(GE Copy)

Chapter 14: Mirror Lake (Part 1)

“Oh fine, one more story, just like the old days... Can’t I choose this time? I miss the stories. They reminded me of home... But we’ve done it all already, everything imaginable why not just make one up and see where it goes... Why do you still have to choose for me? What about my old life, before we even started this? You know, The Beginning...”

Standing before the table, Aaron’s glum face handed in his homework as forfeit. “I’m not going to give you every hour in leisure.” Belship dismayed, somehow more disheartened than usual. “Learning is serious, it’s a passion... I can understand you not grasping it at first but I can’t keep waiting for you forever. You need to take this seriously. The Contrivance Paradox, how does this work?”

“I only... Because...” Sighing his wills away Aaron answered, unable to explain himself before the adamant man. “...Two galins exist in the same occupied potential the other is killed off leaving one of two realities?”

“That’s the extraction for Assigned Conversion... And it is not killed off, it is dwindled exponentially.”

Aaron huffed. “Might as well be dead... I tired, it takes everything I have to comprehend something that can’t be mathematically written out and can’t just simply experienced, I can’t even find a frame of reference for any of these terms. In one situation they work one way, in another they work completely opposite. It’s like Schrodinger Cat except he’s the one with the cyanide capsule waiting for me to put my bets on the table.”

“You’re actually much closer to it than you might think... It’s for reasons like that, that The Contrivance Paradox is solved. This is why it cannot be simply written as an equation, because the answer will change based on what it is given, and it will change the equation with what you gave. This will happen anywhere along the chain of happenings. I’m teaching you the system of finding an unwavering truth through the prodding of logic; how something inanimate can work against you. People are based off of chemicals, their outcomes are statistical, not guaranteed but statistical. You might be right nine times out of ten but, this means a constant like the Denied Fluicial, is more reliable than human choice. It will always discriminate, but it has it’s own laws of reiterated contrivance, hence... The Contri...”

“...We never even got into the Denied Fluicial!” Aaron retort, the tension running from his back into his hands, flailing them in front of him in a whipping action. Sophie who had slipped into the kitchen for a cup of coco hastily retreated back to her room to finish the process in there.

“I wanted you to come to that understanding yourself, so you could understand how this is grasped rather than repeating it blindly like your teachers do...” But his words could not sooth the disappointment in the boy’s eyes. “Maybe you’re just not ready to understand these things yet...”

“I don’t learn like that... I came here for the manual so I could make things, so I could get the beginners book on screwing around...”

“You can get that anywhere, you can start right now putting tin foil around a battery, or exposing acids to alkalies or...” Belship turned his head. “Maybe I’m just not the teacher you need.”

“These gems, they react in ways that I understand.” Aaron held the collection, dragging it forward that it’s contents might roll out in front of them. I can comprehend why they do these things. Why can’t you teach me with these? Heck, meet me in the middle and save us both the struggle. I’m a stupid Earthling, why can’t you treat me like one?”

Huffing, Belship seemed to be humoured by this. “So I can play in the sand box with you? They work in ways that are much more complex than simply observing them.”

“But I can, I’ve felt them,” Rolling the gemstone in his hand. “The essence like through a second pair of hands... The... The only reason I can talk about it is because of that asinine humming headache machine you have running upstairs. You know what happens when I try to say these things out there. You said the gift I have is unique, benign, that any parent wishes to see it grow. Is it because I’m not your son? I’ve proven that more exists, that there is more to this than just caltons mucking about inside these things.” Furiously shaking the glowing gemstone.

Belship looked onto Aaron with a frail unlikely hope. “If you can prove it, can you demonstrate it?”

Inside his mind Aaron could not grasp the inspiration, and magic to make his eyes shine as they once did. “How about these powers that people have,” Aaron veered, “can you explain those ones? You’re one of the Seven...”

“Proving it, would indicate that you understand it, and from there we might actually be able to work on it, but you seem to understand none of it... Powers...” Belship dismayed once more. “Would you ask a math teacher for a religious lecture?... How would you ask a man without such inexplicable powers, to tell you how they work?”

