Is This Love Real?

Chapter Two
The Proposition

Though traffic wasn’t heavy and the drive, took a bit longer than anticipated, Sarah arrived outside her new apartment building early that afternoon. This was her first time actually seeing it. Since the day she graduated, even before then, she was always pressed for time, and during the summer, she didn’t even have enough time to spare to take a short drive out to her own college.

Mina had told her all about it though, so Sarah was certain she wouldn’t have any problems. Though, Karen always joked about how Sarah would probably sleep soundly in the middle of a forest on the ground, so long as she had her little red book with her. It was true, to some extent. Karen’s jest came from their frequent camping trips, when Sarah found herself lounging about in comfort, in the grass reading her old worn out Labyrinth book, whereas Karen couldn’t stand to use anything less than an air mattress.

Next, after study the building, Sarah looked up and down the block, noting the other buildings and planted trees every few steps along the sidewalk. “I like the streets” Sarah told Mina.

“Is that all you ever think about?” Mina complained. Honestly, the things that pleased her friend the most. Sarah was a runner, track star and cross country veteran. The imaginative girl was always commenting on the streets of a neighborhood. If she liked the streets, that meant she’d enjoy running on them, if she didn’t, she’d have to extend her route to include an area she did like.

Sighing, Mina hefted her first suitcase from the trunk. Sarah had so many quirks, but all of them set her apart. No one could ever measure up. Mina supposed that was why she liked Sarah so much, she was proud to be considered her friend.

It was a bleary day, promising thunderstorms later that evening. The clouds were a thick haze, and to the west, Sarah could see the swirl of darker clouds moving in. It was the end of summer, and with it came an early autumn air, though she was sure there would be a wicked Indian summer to deal with in a few short weeks.

The wind picked up and with Sarah’s stomach felt a drop. Keenly she continued to regard the long street, full of other apartments, and further down a coffee shop. Something seemed odd, or out place, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It was more of a feeling she had, than an observation. The breeze didn’t die down for a few more moments, as it licked at her hair, sending it about wildly.

“Sarah, if you stand there staring off all day…” Mina’s voice trailed off as she noticed Toby now standing right next to Sarah, staring off into the distance, as though they saw something coming. Watching the two of them, standing so rigid and entranced, she felt a tingle along her spine, “Guys, you’re creepin’ me out, stop it will you?”

‘Is it the wind?’ Sarah wondered. There was such a nostalgic scent to it. Her heart, for one fleeting moment, cried out that it was the same strange wind blowing through that open window and announcing the Goblin King’s arrival. But, that wasn’t possible, or at least plausible. Shaking her head, Sarah reasoned that it was only similar because the air felt slightly chilled, carrying autumn scents, and that it was all that talk about her adventure during the ride over that had filled her head too much.

Mina’s voice broke through her reverie, stirring her back to reality. “Yeah, sorry… just, uh, nice streets is all.” she spoke still half in a daze. As soon as Sarah turned around and lifted a duffel bag of her own, Toby rushed up beside her, grasping her shit tail.

“How did I ever end up with a friend as weird as you?” Mina sighed, feigning sarcastic anger.

“Cause I tell you good bedtime stories.” Sarah shot back, walking up the stoop and checking out the calling bells for each tenant’s room. A smile played across her face when she read St Claire/Williams. This was her place. Although, she felt less satisfaction in the knowledge that it was still on the support of her parents, it was still a step toward growing up.

It felt as though she could never become any older than her fifteen-year-old self. While in the Labyrinth, fighting and searching her way to Toby, she felt so young. Everything around her had made her feel like a small child, not knowing anything. And since then, the feeling still lingered. All of her work, in school or in plays or writing, it had all been to help her move on. If she could make something of herself, become successful, then she would know her life had moved on since those few short years ago. Then she wouldn’t feel like a child anymore.


It wasn’t until after Sarah had made several trips back and forth, bringing everything she had packed, that she noticed something was bothering Toby. At first she thought he was just being stubborn, exaggerating his refusal to let her leave home, by not letting her shirttail go. But, after her third trip down the elevator, and out to the parking garage, she thought something might really be bothering him.

All that was left was her laptop, which was hidden under the front seat. Usually she didn’t go anywhere without it, but in all the excitement she had forgotten, and had run back down to grab it, with Toby following right behind.

