1. Fordham
“Lou, can you help me bring these bagels to the front aisle?” the soft voice of Aunt Grace nearly startled Lou that morning. Lou was in the middle of tying her old boots before taking off to school before Aunt Grace called her.
One of many things that Louisa Brown — preferably called Lou — likes doing would be helping others. What was even better than just helping was helping people that she loved: Aunt Grace, that is.
“Your bagels smell wonderful, as always,” Lou said, as she lifted the big basket full of freshly baked bagels from the kitchen.
“No doubt about that. They’re the town’s favorites after all.” Aunt Grace loved to praise herself. As much as she might sound self-conscious, Lou understood her. Nobody in the town beat the delicacies brought especially by Aunt Grace.
As Lou got her hands steady, the basket of bagels landed in her grip firmly. She was about to leave for the cafe as Aunt Grace stood motionlessly and stared at her dear niece. Her gentle eyes twinkled, reflected by the coming sunlight.
“You know, your parents will be proud of you.” Aunt Grace’s voice softened. “If only they were here to see you grow now.”
“It’s alright, Aunt Grace,” Lou replied. “I’m just fourteen. ‘Grow’ is still a strong word for me, way too strong.”
“I wish Edward was back.” Aunt Grace sighed. “It’s been three years, to be exact. That damned ship better is back.”
Lou’s lips rose slightly. “Me too.”
But they knew it didn’t happen, it never did. Edward Brown never came back. Lou had always been proud of her father. After all, Edward Brown — or the Great Edward Brown, as dubbed by the townspeople — was a well-known merchant across Fordham. Prior to his disappearance, he was the most successful in town, but aside from his success, Brown was known for his humility and modesty. He despised living in the spotlight. His disappearance was the biggest news in town as theories emerged. But it didn’t last long. Four weeks after his disappearance, Edward Brown was officially dubbed missing.
Ever since Aunt Grace took her in and treated Lou as her own daughter. Aunt Grace was a kind, elderly woman in her forties. Among her curly, sometimes disarray, brown hair, tiny silver streaks started to emerge along with her age. Her husband, Uncle Carl, was stern-looking yet he had a golden heart. He was rarely at home and often out in the woods collecting, well, wood — something he had been doing for the past forty years. Aunt Grace and her husband, Uncle Carl, had always wanted a child, but they were never gifted any, much to their sadness.
Lou’s arrival was a splash of cold, refreshing water to Aunt Grace and Uncle Carl’s grief. Aunt Grace wasn’t the richest in town, so in order to send Lou to school, Lou needs to work in her Aunt’s cafe to support her education. Good for Lou and Aunt Grace, Lou was more productive than any other fourteen-year-olds in the town. Her spirit was always on fire even though the school’s workload was more than enough to make her feel spent.
From the corner of her eyes, before Lou left to the kitchen, she caught a glimpse of Aunt Grace lifting her hand up and wiped it across her eyes. Lou smiled and shook her head. Despite her strong charisma and her proud nature, Aunt Grace easily broke down in tears at the smallest thing. That was the reason why Lou had always been careful with her words. Nobody wanted to see her dear auntie weep, whether it was of happiness or sadness.
Lou brought the bagels up to the front aisle. The town Fordham had been awake for an hour and it was only seven. Uncle Carl had even left since six.
“Now, off you go. Don’t be late. I got this.” Aunt Grace said. She appeared from the kitchen even two medium-sized baskets full of other pastries: let there be donuts and baguettes.
“I’ll be back after school.” Lou chirped before she disappeared in Aunt Grace’s sight.
Apparently, the town woke up earlier than Lou expected. Just as she got out Aunt Grace’s cafe, the narrow streets started to get packed. The clacking sounds of the high heels worn by the wealthy aristocrats hit the cobblestones repeatedly. As the sun rose, the clacking sounds competed against the neighing horses, the sound of carriage wheels rolling against the cobblestones, and faint chattering. Those noises intertwined in a harmony across the town, but Lou seemed to ignore the energy Fordham had that morning as she always did. She was always in a rush. She had no time to see the activities of the town commencing.
Lou bumped into several ladies — their dresses seemed to take too much space in the narrow streets. Can’t they choose smaller dresses? It was always such a hassle to have these ladies scattering around on the streets. Lou’s apologies to them had always been a daily routine every morning too. She spotted one of the ladies she just bumped into. She looked like in her early twenties with beautiful red hair hidden in her laced yellow bonnet that complimented her hair color. The lady grumbled to two other ladies in green and purple-toned dresses. They didn’t seem to be happy, but Lou didn’t care.
In a matter of minutes, Lou’s feet led her to her school gate. The school was the only one in the town. The building wasn’t so big. The school, you may say, was lucky to stand on its own, instead of sharing a building with a bank or a florist. That would be troublesome to see children getting out of school and bumping into some bank clerks just in time for lunch.
Lou’s face lit up at the sight of her two best friends, Ophelia and Rosie, waiting at the gate.
“Lou Brown! You’re a minute late!” Rosie shrieked, rather playfully.
