The Time Capsule

Chapter 12: Secrets and Lies

Chapter 12: Secrets and Lies

The rope ladder swayed back and forth, the frayed pieces falling off in Angelica's hands as she climbed after Jillian to their hideaway, but Angelica certainly wasn't expecting to see Levi, who was lying on the hammock and nursing his bandaged arm. Or at least, he must have been nursing it, because the lights that glowed from his hand soon vanished as soon as Angelica set eyes on them.

"What the hell are *you* doing here?" Angelica burst out. 

Jillian and Levi shushed her at the same time and she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She needed to know the truth now more than ever. But she was even more surprised than anything when Levi lifted the golden watch from his jacket and let it fall into Angelica's hands. 

"We believe that if you're siding with us, you need your possessions returned," Levi explained. "But you must henceforth swear by the Rebel Code, and value your life based on it." 

"The Rebel- what?" 

"Levi," Jillian hissed. "Sorry, he's always this much."

"Bloody hell, just tell me what's going on!" Angelica exclaimed. "Where is my father?" 

"Angelica Sparrow, do you swear to not let the contents of this conversation to never leave this room?" Jillian read from a scroll of parchment, where Angelica could faintly see the words 'The Liberation Insurgence. "Do you promise to protect the land, sky, and ocean from all harm that may fall upon them from Morgan's forces? Do you swear to never align yourself with the darkness, for one day, it may swallow us all in the end?" 

"That last one's quite important, write it down," Levi passed her the sheet. "There's about twenty more promises and terms and conditions, but no one reads those. All we need is your signature and one final question. Angelica Sparrow...do you trust me?" 

Angelica's eyes widened as she scanned the list, which started to roll past her feet and finally stopped at the door. There was a tense silence as she looked at Levi and Jillian, both looking dead serious as if they were attending someone's funeral. 

"Yes," Angelica finally replied, writing her name in ink and with a flourish.

The two sat next to her in the formation of a triangle, the hammock and the two chairs forming a circle and the map forming a line down the middle. The Shield of Shadowstream symbol. The universe, in this moment, was connected. And at this moment, magical moments could happen. The purple spots started to cloud Angelica's vision again and she gasped as sparkles of multicolored magic appeared around them, the tree house walls rippling in and out, as if fading from reality. 

"What's happening?" Angelica panicked. 

"Nothing," Jillian said. "It's a projection around you of the magical world. Join hands. Complete the link." 

"What happens if I do?" Angelica asked. 

"You'll understand the truth," Jillian said firmly. 

Angelica looked into Levi's eyes, trying to read his expression. He was more sincere than she'd ever seen them. She finally linked their hands and a burst of energy radiated out of the joined circle. The map drawn on the floor glowed and started to rearrange itself; x became visible and hidden trails appeared that weren't there before. Levi was right, she did miss almost everything of importance. The walls were rippling like thin blades of grass on a windy day. What struck Angelica the most was that there was a trail from the tree house...

"Right into the Moors of the Dark Forest," Jillian traced the line, following Angelica's glance. "We were given a quest this year, Levi and me. But we didn't understand the full scale of the situation. The world is dying, Angelica. Humans have taken full control of the planet and ruined its forests. The forests help us to survive. We've seen a universe without them. Ruin and devastation everywhere.