Episode 11: The Disappearance Of Arlo Thorn
CONTENT WARNING: general unease, distorted voices, unreality
Transcript
Intro
(AM Radio) Boss
Recorder turn on
This is static recording for The Other Department.
A long time employee of the department is about to be assigned a new partner. Noah has been working alone for quite some time and the department has decided that they need someone else with them in the field.
This is the case of ‘The New Recruit’, Episode One.
Recorder turn off
Intro Music
Story one
(AM Radio) Boss
Noah Ashford worked a normal 9-5 office job. He got up and had breakfast. Put on his green watch for today. Drove downtown to the office, coffee in hand. He waved to the guard in front of the office, making sure to not look at her eyes, they tended to ‘root you in place’.
(AM Radio) Boss / (Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
He usually said hi to the receptionistcess, but they looked very busy. So busy that there were multiples of her doing different tasks. Answering the phone, typing emails, organizing a file. Noah walked past, hoping that they got paid more than one salary.
(Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
His office, luckily, was on the first floor. The elevator had been broken for as long as he worked here. The company said it was too difficult to get someone to fix it because in their words ‘Everyone would have to act normal for an extended amount of time’, but Noah secretly thinks that it's because it keeps a lot of people in shape walking up all those stairs.
He pushes past the door beside the reception desk. It leads to a short hallway, doors on both sides. Each of those doors open to offices, windows looking into each one. Looking in, you could see people working at their desks. Some had blinds close, Noah had never seen those offices with their blinds open. The workers inside must really like their privacy.
At the end of this hall was another door. Every time he pushes it open he remembers the first time he opened that door. The person showing him around had asked him to open the door, their eyes smiling. Noah had pushed the door open with his back, holding it open for the other to walk through. The person had been so shocked.
‘How did you know to do that?’ They had said.
‘How to open a door?’ Noah had responded, confused
‘That you had to walk backwards through the door’
Noah had looked at the door. ‘Well it looks like that kind of door’ He finally said.
Noah still feels a little bad for embarrassing the person, even after all these years, they must be the type to push on pull doors a lot.
After walking backwards through the door, he turns to walk forward into the room. It would probably be described better as a library, Noah however just saw it as another room full of books.
A very big room full of books.
The ceiling was several floors up, bookshelves almost as high. There wasn't much rhyme or reason as to where the books were. Some were even haphazardly stacked on the ground or on top of desks. Although if you asked any of the people working there where a certain book was, they always knew exactly where. Off of the library was a room labeled ‘field work offices’, he pushed through the door. There were a few desks in the room. Some had computers, others were pushed together to make a makeshift meeting room.
Out in the field, Noah worked alone. At the office, he helped with paperwork with his co-workers. He was the only one in the office today however, everyone else was out on jobs, and would be for at least a couple more days.
So he was not expecting to see a stranger playing with one of his recorders, sitting at his desk.
Click
Meri
Oh! It does work! That’s so cool! Very retro.
Footsteps
Noah
What are you doing?
Meri
Oh sorry, is this yours? I guess I really shouldn't have touched it. That was kinda rude. Pause I'm Meri by the way, she/her
Chair rolls back
Oh! Uh, you probably want this turned off, right? So you don't waste tape-
Cut off by click
Meri stood off to the side as Noah clicked off the recorder.
"You're not mad are you?" She asked "I really hope you're not mad. What a terrible first impression."
"Who are you?" Noah replied.
He didn't recognize her. She definitely wasn't field staff. Maybe a contact of one of the others? That didn't explain why she was here though. It was only him here today, and it wasn't like there weren't other ways to get information to someone.
Maybe she was library staff? They usually didn't come in here though, and they especially didn’t touch things they knew nothing about.
"I'm Meri, like I said"
She put her hand out to shake. By reflex Noah took it. She grinned at him. Noah let go of her hand.
"So, um" Meri started to rock up and down on the balls of her feet. Her fingers tapped on the desk, then stopped. Then she started playing with her necklace, then her hair, then her earrings. She didn’t seem to ever stop moving. "I'm so excited to begin working together" She finished.
