(Day of the Switch)
Location: Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
Ben didn't say a word to Ally as they got in his car. The silence inside the vehicle was a heavy, suffocating blanket, broken only by the low hum of the engine and the distant sounds of city traffic. In the silence, Ally looked around. The interior of the car was meticulously clean and smelled faintly of leather and a citrus air freshener clipped to the vent. It was a practical, modern sedan, yet small tells of Ben's personality were scattered about: a phone charger with a coiled cord that looked like a tentacle, a single, perfect miniature of a starship from a popular sci-fi show on the dashboard, and a travel mug with a complex legal joke printed on it in the cup holder. Ally then stared out of the window, watching the blur of buildings, while Ben kept his eyes fixed on the road, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
Ben didn't say a word as they arrived at their destination. He pulled up to a tall, modern building of glass and steel, its clean, impersonal lines as opposite as they could be to the sprawling, organic architecture of Aethelgard. Balconies dotted the facade, each one identical, creating a uniform, repeating pattern that climbed towards the sky. It was the kind of place that was designed to be impressive yet anonymous, a perfect urban fortress. Ben navigated the car down a steep ramp into the quiet, concrete belly of the underground parking garage.
Ben didn't say a word in the elevator ride up. The brushed steel doors slid shut, encasing them in a small, silent box. The soft chime of the elevator began with its ascent, combined with a low, mechanical hum of its movement. The cool, fluorescent lights overhead reflected their tense figures on the polished metal walls, two strangers from different worlds, bound by a shared, impossible secret.
And Ben didn't say a word when they entered his apartment. But Ally was okay with the silence. In fact, she preferred it. She just wanted to spend the rest of her time in Vivian's world with some books to read and taste foods she couldn't get back home.
Ben watched how his cat Marmalade, who usually greeted Vivian with a flurry of purrs and affectionate head-butts, was a different creature entirely around Ally. The cat stood stiffly by the leg of the coffee table, a safe distance away, her tail twitching with agitation. A low, guttural growl rumbled in her chest as she watched the unfamiliar woman in Vivian's body move through the apartment. Marmalade always knew, long before Ben could confirm it with his own eyes. The cat was the first to sense the wrongness, the shift in scent and soul that he could only guess at. He sighed, the cat's overt hostility a painful mirror of his own internal turmoil.
Ben's apartment was also a reflection of him: a comfortable, lived-in space that felt both intelligent and warm. The main living area was dominated by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves overflowing with a chaotic mix of heavy legal texts, well-worn sci-fi and fantasy novels, scientific journals, graphic novels, and manga. The air smelled of old paper, coffee, and the faint scent of cleaning fluid. It was a haven of quiet intellect and nerdy comforts, a stark contrast to the impersonal, minimalist world of Ally's rooms in the palace.
Ally looked at things in the room as she heard Ben moving around somewhere else. She found a book she had not read on a large bookshelf and sat on the couch to read it.
After some time, Ben returned in different clothes and with wet hair. He walked to a door on the other side of the living room and opened it. "You can use this room while you are here." Ally looked up from the book and warily walked toward Ben. He moved when she got close and said without looking at her, "Ally. I know it's strange for you here. But you're not a child. You know what you did was wrong." Then, in a threatening tone Ally had never heard from him before, he added. "Don't put Viv in danger again."
She went into the room and closed the door. After a moment, she heard Ben move away. He had turned the light on for her. She would have to figure out what in the room turned it off later. For now, she was content to hide in the room and wait until she Switched back to her own world.
Ben ran his fingers through his hair and plopped down on his couch with a sigh. He had never been so scared. He thought someone had taken her. He had also never been so angrily scared. He stewed in it.
10 minutes. She couldn't even make it 10 minutes without… How hard is it to just sit in a car for 10 minutes?
And to just walk off with that smug asshole. That smug… kind of good-looking asshole. That smug, kind-of-good-looking, incredibly rich and successful asshole. Why is he being so friendly with you, anyway? We're going to have a serious talk when you get back.
If you get back.
Ben's phone buzzed. It was a text from his investigator, Mike. The keys to Vivian's apartment were received, and he was headed over now to check it out. Ben felt a little more at ease to know there was at least something he could do.
Yes, he felt angry and scared, but he mostly felt powerless. He'd always felt powerless when it came to Vivian. She had been his first friend and had always accepted him, no matter what weird phase he was going through. They had been a part of each other's lives, exploring and navigating even the nuances together. Except…
Except when his oldest friend's face was in front of him, but someone else was wearing it. He'd interacted with Ally many times over the years. Her conversations were terse and often included an order for him to do something for her. She usually kept to herself until she returned to her world.
None of this is Ally's fault—I know that. She's just doing the best she can with this absurd problem they share. And I'm sure Viv is a handful in Ally's world. I can't even imagine Viv trying to act like Ally. The thought brought a smile to his face in bitter amusement.
Viv used to share stories about the other world with him. But as they got older, Ben seemed more worried than entertained. Over time, Viv shared less and less. She even stopped sharing things about Prince Callum.
A real fantasy world prince. How is anyone supposed to compete with that? And now Ally says he 'enjoys spending time' with Viv.
Ben sighed deeply again. I'm being ridiculous. He makes sure she can come back to me, like I make sure Ally makes it back to him. We're all doing our best in a crappy situation…
Ben's inner monologue continued to twist and turn on tangent after tangent until he finally got a follow-up text from the investigator.
[Mike] Definitely a break-in. I can't tell what they are looking for. I've taken photos. Can I use the firm's name to get some surveillance videos from the area?
