The Legend of the Firewalker

by Steve Bevil [paranormal/YA]

  Nathan looked down at his trembling red hands. “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Look,” shouted Jonas. “This one is open!”

  Swiftly, Jonas stepped aside and Nathan opened the door. He tried the light switch, but it was stuck in the off position.

  “Is it safe?” asked Jonas, attempting to enter the room. “Can we go?”

  Solemnly, Nathan shook his head and closed the door. “Everything was still in grey,” he said. He took Jonas by the arm. “Jonas, I need you to try and activate this door.”

  Jonas eyebrows were raised beneath his shaggy curly hair. “What?” he exclaimed.

  “I need you to try and connect this door back to the other side,” said Nathan.

  “What side?” said Jonas, there was a hint of panic in his voice.

  “Back to our floor,” said Nathan. “Back to Lawrence Hall – back to Colorville!”

  Jonas swallowed hard. “But what if I can’t?” he stammered. “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “You can do this, Jonas,” encouraged Nathan. “I’ve seen you do it before.”

  “But – I don’t remember,” stuttered Jonas. “I don’t even know how we got here.”

  “I need you to try, Jonas,” he said. Jonas’ eyes were like a deer’s in headlights. “Look,” said Nathan, stretching his arm out towards the door. “First, you traced the outline of the door with your finger and then you faced your palm out towards the door.”

  A very loud metallic sound rang out from the bathroom and several grey and black creatures sprang out into the hallway. Jonas gasped in horror. “They’re here!” he shouted. “What are we going to do?”

  Nathan took Jonas by the shoulders. “Relax,” he said. “I need you to concentrate on the door.”

  “B – but, what about them?” he asked, pointing at the small, but frightening creatures pouring out of the bathroom.

  “Don’t worry about them,” said Nathan. “Like you said – I’ll take care of them.”

  “But how?” panicked Jonas. “You said you don’t…”

  Nathan interrupted him. “I figured out how,” he said.

  Jonas stared at Nathan with a blank look on his face.

  “Just concentrate on the door,” said Nathan, reassuringly.

  Jonas nodded. “Okay.”

  Nathan turned around to face the creatures. They were so close now and he could easily see the saliva dripping from their mouths. I’m glad one of us believed me, he thought to himself. I haven’t got a clue how to do this again.

  A deep growling sound filled the hallway and reverberated off the walls. “Umm – Nathan?” uttered Jonas.

  “The door, Jonas,” Nathan reiterated firmly. He could hear scratching noises coming from the other end of the hallway. Grey and black creatures were now pouring out from one of the other rooms. Nathan stretched out his hand towards the group of creatures closest to them. It’s not working, he protested to himself.

  Nathan tried again. This time, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He wondered if they were going to die there. The muscles in his arm stiffened, and without warning, a streak of blue light fired from his hand; sending several creatures hurling backwards like bowling pins.

  Nathan paused to look down at his hands. Jonas had a surprised look on his face but Nathan barked, “Jonas!”

  “I know, I know,” said Jonas. “The door.”

  Several creatures had now climbed the wall and were closing in on Jonas. Nathan raised his hand and another beam of blue light shot out, knocking the creatures unconscious.

  A high-pitched screeching sound, followed by deep growls, sounded all around them. Nathan and Jonas covered their ears as more and more creatures filled both ends of the hallway.

  Jonas cowered behind Nathan. “What are we going to do?” he cried. “My hands aren’t working!”

  They both stood in silence as the creatures surrounded them, but then Nathan noticed his own trembling hands. “That’s it!” he shouted. “That has to be the trigger!”

  “Try again,” he said. “I want you to think about Lawrence Hall. I want you to think about your room. Think about holding your basketball again!”

  “I am, I am,” said Jonas, throwing his hands up in the air. “But nothing’s happening!”

  Nathan took Jonas by the arms and looked him in the eyes. “Jonas,” he said, sternly. “If you don’t do this, we are going to die!”

  Jonas’ body went rigid and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. Soon, his hands started to tremble and a bright blue light emanated from the palm of his hand.

