Chapter 7 The City of Springwood

A young man distributing a newspaper to the people in town. The newspaper is different - it can swipe the words inside, and the images are moving. A loud sound of a bell makes the busy people on the street stop. They all stand like statues waiting for a miracle. A raspy voice of a man announces a party that will be held in the evening. Everybody is required to attend and join the party.

Meanwhile, at the 20th building where the higher-ups' offices are located, Fabian and Leo were arguing about something. Sandro and Benjamin were trying to prevent them from fighting, while Vincent was enjoying the view.

"I could use some wine here." Vincent said.

"That's not helping, Vincent." Benjamin said.

They were arguing in a lower voice, but still, Sandro was hesitant to get in the argument.

"You see, both of them have a strong ego. They are arguing like it's a meeting." Vincent said.

They stopped for a few seconds when they sensed that the portal was opened.

"It's Megan." Fabian said.

"I have to go." Leo said.

"I'll meet her." Fabian said.

"You don't have to." Leo said.

"What are you gonna do, pursue her?" Fabian said.

"If she allows me." Leo said.

The room had an intense atmosphere.

"Uh, guys. Why don't you just meet her, both, right?" Vincent said.

"I want to talk to her in private." Fabian said.

"You're not allowed to do that, Fabian. I'm gonna talk to her." Leo said.

"Well then I guess we have to meet her." Fabian said.

"That's a good idea." Vincent said.

"Not to me." Leo said.

Leo walked outside and left.

"Why don't we go too?" Vincent said.

"Sandro, get the invitation done before evening. Benjamin, assist the co pilots for arrival. Vincent, you will go with me." Fabian said.

"Copy that." Benjamin said.

"Just don't make this worse, bro. Leo will not gonna listen to anyone." Sandro said.

"I understand." Fabian said.

Sandro and Benjamin have already left. Fabian and Vincent drive to the street of Cipher.

"Yo, Meg. He's here." Liz said.

Liz closed the window. Lany was analyzing the portrait hanging on the wall.

"Well, good afternoon." Leo said.

"Morning, dude." Lany said.

"What do you know about the murder?" Liz asked without hesitation.

"I don't understand." Leo said.

"You lied about the illness." Megan said.

"Did Uncle Abraham tell you that? He can't accept it. Sydney already has a virus killing her organs." Leo said.

"What about the chip?" Megan asked.

"It's a device to make you stronger and smart than your average. My grandfather did his best to save her, but the virus had already spread throughout her entire body." Leo said.

"Why doesn't Mr. Harris know about it? Megan asked.

"He knows. But he refused the surgery." Leo said.

"Then why did you proceed with it if he's against it." Megan said.

"It's Sydney's decision." Leo said.

"I don't even know who to trust." Liz said.

"He was sent back to your world for harming the doctor who operated on her daughter." Leo said.

"Fair enough." Megan said.

"I thought Lorraine is the one who sent Mr. Harris back, right?" Liz asked.

"You're right. It's my Auntie Lorraine who sent him back. My father warned Uncle Abraham for destroying the lab." Leo said.

"This ain't good, either of you is lying. You don't have the same side of the story with Mr. Harris." Megan said.

"I understand that your doubting." Leo said.

"No shit." Megan said.

"I feel like we got fooled, Meg." Liz said.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" Megan asked.

"I tried, but he doesn't want to talk me anymore." Leo said.

"Maybe you should apologize to him. You just fucking watched his daughter die." Megan said.

"What do you want me to do? It's Sydney decision. I tried to stop her at first." Leo said.

"What about your grandfather?" Liz asked.

"Does he want Sydney to be his apprentice?" Megan asked.

"That's right. But he has a good intentions. It's for the next generation future." Leo said.

"Mr. Harris told that your grandfather will kill him if he refused to the surgery. What about it?" Megan asked.

"I don't know their conversation, it was ten years ago. My grandfather is a kind man, why would he accused him?" Leo said.

"I get it. You don't really know your grandfather, do you?" Megan asked.

"He's a minister leader. He is powerful. We're pretty close." Leo said.

"What are we gonna do, Meg?" Liz asked.

"Talk to him, Leo. Have a one on one conversation to Mr. Harris." Megan said.

"I can't just leave, Megan. He's a wanted criminal in this world." Leo said.

"Then go to our world." Megan said.

Leo sighed and went to the mini bar area. He drank a whiskey and turned to Megan.

"If you promise me." Leo said.

"Man, I don't do favors." Megan said.

"I'll talk to him. But you will go with me tonight." Leo said.

"Where is it?" Megan asked.

