Time Does Not Stop: An Adventurous Novel

By Breanna Ashley Loveday

Obnoxious Alex Mule was raised in lavish Royal Ludlet, known for its fame and fortune. Free-spirited Indiana was raised in desolate Lower Ludlet, known for its poverty and hardships.

Neither have met one another until one fateful day on their joint seventeenth birthday, when they find themselves caught

• Language: English
• Publisher: Breanna Ashley Loveday
• Release date: Jan 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781922337221

Book preview

ONE

ROYAL LUDLET & LOWER LUDLET

WELL, SAID THE VERY elegant, young and pregnant Mrs. Madonna Mule, to her handsome, older, multi-millionaire husband Mr. Serge Mule, only one more week to go, Hon.

Yes, replied Mr. Mule as he hugged his heavily pregnant wife on their long white sofa in front of their five-foot-wide television, That’s right. Gosh, by this time next week we’ll have a son to one day take on the Mule family legacy.

He will be the finest son anyone could ask for, blushed Mrs. Mule, "I always … always wanted a son."

And he will be beautiful - I’m sure of it - beautiful and nimble just like you, Madonna, said the husband, and kissed Madonna’s slender nose. I hope this isn’t all too much for you, babe? after all, you are only twenty-two years old. Mr. Mule said this knowing he was much older than his wife.

The wealthy couple had only been married for two years. They lived in a lavish mansion on the far north-side of Royal Ludlet - 1 far from the border to Lower Ludlet where the Mules were sure all the poor people resided. They adored their beautifully large house and the staff. Mrs. Mule spent most of her days looking wonderful for her husband who kept them rich. They had no time for anyone who lived in the awful Lower Ludlet. They couldn’t afford to be judgemental.

Stevenson and Odette Bendaluni on the other hand were not millionaires and used the little money they had sparingly. Like many people in Lower Ludlet, they lived in a cramped townhouse on the southern side of Lower Ludlet, where many people had to work two jobs, live simple lives just to care for their growing families. The Bendalunis enjoyed their humble home - even if it was very basic and not fancy in any way - and were very grateful to be able to spend time with their young family often.

Odette, chided Mr. Bedaluni late one night just before climbing into their sagging bed with his loving wife, You’re still as wonderful as the day I first met you on the winding steps of the Inter-Ludlet train station.

Hey, I can feel the baby kicking, gasped Odette with joy in her eyes. She, like Mrs. Mule, a woman who she’d never met, was heavily pregnant.

Stevenson Bendaluni rubbed his wife’s large belly and kissed her on the forehead sweetly. What is it now, fourteen days until this little one is due? I mean, it might come sooner.

Oh yes, replied Odette, a fortnight from today! Four children it will be now. I hope this one doesn’t hurt as much as the other three. She winced.

Stevenson guffawed, Don’t you forget: I’ll be by your side -just like the last three times.

It’s getting close to sleep-time, yawned his wife looking towards the bedside clock shaped like a cat-face which read 9:03pm, April 20th.

TWO

CALM BEFORE THE DELIVERIES

ARE YOU COMING TO bed yet, Baby Doll? hollered Serge Mule from their large immaculate bedchamber. Or should I wait up for you? Mildred and Tammy are just in the hall.

Mildred was the Mule family’s maid, cute and docile and only in her early twenties and Tammy was their tall and faithful manservant who was only a few years older. Both were dedicated and planned on serving the Mule family for many years to come.

Hon, whined Mrs. Mule, who lay in her silk night gown and a long navy blue marabou, across their spacious lounge, exhausted, I might stay up just a little bit longer. Don’t wait up for me. I’ll come to bed soon, my handsome darling.

The husband shrugged, Great. I’m off to sleep now. I’ll see you in the morning … if not before then.

Alone, Madonna looked painfully towards the open doorway and saw the two young servants staring at her. Their faces were pale and gaunt, their expressions plain.

Ooh-ooh, wheezed Madonna, wrinkling her nose as she felt a very sharp kick inside her belly. The servants looked ever-slightly afraid now as they glared at each other, wide-eyed.

Wanting an early night Madonna gestured with a pretty, manicured hand for the servants to come to her. Together Mildred and Tammy helped hoist the swollen lady from the beautiful squishy sofa and onto her feet. As the trio started for the door Mrs. Mule felt another heavily agonising kick, this one more acute than the last and caused her to stop still in the middle of the candle-lit room. The pained woman clung to the maid’s thin shoulders, scratching and digging in her recently manicured fingertips. She had chosen a duck egg blue polish in honour of her unborn son.

Mildred took Mrs. Mule’s hand, prying her long acrylic nails from her weakened shoulder. Are you alright, Ma’am? whimpered the young maid, unsure how to react. Mrs. Mule did not look alright - in fact she was looking very pale and strained. The wealthy woman said nothing, not wanting to give away her true feelings. It was not good to look as though one was struggling - even if one was. She clasped the maid’s hand tightly, teeth now gnashing as she clenched her eyes shut. Something inside her body was changing painfully. Looking at Tammy, almost past him she said softly, Get Serge, now.

