Against The Odds

by Senna Fisher

  “Yes, I know. I am just surprised how we are all linked. It is a bit strange. But, we need to go to the original issue. The source of the power. The facts are...”

  Clayton interrupted.

  “It is this birthmark. I have never really looked it before, but it is the shape of an hourglass and that is the missing link to Rebecca’s butterfly. I think that is the answer. Rebecca, do you remember when you asked me why I had ink of my hand and you touched it? You got shocked?”

  She nodded. They all stared at his hand.

  “Rebecca, let us see the butterfly, see if it fits.”

  Rebecca was staring at his hand.

  “I can’t believe I never realized that immediately. I mean. I asked you about it, because it bothered me so much. I feel so stupid. Okay, see if it fits.”

  Clayton gently placed his hand on his butterfly. A sharp white flash of light appeared suddenly and flew to the ceiling. It clung there for a few seconds and then disappeared. They all stared at each other.

  “Fuck, this is way beyond real. Clayton, you could kill someone. Gosh!”

  Jonathan was hysterical. He was a logical, practical man. He did not believe in anything he could not see. He saw the light, so he had to believe. It rattled his neat, worldly brain.

  Clayton gently placed his right hand on her butterfly and it soothed her skin. It felt cool and comforting.

  “Clayton, it soothes. The right hand soothes.”

  She started crying and he held her in his arms.

  “Princess, it will be alright. You will see.”

  He rubbed her back, with his right hand. I hope this works, he thought, because she is falling apart. She is not coping.

  Jackie flung herself at her husband, crying.

  “Oh Jono, this is too much. How can they cope with this? It is not fair. Jono, Nana came to me. I love her. Jono, I love you.”

  He held his wife, thinking that she was falling apart and that they were all going crazy.

  It was this image, of the two couples hugging, which confirmed Zane’s suspicious that they were a foursome. He had wanted to get a charger for his cellphone from Clayton and saw them through the window. Well, I was right. Why is Double J in their cottage so early in the morning? Did they spend the night? Why are they all hugging? Was the session over? These straight people are too much. First they sleep with their best friend’s partner and then they go to their own partners for comfort. It is bloody ridiculous. All this nonsense because they have no real issues to worry about. Should I knock and disturb the foursome, or go away? No, I want to see what they say now that I have caught them.

  He knocked loudly. “Is anybody home?”

  “Yes, Zane, come in, the door is opened.”

  Clayton smiled. He gently pushed Rebecca to the bed, where Jackie and Jonathan were sitting. Jonathan turned to her and hugged her.

  “Are you okay, Rebecca?”

  “Yes, you big lug. Thank you for everything.”

  She turned to Jackie and hugged her too, “and you too. Thank you, you have been wonderful and brave.”

  Zane’s eyes were about to pop out of his head. They say ‘thank you’ afterwards? Gosh, Clayton has definitely led these decent people astray! Poor Rebecca, she is so in love with him she will do anything for him.

  “Zane, please, come and join us,” Clayton said.

  “Are you sure it is okay?” Zane asked. But he thought, they want a gay boy now? Hell no. I don’t do that stuff, especially with a bunch of straight people. Hell no.

  “Yes, of course. I was about to make some coffee. Come, sit down. There is a chair over there. Rebecca, can you help me?”

  She got up and went to him and he touched her arm, with his right hand and kissed her on her forehead.

  “Let us make some coffee for our guests. I want to go up to San Pass today. I hear it is quite spectacular. I think we can have a picnic up there. The clouds are lifting nicely. Shall we have picnic on the top of the mountain, Princess?”

  “Yes, that would be wonderful. I need some clean mountain air to clear my head. Come, we should all go. Let’s pack a picnic and have some fun.”

  Zane thought, she had better get some clean mountain air. She needs to clear her head for sure.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  The view from the top of San Pass was breath-taking. The air was clean and crisp and all of them felt the power of love in the mountains. They all walked off in different directions, silently absorbing the pure beauty of their surroundings. It was a magical place and they were pleased they had all joined Clayton. They ate cheese and drank wine and huddled on blankets against the cool breeze that gently teased them. Clayton was lying on the ground, his eyes half-closed, next to Rebecca.

  “Clayton, this is pure magic. I want to do it here. Right here, on this spot.”

  She had been whispering, but they all heard her.

  Blake laughed.

  “She is quite the feisty one, isn’t she? I like a girl who knows what she wants. Wow, Clayton, that’s an offer a man can never refuse.”

  The others had a raucous laugh, but Jonathan said seriously, “yes, she is right. This is the place. I am sure.”

  Zane was beside himself. Jono wants to join in? Right here, in public? He says it in public? There was no end to their lust.

  But he smiled and said nothing. Clayton did not reply. He simply looked at her, his eyes a dark blue color. He looked around him. This is the place where our fate will be determined. We live or die.

  *****

  Chapter 19

  They drove back reluctantly to their cottages. The enchantment of San Pass had made them intoxicated with warmth and love. Clayton and Rebecca were with Double J in the car and he was starting to get those dark blue eyes again.

