Parallel Portals

by kelly proudfoot

  “What then?” He asked nervously as another chill ran through him.

  “Let’s take it step by step. My best guess is that something’s happened and she’s not willing to share. It seems that she’s operating on a very basic level and I don’t want to push her over the edge, in case it makes the situation worse.”

  Jon nodded and fought back tears. When Dr. Wells brought the automaton out, she smiled at Jon like everything was back to normal, but he wasn’t convinced.

  “Are you alright, darling?” She asked.

  He smiled and did his best to appear as normal as possible.

  “Sure, Polly. Let’s get this over with so we can go home.”

  She seemed pleased with this idea.

  “Good.”

  ***

  After checking her into the nearby hospital and making sure she was in capable hands, he raced to his car and called June. She answered abruptly, seeming to be in a temper. When Jon told her what was happening she changed tune and agreed to meet him for lunch. When they arrived at the same time, meeting out the front of the café across the road from the library, Jon was almost in a panic.

  “Jon, what’s the matter with you? Is Pauline deathly ill?!”

  She fiddled with her long, red curls while he took a deep breath and shook his head.

  “She’s having a complete check-up at the moment. Dr. Wells thinks there’s something wrong too.”

  He thought that talking with June would put him at ease, but the opposite was happening. By the time they made it inside and ordered their food, they were both as anxious as the other.

  “So, the doctor thinks something’s happened? I don’t know, Jon. If that was the case, Pauline would’ve told me by now.”

  Jon held back his resentment over women sharing more than he thought was necessary.

  “Well, what do you think?” he asked, barely able to chew or swallow.

  June flagged the waiter down and ordered another glass of wine. When Jon raised an eyebrow at her she barely flinched.

  “To be honest, I thought something was wrong at home, but she’s been so blithely content it makes me want to slap her. I mean, the Pauline I know has a wicked sense of humor and an avid love of books. Everything about the way she’s been acting over the last few weeks makes me feel like her soul’s gone adrift!”

  Jon was gobsmacked.

  “Adrift? Yes, that’s it. It’s like the real Pauline has been sucked right out of her.”

  June nodded and drained the new glass of wine so fast that she had time to indicate to the waiter that she wanted another – pronto – by snapping her fingers and pointing to her glass. He dawdled on the way back to the kitchen to retrieve it, while June pushed her plate of Singapore noodles away.

  “At first I thought that she was more upset than she was letting on – about the refurbishment.” She advised.

  “Oh, yes. I forgot about the library being updated, but she didn’t appear too upset about that.”

  “Right, however it is strange that her behavior was odd right from the time we started on the first day back, after it was all done. I remember she went out the back to make sure the card catalog unit was still there. It was when she returned when I first noticed her strange behavior.”

  The waiter brought the next glass of wine and sat it down gingerly on the table.

  “Will that be all?” He asked snootily.

  June wasn’t taking his crap.

  “For now!” She said angrily while shooing him away with her long fingers – bangles shaking.

  Jon was now animated.

  “You’re right, you know?! That night was the first night she came home and didn’t complain about preparing dinner. Everything was perfect from then on – like she’d been brainwashed, or something.”

  June took a large swig and then snapped her fingers excitedly.

  “Hey, I’m having a brilliant idea.”

  Jon ignored the fact that her voice was beginning to slur.

  “Okay?”

  “We’ve got a new security system, complete with video surveillance. There’s a camera out the back. It’s facing the catalog unit. I wonder if I can’t get a tape from that time frame. I don’t know how often they wipe the tapes – or whatever they record on. It’s worth a try, right?”

  “Who would you have to ask to check them out? Won’t you get into trouble?”

  June laughed and emptied her glass before jumping up from her seat.

  “Are you finished? Let’s pay and get back. Mack is a friend of mine. I don’t think he’ll even ask why we want to check it out. Come on, slowpoke – let’s go!”

  Jon looked down at his plate of spaghetti ruefully, having always been one to ask for a doggie bag, for no other reason other than to ensure that money wasn’t wasted. Before he had a chance to ask for one, June grabbed him by the arm and ushered him to the cashier.

  ***

  Once they were at the library, June brought Jon in the back way to make sure the other employees didn’t see him, due to Pauline – or rather – the automaton being off sick. When they made it to Mack’s office, Jon was fumbling over the excuse they’d have to use, but June laughed it off.

  “You don’t know Mack like I do. Don’t sweat it.”

  Like a typical I.T. person, Mack was glued to a screen in a dark room that was filled with machines, servers and spare computer parts. He was middle aged, had a plump, untidy body and his slicked back, scanty hair sat like a tight cap on his sweaty head. His beady eyes peered over his glasses as he watched the two of them enter his dungeon.

  “What are you up to?!” He asked June with a sly grin, while eyeing off Jon as he licked his lips.

  “Mack, I need a favor. Can you get me the surveillance video for the day we opened up – after the refurbishment? I specifically need the footage from the back room, where the card catalog unit is.”