"At the party in Springwood." Leo said.

"What party?" Megan asked.

"It's a tradition. We gather at the Springwood to recruit a new Guardians who will protect the people and the portal." Leo said.

Megan pause for a second.

"Alright, just for tonight." Megan said.

"Your going too, Liz?" Vincent asked.

Vincent came out of nowhere with Fabian.

"I invited them already." Leo said.

"Where's Lany?" Vincent asked.

"She's at work. Should I call her, Meg?" Liz asked.

"That would be good." Megan said.

Fabian looked at Leo in a serious manner. The atmosphere started to get intense.

"Did you two fight?" Megan asked.

"How did you know? They got into argument just earlier." Vincent said.

Fabian and Leo looked at Vincent blankly.

"I shouldn't have said that. Sorry." Vincent said.

"Megan, I'll get the dress for you." Leo said.

"Wait a minute. I'm not gonna change. It's not in our deal." Megan said.

"You look good already." Fabian said.

"Appreciate that, Fabian." Megan said.

"Alright, do whatever you want." Leo said.

"You look mad." Megan said.

"I'm not mad. Why would I be mad at you?" Leo said.

"He's mad." Vincent said.

"Can you be quiet for a minute, Vincent?" Leo said.

"Don't talk to my brother like that." Fabian said.

Liz already called Lany, and she went back.

"Lany's on her way. Can you open the portal?" Liz asked.

"Sure. As you wish." Vincent said.

"Thanks, bud." Liz said.

Liz and Vincent step aside and go to the side of the living room. Fabian and Leo start arguing.

"It's clear that he can't be silent for a second." Leo said.

"Don't drag Vincent to this. You started it." Fabian said.

"No. I don't blame him. He just have to read the room for his sake." Leo said.

"You're sentimental, Leo." Fabian said.

"And you always wanted what's mine." Leo said.

"Do you want a real fight?" Fabian said.

"I'm glad to accept it." Leo said.

Megan was watching them enjoy the view.

"You two look like kids fighting for a one bar of candy." Megan said.

"Why would you said that?" Leo asked.

"We're not fighting about the candy." Fabian said.

"It's a figure of speech, buddy." Megan said.

"It's not about the candy." Leo said.

"It ain't my business. But what are you two arguing about?" Megan asked.

Liz and Vincent went back with Lany.

"It's about you." Vincent said.

"What about it?" Lany asked.

"They are arguing because..." Vincent said.

Before he could talk, Fabian held Vincent on the top of his shoulder.

"Right. I don't know really." Vincent said.

"Thank you, bro." Fabian said.

"You see, he can't be quite." Leo said.

"I don't know what y'all talking about but I'm in for the party." Lany said.

"Great, we're going for tonight!" Vincent said.

"Hell yeah!" Lany said.

Time passed by, it is already evening. They got ready and went outside. Two flying cars stopped at Leo's house. In one car, Lany and Liz were with Vincent and they hopped in. The last car is for Megan and Leo, with Fabian driving it.

"Look at that, the whole view of the scientist house." Lany said.

"I ain't gonna lie, it's really a cool houses." Liz said.

"Wait until we get at the Springwood. You gonna be mesmerized." Vincent said.

Fabian is driving seriously. Leo is the co-pilot. Megan is in the back of the car.

"Are you doing fine back there, Megan?" Leo asked.

"All good." Megan said.

"Are you afraid of heights? Do you want me to support you?" Leo asked.

"Not really." Megan said.

"Just tell me if you're not feel safe, okay?" Leo said.

"Why are you driving so slowly, Fabian?" Megan asked.

"I just thought if you're afraid of heights, I'll drive slowly. And besides you can peek out the window, it's beautiful and you too." Fabian said.

"Do you want to drive, Megan?" Leo asked.

"You sure about that." Megan said.

"You wanna drive?" Fabian asked.

"Sure." Megan said.

"It's pretty easy, the navigation will tell you the destination." Fabian said.

"Yup, basically this is just like a normal car but it's flying." Megan said.

They switched seats. Fabian went to the back. Leo is still a copilot. Megan went at full speed but enough for them to breathe.

"Whoa!! Can you please drive slowly." Leo said.

"Megan, this is not a battle plane. Just drive slowly, please." Fabian said.

"Relax, boys, I've got the steering wheels." Megan said.

After a few minutes, they arrived at Springwood. Megan went outside the car, laughing. Liz and Lany had the same reaction.

"Did you drive too?" Liz asked.

"Likewise." Megan said.

"If you could just see Vincent's face when Liz is driving fucking fast." Lany said.