“These... Right here.” Holding the gemstone out towards his teacher. “If you explain these, then maybe we can have that foundation.”

Gripping his grievous facial expressions, “I have been trying...” Belship pulled the tension from his heavy mind, thinking where to begin. “Yes, Aaron... Caltons are a force created by the differential in polar reality, they are, yes... As you say, constrained to another force, one that supersedes the concept of Caltons... You’ve discovered something advanced, if I am understanding correctly, and I’m proud of you for it. We can get to that point, very early, you just need to understand the principal building blocks behind it in order to comprehend what those advanced functions mean...”

“Maybe you’re right...” Aaron moaned, sick of hearing this same demeaning tone from his teacher. “Maybe this isn’t working out for me. I need someone who can tell me about these. Maybe then I’ll understand this...” desperately finding a polite euphemism: “Next level shit. Someone who can give it to me simple. I sure can feel freaking stupid a lot of the time; everyone’s always smarter than me, and I’m the fucking idiot. I got a lot of stupid ideas, and everyone wants to tell me how to play my own hand for me. Maybe I really am the fucking problem...” Carelessly dropping the stones back in the box, Aaron pouted. “If you can’t explain it to me, then how can you be certain I even have a potential? Sure would make me an even bigger moron for believing I might ever have one.”

“Don’t take it out on yourself. I don’t hold it against you to slip and fall when grasping this. It’s not for your world. I believe the miracle could occur, as you too have gift enough to pass through Tapia. I also said however, that your gift at this rate, may never come to fruition; and that perhaps your children, one day, can pick up your torch. You are still the most brilliant person I have met on this planet, with exception to a few much older than yourself... But I cannot fault a turtle for being unable to jump...” Signing heavily. “You... In time, you may be more acclimated to understand these principals. As of such, I should caution you of entering the depths of Tapia any further... What you will find, closer to it’s core, makes things like these, a child's dream. The divergence of reality... It’s a madness only few can find without disappearing into the flaps of it’s void. If there is a God still living beyond the gates, may you never find Lucalieh.”

Aaron took his obligation for the door, tucking his collections into Sophie’s room for safe keeping. Neither him nor Belship were happy about it. Aaron had his reasons, but would soon come to kick himself over it, over his rash action for over a simple emotional scar. “Didn’t even get around to telling him how little time I have...” Aaron lamented, down the road with Zack and Sophie in tow. “That’s the real reason I’m came there in the first place... I got so caught up being graded that it pissed me off and I was too distracted to even tell him...”

“Tell him what?” Sophie questioned.

“I...” Dropping his head. “Forget about it. Not like I’ll remember at this point...” Loosely grasping for the train of thought, “Yup, there it went again...”

“Sorry my Father was too much for you.” Sophie mentioned, embellishing the cold shaft of her frozen ice pop, one of many in her bag.

The hot summer air, warmed them along Rosedale Avenue.

“Reminds me,” Zack relished, “I’m still figuring out what I want built; An extendable plasma blade that flings deadly waves and shoot bullets... Or a veil that passes me through dimensions like a ghost. Imagine it, it covers invisibility, invincibility, and x-ray all in one! You think that’s how dimensions work? Or should I go with the sword idea?” Fanning himself off, Zack muttered. “It must be like...” Counting the degrees of heat in his head. “Shit, screw the math. It’s noon-thirty on a day off, it’s probably just getting packed at the beach.”

“Packed means nowhere to sit.” Aaron interjected

“Packed means the grade twelves aught to be out there pretending to be hot... Which, they are...” Waving his eyebrows “And we just stocked up like it’s movie night...” Waving his eyebrows more furiously, one of his many fine talents that people never seem to mention.

“Gonna go ogle some girls?” Aaron considered, “Man, shoulda gone all in with the week’s allowance.”

Peeking in, “Aren’t you still awaiting judicial punishment?” Sophie inquired.

“They haven’t figured that part out yet, it’s been four days now... Honestly, the longer I take to get home, the more likely they’ll forget about the entire thing.”

“Not to play advocate or anything, but... Appeasing them would likely make them forget anything bad happened, instead of packing on reasons to compile yesterday into today, like Zack’s parents do.”

