Chapter 11
Smokey Secrets
(Long Chapter)
“The President!?!” I yelled with shock.
“Yes.” Devashree began. “The mist is coming from him! He is not who he seems. There is a very strong mind behind that mean attitude. A mind stronger than ours.”
“That’s right.” Said Dasharath. “He let us through. After we endeavoured so hard to detect the source of the mist, he practically told us it was him. It was as if he also possessed telepathic abilities.”
“I knew it!” I cried. “That insulting maniac!”
“That means the President is the spirit?” Sarmoo looked worried.
“No. The President disappeared and when he was found his personality changed. He’s only a pawn. A hostage even. The spirit is with in him.” Emma explained.
“So, we has got to be getting there now!” Mr Maxi leaped to his feet.
“Wait a second, where’s Benjamin?” Katie questioned.
“Where’s Benny Bear?” Emma started to panic.
And then, I heard a scratching noise coming from behind us all.
We turned round to the stairway where the sound was coming from.
Something was being scratched on the wall…
But there was nothing there to scratch it. They were happening on their own.
We all stood in terror and fright for what we were about to see…
‘Come and get him’ The scratches wrote.
…
We raced back to the ICC in Katie’s privet car.
Katie contacted the building as well as the police.
When we pulled up outside, there were dozens of police cars parked outside.
We all got out and raced for the building.
“Hold on. Hold on.” Said an officer. “This is no place for kids. Now get outa here.”
But Katie stood forward.
“Oh. Lady Anderson…”
“These kids are the only ones who can stop this thing. Now let us through!” She commanded. “Now! All of us!”
The officer obeyed and the other officers followed.
We raced into the building and charged into the elevator.
Just like last time, the elevator shot up.
We could see from the glass wall as we looked out at the city that there were flashing lights from sirens all over the city roads. More police cars were on their way.
“Come on!” Katie panicked. She was impatient that the elevator wasn’t going fast enough for her. “Come on…”
#ZZZZZZZZzzzzooooooooooooo#
The elevator began to slow down.
#zooooooooooooooooommm#
The lights then blew out as the power cut out.
“No!” Katie banged her fist on the elevator switch.
“Cool it!” Said Emma.
“There’s more than one way out.” I looked up at the ceiling. “Emma, can you blast through there?”
Emma grinned.
“Cover your ears guys.”
Emma then let out one massive sonic wave that blasted through the tin ceiling, but also shattered the glass.
“Aaarhhh!”
Mr Maxi braced over the twins, shielding them from the glass.
“Sorry!” Emma called out over the noise of the outside.
Emma leaped up and out of the lift. But I think the others needed help.
“Come on.” I began. “I’ll help you four up.”
I picked up Sarmoo and held him up to the gap in the ceiling. Emma then took hold and helped Sarmoo up.
I did the same for Devashree and Dasharath and Emma jumped back down to help me with getting Mr Maxi and Katie up there. And Sarmoo and the twins helped him from above the lift.
Finally, we were up.
Emma, looked to the doors for the ninety-ninth floor.
“Hang on, guys.” Emma took off the panel. “I’ll get this open.”
Emma took out two wires and began scraping the copper ends together.
The doors began moving but not opening or shutting.
“Hang on.” Said Emma. “Almost there…”
#Ping#
The doors opened.
“Yes!” Emma cried. That’s the way ya do it!”
We all moved on through the doors and onto floor ninety-nine.
“Right, we managed to solve that catastrophe.” I sighed with relief. “Katie, where to next?”
“This way, just up these stairs. The one-hundredth floor is just above us.”
Katie led us up the steps and up to the long corridor.
Then, Straight ahead of us was the door or the President’s office.
We ran along the hallway and hurried to get to Benjamin and Benny Bear.
“Oh, Katie.” I just remembered something. “In-case I can’t ask you this again, what did you say your maiden name was?”
“Donnahue.” She replied. “Same as Emma’s.
That was the final piece of the puzzle.
I suddenly thought about all the stories I’d heard from Emma and Katie.
