'Woohoo! It's summer!' Anne yells as she charges out of the school ahead of us.
'Annie, slow down!' Kitty cries as she and Jane race after their cousin. 'We agreed we would walk together.'
'Running is more fun!' Catalina, Anna, and I watch the spectacle in front of us. Then, we see Henry walking toward us, and we make a run for it. We catch up with Anne, Kitty and Jane before we make it out the school gates. Henry isn't chasing us, which is at least one good thing.
Rocky, Bessie, Maggie and Joan are waiting for us. Their teacher let them out early, and they are all wearing green sunglasses. 'Those sunglasses look cool,' I say. 'Where did you get them from?'
'We got them from the new store that opened on the high street, Holbein Boutique. They do all sorts of things that could work for your girl group,' Rocky says.
We showed everyone the video we did for our history project when Catalina added them to the group chat. After months of excessively using our costumes to try new dance routines for other songs we might want to do, they all broke. Maybe the fabric we used wasn't the best material for costumes, not if they break within months. Mum and Mummy had to deal with all of us shouting and crying over our beloved costumes.
Maybe Holbein Boutique will give us some inspiration.
As we walk down the street, Rocky, Bessie, Maggie, and Joan get their phones out. 'This is the shop,' Rocky says and shows us a picture. The front of the shop looks warm and inviting. Holbein Boutique is in white letters, and the shop windows show that the inside looks slightly chaotic.
'That looks like our sort of place,' Anne says. 'We might get some ideas while we're there.'
Before we head into town, we are about to head home to change out of their school uniform when I notice the neighbours over the road talking and glancing over at my house. 'Why are they looking over at your house?' Rocky asks, folding her arms.
'I don't know, but I don't like the look of it.' We all stare at the two of them, hoping they will move off.
The neighbours don't move. 'We need to go over there and tell them to stop looking at your house,' Rocky says. 'That shouldn't be allowed.'
'I agree,' Joan nods.
'I'm going over there now,' Maggie says. 'No one stares at our friends' house and gets away with it.'
'Whoa, whoa, whoa!' I yell, holding Maggie back. 'They're doing nothing wrong yet. Let's leave them alone, and they'll hopefully leave us alone.' We head back to our homes.
'Did you three have a good day at school?' Mummy asks.
'It was fine,' Jane says. 'But we're relieved it's the summer holidays. Oh, Rocky, Joan, Bessie, and Maggie found a shop that opened in town recently. Can we go?'
'I don't see why not,' Mum says. 'Just make sure you're back for dinner, okay?'
'We will,' I promise.
When we're changed, we're ready to leave when the doorbell rings. Instead of Catalina, Anna, Kitty, Rocky, Joan, Bessie and Maggie standing there, it's the neighbours. Our friends are close behind them. 'Are you guardians in?' The man asks. Why doesn't he ask if my mums are in?
'Yes, they are.' I fold my arms. 'And for your information, they're my mums. I think we told you that last time, and you conveniently forgot.' Rocky starts giggling. 'And you barged in last time, so I'm not moving aside. Anne!' I spot Anne running down the stairs. 'Can you please tell Mum and Mummy that the annoying and insulting neighbours are here?'
'Sure,' Anne agrees. 'Do you want me to use that exact wording?' I nod, and Anne yells the message from the doorway. Mum and Mummy walk over and tell us that we can go to town and visit Holbein Boutique.
When we get to Holbein Boutique, we see that hardly anyone is in the shop. We step inside, and the store owner looks up. 'Herzlich willkommen!' He says and hurries over to us. 'It's lovely to see you. Can I do anything for you?'
'We're just browsing now, but thank you,' Rocky says.
The man nods. 'If you need anything, I'll be behind the counter.' He hurries away.
'That's Mr Holbein,' Maggie says. 'He was reincarnated about twenty years ago, from what I remember. He enjoyed fashion since then and set this place up.'
'How do you know about this?' Jane asks.
'He worked out who we were, and I wouldn't be surprised if he works out who you are soon.'
