Amber's cries began to soften as Jenkins rocked her. They were in the dark together. Jenkins still holding the lantern.
"Jenkins?"
They looked up at the voice. They thought the lantern was done, but they didn't realize the blue flame was still lit, albeit very weakly. The darkness shifted.
"Jenkins?"
Gal looked up at Charlene's voice.
"Leave me alone," He demanded as he worked at the table.
"You know I can't do that. I'm very worried about you. It's been a week since we came back," Charlene said.
Gal slammed down the book he was reading. He looked at her. Charlene had never seen such anger and pain on his face.
"You pulled me away from the woman I love. She was left to die alone!" Gal yelled. "I left her to die!"
Charlene didn't have anything to say. He stunned her to silence. He stared at her, daring her to say something. Gal turned away from her and went back to his book. He deliberately ignored her. Charlene sighed. They needed Jenkins. Behind Gal's back, Charlene went behind a pillar of books and lifted up the black lantern. She went back to the table and stood behind Gal.
"Jenkins," Charlene said.
Gal slammed down the book again and turned to her. But before he could react, Charlene lifted the lantern and put a hand on his forehead. She muttered a few words and Gal's face relaxed. The lantern, once empty, now lit blue fire.
Charlene pulled her hand back, "Jenkins?"
Jenkins blinked, "Oh…uh…yes Charlene?"
The scene ended as both Amber and Jenkins stared in silence. The blue fire from within the lantern flickered and went out. At the same time, the darkness lifted and both Amber and Jenkins disappeared.
They appeared back in their original space in the Annex where Flynn and Eve were waiting. They appeared on the floor, Jenkins's arm around Amber. Jenkins dropped the lantern, not caring if it broke. Amber looked up at him. Jenkins's face was flushed with anger. They stared at each other, both in disbelief in what they just learned.
"Jenkins?" Flynn's voice called to them.
Flynn's voice knocked them out of their state. Jenkins abruptly stood up, Amber's arms falling from him. She fell to the side off balanced.
"Oof," Amber grunted.
Jenkins heard her and looked down. When he realized what he had done, he felt guilty. He leaned down and helped her up. He put a hand on her cheek.
"I'm really sorry," Jenkins whispered.
Amber leaned into his palm as her eyes closed. She relished in the feel of his rough hand. "You didn't know. It wasn't your fault."
Jenkins's eyes flashed, "No, but what she did was wrong. So much worse than what I did to you."
Eve and Flynn watched in stunned amazement. They had never seen Jenkins so caring like that. Jenkins grazed Amber's arm down to her hand and clasped it tightly. He didn't want to let her go now.
He turned to Flynn, "Call Charlene now." He bent over to pick up the discarded lantern.
Flynn looked at Eve. For once he was afraid of Jenkins. The way the anger seemed to radiate off him was powerful. He nodded. Flynn went over to a piece of furniture that was covered by a piece of large fabric. He pulled it off revealing a tall mirror. Jenkins went in front of it, pulling Amber with him. They both stood in front of it. Amber was left confused as she didn't know what was happening. Flynn fiddled with something, and the mirror activated. Amber watched as the mirror seemed to fizzle then suddenly a woman appeared. A much older, grey-haired version of Charlene.
"Jenkins! So glad you called," Charlene said as soon as she spotted the man.
"Charlene," Jenkins nodded. "Care to explain this?"
Charlene looked and paled.
"You found it?"
"Yes. Especially after I discovered that I had six months' worth of memories gone. Imagine my surprise when it showed me you. You took them," Jenkins said.
Flynn exclaimed in surprise, "you what?!"
Jenkins handed the lantern to Flynn and gave him a look.
"I had to. You were in such a state over that girl. You couldn't focus when we needed you to," Charlene explained.
"So, you thought it was okay to take away my memories?! What gave you that right?!" Jenkins roared.
Charlene winced.
"50 years…for 50 years I had no idea she existed…you…" Jenkins couldn't finish as he was so mad.
"I had to! She was dead! She still had a hold of you from the grave!"
"You mean her?" Jenkins asked as he gently pulled Amber into view. Amber held onto his hand and arm, nearly hiding her face behind him, suddenly shy. She looked into the mirror at this woman.
Charlene's eyes bugged. Completely speechless for once in her life.
Jenkins would have laughed at the comical expression if this had been another time. But his anger simmered. Amber squeezed his arm and he looked at her. His anger cooled. He looked back.
"Charlene don't ever contact me again," Jenkins said firmly before he went around the table. Amber let go of his arm and hand. He slapped down on the contraption that controlled the mirror and the call cut out.
