Darkness Descends

by J. C. Kavanagh

  “Yeah, um, Dad,” Connor began, “I need to share something with you.”

  His father suspended the cup of coffee mid-air. “Go on.”

  “Those dreams Georgia was having. Well, I’m having them too. Again. I just want to tell you I’m doing everything I can to find her in that dream world. Everything.”

  “But why would she be there?”

  Connor studied his father. He loved him deeply but the man was all action and no imagination. Richard. I should tell him about Richard in the hospital. The same Richard who is ‘Dick’ in the dream world. For a moment he considered divulging the information but a resounding NO seared his brain. Alright then. NO it is.

  Connor closed his eyes, choking with emotion as he visualized Georgia ‘lost.’ He put his hands over his face before replying. “Because if she’s not there in the dream world, then I can’t save her.”

  * * *

  Jayden had one arm out the window, captivated by the sensation of warm wind flowing through her open fingers. Her friend, D.S., was driving them to their new hangout, the Pita Palace.

  D.S. jabbered on about the upcoming prom, and then about driving crappy cars and then about baseball playoffs.

  “You never stop, do you?” Jayden asked with a grin.

  “Yeah, I like the sound of my own voice.” She glanced sideways at Jayden. “You must too, since you haven’t said ‘boo’ since you got in the car.”

  “I’m tired, that’s all.”

  “Yeah?” D.S. viewed Jayden with artificial alarm. “I do declare I’ve seen better looking hags on the street corner. Wait… did I say that in my big girl voice?” She winked at Jayden and said, “Oops.”

  “You’re a moron,” Jayden replied. “I don’t even know why we’re friends.” She paused, waiting for D.S.’s response, hoping the girl wouldn’t be offended.

  The insult rolled off D.S. “Takes one to know one!”

  D.S. roared the little car through the intersection, grinding gears with each transmission shift.

  “Yikes!” Jayden winced at the sound. “You’re brutal. Why are you driving it so hard?”

  D.S. shrugged her shoulders. “If it breaks down, one of my parents will get me another one.” She smirked. “They like to one-up each other.”

  “Why’s that?” questioned Jayden.

  “Cuz that’s what separated parents do. They compete for your attention.”

  Jayden squirmed in her seat. “Oh, sorry, I don’t mean to pry.”

  “Yeah, it’s just another sob story in my family’s sob-filled life.” She glanced at Jayden. “My brother was in a bad accident and they blamed each other for it. That blame turned to hate, and that hate equals.... sepa-rate!” D.S. laughed at her rhyme, but it was an artificial laugh and Jayden did not join in.

  A few minutes later, they pulled into the small strip mall and D.S. backed into a parking spot well away from the eatery.

  “I have to pick up something in the convenience store,” D.S. said as she got out of the car. “I’ll meet you in the Palace.”

  Jayden leaned forward to pick up her purse. She reached halfway to the floor when she was suddenly pushed against the seat. Gasping, Jayden spun her head around, searching for the source of the action.

  Nothing. Nobody.

  She placed a hand on her tummy. A moan escaped her lips as her fingertips rolled and rocked where her abs were tightening and flexing – of their own accord.

  “This can’t be real,” Jayden whispered.

  “NOW,” the voice boomed. She knew that voice.

  Jayden closed her eyes. Instead of darkness behind her lids, there was only light. Bright, blinding light. She knew what that meant.

  “But it’s daytime,” whispered Jayden to the voice. “If you’re my ‘Protector,’ well, you should know I don’t fall to sleep during the day...”

  “NOW,” the voice boomed again. “You have to cross over NOW or it will be too late.”

  Jayden couldn’t see him through her closed eyelids but she sensed his presence. Trembling, she reached out. The instant her hand touched that of her ‘Protector,’ her head lolled back in a faint while her dream-world-body began to fall.

  The light slowly dimmed. Opening her eyes, Jayden’s first view was the moon. It hung hugely in the night sky, its smug, crater-covered face leering. She frowned – something didn’t feel right. The ghostly moon rays had an edge to them, like shimmering, flitting swords. They glowed on her bare arms, turning her light brown skin into a buttermilk cream hue. Get out of the moon rays...