[Ben] Yeah. We'll consider her a client going forward. Track your billables and I'll cover it. Let me know if there is any new information, no matter how trivial.
[Mike] 👍 Got it. And this is just speculation, but it looks like whomever was here spent the most time at the bookshelf. There doesn't look to be a single book where you'd expect it to be. I'll send the pics. Maybe she'll know more about what someone would look for.
[Ben] Thanks. I really appreciate it. We'll take a look.
[Mike] IMHO, they are lucky Viv wasn't home. She would have kicked their ass.
[Ben] You're right about that. Thanks again.
Ben had an idea why they looked through her books. He went to the door of the guest room. He hesitated, then knocked on the door. "Ally? I just got a message from my investigator over at Viv's apartment. I think… Do you have Viv's journal?"
Ben heard shuffling on the other side of the door. Suddenly, Ally's hand thrust the journal out of a now-slightly-opened door, almost hitting Ben in the face.
"Here. I have not read it yet."
Ben took the journal gently as if holding a precious artifact. It was a simple, unadorned notebook with a soft, dark green faux-leather cover, the kind one could buy in any office supply store. It was practical, anonymous, and utterly Vivian. Tucked into the elastic band was a picture of Ben holding Marmalade with a note at the bottom: "This is Ben and Marmalade. They are there to help. They are not your servants." He ran his hand across the smooth cover, the familiar object a painful reminder of her absence.
This is all I have of you, Viv? Ben wanted to open it and read the thoughts of his best friend, but he knew it wasn't meant for him.
"Ally, could you come out and talk this through with me? I'm sorry I was angry with you. I am just…" Ben felt like he was pleading his case to a door. He sighed and continued. "I was really scared that something bad happened to you. It's not like you to interact with people here. I thought someone took you."
Ally opened the door slightly and looked at him. In a soft voice, she responded, "I understand, Friend Ben. I am not Friend Vivian. This world is… uncomfortable for me. But I know Vivian tries not to make my life too messy when we Switch back. I thought if I could help, too…" She was looking at her feet, then righted her posture, opened the door fully, and spoke confidentially (if not incensed), "You saw how objectively handsome that Alex-person was, and he was also very friendly. I thought he was Vivian's lover, so I did what I thought she might do."
Ben sighed loudly at the memory of that smug, decent-looking, somewhat rich and successful asshole, oozing the charm of a host working a room… Ben got lost in accidentally complimenting Alex and just ended with…. That bastard. Although she was asked to stay in the car for just 10 VERY SHORT MINUTES, he was also to blame for actually thinking she might do it.
"I understand, Ally. We both have to do better at listening to each other." Ben waited for some type of affirmation, but Ally stared at him blankly. After a few awkward moments, he continued, "Ally, this is all just speculation, but if there is someone looking for Viv and has an idea that you exist, they may have been looking for the journal you pass between you."
"I've never read this over the years. It feels like something private the two of you share, like your strange Switch thing. You also keep a shared journal in your world, yes?"
Ally nodded. "I did catch one of my newer attendants glancing at it from the corner of her eye. After that, I kept it in a place only Cal and I knew. He should be able to find it for her if he has not already."
"And you're sure it will be safe there?" Ben was still full of worry.
Ally gave a small dip of her head in affirmation. "Even if someone accidentally found the spot, only Cal or I would be able to retrieve it."
"I'm sure you're right, Ally. I'll trust that Callum will keep it safe for Viv."
"Yes. Cal likes her quite a lot. He is always talking about the things Vivian does when she is there while smiling like a small, mischievous boy…"
"That's fine. It's fine, Ally."
Ally awkwardly bent her hand toward Ben's arm and gave it a tap.
"There is nothing to worry about with Cal, Friend Ben. I already told you that he is forbidden to have sex with my body."
"I get it, Ally. Uh… thanks for that?" Ben rubbed the bridge of his nose in preparation for a headache.
"Of course, Friend Ben. I assume Viv has forbidden you from having sex with this body…"
"Oh, god. Please, stop. Please, just… talk about anything else." Ben's eyes begged for mercy.
Ally thought carefully. "There is something that might help you be less angry with me, Friend Ben. I was not sure, but I was able to test it when I was in the burning building with the strange eye coverings."
Ben looked both curious and concerned.
Ally decided it was better to show Ben than try to explain it. She closed her eyes and felt the familiar tingling sensation down her spine. She imagined it pulling the heat from her body and projecting it outward.
Ben waited for Ally to explain what she tested. However, he watched her as she closed her eyes and took a sizable breath. The air in front of her hand began to shimmer, distorting the view of the living room behind it like a heat haze rising from hot asphalt. A wave of warmth washed over him, far more intense than a person should be able to generate. Then he watched in shock as intricate, glowing red glyphs, like the ones Vivian described from her dreams, bloomed across Ally's skin, tracing shimmering patterns up her arms. From the center of her palm, a small, dancing flame coalesced, hovering just above her skin. It burned with an unnatural stillness, its core a brilliant white that faded to a soft, crimson edge, casting unnatural shadows on the walls.
Ally smiled, pleased that Ben had such a reaction. She hoped that Ben would worry less, now, because he would know she was able to defend herself in his world. And as she thought about a calmer Ben after her demonstration, the flame followed her thoughts, stretching out in a thin, fiery tendril that reached toward him.
She quickly tried to reabsorb the flame, but she couldn't control it as well as she could in her own body. The best she could do was change the path and divert it, which resulted in one of Ben's kitchen stools catching fire instead. The sudden burst of real, uncontrolled flame was quickly followed by a loud, rhythmic alarm and the activation of the sprinkler system, drenching the room in a sudden downpour.
Ben didn't even know where to begin.