  “Okay, just ask, Clayton, let’s get it over with. I can’t stand the stress of waiting to hear what you want. Spit it out.”

  “Okay, tell me why you know this is the right place.”

  Rebecca did not hesitate.

  “Nana always said that happiness comes from living in harmony with the environment. She applied the Chinese philosophy of feng shui to her life. She said the key was maintaining a balance between the elements. While we were up there, I saw what she had been telling us. We are the balance. You, the white tiger, are a symbol of the west and Yin energy. I, the green dragon, am a symbol of the east and Yang energy. You can see these symbols represented by the gentle hills and valleys and the winding road like the dragon’s tail. These forces, opposite but equal, co-exist as a complementary duality which is a powerful force of protection against evil. They encourage the positive life energy. That is what this place represents to me. A co-existence of these energies, the balance of nature. Also, I like the open space and it makes me feel powerful.”

  “And what else?”

  “No, that’s all.”

  “Rebecca, you are starting to piss me off. What else?”

  She was quiet for a while, then said softly, “if we have to die, I would rather it happened at the most beautiful place on earth.”

  Jonathan and Jackie were too stunned to comment and Clayton simply looked out the window. Nobody spoke the rest of the way.

  It was late afternoon when they arrived at their cottages. The other couples were sitting in the pub, continuing the fun they had enjoyed at the top of the mountain. Jonathan walked in and told them that the ladies were tired and they would join them later. Zane simply rolled his eyes. God help us. They were at it again.

  They met Jonathan at his cottage, where they made their plans. It was decided that it would be done the next night, since the other couples would have left and Rebecca wanted one night alone with Clayton. They would leave a little early and stay at the top until it was late. Jonathan and Jackie went to join their guests for dinner and told them that Clayton and Rebecca were too tired and would see them in the morning.

  Clayton sat on the edge of the bed. “Rebecca, you need to be more open with me. I don’t want to have to extra
ct your thoughts and feelings from you. I need you to tell me, trust me, okay?”

  “You are starting to behave like my parents. Before I say something, you already know or suspect. I do not like it. I don’t want you in my head.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because some thoughts are my own, Clayton. They are fears or insecurities or the like.”

  “Princess, you do not understand. You must trust me with your life, your fears, insecurities and the like. We can’t do this tomorrow if you have doubts. It is too dangerous.”

  “Clayton, I do love you with all my heart. But I can’t help but think that if you die, then I would have caused it. I would have to live without you. I think about it and then I think it is easier simply to live with the damn thing. Are you so sure, that you have no doubts, no fears?”

  “I have the same fears and doubts. What if we are not strong enough? What if we are too strong and hurt each other? Your father tells me that it is about balance. We don’t know what that is. I have never had balance in my life. Everything has always been too much or too little. He says we must trust our instincts. Until a few weeks ago, I did not believe I had instincts. But Rebecca, the thing that makes it okay for me is knowing that I love you. I know that if I have to die so you can have the ‘normal life’ you so desperately desire, then I will die, gladly. I love you and that keeps me going.”

  “Oh Clayton, you make it sound so easy.”

  “That’s because it is. Listen to your father. He had told us over and over. It is the power of love. If you still don’t understand, come here and I will show you.”

  She slid onto the bed next to him, but he jumped up, his eyes glazed and moved to the door. “Rebecca, get down over there. Stay there until I call you.”

  He opened the door and she heard it. It was still some distance away, but Clayton had already sensed its presence. He stood outside, his arms stretched out before him. It had just arrived and realized he was outside. He roared loudly. It squealed and scurried away. Clayton stood there, his body tense, ready to pounce. It was gone. He slowly relaxed and went inside.

  “I am going to get that bastard. How dare he come to my woman? I am going to fry him.”

  He was agitated and pacing.

  “Rebecca, it has got to go. I have had it. That’s it. Whatever the cost. I am going to get it.”

  She was sitting on the floor, hiding her face and he realized that he was frightening her more with his raving. He bent down and pulled her up.

  “Come, it is okay now.” He held her and she relaxed.

  “Clayton, I love you so much. I can’t bear you going outside to that thing! I was so scared, the way it shrieked.”

  “Rebecca, are you feeling tired?”

  “No, not this time. I think you got it before it had time to get to my energy. Thank you Clayton.”

  “Come let’s go to bed. We are going to need all our energy tomorrow.”

  “Okay, but Clayton, I want you to make love to me tonight, just in case....”

  “No, Rebecca, do not think about that. I will make love to you because you are the most beautiful woman in the world. That’s all. Not just in case things go wrong. I don’t want to be loved by you out of desperation. I want your desire and tonight, we will make ‘normal’ love. I promise I will not shock you. You want normal, I am going to give you normal.”

  He went over to his bag and pulled out a Band-Aid.

  “There. Put that on my hand so there will be no shocking. Also, we need to save it for tomorrow.”

  She laughed. “So normal love making means you will wear a Band-Aid?”

  “Yes, my sweet. Now come, let us finish what we started before that rude interruption.”

