26th November 2019

NOAH

"The Arbor Vitae, or Tree of Life, is the very force that ties together the entire universe. It holds together Spirits, Realms and even dimensions and is responsible for the restoration of the natural balance."

"See, there is a concept of balance!" Renee grinned like she'd won the lottery. "Noah, you know that I was right!"

"Ren, don't interrupt me," Clover glared at her, and Renee grumbled under her breath.

I suppressed a smile. It was cute to see Ren so worked up over something this simple.

"The Tree of Life is said to be one of the very few things that have existed from the beginning of time," Clover read out. "Hence, it can restore a Spirit or Realm to its previous, untouched state. It purifies and heals only the aspects that you require to restore, and conveniently ignores the rest."

"So, it can unsever Ren," I said aloud, as Clover nodded. "How do we get there? Like, where is this Tree?"

"I don't know," Clover showed me the page. "There aren't clear instructions on how one could reach the place."

"Maybe it's imaginary," Sam replied suddenly. He'd been quiet for the whole duration, typing away at his laptop. "Like everything else in the Spirit Realm."

"Johannes should know," I remembered. "He wrote this book after all, didn't he?"

We flipped to the cover page and saw his name glinting in a fancy golden font. He was the author all right.

"But, balance is a thing!" Renee started again. "And this Realm is creating an imbalance... It exists where it shouldn't-"

"Then every Spirit made Realm is an imbalance," I rolled my eyes.

"Every permanent Realm is an imbalance," Renee corrected. "That's why the ISA disapproves of them but allows temporary Realms."

I gawked at her. She was really arriving at something here.

"I know I'm right," She grinned, looking almost maddened. "It makes perfect sense! It explains why the ISA is against such stuff..."

"Even the Astrascends," I remembered. "They're a fifth-dimensional Realm based in the Before Realm."

Renee simply smiled, being the smart-ass she was.

"But, what does that mean?" I asked her. "If these Realms are imbalanced... Then how is that balance being restored?"

"That's what you're supposed to ask Johannes," Renee pointed out.

"Or Grandma Phyllis," Clover added hopefully.

For a moment, we stayed silent, letting the whole conversation sink into our heads. I repeated the points in my head, trying to make better sense of everything.

Anything that existed where it shouldn't created an imbalance.

When someone created an imbalance, it was their job to restore that imbalance.

And when they didn't, the Arbor Vitae would take over, restoring everything to the way it was.

"Um... I've hacked into Chantelle's account," Sam spoke up.

That brought us back to reality.

We scurried over to his laptop, peering into her text messages that she'd exchanged with LOLtube. It comprised of Simon, Daisy and Violet, all of whom were currently possessed by Johannes's ex-comrades.

Most of their texts included memes, forwards, and pictures they'd taken together. As I lost hope for an interesting conversation, came up their discussion about GhostGuy.

Daisy: Ugh, who is this GhostGuy?

Simon: Whoever he is, he knows how to hack. Chantelle, didn't you say that a guy from your school hacked?

Chantelle: Yeah, that's Sam. But a lot of people hack, right?

Daisy: A lot of hot people go to your school, Chantelle, but do we ask you to date all of them?

Chantelle: Are you talking about Oliver Jameson?

Violet: Duh!

"Wait! So the LOLtube asked Chantelle to date me?" I gawked at my friends.

"It makes total sense," Clover replied. "Chantelle isn't that desperate to date anyone... No wonder she was acting too weird with you."

"But, why Oliver Jameson?" Renee looked at me.

"Maybe because they know I'm with Johannes," I replied quietly.

"How can they know that?" Renee looked stunned.

"Well, for one thing, Johannes isn't exactly quiet," I said, and Sam chuckled. "Maybe he had let something slip-"

"Aren't you the least bit worried?" Renee scowled. "If they know that you're with Johannes, they could hurt you in worse ways than Chantelle."

I shuddered at the thought. I couldn't imagine anything worse than Chantelle, maybe except for the Pit of Darkness.

"Let's read this," Clover stifled a yawn, before focusing on the screen.

