Well I'll be damned. This is exactly like the fictional movie from my childhood. We walked for what felt like hours- though I could have just been exhausted from the hours I spent walking earlier and the adrenaline crash I experienced after that phone call. We arrive at another biometric type security door, which opens to an area with- I shit you not- a submarine docked at the edge of a body of water, with in a cave. The room is surrounded with all kinds of military style boxes- presumably weapons and provisions. Avery walks up to the vessel and types some things in the key pad and then what resembles the spindle needle from my favorite princess movie pops out of a hidden compartment.
"You have got to be shitting me…"
"Dahlia, I am going to need you to come prick your finger." He says with a huge smile on his face.
"Seriously?" He has to be kidding. Am I being punked? Is Ahston Kutcher hiding in one of these boxes?
"Yes, seriously. There is powerful magic keeping this area protected. The Submarine cannot operate, or even open with out a drop of your blood. Your blood is the key. Even I cannot open it." He says that like he has an exorbitant amount of power, or something. He muse sense my panic because he speaks much softer now, as I fight the tears threatening the corners of my eyes. "Dahlia, I am a gargoyle…"
"Yes I know that, I am not stupid." I interupt.
"Yes, but you do not yet know that gargoyles are the keepers of magic and knowledge, the most powerful beings ever created. The guardians of all things here on earth. Some call us angels, but we are gargoyles. Able to take on any form. Able to live long lives, much longer than other creatures. Ageless more often than not. Powerful beyond belief. This is why we are so often lawyers, judges and government officials- or work in teaching type professions. You asked how I could be tasked with your safety at the age of 5 earlier, but Dahlia I am 401 year old, as of… two minutes ago." he states matter of factly, checking his watch for the time.
I take that to mean it is 12:02am. It is now Tuesday and, apparently, Avery's birthday. I did not know today was his birthday. Wait a minute… Did he just say 401?! I turn, my expression moving from from annoyance at his man-splaining to absolute surprise. This gorgeous creature before me just told me ge is 401 years old… he barely looks the 26 I thought him to be… I begin to process my thoughts aloud, "So you mean to tell me… this whole time I have known you… I thought I was some kind of bad ass… because at 16 i made out with a sexy ass 21 year old…. And how cool is that, making out with a college guy who is 5 years older than you, especially with as sexy as that guy is, I mean, who wouldnt want to do that? I mean come on… but 401Ikissedamanthatwas401andlikedit?! What the..."
My thoughts are caught off by his laughter just as my words began running together. "What's so funny you pervert?" I'm not sure why I just called him that, because I am the one who just went on about how attractive he
"You said you liked it…"
I stare back at him, face blank. I choose to ignore the conversation completely, and move on as though it never happened. That seems like the only rational way to respond at this time. "So what is the motivation for the cartoon level theatrics here" I ask, hoping we can just move on.
"You're a fan of princess movies, so I had some fun where I could." He says shrugging both shoulders. "Had we shown up before midnight this sub would have been much prettier." he added with a smile.
I can't decide if he is kidding, or if there really is a more beautiful version of this vessel that I missed out on. Shaking the thoughts away, I approach him, pricking my finger on the spindle. "So I just let it drip?" I ask as the door immediately opens. Woah.
"After you, Princess." he says, bowing dramatically, and gesturing for me to enter, offering a hand to help steady me.
The door closes behind me and I turn in a state of panic, worried he is outside. As bizarre as this is, I do not want to do it alone and would greatly benefit from his presence. He must understand the concerned look on my face, giving me a small smile, urging me to follow him.
"Welcome to BAMBI 1" he tells me with what has got to be the cheesiest grin ever. "I went through a rebellious phase about 75 years ago and joined the military. I ranked up quickly and ended up on a team that worked on missile defense systems. I too enjoy Disney movies, so I named an entire missile defense project after Bambi.
"This submarine is bullet proof, missile proof, and nuclear explosion proof. It can withstand the force of the deepest depth of the ocean, and is able to sustain up to 100 human lives for a total of 25 years, with out surfacing, provided regular maintenance is upkept. She has systems in place to renew oxygen, clean and reuse water and recharge her own power. She is fully equipped to grow plant based foods, and is designed to allow fishing, though I much prefer cane pole fishing to nets." He says with a smirk. Taking a sideways glance at me, he continues to walk. It is becoming clear that the small amount of BAMBI 1 I saw was but a glimpse.
"She is battle ready, equipped with guns, missiles and enough bombs to start a nuclear hollocaust. Which she will, by the way, withstand because she is fortified with incomprehensible amounts of magic. She is able to deter satellites and even scramble the most advanced technology to avoid detection. She is basically indestructible and invincible."
"Is there anything she can't do?" I ask only half kidding. This thing is pretty impressive.
