by Lee, Summer
“Sybil! Use the brains that you have! He was the perfect subject for the test, and I think you’ll like to know that I recorded this session that we just finished today.” Dr. Caladasian said, “Everyone is talking about the blood moon. Your brother makes contact with it. We need to know why. I think it is a nightmare.” His smile was devious and iniquitous.
“And I think he is a messenger to the world that something bad is coming.” Sybil was torn between the loyalty to her brother and the desire to see what was recorded.
He placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “We are obligated to know.”
He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Want to see the film?”
The scientist in her overpowered any sibling love. “Alright. We check the recording together, or not at all. Deal?”
“Deal.” They shook hands. “Okay, listen. The full moon following the harvest moon frequently is called the hunter’s moon, though the term blood moon occasionally is used. A totally eclipsed moon often has a red appearance, though the colors orange, yellow, gray, and even black are possible. Because the most common color of a totally eclipsed moon is red, in recent years people increasingly have called an eclipsed moon a blood moon.”
“I understand.”
He had a sparkle appear in his eyes, as his smile grew. “We’ve sealed the deal, my dear! We’ll take notes in the examination room as we observe the scan. Then later, we’ll compare them to see how they match up. Mum’s the word. Neither of us can tell anyone, not even Eric. It’s completely experimental, so we might not actually be able to see Eric’s dream as he saw it. The possibility though, is simply delicious. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Sybil laughed. “We’ll wait and see.”
Chapter Three
April 13th, 9 a.m.
Sybil sat with Dr. Caladasian in the hospital cafeteria. “Did you hear the news today?” she asked.
“No. What’s going on?”
“The Ukraine launched an operation to retake government buildings from pro-Russian separatists in the east side of their country today. The separatists had seized many buildings. As of yet, no troops have moved in. After flouting the Ukrainian government’s deadline to lay down their arms, the Russian government is warning the crisis could spark a civil war. The Ukrainian government asked the United Nations to authorize a peacekeeping force.”
“Those kinds of wars happen all the time.”
“This is worse. The American people should be prepared for the Wrath of God. We do not have all the time in the world before the Battle of Armageddon erupts that could kill off much of the human race on Earth.”
“Slow down girl,” he said. “You don’t know that.”
“Eric’s dreams are warnings.” She looked him in the eye. “The end is coming soon.”
“Even if Eric’s dreams are a warning, you don’t know when such a disaster would strike.”
“Well, whether 2015 or 2025, the world as we know it will end.”
“What we need is a world leader,” he said. “A friend of mine from military school later became a general with the US Army and if he is still alive, I do believe he can help solve the world’s problems. He once helped the Pentagon organize a German weapon system project and made it operational within a very short six months!”
“Somebody has to do something about the evil in this world as well.”
“I think he is the man for that, too.”
“If they don’t find someone quickly, this may be the beginning of the end. At any time, America will put boots on the ground. When they do, God help Russia.”
“If you want to get spooked, radical claims by many religious theorists is that a massive asteroid or comet, large enough to spell the end of the human race, will soon collide with Earth. Although the details are still a little fuzzy and the claims lack credentials, the massive popularity of the prediction has forced NASA to respond. I choose to ignore all of it, including that there is some kind of spiritual connection of Eric’s dreams to end times,” he said.
“There has to be something to it,” she said. “Both a solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse are predicted soon.”
“I know. I read an article on it. It described both a total solar eclipse and total lunar eclipse soon. The sun turning to darkness is when the moon is directly between the Earth and sun is a total solar eclipse. The moon turning to blood is when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon. The Earth’s shadow falling on the moon is a total lunar eclipse.”
“You know so much about it. I’m impressed.”
“Don’t make too big of a deal out of it. NASA says that there are about two lunar eclipses per year, but they are so subtle they’re barely visible and pretty much go unnoticed. Other eclipses cast a partial shadow on the moon, but don’t give it that blood moon color that only total eclipses do. They come around, on average, less than once a year.” The doctor patted her hand. “Don’t worry your pretty little head over it.”
“No worries.” She smiled a faint smile and tried not to worry.
“I’ve got to get back on the floor. I have other patients to care for as well as Eric.” The doctor stood and walked out.
Sybil followed him. “I’m going to go look at Eric’s last MRI.”
* * *
Out of nowhere, a loud thunder clapped and it began pouring rain outside. Suddenly, there was a loud clicking noise, like someone was throwing rocks at her car. Sybil was driving home from work when it happened.
Dents were forming all over her car. She saw that hail the size of golf balls was hitting her car. She swore. “It’s hailing. What next?”
Cars were skidding all over the street, some actually running into each other or skidding off the road.
Sybil gripped her steering wheel and held her car steady as she watched cars crashing around her.
She forgot that she had her radio on until she heard the announcer say, “We need to call a state of emergency.”
Sybil could not help but think of Eric’s dreams. She sensed that the disasters in the dreams were connected to the hail storm.