  Mack leaned back and folded his chubby forearms over his belly.

  “What for?”

  “It’s important. It’s about Pauline.”

  He stared blankly at June, then his eyes rolled over to Jon, ending in a suspicious squint.

  “What about her? Has she stolen something?”

  June grew impatient.

  “We’re worried about her, okay? Help us out, matey! Anyway, you owe me!”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  “No I don’t! What for?”

  In the silence afterwards, Jon’s gulp was audible, finally making Mack laugh. He got up from his seat and went over to a messy shelving unit.

  “Alright, but I think it’s you who owe me!” He said over his shoulder with a snigger.

  When he winked at June she looked over nervously at Jon, but he was too anxious to notice.

  Mack traced his fingers along the DVD cases and plucked one of them out. Before June could snatch it from him, he put it behind his back and clicked his tongue at her.

  “No, no. If you want this video, I want to be in on it.”

  “There’s nothing to be in on, you turd!” June snapped.

  Then they both laughed while Jon started growing impatient.

  “Can we hurry this up? I’ll have to pick her up soon.”

  Mack sighed and led them over to his desk. He put the disc into his drive and they huddled around the screen.

  “What time frame are you looking for?”

  “Around 9’ish.” June replied.

  He started scrolling until they saw Pauline enter the back room. The point of view was from the corner of the long room, but Mack was able to zoom in without losing too much quality.

  “What is she doing?” Mack asked.

  “We’ll find out, but you know how she loved that unit.”

  They watched as Pauline walked slowly along, tracing her fingertips over the unit. When she pulled the drawer open and traced her fingers over the cards, the screen flickered while a curious ripple appeared above her.

  “I’ve seen that ripple before!” Jon advised.
<
br />   “Shhh!” June hissed.

  They saw Pauline pull one of the cards out as a blinding flash shot out of the ripple. Then she was suddenly facing the camera and slowly walking back to the door.

  “Wait a minute. Can you slow it down? Rewind and slow it down!” June commanded.

  “Alright, Your Majesty!” Mack replied with a sneer.

  Jon felt his stomach doing flip-flops as the video rolled back to the point where Pauline touched the card. Mack slowed it down considerably and they watched as the flash appeared. In slow motion, Pauline disappeared – then re-appeared – facing the opposite direction. They all gasped.

  “What happened?” Jon asked in a panic.

  “Beats the hell out of me!” Mack responded, shaking his head.

  June was the only one who was not impressed.

  “It has to be a glitch. Maybe there was a power surge or something.”

  Jon and Mack looked at each other, like they were the only ones who had an inkling that something amazing had happened. Jon realized that whatever had happened, he had to have the DVD. He didn’t know why it was so important, but his spidey senses were tingling.

  “Could I have that disc? For safe keeping – until we figure out what’s going on?”

  Mack shook his sweaty head vehemently.

  “No. Not on your life. Besides, don’t you think I can keep a secret?”

  June shrugged, which was starting to annoy Jon, as it was obvious that she wasn’t on the same page. Something incredible had occurred and she was ignoring it.

  “June, we have to get to the bottom of this.”

  “Jon, I think this answers our question. She was distracted by the surge, or whatever it was. Maybe she was electrocuted or something.”

  “By what?” Mack asked incredulously.

  “Who knows? Anyway, what are you trying to say? That she was abducted by aliens?!”

  June waited for his response, but Mack was now looking off into space with a slight smile.

  “June, I want to see the unit for myself. Can you take me there?” Jon asked.

  She was still giving Mack a filthy look but soon smiled and slowly shook her head.

  “Why? What are you hoping to find, Jon?”

  He looked at both of them and tried not to cry.

  “I want to know what happened to my wife.”

  Mack got up from his computer and shrugged.

  “It can’t hurt, although I’m pretty sure there’s an answer as to what happened in the video. There’s one thing I want to know, though. What’s wrong with Pauline? She’s been a little quiet lately but she doesn’t seem to be upset or sick.”

  June glanced over at Jon sympathetically.

  “She’s been a little off lately. Not herself, but I think it’s more to do with a mid-life crisis.”

  Jon wondered if she was keeping something to herself, but when Mack started walking to the door he followed suit. June went along with them and turned the light on, as it was an overcast day and the room was dark. She went over to the other door and looked through the window to make sure no one was coming through.

  Mack stood back and watched as Jon followed the same routine that Pauline had done in the video. When he got to the drawer he turned and addressed the others.

  “Do you remember which drawer it was?”

  “Does it matter?” June asked impatiently.

  Mack went over and tapped the “B” drawer.

  “I don’t know what card she pulled, but it was definitely this drawer.” Then he stood back and looked up expectantly. “You won’t mind if I back up a little?”

  He laughed nervously as Jon shook his head.

  “No, but I don’t think anything’s going to happen.” He replied sullenly.

  As Mack stood next to June, Jon opened the drawer and began to trace his fingers along the cards. He felt a slight buzz when his finger passed over the Beat Generation tab, but when he pulled out the one next to it – he passed out.

