Refugees
By Thomas Mc
Chapter 2: Safe Haven
They had only gone no more than a dozen feet down the tunnel when they saw an ancient dark skinned woman, dressed in a slightly ragged long white skirt and top, coming down the tunnel toward them. She was holding a six foot long wooden staff in one hand. The other hand was stretched out to her side, barely brushing the stone wall. She stopped as they approached. Oscar's attention was drawn to the obvious burn scars on the forearm and hand that was holding the wooden staff.
Jacob stopped and addressed the old woman. "Narcissa, what are you doing in this part of the tunnels?"
"Oh child, you know how the Father worries." She shook her head with a little chuckle. "If this crazy old woman doesn't come by occasionally to annoy him, Father will send someone into the lower chambers to see if I'm still alive." She turned her head towards Oscar and Heather and her smile widened as she seemed to zero in on the young couple, taking three steps toward the young couple. They were both now able to clearly see her milky white blind eyes. "I see that you have brought us some new friends." Narcissa reached out and touched Heather's cheek, even as the young girl tried to shy away from her by burrowing into Oscar's embrace. "The past can only haunt those that let it, child." She told her. "Allow the past to bury its own dead. You have a bright new future ahead of you. Your strength and your happiness are within your reach and within yourself." Then the old woman seemed to withdraw into her own world and continued along the tunnel, muttering and chuckling to herself.
Jennifer stared after the old woman. "Wow, that actually almost made sense."
Oscar glanced at Jennifer in surprise. "What?"
Jennifer laughed. "Most of the time her babblings don't make much sense until after the fact. This time I think she was telling you that whatever the circumstances are that led you to us, they should be left in the past where they belong and that you should concentrate on each other and on your future." She shrugged and they all watched Narcissa disappear through the doorway and down the great spiral stairs.
"She looked so old and frail." Oscar commented as they turned to continue down the tunnel.
Jacob laughed as he gazed back the way the old woman had gone then responded to Oscar. "She's always looked like that. I've heard it said that she was born ancient Dad has told me that she looked just like that when he was my age." With a shrug Jacob turned and began leading them further along the new tunnel.
After a while Oscar noticed that they were now passing through an area with several openings on either side of the tunnel. The openings were all covered from the other side by old tapestries. His curiosity was peaked and he had to ask. "Why are there rugs across those openings?"
Jennifer glanced at the opening that they were currently passing then looked at Oscar. "Those are chambers where people live. We use those tapestries as a combination door and do not disturb sign. If the tapestry is pulled back then you are welcome to enter the chamber. If the tapestry is down then it means that the occupant wants privacy."
A few times they passed individuals that were going in the opposite direction who smiled and greeted Jacob, Linda and Jennifer by name. Oscar was surprised to note that the people they passed seemed to be totally unfazed by Jacob's appearance.
They came to an uncovered opening and Jacob led them into the chamber that turned out to be a surprisingly well equipped underground infirmary. There was an elderly man leaning on a crudely made cane and a middle aged woman in the chamber waiting for them. The older man turned to the middle aged woman. "Rosa, why don't you take the young lady into that chamber and check her over; meanwhile I'll examine the young man in this chamber." He had indicated two of the cave like openings off the main chamber.
Heather clung tightly to Oscar as she gazed into his eyes, despair and fear reflected in her expression. She barely shook her head in frightened denial. Oscar quickly tightened his arm protectively around her waist then drew himself to his full height, screwed up his courage, and stared the old man straight in the eyes. "We stay together." He stated flatly, determined stubbornness radiating from him in waves.
"That is completely inappropriate!" The old man remarked grumpily. "I can not examine you with her in the room and Rosa certainly can't give her a proper medical exam with you in the room."
As Oscar's face took on a look of grim determination, he reiterated. "We stay together!" Each held onto the other with an embrace strengthened by desperate need.
"This is foolishness." The old man grumbled.
"I don't think you have a choice, Father, nothing short of physical force is going to separate those two." Remarked the voice that Oscar had last heard in that storm drain tunnel. It was now coming from behind them.
They both turned around to see the giant hooded figure standing in the doorway they had just come through. The brighter lighting of the infirmary illuminated his face under the hood and they both could clearly see his leonine features within the hood he was still wearing. With a little squeak of surprise mixed with a tiny bit of fright, Heather clung even tighter to Oscar.
The huge lion-man spoke again. "If you will pardon me I have to go prepare my chamber for them. We don't have any free guest chambers available at present so I thought we could put them temporarily in my old chambers for tonight. If they decide to stay with us we can find them something more permanent tomorrow." The large lion-man turned and disappeared down the tunnel.
Oscar and Heather stared at the empty doorway for several seconds after the lion-man left. Then they turned to face Jennifer. Oscar paused a moment before he spoke to Jennifer. "You did say that he was your father?"
