Chapter 4 - The Invitation

The nightmares had come back, and they hadn’t stopped.

Most of the time, Taylor didn’t dream, or at least didn’t remember dreaming. She closed her eyes and all was darkness. She would close her eyes and awaken the next morning to beaming sunlight.

Only now when she closed her eyes, she smelled smoke. It was so thick in the air that it stung her eyes. She saw blood on the cobblestone streets, and fire in the sky. Shadowed figures rushed past, people fleeing death and destruction. She felt so small, so young. Taylor would cry and reach out for help but no one stopped. No one cared.

When she closed her eyes, she saw monsters. She saw visions of war and death and in the midst of it all was a little girl. A little girl that looked just like she did. It was just like the dreams she’d had as a child.

Those had been bad, but these felt worse.

When Taylor woke up, there would be tears staining her cheeks. Her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. Sweat glistening on her skin, soaking through her clothes.

Now it was hard to sleep. It was hard to walk through her own house without seeing shadows baring their fangs. Couldn’t listen to the honking of cars, or the screeching of breaks, without flinching, screams echoing in her ears.

Taylor tried to take solace in the one place she always could. Her dad’s garage. She knelt there, frozen, hands trembling as she tried to focus.

Harold was on the other side, humming as he worked. The sound of metal tapping on metal turned into the sound of sword crashing into shield. It sounded like armor being crushed like a soda can. In the dim light, smears of oil glistened like blood. Behind her, she heard the deep guttural growl.

Perhaps she felt it, more than she heard it, the way it reverberated in her chest. The sound that came from one of those… things. They looked like humanoid dragons, or crocodiles, or something in between.

Then she blinked and everything was back to normal. What remained was the panic and tension. That thumping in her chest.

Her dad had noticed. Or started to, at least. The last few days he hadn’t been so gruff, had given her extra time in the garage. He’d tried asking about it, about whatever was going on. Neither of them had ever been good at having those conversations.

Harold was a good man though. A good father. The fact that he had reached out made Taylor want to reach back, to talk to him, but she didn’t know how.

Taylor wasn’t sure what to do, wasn’t sure what to feel. She glanced at Harold to make sure he wasn’t looking, and took out the locket Rick had given her.

This was what had started it all. Everything had been fine until… She clicked it open. Inside was a small glowing blue fragment of crystal. Magic crystal. She could feel it humming, the power within like a battery.

The longer that Taylor looked at the spark, the more she felt it… reaching out to her. It was a stupid thought, she didn’t… Taylor clicked the locket shut. She wasn’t going to think about it.

A metal pipe squeaked across the concrete floor, causing Taylor to look up. There, in front of her, was the little girl. The one from her visions. Blonde hair, glowing blue eyes.

She blinked. The girl was gone, and in her place stood Rick.

“Sorry,” he said. “I was trying to be quiet. You looked real focused.”

“Howdy there, Mr. Rick,” Harold raised his in acknowledgment. “How you doing today?”

“I’m doing alright, Mr. Hanson, and yourself?” Rick gave her dad a wave.

“Mighty fine, thank you.” Harold grabbed a rag and started wiping his hands off. “I’m gonna step outside for a bit, get some fresh air.”

That was his way of giving them some space. Any other time, Taylor would have been appreciative, but she wasn’t ready to face Rick yet. She felt apprehensive at his presence. Not because she didn’t want him around, but because he deserved answers that Taylor didn’t have.

“What do you want?” She asked.

“I just wanted to check in.” His voice shook with nerves. “It’s been a few days, you know.”

“Days?” Taylor frowned. Had it really been… she counted on her fingers. Oh. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

“I can go, if you want.” Rick said taking a step back, like he’d been burned.

“That’s not what I want,” Taylor answered, looking away. There was a minute of silence, neither of them sure about the next move. When Rick spoke again, it was obvious he was trying to force a more positive tone.

“Bike’s looking really good,” he said, giving the handlebars a pat. “I mean, I am seriously impressed. It looks totally different than when I last saw it.”

It didn’t, but bless him, he was trying.

“Thanks,” she stood up, dusting her hands on her pants, and forcing herself to look at him. As soon as she did, her heart broke a little. Rick couldn’t hide anything from anyone. He was smiling, but he was so nervous, standing there. His hands were fidgety, and he kept shifting his weight from one foot, to the other.

He wasn’t a machine, but maybe Taylor could understand him. Maybe that’s why she liked him in the first place. He couldn’t hide anything.

“Hey,” she said, trying to occupy herself with the bike so she didn’t have to look at him. “I’m sorry. For… not talking to you.”

“No, that’s totally cool,” Rick waved her off with a nervous chuckle. “I totally understand. Even if, you know, you decided you don’t like me anymore, that’s fine.”

“Wait, what?” Taylor frowned, confused. Rick opened his mouth like he was going to say something more, then he stopped.

“I couldn’t help but think that maybe you’d changed your mind. About liking me. I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because that’s what I do.” He gave her a half-hearted smile. “That’s my thing, I guess. Hi, I’m Rick, and I apologize for everything.”

“I haven’t changed my mind,” Taylor said, “I do still like you.”