She drove home at twenty miles per hour as she listened to the hail stones bash her car like it was nothing. “Oh God, I think I need to learn to pray. Lord, take this storm away before I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
Chapter Four
April 14th, 3 p.m.
Eric had spent several uncomfortable hours telling and retelling his dream as he remembered it to his sister and the doctor. All three were astonished that every detail of each telling, was exactly the same as the other times.
Dr. Caladasian looked at Eric suspiciously. “Eric. I have been involved in dream studies for many years now and never has anyone been able to retell their dreams the exact same way, each and every time.”
“I’m not lying, if that’s what you saying!” Eric’s breathing was rapid and his heart was racing.
Sybil stood between the two men, hoping that their testosterone would take over. “Gentlemen! Please! We are not here to measure anything, but the dream. I would suggest we take five to regain our composure and realize why we’re here in the first place.”
She didn’t keep her voice raised, which had a more calming effect on the two men. They both looked ashamed for the way they acted and she smiled when she recognized that fact.
Dr. Caladasian forced a smile and removed himself from the room.
Sybil turned toward her brother and placed her hands gently on his shoulders. “We’re doing this to help you, Eric. It’s not going to help anything if you bark back and the big dog. I told you how he gets. He doesn’t believe in anything, unless it’s right there poking him in the gut.”
Eric couldn’t look his sister in the eyes and seemed extremely anxious. “Look, sis. I can’t explain why I can recite the dream with every detail, all the time. You have to believe that I’m not faking this!”
“I do. I believe you,” she replied reassuringly. She then looked around, to make sure they were really alo
ne. “I have to tell you something, but you have to keep it between us. Promise?”
He nodded.
Tightening her lips, she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We have a way to record actual dreams now. It’s just like watching a movie.”
“Recording?” He broke out in a sweat as if in a panic. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“Because, Eric, we never tested it on humans. Until you.” She knew that he was going to freak out more, so she did her best to calm him down. “I’m blood. I’m not going to do anything to hurt or humiliate you, Eric. You have to trust me on that.”
“Oh yeah! Sure!” He started ranting and waving his arms around. “Now you tell me this! What the heck did you experiment on before me? Mice?”
She remained silent, which led him to believe he was right. “Listen, Eric. We had no idea what the mice were dreaming about. It was beyond weird and incomprehensible. That’s why we needed a brain that we could actually get video we might be able to understand.”
Eric shook his head and felt like a guinea pig. “I don’t know, Syb.”
“Eric. Can you imagine how many people this could help, if it turns out to be a success? This will revolutionize how we interpret dreams. This is going to be an extremely useful tool for psychologists and psychiatrists. Think of it, Eric! You could have your name immortalized in a published paper as being the first ever human to undertake this experiment!”
He started to smile and looked up at the ceiling as if he was picturing his name in lights.
She looked up with him and smiled as she nodded. “All you have to do is allow us to look at the video.”
“Very nice, Sybil.” The sarcastic tone of the familiar voice came from behind the siblings.
A very irritated Dr. Caladasian was standing behind them, with his arms crossed in front of him. He was tapping his foot impatiently. “Oh the best laid plans of mice and men. Eh, Sybil?”
“I’m sorry, Doctor, but he has a right to be involved in the viewing. He also has the right to tell us to go jump in a lake if he wants to. After all, it is the inside of Eric’s head that we will be monitoring. I want to include him. Wouldn’t you say that it’s more than fair to do so… Doctor?”
In spite of the fact that he was angry with Sybil, for betraying his trust, he said that he knew she was right. He just wanted as few as people as possible to know about their experiment. Just in case.
“Other than Eric, mum’s the word.”
“Agreed.”
Chapter Five
April 15th, 4:45 p.m.
Eric was not happy to share the details of his dreams. But he knew he had to. There was a feature in them that could save lives. He just did not know what it was.
The three of them, Dr. Caladasian, Sybil, and Eric, had just finished watching the video of Eric’s dream. No one had the courage to say anything as they all appeared shocked.
The doctor slowly got up from his folding chair and went to the wall to turn the light on. The room they were in was barren, except for the three folding chairs, a projector of sorts, connected to several medical machines, a portable screen, and of course, all three of them.
Eric smiled as he stood up and slowly walked out of the room to let his sister and the doctor talk about what they just saw.
He closed the door behind him.
Sybil and Dr. Caladasian just stared at each other for several moments.
Sybil stayed seated and stared at the blank screen. “Well. I think you understand what this means, Doctor.”
He looked solemn, as he sat back down. “It’s remarkable, Sybil. I have never been so excited that I was wrong before.”
She didn’t know whether to share in his excitement, or be concerned about the consequences. “He dictated his dream exactly as it was. Exactly. Even if we experiment on thousands of others, I doubt we’ll see results like this again.”
“No. We wouldn’t,” the doctor answered. He let out a sigh. Sybil said, “I am very excited about this, but I can see by your reaction, that you know what’s to follow.”