Jennifer laughed. "Well, I do tend to favor Mom but, as you can see, my twin brother definitely favors Dad."
Heather spoke up shyly. "Um, ah, you do have his eyes."
Father cleared his throat to get their attention. "We still have to check you both over, make sure that you are both OK."
Oscar again tightened his arm around Heather. "We stay together." He repeated defiantly.
"That is just not done." Father responded. "The two examination chambers are right next to each other; you will only be less than a dozen feet from each other."
Heather barely shook her head as she continued to cling to Oscar who jutted his chin out stubbornly.
Jacob interrupted at this point. "Oscar, is Heather's baby yours?"
Heather, Oscar and Father all looked at Jacob in shocked surprise. After recovering his wits Oscar exclaimed. "How . . . how did you know?"
Based on both of their emotional response, Jacob knew that he had guessed correctly about Oscar's involvement and nodded with a hint of self-satisfaction as he responded. "I could sense the presence of the baby inside her. That means it has to be at least eight weeks along." He turned to father. "Grandfather, under the circumstances I don't think either one of them will be seeing anything new. And, as Dad said, it would take a crowbar to separate them. They've come from a very bad situation where I suspect other's tried to separate them. Each of them is probably all that the other one has and now they are in a very strange place among strange people. They are in love and, right now, they need to stay together. That need is so strong that it practically overwhelms the other emotions." He strode to the doorway. "While you take care of them, I'll go help Dad get the chamber ready for them." Then he exited the infirmary and disappeared down the tunnel.
Father stared at the young couple for a few seconds then, with a grumbling shrug, he finally relented and escorted them both into the same side chamber where he and Rosa could examine them together. Jennifer and Linda remained in the main infirmary chamber to wait for Father and Rosa to finish the examination.
As the examination began Oscar inquired of Father "He knew about the baby. How could he know that?"
Father paused a moment. "That is a bit hard to explain. Jacob, Vincent and Charles can sense the emotions of those around them. As far as the baby . . ." He shrugged. "The best that I can figure, once the unborn is over two months along I suspect that it begins to experience primitive emotions and that is probably what they sense." He shook his head. "I don't really understand this ability of theirs or how it works but the evidence of its existence is undeniable."
Oscar thought a moment about it then asked. "Who are Vincent and Charles?"
Father responded. "Vincent is Jacob and Jennifer's father who you met earlier. Charles is their little brother. He is like Vincent and Jacob."
Oscar nodded, thought a moment then inquired. "The young one, ah, Jacob, called you 'Grandfather'?"
Rosa responded. "Someone that used to live down here found Vincent as an abandoned infant hidden in the trash behind Saint Vincent Hospital and brought him to Father. He raised Vincent as his own son, so Vincent looks to Father as his real father and Vincent's children call him 'Grandfather'."
Father gazed into Oscars eyes at this point. "Exactly how old are you two?" He paused again waiting for an answer. Oscar and Heather glanced worriedly at each other, which Father didn't fail to notice. Father cleared his throat drawing the attention of both youngsters. "I already know that you are both underage, which is a subject for another time, if that is what you're worried about. What I need now is your true age so that I can accurately judge your health and know what measures might be necessary to insure that the young lady delivers a healthy child."
After a few moments Oscar replied. "I'm sixteen and a half. Heather will turn sixteen in one month. We both want to keep the baby and when we get old enough we're going to get married." There was a ring of determination in Oscar's voice and a look of loving admiration in Heather's eyes, both of which were noted by Father and Rosa.
Rosa, who had been examining Heather's belly, spoke up. "I would guess that the baby is probably about three and a half to four months along." She smiled at Heather. "And it seems to be developing normally."
Finally the exams were done and, after a quick consultation with Rosa, Father announced the results. "Other than signs of malnutrition, exposure and exhaustion, you both seem to be in descent shape and the pregnancy appears to be developing normally. You both need plenty of rest and good healthy food. As for you young lady, I am putting you on a strict diet of William's food to be supplemented by a series of vitamins to insure that you and your baby are healthy."
Father pulled the tapestry, that had covered the opening to the little side chamber, aside. "Jennifer, Linda, why don't you take our two young guests to the dining chamber and see if you can get them something to eat. If I know William, he probably already has something ready for them by now. Then you can show them to Vincent's old chamber."
Linda and Jennifer led Oscar and Heather a short way down the tunnel to a large two level chamber full of books that they called Father's library. They went down a metal spiral stairway to the lower level, through the library chamber, down another tunnel and finally to a large chamber that looked like an underground version of a school cafeteria. As the old man they all called Father had guessed there was already a light meal set out for both of them. Beside the table a large rotund and ruddy skinned man was standing with his fists planted on his hips watching them as they approached.
"Well it's about time. The food was starting to cool off." The large man remarked.