Emma said her mother was called Katie.
Katie said her maiden name was Donnahue.
Emma’s mother died when Emma was young.
Katie can’t remember how she ended up in this city.
Emma has half a necklace her mother gave to her.
Katie has half a necklace that was in her hand when she woke up in this city.
Emma’s mother use to call her ‘Emily’.
The two pieces of the necklace together completed the name ‘Emily’…
Emma was about to turn the handle of the door and slowly began to open it.
I began to try to explain.
“Emma. Katie. I don’t know how to tell you this, but…”
“Mr President!!!” Katie screamed.
As soon as the door was opened, we all suddenly saw the President lain face down on the floor next to his chair.
“Mr President.” Katie ran to him.
“Katie, wait!” Emma called to stop her. “It could be a trap.”
Devashree and Dasharath stepped forward and began a little secret detective work.
“Well, my children?” Asked Mr Maxi.
“His mind is weak and confused.” Said Dasharath.
“His mind is too weak to be the spirit.” Said Devashree.
“Then, it’s not him?” Sarmoo asked.
Katie ran to him with Mr Maxi.
“Mr President.” Mr Maxi helped Katie sit him up. “Is you feeling ok?”
“Ohh…” The President could do nothing but moan.
“Say something, sir.” Katie fanned a document in his face that had been left on the desk.
Devie and Dash also came to help.
I watched, worried that he may be hurt, or worse.
“He’s alright.” Dash assured. “He’s weak and semiconscious, but he’ll live.”
“Man,” Emma sighed as she spoke to me. “I hope that’s the last we’ll see of that grumpy son-of-a-rich man.”
“Hold on, though.” I suddenly realized something. “Where’s Benjamin and Benny Bear.”
#Knock#
#Knock#
#Knock#
We looked behind us at the window that surrounded the whole room.
#Knock#
#Knock#
There was Benjamin…
Floating in mid air,
Outside the building,
With Benny Bear in his grasp.
He waved at us all, as if to be blissful unaware that he was in danger.
“BENJAMIN!” We all cried out.
“He’s floating!?” Emma shrieked.
“No, it looks like someone’s got hold of his coat.” Sarmoo observed.
“But no-one’s there?” Katie puzzled.
But then, something yet again scratched on the wall, or should I say window.
The scratching was coming from the outside where Benjamin was floating. But it wasn’t Benjamin.
The scratched writing wrote…
‘Follow me’
Benjamin then waved again as whatever was holding him took him further up the scraper.
“Come on!” Katie cried. “Use the fire escape!” She pointed to the ladder on the lift wall. “It leads to the roof!”
Myself, Emma, the twins and Sarmoo all headed for the ladder.
“Mr Maxi, stay here with the President.” Katie instructed.
“What about you?”
“I’m gonna help Emma and her friends.”
“No!” Emma cried down from half way up the ladder.
“Listen, with the President unconscious, this is my city! And I’m not about to let anything happen to it!”
I saw the look on Emma’s face. She was thought about New York and compare this situation.
“Alright! But be careful.”
We all raced to the top with me in the lead.
In opened the hatch at the top of the ladder and pulled myself up onto the roof. I then helped the others up.
“Everyone ok?” I make sure my friends were safe.
“Yeah.”
“I’m ok.”
“Alright.”
“Yep.”
“Hi, Emma.” Cried a young voice from the top of the scraper.
We all looked up.
“Benjamin!!!”
There was some sort of black mist like the mist in the subway drifting around him and the bear he was carrying.
“Benjamin, don’t do it!” Dasharath called out.
“Don’t do what? What!” I asked urgently.
“The spirit is trying to convince Benjamin to give him his heart!”
“No! Benjamin!”
Devashree continued her brothers words. “This spiritual thing can’t take Benjamin’s heart unless Benjamin give it to him willingly.”
We all cried out at Benjamin. Telling him not to do it.
Benjamin looked up at a face that was being made my the mist. Though the spirit did not talk, you could instinctively know what it was thinking and saying.
