The Silent Guardian — Chapter 13, Part 2: Clara

This installment continues The Silent Guardian Series. Previous: Chapter 13, Part 1: Xia's Return.

I study her closely. Her hair is cropped in an easy, textured bob, framing cheeks that hold a hint of color. Her smile lifts, etching deep laugh lines around her mouth and eyes. Her eyes—there’s something in their shape or deep blue color. No, it’s the way she looks at me.

It hits me: she’s the woman from the photograph I found among Xia’s belongings. She is the same woman I saw during my mission to assassinate William Rufus. The memory stirs: she appeared in the forest not long before I killed Rufus. She tried to stop me—said I was making a mistake, that Rufus didn’t deserve to die, and that the people I served weren’t telling me the truth.

I sign questions at her in a flurry. I demand to know her name, why she has been following me, and what I am doing here. Before I can even get halfway through, she raises a hand, stopping me with that warm, easy smile.

“Hold on,” she says, rummaging through a small bag at her side. She pulls out a modern notebook, flipping it open before giving it to me with a grin. “I thought you’d appreciate a real pen and paper. It’s much easier to write with this than the stuff they have around here.”

I blink, taking the notebook from her, unsure what to make of her casual demeanor. This isn’t something I’m used to. She seems almost excited. It’s unsettling.

She turns toward Xia, her face softens, then snaps back at me. “I’m Clara. I believe you’ve already met Xia,” she says, gesturing toward her with a smile. “My wife.” She coily blows a kiss to Xia.

Wife? I shift to Xia, who stands a few steps back, arms crossed, watching.

Clara continues, “I asked Xia to help you because we knew you’d need it. We’ve been monitoring the Qin mission for years. The Phylax’s mistake was inevitable; however, we don’t know what caused it. I have to admit, we were both a little disappointed when you tried to kill Xia. Even though we knew you were going to.” She giggles as if this moment isn’t serious.

She softens even further as she recounts the details. “Xia’s done more for you than you realize,” she says, glancing back at her wife. “Remember when that soldier in the dark armor was about to kill you in the desert? Xia pulled you through time. She saved you.”

I clutch the notebook tightly. I have a thousand questions to ask. I scribble quickly, keeping to the topic at hand. Where did that army come from? Is that the new Imperial Army?

“They aren’t, but they have replaced the Imperials. We stopped tracking them and have no idea who is in control now. They emerged out of nowhere after Qin died.”

Who are you? Why should I trust you? I scribble across the paper and then point to Xia. She has been hiding things from me.

Clara sighs. “Because we’re trying to protect you, Adam. The Phylax has lied to you your entire life. I tried to warn you in that forest long ago, but the Phylax were chasing me. It’s time you knew the truth about who you are.” She pauses, meeting my gaze. “I’m your sister.”

Time stretches as her revelation sinks in. Sister? I stare at her. The notion is almost laughable. I respond, That’s impossible. I was raised in a Renegade commune.

I’m taken aback when I see Clara’s tears well up. “I know that’s what they told you. It’s not the full story,” she says, her voice wavering. “The Phylax kidnapped you when you were five years old, Adam. I was there. I saw it happen.”

I don’t believe her. My pen touches the paper, ready to challenge her claims. She continues before I can write more.

“I’ll tell you what I remember,” Clara says, growing distant as she begins describing an unsettlingly familiar version of events.

“You were in the backseat of our car. You were so small—only a kid.”

She seems to search me for any sign of recognition. As Clara recounts the memory, I feel the edges of something familiar pressing into my memory. It’s a faint reflection. Could she be telling the truth? Or is this another layer of manipulation I can’t see through yet?

“Dad was in the front seat waiting for me and mom. We were getting ready to go somewhere. I don’t know where. Mom never told me. I remember we were in a hurry.”

She pauses, sadness passing through her before continuing. “I was on the sidewalk, holding onto mom’s hand. We were about to get in the car. She was terrified about something. I could feel it in her tight grip.”

Clara’s voice sounds weighed down by the memory. “Then everything went to hell.”

A sense of foreboding settles over me; I know what comes next.

“There were two strangers who came rushing toward the car. One of them jumped into the front seat. Suddenly, dad was dead.” She swallows hard, forcing the following words out. “He was slumped forward on the wheel. I remember how unreal it looked.” Her voice trembles for a second before she steadies herself.

“Mom started screaming. It was this awful, guttural sound like someone had ripped something out of her. Then I saw this man in the backseat. He reached for you and yanked you so hard it made me want to scream. Then, you disappeared.

“I wanted to run or do something. Instead, mom held me tight. She whispered, ‘Not right now.’ She carried us through time. She had the ability, too. Because of that, we lived in secrecy for the rest of my youth.”

Clara wipes her tears away. “In a way, they took you, dad, and even mom from me. I’ve spent so many years trying to find you, Adam. When I did, I knew it would be hard to bring you back from those bastards. The Phylax has really messed you up.”

Continue with Chapter 13, Part 3: The Anchor. New installments publish daily at 5:00 AM.

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