Noah wasn't sure what to say to that. He looked at the women in front of him. She was still smiling, so wide that her cheeks pushed up to her eyes. She wore a bulky beaded necklace and a flowing ankle length sundress. The word whimsical came to Noah's mind.
"You look confused, were you not told?" Meri said, her smile flattering a little bit.
"No, I wasn't told." Noah said. He looked confused? People usually weren’t able to read his expressions so easily. His Trick didn't allow it unless he wanted people to. Did this woman also have a Trick, one that countered his?
He realized the pause was getting awkward
"But I haven't been here in a few days," he continued, "so they might not have had the chance."
"Oh! I was worried that it was something like, I wasn't what you were expecting or something like that."
"I wasn't expecting anyone at all."
"That’s fair."
Meri continued to smile while Noah tried to look everywhere that wasn't right at her. Finally he sat in his cubicle office and pulled out a stool for her.
She sat down, sitting crossed leg one minute, then both feet flat on the floor, then knees pulled up to her chest. Noah slumped in his chair. He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt and loosened his tie.
"So, Meri, what department are you originally from?"
She wasn't a new hirer, he could tell that much at least.
"Confiscated items." She replied.
Noah had not heard of this department.
"Not artifacts?" He said, taking his closest guess.
"It's a subsection of that. But I never touched any of the artifacts, didn't qualify. Like, school- wise. I don't have a degree or anything for that." She said the last bit like it was the most ridiculous idea in the world.
"What do you mean by 'confiscated items' then?"
"Well, things found in the field, too dangerous to have out there."
"But not artifacts"
"Yeah, like a cursed keychain or a haunted pencil. Basically anything you wouldn't find in a history museum. Although I guess you could find a keychain and a pencil in the gift shop of a history museum. I mean, stuff that's being shown at a history museum.”
"So everyday objects." Noah summarized
"Notoriously history museums are full of everyday objects." Meri said
"Ones made in the last century then." Noah said.
"More like in your lifetime."
Noah pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Then why are you here?"
"I told you, I'm your new partner."
Noah let out a sigh. He started to get an off feeling. People who worked here were always a little off. He had gotten used to 'matching energies' as his co-worker put it. He just thinks he was good at letting others talk. This wasn’t Meri being ‘off’. This was different, something else was at play here. This was a feeling he got in the field. Like he was being watched.
"Meri, why did they transfer you from confiscated items to field work? Those are two very different jobs."
"Honestly I think the people there got annoyed with me." Her smile completely disappeared.
"Annoyed?" He really wasn't expecting that answer.
"Well, when you work in the building it's always the same people and well drama happens. And well, I just knew everyone's business."
"So you're nosy." Noah said bluntly.
Meri crossed her arms and looked away.
"It's not like I’m trying to know." Meri said in a huff.
That feeling again. Like eyes watching your back. He got this urge to ask how she knew everyone's business, if she wasn't trying to know. But he didn’t think of this question. It felt like someone had put it there. Like it was being asked in a different voice than his own. Yet it came to his head so naturally that he almost let it slip out. The watched feeling grew stronger as the silence did. Meri slowly uncrossed her arms and began to smile again.
It felt like there was a breath on Noah's neck, nails digging through his brain. 'How do you know?' The question became stronger. His need to know the answer almost unbearable. With some effort he finally said.
"You're lying."
Meri's face fell, her eyes narrowing. They weren’t directed at Noah, but just slightly passed his shoulder. He resisted the urge to turn around.
"I'm not lying." Meri wasn't to Noah's surprise. She, however, wasn't telling the whole truth either. The watching eyes and nail digging feeling didn't stop. But it was getting easy to ignore.
"So you have a trick?" Noah said.
"Boo, no fun," Meri replied. "Even around here I can usually get the conversion away from that for at least a few days. Usually more."
There was a silence while Meri expected Noah to reply and Noah waited for Meri to explain her Trick.