Jennifer responded. "Sorry, William, but Grandfather insisted on checking them over first."
"Well Father has his priorities and I have mine. My priority is to get everyone in the tunnels properly fed." He did however take a less belligerent stance. "What about you and Linda?"
Linda spoke first. "After that wonderful dinner you fed us I just can't eat any more."
Jennifer spoke up. "I ate at home but thanks anyway."
Oscar and Heather found themselves faced with bowls of delicious and hearty soup which they both devoured hungrily as William watched approvingly. Linda and Jennifer both watched, amused at William's attitude.
Jennifer started toward the back of the chamber. "But I am however a bit thirsty." She picked up a battered cup and poured something out of a large pitcher into it. Then she took a sip and looked up in surprise. "Kool-Aid?"
William shrugged. "Gift from one of our helpers."
"That helper wouldn't by any chance be mom would it?" Jennifer was grinning.
William smiled and nodded. "She knows how much the children down here like it."
As Heather was quietly remarking on the delicious soup they were eating, Linda leaned toward her and remarked to her in a low conspiratorial voice. "Being placed on a strict diet of William's cooking has never exactly be classified as unpleasant."
Heather glanced at Linda in surprise then broke into a shy grin and nodded. Then she was again concentrating on her soup. Oscar chuckled at Linda's comment.
Once the food had been consumed, Linda and Jennifer led the young couple to a new chamber located close by that was about the size of a two room hotel suite. The outer chamber was dominated to their right by a large half circular blue and gold stained glass window, and to their left by an eight foot tall statue of blind justice. How that Statue got into this small underground chamber was anybody's guess. There was also a sofa bed under the window, a coffee table, two large old overstuffed chairs and a beat-up but serviceable old desk, and a cobbled together bookshelf full of books. There were burning candles scattered all around the chamber. Beside the bookshelf was a ladder that went up to a small alcove above the opening where they had entered. Next to the statue was another opening to a second chamber. In the center of the chamber stood Jacob and Vincent.
After a moment Oscar asked. "If this is your place, then where are you going to sleep?"
Jennifer responded. "Mom and Dad have a brownstone next to the park. They only stay down here on weekends."
"Speaking of which . . ." Vincent remarked. "I'm going home now." He walked to the doorway and stopped. "You three don't stay out too late tonight." Then he left.
"Three?" Oscar asked after Vincent was gone.
Linda responded. "I'm staying with them while my parents are out of town on business . . . remember."
"The bedroom is through here." Jennifer called from the other doorway.
They followed her into the smaller bedroom chamber. It contained a very large California king bed, an old chest of drawers and an armoire. On the wall near the door was a large painting of the creature that Jennifer and Jacob referred to as their father with a very pretty woman enfolded in his arms. Oscar and Heather stared enthralled at the painting.
Jennifer stepped up next to them. "That's Mom and Dad about a year after they first met."
Linda stepped up to the other side. "The funny thing is, the artist is supposed to have died the winter before Catherine and Vincent met." Heather and Oscar looked at her in surprise. Linda shrugged. "Go figure."
Jacob stepped up next to them. "You're welcome to use anything in these chambers that you need. The top two drawers of that chest have clothes that should fit you. The only thing we ask is that you be careful around that painting. It's a family heirloom."
They went back into the room with the stained glass and the statue. Jennifer pointed out the tapestry that had been hooked back next to the opening into the chamber. "You lower the tapestry across the opening for privacy. Down here we never enter a chamber blocked by a tapestry unless it is a serious emergency."
Linda gave them quick instructions making sure that they both knew how to get to the dining chamber, the bath chamber and the library chamber. "If you need any help or directions you can usually find someone that can help you in either the dining chamber, bathing chamber or in the library."
After making sure that Oscar and Heather were settled in, the three youngsters left them on their own.
Heather and Oscar spent nearly an hour exploring the small underground apartment then they climbed into the large very comfortable bed. Heather quickly fell asleep. Oscar lay there for a very long time thinking about the last few hours. Since that creature first showed up in that drainage tunnel until about an hour ago, he had been going along in a kind of dazed fog. The only time that he had actively resisted was when they tried to separate him and Heather. Now he was wide awake and alert. He reached over and gently caressed Heather then slipped out of the bed.
He went over and peered out into the tunnel. There was no one in sight. He went over to the makeshift bookshelf and scanned the books he found there. Most of the titles and authors were unknown to him. He recognized the name Shakespeare and opened the book. After a few minutes he shook his head, the strange wording was too hard to make sense of. He shrugged his shoulders and put the book back. He pulled down another book titled 'Tom Sawyer' and opened it.
Oscar was getting into the book when he heard Heather cry out for him. He rushed into the bed chamber to find a nearly hysterical Heather in the bed calling for him. He quickly climbed into the bed and wrapped his arms protectively around her. "I'm right here, Honey."