Mr. Mule has got to bed, Ma’am— squeaked the manservant.

Fear showed on the young man as Mrs. Mule whimpered "Get my husband - now. Tell him our baby… might be coming."

Oh dear… said Tammy feeling scattered and worried, I mean, right away, Ma’am.

Tammy’s long legs took him down the hall toward the master bedroom, tail coat flapping as he skidded on the polished black and silver tiles that he and Mildred had washed by hand earlier that morning.

Barely a moment later Mrs. Mule’s knees became weak and Mildred struggled to support her weight. She inched the sickly lady back toward the sofa to sit down once more. Madonna and her huge belly were heavy and Mildred was not strong and was panting with effort, mirroring the pregnant lady’s breathing.

Mrs. Mule gasped aloud, shocking the meagre maid. It really hurts, Mildred, worse than I’d expected. She stared into Mildred’s young thin face, wrinkle-free yet somehow looking older now.

This is such a momentous time, Madam. Your baby may be on its way, finally, said the young maid, trying to look happy for her mistress. Soon you and your husband will have a son, a family.

The very next second Mr. Mule rushed into the doorway in a flurry with Tammy right behind. He scrambled right up to his wife on the sofa. Shoving the maid out of the way he grabbed for her hands and squeezed them affectionately. Mildred, rubbing her arm, joined the flustered Tammy in the open doorway.

I should never have left you alone in the lounge room, all by yourself, my doll, the man wheezed with no regard for his youthful servants.

Hon, Serge, the pain— said Madonna, her voice trembling like her husband had never heard before. He bent down and kissed his wife’s hair, which was as straight, sleek and black as night.

It’ll be OK, baby doll. He looked sideways at the manservant, giving him daggers, Tammy will run and call us an ambulance. The young man was gone in a flash, "and although it might be a little sooner than we anticipated, we will have a son - our son." He flashed a faltering smile to his worried wife.

Odette felt fatigued as she flicked off the light. The townhouse was quiet and dull; the children had finally gone to bed and appeared to have gone to sleep. Odette had been unable to do any vacuuming today as she simply did not feel well enough to be bending down multiple times to pick up lost socks and hand-me-down toys belonging to her boisterous sons. She would remind them to tidy up in the morning. She lay under her threadbare pastel duvet cover that was an inch or two too short for the end of the bed.

It’s been one long day today, she called to her husband who was standing over the end of their old sagging bed, whose eyes she could only just make out in the semi-darkness of their small bedroom.

Let’s just try to get some sleep, shall we? he smiled, climbing into bed on his side.

Well, actually, strained Mrs. Bendaluni, attempting to arch her back, "I might go to the bathroom really quick. You know how it is: you get pregnant and suddenly, you’re going to the bathroom all the time." The woman chuckled, sweeping some long brown hair out of her brown eyes.

Flicking the covers away, she forced herself to stand straight onto her very swollen feet. Slowly she shuffled, in her baggy nightgown, down the dingy passageway and into their tiny cluttered bathroom. The sink and bathtub drains were ringed with black mould and there were several children’s toothbrushes strewn all over the vanity. The place had not been cleaned for so long she just couldn’t be bothered tidying up, certainly not whilst almost nine months pregnant. She vowed to remind her husband in the morning.

Odette confronted her ghostly reflection in the cloudy mirror. Touching her face with a hand, she wondered how she’d become so puffy and grey in the face and blamed pregnancy. Her eyes were droopy with dark bags under the lids from exhaustion but she could imagine her husband behind her reminding her how beautiful she always looked. She smiled at the thought.

She instantly felt a sharp pain deep in her large belly. Mouth agape, she looked down, terrified and in immense pain. Her screamed echoed down the dull walls of the tiny house, reverberating off the flaking wallpaper. She heard a cacophony of banging feet and saw nine-year-old Derek, and five-year-old Walter both looking innocent and worried, both crammed in the doorway.

Mummy, what’s wrong? Is your new baby trying to get out? scrawny, big-eyed Derek asked, tiny hands trembling on the edge of the doorframe.

Derek, heaved the boys’ mother, You know how to use the phone to call an ambulance, right?

Bottom lip trembling, Derek used all his strength to put on a very brave face for his mother as he nodded swiftly, trying not to look upset. He knew he was a big boy and the oldest of all the brothers, after all.

Go get the house phone and make the call. The mother instructed the small boy, Tell them your mummy is having a baby. They will make sure the paramedics come.

Little Derek puffed up his chest and dashed out of sight. The boys’ father rushed into the room nearly knocking down his eldest son on the way past.

Odette was now leaning against the edge of the bath with cheeks puffed out, breathing deeply.

Daddy, why is mummy crying? asked Walter latching onto one of his father’s long pyjama-clad legs.