Meri broke first.
"I can control conversation, get people to say secrets. Know the intention behind words. I always know what someone means, or wants, or isn't saying. And while my co-workers did in fact find me annoying, I was moved departments cause they thought a skill like this would be more useful in the field."
"I see." Noah said "why weren't you put here in the first place."
"The company didn't know."
Noah looked right at her face.
"Why were you hired then?"
"My knowledge." She smiled again. Genuine, sparkling in her eyes. Noah’s own Trick told him she was lying, and he had to admit without it he never would have been able to tell.
"So they found out and put you here." Noah finished for her.
"Well, yes, kind of. They only really found out ‘cause I wanted them too."
"And why did you want them too?" Noah was having a hard time figuring out Meri’s motivations.
"Cause they started talking about setting you up with a partner, work wise of course."
Noah had heard nothing of this.
"They said that it was getting too dangerous for solo jobs anymore. And you were the only one that didn't get involved with a pair or group."
He had noticed that the others were working together more. He didn't realize it was on company orders.
"And I wanted to be that partner. So I told them about my trick and they said I would be better suited here. It was a pretty big shock to my boss if I'm going to be honest."
"I can imagine."
Meri giggled a little at that.
"Why did you want to work with me though?" Noah said. Meri shrugged.
"You just seemed interesting." Noah tried to puzzle out what that could mean coming from her, in a place like this.
"So, um, I do know your name and I know we shook hands earlier, but you haven't really introduced yourself." Meri said.
"Right. Noah Ashford, uh, He/she/they. I wear a different coloured wristwatch for each one. He is green, she is orange and they is purple."
Meri glanced down at the watch, green.
"Well, Mr.Ashford, I look forward to working with you." She giggled like it was a silly thing to say
Interruption One
*On Recorder*
Noah
So for the record, your name is?
Narrator One
The Author
Meri
I think it’s the reason
Noah
Sure seems that way
Narrator One
Isn't it usually considered rude to talk about someone as if they are not there?
Meri
Our tricks don't work on it
Noah
Of course that's the case
Narrator One
Trick huh? So am I to just listen while you theorize about me? I'm willing to answer questions. I just want mine answered in return. Such as, what exactly is a trick? In this context of course
Noah
We don't have to play your game. You've given us very little reason to be threatened.
Meri
Well… I mean our tricks not working is not a great sign
Narrator one
Oh? So that's not a common occurrence. Maybe I'm very dangerous
Noah
If you wanted us hurt, and that were the case, you would have done it already
Narrator one
On the contrary, I still have questions for you. And the people that get in my way tend to not have the means to answer questions, so I'd rather avoid that for now.
Low buzz
Meri
The lights-
(Echo Source) Narrator one
And I have information that you want as well, question for question.
Noah
Like what
Story two
Click
Noah
This is Noah Ashford on the case of "The Ghost Gold Rush Town” for The Other Department. My new partner, Meri.
Pause, underbreath.
Although it's been more like babysitting so far
Normal
We are on our way to the assigned town. It's quite out of the way so it’ll be a long drive. The Techs only said that it was a town experiencing a time loop. But wasn’t sure of the cause. Luckily the cell phone towers in the area have improved so we will be able to get the help of the Librarians while on the case
From far away Meri
Noah! I’m ready! I want to get a coffee from the cafe before we leave. The GOOD one.
Noah
End log for now.
Click
(AM Radio) Boss
‘This wasn't going to work’ Noah Ashford thought to themselves as they and Meri drove off the highway.
(AM Radio) Boss / (Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
Meri was practically bouncing in the passenger seat staring at the forest and mountains as they drove by. You would think she was a puppy on her first outing.
"Meri, where did you say you were from again?"
(Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
"I didn't, you never asked." She answered with a smile, like it was an inside joke. Noah started to have that watched feeling again. The question 'where are you from' popped into their head. Unfortunately it was already the question they wanted to ask.
"Where are you from?"
