The Imaginarium

Chp-4:Wake Up to Reality

cady found herself in her bed, she got up and looked at the clock " 9 o'clock" she mumbled, and rushed downstairs, and looked for Eliza everywhere, then she found Eliza's room's door open, and she entered her room, Eliza was not there, she searched the whole house again, but there was no sign of Eliza. She started to cry and fell to the ground. Suddenly, she heard a voice in her head saying "Pull yourself together, Cady.." it was a sweet voice, and Cady was mesmerized by it, but it was not her own inner voice, it was someone else's voice, an adult voice. Cady didn't waste her time figuring out the mysterious voice but decided to adhere to what the voice said. She got up, took a shower ,ate peanut butter bread and jam, and went to Eliza's room to look for clues. She found a sticky note on the mirror in her bathroom, it stated 'Seek within the vault of memories, there the culprit hides unseen.' Cady understood the clue and went to Liam's room. She opened the closet and took out the album and searched it, but she couldn't find anything which was like a clue. She found a book there named 'Imaginarium' and took it out, she opened it and read the first line in italic letters on the first page-

Imagination is so powerful that it could engulf people in it,

Imagination is like a bull, if you don't know how to handle it then it will kill you, even in reality...

Cady was confused, she was decoding the meaning of the context and then she heard the bell ring. She went downstairs to open the door and a man dressed in a black coat was standing. His hair was completely black and had a hat in his hand, and his eyes were completely blue, Cady asked "I'm sorry, but do I know you?" the man said "No...but a friend of yours father and mother." His accent... it's amazing, Cady thought and then asked "Um...could you please tell me the purpose of you, um...what's your name?" the man replied " Anthony...Anthony Anderson, so I see that you know about Imaginarium?" Cady shouted "You! You killed Eliza! Go away!" and she slammed the door shut. Anthony knocked again and said "No! I didn't kill Eliza, it was another man, Ironclad, he did it! I know why he did it!" Cady shouted "Why should I trust you? You could be him!" Anthony replied "Ironclad killed Eliza, he came asking for Imaginarium, then your father came, but he wasn't showing any emotions? Right?" Cady slowly opened the door and asked "What my father's and mother's name?" Anthony replied " Liam Acker and Jennifer Acker." Cady looked at him and analyzed, Liam smiled and Cady said to him "You could tell me everything outside...in the garden.." Anthony sighed and mumbled "You don't trust anyone easily.." hearing this Cady frowned and said "Yeah! I would let a man who says he knows the reason behind the weird things happening since today and I would so not think that he is responsible for what happened this morning and let him in and risk my..." she gasped as she spoke all this in one breath and said "Life!" Anthony giggled and then said, "You are just like your mother!"Cady smiled and then pointed towards the bench as a sign for Anthony to sit. They sat and Anthony took a deep breath and said "Okay, so, your father always wanted me to tell you about this..." Cady interrupted "How do you know this will happen?" Anthony stared at her with a tired expression and Cady mumbled "I'm sorry..." Anthony continued " I want you to listen to me first and then questions, but there shouldn't be any questions as I will tell you everything." Cady nodded. Anthony rubbed his palms together and then said "So, your father told me to tell you all this when, what you experienced today happened, now I knew that this is going to happen because your 'father' met me..." he emphasized the word 'Father', and then he continued " He told me and so I came...let's start from the beginning- Your mother and father had this power to enter any world they imagine, even if they imagined a particular day or time they could...um...basically they could relive it!" Cady was shocked, and for a moment she began to feel suspicious about Anthony, then Anthony said "Young Lady, focus!" Cady burned with fury, but Anthony ignored her reaction and continued "Your father and mother decided to visit the world from the book called Imaginarium, that world was enchanting and beautiful, way better than this world!" Anthony was lost in his own thoughts, but then his eyes widened as if he had realized something, he then said "This house...it is almost the same as the Whisperwood" he chuckled and got up and started to explore the garden. Cady followed him and when he began to walk faster, she yelled "Anthony! Wait! Finish the story first!" Anthony turned back and nodded in disagreement, Cady groaned and mumbled to herself "Li and Mum and to make such a friend?" but then Anthony shouted "Take good care of my Katie..." and so, Anthony fell to the ground, revealing a man standing behind him, Cady ran towards Anthony, till the