Mummy is about to have a baby. Go run to Celie from next door. She’ll have to take care of you two kids for a bit. Said the father soothingly, ruffling the five-year-old boy’s messy brown mop of hair.

Stevenson lifted his wife under her armpits and behind her knees in a princess carry hold. She instantly felt regal in his strong, muscular arms. Walter faltered but sprinted to his bedroom to pry open his window, ready to make the mad dash through their tiny yard to Celie’s peach-coloured townhouse over the side fence. The husband carried his wife out the bathroom and down the grim, photo frame-filled passageway towards their crooked black front door.

My Darling, strained the husband, this is going to hurt, like crazy, but remember that I love you and I’ll stay with you through all of this.

I love you too, replied his wife softly, screwing up her face more. She then let out another loud, agonising scream.

THREE

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

MASTER, YELPED TAMMY, FLYING into the lavish lounge room, grabbing onto the door frame for stability, The ambulance has just arrived at the front security gate. I saw the bright lights through one of the upstairs bay windows.

Serge looked from Tammy back to his young wife, laying on the sofa, panting her elegant legs spread apart. Her once slick black hair now was noticeably frizzy and sticking to the sides of her dampening face. She refused to move from the comfort of the plush sofa.

Bring them in then, demanded Serge, seeing his wife writhe in pain again. "Tell them the baby is coming right now."

Without another word Tammy vacated the room once more.

Less than an hour later a tired and pained Mrs. Mule lay limply on the sofa, swaddled in blankets, staring at the ornate clock on the wall which read 10:07pm. She leant against the back of the sofa feeling more exhausted than ever before, now holding her bundled-up baby son in her arms. The new mother grinned, staring down at her son’s dark-hair and striking blue eyes for the first time.

Well, doll, this is our son, whispered Serge, kneeling by the edge of the sofa by his wife’s side.

Life is beautiful, Madonna mused, smiling up at Serge, nothing could ever have prepared me for this exact moment right here, right now: sitting here with our son in my arms and my husband right next to me. All in our living room, she chortled, staring around the room, We’ll have to get the servants in here to clean up the place tomorrow. We might have to offer them double-pay.

Serge kissed his wife and said, Are you ready to stand now?

At that point the family doctor wearing plain clothes under a white coat strolled in to the room followed by a strange woman in a sensuous black evening dress under a long, dark velvet cape. She had long silvery blonde hair which flowed past her ears and shoulders then down her back like a waterfall. The woman lurked in the darkness of the lounge room, unnoticed by the Mule family.

The doctor moved forward and helped the new mother rise to her feet protecting her wrapped baby in her arms.

We must call our son Alex, Alexander Theodorus - after both my grandfathers, The woman hidden in the corner heard Mr. Mule say brightly. I just love the sound of it. It’s rather regal, I’d say.

Mrs. Mule looked in to the newborn’s gleaming sapphire eyes saying, Our little Alex.

The new father wiped his ruddy cheek, having shed a tear for the first time in years.

The strange woman who had been hiding in the corner of the room for some time, emerged into the light – her blonde hair shimmering - and came up to the new parents. Startled by the sight of the stranger, they both looked at each other warily.

She advanced on Madonna saying As happy as this moment is, the woman’s voice made Madonna think of slimy eels at the bottom of the ocean, I have something for you both, a ‘gift’ of sorts.

She immediately handed Serge an ancient rolled-up parchment scroll. His face fell, looking down at this yellowing scroll, confused. He did not open it and only glowered back at this stranger, wanting answers.

Unmoving, the woman said to the Mules, My name is Helga Kristovoz. I’ve come here to deliver that to you, she said eyeing the parchment in Mr. Mule’s limp hand.

What is it? he said in a small voice, eyeing the parchment, not wanting to look this new woman in the eyes.

A written prophecy. she told them. The new parents’ eyes flashed up at the strange newcomer’s confronting words. The mood of the room suddenly felt mournful and doleful. The happy couple was no longer so happy.

Helga, who had been studying the prophecy for years and memorised it by heart, recited it aloud:

"‘Two children, born on April Twentieth

On the eve of their Seventeenth birthdays

The full effect of the Prophecy will commence

No one can intervene or try to break the Prophecy

The middle of Ludlet Forest as the backdrop

Stripped of all valuables and inhibitions

The children will be left to fight the elements of Forest Ludlet

Together bound by a wicked enchanted chain

They will meet their True Enemy

The chain will only break if they make a Declaration’.

That is all. Any comments?"

How dare you?! cried Mr. Mule, crumpling the crisp parchment in his big hand, standing taller and closer to meet Helga where she stood, as his frightened wife hugged their tiny newborn close to her chest, big wet tears falling from her eyes, lip trembling.

Helga pressed a firm, cruel hand on the man’s chest, forcibly pushing him back. Her fingernails were long and painted matte black. Her expression looked rather unfriendly and made Mr. Mule feel scared.

"I’m only a prophetess. I came to deliver this important message to the two of you, however ill-received it may be," spoke Helga without a smile or twitch. She