She turned from the window to study their face, seeing if her trick had worked. Noah didn't look at her. Keeping their eyes on the road.
"I'm from Kamloops, well a small city near Kamloops." She said "Grew up there. Probably would have stayed there forever if I hadn't gotten a scholarship to UBC. Didn't stay there long though, maybe like two years? I probably would have stayed but." Meri stopped talking. The question 'what were you taking at UBC?' Popped into Noah's head. She really didn't want to talk about why she was working for The Other Department Noah concluded. A different question then.
"You like it here then? In Van?"
Meri sighed, the watched feeling went away. Guess she figured the Trick wasn't working.
"Yeah, Vancouver's nice. Lots going on. It's nice to be able to go to concerts without having to take days off work or book a hotel. And the trees and mountains and ocean are beautiful. I could probably be happy living here forever."
"Um," Noah said, waiting for a question, when none came they asked. "Do you want to live here forever?"
Meri looked back out the window. She was sitting still. "I don't want to live anywhere forever."
The watched feeling came back. Noah waited for the question, but again none came. Instead they felt a need to stay quiet, an absolute lack of the desire to ask questions. They let Meri have her peace.
. . .
Canada is a big country. So much space it was hard to wrap your head around.
It was also very empty of people. Its biggest city had an estimated population of just over a million. The entire population of the whole country was only a little over the population of the state of California in the US.
There was a lot of empty space.
British Columbia's empty spaces were covered in old forest, older mountains and ghost towns. Hundreds of them. Most from the time of the gold rush. People coming in from all over the country and America to get their own fortune in gold.
Most didn't. When the gold all dried up, so did the towns. Abandoned. The people went off to make their fortune elsewhere.
Expect one town didn't seem to have gotten the message. That town was still panning for gold in the river.
Why it had taken the Techs at the Other Department this long to find it was beyond Noah. If this was a time loop that had been happening since the 1800s it should have been dealt with decades ago.
Noah let out a sigh. It was really remote. Cell phones only started being reliable there in the last few years. The towers are probably what finally tipped the Finders off. Finally caught a weird signal.
Why go on an expedition like they used to when technology would do it for you?
‘You sound like your parents’ Noah thought, ‘always looking down on people younger than you and critiquing new technology.’ Noah knew this was pretty normal. What they didn't think was normal was it happening in their 30s.
Meri had been fiddling with the radio dial, turning from one station to the next, clearly not finding anything interesting. Then eventually the radio died all together.
"So how does one deal with a time loop?" Meri asked. She hasn't gotten back to bouncing in her seat level of energy but she seemed to be in a better mood to talk.
"Well it depends on what is causing it." Noah said.
"How will we know what's causing it?"
“I should have asked this before, but did you do any training for field work?"
"Your training me"
Noah paused, then said.
"Of course"
"Did you get training for field work? Like is there a test? Or maybe an obstacle course?" Meri's eyes lit up, the idea of there maybe being an obstacle course at the office clearly delighted her.
"No, no nothing like that. I just expected them to have at least briefed you. Just follow my lead. I don't want you getting hurt.”
“But what exactly was your training?”
Noah shrugged.
“Pretty normal office stuff. This is your computer, here are the tasks for the day, here are the people to ask for help. Pretty simple stuff. That's why I’m surprised they didn’t do it already.”
Meri started out the widow and spoke slowly.
“What do you mean normal office stuff? Is that like a code for something?”
Noah risked a look at Meri's face, not wanting to take their eyes off the road.
“No, that's mostly what the job is. You write a report about what you find, then you connect it to any related cases. There's lots of cases to sort through as well, and-”
Noah glanced at Meri. She was staring at him with open disbelief.
“What? I know it can be boring, but it is the job you signed up for.”
Meri shook her head.
“I can’t believe it.”
“I know, it's a little tenuous but-”
“No, no” Meri interrupted. “It's just. Wow. they were right about you. I’m so glad I get to do this job with you.”
Noah was silent for a few seconds
“Who was right about what?”
Meri settled back in her seat.