“More like a couple years!” Zack inserted. “It’s like my folks have a vendetta with how hard it is for them to let go of a grudge. I wet my favourite cousins tree house by accident, coz I didn’t think I could make it to the house in time, and three years later they buy me cat pee pads for my bed. I was like five dude! Of course I wet myself back then!”

Aaron shook his head, “Surprised it took them three years to think of it.” Noticing the vivid glare, “I’m insulting your folks dude, not you.” They took the path down Peach Orchard road, and Aaron pestered Zack further. “You know, wherever you are... You’re always within six feet of a...”

“Oh take off! That’s my line...” Checking his feet. “Like I don’t know how many spider webs there are every square inch of this place.” Zack complained, cautiously avoiding any objects in the slightest. “Anyway, you’re stressed Aaron, I can tell. Take it from an expert on parental punishment... please them until they forget. Unfortunately for me, that just takes a lot longer.”

Reading off the bridge over the creek, Aaron recited. “For a good time, call ‘250-4...’ You suppose anyone’s actually called that number?”

“Probably some guy, rather than a girl...” Sophie commented. “Statistically speaking.”

“Probably someone else’s number.” Zack laughed. “Like a bible camp they wanted to annoy, or... I don’t know, town hall.”

Aaron smirked, “Laugh if it was the cop station just up the street.” Getting his kicks in while he could still get his mind off things.

Past the camp ground, at the road’s end, there it was. Okanagan lake, or at least, the less exciting section of it. A large unused park that smelled like goose crap now separated them from their destination. Oh, hey, look... There’s some culprits right there, one of those geese even stole someone’s ice cream sandwich. What a dick... Their wings supposedly can break a person’s arm, though I’ve always secretly wanted to test that theory. “They’re never doing anything with this section, are they?” Zack mentioned, walking along the road, “No one wants to sit next to the crap piles anyway.” Finally crossing over to the walking path where there was shade.

A wet dog ran up to them, barking with a wagging tail, it seemed friendly as it hopped and bowed but they walked by as it’s owners apologized with the leash. No hot bods yet, just older moms at the dog park, and toddlers running naked in public. I never understood why people would allow this, in a valley so well known for crime and elicit substance abuse; but sure enough a little bum ran across the way, jumping up and down, laughing as two dogs chased each other’s tails for a sniff.

“Finally!”Aaron admired turning the corner to the small, short, hundred and thirty meter long beach. It was stacked to the gills with more people than a California vacation. Everywhere, absolutely everywhere, was taken up. Like Penticton beach, but all crowded into a small area. The water level had receded from earlier that spring, giving them more wiggle room... Heaven knows they needed it. “Kinda think we needed some lawn chairs.” Aaron remarked, looking off at the also crowded, grassy sideline.

“Check out that one,” Zack admired loudly. “I swear they get smaller every year.” The unawares lady walking by with a giggle.

Aaron pointed elsewhere. “I like the onesies, like that one: Open back, high cut, dangling ribbons, she even has a frill on the shoulders.”

“You are a servant to style, Aaron my guy. I’m a simple man, with simple pleasures li... DAMN! Look at the seventies cut on those ones!”

“Looks like she’s from the seventies too...”

“The older generation can still keep fit. Doesn’t look a day over thirty. Besides, their tits are in their optimal growth.” Gawking as Sophie walked by. “Don’t tell me you don’t have nothing for Mr Schwartzanator over there, buffed out to shit with a short cut. Crap, even Kayli from Chem three-oh-eight is practically writing her next fan fiction over there under the tree.” But to no response.

Aaron called to Sophie also, “If they had a cat in baggy trunks and a whistle, you’d be all over it.”

“I see flesh...” Sophie responded. “Like a cow or a horse. It’s all alien to me, like a man with no knob. Hips, with a flat skin... If I wanted bodies, I’d be fingering a freshly fried chicken strip, it’s a lot more attractive than a half naked monkey. I like you two, but you’re a personality, a character, a living being. If I wanted a person’s body I’d pick Zack... But Aaron’s the one who interests me. So no, skin is skin.”

