Chapter 09 - Sunshine Dreamers
I drew cursive clouds in my mind spelling the words to remember, ‘Thank Lee for her urgency’. The fresh haste she displayed with the boat touted a slight leg up to our pursuit of an exit from the storm last night. She hadn’t the slightest responsibility in the matter, yet she responded in sync with my wave of emotion, swimming out towards the monster curling in front of us. The smoke looked close, fragmenting the mist with foul play. Lee pivoted and marched over to my shoulder.
LEE: We don’t know if we’re supposed to be here. I’m going to cut the engines and drift as close as we can to the origin of the smoke. We might need to swim quick should the currents not be in our favor.
I provided a salute to scream the thank you I noticed still fresh in the moment. Lee cut the engine and grabbed a nautical scope, breaking the tension with her quirky use of the little time we had. She had made herself golden, emitting a cutting shimmer of light while moving about. I paused my beserk gallop towards danger and lost myself noticing her more. The torn out pages to my story, found after a stack of calendars lay on the floor.
LEE: We’re slowing down now, let me know when you want to swim.
ATMOS: I just want you Lee.
Her confidence stumbled momentarily, collecting composure to come back to the table.
LEE: Andddd, I just want you..tensils!
A bubbling of giggles came out of her.
LEE: You better focus on the water dreamy eyes.
I left her line of seduction and scanned the incoming land for any familiar features. She took the timid seconds and grabbed a helmet from below her chair and grappled it on.
ATMOS: I see two men, face down, no one else nearby.
LEE: Confirmed, I’ll grab my first aid reserve and meet you there.
I leap out of the boat for my fear of knowing the identity of both bodies. I did my best attempt of the freestyle swim, opening my eyes every four or five hand switches. I felt the soggy soil below me and ran over to Cameron and Alastor. Shaking Cameron first, he blurted out a heavy cough and specs of confusion as our eyes met.
CAMERON: Atmos, we need to get the hell out of here. Where’s Alastor?
ALASTOR: To your right…..I concur with your urgency.
Lee joined the rubble just as both injured insurgents stood.
ALASTOR: Make certain, this is not a rescue. More like a favor.
Alastor did a poor job of asking as his muddy hand grabbed hold of the ship’s railing. Lee looked sternly as she turned behind herself. Cameron mimicked the ease of trespassing, finding himself at the stern while motioning for me to follow. His lack of imposing to himself the simple question of how I arrived to them, bred the suggestion that I board the ship.
Lee turned the ignition switch, throwing crackles of urgency to an immediate five mile radius. We soared back to the radio tower, ending with an audience to Lee’s newly devised demands.
LEE: The idle of the boat hopefully has everyone aware that we are not staying. One by one I will drop all of you off.
She peered over to me, giving an obvious nod that I needed to play along. Easily intercepted, I knew not if either Cameron or Alastor knew of Lee’s secret. She was speaking low, I presumed that she craved the answer as well.
Alastor spoke first.
ALASTOR: Look I’m just as repulsed by the idea of staying here as you are of having me, but I lack choices. Your father was known to accommodate the occasional guest.
Lee harnessed the faint image of her deceased.
LEE: You must have me confused with someone else. Nevertheless you aren’t staying here.
Cameron intruded into the stand off without manners.
CAMERON: Wait a minute, you’re the girl that Atmos went to see. It’s all making sense now of why you showed up when you did. Yeah I can tell by the way Atmos looks at you. The pony tail sticking out of the back of your helmet doesn’t help either.
LEE: Atmos!
Lee steamed with embarrassment.
LEE: I have no room for any of you, I’m serious.
ALASTOR: Nonsense, what has become of the abandoned manor on your plot of land? I lost track if the relic was ever brought back to its original glory.
ATMOS: There is a mansion on your property?
LEE: This day just keeps getting better and better, yes Atmos there is an abandoned manor tucked away within the trees behind my radio tower, left to rot long ago by ……
ALASTOR: That is precisely the place we need to go. It is unoccupied and proves no burden to you. The ornate decor, although I’m sure could use a clean, will do well to massage our minds in planning what is next.
LEE: Why do you think you can just stay there?
ALASTOR: Well, Daughter of Lee, I would conclude that I have the most right to stay there than anyone in present company. Given the current state of affairs, it does however seem foolish to keep a few high level secrets to myself. That web cornered manor was one of two sites that spawned the Night Light that we’ve all come to know. Listen carefully as I will not reveal what is past the curtain a second time. Before us, Night Light, this buffoon wetting his bed.
Alastor pointed a silk finger in my direction, smirking with his subtle use of comedy.
