31
Our meal was the comfortable kind of quiet that didn’t need to be filled with meaningless chatter. It gave me the chance to focus on the questions I needed to ask Emma Lynn. I’d need to ask them without appearing suspicious. I meant what I’d told Isa about my mind wandering. It was much harder to concentrate here, and it was the fault of that incense. Simple things like remembering to ask questions was challenging. I thought of a question and before I finished it, what I wanted to ask had already slipped away.
After our meal, we met Emma Lynn in her room. It was decorated in a space theme nearly identical to her childhood room. There was a night sky on the ceiling that had models of planets dangling from it. Blackout curtains kept the room dark enough to see that some of the stars sparkled. It was a magical place and a haven for her – like her old room.
“Welcome. Isa tells me that you wanted to speak to me,” said Emma Lynn.
“I do want to talk to you. Thank you for agreeing to talk with me.”
“I’m more than happy to speak to any followers interested in art. I remember you from the art lesson. Your painting is one that sticks out to me. It was so different. There was such a raw vulnerability expression, which is rare to find.”
“Ummm, thank you. That’s a compliment, right?”
“Yes, it is. Did you want to know more about art or how to get another art session?”
“Isa, do you mind if I chat with Emma Lynn alone? I feel funny talking about my art and –”
“No worries. I needed to check in with His Highness anyways. I’ll be back once I’m done. Enjoy your talk.”
I waited until I was certain Isa was gone and out of hearing range.
“Emma Lynn. I need to talk to you in confidence.”
“Okay, you can have that.”
“I’m going to insist on an oath.”
She frowned. “That is unusual and rather extreme. I already said I’d keep whatever you said to myself. Why the need for an oath?”
“I believe it’s a matter of life or death.”
Her eyes widened, but she straightened up before answering. “Yes, I swear to keep what we speak about here today in strict confidence and shall not reveal to anyone what was said.”
“I’m here because of your parents.”
“My parents?”
“Yes, they hired me to find you.”
“Are you going to make me go back?”
“That’s the thing. According to them, they already have you back.”
“What? That doesn’t make sense when I’m obviously here at the Institute.”
“I was given a note and payment for finding you. I didn’t see them leave either since the note and money was left in an envelope with our receptionist. I thought it was odd, so I went to your house. Once there, I found it empty.”
“My parents don’t go out often and when they do it’s not usually for a long time.”
“Emma Lynn, when I say empty, I mean not even a single nail from even a missing photo, is left in your house. Everything is gone and wiped clean.”
“Oh my. May The True One keep them safe. Where are they and why did they say they had me? While this is out of character for them, I don’t see how this is connected to what you said before or why you needed an oath from me. How exactly is this connected with the life and death situation you mentioned before?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you could help with that. I’m worried that they are in danger, serious danger. There are things about this place that aren’t what they seem.”
“No one here at the Institute would hurt my parents or me. They aren’t even followers of The True One. We don’t believe in violence, only the love of The True One.”
“Then, how do you explain your parents absence and the note saying that you were found? Someone didn’t want me investigating your disappearance.”
“But I’m not anyone special. I just do art here and work hard to be a good disciple.”
“Why did you leave home and give up your internship?”
“I met Brenmon, he’s one of the followers of The True One. From the moment of my first sermon, I knew that there was nowhere else for me. I never felt like I belonged. I was always an outsider and it made for a lonely life. I only did the internship to make my parents happy. But here, with my fellow disciples, I found something different. Here, I found the only place I’ve ever belonged and was offered a purpose.”
“You didn’t get that with your work at the community center?’
“You sure know a lot about me.”
“It’s part of my job.”
“No, that was important, but here I can help the community, while spreading the word of The True One. Through my art, I can help open up closed minds, hearts, and souls to the glory of he that is most beloved.”
“Do you have magic?”
“I have a type of magic in my art, I guess.”
“What does it do?”
“It helps people who see my drawings and paintings to feel the emotions I put into the painting.”
“Emotions? I’m not much of an artist, but isn’t that the intent of art – to make people feel emotions?”
“When you create art, whether it’s writing, music, or art, a part of yourself goes into it. The feeling of that moment captured in a song, poem, or painting. My magic is that I literally make people feel what I captured in that moment of my painting. It can be joy, curiosity, relaxation, trust. If there is an emotion for it, I can instill my paintings with it.”
“That is not like anything I’ve ever heard of. It doesn’t seem harmful, but can you paint and put in emotions like rage, hate, discontent, or distrust in them?”
“No, because I only paint with positive emotions. I avoid the negative ones.”
“But in theory, if you painting while feeling negative emotions like anger, would people
