Chapter 13: The Crossroads In Time
The room buzzed with murmurs—some whispered, others raised—blending into a cacophony of mixed voices. In an abandoned building on the outskirts of Somerton Beach, a group had gathered for an urgent meeting amid the ruins. With no furniture in sight, they stood and paced the empty space, awaiting the person who had summoned them.
"Why are we even here?" one man asked, turning to the man beside him for answers.
"I'm just here because I got the message," the other man replied.
"It's unusual, though. Usually, we get a few days' notice for a meeting," the first man pointed out, noting the departure from the norm.
"Indeed, the urgency suggests something pressing," another man said.
As the conversation paused, all eyes turned toward the broken door. Three figures emerged, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
After a moment, the newcomers positioned themselves in front of a wall, commanding the group's focus.
"Hello, everyone," one of them greeted loudly. He appeared to be a middle-aged man, his features reflecting a typical local Australian.
"Hello, Albert," a chorus of voices responded, acknowledging his presence.
"I believe everyone’s here. Let's begin," Albert declared, his gaze sweeping across the assembled faces.
"Yes," affirmed another man, taking the opportunity to inquire, "Why have you convened us?"
"The Watchers," Albert began, his tone grave, "we've called this meeting to address a matter of urgent importance."
"What is it?" A tall woman with blonde hair and sharp features spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Jim, why don’t you enlighten them?" Albert turned to Jim, gesturing for him to address the group.
"The Watchers, indeed. I called this meeting because I've stumbled upon something that could change everything," Jim declared, his serious tone piquing everyone's curiosity.
"Please, give us a clear explanation," a man demanded, cutting through the tension.
"One of my agents approached me yesterday with astonishing news: the original copy of the book, Rubaiyat, penned by none other than Omar Khayyam himself, has resurfaced," Jim revealed, causing a collective gasp to ripple through the attendees.
“What?”
"How could this be?"
“Are you sure?” The voices erupted in disbelief.
"I was skeptical too at first and dismissed my agent's claim. But he insisted, revealing that he saw a torn page of the Rubaiyat in the possession of a woman who sought help from a Flinders University professor to translate Persian quatrains into English," Jim elaborated.
"Jim, the original Rubaiyat has been lost for centuries. How could it resurface now?" a man questioned, his tone tinged with concern.
"After my agent left, I conducted thorough investigations to verify his claims. Regrettably, the results confirmed he was speaking the truth," Jim admitted, continuing, "By now, you’ve probably heard about the body discovered on Somerton Beach. My police sources informed me they found a cryptic note in the coat of the deceased. The note, written in a foreign language, is on a yellowed page with an antiquated texture, suggesting its age. The police suspect it may have come from a historic book. Furthermore, my source mentioned that the page contained peculiar symbols drawn with a pen," Jim revealed, adding depth to the mysterious discovery.
"I couldn't obtain the torn piece myself, given its status as confidential evidence. Yet my intuition strongly suggests the torn page found with the body is a fragment of the original Rubaiyat," Jim concluded, exhaling deeply.
"The Watchers, if even a single page has surfaced, it’s evident that someone possesses the entire manuscript and is now using its verses for nefarious purposes," Albert declared, his words hanging heavy in the air as the gravity of the situation sank in for everyone.
"Omar Khayyam immortalized life, death, and fate in his book, offering guidance for balanced living. Yet, as in the past, someone is distorting its message, triggering a cycle of death," Albert lamented, his tone grave.
"Albert, we can't base our actions solely on instincts. Jim hasn’t personally seen the torn page; we must confirm whether it truly belongs to the original Rubaiyat. Lives are at stake," a member of The Watchers asserted, urgency resonating in their voice.
"We echo his sentiments," the others chorused.
"Why harbor doubts?" Jira, the third newcomer who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice carrying a weight that belied his frail appearance.
"Have you all forgotten the purpose for which this team was formed? The responsibilities entrusted to us?" Jira’s voice thundered with frustration.
"I believe it’s necessary to reiterate our purpose to reignite our sense of duty," Jira continued, anger fueling his words. The doubt among the group had ignited a fire within him.
"We, The Watchers, form a sacred assembly entrusted with the solemn duty of safeguarding the ancient tome, 'The Book, Rubaiyat.' Wrapped in enigma and whispers of age-old rites, it holds arcane wisdom beyond measure. Through the ages, we've stood as its guardians, shielding its sanctity from profane hands. Yet, today, it has slipped from our grasp, falling into the hands of the uninitiated, who seek to twist its verses to suit their dark designs," Jira intoned, his words echoing with centuries of weight.
"For many years, we've searched in silence for the book, Rubaiyat, its whereabouts shrouded in mystery. Now, circumstances point us to Australia, specifically Adelaide. From this day forth, we must actively pursue whoever possesses the original book and has set this vicious cycle of life and death in motion. If any among us harbors doubts, now is the time to voice them," Jira declared, urgency and determination clear in his voice.
"Because you all know, once you become a member of this sacred group, the only way to leave is through death," Jira concluded, scanning the faces of each member.
"Jira, as sworn members of The Watchers, we have never wavered in our dedication to our duties. We are prepared to go to any lengths to reclaim the book," one member affirmed, their voice resolute.
"Spread out across Adelaide and uncover the identity of the book’s possessor. The missing feet of the deceased suggest the killer utilized verses from the Rubaiyat, drawing connections to satanism," Albert instructed.
"Understood," the ten members of The Watchers responded in unison, their voices united in purpose. They began to file out, each departing to fulfill their assigned task.
As they made their way out of the half-demolished building, Albert glanced at Jira’s serious expression.
"You seem tense, Jira," he remarked, concern evident.
"You know the reason," Jira replied gravely, his gaze fixed ahead.
"If you're referring to the book, Rubaiyat, then yes, we’re all worried. But it feels like there’s more weighing on your mind this time," Albert observed, meeting Jira’s eyes.
"What if the individual who possesses the Rubaiyat has fully embraced satanism? If that's the case, he could be nearly invincible. How he sent the torn piece indicates his confidence—a mocking challenge, suggesting he believes we’ll never reclaim it from him," Jira voiced his concerns.
"Let’s hope we can apprehend the culprit before more lives are lost," Albert remarked, urgency creeping into his voice.
"Jim, instruct your agent to investigate the identity of the woman with the torn piece. She might lead us to the killer," Jira suggested.
"Agreed. We should also monitor the police’s efforts in hunting down the killer, as he's likely the one in possession of the Rubaiyat," Jim added, recognizing the need for collaboration with law enforcement.
"Yes, indeed," Albert agreed.
"We must stay proactive and watchful in our pursuit of the killer, ensuring our safety," Jira affirmed, receiving nods of agreement from Albert and Jim.
With their goodbyes exchanged, they parted ways and headed toward their respective cars. As the last car left, the surroundings of the demolished house fell into silence once more, the weight of their mission lingering in the air.