  Turning her back to the moon, Jayden studied her surroundings. The tall, rocky cliff was behind her and she presumed the Town of Sleepmore was at the top. That’s what the sign said. Prickles began to dance up and down her spine and fear coursed through her body. Why? Why am I so frightened?

  Head sweeping to her left, Jayden noticed the gorge of the volcano vent ended a stone’s throw away. The tall grasses beside it swayed gently as if blown by an unnatural source. Her vision dimmed as the darkest stage of gloom descended and the light from the moon faltered. A number of puffy, silver-lined clouds joined forces, leaving the dream world in a grey and black shadow. Jayden hugged her arms, forcing her trembling body to be still. She hunkered down as her eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. In doing so, she spied a narrow footpath beside the vent. Bending closer, she caressed the trampled space between the tall grasses. Yup, it’s a footpath. She stood and her eyes followed the well-used track. It led to a small, dilapidated shack perched at the exact point where the vent ended. The shack was centred perfectly, as though dropped in place to prevent the vent from cracking further. She was drawn toward it and repelled by it at the same time. She remained still, waiting for one emotion to win over the other.

  Suddenly, a force pushed her gently toward the shack. Jayden complied and took a small step, though her body was trembling as her mind screamed – Danger in the shack! Unknown! She paused again and the sound of her agitated breathing filled the air. Her arms began to swing and jerk at her sides and her knees knocked together. “I don’t want to go in there,” she whimpered. “Please don’t make me go.”

  With a gentle but steady push, Jayden found herself directly at the front door of the cabin. There was no one with her; nevertheless, her senses jumped into overdrive. The I-know-I’m-not-alone sensation reigned.

  The hinges on the door squeaked loudly as she shoved it open. Darkness ruled inside the dusty, single room shack. Gloom pervaded every corner – even the light from the moon did not seep through the dirt encrusted window. A large wooden cupboard stood against one wall, its two doors closed. A small table and one chair were positioned in the opposite corner, underneath the window. Something shiny glinted from the back of the chair and Jayden hurried over to it. Harnesses! Elation filled Jayden until a new thought crossed her mind. How did these get here?

  She pivoted quickly, expecting to see someone or something at the door behind her. All was quiet and darkness prevailed. Picking up one of the harnesses, Jayden stroked its stainless steel clasps, holding it up in weak light. She reached out to rub some grime off the window when her attention was caught by a metal box on the wall. There was an old-fashioned lever in its centre with a label carved above it. The label said:

  Activate Shield

  “LOCK THE DOOR.”

  “Whaaat?” responded Jayden, gripping the back of the chair for support. “Who said that?”

  The voice was everywhere: above her, below her, inside her.

  “LOCK THE DOOR NOW.”

  Jayden sprinted to the door and slammed it shut. There was no lock on the handle but there was a locking mechanism on the inside of the door. She threw the long, sliding bolt in place and dropped to her knees, panting in fear. Placing her forehead against the door, Jayden commanded her lungs to obey: Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

  The piercing sound of wailing wolves jolted her into awareness.

  She scrambled to her feet and raced back to the window. Peering
out, she could detect no movement. But her ears picked up another sound, more evil than all the wolf cries combined.

  “I don’t like it.

  I don’t want it.

  I HATE it.”

  THUD THUD THUD

  Jayden stepped away from the window. She glanced at the harnesses on the table and realization dawned. He was storing them. Dick.

  The chant got louder as Dick got closer. Jayden fought the urge to panic, the urge to run. The door was secured with the sliding bolt, but she had no idea what strength or cunning Dick might use to enter. She heard more steps and then silence.

  Suddenly, the door handle rattled. She could detect movement against the door as he pressed his weight against it, trying to force it open. The handle rattled again.

  “NO,” he said and kicked the door.

  “NO,” he shouted, kicking the door with more force.

  “I said NO!”

