Clive would've preferred to sleep the day away and stay awake at night, but in prison he'd never have his way. To make up for this, he'd spend hours gazing out at the starlit sky until his eyelids drooped and he fell into a deep sleep. But right now, he felt awake, not tired, despite hours of staring at the starry sky. The marvel had begun to show no more appeal as the night lingered on.
"Clive? You awake?" the guard grunted. Clive turned his head from the window.
"I'm awake. What is it, Sebastian?" Clive asked. He was on a first-name basis with the guard, if only because Sebastian was an old friend of Clive's.
"You've got a visitor. I tried to tell them to do it tomorrow but they were so insistent," Sebastian explained. "Alright, come now, Lrerin." Sebastian struggled with the pronounciation of Lrerin's name, but the teenaged girl paid it no heed and walked over to Clive's cell. It looked as if she was gliding, and if Clive squinted just right, he could almost see wings decorating Lrerin's back.
"Who are you? I beg your forgiveness if you're someone whom I know and I've forgotten about," Clive said. Lrerin looked to be around 18 or 19, with waist length blonde hair that gave off the illusion it was shining, even though the prison's lights were best described as 'dim'. She was well-developed and of a good height and weight, clad in a white dress, a far cry from most teenager's attire.
"No, you will not know me. This is also the first time I have ever seen you, as well. I am an angel, sent from the heavens above to clear your sins," Lrerin explained, her bright blue eyes shining as she spoke. Clive swore she was glowing, but he couldn't be sure. Perhaps the strange aspects of her were just an illusion, caused by extreme boredom and an overwhelming number of insane ideas. Clive laughed aloud at Lrerin's statement.
"Well, I hope you'll understand if I think you're either a nutcase or have the wrong person," Clive said. "There's another Clive just down the hall, you know, except his name is actually Klyve." Lrerin scowled and folded her arms, but soon the playful smile returned.
"Oh, I understand. Most humans think the same. I can clear you of all your sin and secure you a spot in heaven if you repent all your sin!" Lrerin explained. Clive stared at her again. The wings he'd thought he seen earlier were back, except they looked slightly more solid, but still not there yet. Lrerin noticed Clive's stare and grinned, the wings flapping.
"I think I'm dreaming. Maybe I should pinch myself," Clive said dryly, seemingly paying no attention, but he was listening to every word. He pinched himself and found Lrerin still there, as well as her near-solid wings and bright beauty. "All right then. I repent. I apologise for all of my sins against mankind and any other things of which I may have done." Lrerin smiled.
"Thank you, Clive. A miracle will be waiting for you soon," Lrerin said. Her wings fully solidified and Clive's eyes widened. Surely they could not be the illusion he'd thought they were. Just as he was thinking this, Lrerin disappeared, leaving only a falling feather as sign of her presence.
"Sebastian!" Clive called. The guard appeared, true to form. "Pass me the feather, please." Sebastian frowned and leaned down, passing Clive the feather.
"There you go, though I'm not sure why you want a feather. You've never shown an interest in avians or the like before," Sebastian grumbled. "Get sleep. See you morning." Clive felt like telling Sebastian about Lrerin, but he restrained himself and fell asleep clutching the feather to his chest. As he fell asleep, the feather glowed brightly...
"Good morning!" Lrerin smiled. Clive was unsure why Lrerin had visited again, but he showed her the feather. Lrerin had smiled at the feather and changed the subject. "So, Clive, I've brought you a miracle! You're free. You can leave prison, but no more conniving!" Lrerin opened the door. "Come on, Clive, let's go."
"You're going with me?" Clive asked, confused. He left the cell and was allowed into the guards' bathroom to change into his normal clothes, then left the complex. None of the guards objected at all, and Clive didn't understand why this was happening.
"Of course I am. I'm taking you to your friends. They're in a bit of a predicament," Lrerin explained. "You'll see later. For now, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine. Emmy Altava." Clive pondered this.
"Emmy Altava... Wasn't she once the professor's assistant?" he asked. Lrerin nodded and led Clive into a dark alley. A woman was leaning against the all, sporting curled brown hair, a yellow coat and strong boots.
"You're Clive Dove, aren't you?" the woman asked. Clive nodded. The woman held out a hand. "Emmy Altava, the professor's assistant... once. The professor... He's in quite a predicament, did you know?" Clive looked for Lrerin, but it seemed she had left.
"I didn't know... Lrerin just got me out and hasn't informed me on the situation," Clive explained. Emmy stood up straight and walked past Clive.
"Well then. The professor, Luke and Flora Reinhold have been stranded on an island with a bunch of cannibals. The professor sent me a letter containing a puzzle, but... I just can't solve it," Emmy said, holding out a letter. Clive spun round and grabbed the letter, reading it.
'Dear Emmy,
Luke, Flora and I have been stranded on an island smewhere in the South Pacific. I believe it is near the western edge of Australia. A friend of mine, Lrerin Daraton, will see you at the alley on Midland Road. Lrerin holds a part of the key, and you the other.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Hershel Layton'
"I think I understand," Clive said. "Emmy, desparate times require desparate measures."
"What kind of desparate measures?" Emmy asked, grinning. Clive grinned back, pleased that Emmy seemed thrilled by the prospect of danger.
"We're going to break back into prison."