Aaron stood beside himself. “Is she hitting on both of us, or discouraging us? I can’t tell...”

Shaking his head, Zack confessed. “I don’t know, apparently she proposed to you already... So, I’m gonna take that whole ‘body’ comment as a suggestion for me to start looking...”

Falling beside the chain link fence, Aaron took rest beside the hedge of the tennis court. Sophie was already laying there in the shade. “I gotta ask...” Trying to catch her attention. He paused there until she asked him to continue. “Just making sure... I just feel kinda awkward is all. I feel like... I... Overstepped some boundaries, I was just frustrated and...”

“It’s about my dad, right?”

“So it really is obvious, huh... I’m really sorry.”

“I think you mistake my perception for topical anguish. People argue. End of the day he still respects you. Some people respect others for standing up, even if we don’t agree, other’s respect people for handling something even when it hurts. Until we find out, who can tell out of a hundred possibilities, which one it is? I told you a while back, that he forgets people don’t exactly understand just because he does.”

“Real good job he does of that...”

“I think he realized that he screwed up too, and tries to make up for it by repeating the mistake a second time... So you’re not the only one having to play compromise here... He was a shitty teacher to me too, but he’s my dad so I push through... Even if I can’t stand being around his lessons.”

“And I’m not his kid...”

“He’s got more patience with you than he did with me. Maybe that’s just time, maybe he’s still learning how to communicate. He respects the simple, but forgets what makes them that way. I think if he could forget everything he knows, he’d be happier to loose his regrets more than what keeps him busy... But some times I think he feels his superiority is a wall between him and something that even he can’t understand. I try to make terms with it, those mistakes even in myself... If anything, I’m trying to succeed where he failed, with less arrogance and more empathy. Even if we’re frustrated, we inevitably and most ironically pick up the place our parents were; the ‘torch’, as it were... My Father’s intellect, and my mother’s grace.” Reconsidering her approach to the unanswered comment. “He does want you to be a son to him, else he wouldn’t extend my hand like he did. He just doesn’t know how to. Feel any better?”

“I admire your perception. I want to say you hit every nail, but I really do still wish it worked out. I’m back to stage one with a time limit, and I still got this ring around my lips.” Clunking his head down, before awakening himself back as he was before. “I don’t even know why I’m sad anymore...”

“Sup chumps...” Zack greeted, sitting beside them.

“Any luck?”

“Two girls think I’m an absolute idiot. Played it cool, got talking on the docks. Tried a little too hard and ended up becoming a walking joke, so I rolled with it. Heck, I’m good at that. Ended up actually talking myself right out of the friend zone and straight into idiot town. Can’t even be funny enough to be someone’s elses joke, and they let me go, distancing themselves with a smile. Yeah, I’m not dumb enough to miss the part where I scared them off. Feels kinda shittier that they were just being nice about it... That and everyone else doesn’t even know I exist, which is great... More... More stealth to catch some camel humps and a Polyester Trench... The ol... Cotton Mariana... A Neon Valley Express Line Into Schwingtown.” Still looking depressed.

“I’m the only one who feels great, aren’t I?” Sophie questioned.

“Yup!” Aaron confirmed. “Tired of moping, I’m going for a walk.”

“If you thought it was hot earlier...”

“Yeah...” Looking at his options between the crowds of people, then to the road, and the walkway. “You know, for the life of me, I’ve never been down that path. Looks like it’s got some shade.”

“Sure,” Zack agreed, “Can’t catch a good angle from here anyway. Coming Soph?”

“Sorry, I’m a vegetable,” Sophie halted them, “you’ll have to give me a sec...” Cracking her shoulders and about every other joint, her body came back to life in a fluid wave like motion. Even taking a moment once standing to straighten her back, that, I’m pretty sure you rather not hear what that alien noise sounds like.

After the bend with the reed weaved chain link fence and cattails, the path slipped along the outside of the old fruit leather factory and the marina. Between the lake side and back entrances, the road was much more boring and uninspired than anticipated. It snaked without reason until it crossed into a bird sanctuary. At least there was a bin to offload their store bags and melted freezies. Sophie drained the last of her wet sopping sugar packets down her gob before entering the enclosure.

