Wounded Future
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the original story to Professor Layton
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews and the support. Some of the dialogue is very similar to the dialogue in the game, but I've tried my best to keep make it different. Also, sorry its taking so long for Flora to meet Clive, next chapter, I promise.
Chapter 3
Flora leaned forwards as she attentive watched the red, double-decker bus begin to pick up speed. She was currently tailing Professor Layton and Luke to their next destination. They had once again abandoned her to go on another mystery solving adventure and Flora was tired of it. This time they were not going to get away from her. Also tailing Layton and Luke were Inspector Chelmey and his partner Barton. They followed Layton in hopes to gain a lead on the disappearance of the Prime Minister, Bill Hawks.
The Professor and Luke were soon spotted exiting their bus at the Midland Road. Both Detective Chelmey and Flora's taxi came to a halt as they got out of their cars to pursue Layton by foot. Chelmey and Barton followed at a close distance while Flora decided to stay a little further back. They ventured into a mysterious and narrow roadway lined with tall residential buildings and stores. Flora suddenly became intimidated as she had never been to this part of town before. The tall buildings loomed over Flora, and allowed very little sunlight to reach street level. They were lead deeper into the alleyway until they finally arrived at a building with an oversized clock on it. This store stood at the end of Midland Road and was discretely hidden from the rest of London.
"They're going to a clock shop?" Flora whispered aloud. She waited for Chelmey and Barton to disappear into the store before entering herself. She could hear the Professor and Chemley arguing about being tailed when she interrupted their conversation.
"I can't believe you, Professor!" Flora cried as she walked into the back area of the store. She suddenly felt overwhelmed as she fought back tears.
"You two ran off again, even after I made you those nice cucumber sandwiches!" Flora shouted in frustration.
"Flora, please try to understand. We didn't want to put you in any danger." The Professor reasoned.
"I don't believe you; you just think I'm going to get in your way! I don't know anyone in this town, what am I suppose to do when you two run off? Stare at the wall?" Flora cried.
Luke and the Professor furrowed their eyebrows as they began to feel empathetic for Flora. Chelmey too began to understand how Flora was feeling and agreed that the Professor should allow her to join their investigation.
"This could be get dangerous, Flora," the Professor pressed on with concern. "You could be seriously injured."
The debate was then interrupted when the clock shop manager informed them that they could not "wait any longer." Flora looked at the man with a quizzical expression and it was then that she noticed the large, looming clock that stood in front of them.
What was this place? She surveyed the colourful clocks that hung everywhere in the room. Her gaze stopped at the Professor when she overheard him arguing with the clock shop manager. The manager kept insisting that he couldn't wait, and that they must go. That someone was waiting, and they mustn't waste any time.
Go where? Who is waiting? Flora wondered.
But before she could say anything, the manager lost his patience for Layton. He stepped closer to the large clock and cranked down a side lever aggressively. The arms on the clock began to move and spin as the whole store began to tremble uncontrollably. Flora struggled to keep balance as the tremors intensified. She braced herself with fear, mentally begging for the shaking to stop. Almost as quickly as it started, the quake until suddenly began to calmed. She felt sick to her stomach, and her head spun with confusion and dizziness.
"Time travelling sure takes a lot out of you," Luke said as he held his stomach. Time travelling? Surely, he was kidding.
She blindly grabbed onto the Professor's arm in attempt to calm her nausea. They slowly exited the store and into a completely transformed Midland Road. What is going on? Flora wondered as she looked around. The space was now more opened; the tall looming buildings had now disappeared. Instead was a construction site, replacing the claustrophobic buildings. At the entrance of the shop Inspector Chelmey and Barton were resting from the trip.
The professor stopped to talk to Chelmey who seemed infuriated by their sudden mysterious surroundings. Flora could hear vaguely hear them talking as she concentrated on calming her stomach. She closed her eyes and listened to her breathing, desperately trying to block out Chelmey's yelling. Flora opened her eyes slowly as she began to recover from the massive quake.
"Let's go then, Barton. We're off to find the Prime Minister!" Chelmey cried as he stalked off with Barton at his heel.
The Prime Minister? Is he here? Flora wondered as the spinning calmed. Flora let go of the Professor's arm and quietly followed Luke and the Professor. She didn't know how, but the two seemed to know exactly where they were going.
"Where is the other Luke?" Luke suddenly asked the Professor.
"I'm not quite sure, but perhaps Shipley has some valuable information,"
Other Luke? What? And what's a 'Shipley'? Flora wondered.
