San Antonio, Texas, Belmont Hotel
Tuesday – March 11th 2059
Hope looked at her friend, clearly Elsa was upset. Even emotional she was pretty. Hope hated that about her friend, it felt like no matter the situation Elsa always looked her best. She had been working and on the road all day. But you couldn't tell that from looking at her. She was wearing that Tiwari suit she loved. The one that cost nearly three grand and had been hand tailored for her. Her makeup was still immaculate and her beautiful hair hung from her like it had been styled intentionally so, and not haphazardly tossed, like Hope knew it had been.
Elsa closed her eyes and had a look of defeat. Finally, she was going to hear what all of this was about. She better, Hope thought, she hadn't come all this way for nothing. Hope was expecting her to speak and tell her about this secret. But instead, she squeezed her hand and then gripped it like an iron claw. The room began to melt. She tried to yank her hand free and stand, but the iron grip that held her tightly refused to budge. A second later the room, the furniture, all of it disappeared. Hope found herself standing with her friend somewhere else. Hope began to breathe rapidly, frightened by the sudden and unexplained action.
"ELSA what….God what is happening?"
Elsa didn't respond, and the world around her kept evolving at a rate that stole any other thought for her mind. When she was finally able to think, she guessed she was hallucinating. But the longer this went on, the more she questioned that. That was when she finally recognized where she was, or at least where she appeared to be. The voice of Elsa broke the silence and with it her panic to some degree.
"This was the last time I spoke to Gerold, a few weeks before he left for Europe."
Hope noticed the room and recognized Gerold's apartment in Omaha. Then her mouth nearly hit the floor as she saw Gerold standing frozen in time with yet another Elsa. She tried to go to him wondering how on earth Gerold was here, and for that matter how she was here. But she couldn't move, that same iron grip held her firmly in place.
"Hope this is the link, you are in my memories right now. That isn't Gerold, just my memory of him. Try to stay still ok?"
Hope tried to respond to the absurd statement but she lacked the words. This place seemed as real as life itself. She was standing in Gerold's apartment. Every detail was perfect, well except for that lamp. She had broken it accidently when they were making out on the couch. It was such a wreck they had just thrown it away. That was just a few days before he left. Yet there it stood like it was before. Was this some sort of drug induced hallucination? Hope's mind was still spinning wildly thinking of explanations and dismissing them just as fast. A moment later Gerold began to speak to the other Elsa. Once that began, Hope's mind came to a halt. Gerold was talking to this other Elsa and was emotional in his tone.
"I can't keep living like this, I know we said we wouldn't but I can't deny it anymore. I need Hope to see me, the real me. I know you keep saying it isn't fair to her, ….don't you think I know that? God I wanted to tell her, so many times I started to. I feel like so much of me is hidden behind a wall with her. God Elsa, I just can't lose her...I want to… have a life with her you know? What if she hates what we are, what do I do then? What do I do if they won't accept her?"
Hope saw the anguish on his face and wanted to go to him. But then she felt something else, foreign, not of her own heart but something from another. She heard this other Elsa speak but what Hope was focused on was this foreign emotion that didn't belong to her. It was a feeling of worry, but tinged with hopefulness. There was love there but not that of a lover. It was tender and honest, but not intimate. Hope quickly saw that what she was feeling was the "memory" of Elsa's feelings when she was speaking to Gerold. The version of Elsa that had the iron grip on her spoke while the two in front of them paused again.
"Yes Hope, you are feeling my emotions that I had that day. This is the link, where my kind can share with others. I wanted you to see what I saw when we talked about you. I wanted you to see just how worried he was at telling you about what we are. I wanted you to see he isn't a monster; he is struggling with this just as much as I am. He loves you, he wants you to know all of him. Not just the parts you fell in love with, but the parts of him that aren't natural. The part of us that make us who we really are. Hope, this thing inside us, it's not evil. But some might see it that way."
Hope asked her how she was doing this. She wanted to ask just what exactly Elsa was, but that seemed to be an absurd question to ask. Elsa just smiled in response and finally slackened her grip on her. Hope pulled back and backpaddled all the way until she met with the wall of the apartment. Hope always saw Elsa as safe, caring and above all someone she could trust. But…. God what in hell was she?
"You know who I am… I am still your friend. Still the same person you always trusted. I….just have this ability is all."
Thankfully Elsa didn't try to follow. She just stood there and looked a bit crestfallen at having her friend look at her in such a way. But how was Hope supposed to look at her? And what in hell was going on?
