Umbra Ortum

by Q Allen

  “Back to her home address? Reno, level with me man,” Agent Brown implored. “What the hell is going on with you?”

  “Just go check it out. And call me when you get there,” Michael shouted before hanging up the phone. It was done. The phony tip was given and Agent Brown had to check it out.

  That will keep them out of the way for a while. Might kill two birds with one stone, Michael thought.

  A frustrated Agent Brown stormed out of the office the FBI was borrowing at the sheriff’s department. Something was going on and somehow, Special Agent Roland was involved. He had no idea that the Reno Roland he knew before had been replaced by Slither Eye agent Michael Madgik.

  For the moment, he had to follow the tip, as fake Special Agent Roland directed, but he vowed to find out what was going on.

  ***

  Michael Madgik decided to visit his beloved before assigning himself to the task before him. Walking down the hall, he considered what could happen in the next day or so. He knew what Umbra was capable of, but there was a chance she didn’t know herself. Maybe Primis didn’t have enough time to teach her anything. If Primis was able to tell her about who she truly was and what she could do, then it could be his last task.

  His pace slowed when his eyes found her conversing with her dear friend, Dr. Coles. Blissfully, he consumed the image of her. The curve of her chin. Her lips. Her nose. Her glistening eyes. Even her thin, delicate fingers as they brushed hair behind her adorable ear. He cherished every part of her. He knew that this visit with Dr. Keoni could be his last. But he couldn’t give her any clue that it could be.

  Oh, how he wished to show her who-or what-he really was. But, the time was not right. It would only frighten her away. After Slither Eye took over, the time would be right then. Only then, he believed, she would accept him for who he truly was.

  The things they kept from each other.

  “Hi,” Michael said, thinly masking his affections.

  “Hi,” Dr. Keoni smiled, abandoning her conversation with Dr. Coles.

  “Ugh,” Dr. Coles rolled her eyes, walking away in a huff. “I’ll be in my office when you have regained your senses, Dr. Keoni.”

  “Any signs of Umbra?” Dr. Keoni asked.

  “I think I know where she is,” Michael responded. “I am… sending a group to capture her.”

  Dr. Keoni pulled Michael aside. “Have you ever thought about quitting? I mean, just the two of us getting out of here? Running away?” she whispered.

  “I… I have,” Michael admitted, surprising Dr. Keoni. “Many times. I have imagined you and I, packing nothing, getting in a car and driving away. Leaving it all behind: Slither Eye, Unseen Man, Primis, the Umbra, all of it.”

  “But?”

  “But, what then? What then, Bellisa? Where could we go and they not find us? There is no quitting. There is no leaving. The only way out is death… and worse for me. You know that. Besides how could someone… something… like me… live a normal life anyway?”

  “What do you mean ‘something’ like you? You are a good man, Michael.”

  “No, Bell. I am not.”

  “Don’t you want to try? With me?”

  “Try and die? No. We have to see this through. If we succeed, we will be able to be together without having to hide. Without secrets. Without sneaking around. Then we can be free, but not without finishing this.”

  “But Michael, what we are doing to these women…”

  “I know what we are doing! I know! But, it has to be done.”

  “Does it, Michael?”

  “Yes, it does. If we are going to survive, we have to finish this.”

  “I don’t know who I am anymore…” Dr. Keoni started to weep, but Michael’s strong hands seized her. He held her close to the heat of his body’s beating heart. His arms wrapped around her, like a comfortable barrier between her and the reality of her world. Coiled around her, his two powerful pythons seized their prey. Hands hot as forging irons touched her body, setting it ablaze.

  The gust of his breath on her neck was a peaceful summer breeze blowing away all of her worries and fears. She let him drink deep from the well of her kisses, forgetting that anyone could walk around the corner at any moment. She didn’t care. She felt safe.

  She thought about telling him of her plans to help Primis escape, but he was a company man. Even though he loved her dearly, there was still a chance he would try to stop her. He could even turn her in himself. She would be putting Dr. Cole’s life in danger as well.

  “Michael, I have to tell you something,” Dr. Keoni started. “It’s about me and Tiffany. We…”

  Her words were interrupted when Michael’s phone began to ring. It was The Unseen Man.

  “I’m sorry Bellisa, I have to take this,” Michael said, putting the phone to his ear. “Hello, sir.”

  “She has not come home yet?” Unseen Man asked.

  “No, sir,” Michael replied. He was hoping to spend more time with Dr. Keoni, but he knew that he needed to leave immediately. “I am going to go pick her up. We know where she is.”

  “That is good news. Make sure she is alive when you get her back to the facility,” Unseen Man directed.

  Michael asked, “Sir, why don’t we just terminate this subject and focus on what we have? We are risking so much.”

  “No, Michael. You must understand, Umbra is a smaller version of Primis. They are the only two that can control the others, but the Umbra is the only one that can control Primis; the only one who can take her place. She was the first one we created after her, you see. If we fail to manipulate Primis, we must have the Umbra.”