ALASTOR: Before all but trees, a settlement existed here in Forest City Shoreline. The inhabitants of which lived in both the dusty manor behind your radio tower, also theirs, and within what is now known as Conifer Cove. They tried very hard to understand the forest, to control the uniqueness of the phenomena that occurred here. One day they vanished, leaving only structures behind, halting their work that had been started on the forest. You see Night Light picked up right where they left off, determined to succeed this go around. I know this to be true, along with the knowledge that your manor was deemed useless. Conifer Cove was identified as having strict importance, and thus a fabricated story of an unquestioned elite neighborhood was formed around the area. People live there mind you, but the area is primarily dedicated towards research.
He began to chuckle.
ALASTOR: I’m typically not one to tell secrets, but what the hell. Their betrayal struck first.
CAMERON: I’m shocked I didn't even know. Did these settlers have a name?
ALASTOR: Astute question Tigerman, they did indeed. They were known as the Pyre Wolves.
LEE: Although I’m sure that was hard for you to share, what makes you think it is enough to take in fugitives of the state?
ALASTOR: You have no choice I’m afraid. If we are not off the waters in approximately twenty minutes, a search team will be dispatched to greet us. They’ll connect the dots that this ship of yours helped play a role in our escape. I wouldn’t recommend such a decision.
LEE: And I’m just supposed to believe you? I don’t even know your name, poor mannered man.
ATMOS: Believe me he has gone nose deaf on thinking people will trust him.
ALASTOR: Silence Atmos. Your reserved feelings are just, they are simply overruled due to the circumstances.
LEE: Yes be quiet Atmos! Fine, I’ll drop you all off at the rear dock but I do not want to hear any of you from the confines of my radio tower. The manor doors aren't locked, don't go snooping around in there. The east wing is empty and plenty for three nobodies.
ALASTOR: The rear dock to Little Heart Manor. If we’re to be using the residence, we might as well start calling it by its real name. A master work constructed for the leader of the Pyre Wolves, with the name designated after his daughter.
The rope railing swung back and forth by the force of Lee’s departure, I left quick in pursuit. A key fumbled in Lee’s hand as the chase quickly stopped.
ATMOS: Lee I’m sorry if I’m responsible for all of this. I hope you didn’t catch trouble from me.
LEE: Oh I caught it alright. I’m a full blown case study at this point!
ATMOS: Well we can see this as an answer to something we didn’t ask for.
LEE: Are you trying to make less sense?
ATMOS: Maybe we both need this. You in? Go in together and hold on tight until we’re on the other end?
LEE: I don’t know Atmos! I just need a minute to think.
Her back greeted me through her torso’s swift turn. I stood starring at the slight sway in her hips.
LEE: If it gets bad for either of us, we bail. Those are my terms.
ATMOS: I never bail unless the person I’m with bails. Then I bail.
LEE: Oh I didn’t know you were with someone, what’s their name?
ATMOS: It’s just too long to even say, I don’t want you falling asleep on me.
Her smile emerged.
LEE: Yeah you would. Now help me move this table over here. You know, the one I’m with.
I glided to her location, gripping each side with noticeable strength. We made quick use of the brewing chemistry and made a clearing of the room. Our tandem effort moved one last gold lined table into the center of the room. The act followed by the front doors opening to reveal Alastor and Cameron.
ALASTOR:, I was one of your father’s only friends. He mentioned you on constant occasion. I’m pleased to formally meet you.
LEE: Great more secrets. What about you, any other funny business that you care to share?
She scowled in the direction of Cameron.
CAMERON: Me. Well. Some people call me Tigerman sometimes.
LEE: That somehow makes things worse, Tiger Guy.
CAMERON: Well, the four of us can all be quite resourceful, perhaps we all work towards a common goal?
LEE: How do you figure we could have the same goal?
Alastor felt quick to answer.
ALASTOR: Your father, he was murdered by NightLight. How can you not want to destroy them as we seek?
LEE: He died at home you liar, the next trick up your sleeve will be met with a ticket out of here.
ALASTOR:, I know what I know.
LEE: I’m not buying either of your desperations.
ALASTOR: The fate of Forest City looms in the mist. You are involved regardless.
LEE: Ugghhh, I’m not hurting anyone okay? FIght your wars without me.
ALASTOR: Fine. Your ill decision. I must then request the use of this room for the next few days.
LEE: Your accommodations are charged with the liar rate, the East Wing is yours tonight. Check in with me in the morning to see if I haven’t changed my mind.
CAMERON: And just what rate is that?
LEE: It’s the - you can’t afford more than two nights - rate.
Lee scampered towards the exit, freezing her muscles as the door knob was in reach.
LEE: The only good that could have come from this disaster of a night is if I was able to choose the name of what to call us all working together. I always wanted to be a part of an outfit that calls themselves Sunshine Dreamers. The father I doubt you actually knew, was on board with having us refer to ourselves as the Sunshine Dreamers. He passed just as he had come around, what a shame.
