The Hallucigenia Project

by Darren Kasenkow

  Quiet fell upon the room as reflections of water shimmered across the mirrors. Candice released John’s hand and began to pace back and forth as Vanessa stared out through the glass into the softly lit ocean, for the moment lost in her own thoughts as they spiralled in all directions. Aaron checked his watch with growing concern, while John felt a strange mix of exhilaration and fear at the stage show that was unravelling.

  Suddenly the entrance door slid open, breaking the spell they had all fallen into as in marched Rebecca. Though dressed in jeans with a plain white shirt and a serious look upon her face, John found her classic beauty and elegance just the same as when her image had first appeared on his screen back at the hotel. As she came to stand before the group Hendrix shifted his back against the statue and smiled up at her.

  “As can be expected your timing is perfect,” he complimented her.

  “Considering the day everyone here has had,” she smiled back, “opening a door hardly deserves a compliment.”

  “It’s a tricky door,” Hendrix joked.

  “Unfortunately,” Rebecca sighed, “it’s also a tricky situation. Digital response is reporting network shutdowns all across the country with nodes falling like dominoes. Judging by the current rate blackout is only hours away.”

  “What’s that all mean Bec?” Aaron asked.

  “It means they’re switching off the cloud,” Candice answered for her.

  “That’s right,” Rebecca confirmed as she took in the new visitors. “Pretty soon there’ll be no internet, no phones, hell even the radio stations are falling silent one by one.

  “That doesn’t sound very good…” John managed before Candice jumped back in.

  “Because it isn’t. If they’re shutting down the entire network it must mean they want to isolate all communication, and that can only mean… oh fuck. They’re not going to give anyone a chance to prepare.”

  “That might’ve been the plan but I can assure you the city is in chaos.” Rebecca reached down with her hand and waited for Hendrix to realise what she was after. “For the moment there’s still online broadcasts coming through but they won’t last long.”

  With Bobbie now perched across his shoulder John stood to join her as she stepped up to the screen, fingers tapping at the tablet in her hand. The signal was patchy and seemed to pause every few seconds but the visions none the less left no room for interpretation. City buildings on fire spilling orange light to break open the night and crowds filling the streets with confusion and panic, intercut with footage of various cities across the country dissolving into the night as electricity connections fell away. A deep, monotone voice accompanied the edited destruction.

  “…emergency services across the country are stretched to the limits following today’s freak… communication towers inoperative and power supplies currently… are asked to remain indoors until…”

  Rebecca muted the sound and turned back to the room as the glitch filled images continued to stream. “We had to abort the buses so our numbers here are going to be lower than planned. Some of them made it to our alternate locations, but others… others are in custody. There’s a lot of air activity at the moment so they’re definitely looking for our cosy little bunker, for now though they’re flying cold.” She pressed her lips tight then returned her attention to the screen. “The night’s going to get a lot darker, that’s for sure.”

  As though her voice triggered some sort of command the screen began to flicker and a soft voice began to seep into the room. John knew who it was almost instantly, and watched with slight confusion as a flurry of ruby red rose petals fluttered like flocks of birds where buildings had burned just seconds before.

  “It’s coming soon,” Talitha’s voice assured. “Some will live and some will die. Some will wish they lived, and some will wish they died. It’s okay to be scared though.” The ruby petals burst apart like liquid smoke as golden raindrops began to fall and bounce across invisible geometric shapes that stretched the edges of each droplet on impact. “Trust only what you know is right and it will guide you where even angels fear to tread. My name is Talitha, and I’m here to show you the stars.”

  The golden rain became embers from flames unseen, and then the screen was blank but for a blue lettered error code in the bottom right corner. Hendrix was on his feet now, and Candice had joined John and Rebecca to stare into the digital black.

  “Am I hearing things or is that the little girl from this morning?” Vanessa asked behind them.

  “That’s her alright,” John answered.

  “The network’s gone,” Rebecca said, handing the tablet back to Hendrix. “Our satellites are active but we can’t risk any signalling, not for a few hours at least. With everything down they’ll be watching for hot spots. This is where we exercise uneasy patience.”

  “Zero dark before the storm,” Hendrix remarked.

  “We’ve issued a final transmission to lock down and hold tight. Marine vessels were dry docked earlier today but whether they survive or not is anyone’s guess. Fuel supplies are stocked and gas masks issued.” Rebecca placed a hand on her hip and offered the slightest of smile to Candice and Vanessa. “There’ll be time enough to make acquaintances, but for now rest is what’s important. I know we’re all wired but come tomorrow the curtains are getting pulled back and we need to be ready for whatever lands on stage.” Her slight smile disappeared. “Who knows, we might sleep forever or never again.”

  Although the idea of somehow closing their eyes seemed impossible, John knew their bodies would shut down sooner or later anyway. Between car chases, gun battles, explosions, a race through the air and escape at sea, a little rest wasn’t such a bad idea. Just as Rebecca had said, the curtains would be drawn in the morning and they’d need all the energy they could muster.

