Invincible

Melanie Baker McKenzie had been talking then had stopped all of a sudden, mid-sentence in a stunned silence. Saying something about proposed turnover for quarter one of nineteen eighty-nine. She went white as a sheet in front of the entire chamber of commerce and almost passed out. Sat to her immediate right In a dark Chanel blazer silk blouse and skirt. Susan MacLoud finally zoned back in, and immediately took note of her surroundings. Exits, potential hazards, the usual. The place seemed familiar enough, a small-town city hall. Oak panelled. The state flag of Maryland here next to the stars and stripes. Susan felt as if she knew no one and everyone in attendance at the same time. It was obvious to her that this was some form of temporal instability. Her immediate suspicion was that person or persons unknown had been altering the timeline. Things would correct themselves and memories would return soon enough. Susan mused as to how many people were affected by this.

“Shall we adjourn the meeting for now? Same time, same place next month?”

Her crisp English speaking voice cut through the confusion that had begun to take hold of the people in the room.

Susan jumped to her feet and took command of the situation. It was the only thing she knew how to do. Some people were followers and others leaders. If Susan knew anything about herself, as a certainty. She was the second kind of person.

"Sit down before you fall down … Melanie”

Susan’s vice-like memory had the name she was looking for just as she required it.

“I can remember living another life, in another world … and … and … I was dead.”

Melanie stuttered and Susan produced a tissue from her handbag, before Melanie this ordinarily cool, calm and collected captain of industry could weep.

“That is extremely curious.”

Susan admitted. She was starting to recall her relationship these past nine years with Melanie, her second Husband Karl, his sons Derry and Jerry Baker, and Melaine’s son Ben Junior who seemed awfully sweet on Heather’s friend Scarlett.

“I’ll have someone call Karl at the dealership.”

This was a discombobulating experience but when you had travelled to magical realms via wardrobes and other means. Lived for a decade and a half outside of your own timeline. Well, these things were more manageable to such a person. Susan recalled having all her childhood memories return to her before, yet she had been alone in the large empty Bethesda house. One not filled with the joy of family, of nine irreplaceable, precious years of memories of her only family, her Great Niece Heather Jones. Of raising her from a toddler to the fine young woman of thirteen that she was today.

“I’ll make sure you’re with your husband and your boys, then I must go and find Heather.”

Susan placed a hand supportively on her friend’s shoulder.

Would Heather be able to recall the last nine years of their lives? She was a Pevensie by name and by nature. Susan assured herself that Heather was a logical young woman she would be out there trying to find answers. Even if she hadn’t yet followed the clues to find her own way home.

Susan spotted her datebook in front of her on the boardroom top table in the council chamber. She picked up the cell phone next to it. Wishing that Heather had returned to this universe in the relative safety of the home they shared at Queen Lake Manor. Yet Susan knew different, Heather was out at the mall with her friends. JD the Mayor's Son, Scarlet, Fire Chief Blake's Daughter, and Ricky the son of the neighbouring farmers the Lewises.

Susan had a fleeting thought of calling Mall Security. Yet she had no faith in the ability of the mall cops to perform successful covert surveillance. She would have to find Heather herself. Susan knew in her heart that Heather would know who she was as soon as they laid eyes on each other.

“Do you know what’s going on Susan?”

Melanie asked, trying to make some sense of the situation.

“I expect it has something to do with exotic particle discharge at the Loop. The case the FBI and EPA were investigating some time ago. We should enact the emergency civil defence protocols. Assemble everyone afflicted by having two sets of memories at the Manor and await assistance from the authorities.”

Susan explained calmly

“Yes, you’re right.”

Susan's level of preparedness was soothing to Melanie.

Not fifteen minutes later Karl baker arrived at city hall. He had a slightly haunted expression on his usually jovial face. He was perhaps the most handsome boxer Susan had seen in many a year. He was as fast as lightning in the ring. No one could land a solid hit on him. Melanie immediately ran across the room to embrace Karl, who was followed by their boys Jerry and Ben. Both looked a little bemused. Which was the mood of the entire council chamber.

