The trip to Oceanside flew by. They gabbed almost the entire trip. Joseph was easy to talk to, especially since it was okay for Aimee to talk to him about the taboo subject. It was almost a relief being able to nonchalantly discuss it with someone else who possessed the gift. Still, she felt uneasy going to Oceanside with Joseph. True, she was separated from Dylan, and true, Joseph promised it was just a day away to help her get her mind off what was troubling her, but in the back of her mind she wondered if Joseph didn't have something else planned.
Shortly before noon, they went through Oceanside, then headed north. Joseph turned off the main road, and drove down a windy, gravel road for a couple miles. Trees surrounded both sides blocking any view of where they were going. Then, they turned off the road onto a path formed by tire tracks and drove for another mile. Finally, they exited into an circular area about thirty-five feet across. Joseph pulled up next to another truck and shifted into Park. Two students working at the site, suddenly got up and walked over to Joseph's truck. Both looked like they had been rolling in the dirt for days. Aimee undid her belt, and stepped out before Joseph could make it to her side.
“Caleb. Rod,” Joseph started, “this is Aimee Schmidt.”
Both slid a glove off and shook Aimee's hand. “So, Dr. Smith,” Caleb began, “we've unearthed a few fragments of some pottery near the burial site.”
Joseph's face lit up, “Very good, let's take a look.” He glanced back at Aimee and smiled, “Come, let's take a look back into time.”
Several hours later Joseph had collected the data from the two graduate students, and then decided he had what he needed. “So, are you ready to go?”
“If you are,” Aimee answered.
Joseph looked at his watch. “Bugger, I didn't realize it's almost four. You must be starved.”
Aimee nodded, then took a sample container from Joseph, “Yeah, I could eat. How about you?”
Joseph nodded, too. “I could use some grub. I'm sorry. I get so wrapped up in the work I forget about time.” He packed his two containers into a box in the truck’s bed, then took the container from Aimee and added it to the others. “We'll stop in Oceanside and grab a bite.” He strapped everything down and locked the box, then hollered at the two students, “I'm heading back to Eugene. Go ahead and close it down for the day, and start back with daylight. I'll check in with you tomorrow after lunch.”
“Sure, Dr. Smith,” Rod said as he stuck a couple tools into the toolbox in his truck.
Everyone said good-byes, and Joseph and Aimee got into the truck, then Joseph backed around and slowly started towards the gravel road. In about twenty minutes, the two were at a local restaurant. The day had been different for Aimee, actually enjoyable, and definitely not what she had expected. Talking about traveling together seemed to be therapeutic, in a strange sort of way, and then watching Joseph with the young anthropologists under his tutelage shift through dirt and analyze findings fascinated her. And the early dinner was going well, too. Joseph had kept his promise of just being a friend, someone she could talk to, almost like a big brother, and not someone who tried to make any moves on her. And that was comforting. Still, her mind occasionally drifted back to Dylan, and she felt torn about being with Joseph.
“So,” Joseph began after he took a sip of his water, “you haven't mentioned one word all day about the real problem you seem to be gutted about.”
Aimee peered up suddenly from her plate, looked at Joseph, and swallowed. Stuttering, she tried to deflect from answering his observation. “Uh, well, I sorta thought today was just about getting me away so I didn't have to think about the problem all the time.”
“You know,” Joseph said after he wiped his mouth, “I think that's why you bury yourself in school and work, so you don't have to deal with it. Am I right?” He paused and looked intensely at Aimee.
His eyes pulled her in, as usual. She couldn't think straight. Suddenly, the server came up to the table and asked if they needed anything while he poured them some more water. The magnetic hold broke. As soon as the server left, Aimee replied, “I didn't know you had a doctorate in psychology, too.”
Joseph chuckled and sat back. He looked around. It was early so the restaurant only had a few customers. He placed his napkin on the table and leaned forward and stared at Aimee. “You are avoiding the problem you're having with your boyfriend, and it won't get resolved one way or another, unless you deal with it, whatever it is. No, I'm not a doctor of psychology, but I understand the nature of humans. And you seem to have a very human problem, and being gifted, as you call it, is enough of a problem for any human to have. So, can I help?”
