CHAPTER 3

Brian was wandering through the gardens to clear his head. He felt like he was caught up in a whirlwind. He'd been in a car crash, ended up in a coma, was visited by agents from the US Government and now he and his sister were being haunted by a mysterious figure. Unfortunately, Tommy hadn't bugged the garden so someone would have to follow Brian around the grounds of the mansion. Robert kindly agreed to go as he could see that Tommy needed to crash.

"How could this all be linked to the car accident?" Brian wondered aloud.

He wandered briefly out of Robert's view, behind a large fountain.

"It's simple Brian" said a smooth female voice.

Brian turned to see a beautiful black haired woman in a loose white jumpsuit with a gold tunic and trousers underneath. Robert was even more surprised to see this woman as the couple emerged from the other side of the fountain. Where had she come from? Surely she hadn't been hiding behind the fountain.

"What, who are you?" Brian exclaimed, clearly startled.

The woman smiled, "I'm Roma, it's nice to meet you Brian."

She paused. Brian didn't know what to say.

"Before you ask, no, I'm not the mysterious figure that you keep seeing. You have to be open with him, talk to him. He will guide you."

As mysteriously as she arrived, she disappeared as Brian rounded the corner and out of Robert's view again.

James sat quietly in his study drinking his tea and reading letters he had received while he was in London.

"I'm glad to see Brian is back on his feet" came a voice.

James turned to see him, the man in the dark cloak.

"You could've given me some notice" James replied.

The man took off his cloak, which instantly disappeared, revealing himself as an older gentleman in a full white jumpsuit with a deep blue tunic and trousers.

"I can't tell you everything about your future, you know that" the man smiled knowingly.

"My son nearly died and now he's being haunted by you" James paused "I will introduce him to this. Stop appearing to him Merlyn."

"I can't do that James, the vision of me that haunts him is a part of his sub-conscious, trying to alert him to the fact that this is real. Only once he accepts his new life, will the visions stop."

In the van down the road, Robert slapped Tommy on the back.

"Good job with the microphones in the study kid."

Brian sat in a big burgundy armchair in the huge living room. He tried to read but he was too distracted. The sun had disappeared from view and now rain was battering against the windows. The wind howled through the old chimney and played with the fire in front of him. It danced as the burning wood spat up red embers. Brian thought he could see the cloaked figure in the flames and then the woman, Roma, who had appeared to him outside. He twirled his finger around above the corner of his mouth. If only he had a moustache to twirl as he pondered the day's events. What could it all mean?

Betsy lay along the couch just behind Brian with her eyes closed. Her mind was violently swirling like the wind outside. She could see the cloaked figure, a black haired young woman. She saw an old castle that she'd never been to before and her father in odd clothing. She felt scared, confused and something else, she felt different. There was the warmth of the fire and the wet caress of the rain. She reached for her top lip but stopped as her father burst into the room. She jumped up.

"Betsy, could you give me a moment alone with Brian?"

"Of course" she smiled hesitantly as she left.

Once Betsy had shut the door, James cautiously looked around the room as he sat in the other armchair.

"Brian, you remember the story of Captain Britain that I told you as a young boy?"

"Of course. I loved it. It's what inspires me every day to be the best I can be" enthused Brian.

"Yes" his father sighed, "Brian. It's true and it's our story."

"Sorry, father, I don't understand" Brain stammered.

"The man you have been seeing in your visions, it's Merlyn. In Camelot, I was Captain Britain but my earth no longer needed me so Merlyn brought me here to a world that needed its own Captain Britain. Then I met your mother, we had you and now the role of Captain Britain falls to you."

A huge gust of wind then blew through the chimney, extinguishing the fire, the cloaked figure appeared in front of the fire with the young woman, Roma. Brian instinctively pressed himself against the armchair, as if hoping he could fall through it. All he could do was watch as the figure pulled off his hood and cloak to reveal himself. He was just an old man in what looked like the same style of clothes as Roma. Maybe it was a uniform.

"Do not be afraid Brian" he said, "I am Merlyn. I'm here to help and guide you, as is my daughter Roma who I believe you have already met."

Brian turned, feeling a mixture of confused, terrified and excited. His father was now knelt beside him nodding slowly. They were all so caught up in what was going on that none of them noticed Robert and Tommy staring through the window.

"Brian, you have been chosen as a worthy heir to the title of Captain Britain, defender of the innocent and champion of Great Britain. We are going to help prepare you for your role Captain" Merlyn announced.

"Wait, what now?" Brian interrupted.

"I know it's daunting Brian" James began "I've been there so trust me – you are ready for this."

"He's right Brian, I can tell. With the teachings and blood from your father, one of my greatest successes, you are the one" Merlyn added.

Brian relaxed in his chair. Today really was a crazy day. This sounded like a daunting task but also an interesting adventure.