  Not at all what Michael wanted to hear. Tammy was dangerous already. If Primis was able to help her understand her powers, then she was going to be much more so.

  “I understand, sir.” Michael responded.

  “Good Michael. I’m sure you will be successful,” Unseen Man said. “I know I don’t have to remind you how important it is that we get her back. We have already lost so many. Men like you, Michael, will rise when this is all complete. Men like you who have a mind and the motivation to truly seize the day. The opportunity is in your hands, Michael. Make sure you don’t let it slip away.”

  “I won’t, sir.” Michael said.

  “As soon as you have her, call me. I want to be there to welcome her back into the facility,” said the Unseen Man before he abruptly hung up.

  “Thank you, sir.” Michael replied, before realizing the line had disconnected.

  He hadn’t slid his cell phone all the way back into his pocket before it started to ring again. Agent Brown.

  “Special Agent Roland,” Michael said.

  “Yeah, this is Brown. We took the door, Reno. Surprise! They are not here,” Agent Brown replied.

  Michael motioned to Bellisa and moved into an open office nearby and closed the blinds, “Is her family there?”

  “Yeah, the other girl’s mom and dad, but there’s no sign of anyone else in the home. We could’ve sent local law enforcement, man. Now are you going to tell me what’s going on with you or what?” Agent Brown demanded.

  “Send everyone outside. Just you and the parents inside,” Michael said.

  Still holding the phone to his ear, Agent Brown motioned for everyone to leave. The moment the door closed, Agent Brown heard strong winds behind him. He spun around and there stood Special Agent Roland.

  “What? How did you get here so fast?” Agent Brown asked, shocked.

  Michael pulled out his weapon and executed Sophia’s parents, catching Agent Brown off guard. He drew his weapon and took aim at Michael, still believing he was the real Special Agent Roland.

  “Reno! What are you doing man?” Agent Brown almost shrieked.

  “Tidying up,” Michael replied, “Agent Brown, I want to offer you a chance to make your life better. But I will only give you this one chance.”

  “You killed those people! What’s wrong with you Reno?” Agent Brown yelled.

 
; “I said one chance, Agent Brown,” Michael said.

  Agent Brown pointed his weapon at Michael’s face, “Drop your weapon! Now!”

  “Ok,” Michael said calmly dropping his gun on the floor and kicking it over to Agent Brown. “But, remember, I told you just one chance.”

  Without warning, Michael started to change right before Agent Brown’s eyes. His countenance grew and darkened until he resembled nothing but a large dark shadow. Agent Brown screamed and fired his weapon, but he was easily torn apart.

  Michael returned to the Slither Eye facility in an instant. He breathed deeply before leaving the office and returning his attention to Dr. Keoni.

  Once again, Michael had only a moment for one more deep dive into those eyes. One more embrace. One more taste of those soft tender lips. He inhaled the scent of her hair as he planted gentle kisses along her neck for what could be the last time.

  Again she was surrounded by him in his embrace. She felt the rapid pounding of his heart on hers. They both wished that this moment could last forever. But they both knew better.

  He whispered into her ear and her eyes shut, her fingers clinched tight. Unhurried, he slid from her grip and turned to walk away.

  “What were you saying before?” He remembered before disappearing around a corner.

  Barely opening her eyes, Bellisa still clutched the empty air with her fingers. Her arms now wrapped around her chest. A single tear drop fell from her eye, “Nothing.”

  ***

  It was early morning. The sun had yet to shine its golden rays on the old building that Tammy and Sophia temporarily called home. People were already out, walking the streets. Searching for work. Or food. Others searched for shelter.

  Inside, Sophia and Tammy sat cross-legged on their sleeping mats as they began to meditate.

  “I want to see if Primis will answer me today,” Tammy said. “I am going to tell her we are coming. See what we are supposed to do when we get there.”

  “Ok,” Sophia said, with a little skepticism.

  “You still don’t believe I’m not crazy?” Tammy questioned, peeking one eye over at Sophia.

  “It is a lot to accept, you know. I don’t hear the voice you hear and I haven’t seen the dreams you have. For me, it’s just you and I, running from cops who want to kill us.”

  “I know. I wish I could pull you into my head when it’s happening so you can see.”

  “I just, I don’t want to be running around with you killing people and getting shot at. This whole Primis thing could all be in your head, you know? If it is, that would mean that we could go to some other state and find police that are not working with my brother-in-law and get help.”

  “But what about the explosion at that car lot? You saw that!”

  “Yeah, I saw an explosion. That’s all! You said Primis did it, but for me there is no proof of that. Only you saying she did it,” Sophia explained.

  “I don’t know what to do to show you.” Tammy stroked her hair back in frustration.

  “Ok, you said saw in your dream where Primis is, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Well, describe it to me in detail. If we get there and the place is how you described it and Primis is there, I will totally buy you a donut.”

  “Ok. Alright. I can live with that. Well, it’s a little house far away from anything. Just a small house, but inside it has a lot of rooms and glass walls.”

