooth as silk coming out of the darkness. “I’m not here to hurt you. I saw that magic trick you did.”

My knees trembled and I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks. Daniel was sobbing from behind the mans hand.

“That was no trick,” said the man. “That was pure magic that I know a lot of. This magic is powerful.”

I had no idea what he was going on about but I dared not say a word.

“It should not be let out on the street, son,” the man continued. “It is very dangerous. Has the ringing in your ears stopped?”

How could he know?

“I took the pleasure of creating each unique ring in your head,” his voice sounded evil but something behind it told me he wasn’t evil at all. “Daniel Whitmore, I am glad those rings found you. If they didn’t you would be in a state of despair. I believe it is time you come with me.”

He let go of our mouths and I could hear Daniel gasping for breath.

“Don’t cry child,” the mans voice was more gentle and I looked up to see his face. He had soft blue eyes and pearly white skin. His hair was black and shiny and a friendly smile was stretched across his face.

“You can’t take my brother!” I yelled at him.

“Quiet now, Alex,” he said softly. “Do you want your brother to get hurt?”

“No but-” I tried to say

“Then I suggest you let him go,” he cut me of. “You will go home, dear boy, and tell your parents that he ran off and you could not find him. After you utter those words you will no longer recall that you had a twin brother nor will your parents remember they had two boys. It is the safer option for Daniel Whitmore. Your time will come very soon. But I believe this case is a desperate one. Daniel is a minute younger than you. He needs more help than you do. You’ll understand. For now I am truly sorry for your loss.”

The man pressed his fingers to my head and sweet music played in my brain, swirling and dancing with my memories.

The man whisked of with Daniel down the road. My brothers face turned back with a depressed look on his face. His face was shining with rain and tears.

I ran home to mum and dad, crying my eyes out. As I burst into the living room, mum and dad both stood up.

Seeing the tears on my face, mum rushed to me, her night gown trailing behind her.

“What’s the matter sweetie?” she said softly. “Where is Daniel?”

Dad came up behind mum and stroked my hair.

“Where is he, sport?” he repeated with a strange pained look on his face, as if he already knew where he was. I had a strong feeling he did.

I sobbed in my mums arms and said softly, “He ran away... I couldn’t... find him...”

Everything went in slow motion except the instruments dancing in my head. They picked up smoky bits of memory and hurried away with them playing a loud and frantic tune.

Then everything sped up and mum let me go smiling and wiping the tears off my face.

“Your face is all wet from the rain!” she exclaimed and pushed me toward the blazing fire in the living room fireplace. “Dry off dear. I’ll get you a blanket.”

Dad sat next to me a wrapped his big arms around me, keeping me warm.

From then on I believed I had no brother. I believed that my tears were raindrops.

Everything echoed inside my head, words that the man said repeated themselves.

“Your time will come very soon. But I believe this case is a desperate one.”

“You’ll understand. For now, I am truly sorry for your loss.”

The dream ended.