ATMOS: Sunshine Dreamers?
I turned to her.
ATMOS: Has this been something that you’ve dreamed of?
LEE: Very funny Atmos. I don’t want to see any of you come sunrise!
ATMOS: Don’t you mean come sunshine?
LEE: Hehe, stop diverting attention away from this being all your fault.
She slipped outside, leaving half unearthed tracks that didn’t shed light on if she wanted company. Alastor sat back on a dusty, abandoned wooden chair.
ALASTOR: I’m actually fond of the use of Sunshine Dreamers. Make note of it.
I rushed towards him and Cameron.
ATMOS: Hey! What the hell happened and where is Carmine?
CAMERON: I have been waiting for you to snap out of the trance from Lee, yes Atmos let’s talk.
ATMOS: You’re not wrong Cameron, alright now. Spill it.
CAMERON: We’ve been set up, our intentions must be known now. Or if they’ve always been known, now they are a concern with the damage Carmine has done.
ATMOS: Cameron, where is Carmine!
CAMERON: She definitely wasn’t where you just picked us up, like I said we were set up. The only new information that was gained is how the corporation has found a way to track her. Apparently our old friend Sails has been put in charge of finding her and has figured out a way to track her, we are unaware of what exactly he is doing. Atmos, you really need to reconsider helping us. We were supposed to be killed today, this isn’t some sort of game anymore. Can I count on you?
ATMOS: You can Cameron, I’ll face her. I’ll face everything even if I don’t know if I’m truly ready. I wouldn’t be able to live with the knowledge that you were harmed when I could have prevented it.
Alastor chimed in.
ALASTOR: Can we please move past the dire straits of friendship. Atmos, you’re providing aid, nothing more must be said. Now is the time that we all must plan with the upmost thoroughness. I fear what is waiting for us if we do not.
ATMOS: I’ll do what I can, what is our next move?
ALASTOR: Although there is still distaste in the air, we need her on board. She is a renown resource we must have access to. Atmos, you seem to be courting her, convince her to help.
ATMOS: You mean lie to her about her father’s passing? Something along those lines?
ALASTOR: Spare me Atmos. she is an intellect, she’ll spend the night thinking through every detail of the night her father died, looking for any missing clue that might shed doubt.
ATMOS: And is there any clue that you are hinting towards?
ALASTOR: Precisely. Like I said, I knew the man quite well. An emotional angle to get Lee on board helping us.
ATMOS: Maybe we don’t deceive her right away, Cameron how you are able to put up with this man I know not.
CAMERON: You two will warm up to each other. He’s right though Atmos, we need Lee. Without her we are just three people that will eventually have to leave her slice of heaven and go back to facing a harsh reality.
ATMOS: I’ll go talk to her, but don’t forget we have much talking still to do. Like what the hell Carmine is doing and how it involves you two.
CAMERON: All news I’m happy to share with you buddy. Please, see what you can do, Alastor and I will see how we can get a few make shift beds going in here as well. Let it be known that the early workings of Sunshine Dreamers in the East Wing are underway.
ATMOS: You’re just a riot tonight aren’t you?
I left the room and felt the nightly breeze upon my neck. I will go talk to Lee and continue to ask for more of her. It was easy to spot her, standing still sitting on the bench outside.
LEE: What could you possibly want?
ATMOS: I want to talk to you.
LEE: Atmos. Please just go.
ATMOS: Help me save my friends, please? If you have a good reason, I’m happy to hear it. But there’s a chance that this might be their last stop, and I have to know that we tried. Please Lee.
LEE: You’re asking a lot of me Atmos, can’t you at least agree on that?
ATMOS: I know, and again I’m sorry.
LEE: You are getting close to have said too many sorrys.
ATMOS: I’m….well. Lee, I guess I’d just really like if you were next to me for whatever’s next.
LEE: Don’t you think I maybe wanting this to? It’s too early to be committing one’s life away. What about my crusades, you can’t just drop everything to help me now can you?
ATMOS: But Lee if tomorrow came and you were in trouble I would drop all of this to come and try to save you.
LEE: Oh Atmos.
She leaned in to connect us past the point of asking.
LEE: I want to be a part of something, I just didn’t think this would be it.
ATMOS: Me too Lee.
We walked together back to the abandoned manor. An ounce of guilt landed on me, I had accomplished what Alastor and Cameron had wanted. The four of us, still without an official name, spoke of future plans for three hours that night. Lee was quiet for most of the affair, providing gentle prods on occasion. I paced between who to look after more, Lee or Carmine. The landscape of each polarizing as exact opposites. The common thread to every prompted thought was Carmine, we had to figure out a way to find her. The twilight of our endured discussion was the loose formation of an actual plan. Hazy pupils fantasizing of being tucked into bed all agreed to meet back at the sight of sunrise.