  Jayden shuddered while Dick vented his anger on the wooden door, pounding and kicking.

  The kicking stopped and Jayden’s ears perked up. What is he doing? She followed the sound of his footsteps and realized he was circling the shack. He’s looking for a way in. She glanced at the window and noticed again the label gleaming in the moonlight.

  Activate Shield

  Yes! Jayden hustled to it and reached up. She hesitated for a moment – what if he’s on my side of the shield? Then, as if her hand was externally guided, she firmly flipped the lever.

  An electric hum filled the air but it was not loud enough to cover the shrieks and screams emanating from outside. She covered her ears trying to lessen the sound, but the screams and screeches intensified, filling her eardrums until her mind could absorb no more. The angry squeals increased in strength, seemingly emboldened with its own energy. The sound snaked its way through the air and into the shack, surrounding Jayden like an auditory cyclone. She rolled her head back and yelled in return, waging a scream-for-scream battle. It was not enough, though. Her battered senses tried to kick-start into overdrive mode, but an internal mutiny took over, shutting down her systems. Jayden fell to the floor.

  * * *

  “Wake up. Wake up, Jayden!” The voice was urgent.

  “Whaaat?” Jayden jerked away, straining against the seat belt tethering her to the car. “Why am I here?” Alarmed, she raised an arm in front of her face and peered around it.

  “Oh, it’s you,” whispered Jayden. The voice was D.S. and she was standing outside the car door, a look of concern covering her normally animated features.

  Jayden blinked and slowly reached for the purse between her feet. “I’m okay.”

  Relief flooded D.S. and she clucked her tongue at Jayden. “You don’t remember why you’re here? What’s wrong with you, girl?”

  Jayden rubbed her eyes. “I guess I needed a nap.”

  She followed D.S. into the eatery but made no order. Hunger had departed hand-in-hand with her free will.

  Chapter 21

  Like Nectar to a Bee

  “We’re not the first.”

  Max had been sitting at his bedroom desk for hours, processing and analyzing the events and circumstances in the dream world. “We’re not the first,” he repeated. It was the only deduction that made sense. He kicked the leg of his desk and spun his chair around, giddy with the correctness of his assumption. He banged his fist on the desk with certainty.

  “We’re not the first ones to ‘climb’ to sleep in Dick’s dream world!” he declared. “That’s it! It’s the only conclusion.” He considered the supplies that were mysteriously available – the night-vision goggles, the zip line harnesses from their previous adventures and the home-made suspension bridge. “How else could the goggles get there, and how did the vine bridge get built unless someone was there before us?”

  He continued to wrack his brain, trying to put the pieces together, like an other-world puzzle where the normal rules of physics did not apply.

  Yeah, but if we’re not the only ones, then what happened to the others? And why does Dick want to torment everyone and prevent them from getting to the Town of Sleepmore? The giddy period of believing he knew all the answers came to a crashing halt with one additional question.

  Who is the ‘Protector’ guy at the cross over point?

  Max spun his chair around again, this time in frustration. It had been almost a week since he ‘crossed over’ and he was tired of going to bed with a backpack of supplies under his shirt.

  “It has to be soon,” he whispered. “How much longer can Georgia be lost?”

  * * *

  Connor leaned forward and softly kissed Georgia’s forehead. Her face was ghostly white against the blue-black of her thick eyelashes and curly hair. The display monitors on the stand beside her beeped softly.

  “Any more news?” he asked his mom.

  She shook her head. “Just the one episode yesterday, lasting only a few minutes. The nurse said she was whimpering and trying to cover her ears.” Mrs. Fitzpatrick beat her chest in despair. “Why would Georgia do that?”

  “I wish I knew,” replied Connor. “So there’s been nothing since then?”

  “Nothing.”

  Connor glanced at the clock on the wall. “I wish I could stay but I have to pick up my car from the dealership,” he said. “It’s repaired and ready.” He deliberately didn’t tell her that he was also meeting Jayden and Max.