The raised wooden platform wound about the water, secluding itself in a thick surrounding of lush green stemmed trees and bog. In places the lake was visible, especially on the outer path that they split onto. They stopped there, with sight of the main path again just up ahead of this offshoot. The canopy overhead offered more shade than the exposed boardwalk beside the hotel so they lounged about. Zack tested the strength of the wood, before seating along the railing. It was peaceful, surrounded by walls of vegetation. Beyond the front fence of bulrush and overhang they even had an eyes’ hidden gaze off at the lake.

No matter how distant they seemed from all their woes, Aaron still couldn’t shake his disappointment. The magic that he knew existed, laid within, somewhere. It felt squelched by the babbles and rambles of an arrogantly superior space man and his inability to talk simple. For all the live long day, Belship could talk to them as idiots when they never knew his past, yet when Aaron asked for that shred of respect now, it was nowhere to be found. This was Aaron’s many thoughts. Zack’s sight took in the beauty beyond the open port of their hideaway, and an admiration grew for their solitude. Sophie too was satisfied, with the smell and aroma of dense wetland. But as a numb slave to his mind, Aaron stood unbewildered. Though he lead himself willingly from one thought onto another, in some capacity, Aaron wished he could let go of the avid mental maelstrom for a moment’s peace. Try as he might, he was still dead focused and the world muffled out before him.

“You suppose people come here often?” A question without answer. Zack muttered it, still content in the silence.

“I’m unable to extract your inference,” Sophie at long last replied. “I’m not carbon dating the railing until I have a substantial reasons to.”

Aaron’s ears, however, were too stuffy to hear them. From beneath however, he could hear something. At first, he questioned if he had imagined it, but it happened again and again, a strange unfathomably sound. Each time becoming more clear and loud than before but his clogged ears still struggled to hear Zack and Sophie’s rambles past the static fuzz it was intilling. It sounded like a splashing so vivid, and beyond real that he cupped his ears to tell if it was actually just playing in his head. It began to paint a picture and his focus dwelt to the sound of something, perhaps someone underneath. Zack and Sophie were drawn by the abrupt subtlety or Aaron’s erratic moment, with a jerking motion towards him. Aaron looked below but there was only waves from the lake; a straight, constant stream of unimpeded ripples. He could hear it again behind him, towards the lake this time and Aaron’s eyes followed with his body in tow. He heard it again underneath him.

“What the frick?” Zack murmured in shock, still looking behind him where Aaron first caught gaze. “Freaking freaky ass face just disappeared.”

Aaron turned back around again, toward the claim that confirmed this mystery. Zack turned to Aaron, the look of dumbfounding on his face. Sophie unturned towards anyone’s mysteries, was still content taking in the cool air of stagnant water. “In the water right?” Aaron asked, watching Zack’s eyes widen, silently. “It’s behind me right now, isn’t it?” Aaron felt a wet tickle on his side, and the sensitive boy jumped from the light sensation. He turned to watch the figure fall back into the water with a smile on it’s rather lovely feminine face.

“Who the hell would be swimming around in this swill?... The air is bad enough as is...” Zack mentioned watching helplessly as Aaron swiftly took heed and threw himself into the water after her. Him and Sophie stood silently in shock as Aaron ran off without a care. Zack turned very slowly towards Sophie for answers, who’s unfixed gaze panned off towards the point of departure.

“Well, that certainly isn’t his usual response to things...” She dryly mentioned.

“HOLY SHIT!” Standing in shock. “Do you have no concept of what just happened lady?! Sh-should we... Go check on him?”

“Only thing that comes to my mind is a siren, though no singing... If he returns, it’s probably just a girl, or I underestimated his physical condition to be weaker than yours.”

“I don’t see him... I got a bad feeling about this. Why would he just...” Taking off his shirt, and shoes to jump in after.

“Keep in mind,” Sophie cautioned, moments before Zack could roll himself over the railing. “I don’t think you have the physical strength to take one on either. They’re also not nearly as pretty as when you first look at them. So... You’re choice if you’re gonna pick one up on a date.”