"I won't hurt you Hope, I brought you here to share what Gerold should have. And to explain myself, the best I can. I haven't ever told anyone about us before, so it's hard for me."
Hope stood there unmoved, but Elsa looked ashen and worried. Not how she would have pictured it. Hope looked from the frozen image of Gerold and then back to her friend and asked again how such a thing was possible.
"Me and Gerold...well we aren't like other people. We were born with a certain ability, one that manifests when we become adults. When I touched you I linked our minds. We can talk here privately without anyone overhearing. We can experience memories together in ways you can't possibly imagine."
She looked like Elsa, sounded like Elsa. But she spoke like she was some sort of alien.
"As to the science of it I don't think any of my kind know for sure. All of us are just born with it, it's something that takes a lifetime to understand fully. I am just learning really, something like this takes decades to understand. But its who I am, who both me and Gerold are. But it's a gift Hope, one that allows us certain freedoms that others don't have. I can take you to any memory you like, just pick one and…I can take us there if you want. Any place you ever visited or any moment you want to see again. We can experience it together here!"
Elsa seemed eager to please and worried. Hope couldn't spend much of her frantic thoughts towards Elsa and her fragile mental state. Someone like this had to be on the verge of madness. All of Hope's faculties were focused on figuring out just how such a thing was possible. The real question, the one she asked, was THIS the secret both had been hiding? If so why hide something like this? Why not share such a thing with her best friend? Was she worried she would tell someone? As if anyone would believe her if she did!
"In a way yes, the link is one of the things that make me and Gerold different from others. But there are others, and when you learn all of them you will understand why we hide."
Great, so it wasn't just this link then. What could she expect next to learn, that they came from space?
"This link, its why we can't just share all of us with just anyone. Part of the reality me and Gerold deal with is secrecy. We can never reveal what we are to anyone, save the one we love. And even then, there are certain consequences for doing so. We aren't alone in this Hope, there are others like me."
Hope asked her if by others she meant other brothers and sisters. Elsa smiled a bit but didn't go so far as to laugh.
"Yes I have lots of brothers, but no sisters. But yes there others hope. And they watch over and regulate the rest of us. What I am doing now, it's very much against the code I swore I would uphold. Please understand I am taking a great risk in sharing. But you aren't wrong, you do need to know what we are. I know you think I am mad, but I promise I am not. What you are seeing and feeling here is very real."
Hope got the message, Elsa and Gerold were different, but it didn't sound limited to parlor tricks. Then she remembered that when Elsa thought she knew about their secret, Elsa had asked her if she was having second thoughts about "joining" them. What exactly did that mean? Was she offering to share this ability with her? She was afraid to ask and just stood there worried about everything and nothing in particular. Every question she started to ask sounded like pure madness or something from a low budget Sci-Fi tv show. The kinds of programs that Hope very much despised. Next Elsa would be offering to take her into a phone booth to time travel, or enter some wormhole. How on earth did Elsa do all this?
"One other thing I should warn you is that in this place, I can hear your thoughts Hope. I can read your memories and feel what you feel. Your mind is racing trying to grasp what this is all about. It's understandable, the first time I entered the link with my mother, I was so scared. But Hope it's so amazing, just look around you!"
Elsa's wide smile lessened as she saw that Hope was not having fun. She was scared of her friend and was regretting very much coming here. That look nearly took all the wind out of Elsa's sails. Elsa began again, with less enthusiasm this time.
"Just a bit ago you were just thinking about the question I asked. I admit it, I thought…well I hoped Gerold had told you and explained everything already. That was why I was so happy the other night, I thought you had agreed to join us. Become one of us you know? To share in our abilities yes, but also more. So much more, so much you can't even imagine yet. I admit it, I have wanted that for a long time. For you to see life as I do, to be as I am. I uh….suppose I was being selfish in that. I am sorry but you are by best friend, and I wanted to share this with you."
Elsa looked down, shy at revealing her inner most thoughts aloud. Hope however couldn't stop herself but from being repulsed by what she was feeling and seeing. Whatever her friend was it wasn't…
"Human? I suppose in a way we aren't. Some of our kind believe we are a different species. But I don't feel that way. I always thought of myself as normal, just with a special gift. Hope, I am sorry that I am scaring you. Its…. not easy being this exposed you know?"
Hope felt her emotions swing, one moment she was repulsed by the idea that her friend was different. And then touched at the same time at how awkward she was acting. Elsa was always lovely and confident. It was the first time she ever saw her friend look that embarrassed. At thinking that Elsa smiled, reminding her yet again, that Elsa was reading her thoughts.