“Oh.” Rick blinked, looking shocked. “Thank you- I mean, I like you too. Like a girlfriend.”

“And I like you like a boyfriend,” Taylor smirked.

“Yes,” Rick’s entire demeanor changed. He took a celebratory moment to pump his fist in the air. “Sorry, I know we’d talked about going out last time, but this feels more official. Oh man, wait till I tell Vivien, she’s not going to believe it.” His excited expression paused for a second as he thought about something.

“Wait, if everything’s good, why haven’t we talked?”

“I…” Taylor clenched her fist. Standing next to Rick was that little girl. The air smelled like smoke and the metallic tinge of blood. “Somethings… changed.” She sighed, rubbing her eyes. Maybe she was tired, but she was afraid to sleep. “And I got scared, because I don’t know what that means.”

“I can understand that,” Rick said softly, nodding. Taylor stood up, stretching, and wiping her hands on her pants.

“Check this out,” she said changing the subject. She turned the key, and the engine began to sputter, and then shake, and with a loud roar, came to life. The bike rumbled in her hands. It was rough at first but began to smooth out. There were a few more things she could do, but she’d been right. The bike was ready.

“No way!” Rick looked excited. “You fixed it. Now what are you gonna do with it?”

“Ride it, obviously.” Taylor reached around and grabbed two helmets off a dusty rack and handed him one.

“Oh,” he swallowed nervously. She looked at him until he nervously fumbled with the straps and put it on his head. “I’ll probably die, but it’s fine.”

Taylor smiled, and swung a leg over the bike, kicking the stand up and waddling it out of the garage until she was out in the midmorning sun. She tossed her helmet on and looked back at Rick who was still hesitantly waiting behind.

“Hop on,” she said, patting the seat. Rick visibly swallowed again, and took a couple of slow, forceful steps until he sat on the back of the bike. “Hold on to something.”

She revved the bike, kicked it into gear and they jolted forward. Rick yelped and grabbed her shoulders, as she rounded the corner, cut across the sidewalk, and hit the road.

Taylor felt the wind across her face, across her skin. The rumble of the engine and the roar of the world around her as it passed by was a feeling that couldn’t be replicated. The satisfaction of the bike being something that she worked on, that she put together, was magnified.

She was vaguely aware of Rick trembling behind her. Muttering something about a license, and cops, but Taylor just revved it louder, and he squeezed tighter, holding on for dear life. They didn’t ride for long, just a quick run around the block.

After all, Rick was right, Taylor didn’t have plates or a license, or anything really. Harold would kill her if she got another ticket. For the bike though, for Rick, it was worth it.

When she pulled back into the shop, Rick practically jumped off the bike, his cheeks were red. He was blushing. She smiled to herself. He was funny.

“That…” He said, taking deep calming breaths and pulling off his helmet like it was suffocating him. “That was so scary… and…” his eyes met hers. “And kinda cool, too.”

He looked happy. Flushed, and scared, and happy. He looked different.

“Didn’t you say you had an uncle teach you how to ride?” She asked.

“Yes…” Rick muttered looking away. “Kinda sorta. I guess you could say I know what buttons to push, but I always got too scared to do anything more than fall over.”

“You don’t have to be scared,” Taylor said.

“I’ll uh…” Rick shrugged. “I’ll do my best. Maybe with a little more help. Someone to… to guide me.”

“Would you like me to teach you?” She asked, “what are you doing today?”

“Well…” Rick looked nervous again. He looked more like himself when he was nervous. “Actually, I came here to invite you on a…” there was that swallow again. “On a date.”

“A date?” Taylor asked. She realized she maybe should have asked in a more excited tone, but Rick didn’t seem too perturbed.

“Yeah, well, I got these…” He seemed to suddenly remember and began fishing in his pocket. “I got these tickets, to a museum. The one uptown, you know, the really nice one. They’re uh, having a super fancy party, and there’s this whole Alkania exhibit that looks cool, and I know it’s not like, a mechanical exhibit with cars and stuff, we could totally go do that sometime, but I just thought I’d ask and it’s okay if you say no, you know?”

“Rick,” Taylor said, and this time she smiled. “I’ll go. What time?”

“Um, seven?” He checked his tickets again. “Oh, seven thirty, tonight.”

“That sounds great.” She crossed the gap between them and hugged him. He stiffened and hugged her back. “I’ll be ready.”

“Yes.” Rick said as he backed away. “Yes, I gotta tell Vivian and she’ll help me match my socks and stuff.” He looked at her and his expression was different again. Rick O’Brien, happy, excited. “I’ll pick you up at like six-forty five?”

“Sounds good.” She answered. He smiled again. Satisfied, then he turned and ran out of the shop and out of sight.

As soon as he was out of sight, Taylor’s shoulders slumped. Her expression grim.

“Alkania…” she spoke the name to herself. Visions flashed in front of her eyes. The monsters had returned. Her safe place invaded.

Her visions didn’t name the place, but Taylor knew what she saw. She’d heard the stories. They’d taught them to her in school.

Going to a museum had never been something that Taylor wanted to do. For some reason though, she wondered if going there, seeing the exhibit, the Alkanian artifacts. Maybe it would help? Maybe it would provide some answers.

Maybe.