Benjamin smiled at he face, blissfully unaware that he was in danger.
“Benjamin, listen to me.” Said Benny Bear as he clung on to Benjamin. “Don’t listen to him.”
“Why?”
“Because this thing is evil. Remember what he did to Anastasia?”
Benjamin looked up at the black cloud.
“He says that your lying.” Said Benjamin. “If I let my heart go then I’ll bring Anastasia back to life.”
“No, Benjamin! You have to listen to me for once in your life! Please!”
Benjamin held out his hand in front of him.
A glowing light began to appear in his palm.
“NO!!!” Emma screamed. “BENJAMIN!!! Listen to BENNY BEAR!!!”
But with in seconds, the light in Benjamin’s hand turned into a glowing orb.
And Benny Bear suddenly lost his grip and fell.
“Benny!” Katie screamed.
“Someone, catch him!” Sarmoo cried.
Katie ran for the scraper and leaped…
Benny Bear fell onto the palms of her hands.
“Oh, Benny Bear.” She cuddled him. “Are you alright?”
Katie looked at him.
We all came over to see.
“Benny Bear?”
“He’s not talking.”
“His heart’s gone!”
“It’s up there!”
We all looked up to Benjamin.
He had the heart in his hand and was still looking towards the cloudy face.
He wasn’t smiling anymore. Instead he looked confused.
He looked back to the heart in his hand.
“Benjamin!” Katie called out. “That demon is lying. It killed your two friends and now look what it’s done to Benny Bear!”
Katie held Benny Bear up to Benjamin by his foot.
Benny Bear hung lifeless, as if he was just an ordinary teddy bear.
Benjamin suddenly looked like he was about to cry.
“Benny Bear?” He squealed quietly.
He looked at the cloud.
And then back to his heart…And realized something.
He held the heart towards the cloud.
“No! Benjamin, you stupid boy!” Emma screamed.
But then, Benjamin turned the palm of his hand.
The heart dropped, and fell.
We all watched as the heart fell from the top of the scraper.
And then, it landed upon Benny Bear himself.
It suddenly stopped just before it hit him. And then, it slowly floated back into Benny Bear’s chest.
A few seconds later…
“Whoa!!!” Benny Bear cried. “What a nightmare.”
“Benny Bear!” We call cried.
“You’re ok!” Katie cried. “That little tyke did the right thing! He listened to us!”
“Well that’s a first.” I added.
The spirit then let go of Benjamin.
“Watch out!” Devashree called out.
I leaped up into the air…“Gotcha!” I made a grab for Benjamin.
“Whee!” Benjamin squealed as he landed with me.
I placed him back on his feet.
He immediately ran over to Katie and Benny Bear.
“Oh, Benjamin.” She cried. “You clever boy.”
Emma sighed.
“Phew, at least that’s over.”
But then…
The whole building started to shake.
“Whoa!” Emma clung on to the bottom of the scraper. “What’s happening?”
“Hey, guys.” Sarmoo called to us. “Look…” He pointed to the top of the scraper where the spirit remain floating in darkness.
The black smoke began to drift across the sky.
“It’s covering up the sun.” Devashree pointed out.
“What is this demon gonna do?” Said Dasharath. “What does it want? What’s it’s name?”
“Err…guys?” Benny Bear began…
Katie then suddenly though of something.
“Hold on, do you remember what I mentioned at the meeting? I remember hearing that if you know a demon’s name then you can command it by it’s name to do what you wish.”
I though about it, and I only needed to for a few seconds.
“Worth a try.” I came to my conclusion. “Devashree. Dasharath. Do you think you can find out that demons name?”
“We’ve tried.” Dasharath explained. “It’s mind’s too strong. I think we need more light in our hearts to weaken it’s power.”
But then…
#BbBbBbBbBbB…#
The sky started to thunder.
We all clung on to the scraper as the building began to shake as if there was an earthquake below us.
“What’s happening?”