“Are you boys okay?”

Susan inquired

“Me? I’m good, but who the Hell are you supposed to be lady?”

The older larger boy Jerry asked. Some things never changed Susan thought as she grinned at the boy.

“My name is Susan, I’m on the chamber of commerce with your step Mother. I’m Heather Jones’ Great Aunt and Guardian. She goes to school with your Brother Ben and Scarlett Blake.”

The realisation dawned on Ben McKenzie’s face first.

“I’m sorry Mrs MacLoud I remember who you are”

Susan nodded and smiled

“Yeah we’ve got each other we’ll be okay.”

Jerry solemnly replied. Seemingly recalling that she was a cool adult and let them use her none overlooked, out of the way property as a firing range to hone his lightning abilities.

“I remember that you call me Susan, Ben. Anyway, I expect you all, at the Manor later when Melanie is feeling up to it. I need to arrange my own family reunion.”

Ben hugged Susan, as he began to recall knowing her for most of his life. She was both new to town and a fixture of the place. Ben had seen enough miserable Garretts to know that Susan was an invaluable addition to this one.

Susan embraced Melanie and Karl, asking them to round up as many people with confusing extra memories as possible then she raced down the stairs at city hall. At the bottom of the main foyer, she met Chief Theodore Simmons and several other members of the Garrett PD. Who was trying to get a handle on this singular situation.

“Ahh Ted, I trust you are well”

Susan smiled and the Chief tipped his hat in greeting. A gentleman to a fault.

“I’m sorry Ma’am I remember your face, but I’m afraid I don't recall your name.”

The Chief admitted. Ted was an honest copper and knew his limitations. There weren't enough men in the world like him, if you asked Susan. He shared many traits with her late husband. Including his vocation. That was good, she could recall Percy. What was bad is that Susan was certain that he wasn’t waiting for her at home. She moved her thumb to feel the wedding and engagement bands on her four finger. Naturally still there.

“I’m Susan MacLoud. I live at Queen Lake Manor. If you could round up everyone else experiencing two sets of memories and bring them out there, we can endeavour to help them.”

Susan explained

“The Manor isn’t owned by the Loop and marked for demolition? Kids break in there every weekend, or they used to. Shame, it's a fine old house.”

Well, it was happening to the Chief of Police as well. Was the whole town afflicted?

“Not since 1979”

Susan assured the bemused Chief.

“We’ll send word to the hospital then.”

Ted agreed

Susan reached into her blazer pocket and found her Rolls Royce keys. At least old faithful was still here. Susan checked the town hall parking lot present and correct one Rolls Royce Shooting brake. Silver Wraith, 1979.

“Are you okay to drive Mrs MacLoud?”

The Chief asked

“You really don’t remember me do you Chief? I drive a lot, it used to be my job. Have you ever read *Car and Driver* or *Road and Track*? There’s a writer S H Pevensie?”

Susan gestured to herself

Ted smiled a smile of recollection.

“Then I’ll see you at your place later”

Ted agreed. There was something about this woman, you wanted to do exactly as she asked.

“If you see my Great Niece, Heather Jones long mousy hair, glasses about yay tall”

Susan raised her hand to about five foot six just a few inches shorter than herself.

“Or one of her friends. Radio me, I’ll be on Civil Defence frequency 6.”

Yes, that made sense to Ted now. A light seemed to come in behind his kind eyes. Susan was the county Chief Civil Defence Martial. That’s how he knew her so well, or so at least part of him did. Susan MacLoud was very serious about her job. That was apparent. The town had a tried and tested plan in case of a calamity with the Loop.

Susan turned tail and headed for the city hall carpark as fast as her stiletto heels could take her. It was worth checking some of Heather's favourite places first. She thought as she dialled the phone numbers for The Manor, the Blake residence and the Lewis farm, no one was picking up at any of them. So to the Paperback Exchange, It was just a few blocks away. Then the Night Owl across the street, in case Mrs Blake had seen their girls Then to the coach house at the Davis place. If that failed Susan would work systematically searching in a grid pattern out of town towards home, then back to the mall. In case Heather had waited there or had gone back.