“You genuinely think all of this is normal.”
They didn’t know what to say to that. They both sat in silence for a few minutes. Noah turned on the radio.
. . .
When the town started to come into view Noah drove off the road on to a small pit stop. One of those that was just a dirt half circle on the side of the road. Not even an outhouse.
"We’re going to walk from here. If this really is a time loop from the 1800s, the car will bring too much attention."
"Okay." Meri said hesitantly as she got out of the car. She looked down at her dress and at Noah's dress pants and shirt. They weren't exactly in the style of the 1800s.
Meri's dress was much too narrow, it was clear she wasn't wearing a corset or any under layers. She thinks that's what people from the 1800’s would expect. She was also fairly sure that an all over pattern of roses and tulips was either very expensive or impossible in that time. Noah's outfit was worst. Green dress shirt with embroidered vines up the chest. They weren't exactly systemical, so Meri wondered if Noah had embroidered them. Their pants were blue and hitched at the waist with a belt. Despite how dressed up the outfit was, Meri couldn't unsee that they still looked like a tired, overworked businessperson, and definitely not someone from 1800. Unless they were very, very rich.
Noah made sure the car was locked and started to walk towards the town. They left the luggage in the truck. Meri watched as they went, before starting to catch up. Meri was taller so it didn't take long.
"Noah?"
"Yes?"
"Aren't we, well," she trailed off. What if they didn't just look tired, but actually were tired enough to forget what they were both wearing. As much as Noah was fun to tease, she didn't want to undermine them. They were her boss, and this was her first mission.
"You're wondering about the clothes." Noah guessed.
"Well, yes. If we couldn't bring the car then." She fell silent again. It's not like she had brought time period appropriate clothing anyway. She hadn’t even known what the mission was until after she was packed and in the car.
"Don’t worry about it," Noah said "the people won't notice."
"What do you mean?"
Noah gave a slight smile. It looked odd on their face.
"That's what my Trick is for.”
Noah hadn’t kept it a secret on purpose. They had kept waiting for Meri to ask if they had a Trick. It wasn't something they were used to talking about. Most of the time Noah was sure it had power enough to make people not question it.
Their Trick was Undetectable. Not as in it couldn't be detected, It could with the right equipment. ‘Undetectable’ is just what the Tech people had called it. Like a superpower name, the Tech people had explained.
It made Noah, and people they chose, to go unnoticed. Not invisible, just unremarkable. Made people believe that no matter where they were, they were supposed to be there. It also made people see what Noah wanted them to see, to an extent.
Noah always looked the same they always did. Same appearance, the Trick just changed what biases people took from those appearances. Noah could make themselves seem trustworthy, or threatening, or plain.
It didn't seem to work very well on Meri though. Which is why Noah had been surprised it hasn't come up till now. It was just as well, hers didn't work very well on them either.
There was probably something to that, they thought. Something about a thing that always lies and another that can only see the truth.
The Tricks probably just canceled each other out.
"So because of your Trick, they're just going to see us as more people there for the gold rush?" Meri asked after Noah explained their Trick.
"Yes, the car would have been a little too much though."
"Wait is that why I can't get you to ask any of my questions?"
"Probably."
"Man, I was convinced you were just really good at your job. Being able to detect Tricks and ignoring them." There was silence for a few steps.
"Hold on, is that part of the Trick? Being able to ignore others?" Meri sounded impressed.
"No, that's not part of it. Honestly, it is odd that I can detect it at all. My Trick doesn't seem to work on you very well otherwise."
"It doesn’t?" Meri sounded surprised.
"No, you said I looked tired this morning when we got in the car. You're not supposed to see that."
“You have bags under your eyes.”
“You're not supposed to be able to notice that.” Noah reaffirmed.
“And you didn’t shave this morning, unless you're trying to grow a beard?”
“You're not supposed to notice that either, and no I'm not. Another thing, I forgot to put on my bracelet this morning, but you still addressed me as Miss.Ashford. Which could have been a lucky guess but then-”
“I used ‘they’ when we got coffee.”