“Sorry, Aunt Grace needed a bit of help this morning. She baked more bagels than I thought today.” Lou answered.
“Strange, but good for you and her. I bet a lot more townspeople will be coming. In fact, I’m thinking to drop by later.” Ophelia replied.
Lou along with her exuberant friends made their way into the school grounds along with other students. Their flat, rubber shoes tapped softly against the wooden floor, before suddenly…
Lou.
Lou stopped her pace. She swore she just heard that echo. It was faint but rather clear.
Lou Brown.
Now the echo called out her full name. Who on earth could this possibly be? Lou looked hastily around her, and as if the voice found her, her gaze inadvertently met a pair of piercing sapphire eyes in the distance.
It was a boy of her age. He stood still a couple of feet away from her. He wore murky-colored trousers. His shirt and suspenders shared the same muddy tone. His stare was firm yet deep. Lou couldn’t help but stare back. Was this boy calling her? It was impossible. He didn’t call her loudly, but somehow the whisper Lou heard earlier drew him to see the boy.
“Lou! Hey!” Rosie broke the silence. Lou blinked her eyes absentmindedly. “Anything wrong?”
“Did you just see a ghost?” Ophelia added.
“Oh. Nothing.” Lou looked at her friends, but when she looked back to where the boy was standing, he was gone. Oh that was predictable.
There was something about that boy. There was something about his stare and why did he only look at her? Did Rosie and Ophelia actually notice him too? Lou shook her head. The only thing she had in mind was getting through the day and coming back home to help Aunt Grace.
2. The Guest
The energy at the cafe was building up when Lou returned. She wore her apron and began serving the customers. Aunt Grace didn’t have enough money to employ more staff, so she could only count on Lou. Lou’s productivity was a benefit to not just the cafe owner but for the cafe itself. Aunt Grace looked more cheerful than she was this morning, much to Lou’s relief. Nearing the sunset, the activity in the cafe toned down as it was close to the closing time.
“I got this, Auntie.” She took the mop from Aunt Grace’s hand. “You look tired. You should get some rest.”
Aunt Grace smiled and she retreated to her quarters, leaving Lou cleaning the rest of the cafe. Just a little bit more and she could go back to doing her homework.
Clink.
The bell at the door rang. Shoot, the front door, Lou cursed herself. She should’ve locked it in the first place.
“I’m sorry, we’re cl-.”
Lou turned herself to face the door. The figure at the door was enough to drop Lou’s jaw. Her gaze met his across the empty cafe, with its stools placed neatly on the tables. Those darned sapphire eyes again. He resembled an apparition.
“Lou Brown.”
Lou was locked in place by his voice. She caught her breath.
“We don’t have much time.” The boy now stepped closer to her. Lou took a few steps back in fear.
“What do you want? Who are you?” Lou asked. Her voice slightly trembled.
“Reed.” the boy spoke. “Maxwell Reed.”
“How do you know me?” Lou responded.
The boy — Maxwell — gulped. “I worked for Edward.” he finally said.
The moment Maxwell mentioned that name, Lou’s heart stopped for a split second as if she tried to absorb what he just said.
“My father…no way.” Lou faltered. “Is he still ali…”
“Long story.” Maxwell cut off. “I don’t have much time. The Sanctum needs you.”
The what? It doesn’t make sense. Lou hoped her aunt would come any time soon to help her confront this mysterious guest, but the silence was enough to indicate the aunt was in a deep slumber. Uncle Carl usually wouldn’t be home until it was seven in the evening. Just in time for dinner.
“I’m not leaving this place. Unless you tell me what happened to my father.” Lou spoke firmly.
Maxwell’s mouth fell, as if he was about to speak, however, the earsplitting sound broke the nuance. The sound came from the boy’s wrist, hidden beneath the murky-colored long-sleeved shirt.
“Blast it! They’re calling.” Maxwell cursed to himself.
He unfolded his sleeve to reveal the most beautiful item Lou had ever set her eyes on. The watch was embroidered in the purest gold. Little gears danced against each other in moderate rhythm within a small compartment concealed by a glass. Unlike regular watches, this particular, whimsical-looking object possessed about eight needles lying on top of the glass compartment, two were the longest and pointed in different directions. Two others were smaller, and the last two were the smallest. All of the needles rotated in the same rhythm as the gears right beneath them. Lou beamed at the sight of what could possibly be the most expensive thing she had ever lied her eyes upon. She might as well have to work for the next twenty years and she still wouldn’t be able to afford them.
Without saying anything, Maxwell zoomed towards the door and disappeared at the cafe’s corner, leaving Lou to stand there frozen.
As she was about to turn to return to her quarters, her brown eyes quickly caught something shiny on the floor — a small card with golden embroidery.
Reed. A
Sanctum Then, Sanctum Now, Sanctum Forever
3230498 Canary
Lou rolled her eyes at the sight of the card, which she absentmindedly placed in her apron’s pocket. She could have just thrown it away if it weren’t…
…for her secret fascination for the mysterious Maxwell Reed.
Carissa Tandiono 