by Ingrid Fry
I stood, with legs so stiff I could hardly walk, and made my way towards Jason in a manner reminiscent of Frankenstein’s monster.
We gazed wordlessly at each other, and registered, without surprise, our bodies had returned to their former wholeness.
I couldn’t say the same about our clothes, however. They hung from our bodies in dirty shreds. Jason’s hair appeared as though it hadn’t been washed for a year. His eyes were rimmed with black mud and set in a dirt-streaked face. He resembled a camouflaged commando ready to do battle. A bare muscular arm extended from his tattered thin knit. The arm was perfect.
He stood and took a step towards me, as stiff as a rusty rifle. Those two beautiful arms reached out, and we literally fell into each other’s embrace. Well, staggered awkwardly, but I wanted another Mills & Boon moment, so ‘fell’ it was. We hugged for much longer than the twenty seconds required for bonding. We hugged for an eternity—at least that’s what it felt like.
An angry growl from my stomach made me realise I was starving.
‘Egg and chips?’ I suggested.
‘You bet.’
The word chips broke Boo’s relaxed trance. She sprang to her feet, full of beans. ‘Me three!’ a voice proclaimed.
A disembodied voice that sounded like Prince Charles sounded out in our heads. Judging by Boo’s intense eye contact, it appeared to emanate from her. This didn’t register as a strange phenomenon, given what we’d been through an’ all. In fact, nothing was strange; everything was beautifully perfect.
Our priority was egg and chips and a nice cup of tea. It was a sensible priority too, considering we’d been sitting out in the garden for quite a while. Judging by the newspapers we found scattered along our front driveway, we’d been out of action for three days.
Egg and chips—a meal we’d loved before what we now called ‘The Event’—sent us into paroxysms of heavenly delight.
One of the reasons I liked Jason so much was that he shared my love of food. I wasn’t an agreeable person to be around when I was hungry, so we lived by the quote “First we eat, then we do everything else.”
‘Oh God. Mmmm. Mmmm. Yum!’ Three voices hummed in unison, until all the food was gone.
Replete, we sat in silence savouring our cups of tea. Jason’s face was glowing underneath all the dirt.
‘You look like you’ve swallowed a light bulb.’
‘So do you!’ he said. ‘A five hundred watter. Check out Boo! How can a dog glow through fur?’
After the food, a tiredness as deep as space settled over our shoulders.
We staggered off to bed, two dirt streaked, glowing humans, and a dog that spoke like Prince Charles. Surrounded by softness and warmth, I spooned Boo, and Jason spooned me.
‘It doesn’t get much better than this,’ I said as slumber took us. We slept like that for eighteen hours straight.
* * * * *
I floated near the ceiling admiring Jason’s handiwork. He’d recently painted our bedroom and the quality of his workmanship was extraordinary. Not a drip or errant brush mark was to be seen, even up here.
My ability to astral travel never ceased to amaze me, and I felt a peculiar thrill as I viewed my body below. The three of us hadn’t stirred. We breathed in sync, Boo’s two breaths to our one.
A large wood-framed mirror hung in the bedroom and reflected the soft green of the bamboo outside. The last rays of autumn light gave way to dusk, and the currawongs’ call echoed eerily through the air.
A tawny frogmouth alighted silently on the windowsill, its yellow eyes fixed on a ghostly face peering from the mirror. The face stared intently at our three sleeping bodies. A translucent finger traced patterns on the glass.
The ghostly face remained watching for most of the night. The tawny frogmouth’s eyes never wavered. When the face disappeared, the bird left on silent wings.
* * * * *
I awoke refreshed, enjoying the softness and warmth of flannelette sheets on my skin. Who, or what, was the ghostly face in the mirror? It didn’t have any features and I couldn’t get a sense of who it was. The ghost didn’t have a ‘vibe’ to it. That concerned me. It was an unknown entity. Don’t tell me I had another worry to add to my list.
Jason was still sleeping soundly. Boo was snoring and had managed to take over most of the bed, leaving us squashed to one side.
Still feeling somewhat disembodied, I headed to the bathroom for a hot shower.