  13

  THE TIES THAT BIND

  Nathan and Jonas hit the ground with a thud. Nathan’s eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw a red comforter hanging off the foot of the bed. “You did it Jonas,” he said. He placed an arm across Jonas’ shoulders. “You did it!”

  Jonas smiled weakly. “Are you sure? Are we back?” He sat up and looked around the room. “Did we make it?”

  Nathan pointed to the red comforter and the colored posters that were visible from the moonlight that shone on the wall. “Look,” he said. “We made it.”

  Jonas reached up and pulled the bed spread off the bed. “Just wanted to make sure,” he said. “You know, to make sure it wasn’t frozen.”

  Nathan laughed.

  There was a clicking sound and light from a desk lamp lit-up the room. In front of them stood a groggy-eyed Hugo dressed in his pajamas. “What are you guys doing in my room?” he muttered.

  Nathan turned around to examine the door; it was solid again and the blue light that once engulfed it was gone. He realized that the unlocked door must have been Hugo’s room.

  Nathan stood up and helped Jonas to his feet. “Uh…” he uttered. He looked at Jonas. They both had blank expressions on their faces. “See, Jonas was sick and, and…”

  “And Nathan was walking me back to my room,” finished Jonas.

  Nathan smiled at him. “Right,” he said. “And we thought this was his room.”

  Hugo scrunched his face. He looked confused.

  “The hallway lights were off,” Nathan explained with a shrug.

  “Yeah,” added Jonas with a nervous chuckle. “Somebody was probably playing a joke.”

  Nathan nodded and smiled nervously. “Yeah,” he said. “We couldn’t see.”

  Hugo’s face was still scrunched and his eyes were red. “Can I go back to bed now?” he asked.

  “Y—Yeah,” stuttered Nathan. “We should probably get out of here so you can go back to sleep.”

  Jonas nodded and followed briskly behind him.

  Nathan closed the door and Jonas bee-lined down the hall to pick up his basketball. “It was a lot easier to pick up this time,” he said. “Wherever we were before, it was like frozen in place.” He placed the ball underneath his arm. “Where were we Nathan?”

  Nathan whispered softly. “Shh,” he said and motioned him to follow.

  The door to Jonas’ room was still open and Nathan stepped in to check the lights. “Looks like everything is back to normal,” he said. He paused. Although the room didn’t look much different than his room, it looked so familiar now. This was Leah’s room. It felt odd staring at the empty white walls that had been filled with posters in his dream. He wondered if Leah’s room was the connection and if that was the reason why they were attacking Jonas.

  Jonas placed his basketball on the floor and checked underneath his bed. “Nope, no monsters,” he said. He took off his shoes and sat on the bed.

  Nathan looked down at his hands and then at Jonas. But Jonas has a power too, he thought. Is that the connection? He closed the dorm room door and sat on the opposite bed, wondering if that meant that Leah had a power too.

  Jonas spoke softly. “Nathan,” he whispered. “What was that place? Where were we?”

  Nathan continued to stare at him and pursed his lips. I have no clue. It was like we were here, in Lawrence Hall, but
not here.

  His mind continued to race as he gazed aimlessly around the room. It was like we were here, but we couldn’t see the people, he said to himself. When Jonas opened a door back to Lawrence hall, it was like we really didn’t go anywhere; we were just able to see everything again; to move things; to see the people in the space. It was like we were in a space within the space.

  He focused on Jonas again and he lay stretched out on the bed. Jonas’s eyes were red and he looked tired. A space within the space, he continued to himself. He recalled Jonathan saying something about a space in between the space at one of the Friday night bonfires. Is that stuff real? he thought. Is there some truth to what Jonathan was talking about?

  “Nathan,” said Jonas. His voice was shaking. “Do you think they will come back – those monsters?”

  Nathan noted the worry on Jonas’s face. “No,” he said, reassuringly. “We’re safe and everything is all right.”

  Jonas sighed. He was starting to look restless. “How were you able to do what you did?” he asked. “How was I able to do what I did?” He sat up in bed. “Do we have some type of power?”