Chantelle: Fine. What do you want to know about Sam?

Simon: Could he be helping GhostGuy?

Chantelle: I don't know... Sam isn't the sort to hack out of vengeance, he's a decent guy.

"Woahhh," Clover looked at Sam. "Did Chantelle compliment you?"

"Highly unlikely," Sam muttered, but he avoided Clover's stare.

Daisy: Channy, we need to tell you something.

Violet:... Oliver is GhostGuy. We're completely sure.

Chantelle: WHAT?!
I know that Sam has the same sunglasses as GhostGuy, but...

Simon: There you go. That's evidence.

Daisy: We want you to threaten them on our behalf, Channy. You're the only one who is brave enough to do that.

Chantelle: I don't know if I should.

Violet: They should be turned over to the Police, Channy. They're criminals for hacking LOLtube out of jealousy.

Chantelle: I guess you're right.

Daisy: Don't worry about Sam, okay? We'll make sure that he escapes without punishment. He's your guy after all.

Chantelle: He's not my guy

Violet: you mean not yet *wink wink*

Chantelle:... Fine! I like him, okay! But I'm pretty sure that he hates me!

Daisy: OOOHHH

"What in hell?!" Sam looked traumatised.

"Who would've guessed?" Clover teased him, stifling a yawn. "Chantelle's in love with Sam!"

"Cloves, it's my worst nightmare," Sam moaned worriedly.

"Well, at least you're escaping punishment," I shrugged. "Whereas I'm a criminal forever, in the Earthly and Spirit Realm..."

"Noah, don't say that," Renee gripped my arm.

We scrolled through the rest of the chats, with the LOLtubers teasing Chantelle and giving her more orders, which included spying on us.

"So it's confirmed," I exhaled. "They are spying on us."

"And they know that Noah is GhostGuy," Ren added.

"And Chantelle likes me," Sam said, miserably.

"We need to be prepared," I looked at Ren. "You should get unsevered as soon as possible. Sam, keep spying on Chantelle's chats. I'll ask Johannes what we're supposed to be doing to protect ourselves from the LOLtube. And Clover, she should do the same with Phyllis."

I saw Renee and Sam nodding in affirmation. I turned towards Cloves, who was now asleep on her beanbag.

"I think Cloves was too exhausted," Renee said sympathetically.

I walked closer to her, noticing her eyeballs moving against her closed eyelids. She was dreaming, not the kind of sleep people had when they were drowsy.

"I think the Realm affected her psychic aura," I told them. "She's dreaming, probably getting a message from some higher Spirits."

Renee and Sam exchanged a look.

"What is she dreaming about?" Renee asked.

I placed my fingertips on Clover's forehead, trying to sense what was hovering on the brink of her consciousness. Her dream stood out vividly, a collage of pastel clouds with Clover floating upon one of them.

But she wasn't alone. Mike Durvont was sitting upon the same cloud, his arm around Clover as they talked fervently, looking like they'd reunited after a long time.

"She's talking to Mike," I opened my eyes to look at Ren. "I don't think we should disturb them."

"I think it's better if we take Cloves home," Sam suggested. "Her grandma is visiting her right?"

I nodded. I didn't want Johannes finding Clover here anyway. He'd spoil the whole evening, making humourless jokes and more dreadful screeching.

We decided to take a cab to Clover's House, knowing that Grandma Phyllis would know exactly what to do with an unconscious Clover. And while we were there, maybe we could ask her about the Tree of Life and if it could unsever Ren.

Maybe, today was the day we'd figure everything out.

*****

Clover's house had all sorts of oddities, with wind chimes hanging by the window and overgrown plants spilling into the front yard. It didn't look well maintained, but there was a natural harmony about it, littered with statues of gnomes and other creatures.

"Renee?" Phyllis opened the door, her pearly white eyes widening as they fell onto us barely supporting Clover. "Oh my, is Clover hurt?"

"She's stuck in a vivid daydream, Phyllis," Renee replied, as we entered the house. "She's meeting her boyfriend Mike after months."