It scared me to look in the mirror in case the reflection had bits missing. Thankfully, I seemed to be intact, but my image left a lot to be desired.
My skin—so pale it was almost translucent— was streaked with dirt. Jason called it my ‘snow white tan’, a line from his favourite Bowie song. Black hair, stiff and matted, stuck out at all angles. Lips needed an urgent application of lip balm, and my eyes seemed bigger and greener than usual. Well, that part wasn’t so bad.
I forced a big smile—yep, all teeth present and accounted for. Opening my mouth wide, I stuck out my tongue, half expecting to see some nasty alien maggoty thing smiling back at me, but no, all clear.
Removing my shredded clothes, I stood naked in front of the mirror. All good. Everything seemed to be there. I tentatively examined my reinstated arm and it seemed fine. I compared it to the other arm and noticed the skin seemed smoother on the reinstated one. Hmmm. If Boo had waited a little bit longer before coming in with the crystal sphere, I could’ve had a complete makeover.
I stood in the shower feeling the hot water run over my body. It was divine, like a gift from heaven. The aroma of lemongrass and sandalwood body wash filled the cubicle. I closed my eyes and was transported to celestial realms by the power of its scent. Nearly dying sure heightened one’s appreciation of the simple things in life.
I tried not to think about what happened. My brain was having trouble processing the whole thing, so I focused on what to make us for breakfast—or lunch. I wasn’t sure what time it was. When in doubt, eat. After danger, eat. I laughed to myself. With all the bad things happening, I was going to end up like Ten-Ton Tessie.
Jason wandered into the bathroom looking like an extra from a zombie movie. He leant against the basin and stared keenly at his reflection, carrying out a similar routine. He stripped off his tattered clothes and checked himself out in the full-length mirror.
One handsome head, two eyes, sandy hair, two muscular arms and legs and other important accoutrements. He didn’t have a six-pack, but he looked pretty darn good to me. ‘All bits present and accounted for?’ I asked.
‘All good. What about you?’
‘Fine, ‘cept I think the new bits actually look in better condition.’
He held out both arms and examined them carefully.
‘Huh, you’re right. My new arm looks newer.’
‘Do you feel okay?’ I asked.
‘Yep. Do you?’
‘Sort of. We need to debrief. I’m used to weird stuff, but not this weird … everything that happened, and Boo, talking? You did hear her—in your head? I didn’t dream it?’
‘I heard her all right. My brain’s in overload. Hearing a voice in my head, well, I thought I’d lost the plot. We definitely need to debrief.’
‘Have a shower, and I’ll make breakfast. We can talk then.’
He gave me a peck on the cheek. ‘Thanks, Mags.’
Jason’s thoughts whirred in my mind as he desperately tried to process what happened. My mind was in overload too. Nothing that bacon and eggs wouldn’t fix. I raced off to the kitchen to get breakfast underway. One of Virginia Woolf’s quotes buzzed around in my brain—"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." Now there was a woman after my own heart.
Moderating and controlling my psychic brain used massive amounts of energy. I required more food than the average Joe to enable me to function efficiently. For me, food worked better than any drug—except for sex. Food and sex kept me sane, enabling me to function like a ‘normal’ person. So
rt of. Even the process of preparing food kept me centered, and I was completely in the present moment as I cooked up a storm in the kitchen.
Jason sauntered in, stopped and inhaled deeply. Eyes closed, he seemed transported to another world. Aromas can do that to you, and Jason was in Bacon World.
A smile exploded across his face. ‘God that smells good!’ His gorgeous dimples appeared, so he must’ve been happy.
I loved his smile. It filled me with joy at each appearance. I knew Jason was self-conscious about his imperfect teeth in today’s world of the Hollywood smile. His front two pearly whites were ever so slightly angled backwards, and the teeth next to them sat slightly forward and caught the light when he smiled. It made him look unique—and gorgeous. His eyes had a hawk like appearance, and his well-shaped nose and high cheekbones gave him a European look. When his smile was turned off he had a thoughtful, serious look about him.
His imperfections made him strikingly beautiful, and at this moment I wanted to eat him more than my bacon and eggs.