'Mr Holbein, as in, Hans Holbein, the famous painter?' I ask. 'One of the most well-known artists at Henry VIII's court?'
'Ja,' Mr Holbein agrees from behind the counter. 'I had the pleasure of meeting all of you in my previous life.'
I guess that would explain why Hans was so excited to see us when we walked inside.
We begin searching through everything that Holbein Boutique has to offer. There are all sorts of clothes that clearly support the LGBT+ community, plain clothes and ones that look like you can see on the runway. There are some interesting things there, but I'm not really into fashion, and I don't need any new clothes. Everyone else seems to have a great time, so I quietly slip away to a different part of the shop.
'You all right?' Mummy asks when she and Mum join us. They come to check on me first.
'Yeah,' I sigh. 'Fashion's never been one of my interests, but I guess I should make an effort for my friends.'
'Don't think that you have to change yourself for your friends,' Mum says. 'Your friends will understand if you be yourself.'
'But they already know everything about my future self. What if they're trying to mould me to be like her?'
'You two seem very similar already, except that she's got more experience, and she's lost more than you have.'
'I guess five hundred years of love and loss would get to someone.'
'Exactly. I mean, think of it from her point of view. She's probably had enough of life, and it's like going through the same motions every day until she goes out to sea. She hardly leaves her room, from what she told us.' Come to think of it; I barely see my older self. Is it because she doesn't want to run into me, or is it because of something else? Mum said that she probably had enough of her life—do I grow suicidal?
'The older Emma seems very worn out,' Mummy agrees. 'And I'm not surprised. She's experienced so much heartbreak, and not mourning isn't helping.'
'But it could be that she lost her true love. If that's the case, no amount of mourning will ever help.'
I hope my older self will get over what happened. It seems silly that she hasn't mourned her husband, but she said that if she starts crying, she won't stop.
My friends soon hurry over and drag me over to a clothing rack, saying that the found something they thought I might like. It is a pair of dark blue dungarees. I pair it with a rainbow-striped jumper and go to try them on. The dungarees feel comfortable, and the jumper is bright and feels cool against my skin.
Mum and Mummy tell me they'll buy the clothes for me, even though I have enough money. 'We don't buy a lot for you,' Mummy says. 'So, we want to buy this for you.'
'At least the outfit will work if we're running around,' I say. Mum and Mummy nod, and we head over to the counter to pay. Mr Holbein looks up as we walk over.
'A perfect choice, Miss Smith-White,' he says. I don't remember telling him my name, and I don't think my friends mentioned it.
'How do you know my name?'
'I served at Court, and we met a lot. I painted your portrait while you were queen, and you adored it.'
'I'm afraid I haven't got to that point yet.'
'I can see that,' Mr Holbein nods. 'Your eyes are as young as your body, but when you are at Court, your eyes betray your age.'
'You pick up a lot about people, Mr Holbein.'
'Please, Miss Smith-White, call me Hans.' Hans places my new clothes in a bag, and Mummy pays for them.
When we get back home, I spot my older self leaving Catalina's house in her White Waves Line uniform. She checks to make sure the road is clear before hurrying over to us. 'Emma, I need to talk to you; it's urgent.'
'I guess we'll see you inside,' Catalina says.
'Yeah, I'll be there in a bit,' I say. Everyone else heads inside, and I turn to my older self. 'What is it?'
'I don't have long; I'm due to leave tomorrow to head back on the Orissa.' Emma frantically glances around. 'You'll have to repeat these conversations, which is why I try limiting the number of times we talk.' She pulls a sheet of paper and hands it to me. 'You can communicate to my—our—second husband through this whenever you get stuck and need help. It will go up to...' Emma covers her hand with her mouth, and I know better than to push her.
'What does it do?'
'It tells you what you need to focus on, it's not always clear, but it helps. I guess you're wondering how it will help if you end up in the Tower. Don't worry; it disguises itself so you can keep it on you. If anyone tries looking at it, it will be blank. Go on, try it.' I open the piece of paper.
Start a detailed journal.