"I just seem that way H, trust me there were plenty times in school when I was panicking inside. Remember when Marty wanted to ask me out and I was trying so hard to avoid him?"
Hope didn't want to laugh, but the memory caused her to smile. Marty was a friend of Hope's, and they shared a lot of classes as they were in the same major program. The one-time Marty was in a course with Elsa, he had tried and failed horribly, to ask Elsa out. Poor Marty was hopelessly all thumbs when it came to women. He was a good man however; he had a tender heart and was so talented. The scene changed around Hope and they were transported back to that moment. The one where Hope had stepped in to help both her friends. The scene replayed and she felt Elsa's panic and then relief as her best friend saved the day. Hope was astonished to see a girl like Elsa feel that way. She had to have had ample experience dealing with guys interested in her. Why was she so terrified at hurting poor Marty?
"I loved what you said to him. You let him down so gently and made me feel so at ease while doing it. I was afraid that we would never get that joint project done for class. Marty was why we got that grade, and you made that possible. You knew just what to say at just the right time. I would have just mumbled something and hurt his feelings. That was the last thing I wanted to do; Marty was such a nice guy."
Hope had forgotten just where she was then. At that very second she wasn't angry at Elsa, she was that girl back in class. She didn't know what to say or to think. But it didn't take long, she was here because the love of her life was keeping secrets. Ones that he was afraid would come between them.
"I know, I am sorry for not telling you Hope. Please know we both wanted you to know."
She wanted to be angry at her but she could feel Elsa's emotions now, not a memory of emotion but the ones she was feeling right now. In response Elsa just shook her head yes to confirm what Hope was thinking. Elsa was scared at losing Hope, and scared for hurting her brother.
"You love your brother more than I realized. I mean I know you love him, but you really care about him a lot don't you?"
Elsa shook her head with a loving nod. Her smile would have lit up a room. Then Elsa took Hope to another memory, this time Elsa was a little girl and was scared. She was with a lot of other children in a house and they were huddled together in fear. But holding her hand was her older brother. Hope was worried for a moment but then remembered this was only a memory. Gerold looked so cute at that age and she wanted to giggle at the sight of him. But his fear and that of the young Elsa prevented it. After a quick second marveling over their youth Hope asked why they were so scared. As she did, the young Gerold moved to stand in front of his sister protecting her from something.
"Gerold has always been everything to me. He isn't like our other brothers, he never picked on me or made fun of me. I could always count on Gerold to protect me. He is why I had the courage to leave home, I don't think I would have been brave enough if it wasn't for him. He gave me the confidence to spread my wings. I knew if he could make it all the way out in Omaha, then I could too."
Hope and Elsa went on like this for an hour living in the past and explaining much of why Elsa and Gerold had left their home. Why that was such a difficult thing to do, and most importantly what each meant to the other. Unlike Elsa who came from a large family, Hope had been an only child and was estranged from both her mom and her dad. She could feel the near irresistible pull that affected Elsa's heart. It was foreign to Hope, that unnatural pull for her home. Hope found it odd in a woman who was nearing 30 to be that attached to her home. Hope hadn't thought about hers in a long time. There was nothing for Hope in her hometown, nothing but bad memories.
"Your home really calls to you doesn't it? But you still haven't explained what you are Elsa, and what this has to do with me?"
Elsa smiled and exited the link. It caused both of them to be disoriented. When Hope was able to think straight again, she was still holding her friends hand sitting in the chair. Elsa smiled again and squeezed her hand and released it.
"Not everyone is able to understand us Hope. I didn't want to frighten you but some….humans, well they are scared of us. Sometimes that fear turns into violence. Not saying we are angels, cause we aren't. Plenty of us have done things to earn that fear. But me and Gerold aren't like that. But we aren't the only two Hope, and we have to abide by the decisions of the others. We can't just be with anyone we like, we can't really live just any life we want. Our family has to approve, at least on some level."
When Elsa said the word "Humans" she said it with shame. A part of her was deeply ashamed of what she was. Was that because her kind was evil? Or was it just pain at being different from everyone else? So many things began to click with Hope now. Why Elsa who was so beautiful and lovely, was also naturally modest. Why she didn't see herself the way other girls at school saw her. She could have been so full of herself with all the attention she got from guys, and how jealous the others were of her. But Elsa never was, she was always at heart a bit shy and reserved. Hope felt the isolation and loneliness keenly inside her friend. From what little she knew of Elsa's home life, things started to become clear. It was no wonder Elsa had bonded so tightly to her. Someone that close and connected to her family would have been like a fish out of water in Omaha. And yet Elsa and Gerold had rejected that family on some level. That was clear from the way Elsa described them. What really worried her was the comment about how their family wanted approval of who they dated.
