Soul Bond (Part 4)

Soul Bond Part 4

Planning to go see Oliva’s grandma was a good idea. From what Olivia has told me about her, she knows a lot about all this.

If anyone can help us, it’s her.

Olivia is waiting patiently in the other room for me the change out of my ripped clothing. I also have the impossible job of tackling the mess that is her hair….or…. I guess, my hair.

Since becoming a glorified light bulb earlier, my hair is still sticking up with the remaining static.

Getting myself undressed down into just my whatnots, I look into her closet. I have a good idea of what I wanted to wear, although I knew Olivia would likely complain!

I really was not in the mood to dress overly feminine! I’m sure Olivia would like me to wear her body with pride, but currently….I ain't feeling that.

Knowing Olivia has yoga wear tucked into the bottom of her closet.

Being yoga wear, it was going to be tight on my body, but I’d worn a sports bra before. I liked how comfortable they are compared to a wired bra.

Slipping off the bra I was wearing, I quickly get myself into the outfit I’d selected.

Looking into the mirror, I was a little put off at how the yoga pants shaped around me, but at least I could pull the jacket zip right up over my chest.

“I’ll give it to you Olivia…..,” I quietly comment to myself, as I look at my backside in the mirror. “I do like big butts!”

Giving my reflection a smile, It soon turns to a frown.

“Graahh,” I groan, trying to force my hair down flat. “This hair! I wanna cut it all off!”

“You dare!” Olivia shouts through the door, clearly hearing me talk. “Stop looking at my ass too!”

“What should I do with it then!?” I cry back, still trying to flatten it. “And it’s my ass…. I can look at it If want!”

“Put a hat on!” she whines back. “Just don’t you dare mess with my hair!”

Sarcastically mouthing back what Olivia just said, I spot a beanie stuffed in the bottom of her closet. It’s just a basic black one. She must use it when she goes jogging.

Stuffing my hair into the beanie, I find my hair actually hurts as the hat flattens it down.

Swiping away my bangs from my eyes, I flap out the back of my hair.

“Done,” I claim, opening the door and giving Olivia a smile.

Placing a hand on her hip, she looks me up and down.

“We going for a run?” she asks, pointing at my clothing.

“We may have too….,” I reply with some sass “Apparently I might be some all-powerful being that's worth money to someone!”

Raising both her eyebrows, Olivia lets me off the hook.

“Yeah….,” she admits, grabbing her keys from the side. “I guess that true!”

Walking over to the door, I follow behind.

“Let's just head straight to my grandma’s,” Olivia says with a look of determination. “She won’t be phased by us being stuck in each others bodies. She'll know what to do!”

“Great!” I say gladly. “She can get me out of this body before I start to become all soppy and girly.”

“What do you mean….become….?” Olivia laughs, playfully pushing me out into the hallway.

“Blah….,” I respond, not having anything witty to say.

Leaving her building, we decide to take the subway. It’s the quickest way across town to get to her grandma’s

As we stand in the middle of the busy carriage, I couldn’t help but feel that we were being followed. I think Olivia was feeling a little nervous too, but she laughed it off.

She just told me that I’d have to get used to men staring at me all the time. As much as that is true, I still couldn’t shake the feeling we were being watched.

Exiting the subway and walking down the block, I kept looking back and expecting to see someone. I did catch a few men checking me out, but I never saw anyone suspicious!

Arriving at Olivia’s grandparent's place, she pushed me in front, as we knock on the front door. The door squeals open and Olivia’s grandma stands in the doorway.

She’s not like my grandma…. That’s for sure. She looks like she should be reading people's palms or something.

“Oh my…..,” she says, greeting us both with a frown. “Olivia…… why must you torment this poor boy!?”

Me and Olivia both give each other a sideways glance, as we nervously laugh.

“Hello, Simon….,” she says, looking directly at me with a smile. “You’re looking a little thin. Have you been feeding my granddaughter's body properly?”

Giving me a look, she stands aside and lets us in.

“See….,” Olivia comments, as she pushes past me to go inside. “Told you she was good. “

Before I follow Olivia in, I look up and down the street. I still couldn’t shake that bad feeling.

Stepping into the house, I closed the door behind me.

“You'll never find a good man and raise kids,” Olivia’s grandma groans, clipping Olivia’s ear. “If you’re constantly being a man yourself!”

“Gran….!” Olivia moans, stepping back from her with annoyance. “I could still find a man…. even if I’m a man, you know!”

I give Olivia an unimpressed look. She ain’t planning to stay in my body!

“Now Simon,” Olivia’s gran says, turning to me. “You’ve gone through quite the change…..or at least, your soul has.”

