The Window Seat

It was always empty. They were too scared to sit on it again, not after last time. Their time was over and they can no longer go. It’s time for her to take it. They walked away from the forbidden room and walked to their daughter’s room and peeked inside. She wasn’t there and the window has been left open. They sighed and shook their head as they walked inside and pulled out their magnifying glass pendant. They walked over to the window and opened it more so that they can get through it. They placed the glass over their eyes and saw her handprints and footprints leading up to the rood. They sighed in relief that she didn’t leave. Leaving at night during this time is far too dangerous, especially if it’s her time to take over the seat. They followed the footprints up to the roof and saw her singing to the moon.  

They smiled and flashbacked to when they too sang to the moon. Soon the girl would have to stop singing. Soon her freedom may be stripped away. They smiled a sad smile as the night’s crispy air blew by and played in her shawl. They didn’t want her to take the seat but heavens forbid what would happen if the seat as not taken. No other child of this ability was born to be able to the seat instead. They had to find another way, but it would be the same cycle as her past lives. For not letting her daughter take the seat she had to suffer through the same life of endless torture. Maybe it was time to give in.  

Maybe it would be different for her.  

They sighed as their bare feet padded along the dirty rooftop and plopped beside her.  

“Hi, Blake!” The girl said brightly after she stopped singing.  

“Why aren’t you sleeping, Andrea? And why haven’t you brought a sweater? You’re going to catch a cold!” They said and pulled their shawl off and wrapped it around her.  

Andrea giggled and stopped them before they could do anything.  

“I was about to head down anyways plus I couldn’t sleep. I keep having these weird dreams about you sitting on a window seat and then you disappear. It’s pretty weird and it comes again and again but today I saw your facial expression. It was full of horror.” Her voice dropped.  

Blake’s eyes widened when they realized that if they don’t do it now then it’ll be too late.  

“Andrea love, it’s time for you to see what’s behind the forbidden door.” Blake dejectedly sighed.  

Andrea jumped up as her face lit up and she raced down the roof to her bedroom.  

“Careful! You’ll fall!” Blake yelled as they chased after her.  

By the time Blake went in, Andrea was already in front of the forbidden door.  

“You mustn't touch anything until I fully explain everything about our family and this house,” Blake said as their voice hardened.  

A stoic facial expression formed on their face, one that Andrea never saw. Andrea always thought that Blake was only capable of being a scardey-cat and worried about her all the time. Now she sees a strong and brave soul in her mother.  

They both entered the room and Andrea looked around only to be disappointed. The walls were bare and had scratches while the paint resembled that of rusty iron. The only thing there was a window and a window seat just like the one in her dream. Just like in the dream the window wasn’t clear and instead was foggy and didn’t show dark light from the night outside and instead had a glow to it.  

There was something about it that made her want to rush to the window and open it but also run away from the room. She shivered suddenly as cold air grabbed at her feet. She felt a shawl fall on her shoulders and saw Blake already staring at her and her facial expressions.  

“Long ago... 

Four families were born. Planet Angorph had been full of creatures many now call as demons. These four families that were born were from Planet Earth and have shown to be more evolved than other humans on their planets. Their mental state was far more advanced and each had a special quality which were their emotions. There was happiness, anger, fear, and sadness. No one knows who chose them or how it all happened because it just did. Members of each family united even though on Planet Earth they hated each other.  They were successfully able to get rid of the creatures, however one family member became Jealousy due to not being able to partake in the glory that came after and had come upon the door to releasing more of the creatures. Jealousy was able to become the ruler.  

War broke out amongst the families for the incompetence of Jealousy, but once members of all families started dying, they decided to reunite. They passed their blood on a chalice to gather more children on Earth to make them part of their family. Once they were ready, they launched an attack against Jealousy who released his so-called demons.  

The families were able to push the demons back, but before they could kill Jealousy, he cited a spell.  

“Division, division 

Greed, Greed 

Oh, how they run so deep 

My blood shall drip and drip and drip  

The door shall rip and rip and rip 

Expel me, Impossible, 

I now live and breathe among everything. 

 As long as people on Earth were jealous of others, the door to the demons shall remain open forever.”  

And since that day the door remained open. The family members have tried to find a way to get rid of the spell. They found an alternative and decided to combine all their blood and give it to one person. Then an enchantment was formed. One member from each family stood on either side and the person with all of the family’s blood stood in the middle. And for the rest of their life, they had to be there holding onto the enchantment and never let go. And as their life force gets stripped away much faster, since time is different on both worlds it is the same as a human’s lifespan on Earth. They are able to leave separately for one lifetime but only to come in between like a part-timer to give birth to the next successor of the enchantment.”  

Andrea looked at Blake and she wanted to laugh at Blake for making up a fairytale, but every bone in her body told her that it was all real.  

“So what does this have to do with us?” Andrea whispered.  

Blake sighed and waved her hand at the floor and a couch appeared, but it looked to have seatbelts on it. They both sat on it and immediately the seatbelts strapped them in and a bubble formed around them.  