He was right. Her psychiatrist told her many times in her sessions when she refused to talk, that she couldn't get past what was bothering her unless she confronted it. “I'm not sure I feel comfortable discussing my personal life with someone I barely know.”
“Hmm,” Joseph began. “Let's see. I don't think you barely know me. I would be willing to bet you saw me in your dreams, or perhaps just felt me coming.”
Wide-eyed, Aimee replied, “Yes, how did you know?”
“My mother saw you before I did.”
“Omigod!” exclaimed Aimee. “I can't believe it. This seems so unreal.” She hesitated, thinking about all the times Joseph was in her dreams. “So, you saw me in your dreams? Were we together, like on journeys, or...” again she paused for a few seconds, then finished, “...well, were we together, as in...” She paused unsure if she should ask, but it slipped out anyway, “...together?” Her voice raised a little on the last word as she stared into his eyes.
Joseph smiled, then sat back into his chair. “Together, as in two people traveling, but also as a couple like my parents, who usually traveled together because they were partners.” He paused, and then cleared his throat before continuing, “And like I said in my letter Dr. Payne gave you, we are meant to be together.”
Suddenly, the realization of his presence, their togetherness, and all its implications hit Aimee like a boulder. She had tried to forget that letter. Aimee didn’t want any part of it to come true. But, it was. She sank into her chair unable to say anything.
“Are you okay?” asked Joseph.
Aimee shook her head, but answered, “I'm not sure. I mean, I have had this voice in the back of my head telling me to seek others, and it wasn't until we traveled together our first time that I understood what it meant.” She stopped, closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them looking away from Joseph before she said, “I'm not sure I can fight this, no matter how hard I want to, or need to. You are part of the reason I'm separated from Dylan now, and...”
“Wait,” Joseph interrupted. “So you are separated from Dylan? I'm sorry for that, but how exactly am I part of the reason you're separated?”
Aimee took a long time, and a deep sigh before she answered, “He went absolutely ballistic after we ran into you at the hotel...”
“But why?” Joseph inquired.
“He didn't know you were in Eugene, and when he found out that I knew, but didn't say anything, well he...”
Joseph cut in, “He assumed you were covering up something, like we were involved, right?”
Aimee nodded, then cleared her throat. “Yes, but I never gave him a reason to think that. I don't know, but after we returned from Briar Farm he got really stressed anytime your name was brought up in a conversation. I'm not sure why, but I didn't ask. Did something happen between you and Dylan when we were there?”
Joseph immediately denied anything. “No, how could it? You were incapacitated, and Dylan was with you most of the time, except the day before you left, and I don't think I saw him the whole day. He was having a gander around the farm and even went over to Edward's place.”
Aimee shook her head. “I don't know,” she started, “but that's the only thing I can think of.”
“Well,” Joseph started, “that's an interesting theory, but I think it's more than that, isn't it?”
&
nbsp; After a long sigh, Aimee looked down into her empty plate and answered, “Yes.”
“You're quite a cracking young woman, very bright and quite charming. So what young man wouldn't get cheesed off when he finds out someone else might be trying to chat up with you. He's jealous of you, Aimee.”
“I guess, but I've never given him a reason to be jealous.”
Joseph smiled, then replied, “No, you don't understand the male ego. We're supposed to protect and take care of you, and you, my dear, are supposed to let us.”
Aimee complained, “That is sooo archaic.”
“I'm not saying we all are like that, but you need to understand that is what you can deal with in a relationship even when there is trust.”
“So, you think I'm wrong for getting upset because he thinks I'm doing something with another man, and I'm not?”
“No, I'm sure it's hard to have someone you care about accuse you of something you didn't do, but why would he push you away?”
“He didn't,” Aimee admitted faintly as she looked away.
“You mean you left him?”
Aimee nodded.
“Because he's jealous of me?” Joseph asked with disbelief.