  They embraced and Connor left Georgia’s private room, closing the door quietly. He was going to make a brief stop first – at room 417. He strode down the hall, a half-spun, desperate strategy floating through his mind – a strategy involving a physical shake-down of a comatose Dick.

  His face was grim with determination as he passed the nurse’s station and headed toward Dick’s room.

  The door opened before he got there. A woman glided out, wearing black gloves, gaudy red lipstick and hair pulled back in the tightest bun imaginable. It was slicked back so tightly that her lips were parted in a tortured grimace and her eyes seemed ready to pop out of their sockets. She was extremely tall, excruciatingly thin and she completely ignored Connor as she stalked past him.

  “Nurse!’ she boomed. “NURSE!”

  The nurse at the station waited until the woman arrived at the desk. “Please Ma’am,” she cautioned, “keep your voice down.”

  “My son Richard needs another pillow and more lip chap. Don’t you people ever check on him? Do I always have to tell you what to do?”

  Connor stood paralyzed in shock. That’s Richard’s mom.

  He hurried down the hall, grateful for the timing. If I had walked in to that...

  Thirty minutes and two bus rides later, Connor arrived at the dealership. With the sign-off papers in hand, the service manager welcomed him and together they reviewed the repairs. The car looked as good as new. At least, as good as a 10-year-old car can look.

  Connor signed the document in exchange for his car keys. He drove the car into the parking lot where Max was waiting, sitting on his bicycle. Jayden was supposed to meet them there too. Her Jeep was in the last service stall, freshly painted.

  “You look like crap,” Connor pointed out to Max.

  “Gee whiz,” Max retorted. “You used to be a n-n-nice person.”

  “Sorry,” Connor replied. He shuffled his feet and ran a hand through his dark hair. “I’m so desperate to find Georgia that I’m not thinking first; I’m just letting words pop out of my mouth. But for real though... you do look like crap.”

  Max raised an eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll accept that… that I might not look my best.” He squinted from side to side in a conspiratorial manner and moved his bike closer to Connor. “I haven’t been sleeping much ’cuz I’ve been going to bed every night with a stocked backpack under my shirt,” he whispered. “I’m hoping my ‘Protector’ will allow everything in there to cross over with me.”

  “Your Protector? Did he tell you that’s who he was?”

  “Well, kind of,” Max quantified. �
�He said he was whatever I wanted him to be, so I told him I wanted him to be my Protector. That’s what he said he was for Jayden, right?”

  “Yeah, that’s what she said.”

  A honking horn interrupted their conversation and a black Challenger drove past. It pulled into the service parking area and Jayden jumped out, waving at them before entering the glass doors of the service department. With one hand holding the door, Mr. Nanjee acknowledged them in a salute before entering the dealership behind her.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about our dream world,” Max began.

  Connor waited for the rest of the sentence. “And...” he replied impatiently.

  “And I’ve developed a theory,” Max said. “About the supplies that are over there.”

  “Supplies?” questioned Connor. “Like the night vision goggles?”

  “Yeah, and the harnesses that were on the other side of the Valley of Tired. And the vine bridge. Someone made that bridge and then they put the vines over the shield so people could pass through.” He took a deep breath and then divulged his theory in a quick exhale.

  “We’re not the first ones there.”

  Max waited for Connor’s response, expecting to hear doubt and sarcasm. Instead, Connor studied him intently. “Hmmm,” he said, eyes narrowing. He tapped one foot against the pavement and stared thoughtfully at the blue sky.

  Honk!

  Jayden pulled up alongside the boys, grinning. She waved her hand over the side of the Jeep like she was sprinkling fairy dust or pretending to be ‘Vanna’ on The Price is Right. “Well, what do you think?” She pushed the stick into neutral, pulled up the hand brake and turned off the engine.

  Connor was nodding with approval. “Sweet.”

  “Nice colour choice,” Max added. “Matches your pjs.”

  “Hey, are you okay?” Jayden asked Max, flipping up the sun visor. “I assumed you survived the dive over the electrified vines.”