'I was confused by that,' the older Emma says. 'But then my older self told me, which is basically what this is, that I go on so many adventures and meet so many people that I should write everything down. I started back in my toddlerhood and went right up until today. I've got so many volumes- not that I'll let you read them since you'll write them later.'
'Makes sense,' I shrug.
'You'll want to start soon, so shall I leave you to get on?' I nod, and the older Emma moves away.
'Wait, how will I know it's him?'
'I asked my older self the same question, and the only reason why you will know it's him is that you see him writing down some of the answers when you're with him.' Emma turns and leaves.
I look back down at the piece of paper. Either my older self is going mental, or she's telling the truth. Now, I'm leaning more toward the first option.
I head inside and show my friends what Emma gave me. 'You should follow Will's advice,' Catalina says. 'He's usually right, and you've told him a lot about your past in 1900, which is why he can give those answers.'
'I don't like the fact that another person knows more about me than I know myself.'
'But you should start that journal. They come in use later on,' Anna assures me.
'I don't have a blank notebook to write everything in. I'll get one tomorrow.'
When I go into town the next morning, I head into the stationery store when Hans catches my eye. He's sitting outside his shop with a sketchbook in his hands. I quickly abandon my search for a notebook to talk to him. I'm wearing my new jumper and denim dungarees, and I'm glad my friends pointed them out to me. 'Hi, Hans,' I say and walk over.
'Hi, Emma. I see you're wearing your new clothes.'
'Yeah, they're fantastic!'
'What brings you into town today?'
'I'm looking for a notebook I can use for my journal.'
'I'll leave you to it then. See you soon.'
'See you soon.' I head back into the stationery store to find a notebook suitable.
The notebook I pick out has a UFO on the front cover shining down a rainbow light and three letters written in gold 'Give me space'. It seems perfect, so I buy it. Once I get home, I start documenting everything that happened in my life so far and include as much detail as I can.
Over the summer, we realise that the neighbours living opposite me aren't causing any trouble. A while later, a For Sale sign appears, and rumours start flying around.
'Mrs Kuthrapali says that they ran away screaming about aliens, but Mum says not to pay attention to her,' Catalina says. She, Kitty, and Anna joined us for breakfast one morning when Mum comes home from the shops.
'Sarah!' She calls up the stairs. 'We might have something to investigate!' She's holding up a bottle of Bubbleshock.
'Oh?' Mummy asks, and she runs downstairs. She glances at the bottle of orange liquid. 'I've read into that. It normally takes years of tests for a company to market a new foodstuff, but they got theirs in two weeks.' Mum places the bottle on the table, and Anne opens it.
A horrible smell fills the air as soon as the lid comes off. It almost smells like poo mixed in with vomit. I start gagging, and Mum almost runs out of the room. 'Get that thing out of the house!' She yells. Anne pours the drink down the sink and rinses the bottle out before putting it in the recycling bin.
'I can still smell it,' I moan. We start scrubbing the sink, and I retrieve the bottle and throw it in the outside bin. When Mum and I finally come back, the room finally smells normal.
'I think we must investigate Bubbleshock,' Mummy says. 'They're doing tours around the factory.'
'If I can control how I react around Bubbleshock, I could go,' I say.
'Don't worry about it, Emma,' Jane says. 'The rest of us will go.' I give Jane a look.
'I'm going. There's something else going on.'
We go on the first tour and follow a man around the factory. While we are there, I tune out everything and pick up a bottle of Bubbleshock for Mr Smith to analyse. My friends also pick up a bottle at the beginning of the tour, but we don't drink any. Most of these we'll bin as soon as we get home.
During one tour, I sneak away to check out the rest of the factory. I told my friends to cover for me, so I hope no one will notice until I'm done. I walk through several different rooms and corridors that our tour guide doesn't show, and I enter a strange room. It seems out of place with the rest of the factory since it looks more like a hospital. There are breathing apparatus and equipment all over the room, displaying signals of something. At one end of the room is a whole load of computers. I look at the blue screens and realise that it shows everyone who ever visited the factory—including my friends and me. Why are they gathering data about the people who visit?