Lifting the carrier bag, she ducked her head under as she placed the strap across her shoulder. “What’s wrong Toby?” she asked casually, closing the door with a small thud.

“Strange winds” he murmured.

“I know, but its just the change of seasons.” she assured, though her tone of voice made her question if it was really Toby she was trying to convince. Again her mind played with the idea that there had been some meaning to the simple breeze, but she was too logical to make any conclusions.

Walking back into the small lobby, Sarah noticed a young boy over near the mailboxes. The boy was trying to reach what must have been his slot, but his arm stretched and fell short. He was wearing a hat, so she couldn’t quite tell much about him from where she was across the room. Taking pity on the kid, as he made his way to the night watchman’s chair, most likely in order to use it as a stepping stool, Sarah walked over to the mailbox. She wasn’t certain which one he had been going for, so she spoke, “Valor?” it was the name on the slot she thought he’d been after.

The poor kid was taken by surprise and whipped around with a scowl on his face.

Taking that as her answer, she pulled out what letters were stuffed in there and held them out to him. An amused smile graced her face as she noted how the boy was dressed. His cap had the New York Mets logo on it, and it was at least a size too big, much like the rest of his clothes. Baggy jeans rolled at the cuff and held up by a belt, with an extra large long sleeve black batman shirt tucked in at the front. When his head lift to look at her she saw he had gray eyes, and there were tufts of jet-black hair sticking out from under the hat.

For a long moment, the boy just stood staring up at her. Though his scowl had faded once he saw who had called, he just stared impassively at her, with a hint of awe about his face.

Toby grew restless, and quite angry, as the other boy seemed to be rather rude and just staring at his sister. Forgetting about all ominous feelings he’d been brooding over before, he let go of Sarah’s bag strap, stepping in front of her, to grab the mail. Then, trying to be as intimidating as he could, though it was difficult when the other kid was taller than him, he strode forth and pushed the pile of envelopes at the kid. If he were just going to stand there and stare at Sarah, then he’d give him his mail and take Sarah back upstairs.

“Toby” Sarah chastised as he scurried back and attempted to drag her toward the elevator. Ignoring Toby’s tugging, she regarded the young boy with a kind smile, “What’s your name?”

For a moment, the boy seemed like all he was going to do was stare at Sarah some more, but instead he hesitantly spoke, “Thomas Valor” his tone was proud as though she should gasp in awe.

“Well, Thomas, I’m Sarah Williams. And this-” she leaned down and pulled Toby over, so that he was facing Thomas properly, “Is Toby.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” young Thomas blurted out quickly, eyeing Sarah keenly.

‘Oh god!’ Sarah thought as she used all her control to not burst out laughing. A persistent grin fought its way out, and while she took a moment to get rid of it, she coughed lightly, using her hand to hide it. “No, Toby is my-”

“Husband!” Toby shot back, crossing his arms at his chest, which he puffed out, while he step in front of Sarah.

“I don’t believe you!” Thomas practically yelled.

“Hey, now. Stop that.” a smooth voice called from the main entrance. A man, with similar gray eyes to Thomas, rushed forth, shaking off rain from his coat and raking a hand through his dark brown hair, which was quite wet. “Don’t be rude.” the man reprimanded the boy.

“But-” Thomas tried to argue, but upon receiving a rather harsh glare, fell silent.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.” Sarah began, feeling terribly awkward at the moment, “Toby didn’t mean it. Did you, Toby?” Sarah gave a harsh look of her own, which was enough to set him straight.

“No, I’m sorry.” he said sulkily, shifting his head away and staring at the floor.

“So, does that mean he’s your boyfriend?” Thomas prompted.

This time Sarah could not contain her laughter. This kid was too amusing. Where in the world would he get the idea that any eighteen year old would date a five year old? Afraid she might insult either Thomas, or the man who she assumed to be his father, she wiped her watering eyes and gave him a very gentle look, “No, he’s my younger brother.” she finally explained.

Upon seeing a rather aghast look on the older man’s face, Sarah cut in before he could reprimand Thomas, “I’m Sarah Williams” she held her hand.

