by K. D. Rose
Jonathan noticed Michael's expression and started over toward him. Like everyone, he had just assumed someone else in the gang had told Michael.
Michael was stomping over, but with every step he took his body became smaller and smaller. He was regressing from the impact of the sight of Mira and Ed, whom he thought was Stu. Stu—who had been his rival from the beginning of this endeavor. Stu who took over his family and his life to save Mira just because he knew a little more about the astral. Stu with his fast mouth and arrogant attitude. Michael's thoughts and emotions regressed as did his age. He was no longer thinking rationally.
Mrs. Ross and Jonathan started running toward him before any more damage could be done. He was already down to age ten. Any further and who knew what would happen. Michael looked at Mira who had a confused look on her face. He stopped stomping over there. He regressed even further. Michael was now as he was when he was nine. Mira ran as fast as she could to him, but it was too late. He had already made up his mind.
It just so happened that the Emergency Meeting Place was only a few blocks, if you could measure a field in blocks, from the Circle of Illusion. From the direction she was running, it was apparent that Mrs. Ross knew exactly where he was headed. She yelled at the gang to head him off.
Michael began to run. He didn't know why these people were after him anyway, they obviously didn't really care about him or they wouldn't have let Mira fawn all over Ed right in front of him. Disgusted, he decided he would just break up with her. Who needed girls anyway.
Jonathan almost caught up with him but tripped, leaving Mira next behind him.
"Michael!" she called out in her twelve-year-old voice. "Michael! Stop!"
Michael was at the edge of the circle now. He turned his head around and gave a withering look to Mira. "I'm done with this!" he said. Then he stepped into the Circle of Illusion and disappeared.
Chapter Twenty
The Age of Understanding
Mira wasn't allowed to wait for Michael then and there. She had still been in the astral with her full body for a long time. Her feet were starting to tingle.
Ada counseled her. "It's only seven days max—some people start shutting down sooner. Mira, you've been through so much, it probably depleted your energy faster. You have to go back right now."
"But what about Michael?"
"We'll figure out a plan. However, none of us can go running in there willy-nilly. I can tell you that Michael already has a new life and is doing who knows what in there at the moment. It's a simulation of the real world."
Mira started crying.
"There, there," said Ada. "We will figure a way out of this, just like everything else. But we all need to rest and to think. And we need Stu."
Mira thought that was a strange thing to say, but let it pass.
But she had one more question before she went back peacefully. "What about Michael—he—he's here in full body!" she was almost hysterical.
"You need to read the book I give you when we get home," said Ada, with kindness. "Suffice to say, Michael has taken an antidote, and you have not. I gave him the antidote before he left, just in case something happened. He's the only one who has taken it."
"Thank God," said Mira, relieved. At Ada's urging she traveled back home.
Her children were ecstatic to see her, and she was overwhelmed with emotion. After all, to them, she had been missing for five days. When they asked where dad was, she decided she couldn't put them through this again. "Dad had to make a research trip for his job," she lied. Ada lied with her, and the children believed. Morgan was disappointed he didn't say goodbye.
"It was a last minute thing," explained Mira. "Besides, I'm sure he'll have lots of goodies for you when he gets back!" She feigned enthusiasm. Mira reminded herself to buy some goodies for when he returned. If he returned. No, she couldn't think like that.
***
Mira made an excuse and went back to astral, looking at the line Michael had crossed. She wasn't going to rush in. That was the old Mira. No, she was going to use the best brains around: Ada and Stu and Jonathan. She waited for hours, just in case he came back. After several hours Jonathan appeared.
"I knew I'd find you here."
Mira teared up. "I just wanted to be here in case he came back." Neither said a word. Mira silently acknowledged that Michael probably wasn't going to step back out of that sphere. They would have to have a plan. Then she began to think about the situation. How she had made an entire forest appear. How she had made the entire town here disappear. Ada had gone through a lot of trouble to show her how powerful she could be when she wanted to. How did I do it? I wasn't conscious of doing it then.
Emotions. The thought came to her. My emotions caused it all. I was out of control then,but what if I was in control? She had already used this technique a little when she had forced herself to age.
Jonathan squinted at her. She wasn’t making any motions to leave.
"Jonathan—"
"Uh oh."
"No, I think we can make it happen."
"Make what happen?" Jonathan had no clue what she was talking about. A minute before she had been crying.