  Nathan smiled reassuringly again. He remembered how it felt in the beginning when all this was happening to him. “I’m still trying to figure out everything myself.” he said.

  Jonas looked disappointed. “Then I guess you don’t have an answer as to why I don’t remember us going there.”

  Nathan shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t. But I do know that you did great back there and that you have an amazing ability.”

  Jonas smiled. “Was tonight the first time you used your power?”

  “No, not exactly.”

  Jonas had a confused look on his face. “What do you mean?”

  Nathan thought about his dream at Grimm Cemetery and how instead of a blue light or ball of energy, a blue flame had come out of his hand. He took notice of the clock on Jonas’s desk and sighed. “It’s getting late,” he said. “You should rest – we’ll talk more in the morning.”

  Jonas cast his gaze downward and nodded his head. “Okay,” he said, and rested his head on his pillow.

  Nathan stood up and turned off the light. “Good night, Jonas.”

  Jonas sat up again. “Wait,” he pleaded. He was hesitant to speak. “Can you stay a little while longer—until I fall asleep?”

  “Sure,” said Nathan, slowly. “Okay.” He sat back down on the opposite bed and Jonas lay down again.

  “Nathan?” he said.

  “Yeah?” replied Nathan, while removing his shoes.

  “How did you know it would work?” He fluffed his pillow. “I mean – how did you know how to – turn on my ability – my power?”

  Nathan lay on the bed and turned on his side to face Jonas. “I realized that my hands would only turn red and start shaking when there was danger or I was in trouble,” he said. “Before tonight, I thought maybe stress or getting upset triggered it.”

  “Oh, okay,” said Jonas. “Is that why you told me we were going to die?”

  Nathan’s voice grew softer. “Yeah – sorry,” he said. “I figured if that was how it worked for me, it would work for you.”

  Jonas yawned. “It’s okay,” he said. “I understand. We might be still there or worse if you hadn’t figured it out.”

  The bright sunlight poured in from the cafeteria windows and Nathan tried to shield his eyes, but couldn’t while carrying his tray. He squinted and kept his head down low but the light reflected back from his plate of pecan pancakes and tall glass of orange juice. Nathan almost missed their normal table, but followed the voices from Angela and Alan.

  “Good morning, Nathan!” said Angela, energetically.

  Nathan raised his eyebrows. “Good morning Angela,” he replied. He took a seat on the other side of the table so that his back faced the cafeteria window.

  “Yes,” commented Alan. “She is always this perky – every morning.”

  Angela rolled her eyes. “That’s a different side for you,” she said.

  Nathan put down his fork and pointed behind him. He tried to talk without showing the food in his mouth. “Sunlight,” he mumbled.

  She smiled.

  Alan stopped looking at his cell phone long enough to look around the room. “Still no Lafonda,” he said. “This is unlike her. She is usually the first one here.”

  Nathan took a moment from eating to look around the table. He was surprised as well.

  Angela reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. It was bright purple and had gold and silver stars on the back of it. “I’ll send her a text message,” she said with a smile. “There, it’s done.”

  “Wow, that’s a first!” blurted Alan. His eyes were as wide as saucers. “Erin and Jonathan actually walking in together.”

  Angela checked her cell phone. “Still no message,” she said, sounding slightly gloomed. She gave a quick glance to Erin and Jonathan. “Erin must have taken my advice and started picking him up.”

  “Quick!” whispered Alan, turning around so that he faced the table. “Before Erin and Jonathan leave the cafeteria counter and make it over here.” He leaned in and lowered his voice further. “Did you guys notice the weirdness last night between Jonathan and Malick?”

  “Yeah,” responded Nathan, while chewing his food.

  Angela nodded and leaned in as well. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I noticed there was some tension whenever there was talk about the caves.” She leaned back from the table and glared at them. “But,” she added. “I also noticed that Jonathan isn’t the only person having a problem with Malick.”

  Alan huffed and Angela continued to glower. “I wonder why Malick would have a problem with the caves?” he said. He grinned. “He probably feels like me and just gets tired of hearing Jonathan go on and on about it.”