Still glancing at Thomas with disapproval, the man shifted his eyes to Sarah, momentarily faltering before grasping her hand for a shake. “Richard Valor” he introduced, half mesmerized by the young woman before him. If the fragments of the small incident were any indication as to what his son had been up to, he could no longer blame the boy. It wasn’t everyday a guy met someone like this Sarah Williams. He briefly wondered if it was even possible to have eyes the color green that hers were. Composing himself, he straightened up and continued with the formalities, “Did you just move in?”

“Yes, today. Me and my roommate, Mina.” she answered with a smile.

“So you’re probably going to NYU, then?” he asked, patting Thomas’ head, so he’d behave while he carried on a conversation.

“Yeah” she answered, “I take it, there must be a lot of students living here?” she figured that if he could peg her as a student so easily, then he must be used to having others live nearby.

“No, not really, you just looked young and I see you have a laptop with you.” he smiled back, wishing he were ten years younger, and that she wasn’t a student at NYU.

“Oh, is that all it took?” she said, mildly surprised at his deductive skills.

Looking rather sheepishly he answered, “Well, I teach there, and its easy for me to recognize the students, they have a certain way about them. I suppose that doesn’t make much sense.”

Chuckling Sarah assured him, “No, no. It makes perfect sense.” she paused for a moment, studying him with interest; black trench coat, blue jeans, navy blue sweater, and brief case. With his wire rimmed glasses he did look every bit a college professor. What she was trying to figure was which subject. Like he mentioned, reading people was easy if you knew what you were looking for, and Sarah had a tendency to find the right things. Something about him shouted ‘mathematician!’ “So what do you teach?” she asked, surprised at how sure she felt of the answer.

“I teach math, well, Advanced Calculus, but I step in for lectures or when a colleague can’t make it.” jeez, he felt like he was bragging, whom was he trying to impress?

“And, Thomas, is your…” she didn’t want to make any assumptions, so she would let him fill it in.

“Thomas,” he said, having nearly forgotten his boy was there, “He’s my son.”

‘Thought so’ her mind said, “And how old are you?” she asked Thomas, truly unable to tell whether he was older than Toby or not. Her tone was far from condescending, since when she was around Toby she tended to speak to him as though he were a peer, so even if she wanted to put on a sickly sweet voice, she couldn’t. When she regarded Thomas however, his eyes bore into hers, and there was something about his demeanor that struck her as very out of place. His eyes, they were not those of any child. It was almost frightening to see such a contrast before her. A moment ago he was just a little boy, behaving in a typical rebellious manner, and now he was looking at her as though he could read her mind.

“Older than you think.” Thomas spoke, never blinking, in a serious voice, subtly hinting at an underlying meaning.

‘What was he implying?’ She wondered, shocked at the tone of his voice. He couldn’t be more than a couple years older than Toby, and while she didn’t have much experience around kids, since she didn’t treat Toby as one, she knew his demeanor wasn’t right. The look in his eyes and aura she perceived felt terribly overbearing.

“Sarah!” Mina called out from the elevator, “Oh my god, Sarah, I’m so sorry.” Mina came rushing over and threw herself onto Sarah, squeezing her tightly as she cried.

“Mina, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked, being forced to push questions regarding the odd little boy called Thomas Valor to the back of her mind.

“I just got the call, and you weren’t back yet, so I came to get you.” she spoke in a rush.

“Calm down, just breathe, and tell me, who called?” Sarah mentally rolled her eyes at the irony of how she always ended up dealing with sobbing people crying on her shoulder, when it happened to be one of few pet peeves. Not, that she thought it reflected badly on character, but a crying person could most likely talk her into anything, so she tried to avoid talking to any crying persons.

“Your father and Karen are in the hospital, th-there was a car accident.” she hugged Sarah tighter.

While very concerned, Sarah didn’t see how falling into hysterics was going to help, so while she pried herself from Mina’s hold, she held her friend’s shoulders and spoke calmly and slowly to her, “Calm down. If the hospital called, that means they’re alive. They didn’t have work today, so they wouldn’t have been on the highway. There’s a good chance they just got away with a few scrapes and bruises from a fender bender.” While Mina started nodding her head, seeing logic and realizing she’d immediately assumed the worst, Sarah turned from her.

“It was very nice meeting you, professor Valor, and Thomas.” she tried to convey some sort of gratitude at their short conversation, but she was feeling a little stretched, so she was afraid it came off as brusque and rude.

