Having A Word With Gregson

"It Looks Like One of The Screws From My Nightmare."

Aaron thought he had been dreaming when he picked up the screw currently resting in his hand and absently shoved it into the pocket of his pants before going to check on his Sister but that no longer seemed to be the case. Aaron stood frozen as he studied the ominous-looking hunk of partially rusted metal.

As Aaron examined it closely, turning it over and over in his hand he couldn't help but think that he was holding something... Unnatural. Something that didn't belong in this World. It was just as he remembered it from the previous night... caked with blood with hair, skin, and bits of bone clinging to the threads. The contrast of pristine polished metal with the gore and rust made it seem like it was trying to occupy two Worlds at once. One being the one Aaron had experienced while he was asleep and the other being the one he was standing in now but which one was real and which one was the dream.

Aaron's logical mind had been processing the experience while he explored the possibilities, trying to untangle all of the variables so it took him several moments after discovering the screw for the emotional aspect of his intellect to catch up with his thoughts but when they did he was shaken by the realization that both Worlds... The one he had experienced while asleep and the one he was in now that he was awake might be equally real., "If The Brain Cannot Separate The Real From The Unreal... Is That Not Reality?"

Aaron pondered the implications of this line of thought., "Could I Have Unintentionally Touched Another Layer of Reality? It Would Certainly Explain What Happened At The Hospital... Hmm, Perhaps The Accelerated Dream Therapy Affected My Brain Harmonics Which Could Account For Such An Intense Dream."

It sounded plausible in theory but Aaron needed something more concrete than mere supposition before he was convinced., "Gog Should Be Able To Assist Me In Finding A Suitable Answer But...," Aaron paused looking down at the ominous little screw in his hand., "... First I Need To Be Sure."

It only took Aaron a couple of minutes to finish drying off and get dressed. He looked at the tiny piece of metal in his hand one last time.

"How Can Something So Light Be So Heavy?" Thought Aaron before shoving it into his pocket once more.

Aaron exited his bathroom and looked around., "I Know I Threw A Pillow At My Sister Last Night."

Aaron had been sure he had thrown a pillow at his Sister Monica last night when she had come to his room and teased him about Sydney but he had been so mentally exhausted he had just left it lay on the floor where it fell. Glancing around towards his bed he saw the pillow in question just laying there on his bed., "Hmm, It Must Have Been Lydia When She Came To Check On Me."

Aaron greeted several of the Maids on his way to his Sister's room. Aaron took a deep breath, straightening his tie.

"I Really Hate These Things.," Thought Aaron as he listened for any hint that his Sister was awake. After all the last thing he wanted to do was walk in on her while she was getting dressed and he didn't want to knock because she was more than likely still asleep.

Aaron listened but the only thing he heard were the soft rustle of curtains by the morning breeze and his Sister quietly breathing.

"I Guess Its Now or Never.," Thought Aaron, steeling himself as he opened the door to his Sister's room and peeked inside. All was quiet and Aaron immediately spotted his Sister still sleeping soundly. He opened the door wider and stepped inside. Aaron made his way over to his Sister's bedside and watched her., "I Hope Your Life and The Lives of Our Mother and Sisters Will Remain This Quiet and Peaceful.," Aaron clenched his fists., "... And They Will If I Have Anything To Say About It."

Aaron found himself kissing his Sister on the forehead just as he had last night. He carefully removed a few instruments from the storage space of his watch and took a few scans of his Sister and her room just to give himself peace of mind.

"Good.," Aaron sighed to himself., "Looks Like She Is In Perfect Health."

Relieved, Aaron carefully and quietly left his Sister's room. After checking on Monica, Aaron aimlessly wandered around the halls of The Masters Estate for several minutes before finding himself in front of the door to the room from last night. Aaron reached for the handle of the door but then he hesitated.

Aaron was about to go into the room despite the profound sense of foreboding he felt just looking at the closed door when a thought struck him., "It Was Around Here Somewhere Wasn't It?"

Aaron was looking for the secret passage he had fallen into last night but after nearly 15 minutes of searching after retracing his steps he found nothing., "I Guess That Part Was Just A Dream."