Warm autumn sunlight shone through the glass sliding doors in the kitchen and warmed our backs as we sipped our coffee.
Jason drew his lower lip between his teeth and stared at me. ‘I can’t believe we’re still alive.’
‘If you hadn’t come back when you did, I probably wouldn’t be alive.’
‘Boo brought me back,’ he said. ‘I was walking along the street, steeling myself for cat corner. Boo’s nemesis the cat was there, ready and waiting to razz her up. Boo tugged hard on the lead to get to the cat, then suddenly, she froze, dropped a u-ey and pulled in the other direction. Boo barked like I’ve never heard her bark before. It was desperate. Hysterical. Howling. She tugged harder than a sled dog. I could barely hold her. I tried to reel her in but she yanked free of the collar and hightailed down the street.
I set off in hot pursuit, worried she’d run in front of a car. I knew you’d never forgive me if anything happened to her. In the distance, I saw her turn into our driveway—then I knew something was wrong.
Boo was at the front door, scratching at it, barking and spinning around in anxious circles. The door was locked, of course, your security consciousness and paranoia at work!’
‘Better a thousand times careful than once dead,’ I said.
‘But Jesus Christ! All the friggin’ locks. It took me forever to get in, fumbling for keys, the security door and two main door locks. I could hear noises coming from inside; I was freaking out. When I opened the door, you were on the floor next to the cabinet. I could smell the stink of burnt flesh, and the room was filled with a red mist. Boo pushed past, saw you on the floor, then blasted straight out the dog door into the back yard.’
Jason paused and took a sip of coffee. He tapped his fingernails against the tabletop and his foot pumped anxiously.
‘Stop with the foot, Jace.’
It twitched even more.
‘You’d morphed into the cabinet,’ he said, ignoring my request. ‘I shifted into paramedic mode when I rolled you over. But, bloody hell, even my experience didn’t prepare me. Half your face was gone.’
He paused and took a ragged breath. ‘Your skin was stripped off leaving bones and teeth exposed. You only had half a nose. The top of your head had lost flesh and bone too, and your brain was visible, for fuck’s sake. Your right arm was gone, most of your shoulder, and chunks all along the right side of your body were exposed raw flesh, muscle and bone.
I gotta tell you, paramedic mode left as quickly as it came. I went straight into shock.’
Jason’s mouth was tight, and his Adam’s apple moved in his throat as he tried to swallow. He fixed his eyes on the ceiling.
‘You don’t need to talk about this,’ I said.
‘Yes, I do,’ he said, meeting my gaze again. ‘Seeing you like that, well … my stomach lurched into my throat and brought my breakfast with it. The blood ran away from my brain, my legs gave out, and I pitched forward on top of you. What a joke. Then the thing latched onto me and tried to drag me in as well. My arm was too big, but the damn creature was determined to make it fit.
The edge of the cabinet razored the flesh off my arm as the thing yanked me under. I blacked out watching the skin and muscle fold along my humerus like a bloody concertina. I’m sorry, Maggie. I shouldn’t have left you alone.’ He pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead. ‘I can’t get those images out of my mind.’
I stood and wrapped my arms around him. ‘You weren’t to know. It’s not your fault, for Christ’s sake. And we’re fine now.’
His body was hard and rigid like steel, and an image of ice shattering filled my mind. I held him until his tension released.
Jason met my eyes, and said tentatively, ‘Before we talk about the thing under the cabinet, I have to tell you that I know what happened to us the first time— at the other house. It’s come back. Boo running into the house, the dark entity on the stairs, the distortions, the weird room, the crystal? Do you remember? Or am I crazy?’
‘Yes, the memories came back for me too.’
Jason took a deep breath and let out a sigh.
‘Yep, you’re not crazy,’ I said. ‘I remember all that and waking up back home in bed. But I can’t remember where we were in-between jumping over the crystal and waking up at home. I’m still missing a few days. Have you got the missing bit?’
‘Nope. I was hoping you had.’
‘Damn. I wonder where we went then? Maybe another dimension?’
‘I wouldn’t like to speculate,’ Jason said.