Hope wondered what kind of family would do that? But then again it wasn't unheard of. There were a couple girls from India at school who had arranged marriages planned for them. Everyone thought it madness in this century, but neither of them thought so. But for Americans to be that way? Just who did these people think they were? And then Hope remembered this family wasn't really normal were they? Elsa saw her mind racing and looked a bit hurt. She knew her friend could be sensitive sometimes but this was a whole new level.
"Do you think I am a freak? I would understand it if you did. Just please don't hold all this against Gerold. The two of you are so good together. I know if you can just give us a chance you will see you don't have anything to fear from us."
Hope laughed, in a way she did see Elsa as a freak. But not for the reasons why Elsa would think. Elsa was beautiful, lovely in both body and spirit, and she was always so graceful. Elsa did naturally every single day what Hope could only dream of doing after hours of preparation. Elsa could walk into a room and charm the entire place without a second thought. If she was a freak, it was because of how perfect she was. Hope was honest and said she didn't think Elsa was a freak. But that didn't seem to calm her friend.
"Look Elsa, this doesn't change our friendship I suppose I forgive you. But I really don't understand why you both thought you had to hide all of this from me? I don't understand any of this to be honest. But I love Gerold, that I know. I wasn't trying to fall in love with him but I did. And I haven't seen or heard anything in that….link or whatever you called it to feel like I have a reason to hate you either. I just wish you had been honest with me. I have been living with this terrible fear that Gerold was involved with something that would end us. It's not like you two are killers or anything. You just have this really cool gift is all."
Elsa smiled brightly at her words that seemed to reassure her. As for Hope she still had a lot of questions, but for now it felt like this wasn't anything to really be worried about. Elsa and Gerold were just worried that their family wouldn't approve of her.
"Hope now that you know, we really need to get you to my home. Our law requires anyone… not like us, to be brought before the council. You must be introduced; all of my family will want to know you and assess your worthiness."
Hope laughed at that, she wasn't about to submit to anyone else for approval to love Gerold. But the look from Elsa was pleading. And then Hope again sensed there was more going on here. Elsa had hinted at it, and once even said once she knew "all" about them that she would understand why they hide. There must be more going on. Hope decided, it wasn't hard to do just then. She had wanted to meet their family for a long time. She had flown all the way to Texas to discover the truth. If it took her driving to their hometown to put an end to this then so be it.
"If that is what it requires then I guess I can. I don't feel like I need their approval though."
Hope paused considering. Meeting family was just something that all couples did, usually before they became engaged. And if Hope was going to put all of this to bed, then it was time to find out just how bad things really were. Whatever Gerold was worried about, it was in that town. Not in his past or what lay in his heart. At least that was what Hope told herself anyway. Settled on her course of action she made her continued.
"Well then I suppose it's time I meet your mom and dad. Nancy seems really nice from the times we have spoken over the phone. From the way Gerold talks, your dad sounds like a really honorable man. Honestly I have been looking forward to it. Why not, let's go."
Elsa's smile was not quite one of agreement but rather one of feared anticipation. Just how bad could her potential in-laws be? But Elsa, once hearing that Hope was willing to travel to their hometown, sprang into action. She jumped up and made Hope nearly giggle at how uncoordinated she was when she was excited.
"Ok let me make some calls, oh….. I need to call mom and then…the hall. So much to do, so much to do! Do you have any idea how long it's been since I have been home! We can't go tonight; we wouldn't get there till after everything is closed. Oh, and I need to let work know I am going to take some time. How about you, do you need to call Doug and let him know?"
At that mention Hope frowned, she hadn't had a chance to inform her friend just how bad things had gone at the office. Hope quickly decided to keep it that way. She didn't want to get into that long conversation. She just shook her head no and asked Elsa for more info on her future in-laws. Hoping to get some insights before she had to go before the "council," what a way to describe your mom and dad! Just whom did they think they were anyway?
As Elsa flew about the room Hope just smiled at watching her. She was less than graceful like this, which was rare for her. It was one of the reasons Hope had bonded with her. Deep inside that beautiful creature was a real tender person. Elsa continued to gather things and then to make calls. As she spoke Hope imagined that her future in-laws were probably the really controlling type. Maybe that was all this was, Elsa and Gerold had this weird mutation and it gave them this gift. Yeah… if my kid was like this perhaps I might be really controlling too. But that didn't cut it, there was more going on. But what that was…. Hope couldn't say.