Benny Bear tried again. “Hey, guys. Something happening to…”
“Look!” Sarmoo pointed out towards the city view.
And then, we saw the mist growing and drifting down from the sky.
It was all so strange and so frightening. Nothing that was happening had we expected.
The mist kept on falling and filling the streets.
“It’s swallowing thing.” Said Dasharath.
“What?”
“It’s swallowing the buildings in darkness. It’s trying to destroy this place!”
And as the smoke reached the buildings…they began to fall apart.
“What are we gonna do?” Katie panicked.
“GUYS!” Benny Bear yelled out to try to get attention for the last time.
“What!?!”
We all turned towards him and Benjamin…
And what we then witnessed was something incredible.
Benjamin started glowing…
“Listen and learn…” He whispered in his mesmerisation.
He slowly began to hold out his hand up towards the source of the dark cloud.
“Listen…and…learn.”
And then, the light from Benjamin shot up the scraper and began to fill the sky.
Emma, Sarmoo and the twins all suddenly lost their balance and fell off their feet.
“Emma?” I ran to help her up. “What’s going on? Are you ok?”
“I don’t know…”
“It’s Benjamin’s light!” Cried Devashree as she pointed to the sky. His light is countering the darkness.
“Something’s happened.” Said Emma as she got to her feet. “I feel…stronger.”
“Benjamin has shared his light with our hearts.” Dasharath explain. “By listening to us and learning to heed out call, he’s unlocked a new ability.”
We all looked to Benjamin.
Still as a statue. Eye’s glowing white and the light from his whole body had practically covered the whole sky and the city with it.
“The name!” Katie cried out. “Now that you have more power, can you find out the spirit’s name?”
“We’ll try!” The twins called out together.
They knelt down against the ground, as is their routine.
“If they can find out the demons name, do you think we’ll get rid of this thing?” Emma called to Katie.
“I don’t know. It’s just something I read somewhere!”
“But what do you think this thing’s gonna do to stop Dev and Dash?” I enquired. “Surely it’s not going to just…”
But then…
#Smash!#
Some of the mist shot out from the light and shot down towards us. I was right, this thing isn’t just going to let us drive it out again.
The black lightening smashed the glass roof and windows that we were standing on.
Glass shattered to shards.
Shards sprayed out across the city.
The people below shielded themselves from the falling glass.
And we all fell back down to the office floor.
None of us landed properly. Except Benny Bear who was safe in Katie’s arms.
We lain flat on our faces for a few seconds…
Some of the glass was still falling by the time we started to move.
I was the first to my feet.
“Everyone ok?” I called out across the room.
Emma started to get up onto her hands and knees.
She had a few scrapes on her metal skin and rips and tears on her clothes.
Katie helped Sarmoo up as well as herself.
Mr Maxi, who had the President sheltered the whole time on the office floor, left the President to help the twins.
There was only me and Benny Bear who came out without a scratch.
And also Benjamin, who was lain on the floor, unharmed and still glowing.
“We is ok.” Mr Maxi called back to me after he checked Devie and Dash. “Right, you two, now’s the time. Find out the name of that smokey-smoke.”
Mr Maxi helped Devashree and her brother to sit up and tried his best to help them. He stuck with them and stayed by their side.
Mr Maxi had become like a grandfather to those children. They were so lucky they’d found such a friend in this city.
And then I though of something.
I then looked over to Katie who was still holding Benny Bear. There was something that needed to be said and it was now or never. Something told me if I didn’t say something now, then there might never be another chance.
“Katie.” I called over to her. “Show Emma the necklace!”
“What?”
“The necklace with the initials ‘I’, ‘L’ and ‘Y’! It’s competes the initials on Emma’s.”
“Jack, I don’t think this is the time to be trading bling.”
“Just do it!”
Katie reached crawled over to her hand bag that was lain across the room with tatters and tears from the explosion.
“Emma, listen to me. Katie woke up in this city with the missing half of your necklace.”
“Jack, come on!” Emma didn’t believe me.