“No, it's more than that,” Aimee quickly stated.
“Okay, then, what happened?”
The image of Dylan and Brandi making out in the video stabbed every part of her brain until it felt like it would explode. Tears beaded up behind her eyes. She thought she was doing better, able to get past this, but obviously her heart was still wounded. Joseph reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Aimee looked up suddenly into his face. His eyes captured her, even though she fought the feeling. As if someone else was speaking for her, she blurted out, “He was angry, and he thought I was messing around on him, so...” she stopped, wiped at the corner of her eye, then stared at the spoon she twirled nervously. At last the lump slid down and she finished, “He started drinking, and then some girl got too friendly.”
“And he didn't say no.”
With one word, Aimee finally opened up her vulnerable heart to an outsider. “Right,” she whispered. She grabbed her napkin and wiped her eyes.
Joseph touched her hand again. “I'm sorry,” he said.
Aimee stared across the restaurant. The server was walking their way. She quickly wiped her eyes, and cleared her voice, then forced a lame smile.
“Can I get you anything else,” the server asked as he put the bill on the table.
Joseph took it and looked at Aimee. “Would you like dessert?”
Quickly, Aimee shook her head.
Joseph glanced up at the server and said, “No, thank you. I think we're good.”
The server stared at Aimee for a few seconds, then he added, “I'll be your cashier when you are ready.”
Joseph pulled out his wallet, whipped out several bills, and placed them on the receipt. “It was good, and we're ready now, so thank you.”
“Can I get you change?”
Joseph smiled, then replied, “No.”
The server thanked him, smiled at both, and swiftly left.
“Are you ready to go?”
Aimee nodded.
Joseph picked up Aimee's backpack. He carried it as the two walked together out of the restaurant. Before leaving, Aimee excused herself to go to the restroom. After going to the toilet, she washed her hands, and noticed in the mirror how bright red her eyes looked. She figured it was just from the crying so she wiped her face with a wet paper towel, chunked it into the trash, and rejoined Joseph.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yep,” she answered.
Joseph opened the door for Aimee, and the two stepped out of the restaurant and continued walking to the truck.
“Thank you for dinner,” Aimee said. “I'm sorry it got so deep.”
Joseph smiled, then replied, “You're welcome, and don't worry about me. I think it was important for you to talk about it. Hopefully, you can figure out your next step.”
Suddenly, Aimee stopped. She looked at Joseph with panic in her eyes. “Joseph...” she started to exclaim, but couldn't finish.
Startled by her urgency, he dropped her pack and grabbed her shoulders, then demanded, “What’s wrong?!”
The proverbial axe came down on her head, and just like that, they were gone, swallowed by the tunnel, and then spit out like a nasty dose of castor oil after the light pierced the darkness. They both landed unharmed and unnoticed into a street as chaos spilled all around them. People were screaming and crying and running for their lives. Joseph checked on Aimee to make sure she was okay, then looked towards an out-of-control fire.
“Omigod!” exclaimed Aimee when she stood up brushing herself off.
The skyline was ablaze. In a couple seconds the sound of sirens behind them coming up the street caused them to jump into action. Both dove to the side and watched the horse-drawn fire engine scream past. People, dressed like they were from another century, fled the opposite way, some with children, items, and animals in tote.
“What do you think we need to do?” Aimee excitedly asked Joseph.
“We bloody hell should head that direction into the blaze,” he screamed and pointed while the sound of the chaos around them escalated to a deafening pitch. “We'll know why we were sent soon enough.”
Aimee nodded, and the two took off running the direction of the fire engine. The heat and the sparks flying overhead caused terror among all the people fleeing as well as those trying to battle it to save whatever the fire threatened to consume. Several times they almost got trampled moving against the crowd escaping. A woman dressed in the fashion of the late 1800's ran into Aimee. She stared at Aimee for a long second, then she cried, “Save yourself! Don't go that direction!”