time she reached the man had disappeared, he just vanished. Cady fell to her knees and was not able to believe what had just happened, Anthony was stabbed, Cady started to sob as, no matter how much she was easily annoyed by him, he seemed like a good man, she was not able to think clearly. What Anthony had said to her before dying echoed in her mind Take good care of my Katie..., at that time Anthony's body vanished. Cady was shocked, she got up and looked at the sky with confusion. She ran towards her house, only to realize she had forgotten the keys. Cady started to panic, The worst day ever! She thought and then began to look for the extra keys, she found the extra keys underneath the flower pot, and using them she entered the house and locked it. She heard the same voice, the sweet voice- Now you've seen the reality, Cady, you have to be strong and don't let anything or anyone break your heart and don't give up! Get on the battlefield and start to fight! The voice was so mesmerizing that Cady was lost, it was like the words had their own taste, some were sweet as chocolate whereas some were bitter but true as dark chocolate, and some were also comforting as a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day. Cady felt like she was tasting each and every word, she got up, wiped her tears and went to Liam's room, and took out the book. She sat on his bed and began to read it. "Chp-1" she said, the first letter of the chapter ( which was 'T' ) was decorated, it had a snake wound around its straight line. Cady found it amusing, but continued to read. She thought to read it out loud as she wanted to but was always scared that she might pronounce a word in a wrong manner and she hated her voice. Cady decided to overcome her fears and so she began to read it out loud, " The Imaginairum is a world full of magnificent forests and mesmerizing architectures, the lifestyle of the people of Imaginairum is perfect, their clothing style is chic, modern with a touch of antiqueness. Whisperwood  is such a forest, with huge trees covered with purple, white and pink flowers, all kinds of animals, from big to small, harmless to ferocious, sweet to vicious, hunter to prey, all kinds are found here. The..." She heard a knock, Cady groaned and thought, Again! Every time someone comes and disturbs me.. she opened the door and there was a girl of her age standing, she had brown hair, hazel eyes, " Hello, my name is Katie! You are Cady, if I am not wrong? I came at the right address, right?" then she took out her phone from her pocket, checked it and asked "This is Pixel Lane, house no.10, right?" Cady nodded. Her accent...it makes each and every word sweeter, wait a minute...I can taste words! Cady thought, Katie stood there staring at her, Cady looked at her and then chuckled awkwardly and said " Hi, yes, I am Cady...you are the daughter of Anthony Anderson?" Katie nodded. Cady examined her and then opened the door completely, signaling her to come in. Katie sat down on the couch as Cady bought her a glass of water, Katie was looking around the house, admiring it and then she complimented "This house...its beautiful, huge, its perfect" Cady chuckled and said, "Thank you...it's my aunt's house." Katie smiled. They were silent for a few minutes. Cady was feeling sad for Katie, she was thinking about how she would inform Katie about the death of her father? How would Katie react to this and how much mad she would be once she got to know that Cady was there, right there, when her father was stabbed? All these questions popped inside Cady's mind and her hands were sweating, she was getting anxious, her body was fidgeting and Katie was looking at her with concern. She asked, "Are you okay?" Cady looked straight into her eyes. She just admired British accents ( Katie had that ). She replied "Anthony, your father is dead! He told me to take good care of you, someone stabbed him right in front of me, I mean...not right in front, like, he was a few feet away from me, I am sorry I couldn't save him.." Cady gasped due to the lack of air, as she said it in one breath. Katie smiled and said "I know, I know everything...I got this letter, see.." she showed her the letter, it said

Dear Katie,

This is me, Anthony, your father and this is the end of me, go to the address I texted you and you will find a girl same as your age, Cady, she is very sweet, funny and kind. You have to explain her everything and also help her, she'll take care of you and I expect you to do the same. She is the daughter of Liam Acker and Jennifer Acker. I know you could do it Katie!

Love,

Anthony.

Cady looked at Katie with confusion and asked " What is going on!? What you have to explain me? There are just too many lies!" Katie hugged her and then said in a comforting tone " You have to be strong, it may seem terrifying at first, but you have to listen to me and remember, I am there for you, always.." Cady mumbled "But we just met.." Katie chuckled and they sat there in complete silence.