  “Ouch, Angela!” cried Alan. “What did you do that for?” He winced again. “Ouch!” he yelled. “Stop hitting me – I’m not ignoring you!”

  Angela folded her arms across her chest. “Yes, you are!” she whined.

  “What’s your problem Angela?” he groaned. Alan rolled his eyes. “Malick is just getting what he deserves.”

  “I feel like nobody in this group is giving Malick a chance to fit in,” she said, sounding slightly disappointed.

  He frowned. “You know – there are other counselors at this camp, Angela,” he retorted.

  Nathan looked up and Angela sighed.

  “Well – there are.” Alan grinned.

  “Good morning, guys,” said Erin, stepping up to the table. Erin and Jonathan were carrying trays of food. “Where is Lafonda?”

  “The sun is bright this morning,” complained Jonathan, through squinted eyes. “Do you mind if I sit on the other side next to Nathan?”

  Erin shrugged. “Fine by me Mr. Indiana,” she said. “I’m just glad you made it down in time for breakfast. A girl can get tired of rallying up the troops by herself, you know.”

  Jonathan smiled.

  “She’s almost here!” shrieked Angela, while placing her cell phone back into her pocket.

  “Who’s almost here?” asked Erin.

  “Lafonda,” she replied happily. “I texted her this morning and I just got a text saying she’ll be here – like in five minutes!”

  Erin nodded.

  “Oh – and here comes Malick,” she continued with a grin. “And it doesn’t look like he has his sunglasses on or with him this morning.”

  Alan shook his head.

  Nathan looked up after finishing his glass of orange juice and caught a glimpse of Malick. He also noticed Jonas talking to Christina Williams.

  “Looks like Lafonda is going to miss her chance to see that,” added Erin.

  “No, she won’t,” said Alan. “Here she comes.”

  “Hey,” said Malick, pausing to run his hand through his hair. “How’s it going?”

  Angela adjusted her shirt and fidgeted with her curly blonde hair so that it lay neatly on her sho
ulders. “Hi there,” she said with a grin.

  “Hey, guys!” said Lafonda, as she approached the table. She sounded almost out of breath. “Sorry, I’m late.”

  “Uh…Lafonda,” uttered Angela, with a wink. “Did you notice Malick doesn’t have on his sunglasses this morning?”

  Lafonda gave Malick a quick look over. “Good for him,” she sighed.

  Malick grinned and then headed to his normal table by the window.

  “Enjoy your breakfast!” shouted Angela, cheerfully.

  Lafonda proceeded around the table and made room for herself between Jonathan and Nathan.

  “Lafonda,” said Angela, abruptly. “Aren’t you going to have breakfast?

  “I’m not hungry,” she smiled. “But – guess what? I have good news!”

  “What is it?” asked Alan, enthusiastically. “Is there a sale at Burberry’s?”

  Lafonda laughed. “No, not quite,” she chuckled. “Leah’s coming home!”

  Nathan quickly spun around; he almost spilled food from his mouth. “What?”

  “I just got off the phone with Leah,” she continued, excitedly. “She is being released from the hospital on Monday!”

  “Like tomorrow?” Nathan asked.

  “Yes,” said Lafonda. “Leah is going home tomorrow and I plan to visit her in about two weeks.”

  “When?” asked Angela. “Isn’t camp like over in two weeks?”

  “I know,” said Lafonda. “I was thinking about visiting her on that Friday before the closing ceremony on Saturday. Leah mentioned she didn’t want to be stuck with her parents all summer so – I thought maybe I would bring her back here in time for the banquet and closing ceremony.”

  “That’s a great idea,” said Angela. “Especially since the banquet falls on the Fourth of July holiday!”

  “I hoped you would feel that way,” said Lafonda. “Do you think you could cover for me for like a day? I would be gone that evening and return sometime in the afternoon. I’ve already cleared it with my grandmother. I just need someone to help Nathan with the girls that day.”

  Angela opened her mouth as if to speak, but then paused to look at Alan. He was busy texting on his cell phone. “That sounds like a great idea,” she said, finally. “Of course I’ll help!”