Meanwhile, Fabian and Leo are still processing the situation. Vincent went to them.

"I will no longer offer the lady to drive ever again." Vincent said.

"That's the truth, buddy." Leo said.

"I'm going set an autopilot just in case." Fabian said.

All of them went to the ancient structure building but in a modern way. The red carpets are exaggerating the entrance. Inside, the interior is mesmerizing. It looks like they went back to the Renaissance period. The people are elegant and sophisticated. Others are dancing and doing portraits.

"These people are so fine." Lany said.

"Classy." Liz said.

"Damn, she's pretty." Megan said.

"Who is it? Where?" Lany asked.

"Dang, you're right." Liz said.

An elegant lady walks towards them. They greets her.

"Vanessa, my lady." Vincent said.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Lany asked.

"What? No. Vanessa is my childhood friend." Vincent said.

"Thank god." Lany said.

"Whatever." Vincent said.

"You look like an angel, Ms. Vanessa." Megan said.

"Yeah. You hypnotized me." Liz said.

"Awe, thank you so much. You can call me just by my name, madam." Vanessa said.

"I'm Megan. Lovely to meet you, pretty."

"Nice meeting you, angel. I'm Liz."

"You two so funny." Vanessa said.

They laughed and went into serious face mode when visitors started to notice them. They nodded and smiled.

"How are you doing, Leo?" Vanessa asked.

"Same old." Leo said.

"And you Fabian?" Vanessa asked.

"I'm doing fine. And you?" Fabian asked.

"Everything's great. I love the ambiance and the people and your new friends. I'm so happy to meet them." Vanessa said.

"I'm really happy to meet you too, Vanessa. I'm Lany by the way."

"Is your surname 'By the way?" Vanessa asked.

They laugh together, and Vanessa started to tap lightly on Lany's shoulder.

"I like you, girl." Lany said.

"I'm all yours." Vanessa said.

"What about me?" I'm jealous." Vincent said.

Vanessa just smiled and bid goodbye when Leo and Fabian were approached by a group of Duke and Aristocrats.

"Just stay as a friend to her, buddy. You gonna thank me later." Lany said.

"That's stealing. I've known her my whole life." Vincent said.

"Exactly." Megan said.

"Y'all cruel." Vincent said.

"Yo, we're just kidding around." Megan said.

"Still hurts." Vincent said.

"Rejection is a part of the journey, brother. It is a challenge that shapes you over to success." Megan said.

"Yeah, right. If you like her, go for it. But if she rejected you, be patient." Liz said.

"Not if I get her first." Lany said.

"Lany don't be like that." Liz said.

"It's okay, buddy." Megan said.

Vincent just nodded and bid goodbye to them.

"This all your fault, Lany." Liz said.

"It's our fault." Lany said.

Megan went to the bartender area. She gets a double shot of whiskey. At the exit, a young lady was wearing a blue dress and her hair is blonde that caught Megan's attention. Liz and Lany went to the table area where the food is placed. In the long table where all gentlemen are talking, Leo and Fabian join them along with Vincent and the Aristocrat. Vanessa and the other ladies went to them.

"You have a company." The Aristocrat said.

"Be my guest to introduce them, gentlemen." Leo said.

Lany and Liz went to the side of the table holding a plate of fruits. Megan went to them holding a glass of whiskey.

"There you are. This is my wife, Megan." Leo said.

Lany choked on a cranberry she was eating. Liz gave her a glass of water. Megan looked with a blank expression at Leo.

"It's a joke, guys." Leo said.

"That's very funny, Leo." Megan replied sarcastically.

They laugh. Fabian doesn't like it. Leo started to introduce them properly. An hour passes by, a man with a raspy voice stands at the center to capture the people's attention.

''It is a lovely day, everyone. Now, we will begin to choose a candidate who is going to show us their skill and talent. They will be the guardians of the Magnus Ignotus, our world, and our future. I am Steven Tale, your host. Thank you for your precious time. Enjoy!'' The man said confidently.

The people showed a round of applause. The party ends at midnight. They all started to leave but the others remained to go to the host. Megan started to drive the car with Liz and Lany, while Fabian, Leo, and Vincent were in another car.

"Yo, the stars are fucking beautiful." Lany said.

"Let's take a picture." Liz said.

They capture themselves smiling. Lany records the stars. As they drive slowly to capture the moment, the boys are behind. All the stars are giving light to guide the drivers. The atmosphere is cold but comforting. The buildings below are like a pile of books. Finally, they are already at Cipher Street. It's quiet and dim. Megan with Lany and Liz went back to their world.