Aaron was about to head back to the room from his dream when something caught his eye. Crouching down, Aaron examined what appeared to be red sand mixed with some kind of metal shavings, and Aaron could see where the floor had been exposed to a significant quantity of water but it was nearly dry now. Aaron looked up., "Wait A Second!"

Why hadn't Aaron realized it sooner. He stood up and made his way to the end of the hall but the partially covered window with bars was nowhere to be found and even the hall he had taken to reach his Sister's room last night was no longer there.

"What Is Going On?!," Aaron couldn't help but ask himself. Aaron closed his eyes and retraced his steps both last night and this morning and he had indeed taken two different routes to reach Monica's room but now the route he had taken last night had vanished like it had never existed., "Why Didn't I Realize This Before?!"

Essentially having grown up in The Masters Estate, Aaron knew every square foot of the property both inside and out so why hadn't he seen through the discrepancy in his own memory?

Aaron bent down in front of the wall where the barred window had been in his 'Dream' and he discovered more red sand only this time it was wet.

Aaron's feelings of dread and anxiety were increasing as the days marched on as if some unseen **** were putting more and more pressure on him. Aaron could feel something approaching but he was afraid and uncertain of what it might be.

Aaron decided to collect a few samples merely to sate his own curiosity because he didn't think any tests he might run would go anywhere. The tests would simply be a matter of course. Aaron had nearly finished collecting the samples when he heard a voice from behind him., "Good Morning, Young Master." Aaron's entire body immediately stiffened upon hearing The Head Butler Gregson's voice.

"I Didn't Even Sense Him Approach.," Thought Aaron as he quickly stored the samples in his watch's dimensional space and turned to greet Gregson.

Aaron wore a nervous smile as he turned to greet The Head Butler. Gregson was nearly seventy and his joints creaked like an old door with rusty hinges but he could still move quickly and quietly when he chose to.

"You startled me Gregson...," Aaron said, continuing to smile nervously like a kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar., "... I didn't hear you coming."

Gregson bowed deeply in apology., "My Most Sincere Apologies Young Master. It wasn't my intention to startle you I was merely in the midst of preparing for the day when I saw you examining something and I wondered if there was a problem or if there was something that this humble servant could help you with."

Aaron stood up and dusted off his pants before turning to address the older Man., "I was restless and was just walking the halls when I noticed something."

"Oh?," Gregson raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"I Should Be Careful What I Reveal...," Thought Aaron as he quickly considered his response., "... But This Should Be Alright."

"I was just wandering aimlessly when I saw something on the floor."

"Is that so Young Master?," Gregson's already stern face hardened in an instant., "What was it?"

It was impossible for Aaron not to notice the change in The Old Man's demeanor but he continued as if he hadn't., "I noticed some red sand and metal shavings and in some places the floor was wet."

"Really?!," Gregson's stern look gave way to one of surprise., "Where? Show Me."

"I found some red sand here and...," Aaron said as he turned and pointed but froze when all traces of the strange red sand he had been talking about appeared to be gone., "The Floor Doesn't Even Look Wet Now. What's Going On Here?"

Aaron turned back to Gregson who wore a sympathetic expression on his old, weathered face as he spoke., "It appears The Young Master was mistaken or... at least there doesn't appear to be anything there now."

Aaron couldn't believe what he was seeing or more accurately what he wasn't seeing., "I Just Collected Samples A Minute Ago and Now There Are No Traces."

Aaron studied Gregson and just as he was about to give up he spotted a bead of sweat making its way down the older Man's temple., "Strange, I've Never Seen Gregson Sweat." Aaron was sure that there was something strange going on and what's more he was almost certain that Gregson knew what it was but he was unsure how to broach the subject. If his approach was too soft Gregson would undoubtedly shrug off his attempts to gain information and if he were to aggressive Gregson would retreat into his shell and it would be hell getting the Old Man to talk if that happened.

After a few moments of consideration Aaron decided on a more direct approach since he had known Gregson for so long he didn't feel right about trying to trick information out of the old Man so he began simply., "Uh Gregson..."

"Yes, Young Master."

"... About last night..."

"Yes, Young Master say no more it was entirely my fault."

"It Was?"

"Yes, Young Master. It wasn't my place to question you. This Old Man sometimes speaks before he thinks... Sadly it is a symptom of the old and the very young."

Aaron couldn't help but smile., "That's not what I meant Gregson."