Over numerous cups of tea, we compared memories until we felt in sync.
‘So, do you reckon the thing under the cabinet was the Dark Force? Not some other entity?’ Jason asked.
‘It’s the same creature. It followed us home. We should’ve been alerted by the lack of dust, but we had no memory of what happened the first time.’
‘What the hell is it?’
‘I’m not sure, but it feels human.’
‘You’re kidding?’
‘Nope. It has a human energy to it. I could sense it. And what’s more, as it was consuming me, I sensed it enjoyed eating my fear and pain more than my flesh and bone.’
Jason scratched his head. ‘I don’t even know where to go with that theory. And the crystal sphere? Can you enlighten me?’
‘The crystal!’ I jumped from the chair, and nearly sent my fifth cup of tea flying.
‘What’s wrong?’ Jason asked.
‘The crystal! Where is it? Did you put it somewhere?’
‘Definitely not. I haven’t seen it. Maybe it rolled under the cabinet?’
I dashed up the hallway and bent over to have a look. Chills ran down my spine. ‘Oh Jesus, yes, I can see something under there. Can you get it?’
‘Yeah, right,’ he said. ‘There’s not a snowball’s hope in hell I’m sticking my arm back there.’
‘Me neither. I’ll get the long-handled tongs.’
‘Good plan,’ he said.
I handed him the tongs. He held them against the side of the cabinet. ‘No good, not enough safety margin. What about a broom handle?’
‘No worries.’ I ran to get the broom.
‘Here ‘tis,’ I said, handing it to him.
‘Much better, thanks.’ He slowly inserted the wooden broom handle under the cabinet. I held my breath.
‘Wait!’ I said.
He started in fright. ‘What?’
‘Shouldn’t we have a plan? I mean what if you stick the broom handle under the cabinet, and some kind of residual energy shoots along the handle and gets you?’
Jason gave me a look. The sort he gives to people he thinks are severely lacking in intelligence.
‘Don’t give me that look!’
‘The shadow thing’s gone. Haven’t you noticed the dust and dog hair everywhere? It’s only the crystal sphere under there, nothing else.’
‘Explain to me why we’re using a long stick then?’
‘Just in
case. I don’t know.’
This time I gave Jason a look. ‘Oh, give it here!’ I took the broomstick. ‘Stand clear!’ I poked it in the general direction of the object and gave the broom handle a hefty flick. The handle caught on something and wouldn’t budge. ‘Something’s got it,’ I said in a little Minnie Mouse voice.
Jason took the broom, pressed his face to the floor and peered under the cabinet.
God, he was brave. Or stupid.
‘Nope, not caught on anything. The handle’s behind the crystal ball, but nothing’s happening.’
Jason pushed on the handle and strained with effort.
‘It won’t budge!’ he huffed. ‘Either stuck or weighs a bloody ton. It’s like trying to move an elephant with a matchstick. This isn’t going to cut it.’ He stood and brushed dust and dog hair off his pants. ‘Don’t touch anything! Put the kettle on for a cup of tea. I’m going to get some stuff from the shed.’
‘Please?’
The hawk eyes shot me a withering look.
‘There’s no excuse for rudeness or bad manners, even in the most trying of circumstances,’ I said, as he disappeared out the back door. I put the kettle on and pondered our tea addiction. It was another of our passions. Having a brew up always settled the nerves. Dad loved his cuppa too—I’m sure my DNA had a tea gene.
Jason returned with a very long crowbar, an old blanket, and a large block of wood. He had a crazy grin on his face and an air about him that said, I’m a man with a damn good plan!
‘Tea’s on!’ I said.
‘What sort?’
‘English Breakfast for me and Japanese Green for you.’
‘Perfect! I’ll do this first.’
Jason spread the blanket on the floor near the cabinet and placed the large wooden block on it. He slid the blanket and block under the cabinet. It fitted under by a hair (or a ‘bees dick’ as Jason would say). Once the wooden block was in place, Jason had some leverage. He inserted the crowbar behind the crystal and pushed against it with all his strength.
Judging by the look of his bulging biceps he was still experiencing resistance.