She curiously followed them around the strange town. She observed right to left at what looked like London, but was distinctively different. They walked into a nearby bar, which Flora could swear was not there before. The bartender instantly looked up and smiled at the guests with warmth.
"Back again are we?" The bartender said with a throaty laugh. Flora raised her eyebrow as she watched Luke interact with the woman as if they've met before. She offered Luke a sandwich in exchange for his puzzle solving skills. Flora took a seat on a nearby bar stool when she felt like she was being watched. Turning around cautiously, Flora spotted a smiling man sitting behind her at a table.
"Heeeey there, young miss," The man greeted, alcohol lingering from his breath.
"You don't look so well, are you alright?" Flora said with concern, distancing herself from his stench.
"I'm fine, little miss, thank you for the concern. I do have a puzzle for you though," the intoxicated man grunted. Flora cautiously stepped closer to the man to take a look at the puzzle. It was an easy one that required finding the weight of some jars of jam. Flora scribbled her answer down on a bar napkin and handed it to the man while holding her breath to avoid breathing in his smell. She slowly distanced herself from him and joined Luke back at the bar area.
"Boy, he's creepy," Flora said quietly. Luke peered at her, his cheeks filled with the sandwich he was eating.
"Aw, Flora, he was just trying to be nice." Luke muffled as he chewed.
Flora sighed as she watched Luke indulge on his meal.
The trio soon left the bar when Luke was finished his sandwich and ventured onwards through the mysterious city. They came across a few more people pedestrians whom all greeted Luke and Layton with familiarity. It was becoming evident that Luke and Layton had been here before. Flora quietly tailed Luke and Layton as they headed deeper into the quiet town.
"I just realized, we still hadn't explained the situation to Flora yet," the Professor suddenly mentioned.
"You're right, it totally slipped my mind!" Luke exclaimed.
"No worries, I'm just happy to be here along with you guys. Rather than, you know, left behind as usual," Flora reassured in attempt at humour.
"Be that as it may, an explanation is still in order." Professor Layton reasoned. "I suggest going to the hotel for a quick chat."
Flora and Luke agreed as they followed Layton towards the famous hotel. The trio narrowed in closer to the hotel when Flora suddenly noticed that Luke had stiffened up. She gazed curiously at him as he tried desperately to avoid eye contact with something. She looked around and spotted a man dressed in all black loitering in front of the Hotel. He seemed to be staring at their direction with a very stern look on his face. Sure, he was intimidating, but she didn't understand why Luke seemed so frightened. They walked past the mysterious man and entered the Hotel, heading straight for their suite on the second floor.
"Well then, let's try to bring you up to speed, Flora." The Professor said as they entered the suite. Flora quickly took a seat on the nearby sofa and peered curiously at the Professor.
"We are currently 10 years in the future, in the city of London. We were called here by a man who claims to be Luke from the Future. He has reached for our help due to a terrorizing figure that has turned this city into crime and poverty."
"Why you, Professor? Where are the police? Isn't there anyone in this time that can help?" Flora asked.
"Future Luke has informed me that the mobster boss is infact, me, Hershel Layton from the Future. There are men dressed in black everywhere patrolling the city, ensuring that no one questions or challenges their authority. Police have abandoned hope on the city and residences hide in fear all day. They call themselves The Family, and Future Luke believes only I can outwit this evil Future Layton."
Flora silently stared at Layton with disbelief.
"Can you believe that, Flora? Professor Layton as an evil, criminal mastermind! It's absolutely absurd!" Luke exclaimed.
"That's awful," Flora said with remorse.
"We also believe that the missing Prime Minister is being held captive here in the Future, and that The Family is behind it. Our next move is to find Future Luke and inform him on what we know."
Layton pulled out his leather bound journal from inside his jacket. Flora instantly recognized that journal; it was the one that said Clair on it. The notebook now seemed to be bigger than Flora remembered, perhaps from the news paper clippings that the Professor had collected at Scotland Yard.
"How are we going to find Future Luke?" Flora asked curiously.
"We have to find Luke's partner, Shipley. We can probably find him at the restaurant not far from here." Luke said with a smile.
"I wonder what you have grown up to be like," Flora said with excitement. "Most likely very polite and gentlemanly since you are the Professor's apprentice." Flora giggled at the thought.
"You'll meet him soon," the Professor said holding onto the rip of his hat. "Come now, we mustn't keep Future Luke waiting."
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