“Do you need any help, a ride to the hospital or anything?” Richard asked, feeling much like the adult and rather concerned.

“No, but thank you for offering. I can take Mina’s car.” Sarah decided, touched by Mr. Valor’s kindness when he didn’t even know her. Her mind raced, along with her heart, as she struggled to set priorities. “Toby, take Mina to the car, I’ll be right out with your bag and the keys.”

While Mina gave her a fleeting look, as if to say, ‘I should be the one taking Toby to the car, not the other way around!’ Sarah ruffled Toby’s hair saying, “Everything will be fine.” before racing off to the stairwell.

It was proof at how quick Sarah could be, when hurtling up five flights of stairs was faster than the elevator. Landing with a slight stumble, after jumping the last ten steps, Sarah shifted Toby’s backpack so that it rested in place again, and dashed to the main entrance.

Standing, momentarily, on the stoop, Sarah watched as sheets of rain poured from the sky. It was early in the evening and the sun should still be high in the sky, yet it was nearly black out. How thick can storm clouds be? Her breath could be seen in puffs, as her breathing was slightly more heavy than usual. The air had become quite chilled in such a short amount of time. She wondered whether it was strange weather, as she stepped forth into the rain, becoming soaked on her short trek to the parking garage.

Toby and Mina were both waiting patiently for Sarah to come, and when she did arrive they were both surprised at how soon it was. This did not bode well for them. If Sarah was in a hurry, then it meant she feared the worst. Both of them knew that what Sarah proclaimed and counseled to her friends was often a determined front to remain strong.

Toby hadn’t spoken a single word since Mina had clumsily broken the news, and Mina was worried he was becoming catatonic or something. While waiting for Sarah she tried to prompt him to speak, but he just stared at the back of the driver’s seat, lost in thought. She couldn’t imagine how he must have felt, he probably thought his parent’s were going to die any minute, or something just as emotionally straining.

From Sarah’s words earlier, Toby felt relief. Sarah always found the logic in these types of situations, so if she said their parents were fine, then they would be. What consumed his mind at the moment was that boy Thomas from before. He hadn’t liked the kid the second he met him. He hated the idea of someone being so familiar and blunt to his sister. And what he couldn’t piece together was, how, after he watched Sarah run through the stairway door, Thomas had disappeared. When Toby had noticed he was gone, he didn’t think much of it, until he watched as Thomas’ dad went to the mail box and got a pile of mail, which was suspiciously similar to the pile Sarah had taken, and walked through the lobby without throwing so much as a cursory glance at Mina and himself.

It didn’t make any sense. One moment the teacher was offering a ride all the way to the hospital, and the next he was acting as though he didn’t even know them. And where had Thomas gone?

With an expressionless face and solemn aura, Sarah drove all the way back home, only speaking to prompt Mina for which hospital they were headed to.

**

The room was dark, and the dull and steady beep of the heart monitor was very pronounced in the stillness. The only other sound was harsh torrents of rain against the pain of the window. The blinds were slanted open, casting an array of horizontal shadows across the blankets of a hospital bed, and the resting head of Sarah, as she lay forward at the foot of her father’s bed.

In the room across the hall, Karen lay awake, with Toby curled up sleeping beside her. Mina had gone home, to her mom’s house about an hour ago. She and Toby weren’t really supposed to be allowed to stay so late, but the visiting hours code was loosely followed to begin with and the overseeing doctor happened to be an old friend of the family.

However fast her father had been driving hadn’t mattered, as it was another car, which came speeding through the intersection. The speeding car had rammed the driver’s side, causing much more harm to her dad than to Karen, who managed to escape with a few scrapes and bruises. Though, Sarah suspected Karen suffered some psychological damage, as she still didn’t seem able to shake the jitters that came with her initial adrenaline rush. But, Karen calmed down when Toby came to sit with her.

Now, Sarah was resting her eyes for a bit. Her chair was pulled up to her father’s bedside, and she had leaned over, using her forearms as pillows, and lay down at the foot of the bed.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a coma, or anything so mentally severe, but the fact remained that since the accident, her father had not regained consciousness. What frightened her most was that the doctor had seemed rather reluctant in his explanation. There was a lack of reassurance in his voice upon explaining her father’s concussion and broken leg. It also didn’t help ease her troubled mind, when the doctor followed his medical opinion that her father would pull through it fine, with mentioning how it was odd he hadn’t woken up yet.