"Ah," Phyllis nodded in understanding. "Come on in, you're just in time for dinner."

We left Clover on the low-seated couch, knowing that we couldn't haul her up to her room. Then Sam and I introduced each other when Phyllis gave me a knowing smile.

"You're the Higher Spirit, aren't you?" Her eyes regarded me with appreciation. "Noah Stark, right?"

"Good to meet you too, Miss-"

"Call me Phyllis!" She gave Sam and me a toothy grin. "We don't need the formalities! Especially when you're all staying for dinner!"

"Phyllis, are you sure-"

"Renee dear, don't tell me that you don't want to sample my cooking? My famous roast duck is Clover's favourite! And my wild mushroom soup is exactly what growing children as you need!" Phyllis spoke up, now running over to stir something in a large pot.

It awed me that someone as frail-looking as Phyllis still had so much strength to cook for all of us. Not to mention the fact that she was partially blind and deaf.

"Do you usually cook such an elaborate meal?" Sam asked her curiously.

"No, I don't, dear," She gave him a warm smile as they'd already known each other forever. "But, I'm having a special guest for dinner today!"

"A special guest?" Renee piped up. "Apart from us, you mean?"

"Of course," She smiled, slightly shy. "He's an old friend of mine."

The doorbell rang a few minutes later, and that's when an elderly gentleman entered, wearing an old-fashioned newsboy cap on his head. Phyllis hugged him, before taking his coat and muttering about how thin he'd grown.

"These are your grandchildren Phyllis?" He called out, his small eyes squinting at us. He looked at Renee, who stood up in respect, Sam, who remained silent, and me, right by the fireplace.

His dark eyes widened with recognition for a split second before he quickly looked away from me. It made me wonder if I'd imagined the whole thing.

"Oh no, Fergus, they're friends of Clover's," She told him, before turning to us. "Kids, this is Fergus Smith, a very dear friend of mine."

We all muttered hellos, and I began to wonder if this old man could be related to my beefy prison guard. No, this man was balding, his nose rather large with hair growing out of it. He looked malnourished from one angle, his skin sallow like he'd been locked in a room for years.

"How are you, Fergie?" Phyllis asked him sweetly. "You've grown thinner since the last time I've seen you."

"Alice cooks terribly! My son shouldn't have married her!" He complained in that dusty voice of his.

"Well, at least you could escape to the Spirit Realm as you please," Phyllis told him.

I nearly spat out my food. This old man frequented the Spirit Realm?

"It's drab there too, Philly!" Fergus coughed. "Lord Augustus banned our club, claiming that it wasn't safe for humans to traverse through Realms. We all know that he's searching for the Astrascends, and he's bullying us because he can't bully them!"

I smirked despite myself. It seemed like Shay was doing an excellent job. I had to catch up with her one of these days.

"You have anything to say, lad?" His eyes narrowed onto mine. "You aren't originally from Earth, are you?"

How did he know?

"No, he isn't," Phyllis spoke up for me.

"Johannes's old tricks then," Fergus sighed in distaste. "How can you trust this boy, Philly? Not when Johannes stabbed your granddaughter?"

Who was this dude, and how did he know everything?

"Fergus, stop. I'd trust Noah Stark with my life, even if he'd worked with Johannes," Phyllis told him sternly.

"Very well," He huffed. "It's in fashion to trust maniacs these days, isn't it?"

Something about the old man was familiar, even if I was certain that I'd never seen him before. I gave him a closer look, observing his clothes when my eyes fell onto his phone.

A smartphone, precisely the same model as mine. However, it had a simple black cover, than my patterned one.

Exactly like Johannes's phone.

I threw another look at Fergus Smith when I caught him watching me like a hawk. There was that unmistakable evil glint in his eyes, something that was inherently Johannes.

And that's when it made sense, as he hastily swiped his phone off the table.

Fergus Smith was somehow, impossibly, Johannes.

*****

(A/N: I hope you guys liked the chapter, and it wasn't an info overload. 😅Thanks a lot for reading!

Also, why do you think Johannes is pretending to be Fergus Smith?)