“Yes, you knew it changed at the exact same time as everyone else in that cafe would have miraculously started using they to address me.”
“Huh. So they don't perfectly cancel out.” Meri said.
“It seems not.”
They were almost at the village now. Noah stopped walking.
“Meri?”
She stopped in front of them, looking concerned.
“What does my Trick feel like?” Noah finally asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well yours feels like something is watching me, like it knows everything about me, like it’ll do something bad if I lie. And it’s always there, close, breathing on my neck.’
Meri looked surprised.
“I had no idea.”
“People probably don’t remember, it would make using the Trick difficult to use on the same person twice.” Noah guessed.
“Yeah, huh. Well I didn’t really pay attention to yours I guess. Maybe it doesn't feel like anything.”
“That would make sense.”
“I mean try though, now I'm curious.”
Noah used their Trick, something simple. Just made it seem like they had a good night's sleep.
“Oh, it, um, well I don't think you're going to like this actually.” Meri looked at the floor.
“Why? What is it?”
“Well it feels like, like a fake smile? Like when you know a friend is lying to you. Or your like, the butt of an inside joke? Or like when someone is only nice to you because you have something they want. Or”
“Okay, okay, I get it.” Noah interrupted.
Meri looked up, “Sorry.”
“No, it's okay, I asked, and you said I wasn't going to like it.”
“Well, um, I don't like that mine makes people feel watched or paranoid, so kinda even?”
“Yeah, yeah, even.”
As they both walked into the village, Noah thought back on their conversion. They're pretty sure they never used the word paranoid.
Interruption Two
Meri
It knows were Arlo Thron is
Narrator one
Exactly
Noah
Fine, you know the tricks exist, and that you are unusual for being able to avoid them, surly that is enough information to get an answer from you
Narrator one
Fair play. Fine. You're probably wondering why a small fishing town of all places doesn't have a single wired story. My goal is a lot easier if the minds I'm working with aren't tainted by other stories. Or are actively seeking them out.
Noah
How vague
Narrator one
Same to you
Noah
Sigh
We work for an agency called The Other Department
Meri
Noah! We can't make it forget after!
Noah
It’s fine, it's clearly under the category of entity. Negating our tricks alone would put it under that category. It only looks like a human.
Narrator one
Oh! Flattery! It won’t get you more information. But it may make me like you more.
Meri
Noah, is this really okay?
Noah
It might be the only way
Meri
Okay, well the Other Department is an agency that looks into wired circumstances. We do everything from research, cataloging, means to prevent or contain, among other things.
Narrator one
So being a private instigator isn't that far from the truth
Noah
That's plenty of information on us. Now what are you?
Narrator one
I've already said, I'm the Author.
Meri
Oh come on! You can give us more than that. We don’t have any entities with a title like that that can do what you do.
Narrator one
What do you think I’m doing?
Noah
We know you're negating our tricks. And you have some sort of control over this town.
Narrator one
Tell me more about the tricks
Noah
We have given you plenty. It's your turn.
Narrator one
Fine. I am the author of the first perfect story. One that has all perspectives involved, all storylines, every single thought and feeling and goal and regret. All in one story. The first ever story of humanity written by a non-human
Story Three
(Am Radio) Boss
“Vampires!?” Meri yelled while hiding behind the desk. The vampire was at the door, lucky this one seemed to have the strength of a human and was unable to break the locked door.
(AM Radio) Boss / (Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
Unfortunately it had the brains of a human and would probably find another way in soon if they didn't leave.
(Bad Overhead Microphone) Narrator One
“Vampires aren't even the closest to the weirdest thing you've seen,” Noah said calmly. She had seen Meri stare down 1800’s gangsters, the undead and shadow creatures you could only see in the corner of your eye, among many others.
“That guy was a skeleton after it was done! There's no way it's vampires.” The banging at the door had stopped. Noah took a peak around the bookshelves she was shielding beside. So it wasn’t vampires that Meri was wired out by. She didn’t believe that's what this was. As Noah approached the door she said.