"Well, the last time I took her out for a dip I lost connection to Netflix at about 5,000 meters deep…"
And though he has said this in all seriousness, with a face straighter than a ruler I burst into uncontrollable laughter. This is all just too much- I can't. I am going to wake up tomorrow from this dream and things will be normal again. Because I am clearly delusional, and having an insanely vivid dream caused by the trauma of the events of an above average Monday.
"And, pray tell, does this incredible vessel have a bed for me to sleep in? A bubble bath and a good book perhaps?" I manage to get out through the laughter, tears streaming down my face.
"Follow me, I will give you a brief explaination on the way to your sleeping quarters. There is a map in your room, though I must warn that sea vessels are not like other types of infrastructure, so it may take some getting used to. It will take us about 11 hours to arrive at the safe house if we go there directly. However, I have been instructed not to arrive until 1800 hours, so we will spend some time circling, incase we have a tail, and then sit at the base of the ocean for several hours. There may be sounds you can hear due to your advanced auditory ability, and you may be susceptible to the changes in pressure as we ascend and descend. Popping your ears helps.
"I will come get you at 0900 and walk you to the galley. We are alone on the sub, so we will have to prepare our own meals. Then I will take you to the helm and we can discuss things further. I am confident after a night of reflection you will have many questions. Right now she is on autopilot. She is set to diversionary tactics until approximately 0400, at which time I will reset our course to the safehouse location. We will approach the region and then continue diversionary tactics until the time comes for us to surface at exactly 1800.
"As I mentioned there will be much circling and ascension and descention and some bottoming. Please do not be alarmed, but should you need me there is a panic button in your quarters and in the head…"
He must notice that I am not fully understanding what he is saying because he changes tactics, going foo more simple terms. "Dahlia, I know this is alot for you. And I am sorry that things are going this way. To put it very very simply, were going to drive the sub around in circles, and sit on the ocean floor until its time to leave the sub. We are basically going around our ass to get to our elbow incase anyone is looking for us, the elbow being the safehouse- the ass being the Mariana Trench. There are panic button near your door, bed and your bathroom. There is no bubble bath because this is a submarine. You do have a private room though, so if you need to use BAMBI in the future, you will not have to share your living space."
We have stopped infront of a door, I assume is my room. I open the door and am pleasantly surprised to find a somewhat normal bed against a wall. A desk with a built in cabinet separating the bed from the adjacent wall. There is also a wardrobe and another door, which I am guessing is the bathroom. As promised I see two panic buttons, both encased in a plastic cover to prevent accidental use. Turning back to Avery, I blew out a breath I did not realize I was holding.
"Get some sleep Princess, I will see you in the morning for breakfast." He smiles before tapping his open palm twice on the wall and turning to walk away.
"Thanks, and good night DC."
He tosses his head back in laughter, but doesn't slow down or turn around.
Sweet dreams Avery…. I think to myself, not having the balls to say it aloud to him. I feel a rush of heat deep in my belly and the buzzing that normally dulls when he walks away seems to throb in intensity, if only for a moment, as if in response. What is that about? I am too exhausted to put much more effort into that and make my way into the room, closing the door behind me. It's just us, so I do not feel the need to lock the door. I'm not sure how far away he is, but I can still feel him as though he were standing next to me. The constant buzzing of his presence is relaxing, and in this moment I would not be disappointed if he chose to turn around and test if my door is locked- maybe come in when he finds it is not….
I quickly take a shower, a cold shower, in the hopes of not only washing away this day, but also this desire pooling in my center. In the bathroom, I have found all the things I would normally need to bathe, including the softest towels I think I have ever had the pleasure of wrapping around my body. I have stayed in the best hotels in the world and the towels are not this heavenly. It's my sub, so surely no one will notice if this towel goes missing. I inspect every crevice of my temporary space. I find that there are fresh clothes that I would actually wear in the wardrobe, including my delicates. I wonder who picked these things out- I am positive I own all these things already. I literally wore this Lily Pulitzer dress three days ago, and yet this duplicate dress is here with tags. Who stocked this thing?
Pulling on a matching set of silk pajamas and a pair of fuzzy socks, I climb into the bed. I sit with my knees to my chest, trying to hold myself together. I let out another breath I had not noticed I was holding and a few tears along with it. I begin going over the days events, and decide there is no way any of this is real. I decide I am just going to bed, and when I wake up in my bedroom in Cambridge, this will have all been a dream.
As I climb under the blankets, which feel very much like the ones I have at home, I swear I can smell him. The calming buzz lulls me to sleep. I hear his voice as I drift off to sleep, "Sweet dreams, Princess." And I swear I can feel his arms around me before I finally succumb to sleep.