"It all started a few months ago on this dirt road west of London." Martin explained as Diana looked through the contents of the envelope.
"Ontario?" she asked cheekily. Her brother responded with a roll of his eyes.
"Hilarious, Di. London, as in the capital of the United Kingdom. You know as much as I do that nothing ever happens in London, Ontario." He remarked rather sardonically and went on explaining the case. "And, actually, now that I think about it, it's closer to Durham. No, Diana, not in Ontario either. People have started disappearing in totally mysterious ways, as if they just 'teleported' away- for a lack of a better word."
Diana felt her eyes widen at the numbers on the page. "Wow, 20 people in 5 months?"
"Yeah, and those are just the reported missing persons. Since the beginning of March, people have just begun dropping off the grid. There were no signs of struggling either. Just their own footsteps walking in one direction, and then… nothing." Martin finished cryptically.
"Could they just be serial kidnappings? Did you inform the police?" Diana asked. Martin rolled his eyes. She was still as skeptical as ever.
"I doubt it sis. The victims have nothing in common." He explained and then handed her some more papers. "Get this; there were people who disappeared exactly the same way over a hundred years ago, in the exact same place, never to be seen again…"
"So… aliens." Diana muttered, collecting Martin's plate, of which he had practically licked clean, and her own, and placed them in the sink.
"The only logical explanation." Martin grinned. "Something paranormal at least. Up for the mission?" Diana did not have to think about it for very long.
"Count me in!" she nodded. "I'll just call the hospital and-"
"I've got it covered." He said firmly. Diana smiled, knowing full well he had arranged her absence long before he had showed up at her flat.
"Alright then, just me a second to change and then we can leave." She added slipping into her bedroom.
Martin waited for all of 2 minutes before becoming bored. He just couldn't help it. Even as a youth he would always be found jumping off the walls and others places. He remembered being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder when he was a young lad. Although the doctor suggested prescribing medicine to help, his parents decided against it. His mom believed-very firmly- that he was no different from the other children, at least not in a negative way.
His mom, his birth mother. She had died when he was seven years old- of brain cancer. It had been terminal and it seemed that she was there one minute and gone the next. And so was his father, not physically of course, but emotionally. After the death of his mother, Martin and his dad never got along in the same way. His father dealt with the death in his own special way. He became so immersed in his work that he barely noticed Martin anymore. He seemed to be drowning in archaeology with no one to throw him a life saver. Until that fateful day he met Diana's mother. Despite the fact that the bride to be would be replacing his mother, Martin was ecstatic when learning upon the fact that his father was remarrying. After all, the look on his father's face on the wedding day was pure, unspoiled joy and Martin hadn't seen that emotion in a long time.
"Mom." He said quietly and sorrowfully to himself. It pained him to know that if it wasn't for the picture of her he kept on him at all times, he would no longer remember what she looked like. The memory of her was fading way faster and faster and he knew that eventually he wouldn't be able to recall her face anymore. Banishing away the sad but inevitable truth, he channeled his thoughts elsewhere.
As Diana was changing and powdering her nose-or whatever it was that women did, he found solace in rummaging through her apartment. "Condo" he corrected himself. "I guess being a doctor really does have its financial benefits." He continued looking through her drawers and such and thought ruefully, "I save the world on a daily basis, where is my paycheck and overflowing bank account?"
The flat was designed very nicely and clearly by a professional who knew what he was doing. "Contemporary." He thought, using some of the words he had learned in a high school art course. It had an office feel to it. A doctor's office at that. Diana had many a bookshelf, ones with fictional classics that were read to them as children and ones with textbooks thicker than cinderblocks that had words Martin couldn't even being to recognize, let alone comprehend. Hanging neatly on the walls were an assortment of diplomas, certificates, and awards, as well as the published essays and reports that helped Diana to earn the former specified. Clearly, she was a very accomplished woman.
The one thing she lacked in her apartment was any sign of a social life. He couldn't see signs of anyone else living with her or even signs that she had visitors or… friends. The only place that was remotely unkempt was her desk. It was piled with textbooks, and her laptop and excess papers were scattered all over the place.
Before he had a chance to look through the contents of the papers, Diana emerged from her room looking a tad bit more cheerful. She was wearing a pair of khakis, a light purple sweater and hiking boots that looked rather new. She hadn't dyed her hair so it was relatively the same since the last time she was on a mission, if not a bit longer.
"Ready to go?" she asked as Martin feigned innocence. With a nod, Martin summoned a portal door with his U- Watch and they walked into it, submerging themselves in the blue that was the Center.
Word Count: 1,000
AN: I am tempted to change the U-watch into the Chronoscan after the French version of this show because let's face it-Chronoscan has a much better ring to it, especially when it's said in a French accent. Please review and comment as such and I'll try and hurry up the chapter process!
Cheers,
BOZ1310- May 11, 2013