Then, I remember the security scan at the start. Everyone who goes on the tour gets scanned, but what could it all mean? Why would they do that? I follow some of the wires leading from the computer to a slab covered by a thin white sheet. Under the sheet is a boy wearing a breathing mask. I take the fabric off him and notice that he's wearing a white tunic, matching shorts and sneakers. I wave my hand in front of his face, but the boy doesn't react.
I notice he has brown hair like me. As I move to cover him, the boy's eyes open. 'Shh, shh!' I whisper, placing a finger to my lips. He takes his mask off. The boy opens his mouth to speak, thinks better of it, then closes it again. 'I'm not meant to be here. I was investigating.' The boy's blue eyes stare at me as he thinks about what I said.
'I'm not meant to be here. I was investigating,' the boy whispers, and I groan. A boy parroting back to me is the last thing I need.
'Go back to sleep. They can't know you've woken up.'
'Why can't they know that?'
'Because they might think that something went wrong if you're awake.'
'And you're not meant to be here?'
'No.' I stand by the boy. 'I was part of the tour, then sneaked away. I'm helping my parents work out what's going on with the new drink, Bubbleshock.' We hear footsteps coming towards us. 'Put your mask back on and go to sleep!' The boy pulls his mask over his head, and I cover him with the cloth. I duck behind the slab just as someone enters the room.
'How's he doing?' A cold, female voice asks. Someone goes to check a nearby computer.
'He's not woken up, which is a good start,' a male worker says. 'Should I give him any communication skills?'
'Oh, no. There's no need for that. Once he's fulfilled his purpose and got the remaining two per cent drinking Bubbleshock, there will be no need of him. What, you getting sentimental over the boy?'
'No, ma'am,' he says. The two of them walk out, and I peek out of my hiding place. Neither of them looks back, and I move away from the slab. The boy twitches, and I remove the cloth.
'I can't leave you here much longer,' I whisper. 'They'll kill you if I don't get you out.'
The boy takes off his mask. 'They said there would be no more need of me.' He doesn't sound scared or even worried. He's saying it matter-of-factly.
'Which basically means kill. I won't leave you here. If I do, I'd never be able to live with myself. Do you have a name?'
The boy shakes his head. 'What's yours?'
'If I tell you that, someone could find out.'
'You don't trust me.'
'I don't know you. Put your mask back on.' The boy does as I tell him, and I cover him with the white sheet. He starts breathing normally, and I slip out of the room.
No one seems to think twice about it when I tag along at the end of a separate tour, and the bus takes us into town. My friends are waiting for me, and they all breathe a sigh of relief when I get off. 'WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET TO?' Anne screams as she tackles me into a hug.
'I was investigating. You'll never believe what I found!' We go to a local café, and I tell everyone about the boy I found. 'I think they're experimenting on him, and they'll kill him if we don't get him out.'
'We will do something, right ladies?' Catalina asks. Anne, Jane, Anna, and Kitty nod. I notice that Rocky, Maggie, Joan, and Bessie seem nervous. They aren't meeting our gaze, and Bessie is cowering. 'What is it?'
'We didn't want to tell you,' Rocky says, 'but we might not be here after the holidays.'
'What?' Anne asks. 'Please tell us you're pulling our legs.'
'I wish we could say that, but the truth's more difficult.' Maggie sighs. 'Our parents have been abducted. The people who took them promised to come for us next.'
'We won't let that happen,' Jane promises. 'We'll talk to Isabella, Ferdinand, Sarah Jane, and Ruby. They must do something!'
'But how will that protect us?' Joan asks.
'It will at least give us some peace of mind,' I tell them. Our friends nod, and we leave to talk to our respective parents.
Only a few days passed when we all agreed on a course of action. Rocky and Maggie will stay with me, Mum, Mummy, the Boleyns, and Jane, while Joan and Bessie move into the Aragon household. 'This better be it, though,' Mummy warns. 'We don't have much more space left.' My mind wanders back to that boy. If my mums are happy to take in my friends, would they be happy to take in a stranger? I guess there is only one way to find out.