“She’s an African-American like you, she lives in a big city and her maiden name is Donnahue! Just like yours!”
Emma took hold of her necklace and pulled the chain from her neck.
“It’s not here!” Katie cried. “The bag’s in pieces. It must have fallen out in the explosion.”
“It’s still not working.” Said Devashree.
“What can we do?” I cried. “I doubt that Benjamin can keep this up forever.”
“That’s it!”
Devashree and Dasharath both shot to there feet and ran over to Benjamin.
“What’s up my children?” Mr Maxi followed them.
They both sat down next to Benjamin and each took hold of one of his hands.
Devashree then started to glow and so did her brother.
“Sarmoo,” Dasharath called out as she held out her hand. “We need your light.”
Sarmoo crawled over to Dash and took hold of his hand.
“Emma, come on.” Devashree held out her hand.
Emma got to her feet and hurried over.
She took a few steps…and then noticed something across the room. Silver and shining from Benjamin’s light, it took her immediate attention.
She wandered over to it.
“Emma, what are you doing?” Dasharath called out. “We don’t have time.”
Emma crouched down and took hold of the glimmering object. A necklace with the initials I, L and Y.
Emma took off the initials all fused together and threaded them onto her own necklace.
The initials now made up a name…Emily.
Emma looked across to Katie…
“Mom…?” Emma spoke as she was almost crying.
A moment of silence filled the room as Emma and Katie realized something that had been missing from their lives.
Katie gazed towards Emma.
“Emily?” She started to sob. “Emily?”
“Mom!”
Emma ran to her mother whom she lost when she was six years old. Who once loved her more than the world. Who she hasn’t seen in nine years.
“Mom!”
“Emily!”
Emma threw her arms around her long lost mother and it sounded like she was crying.
I knew I couldn’t be wrong. There was too much evidence to prove it. I knew I was right.
“Jack.” Mr Maxi grabbed my attention. “I think my children have found something.”
I looked at the faces of the telepathic twins.
Their eye’s glowing white like Benjamin’s and they were trembling.
“Devashree?” Whispered. “Dasharath?”
Their eyes then snapped back to normal.
“The name!” They bother cried. “We know his name!”
Emma and her mother then looked towards five of us.
“JURO!!!”
There was then a rumbling coming from the black clouds in the sky.
“Juro!” Dasharath and his sister cried again.
#BBBbbbbrrr#
Emma ran to the desk and jumped upon it. She gazed at the sky.
“We know your name! Juro!”
Thunder rumbled again.
“Command the demon by it’s name!” Katie called out.
“Juro.” Sarmoo began to chant. “Juro, Juro, Juro, Juro…”
Devie and Dash then began to join in.
“You hear me, man!? I’m here! And I mean business!” Emma yelled out.
Thunder continued to rumble.
“I COMAND you! Leave us the hell alone!”
“Wait!” I leaped into action. “Tell us how to bring back the children! Anastasia Rose and Nadallia Chime!”
“Bring back Anastasia!” Cried Sarmoo. “Bring back Nadallia!”
“Juro!!! You listening to me!?!” Emma practically screamed. “Tell me how to get them back! Then get LOST!”
Spots of light began to break through the black clouds.
“As the leader of the Children of Light, I command you Juro! Give us back our friends!”
More light began to break through and the dark mist was almost gone.
“Give them back! I command you!”
The light broke through again. The mist was about to vanish.
Emma looked like this was all for nothing and the spirit was about to leave.
And then…one last massive rumble of thunder shook the whole city…and the mist vanished.
“It’s gone. It’s gone!” Emma sounded worried.
“Yeah! That’ll teach him to mess with his city!” Katie cheered.
“But…but what about Anastasia? And Nadallia?”
“Look.” Mr Maxi pointed to the sky.
We all looked up.
“Shooting stars? In the middle of the day.” He said.
We all ran to the open edge of the room.
Two glowing objects fell from the sky. We briefly studied them as they fell past the building and plummeted down.
They…they looked like hearts…