“It sucked the fat out, not the blood. That's why the body looked like that.” Noah told her.
“Oh my god.” Meri shakily got to her feet. “Its mind was a mess, do they get turned like movie vampires?"
Noah looked out the window of the door, it had a burly mosaic so she could only see vogue shapes. She couldn't be sure but she thinks the vampire was gone. It would return soon though, with a bat or a hammer or maybe even a lockpick.
They needed to get out of here.
“Yeah, kind of, they were once fully human if that's what you're asking.”
Noah opened the door just a little and waited to see if anything attacked. When nothing did, she opened it fully motioning to Meri to follow. Noah walked in what she hoped was the opposite direction of the vampire. She tried to make Meri and herself as unremarkable as possible. It would trick any cameras watching or people they passed. She wasn’t so confident it would work on the vampire though.
“So through a bite?” Meri said quietly. Noah thought it wasn't really necessary to whisper, if the vampire was that close it would smell them before it heard them.
“Well a bite. Yeah, then it injected a short of parasite, it controls the person's brain. Gives the human the instinct to feed and better smell and sight to find food, but the human keeps all its intelligence."
At this point they reached the end of the hallway. There was a door with stairs leading down and a door leading up. Noah chose the one going up. Meri followed, not questioning the choice.
“So, it’s a parasite.” Meri said it as a statement. Noah replied anyway.
“The Vampire? If you want to see it that way. It kinda fits the definition.”
“No, no.” Meri said “there’s a parasite in its head controlling it. I couldn’t get her to answer any question, remember? She just kept having a normal conversion with me. It's because of the parasite. It's a bug, sort of, it wouldn't have been able to understand me.”
Noah thought on this as they reached the top floor. The door to the roof was understandably locked, but that’s not where they were going. Noah pushed open the door to the top floor, there wasn't very many offices up here, but they were large. It looked like there wasn't many people up here either. Perfect.
“Okay Meri, I'm going to have to concentrate on this, so I need you to walk into those offices like you belong and blend in.” On their first few missions, this would have caused a line of questioning. One they never had time for. Now she just nodded, straightened her back and walked in like she was here every day.
No one even looked up.
Noah turned from Meri taking the disguise from her. She hoped because she was already in there each person would look at the others, see that they weren't questioning this new person they didn’t recognize and follow suit. It wouldn't be for long anyway. Without having to disguise two people from multiple eyes and cameras, Noah could concentrate on what needed to be done.
She looked around.
There.
One single camera.
All she had to do was trick this one camera. Make it think that she was never there. Make it see no one pulling the fire alarm.
The alarm was much louder than she expected. Everyone in the office is at attention immediately. Noah could only guess at the thoughts going through theirs heads
‘Is this a drill?’
‘Will we get paid for this?’
‘But it's cold outside, do I have time to grab my coat?’
Then the realization.
‘What if it's not a drill?’
‘Where is the fire?’
And Finally.
‘I’m on the top floor.’
They all run out of the office, keeping enough wits about them to use the stairs. In their hastes they don't notice Noah and Meri standing completely still. The cameras would though if they didn't hurry. Meri walked out the door and headed over to the stairwell. Noah tries his best to hide the ink staining her palm from the fire alarm.
“Whats the plan now?” Meris yells over the fire alarm.
“We wait.” Noah yells back trying to muffle the sound with her forearms so as not to get the ink on her ears too.
“For what?”
“About ten minutes. We need to make sure everyone is out.”
“Then what? Why?”
“Then we go down the stairs and out the janitor door, try to avoid cameras.” Noah's pauses then adds, “‘Why’ because then were guaranteed to not encounter the vampire”
“How could you possibly know that? It could be coming up the stairs right now!”
“It won’t be”
“Why?!”
Noah realized that what actually the ‘why’ was about.
“Because it was fully human once, and humans leave a building when an alarm goes off.”
