Character Talk

"So what brings us here?" Robert asked. Griffin stayed silent, his grey eyes grazing the carpet.

"I do. I'd like to talk to you about what happened 15 years ago, at the facility in Solarium, New Hampshire."

"We've told reporters. It's said and done. Old news." Robert said. He held Griffin's hand. "Right?" 

"I'm not interested in what the news has to say," I said. "I'm interested in getting your story. The real story. I sense that more happened down there than you two let on, and I intend to fill in the blanks."

"What if we don't want our story told?" Griffin said. "I'm going to live longer than I ever planned to, but Robert here gives me someone to talk to until I stop. It's not going to be soon when our story gets out, right?" 

"It won't until both of you want it to. Until then, it's just recorded. You both are advocates of truth, yes?" 

They nodded. 

"Then it's settled. I'll bring up what pieces I know, and then we'll keep talking from there." I put my hands in my lap. "We can start from the beginning, with Robert's home life. Does that sound alright?"

"Will you give us a minute?" Robert said. "We need to talk this over for just a moment."

I nodded. "Take your time."

The two disappeared from the room. The imprints on the couch on which they were sitting returned to flat, as if no one had been sitting on it.

I spoke to the empty room. "I'm afraid I haven't been completely honest. It was difficult tracking you down, and I apologize for not being straightforward. For one, I know you're still listening. Second, I know you're still here, that you haven't disappeared. No, I cannot sense you. You two are beyond the next plane of existence, even off the one following. But I'm also from a place farther than here, and I know for a fact you can hear me. "

I counted to 60. I heard gentle footsteps behind me. Robert peered over my shoulder.  "For a reporter, you don't have a notebook."

"Nor a recorder." Griffin was on my other side. "How you do plan to remember our story correctly?

"For one so close to it, you doubt my mental ability."

Robert sat back down, obviously startled that he hadn't startled me. Griffin resumed his place beside him. 

"May we begin?"

"I'll start from the beginning, then." Robert said. 

"Please do."