  “How do we know Klementina and Talitha are okay?” he asked with obvious concern.

  “Don’t worry,” Rebecca assured him, “for the moment they’re just fine. We’ve still got functional comms but noise is restricted for now. Silence is golden so rest while you can. Teams on the other side of that door will be watching the night. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  Candice opened her mouth to speak but there was no point as Rebecca quaintly made her exit. The screen on the wall came alive once again with Earth’s darkened sphere and Hendrix shuffled his way back behind the desk.

  “As usual Rebecca brings with her common sense,” he mused. “Get what little rest you can because the chance may not come again.”

  “But we need to…” Candice began before Hendrix raised a hand.

  “I know, but preparations will be quicker if I do them alone. Trust me.”

  “Always the maverick,” she murmured before standing to attention. “That blood may be important, but we need to work out who the hell this Samael or whatever the fuck he calls himself is. Believe me, he’s one nasty piece of shit.”

  Hendrix made a smacking sound with his lips and then leaned forward with a sad twinkling in his dragon etched eye. “There’s some things I’ll need to show you in the morning Candice, but please don’t ask me what they are now. You’re absolutely right though, he is a piece of shit.”

  Feeling the tension beginning to grow again Vanessa jumped up from the sofa and looked down at Aaron, hands on hips with an eyebrow raised. “I don’t know where the hell we are, and right now my brain sure as shit feels like it’s strapped to a rollercoaster that isn’t going to stop so maybe there’s somewhere in this bat cave you can make good on your drink promise.”

  “You sure know how to cut through the finer points,” Aaron remarked with a smirk. “Okay girl, it just so happens I’ve got a bunk back there that should be nice and quiet. You’ll be able to get some rest and, assuming it hasn’t been raided, there’s a bottle of whiskey with our names on it tucked under the pillow.”

  “Then let’s toast the end of the world,” she suggested as together they headed for the door.

  “The only other quiet place is
back here,” he said over his shoulder, “so might as well make yourselves comfortable. The ride’s only gonna get rougher from this point on.”

  And with that they disappeared through the door leaving John and Candice alone with Hendrix. With a decision seemingly made, Hendrix excused himself and stepped into the side room. When he returned he held a soft blue blanket in his arms which was carefully laid upon the sofa. Satisfied with the addition he turned and embraced Candice with a warmth she had never expected from him, an embrace she gladly returned until the moment fell away.

  “It’s not much of a bed but the view is five stars,” he said. “Try to get some rest okay? We can worry about tackling the universe in a few hours.”

  He stepped into the room with cluttered work benches and concrete encased ladder leading up to the jetty and gently slid the door closed behind him. Candice could feel the adrenaline finally beginning to dissolve. Her head and neck were getting heavy as the splashing mirrors played with her senses.

  “Hey,” John said, reminding her that he was there. “I don’t know about you, but I’d count being alive as a pretty good outcome.”

  “You’re right,” Candice replied before stepping up to the glass and placing a hand against the cool surface. “Not only are we alive but holy shit is this place something else, like something I might’ve dreamed about as a kid. All that’s missing is a glow in the dark dolphin waving back at me.”

  “If it’s any consolation I’ve got a cat here looking for love.”

  Candice turned with a smile and left the ocean behind as she grabbed Bobbie and collapsed onto the sofa. John, sensing the demons scratching at the back of his skull as exhaustion washed away the burned fragments of his overcharged nervous system, discreetly reached into his pocket.

  There was nothing there.

  Fuck.

  A brief rise in blood pressure accompanied his mental calculations. How long had it been since he’d stepped into the bitter blue abyss? He wasn’t sure. The sweats hadn’t started yet, but then he’d been in an adrenaline filled overdrive since the crack of dawn so that could change any minute. He took a deep breath and figured sleep wasn’t going to be easy anyway. And besides, the demons had a vicious reality to contend with.

  He did his best to squeeze in beside Candice and his best friend. It was a good thing the air temperature was warm because the blanket was as thin as a beach towel, but there was a psychological comfort that came with something familiar in a place that was so very unfamiliar.

  Candice wriggled to get comfortable and wrapped an arm across his chest. “You know something?” she asked quietly. “Now that it’s quiet I can almost convince myself we’re on some strange road trip, and you’ve managed to find one of the most beautiful motel rooms in the country.”

  “Except for the bed.”

  “Yeah, you missed that little detail.” She pulled the blanket tighter and watched the water shimmer along the mirrors. “I wanted my parents out of the country. I’ve been trying for weeks to convince them but I couldn’t tell them why. Now they’re up there in the dark.” She sighed and shifted her gaze to the ocean pressed glass. “I should’ve told them when I had the chance. All I can hope for now is reaching out to them somehow, but we both know that’s gonna be next to impossible.”

  John pulled her even closer leaving her breath rushing against the skin of his neck. “All I know is that when I left the hotel this morning all I wanted was to make it back next to you somehow.” He scrunched his nose and felt his cheeks flush. “Sounds bloody corny I know but today was the very definition of impossible and yet here we are, so I’d say there’s reason for a little hope still.”