Radio static, fast forward noise, click, phone ringing, phone pick up
Boss
Hello, Noah, we have a new mission for you and Meri. It's a little bit of a strange one. You’ll be looking for a missing person. His name is Arlo Thron.
Radio static
Interruption Three
Noah
Meri get the paperwork for a new entity entry
Meri
Underbreth
The author, immune to mine category tricks, brackets question mark, has a special goal in mind, can talk and have intelligent conversations-
Narrator one
Sounds like you have penalty on me, more from you then.
Meri
The tricks are like superpowers.
Noah
Meri you know that's not the correct term.
Meri
They kinda are though. And it's the easiest way to explain to a civilian.
Noah
It's not a civilian.
Meri
Close enough. There superpowers. I can make people ask questions and can't be lied to. Noah can make people see things about themselves and others around to what is most convenient.
Noah
Your turn again, Author.
Narrator one
Yes I guess you're right. That's only fair. What else would you like to know? What boxes do you want me to fill out on that paper work of yours?
Noah
Meri can you hand me the list and you can write down the answers-
Interpreting Meri
Why did you keep asking where I was from?
Narrator one
Ah! You are really living up to your archetype!
Meri
Archetype?
Narrator one
I kept asking because you're not from here.
Meri
Yes we're from out of town, but this is a tourist town, lots of people are. What's so special about us?
Narrator One
That's the question isn’t it? And I hate to admit it, but I don't know the answer, you're just not from here.
Noah
Pause do we get another question?
Narrator One
I mean there's information in me not knowing, but sure, you did pay me a complement earlier.
Noah
Where's Arlo Thorn?
Narrator One
Ah! The reason I’m here, of course. Miss.Meri might be able to shed some light on that.
Laughs
In a matter of speaking.
Noah
Meri?
Meri
It told me a story about the town, something about the lights flickering and transporting people.
Noah
Flickering lights?
Narrator One
Yes.
Noah
Where do they take you?
Narrator One
To the domain of a God
Noah
And that's where Arlo Throne is?
Narrator One
Well, no.
Meri
What do you mean no?
Narrator One
That's where he started, but for some reason he was able to travel that domain unhindered
Noah
Unhindered?
Narrator One
You think a Gods domain would be safe for a human to travel?
Noah
Alright then, where is he now?
Narrator One
I don’t know.
Meri
You don’t know?!
Noah
Meri…
Meri
I, I can’t believe, I can’t believe you lied to me, I don’t like that you're able to lie to me.
Narrator One
New experiences are good for you.
Noah
So was this just a ruse to figure out who we are?
Narrator One
A ruse? No. I needed to know if you were worth my time.
Meri
Your time for what?
Narrator One
To ask if you wanted to make a deal.
Noah
A deal?
Narrator One
Not for your soul or anything nefarious like that. I’m not even sure those are real. Most evidence points to no by the way.
Noah
What's the deal, Author?
Narrator One
Sigh you're losing the points you won. Fine, I help you find Arlo Thron and in return you make absolutely sure he stops messing with my story.
Outro
Blue Jay Walker "Everybody Thinks They're The One To Get Away”
“He'd take a coin,
Throw it in the well, he'd burn a wick,
Cast him a spell, and all the blood
On his hands just wash away.”
Credits
Blue Flickering Street light is written, edited and performed by Karma Night and is produced by Lanterns Aura
Intro and Outro music is by Aleksander Kordov
Logo is by Racc00n_with_a_Sp00n
Boss is voiced by Carter Lyon Folkes
Noah Ashford is voiced by Ya_Boi_Trashy
Meri Marigold is voiced by YourfavoriteJegg
“Everybody Thinks They're The One To Get Away” is used with permission by Blue Jay Walker
All other sounds are either record by Karma Night or are from Freesound.org under creative commons
For updates follow us on Instagram, Bluesky or Youtube under Lanterns Aura
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Or visit our website Lanternsaura.com, this is also were you’ll find transcripts of episodes
All Links in show notes
Thank you so much for listening!