  Their love-making was bitter sweet, both knowing that this might be their last night together.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  They drove up the long, treacherous road up San Pass talking about work and the things that happened that weekend. They gossiped about Blake and Chad and their jealous rages and made other small talk. It could have been any trip made by a couple on a pleasant afternoon. Jonathan and Jackie had insisted on coming, but they refused. What if something went wrong and one of them was hurt? They would never live with the guilt. Jonathan had been frantic. The road is long, winding and treacherous. What if it rained? They would never be able to drive back. It would be dark. What if they could not see clearly? It was pitch black in the night and the road was a death trap in daylight hours. Clayton had brought his four-wheel drive vehicle, but Jonathan knew that he abused it and drove through horrendous conditions all over. He had never really cared for any of his cars and this one was no different. What if something went wrong with his car? What if they were injured and could not drive back for help? What if one of them needed medical attention? They were going to a spot at the top, about two hours from their cottages. What if they needed help? Clayton and Rebecca had flatly refused. They were not prepared to take the risk.

  When they got to the top, Clayton sat on the grass and Rebecca sat in front of him.

  “Clayton, I don’t know what to say. I love you, whatever happens.”

  He kissed her neck.

  “What will happen is that you will reward me later. I like the smell of jasmine on your skin. It turns me on.”

  His cell phone was ringing. “Hello, Jono, what do you want now?”

  “Just checking in. What are you doing?”

  “I was about to kiss her before you interrupted.”

  “Save you energy, for God’s sake. You will need it. Phone me as soon as you can.”

  “Okay.”

  He hung up the phone.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Jonathan and Jackie were so anxious. It seemed so far-fetched. Jonathan was really starting to doubt his sanity now. “I would never have imagined that Clayton would be sitting on a stake-out for a creature in the middle of a treacherous mountain, in all my life.”

  “I know, Jono. They are so brave. They are being very good about it. They act as if it is the most normal thing in the world. I hope this is going to work out. I hope they will be alright.”

  “I know, I know. I wish we could do something for them, make it easier. But the saddest thing is that all they will manage to do if they succeed, is to have a live together, that’s all.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, what they are doing today is for their own benefit. If they have children, it starts all over again. That is the saddest thing for me, that it is a temporary measure, that’s all.”

  “Oh Jono, I never thought about that. I’m glad, for once, you had the decency not to be logical and point it out to them. It might have made them give up. Thank you, darling.”

  “It’s my pleasure. Rebecca is fully aware of it and that is why she has been so sullen about it. She knows that her parents did this and now their daughter, a vicious cycle they cannot break. Rebecca knows, but she loves Clayton enough to make the effort.”

  *****

  1Chapter 20

  The night was fast approaching and Rebecca sat calmly on the blanket. Clayton was on the side of his car, waiting impatiently. What if the thing does not show? Rebecca had said it always came if she was outside in the dark. Well, it is getting pretty dark and it is not here. It had to come, because he could not bear to do this again. Today was either the beginning or the end. Rebecca was chanting slowly.

  “Come to me, oh power of darkness. Come to me. I surrender to your power, come to me. Come to me, I surrender to your power.”

  She visualised it and continued chanting. Then she heard the hissing. It was just as strong, but less agitated. It was getting closer and closer. Clayton moved silently in the dark, a tiger hunting his prey and not a sound could be heard from him.

  Rebecca knew he was close by, so she rose to her feet. It was flying high in the air now, its yellow eyes like the lights of a small aircraft. It was moving cautiously towards her and she begged it to come to her.

  “Please, power of darkness, come
to me. I surrender to your power.”

  It moved closer and Clayton rose behind her. He stood next to her on her right and placed his left hand on their butterfly. The light came up, like a beam of sunlight in the night sky. The Darkness was so shocked, it stopped flapping. And with his right hand raised high, he directed the light to the creature. It ducked the light, but swayed slightly. Clayton kept directing the light to it, as it moved to the left then the right. He noticed the pattern, and realized that it could only move from left to right and then back again. It was like a moth, attracted to a flame then repelled by it. He directed the light to the right, then the left and suddenly to the left again and caught it in the light. It flapped and shrieked and Clayton let out a deafening loud roar. He roared and roared, like a tiger trapped and angry. It was fighting him, tearing at his back with deep, long strokes, the sound of its sharp claws were scraping and tugging at his flesh. Clayton knew that it was getting into his mind and tearing away at him, because he saw it up there, some distance into the air. It was using his own mind to destroy him. It had tapped into him and was using his anger against him. The power of love, that’s what I need. The power of love. He just roared and roared and it continued. Rebecca started chanting something he did not understand. Her voice grew louder and louder, until she was screaming. Clayton’s pain was forcing his hand to slide off her back, but the creature had also stopped flapping. Even though it had stopped tearing at his back, he still felt himself weakening. The pain had been too much for him. He was slipping away, slowly, slowly.

  “Clayton, I love you. Stay with me Clayton and destroy The Darkness.”

  Her voice was strong and loud and it suddenly shot through his body.

  She loves me, she loves. I am her Protector.

  Fuelled by these thoughts, he started regaining his strength and his hand firmed on her back. The light grew brighter and spread its brilliance openly across the dark sky. It looked like it could have been a bright, sunny day on that dark mountain sky.