"I woke up and you were gone." She cried.
"I told you that I would always be here to take care of you. I just went into the other room to look at the books."
"I'm sorry, but when I woke up, I didn't know where I was and you weren't there and I got scared."
"Don't worry about it." He hugged her. "Why don't you lay back down and I'll read to you."
~ x x x x x ~
Oscar awoke to confusion and the strange sound of erratic clanging. He immediately looked for and found Heather sound asleep beside him and relaxed slightly. Then he remembered the strange event's of last night. He looked around in the flickering light of the single candle and could barely make out the surrounding rock walls. After a quick search he found the book he had been reading on the floor by the bed. Then Heather began to stir.
Oscar located and lit a few more candles from the tall candle, the only one that had lasted all night. Both of them found their attention drawn to the painting of Vincent and Catherine. Then they dug out some fresh clothes and got dressed. Heather had become fascinated by the candles. She was entranced by the wide variety of colors and scents available in the drawer full of candles that Oscar had found.
When they looked into the other chamber they found a little gift someone had left for them. On the floor against the wall next to the tapestry was a tray with two bowls of cereal and a slightly beat up pitcher of milk. Oscar lit some more candles then they dug into their breakfast. While they were eating their breakfast, they compared their impressions of everything that had happened last night. Their presence in the rock chamber and the painting in the other room were ample proof that it had all been real.
After they had finished their breakfast Oscar suggested that they take the dishes to the dining chamber then check out the library chamber. Oscar put out most of the candles, hooked back the tapestry and, with Heather's hand firmly grasping his arm, they left the chamber.
As they headed down the tunnel they noticed the growing thrum of many voices. Then the noise got much louder as they came to the dining chamber. Heather was surprised and a bit intimidated by the large number of people in the dining chamber. Oscar put his arm protectively around her and she drew strength and comfort from the contact. They turned and continued down the tunnel until they came to the library chamber.
When they entered the library they saw Father and Vincent, heads together, staring at a stack of large sheets of paper on the desk at the far side of the room. Vincent was speaking. " . . . then if we clear this chamber out and enlarge the adjacent storage chamber we can close off this opening and cut a new door into this chamber . . ." Vincent stopped and looked up at the young couple then turned back to the old man. "I'll get right on it. Shouldn't take more than a week for the whole project." He nodded to Oscar and Heather. "Good morning. If you will pardon me I have work that I must do." He quickly headed up the spiral stairs and out of the chamber.
"How are you doing this morning?" Father asked.
"Um, OK I guess." Oscar replied.
"Good, Good." Father responded.
At that point Jennifer came bounding into the library from the opening to their left. "Morning Grandfather. Have Oscar and . . ." She came to a sudden stop. "Oh good you're already up. I thought I might show you around today."
Father nodded. "That sounds like a good idea." His brows furrowed as he admonished her. "Just be sure you stick to the main tunnels . . . no dangerous shortcuts."
Jennifer smiled brightly. "Yes, Grandfather, I'll be careful." Then she turned to Oscar and Heather. "Let's go."
~ o ~
Jennifer took them first to the painted tunnels where they stared at all the paintings while she told them about the history of the tunnels. Oscar and Heather were particularly interested in the story of how Vincent was found abandoned behind the hospital and the story about how Vincent and Catherine met.
After a couple of hours they moved on and stopped in the children's dormitory where the homeless children that were taken in by the tunnel community slept. She took them next to the whispering gallery where they spent some time listening to the voices and talking about some of the things that they heard.
Soon it was getting close to lunch time and they started back toward the home chambers.
Oscar was a bit curious and asked. "Where is your brother?"
Jennifer responded. "Knowing Jake, he's probably with Linda." She paused a moment and her eyes lost focus. Then she glanced around as if getting her bearings. "They're on their way back from our brownstone."
Oscars brows furrowed. "How do you know where he is?"
She shrugged. "I can feel his presence. We have a kind of bond that allows us to feel each other's emotions and location. We've had this link since we were born." She smiled. "It's kinda cool most of the time but, sometimes when one of us doesn't want the other to know what we are up to, it can be a real pain, but I would hate to lose my connection to him."
She led them around a corner and they found themselves among a little over a half dozen people that were all heading in the same direction. Heather clung tightly onto Oscar's arm as she glanced around at the other people. A minute later they arrived at the entrance to the dining chamber. The chamber was crowded and noisy. Heather took one look at the chaos and tried to hang back.
Continued in Part 3
'Beauty and the Beast' and its characters are owned by Witt-Thomas Productions and Republic Pictures. No infringement on copyrights is intended. This story is presented merely for the enjoyment of fans. Original concepts and story elements may be used by other authors as long as appropriate credit is given.
