Zero to Infinity

Rushing to the next home, Jenny and Zero drove in almost complete silence. She was scared to speak. She could see that Zero was focused and in deep thought.

The next Earth Theorian happened to be only a few hours away. Instead of resting at a hotel or stopping for food, Zero hurried over, putting the petal to the metal. Even in just those few hours, Jenny felt years of life fall on her. She had urged for an adventure from her teased and boring life. And although this adventure was shaping up to be more than she expected, she realized, she was the center of it.

When they arrive to the house, the door was closed, and nothing seemed out of place in the front.

Jenny was nervous. She had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right. Everything was exactly how it should be. At least it appeared as though everything was in perfect condition. No overturned pots. Door locked. Too quiet. Zero, gesturing to Jenny with his hand, signaled for her to step back behind him. She did so.

The two cautiously walked into the house.

“Margaret?“, zero said with a questioning tone

Margaret, Jenny thought... “Margaret are you in here”, Jenny continued.

Sounds of mumbling came from the back room but not enough to cause worry. Zero continued forward. “My name is zero and I mean you no harm”

The closer they got, the more it sound like a TV in the distance. No kettle was on the stove hissing and no glasses on the floor. Maybe they forgot to turn the television off.

As they walked into the back room, they saw a girl standing there. Her face look frightened but there was no one around. No one they could see.

“Are you okay Miss? My name is Zero I’ve come to help you”

The look on Margaret’s face was certain that someone was in the room. Don’t no one was able to be seen, Jenny had the strong feeling that she sensed this vibe before. As she reached forward to grab zero on the shoulder, she felt a hand touch hers. Turning around, she locked eyes with a tall and slender man. It was the tall slender man from her home. It was Gordon.

A zero walked closer to Margaret to assure her that she would be okay, Gordon places hand over Jenny’s mouth. She couldn’t say anything. She felt a sharp object poking her in the back and almost smelt a hint of sweetness. No doubt it was likely chloroform. She started to feel a little woozy but was able to maintain her balance.

We’re going to get you out of here. I’m not sure if you know this about you, but you’re a shapeshifter. I’m going to need you to shift and tune animal so we can fly out of here as soon as possible. The girl’s face looked shirtish she understood what he was saying but fearful to take a step forward. She nodded yes but never moves. A zero reach out for her hand he realized that something still was not right. Her body language never changed from fear. Even reassuring her that he was there to save her, she seemed to be paralyzed.

Just as such, zero turned around to see that Gordon had his arm around Jenny’s mouth and another arm behind her back. He held both of her arms behind her and was stepping backwards slowly.

“Jenny”, zero screamed

Jenny could do nothing but mumble back. She even tried sticking her tongue out just to throw off Gordon so that he might at least loosen his grasp over her mouth. But nothing worked. She was completely unable to get out of his hands. More so, she was unable to shift. And that had never happened before. All the occasions in which she had been bullied and picked on, when they left her alone, she always found a way to get out of the mess. She was shipped into something smaller or bigger to get out of what she was in. But for some reason, in Gordon’s grasp, Jenny was unable to shift at all. Something was stopping her.

“What are you doing... Let her go Gordon.”

Gordon, behind Jenny with a smile seem to not respond to the words of zero but instead of his actions. Because every step he took forward, Gordon took back one.

“Just let her go man.”

“You know I’ve always loved you like a brother zero.”

“Yes I know but what you’re doing is wrong. You’ve got to stop this Gordon”

“No zero, you have to know. They’re not telling you the truth. They’re not telling you everything. Just ask.” Gordon said with pain in his eyes.

“Gordon you’ve got it all mixed up. You have to get out your head, guy. We’re not out here to get you. Leave us. Leave us and go be.”

I’m going to prove it to you zero. One way or another I’m going to show you what I’m talking about. They’re lying to you. All of them are lying to you.

Just then, Gordon reached his hand out and seemed to pull Margaret toward him using an invisible grasp around her neck. She held on to something that was not there as it pulled her closer towards Gordon. Jenny with now a free mouth to scream, yelled out.

“Nooo. No please. Just take me ok. Take me instead”

Something in her tone caused Gordon to freeze. He didn’t really need both of them. No, he wanted to get rid of Margaret. But something about Jenny and how important she seem to be to zero made him want to keep her. The hurt on zero’s face reminded him of the hurt he felt when he was not selected as councilman. How all of his friends tried to make it okay by saying all kinds of things. But he knew deep down inside that none of them were right. That their whole government and system was wrong. But he didn’t understand why at the time. No because he was still young and had more to see.

“All right then,” Gordon said as he flung Margaret against Zero causing them both to fall back on the wall. Gordon shifted to a giant winged bird, and broke through the ceiling. Just like that, Jenny and Gordon were gone.