"Well," she said, "remember the techniques you told me about in the Nothing Circle?"
"Yeaaaaaah," said Jonathan, still unsure what she was getting at.
"When I was lost here, I caused all kinds of things in this reality to change."
Jonathan caught on. "Ahh! You want to try it? Together? I mean we are two people who both are close to him, plus I have some experience in this reality too. If you're right and we can bend it, even just for a minute, we might be able to get at him."
"Exactly!" Mira clapped her hands. After all, this reality acted like a reflection. A mirror to each person. She had hope This has to work!
"Ok," said Jonathan. "You start, and I'll concentrate with you."
Mira nodded, then looked at her surroundings with a keen eye, especially toward the Circle of Illusion into which Michael had stepped.
"No." she said. She said it very softly at first, but firm. Then again. "No." Then again, louder. "No!"
Jonathan focused on Michael and connecting with him.
Mira continued, putting her emotions into it now. "No." She looked at the Circle of Illusion. She thought of Michael and how much they loved each other. She made herself feel deep inside how devastating it would be to lose each other. "No!" She said again.
The landscape had started changing. The circles were still there though.
Mira focused on Michael's kindness and his generosity. She thought of their first kiss, their first date. She concentrated on all he had gone through here just to get her back. Then she screamed, putting all of her might and emotion into it.
"Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"
A loud crack, like the boom of thunder split across the sky. For an instant everything disappeared.
In that instant, Jonathan was focused on the circle where Michael was last seen. At the sound of the crack and the splitting of the skyline, the circle disappeared. He ran as fast as he could. Inside the circle stood thirty- six-year-old Michael, looking confused and bewildered. Jonathan grabbed him by the arms and yelled, "No time to explain, brother, run!"
Michael recognized his brother and ran. They made it outside the line of the circle just as the sky was starting to return. Michael ran into Mira's arms. Mira started to cry.
All three travelers turned to look at the Circle of Illusion. It was slowly starting to reappear.
The three put their arms around one another. Another minute and— well they hadn't had another minute.
"What the hell just happened?" asked Michael, still confused.
Mira and Jonathan laughed.
***
The children were ecstatic to see their parents and uncle return. Michael explained that his trip had been canceled. Mira and Jonathan had let him know the ruse on their way back. The children were especially relieved that their mom was back again. It had bee
n days then tonight she was gone again and no amount of reassurance from Ada could console them. Brandon and Morgan ran and jumped on Mira. Madison hugged her hard. Mira had to promise not to leave again without letting the children know.
After participating in the second round of homecoming happiness Madison seemed distant. She went upstairs saying she had homework to do.
"Teens!" said Ada scrunching her nose.
Mira kissed her. Mrs. Ross—Ada and she would never be distant again—Ada hugged Mira.
***
Madison called Amber who was ready and waiting.
"So everyone's safe?" said Amber over her mobile.
"Yep, safe and happy. So we can relax and get on with our plan."
"What plan was that?" asked Amber, forgetting their earlier conversation.
"Oh good grief, just come over. No, on second thought, I better come over there, there's lots to talk about, and I don't want any prying eyes or ears," said Madison, thinking of Morgan.
"Sure." said Amber.
"Five minutes," said Madison.
"What about anyone else?" asked Amber.
"We'll talk," said Madison. "We need to decide who's right for this. Wait until you hear what can be done! And it’s been done all these years, right under our own noses! But we have to be careful. No blabbermouths. Understand?"
"Yeah," said Amber who was known for being a bit of a talker herself.
After explaining she was going to Amber's to collaborate on the school project they were working on, Madison made her escape. No one in the Ross family everr worried what Madison was up to. Madison was a straight A student. Only now she had found the High Five Gang Book. She had even heard that there was another book somewhere hidden. Something about Grandma. Madison was ready to grow up. Gangs of friends—she had one—they just didn't have any particular aim. But now they would. They certainly would.
Not worrying about Madison was going to be a mistake. A big one.
***
Michael and Mira held hands, alone again upstairs.
"Mzzzzz. Ross, you are quite the traveler."
"The same could be said for you, Mr. Ross." They smiled at one another.
In the bedroom, Mira mentioned that they needed to record all this in their book.
"I also want to map out what we know," she said. "I don’t want anyone to have to go through what we did ever again."
Michael smiled. "Plenty of time for that later, Mzzzzz Ross."
The book stayed untouched that night.
***