"Oh, Then What Young Master?"

Aaron took a deep breath and looked the old Man straight in the eyes., "I'm referring to the strange gathering of people in robes yourself included that took place in that room over there...," Aaron gestured to the room in question and watched Gregson carefully for any changes in his expression or body language but aside from a slight, nearly imperceptible twitch in his left eye he was a statue.

"Over there is also one of the places where I found the red sand.," Aaron pressed.

"I'm Sorry but I really must beg The Young Master's pardon. I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"With That Unchanging Expression I Can't Tell If He's Lying or Not.," Thought Aaron before saying., "Come now Gregson we've know each other too long to lie now."

The Old Man stiffened., "That's true but I'm telling you the truth... I honestly don't know what you're talking about. I don't even own any robes just seven suits identical to the one I'm wearing and some more inconspicuous clothing for when I'm in public and that's it."

"I have no desire to pressure you Gregson but I saw you with a gathering others in similar robes around a table. You were meeting by candle light and you were talking about..."

Aaron could see Gregson swallow hard., "At Last The Old Man's Armor Is Starting To Crack."

"... Me.," Finished Aaron.

Gregson began laughing., "Oh Please Young Master... Why would I or anyone else gather so close to your room if they were going to have some secret meeting about you?"

Aaron had to admit., "You have a point Gregson but nevertheless I saw you. I even spoke to you."

"Please Young Master I don't know what you think you saw but...," Gregson suddenly looked much older than he had just a few moments ago., "... It wasn't me. After we talked downstairs I made preparations for the morning and then turned in for the night.," Stated Gregson as he turned to walk away., "So if you'll excuse me Young Master I must attended to my duties."

Aaron wasn't prepared to let the matter just drop so he grabbed Gregson by the arm to stop him and with a deep sigh, Gregson turned to face The Young Master.

"I'm not finished speaking with you Gregson."

"What else is there to say Young Master?"

"If not about you and the others in the black robes then what about David and the other person I saw in that room."

The moment Aaron mentioned seeing David the color seemed to drain from Gregson's face and the normally impassive expression he wore on his face was replaced by one of what could only be described as fear.

"I can assure The Young Master that Mister Anderson hasn't been here since yesterday morning. I would know if he were."

"I've Gone This Far I Might As Well I Might As Well Throw Down All My Cards.," Aaron decided before saying., "And what about the secret passage in the wall hidden somewhere in this hall?"

"What's Wrong?! Why Does Gregson Look Like He's Going To Have A Heart Attack?"

Aaron was not only surprised by the rapid and drastic change in The Old Man but he was growing concerned as well., "What Does He Know That Would Cause Him To Make A Face Like That and Why Is He Shaking?"

Aaron's face softened., "It's okay Gregson if you don't want to tell me then you don't have to."

"Thank You Young Master and...," The Old Man's voice shook, hesitating momentarily before adding., "... I'm Sorry."

As he watched Gregson depart, Aaron couldn't help but wonder what Gregson was concealing that had him under so much pressure that the mere mentioning of it made him look as if he might die. Aaron decided with a chuckle that it was one more thing to add to the growing stack of mysteries he had been encountering recently., "I Should Hold Off On Questioning Gregson Any Further. He's Been A Good Friend To Me Over The Years... I Can't Sacrifice His Life For A Few Answers To Questions That May or May Not Even Be Important Anyway."

A Few Minutes Later...

Out of Sight of The Young Master, Gregson stumbled down an adjoining hallway and was using the wall for support. His eyes appeared sunken, his face was pale, and he was drenched with sweat from head to toe. After walking a couple of steps past what he thought he could endure he stopped, the sound of his own heart like thunder in his ears as he struggled to catch his breath.

Without warning, The Old Butler began coughing violently into his hand. It took several minutes before this coughing fit subsided and looking down at his hand, Gregson noticed that his otherwise immaculate white glove was stained with reddish-purple blood and what's more something seemed to be moving in the crimson purple pool in the palm of his hand.

"I Understand.," Gregson sighed closing his fist while leaning with his back against the wall. The Poor Old Man looked at least 20 years older.

"That Was Close.," Gregson mumbled to himself, a faint trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth only to be wiped away on the back of his soiled glove., "I think I'll just rest here for a moment."