“We need to keep these findings a secret,” said the doctor. “At least until we can do more research, as to why Eric was able to remember every detail of his dream… and still does.”
“What are you referring to?” he asked.
“It’s not natural,” she said. “Eric’s dreams are supernatural.”
He stood up and tightened his face muscles. “You’re not going to bring up all of the astrological babble again! Are you?”
She stood up and got right in his face. “As a scientist, you cannot discount any possible solution! Especially when all of the rational ones don’t fit! You know I’m right on this!”
“I will not discuss the planets aligning, in the same sentence with its significance to your brother’s dreams! You are right, Sybil! I am a scientist and must therefore use my abilities to determine what has caused this anomaly! Not hocus pocus!”
“I would then say that you are no scientist, Doctor!” She placed both hands over her mouth, as soon as she realized what she had said.
He smiled and surprisingly calmed down. “It is because of your spirit that you are still here on this project. That and your rather unorthodox way of looking at things. I need a new perspective on things and you are the fresh pair of eyes to give me that. I will not partake of your dabbling with pseudoscience, but I will back you on any significant results you may find in your quest.”
She leaned her head to one side and bit her lower lip. “Know this. The first Blood Moon of 2014 is scheduled for tomorrow night. Then another on October 8. Next year there will be two more. On the fourth Blood Moon, there are rumors that it will be the sign of the end of times. You saw the moon turn to blood when Eric touched it in his dream. If he hadn’t remembered every single detail of his dream, I might have dismissed it all as coincidence. As a scientist, you even have to believe that there are no such things. Don’t you, Doctor?”
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll do all I can to help. But it still may be no more than a sleep disorder.”
* * *
Outside, the weather was nasty. Not only in Oregon, but all over the United States. The news was full of reports of rain coming down in sheets, flash floods, hail storms, high winds up to one hundred miles an hour, temperatures over one hundred and ten and people being snowed in.
Mother nature had gone crazy.
Sybil did not know what her responsibility was in dealing with it all. But she knew her job was a big one. How could she stay positive in the midst of such tragedy?
It started with finding the mystery behind Eric’s dreams. He had dreamed the same dream at least three times. Who were the zombies in his dream? When would such a devastating earthquake come?
She left her office and went out for a sandwich at a nearby submarine sandwich deli.
Rain peppered down on her so hard that it felt like a sandstorm. Even though she had on proper rain gear and carried an umbrella, she was soaked when she reached the deli.
“What on Earth is all this crazy weather about?” she asked no one in particular.
“It is Armageddon,” said an old man, puffing on a cigar.
“Naw,” said another. “It just happens like this sometimes.”
“I believe it is the judgment of God,” said the lady who was paying for her sandwich.
Sybil ordered her sandwich. While waiting to pay, she said, “It is not normal. Those who know how to pray, should do so.”
“What about you; why don’t you pray?” The old man looked directly into Sybil’s eyes.
She felt fear as she said, “I really don’t know how.”
A newsbreak flashed across the TV in the corner. “People everywhere are expecting four blood moons to appear across America soon. This is called a Tetrad. Looking backward several centuries, there have been some amazing Tetrads in the world. Although NASA says that before the dawn of the 20th century, there was a 300-year period when there were no blo
od moons at all. According to reports, people like Sir Isaac Newton, Mozart, Queen Anne, George Washington, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln and their contemporaries never had a chance to see the beauty of a Tetrad. People in Oregon are anticipating a sight to equal a Fourth of July fireworks show. That will be big. We encourage people to enjoy the moons and not be fearful.”
Sybil ate her sandwich, opened her umbrella and walked back out into the downpour.
Chapter Six
April 16th, 9:00 a.m.
Sybil and Dr. Caladasian were asked to be on a debate panel at an auditorium near the Oregon Institute of Science, better known as OIS. This was an honor for Sybil, because she could tell of her brother’s dreams.
The auditorium was situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. It was mostly sponsored by academic programs which were varied, including highly ranked engineering technology and biology. It was founded in 1823 as a forum for discussion and debate, at a time when the free exchange of ideas was a notion foreign to restrictive authorities. The debate was sponsored by the largest student organization affiliated with Oregon Christian colleges—an organization that sponsored Bible prophecy conferences.
It soon became the only place for students to discuss religious topics while in another college. Some professors called them ill-tutored youths. Since OIS emphasized quality academic and campus life, Dr. Caladasian agreed to participate. The off campus auditorium was available to those wanting to hear more about the subject of Blood Moons.
Sybil arrived a day early to be prepared as one of the first to debate about what she expected to be an end time event. Her topic was dreams and visions.
There was a panel of five debaters at the event. The other four included in the order of presentations: Dr. Smith, The Editor-in-Chief of the Oregon Economy; Sybil, a scientist from the Oregon science lab; The Professor Emeritus of Science, Dr. Caladasian, and Solomon, a young editor of the Journal of Biblical studies.