Just as she felt herself drifting off, more than welcoming sleep after how long they day had been, Sarah shot awake with a jolt. Standing up, her chair moved back and nearly overturned. Her eyes scoured the room, searching for what had startled her.

When she saw nothing but empty space, aside from another chair and empty bed, she rubbed her eyes and shook her head. Having been nearly asleep, she didn’t even know why she felt so on guard all of a sudden. Now, she felt like the stress was getting to her, making her paranoid of her own shadow.

“Sarah” came a whisper from the shadows.

Lowering her hand from her eyes, she warily looked in the direction the voice had come from. It was over, in the corner, nearest the door. But, the door was closed, and she hadn’t heard anyone open it. Moving from the door to the actual corner of the room, where the shadows dominated, she saw a pair of steely gray eyes glaring at her.

While her heart jumped at this, she remained composed and found her voice, “Yes.” she stared into those cold eyes, knowing she’d seen them before, but the owner’s name and face eluded her. It was on the tip of her tongue, while her mind raced to create a mental image starting with the eyes. When her mind created a connection with a New York Mets baseball cap, she gasped, “Thomas?” she asked incredulously.

Stepping out of the shadows the young boy smirked deviously, “Very good Sarah.” he stated, sauntering forth to where she stood.

An involuntary shiver ran down her spine as Sarah watched the grin dance on the boy’s face. Perhaps it was just the dim light, but they way it appeared made her fearful and apprehensive. Her thoughts rested on when she’d been speaking with Thomas earlier. There was that one, unsettling moment when he’d spoken to her in a double meaning she didn’t comprehend. It was then she’d decided that his eyes did not seem like those of some eight-year-old boy. Now, as he stalked toward her, she felt sounder in her far-fetched conclusion. If there was anything the Labyrinth had taught her, it was that nothing was what it appeared to be.

It was a stretch, but she couldn’t help but think that Thomas was linked or connected to the Underground in some way. For the past three years, she hadn’t seen hide or hair of any dealings with the Underground, which was why the idea that someone would randomly show up like this didn’t seem logical. But, there was that strange wind earlier, maybe Toby was right. Maybe it wasn’t prudent to indulge in the instinctive feeling she received when that wind had stirred up, running through the streets.

But, she had met Thomas, and his father. They had nothing to do with the Underground. Why wasn’t she able to push the feeling, that he was somehow related to it, to the back of her mind?

“Where’s your father Thomas?” she asked, hoping to get a few answers which might straighten everything out.

“Come now, you know he’s not my father!” Thomas said, walking right past Sarah and around to the other side of the bed.

Furrowing her brows as she fought to sort things out, she looked at him confused, “But, he said he was your dad, and you didn’t object.” she reasoned.

Sighing, as though impatient with her for not seeing how rational everything was, he explained, “For the time I needed him, he believed himself to be my father. Now, however, if you took a trip back to your cozy little home he’d have no recollection of myself or you.”

The fact that Thomas had used professor Valor as some random tool incited anger within Sarah. How like someone from the Underground to go about using people. “You can’t just use people like that!” she berated, falling again into the deception that she was indeed speaking with a little kid.

“Oh, but I can!” Thomas stated, laughing maniacally. “What does it matter, you have no attachment to him, he doesn’t even know you exist.”

“You are from the Underground I presume?” better to be certain, than to go on half assed assumptions.

More laughter, “We are quick aren’t we?” he said sarcastically.

Clenching her jaw, not liking the way he treated her as though she were lesser, Sarah calmly took her seat, not willing to let him control the situation. “What do you want?” she asked coolly.

Frowning at her newly composed reactions, Thomas decided he was too impatient to continue meaningless chatter, so he jumped right in. “Would you like your father to wake up?” he felt amused at the momentary surprise registering across Sarah’s face.

“What are you playing at?” she asked cautiously, almost not even wanting to know.

“An excellent choice of words.” he smiled broadly at her, “We shall play a game. I can reverse time and prevent this whole incident if you play a game with me.”

Sarah noted his sudden change of mood, going from annoyed and impatient to excited and expectant. He was offering to alter time and make this whole accident nonexistent. The idea was terribly appealing, regardless of her foremost doubts about any logic or truth to his words.