The Rolls screeched to a shop in a strip mall parking lot not far from City Hall. It was merely a quieter of a mile, but Susan had driven it as if it were a quarter-mile drag strip. If Ted Simmonds wanted to give her a ticket he now knew full well where she lived.

Susan strode into the packed book store. As the bell above her chimed. What a curious space. Comics, classics, romance novels. All things to all people crammed into this strip mall store. So many crystals of all shapes and sizes stashed in and around stacks of books.

“Mags, where are you? And are you in your right mind? I know that’s a lot to ask of you.”

Susan called out for the proprietress as she basked in the essence of 1969 that emanated from the very fabric of the store. Of some things she was certain, and this was one of them. In this space, the '60s had never ended.

“Suzie Q, I knew it would be you. Welcome to the new world!”

A woman of perhaps a similar age to Susan walked out of a beaded curtain. And around the counter, her arms raised to embrace Susan.

“Hi Mags, you’re late for the chamber of commerce meeting.”

Susan hugged Maggie Arkeville. In quite a restrained British manner.

“It’s going to be okay you know, you find each other, you two always do … everywhere.”

Maggie assured the serious Susan.

“No more practical hints Mags? An address maybe? Coordinates?”

Susan had to ask glibly. Maggie Arkevile was prone to give mystical insights, yet they were never very specific. Particularly for Susan as the town’s resident sceptic. Susan had her suspicions about Maggie as someone who had seen other worlds herself. There was something about the unmistakable mysticism of Maggie. Susan had never been so uncivil as to directly ask Maggie if she was from another plane. Charn perhaps. Or perhaps she was Fey, from their realm. Some of the things the kindly old hippie and bookseller said reminded Susan far too much of Jardis the White Witch. Yet in all the years Susan had lived here Maggie was always on the side of good.

“I’m sorry Suzie Q, here I have Heather’s order ready, you might as well take it to her.”

Maggie handed Susan a stack of books. *Sorcery* by *Terry Pratchett* was on the top Susan nodded *Just as I expected* she thought to herself.

Maggie grabbed her fringed brown leather jacket and moved to close up the store

“Thanks, put them on the account and I’ll settle up with you at the end of the month.”

Maggie nodded the usual arrangement.

“Where are you headed?”

Susan asked

“I need to find my father, I can sense his presence but … it has changed. It is as if he is an old man in a new world. I have to find him.”

Susan had seen almost everything now. The Doctor Holter Arkeville she's remembered encountering in this world was public enemy number one for Director Tyler and the FBI and various other government agencies. Maggie hadn't spoken to him, her own father, in nearly twenty years. Susan knew this for a fact even if this had felt like the first time she’d walked into this store. This must be incredibly vexing for the rest of the town, it looked like they needed the help of herself and Maggie more than ever. As the both of them seemed pretty much unchanged by recent events.

Susan and her uneasy ally parted ways. Maggie knew that they would gather at the manor to try and work this all out. Then Susan dashed across the road, with a turn of speed unknown to most women her age. Bustling into the Knight Owl Consignment store.

“Ann, Mrs B? It’s Susan.”

Susan called out

“Do I know you?”

Asked Ann Blake the mother of one of Heather’s best friends. A woman part of Susan felt she had known for nearly a decade. Had spent a lot of time, on various civic committees. Had over for dinner hundreds of times. Ann was Standing in a daze with her shop keys still in her hand as if she’d just come back into the shop after leaving the suddenly rescheduled chamber of commerce meeting,

“It’s a strange answer, I’m afraid it’s the truth, yes and no.”

Susan spoke in her usual soft yet authoritative tone. Mrs Blake still looked stunned.

“I take it you’ve not seen Scarlett or my Great Niece Heather today?”

Susan asked the only question that mattered. Mrs Blake shook her head.

“No…Not since Scarlett left to meet them all at the Mall this morning.”

That was the last event Susan could recollect clearly from this timeline also.

“We’re all assembling at the Manor, Queen Lake Manor, my home. Then we can work all of this out as a community.”