“Each four families created a house on Earth. They all tried their hardest to get rid of Jealousy amongst others and one day it may be achieved. However, they needed a fast way into the other planet and as the years pass by the families all despise each other on Earth. They couldn’t trust each other and so they each made something a part of their house as a portal to the in-between.” 

“Portal? In-between?” Andrea asked frowning. She was already shocked by the couch but she couldn’t say anything because something in her told her that she had seen things like this happen before.  

“The In-Between is a place where the next enchantment binders go and train and complete the initiation before going to Planet Angorph. The Window Seat you see in your dreams and is in this very room is our portal to the In-Between.” Blake said.  

“So, we are part of the family?”  

Blake shook her head.  

“No, we are in fact part of the sub-family which is why our portal is a bit obvious given the fact that it is behind the forbidden door which cannot be changed ever. The human who was of all family's blood got corrupted. They couldn’t handle the power and so the family decided to combined one member from each family but their blood was too pure and tainted. The tainted was of the demon blood that had run from the first families. And so a sub-family was created for each family. The child from each sub-family will unite with each other to become the middle of the enchantment.”  

“We are part of the Sub-family?” Andrea asked as her bones shivered to what she would hear next.  

“Yes, child. The families don’t know each other on Earth and so the child must go to the In-Between to get their quest to find each other. It is a part of their training. And you child is next, but we must hurry fast for if you don’t get your quest in time, the portal with forever close and hell shall break loose.” Blake said hurriedly.  

“Wait, so what sub-family are we from. Sub Happy, Sub Sad, Sub Anger, or Sub Fear. And why don’t I feel strong emotions of one?” Andrea said.  

“We are the sub. Our blood is just right and our body will be able to handle the occasional power spurt the demon door gives to try to weaken us. And we are part of the Sub Fear Family.”  

Andrea almost shot up, but couldn’t due to the seatbelts, “What do you mean Sub-Fear? Isn't that a bad emotion? It’s so weak? Why couldn’t I get Happy?!”  

“This is what you were born into. Now before we do anything are you ready to give up your life to finding the children and combing you’re soul and body for them to be imprisoned for a human lifetime and then to come back and continue the family line for your child to be the next Sub- Fear heir?”  

Andrea looked at Blake to see if they were joking but saw total seriousness in their eyes.  

“I need time to think.”  

Blake shook their head. This was the last lifetime. She couldn’t rewind time anymore or else the enchantment will finally open. None of the other families even knew of the Time Reverser Clock. It has to be now.  

“You have until the end of the day tomorrow. It will be enough time to say goodbye to your friends. Do tell me if you’re ready to venture lands unimaginable and to give up your freedom for the existence of the whole universe.” Blake said before snapping their fingers and getting up as the bubble and seatbelt disappeared.  

Andrea jumped up and ran to her room before she jumped in bed. Too many things were running in her mind. She was turning 13 the next day and she already had so much on her shoulders. She wouldn't be able to live a good life and in her next life, she would have to be focused on getting a child. Tears formed as she thought about the life she had to give up for the sake of the universe.  

Before she fell asleep, she remembered how the enchantment was made because no one could get rid of the spell. If the families had children and there were also subfamilies, what if Jealousy was able to make a family? Would the child be able to get rid of the spell? 

She quickly ran into Blake’s special library and found books on Planet Angorph. She pulled out the history of each family and read through the night. Soon it was almost time for her to wake up. She had found the answer she was looking for.  

There was a spell to undo the curse, but a child of Jealousy must undo it. They must also have the Original Jealousy’s Spell Book which was sent on Earth. Andrea made it the goal to find the book and the child of Jealousy. All she had to do was accept in the In-Between and search for it while doing her quest. The trails on earth usually take until they are 18 so she has enough time, right?  

Andrea bit her lip and grew worried about the time limit. It may seem long, but she would be also doing the quests and she can’t let the other child of the families know. She quickly ran to her room once she heard Blake’s footsteps and feigned sleep.  

Blake woke her up and got her ready for her school. She already has an email waiting to send to Andrea about pulling her out and keeping her homeschooled. Before Andrea walked out Blake pulled her Magnifying glass pendant and gave it to Andrea.  

“Each sub-family has a small heirloom that helps them on their quests. This glass helps us see the fear levels and traces on people. They are like fingerprints. It’s also how I know where you go. You tend to fear what would happen if I caught you. 

Andrea nodded and left for school and once she arrived there, she used the pendant and saw green footprints on the floor, but it was faint. As she saw them all a new feeling ran through her body. It was a feeling that made her want to accept giving up her life. She looked at her school and decided that won’t give up on what awaited her and neither will she give up her plan.  

Once she came home Blake saw her face and knew Andrea’s choice. They led her to the room.  

“You need to sit on the window seat and stare at the window as if you’re looking out. The in-between can become any place we want it to be. Once you think of a place you want you in-between to be the window will open before you and you will be transported. I may not be able to assist you except for your health in the beginning. However, after your first two trials, all contact with me will be cut off.” Blake said.  

Andrea felt a sickly feeling crawl up her bones. However, she put on a stoic face like her mother does and nodded before sitting on the window seat. Blake left and once she thought of a place the window opened up and smoke spilled out before everything went white.