Chapter Four: Consultation

"Eli!...Eli!" Oskar shouted as he shook Eli to wake her.

The bathroom was too dark for Oskar to see anything other than silhouettes formed by the contours of cabinets and the tub, but the entrance was dimly lit by the single incandescent bulb hiding inside the hazy globe of the hallway light. He was reaching blindly into the tub. Eli sprang up with a growl causing Oskar to fall back on his rear. Her sudden reaction startled him and her growl sent him crawling backwards toward the entrance where he stopped. Oskar sat still, looking up into the darkness for Eli but all he could see was a living shadow that seemed much more menacing than his Eli. What mingled with the darkness before him did not appear to be friendly. Eli's frantic awakening left her momentarily disoriented. When she turned her head to take in her surroundings her eyes shimmered as they caught a ray of light from the hallway. Oskar gasped at the sight. The sound of his breath made the shadow's flickering eyes fix on him, then it seemed to relax and shrink a bit.

"Oskar. What's wrong?" Eli's voice cut through the darkness with concerned bewilderment as she stepped out of the tub and crouched beside Oskar. He was relieved to see the face he loved come into view. His mind jumped back into his distressed state.

"He knows my name Eli! My real name!" Oskar jabbered anxiuosly.

"What? Who?"

"Jan! He knows who I am Eli!"

"Oskar, slow down. Tell me what happened."

Oskar swallowed hard then took a deep, slow breath as Eli eagerly waited to be informed.

"Jan came by earlier and I went with him to his place to get a sandwich and wait for you to wake up. We were talking and he told me that he knew you weren't my sister and that he knew my name was Oskar." he said in a steady rush as the bulging need to tell Eli warranted quick words.

"How does he know? What else did he say?" Eli inquired with a sharpened expression.

"I don't...I don't know Eli." Oskar bowed his head. "I got scared and ran away before he could say anything else. I came straight here. To you. I didn't know what else to do."

Eli put a hand on Oskar's shoulder. He looked up and saw her face soften.

"It's alright Oskar. I would have been scared too." she said with a comforting half smile.

"What do we do now Eli?"

"Well," she looked up and past Oskar into the hallway for a moment then back down to him,"You stay here Oskar. I'm going to have a talk with Jan."

Jan had let the door stay open as he sat at the table staring at the Rubik's Cube left behind by Oskar. He wasn't sure how he could have handled the situation any better or what action to take next. There was no procedure to follow and he was already disappointed in himself for his apparent failure. When enough of the cold air outside infringed upon his apartment, so that he felt it at the table, he got up and closed the door. He walked with sagging shoulders into the living room, turned on a small lamp that rested on the bookcase then straggled over to the couch where he collapsed with an exhausted mind and tired eyes. He laid lifeless and limp on the couch, waiting for his second wind, hoping for a second chance.

Jan had just begun to float in the realm between consciousness and sleep when a firm knock at the door jarred him. He pulled himself up, waited for his dazed vision to adjust to the sparse amount of light supplied by the lamp and listened for proof that his mind was not playing tricks on him. Seconds later the firm knock returned. He rose from the couch and went to the door. With a yawn he opened the door and was glad to see Eli standing on the other side.

"Eli, please come in." Jan said, stepping aside for Eli to enter.

"We need to talk Jan." she replied, her features stern.

"Sure, sure."

Eli walked in past Jan. He closed the door and the cold air that crept in gave him a small chill. He turned to look at Eli and marveled again at how little clothing she wore. She wasn't even shivering. He made a motion toward the living room then followed Eli to the couch where they sat, each to an end leaving more than a single cushion between them.

"How's Oskar? I really didn't mean to frighten him." Jan started.

"He's ok, just spooked a little."

"That's good to h..."

"How do you know who he is?" Eli cut Jan off with a curt tone.

Eli's interruption made Jan pause. He took a second to consider her as she stared intensely at him with such a hard expression, sitting perfectly still, waiting for his answer. His hands, lying on his thighs, began to fidget.

"You're a long ways from Blackeberg but that "Pool Massacre" story made plenty of waves around here Eli. Oskar's name and picture has been in the paper almost every day until just recently."

"And you haven't told anyone about him?"

"No. I told you I would help and I meant it. Eli...are you two running from whoever killed those boys? Did Oskar see something?"

A veil of gloom suddenly covered Eli's face. She looked away from Jan. After a few seconds she spoke mournfully. "We can never escape what we're running from...at least I can't."

To see someone so young look so dismal and speak with such dire words made Jan's heart go out to Eli. Hopelessness, despair and sorrow were not meant for children. At least that's what he had always thought. They were the thieves of innocence and happiness that preyed upon those at the cusp of adulthood. Some invited them in while others like Jan could only keep them at bay for short periods. He had come to believe that they were cast upon those in the world like himself who could bear them, so others wouldn't have to. Others like Eli and Oskar.

"Eli please...let me help you and Oskar. I know we've only just met but I really want to help." Jan pleaded. "I'm sure we can find a way to keep you two safe from whatever or whoever you're running from."

A long silence filled with anticipation hung in the space between them as Eli pondered Jan's offer and he waited for an answer. Eli looked across the couch at Jan. His words felt so earnest, so warm. She wanted to believe that he could take it all away, make everything better. She wanted to believe that his sincereity could protect her and Oskar, keep them safe but she knew better. She knew that even hoping for such a thing would only bring disappointment, sorrow. She also knew what eventually happened to people who discovered what she really was.

"Jan, you've done enough. You... you can't help us, it would only turn out badly for you if you did." she said sadly.

Jan dropped his head in frustration then let out a sigh full of the same. He had forgotten that caring could be so difficult. Eli got off the couch and moved in front of him. He looked up when he felt the closeness of her presence.

"Why did you decide to help us last night?" she asked.

Jan wrinkled his brow, thought about the question, about how sad Eli looked when she asked it. He realized that he did not yet have a complete answer. He shrugged.

"I don't know really. It all... just kinda... happened so fast. I just figured it was the right thing to do."

Again there was silence as Eli stood contemplating Jan. With Eli standing so close and being slightly taller than him since he was sitting Jan felt as though he were being examined under a microscope. Inwardly he laughed at himself for letting such a young kid make him feel so uneasy.

"You really don't want anything from us?"

"No. Ofcourse not."

"I should get back to Oskar." Eli said quickly as she turned and headed for the door. Jan jumped up but stood in place. He wanted to push his offer, to make sure she and Oskar knew that he meant every word but he didn't want to press her.

"Wait!" he said as Eli turned the door handle. He pointed towards the table. "Oskar left his Cube."

Eli glanced at the Cube then over at Jan. "Why don't you keep it for a couple of days and give it a try." she said with a grin and then left.

Oskar was sitting at the table, staring at the contents of the open suitcase. He was sliding his feet back and forth under the chair as if he were running in place. He was calm but restless. He wanted to know what was going on in Jan's apartment. When the door began to open he popped up out of the chair and ran to meet Eli.

"Well?" he asked impatiently.

"Everything is fine Oskar." Eli closed the door. "He followed the story in the paper and saw your picture, that's all." she assured.

Oskar didn't respond. The look of uncertainty on Eli's face told him there was more.

"Oskar?"

"Hmm..."

"I think you were right. I think he really wants to help us and he doesn't want anything in return." she said solemnly.

"That's a good thing Eli, isn't it?"

"Yes Oskar. Believe me, there aren't a lot of Jans' in the world."

"So what now? What do we do?"

"We trust him or...we leave."