“Pretty?” Zack snapped at her calmness. “I thought you didn’t see people as bodies.”

“Bitch, I know ugly when I sees it. I don’t need folklore to tell me that.”

“I’m... I... I don’t know if I’m going in there.” Looking at Sophie for answers. “If he’s dead, there ain’t a lot I can do about that...”

“HOLY MACKEREL GUYS!” Aaron called out. “You gotta see this!” Taking a fish to his face.

“Nope, not a siren.” Getting her rump away from the railing for the one in front of her. “I’m not interested in mermaid titties. If I was, I’d actually drink a glass of milk from time to time just to look at the cow on the carton.”

“We get it! Everything is alien to you, jeez... You gonna check this out or not?”

Shrugging, Sophie tipped herself over the railing to carbon date the swill with Aaron. “I’m...” Zack muttered looking into the muck and green mossy surface “I’m good up here.” Doing his shoes back up. The girl from earlier pushed him off the boardwalk, admiring them from above before joining them in the depths.

As Zack plunged into the deep, the sight faded into the black of silt and material long forgotten. Somewhere beneath him, was a light that dragged him in. From within, there was a vibrant blue that shimmered in the eyes. Air trickling from his nostrils like the leak in a hose, Zack floated up to the surface, where gravity seemed to shift in his disoriented descent. Upon the shore of a pale misty pond, he emerged. Shivering in the warm waters, where the fog seemed to dry him like a moist flame. “Where...” Zack muttered. “Did... Guys?” Their bodies crawling forth to the shore.

“What did I tell ya!?” Aaron exclaimed, flicking the wet hair from his eyes. The girl came out with them. Her long black hair, and pale skin made even the fog seem to have colour. As she danced happily along the beach, the wetness of her foreign clothes fell unhindered, and seemed to run off the silk tassels and frills like streams until readily dry. A spirit of bliss flooding through her without a single word to escape her lips. “She’s...” Zack pondered. “Just a girl?”

“Just a girl...” Aaron confirmed, watching the water evaporate from his clothes. “Wonder what brought her here like that...”

“Sophie...” Zack muttered, still shaking and utterly slack jawed. “You’re suggestions really don’t seem to be very accurate... I’m still holding out for some kind of cannibalistic plot twist though...” The grace from the strange girl’s eyes turned to one of favourtised disgust.

“Oh, shit,” Aaron laughed. “Is that what it looks like when someone else does it...”

Sophie joined in the harsh looks, “If you’re being chased by a Jabberwock, you’re gonna have to beg pretty hard to get an answer out of me after that remark.”

Wringing out his shirt, Aaron gave it a flick. “I don’t think any of the things we’ve seen qualify as a cardinal ‘mythical creature’ or ‘monster’...Just gotta watch and see.” Following the stranger into the mists.

“Buddy! Buddy system!” Zack issued, kicking up his heels, and making certain to avoid any of the classic horror movie tropes. Sophie slowly following in behind. The girl pranced from stone to stone, over shallow water and over large pond upon it’s stiff ridged vegetation. She dragged them along with her unsettling charm and joyous manner until the rock and moss of the surrounding hills turned to straights and a splintering valley of spires.

Zack, lightened up, admiring the complete difference between here and home as lead through the rabbit hole of a small watery passage. “What are the chances that this would happen out of the blue like that?” Completely unawares of the strife Aaron had handled of the last couple days. Finally, Aaron too began to question those odds himself, and become conceited to this realm’s surreal beauty.

The fog lifted and inside was a luminescent lime green that cleaved to the stone peeks down to it’s valley descent below them. Brilliant gold hewn vibrant light lit the ground and hills while overcast clouds darkened the dreary sky with a texture of deep emboldened cloud banks. Cliffs a thousand feet tall, and pits a thousand more in depth, mingled with thin planes of patchy flat clouds below their feet as well as a hundred feet above. A small house was built into the side of the valley’s overhanging ledge, with a wooden stairwell from the top onto it’s lower overlook. The balcony ran along it’s edge from the hill to the overhang above the grave descent below. Upon it’s patio, at it’s table, sat an old man.