  “I’ll take that,” she replied.

  The wings of the dragon sparkled purple against the soft blue lights as reflections of bubbles bounced across the room, while Bobbie let out a small yawn and burrowed beneath the blanket in search of any extra warmth. There was a quiet fear settling in the air to be sure, but there were also fragments of longing simmering in the background. Though words were slowly fading they both held a flickering light of desire to dare to dream that maybe, just maybe, they would live long enough to explore every corner of the passion that had descended upon them like a silk shroud in the eye of a storm.

  “I used to think love was just a bunch of complex survival chemicals,” Candice whispered. “That is was a trick to make us think we have some sort of control when really we’re just vessels for a chain of acids pushing through time like donkeys carrying gold through the desert, but it’s more than that isn’t it?”

  “I’m no expert in love believe me,” John replied softly, “but whether I live or die won’t change the way I feel.”

  “And what do you feel?”

  “So fucking glad I’ve got you in my arms.”

  Candice closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his skin as her heart ached with the desire to make the moment last forever, there in the underwater cocoon of dreams. John too closed his eyes, relishing the sound of her breathing while trying to ignore the dark shadows beginning to fall across his nervous system. The smell of her hair and remnants of sweat was a beautiful thing as exhaustion began to take hold, but it wasn’t long before the demons began to emerge.

  Chapter 36

  The high pitch whine of the passenger jet backed off as the pilot levelled into the night. Inside the cabin area the only source of light was a small red globe tucked in the overhead panelling, which was barely enough to illuminate the indulgent leather seats designed to comfort the kind of passengers that demanded nothing less than military grade aviation when it came to travel. Privacy too was important, and with only four seats to choose from it was all but guaranteed. For now though, only one sat occupied.

  Samael toyed with blood between his finger tips as if it were wet paint. The fresh slices across his face had been soothing enough but he knew the steel would need to push deeper next time, would need to scrape against the bone to bring a little joy. For now though there was satisfaction enough to look down through the small window at the shrinking city below and find the dark broken only by hungry flames, scattered generators and slow moving traffic that would soon be out of fuel. It was better this way. A little bit of chaos now, and then quiet. Some destruction was inevitable but after that humans would just be in the way, especially with desperation surging through their veins.

  A tall man in an understated dark suit emerged from the coal red shadows and sat in the seat opposite. He too looked down through the window, waiting until clouds smothered their view to speak.

  “Something’s shutting down our satellites and it’s not coming from down there.” He massaged the words as if it were a trivial matter. “If we lose any more the pilot will be flying back blind, which should at least make things interesting I guess.”

  Samael leaned back and sucked the blood from his fingertips. “Things in the air might become trickier,” he contemplated, “but the underground network should suffice for our needs once things get a little more complicated. For now though we send down the long sleep and wait for the fire in the sky.”

  “Source signals for the girl remain elusive. We’ll continue to scan with what we’ve got but I don’t like our chances. Whatever hole she’s burrowed in is wrapped tight in multi level encryption, or has just gone quiet.”

  “She’ll have to launch sooner or later,” Samael figured. “If we don’t find her before then I guess my behaviour with the visitors will have to be adjusted. Speaking of which, how are my rockets faring?”

  “Fuelled up, locked down and ready to launch. You may be punching through horrible weather for takeoff but seismic calculations pretty much guarantee the mountains should absorb most of the shock. Cuba might be small, but geographically it’s strong.”

  “You better be right.” He leaned across and tapped the side of the man’s forehead. “There are encoded memories buried deep in that brain of yours, and it would be wise to reach out for a glimpse. Believe me, strength has little
meaning in the face of burning metals from the depths of eternity.” He tapped one more time and then leaned back into the chair. “The architects of this dimensional web made assurances that knowledge can always be taught a lesson.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way,” the man said with an uneasy confidence, “but I don’t have time for any meditation or regressive memory crap. The only thing that truly exists is the moment, and right now my job is to get us into the mountains. Maybe when this is all over, and if I’m still alive, you can show me what’s in that cane of yours but until then I’ve got jobs to do and trawling through dreams isn’t one of them.”

  “That’s what I like about you Roman, happy to dance with the devil but no desire for the tune. When the music does finally strike your ears though, you may just find you’re already trawling through a dream.”

  The conversation was no more as the jet raced across the ink black ocean. Roman managed to close his eyes to steal a little rest but Samael continued to stare out into the darkness for the three or so hour flight. Eventually the engines began to change pitch, and though for the moment they couldn’t be seen he knew that soon the pilot would be performing a vertical land in a deep and hidden crevice of the Escambray Mountains. Though Samael had considered other locations for the launch millions of years in the making, decades of paranoia meant functioning infrastructure had already been chiselled into the Cuban mountains. It was hardly a palace, but it would do.

  The jet began to hiss and scream as it rotated them into a slow descent. The cabin began to shudder and the glow of piercing floodlights could be seen through the window. Dawn wasn’t far off, but for the moment the night still held firm with her embrace.