The House Part 39

Chapter Five in which Brien finds something very strange at One One Eight Hawthorn Lane
Brien ran through the streets looking around as he went. He finally stopped at the town square. He looked around wildly.
“How in the name of God,” He said to himself, “Does one get to Hawthorn Lane?”
“Go down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, and then take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
“Excuse me?” Brien said, looking around.
“Go Down Kinshasha road, turn right at Volstead Drive, the take another right at Kilimanjaro Avenue.”
Brien turned around and around but he could not see anyone.
“Hello?” He said, “Is anyone here?”
“Just go. You need to see what is there.”
“Ok,” Brien said, “Um, thank you.”
“Don't mention it. Now, go.” Brien took off running. He sped down Kinshasha road and took a very fast right at Volstead drive. He ran down that road for about two minutes and then he saw the sign for Kilimanjaro Avenue and turned onto it the first street sign he saw was one for Hawthorn lane. Brien slowed to a walk.
How was he going to do this? Just walk up, knock on the door, and say what? “Hello I'm sorry but my friend just shot your daughter and she wants to see you before she dies.” He located one hundred and eighteen and walked up to the door. He sighed and knocked. He waited a while and, as no one had come to answer the door, he knocked again. Still no one answered. Brien tried to the door knob and it turned. Brien pushed the door open and looked around. The downstairs was dark but upstairs there appeared to be a light on. Brien called up.
“Hello?” He said walking up the stairs, “Is anyone here? Hello?” He walked up to the room with a light on and knocked on the door. The door swung open of its own accord and Brien saw that the room had no one in it. He sighed and was about to turn around when something caught his eye.
In the corner of the room there was a cluster of boxes. On top of the boxes was a machine with a light on top that flashed on and off. On and off. It entranced Brien and he walked toward it. He stretched out his hand and touched it.
“Hello Brien.”
Brien spun around and stared in shock.
“Miss me?”
“What are you doing here?” Brien asked his jaw almost hitting the floor.
“Talking to you, I would think that that would be fairly obvious. Really Brien without me you are kind of out of it.”
“You got shot.” Brien said, staring, “I saw the life drain out of you.”
“Yes you did.”
“Then,” Brien said, “How in the name of all that is holy are you here?”
“Funny you should ask that.”
“Isn't it.”
“It is.”
“Seriously,” Brien said, “How are you here?”
“It might take a while.”
“I have time.” Brien said.
“No you don't Brien. Lord Almighty, there is a girl laying in the snow dying who needs her mother.”
“She is just a computer program!” Brien protested, “She doesn't matter!”
“Are you one hundred percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Yes!” Brien said, throwing up his arms, “Yes she is a computer program.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Brien said angrily, “For the Lord's sake! I am one hundred freaking percent sure that she is a computer program?”
“Well, that presents a problem.”
“How so?” Brien asked dismissively
“Seriously Brien? Seriously?”
“Oh My God.” Brien said, his eyes going wide “Is she real?”
“Yep.”
“Lord.” Brien said, looking around wildly, “but...but how?”
“I will explain later but right now you need to get the girl her mother.”
“I don't know where she is.” Brien said helplessly.
“She is in the next room. She won't give you any trouble and when you get back to the girl Lara and Allison will be there. Once she has begun recovering come back here and I will explain. Now go.”
“Ok.” Brien said, nodding, “I'll be back in a little bit.”
“See you then.”
Brien turned and walked out the door. He went into the very next room and found everything was as he had been told it would be.