“How can you tell…!?” I instantly reply with surprise.

Touching me on the shoulder, Olivia’s Grandma gives me a smile.

“The names Ester and you better come with me,” she says, pointing down the hallway. “We best go talk about this in private, down in the basement.”

Following them, both we walked down a narrow staircase just off the front of the house. As we enter a room, I look around at all the reading material strewn around the place.

She has bookcase after bookcase pushed up against all four corners of the room.

Looking around in wonder, Ester takes a seat behind a large regal-looking desk in the middle of the room. Putting her hands together, she looks up at us both with a dour expression.

“Simon is the boy you saved…?” Ester asks Olivia. “Now you’re unable to perform a switchback…..correct?”

“Yeah…..,” Olivia answers bashfully, looking down at the floor.”

“It is very interesting,” Ester says, giving me a suspicious look. “Your soul Simon….has completely changed. It’s like something hidden deep has awoken.”

“Olivia thinks I might be some sort of ancient,” I say, giving a wry smile.

“He saved us earlier!” Olivia pipes up… all excited. “Two guys attacked us and Simon used some sort of lightning ability to scare them away!”

“They attacked you?” Esters asks with concern. “Why…..?”

“They said my soul was worth money….” I quickly answer, folding my arms in discomfort. “They said they could sell it to some buyer.”

“Show me this power!” Ester instantly commands, giving me a stern look.

Bringing my hand up towards her, I splay out my fingers. Closing my eyes and thinking about how angry those creeps made me…. I feel the energy sparking between my fingers.

“Curious….,” Ester comments. “I’ve never seen a soul manifest an ability like that.”

Opening my eyes, the bright sparks between my fingers quickly dissipate.

“You're not going to like this,” Ester continues, looking down at her desks with a shake of her head. “I’ve been hearing rumors someone rounding up individuals with interesting soul abilities.

Opening one of her desk draws, Ester pulls an old dusty leather-bound book out and puts it on the desk.

“Have you two heard the tale of the Catcher?” She asks…. Pushing the book towards Olivia.”

“The Catcher?” Olivia answers, reaching for the book. “I remember you telling me something about a soul that refused to relinquish its physical shell?”

“That’s…….,” Ester says, but instantly stops as commotion is heard upstairs.

Looking at Olivia worried, we hear the front door of the house, crash open. The sound of several people entering the home is clear as voices are heard shouting commands.

“You two,” Ester says quietly, beaconing us together. “I think you’ve been followed. They are likely after Simon.”

Scurring behind the desk, Ester stands and pulls a single book from the shelf behind her. Slowly, the bookcase splits in two and a small secret passage is revealed.

“Take this,” Ester says, thrusting the old book from the desk, into Olivia’s hands. “Head to the old library. Show the librarian this book!”

Pushing us both into the passage, Ester gives us both a big smile.

“Grandma!” Ester yells with concern as the secret passage closes shut.

The doorway clicks shut and we stand speechless in the dark, behind the bookcase.

“We have to help her..!” Olivia cries.

Just as I hear her pushing on the opening, we can hear men entering the room on the other side.

“Gentleman?” Ester says, greeting them.

“Where’s the girl!?” a familiar gruff voice growls.

It’s one of the guys from earlier! They must have followed us here.

“Now now…,” a more gently and regal voice commands. “That’s no way to talk to such a prestigious woman.”

Standing in the dark, trying to listen in, I knew me and Olivia should have started running already.

Suddenly, the passage is lit up by the torch on Olivia’s phone.

I could now see the worry and terror on Olivia’s face.

“How are you, Ester…?” the regal voice continues. “It’s been a while…hasn’t it.”

“Who’s that..!?” Olivia mouths to me, as we listen in.

“The girl….,” the regal voice says, getting closer to us. “It’s your granddaughter……. Where is she now? I want to meet her.”

“She isn’t here!” Ester sternly replies. “Go bother someone else, Catcher.”

Hearing his name, we look at each other with wide eyes. We both mouth the name Catcher to each other.

“Catcher!” the regal voice cackles…. “Please… call me Omnis.”

“Get out of my house!” Ester snaps in reply.

“NO!” the Catcher yells, as the walls of the house begin to shake and creak. “You tell me where she is now!

Feeling a savage pressure on my head, my body starts to feel like it weighs double. It’s like a black hole has just opened and it’s pulling me down

“You’re of no use to me anymore.” The Catcher whines, slamming the desk again. “I won’t hesitate to put you to an end Ester! Tell me where she is and maybe I will let you live out the rest of this life.”

“Simon!” Olivia plea’s, giving me a tearful look. “Please…. Help her!”