Joseph grabbed Aimee by the arm and pulled her along with him. The two took off racing towards the inferno. After a couple blocks, they quickly approached a woman clinging to two young children, all who were crying. She was screaming hysterically for someone to help. Aimee stopped instantly positive this was who they had sent them to help. Aimee grabbed the woman by her arms, looked square into her face, and tried to get her to calm enough to tell them her plight. “Please, you have to stop screaming and tell us how we can help you!” exclaimed Aimee.
The woman kept pointing towards the burning house and screaming, “My Robert! My baby! Help them! God help them!”
The roof was in a blaze. Joseph yelled at Aimee, “Stay here!”, and before Aimee could protest, he ran into the burning house. Buildings on both sides of the house were burning, but the horse-drawn fire engines raced past ignoring their immediate need, and instead charged into the heart of the fire.
After an eternity, and no Joseph, Aimee couldn't wait. He needed her help. She looked at the woman and sternly told her to run with her children towards safety, and they would join her as soon as they got her husband and baby out of the house. The woman refused, shaking her head and crying. Aimee grabbed her shoulders and screamed, “Go! You have to go! Now!”
The wide-eyed woman looked for a few seconds at the hardness in Aimee's face, then cried, “Save them! Please!” She grabbed the hands of her two children and started to run away, but stopped and looked back for a few seconds. Aimee had already disappeared into the house.
“Joseph! Where are you?!” Aimee yelled from the bottom of the stairs. No answer. The smoke flooded from the second floor down the stairs, but Aimee could hear coughing coming from that direction. The flames from the surrounding buildings danced around and approached closer and closer to the house so the inside was illuminated. Without hesitation, Aimee raced to the kitchen, coughing now, and searched quickly. An apron was lying across a table. Aimee grabbed it and dropped it into the sink. She pumped water over it, then whipped it out sloppy wet and flew back to the stairs. Securing the wet apron over her nose and mouth, she flew up the stairs. At the top of the landing, she found Joseph on his hands and knees choking, but clutching the baby. The father w
as sprawled out on his stomach and unresponsive a few feet back.
Aimee screamed, “Here! Cover yourself, stay low, and give me the baby! You get the father!” Aimee sucked in a chest full of air through the barrier, held her breath, handed the apron to Joseph, pointed at the father, and then raced down the stairs. As soon as she hit the landing, she looked up the stairs and Joseph was coming down with the unconscious man over one shoulder. The two broke through the front door just as the ceiling fell in dropping the burning roof onto the second floor. Both looked for a fast second at the second floor where they had just been, now engulfed in flames. Gasping for air and overwhelmed from the heat, Aimee broke through the door with the crying baby, followed by Joseph with the father. The chaos had escalated and they joined it and started running with the crowd until they got far enough away. Joseph stopped suddenly and dropped the man to the ground and started rescue breathing. Aimee held the crying baby and watched. Within a minute, the man came around sputtering and rolled abruptly to his side gasping for air. Finally able to breath on his own, he looked up at Joseph kneeling next to him, then up at Aimee holding his baby. The man managed to his feet, still choking and sputtering, and took the baby from Aimee.
Crying in between coughing, he hugged the teary-eyed child, kissing his little face, and said over and over to Aimee and Joseph, “Thank you...thank you...thank you.”
Aimee instructed as she pointed, “Your wife headed that direction with the other two children!”
He looked at Joseph, then Aimee, nodded quickly, then tore away clutching the baby.
“Are you okay?” Aimee immediately questioned.
Joseph nodded, then swung his arm around Aimee and ordered, “We've got to get out of here or we'll get trapped in it!” Aimee nodded and the two started running as fast as they could towards safety. Joseph stopped to catch his breath, and Aimee screeched to a halt and peeled back to help. She touched Joseph's shoulder. Right at that second the two disappeared from the chaos into the frozen clutches of the tunnel.
The unmerciful tunnel only entrapped them for what seemed like less than a second or two, then out of its torture they dropped into the back of the restaurant uninjured. Only Joseph was overcome by choking.
The Weird Travels of Aimee Schmidt: Seeking Others Page 35