  June and Mack didn’t see what happened, but they did see Jon’s automaton turn to face them, with the card in his hand. He smiled and looked down at the card. Before he could put it back in the drawer June walked over.

  “Well? Which one is it?”

  He handed it over dutifully with a strangely serene smile on his face. When June took it and moved back to Mack, Jon stayed put like a trained puppy waiting for instructions.

  “What does it say?” Mack asked.

  “It’s about the Beaverly fire. Remember back in the 1940’s when that man went postal and burnt down the Beaverly factory?”

  Mack took the card from her, read it and shook his head.

  “Of course, I wasn’t alive then – so…”

  June punched his upper arm.

  “Don’t you care about history – dumbass?!”

  They were both then distracted when the automaton looked down at his watch and started to move towards the door.

  “Well, I better go and pick Pauline up from the hospital.”

  June stopped him by grabbing his wrist.

  “Wait a minute. Don’t you want to know what this is all about?”

  She felt a chill run up her spine when his steel grey eyes looked deep into hers.

  “Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. We all feel a little flat now and then. Thanks for everything.”

  When he walked off and greeted the other staff on his way out, June and Mack watched through the window with their jaws slackened in disbelief.

  ***

  When Jon finally came to he wasn’t sure who or where he was. He looked down and saw a newspaper in his hands while he leaned against a brick doorway. Panic started creeping through his body as foreign thoughts swirled around his mind. Somehow he knew they weren’t his own.

  “There’s no other choice. They’ll figure out soon enough that I’m the one. Anyway, I don’t care. They deserved it. They shouldn’t have fired me in the first place. Ha! Fire!”

  Jon had no idea that he was in another body in another lifetime, but he was soon jolted by a dark thought that permeated his whole being.

  “But I won’t die of fire – like they’d expect me to. Drowning is a perfect ending to my dismal life. Then they’ll be sorry!”

  Chapter 10 – Revolving Portals

  Pauline was so apprehensive about what would be waiting for her in the depths of the dark ocean, she didn’t notice the strange sensation in her solar plexus. Marna gripped her hand tightly and she in turn gripped the wrist of the Viking merman, but when a mysterious, blue glow appeared above them, she found herself floating upwards; no longer in the mermaid’s body.

  Once again in spirit form, she saw her Oversoul appear inside the dark bubble as a wisp of smoke. He soon shifted into human form and Pauline became unnerved by the look of alarm on his face.

  “Doelanda, there is no time. Even though I am not supposed to assist you I must let you know that Joledo has infiltrated the portals.”

  Pauline was still getting used to being called Doelanda, but this new name had her confused.

  “Who?”

  The Oversoul floated closer, after looking up in a mild panic.

  “Your husband. I can help you get to him before his emanation succeeds in ending his life.”

  Pauline’s mind was racing.

  “Wait a minute. I’m still trying to figure out whether or not this whole scenario is one huge hallucination and you’re telling me that my husband is here too – and that he’s about to die?!”

  She heard a strange trumpeting sound coming from far away, growing louder every minute. The Oversoul came even closer. She could see right through him but his essence was strong. He grabbed her by the shoulders. Even though she was in spirit form, she could feel some kind of etheric connection.

  “Doelanda, pay attention. If something happens to an emanation’s body while being infiltrated, terrible shockwaves will be sent throughout the portals – like a domino effect. All of their emanations in all parallel portals will to c
ease to exist. The resulting ripples will be enormous, hence the reason infiltration is not allowed, or only reserved for the most seasoned of souls.”

  The walls of the bubble reverberated as the trumpeting approached.

  “Please – I want to go home. I can’t handle this. Tell me what’s happening!”

  Before she knew it, she was once again dropped into the ocean. Screaming underwater, Pauline was furious that the Oversoul ignored her request, but she soon saw him – still in human form – under the surface of the warm ocean. When she looked down she realized that she was still in spirit form.

  She looked over at the Oversoul and screamed in an ocular voice, which traveled through to him in blue bubbles.

  “What happened?! Where are we?”

  They floated upwards and hovered over the surface. He then pointed to the shore. A man was walking towards the water with a purposeful stride. He continued charging through the waves as they crashed over him. Pauline felt something familiar about him, which was stronger this time.

  “Quickly, Doelanda. The man on the shore – the one coming after him. Enter his body. Go now!”

  Pauline looked over and saw a smaller, younger man racing towards the one in front of them.

  “What? Why? I want to go home. I don’t understand!”

  Her Oversoul turned to her and performed a strange series of movements with his hands while staring deep into her soul. She saw a collection of complex symbols like silver circles flying up from his hands and darting towards her in rapid succession. When they took over her etheric body she immediately felt the Oversoul’s urgency.

  She instantly understood that Jon was in the body of the man who was now drowning under the choppy waves. Without further ado she zoomed over to the smaller man and took over his body. Even though she was horrified, she knew what she had to do. There was no time to think about how this body felt or what he was thinking, even though sorrow lurked deep in his gut.