Susan did her best to sound reassuring

“The old abandoned house the Loop owns?”

Susan nodded and smiled her disarming smile

“That’s what people tell me. To me, it’s been my home since 1979. I have memories of your daughter, my niece, JD and Ricky running around the grounds playing since they were small.”

The rational part of Susan’s mind encouraged her to hold onto those precious memories from this world in these troubling times. Raised Heather, teaching her all the skills she would need in life. To read and write, to shoot and how to ride and care for horses. To ride a bike, drive a manual transmission, a Motorcycle, or a quad bike.

“Get Dean and Kyle, and I’ll see you at the Manor when I’ve found Heather.”

Mrs Blake agreed. Susan didn’t even have to convince her that it was a Civil Defence emergency. Part of Ann was still her old friend.

Susan left the store and headed back to the Rolls in the strip mall parking lot. Two places checked. Now to the Davis house and the Mall. Susan convinced herself to stay on task. Heather needed her and the town needed them both. There was no point giving in to feelings of despair now. Those feelings were no use. Susan buried them in a well-practised manner. There was a mission to accomplish. Failure was not an option.

The faithful ten-year-old Rolls Royce Silver Wraith squealed to a stop on the Lewis driveway. Well, it was the driveway of the Mayor's official residence. Susan knew that the Davises were not home. They were still at city hall dealing with the memory fallout befalling most of the town.

“JD, are you here? It’s Susan, do you remember me? I’m a friend.”

Susan opened the old wooden doors to the coach house they were well maintained and covered in many coats of paint. She checked the corners of the garage as if to check for threats. One hand in her shoulder bag, as if to withdraw a concealed weapon of some sort.

Susan pulled the cord to the very out of place newer set of loft stairs. Put in during a remodel at some point.

“Scarlett, Ricky … Heather?”

Her voice notably lost some of its composure as she spoke the third name.

The resounding reply was again silence, Susan climbed the ladder to the loft, the twilight of fall illuminating the gloom. Her keen well-trained eyes looked for clues as to the whereabouts of Heather and her friends, there was nothing obvious. Nothing here but the toys and games of four teenagers. In their “Secret” hideout. Yet few things were secret from Susan MacLoud. Some people would say that her business was secrets.

Susan gathered her resolve and prepared to move on. Finding herself caressing the spine of a copy of The Stand by Stephen King, that Heather must have left here or leant to JD her most scholarly friend. Susan knew that she had not been without her Great Niece for more than a few hours, yet it felt like several lifetimes since they had laid eyes on one another.

Susan seemed a little forlorn as she left the attic and closed the hatch. She pulled out a stenographer's notepad and a metal pen from her bag. Things she always carried. Leaving a note with a CB frequency and a cell phone number on it. Also, an address and coordinates that anyone familiar with Garrett would know were just by the Lewis farm. She cut a hole in the paper with a small but very sharp looking knife and hung it from the rope pull, that opened the hatch, so no one could possibly miss it.

Not many more places to check now. Susan reassured herself that Heather can’t have gone far.

Susan was pushing the Rolls as quickly as mechanically possible, driving street to street and block to block on the seemingly abandoned residential streets up towards Maplehurst Drive and the Mall of the same name. Then she caught sight of a custom van, not Maggie’s but one that had to belong to Heather’s friends Van Hallen super fan Daphne Nelson. The paintwork resembled Franken-strat Eddie Van Hallen’s guitar.

Yes, there was Heather by the foreclosed house where her Aunt, Uncle and Juvenile delinquent cousin had lived. There was Daphne too. Susan’s heart soared. Her maternal quest at an end. It did not matter how the space-time continuum had been altered, or by whom. They were together now, Susan had been there for Heather on the darkest day of her life. When she needed her the most and didn't have a friend in the world. Susan had been her Great Nieces Guardian for nine years. They had the present, a seemingly new past and the future. That was the part not yet written. Together, for as many good years as Susan had to look forward to. The last two Pevensie women, against the world, Family. An Unbreakable bond.