  “A small house? But, with a lot of rooms? Totally believable.”

  The two joined hands and closed their eyes. They breathed deep and slow on the same rhythm.

  “What should I be focusing on? Or should I focus on anything?” Sophia asked.

  “I don’t know. Just don’t focus on anything. As thoughts come to you, acknowledge them and let them go,” Tammy responded. “Just try to be aware of yourself. Who you are inside-not who you project yourself to be. That’s what Primis taught me.”

  Only the faint sound of their breathing could be heard inside their apartment. Candles flickered in the pre-dawn darkness. In the stillness of the room, Sophia’s mind flooded with thoughts. One by one she acknowledged them and then let them go.

  In her mind, Tammy called out and listened for Primis, imagining herself looking around outside the small house in the middle of nowhere. She noted all the small details, focusing on the wind and how it felt on her skin. Focusing on the flowers. Taking in every sound. She made it to feel as real as possible.

  She looked at everything around the house, taking note of any landmarks that might help them find this place in reality. Tammy walked around the house several times, trying the doors and the windows before giving up on trying to find a way inside.

  If you want an open door, Tammy, create an open door.

  Primis! I thought I would never hear from you again. Are you ok? Where are you now?

  Look for me. I will keep you here as long as I can. I am… very tired.

  What is happening to you? Why are you so tired?

  I just… I need to rest. Create… your own… open door…

  Ok, create my own door…

  Let her help you.

  Who?

  Tammy turned and saw Sophia sitting cross-legged on the grass with her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful sitting there. Tammy didn’t want to disturb her, but she was glad to see her inside the vision.

  Sophia? Tammy walked over to Sophia. Before she touched her, she thought about what might happen. Would she wake in the vision? Could her mind deal with alternate reality? Would they both be ejected from the vison like Tammy was before? Tammy slowly reached out for Sophia and touched her shoulder.

  Sophia?

  Surreptitious house

  S OPHIA’S EYES OPENED. Shocked, she looked around at the surreptitious little house and her surroundings, How the… where are we? How did we get outside? This can’t be real. I’m dreaming, that’s what this is. I fell asleep and I’m dreaming right now.

  Sophie, you’re not dreaming, Tammy thought.

  Yes I am and you’re in the dream. We’ll talk about it when I wake up. You will laugh, Sophia thought.

  No, you are here for real Sophie, Tammy though back, pinching Sopia’s arm. She looked around to be sure that her pinch hadn’t caused them to be pushed out of the vision.

  If this is real, and I’m not saying it is, then how did I get here? Sophia thought.

  I don’t know. Maybe Primis brought you here. This is where they are keeping her. Inside this house, Tammy thought, pointing to the tiny house. Will you help me rescue her?

  Is she talking to you right now? Sophia asked.

  No. If you’re here, you should be able to hear her when she does. She said she is tired and needs to rest. I think something is happening to her. She might be dying, let’s look for her while we have the chance. She is going to hold us here as long as she can, but that may not be long.

  Yeah, Yes. Let’s find her, Sophia thought. Wow, we are talking with our thoughts. I can’t believe this. Talking without talking. Like we’re inside each other’s head or we’re in the same dream. Do you think we are walking around in the apartment? I bet we’re bumping our heads into walls right now. Maybe about to fall into that nasty tub or something.

  Sophia, focus. I walked around here, but I couldn’t find an opening. Primis told me that I can open a door with my mind, Tammy thought.

  Sophia walked up to the back door and tried the knob.

  It’s still locked.

  Wait. Tammy held out her hand toward the door. Try it now.

  O.K., Sophia thought, with a hint of sarcasm. She tried the door again. Still locked, Tammy.

  What! Are you sure? Tammy thought, stomping toward the closed door. Yanking on the doorknob, Tammy began to kick and punch the door. How are you still locked!?

  Tammy clenched her fists and screamed at the door. Suddenly, the windows exploded out of their frames. Glass splinters flew into the house.

  Sophia’s jaw dropped. How did you do that?
>
  Tammy peered through the broken windows. I think we can climb through.

  Really, though? No way. I’m not climbing through all that broken glass. Open the door. If you can break the windows, you can open the door. Sophia thought.

  Tammy backed away from the door and stared hard at it, for a moment. The door shuddered a little. With every passing second, the shaking became more and more intense until, finally, the door ripped from its hinges, barely missing Sophia and Tammy.

  Whoa! Sophia shouted, dodging the flying door. I want to do that!

  Sophia squeezed her eyes shut and imagined the front wall of the building crumbling. Nothing happened.

  Sophia, come on, Tammy pleaded. We don’t have time for this. You can play around some other time.

  Disappointed, Sophia opened her eyes and followed Tammy into the building. In one bedroom, there was a large control panel. It had lights and switches, but no bedroom furniture. One button flashed green. It was labeled ENTRANCE. Tammy was sure that didn’t refer to the front door.

  Push that button, Tammy thought.

  O.k., Sophia said as she pushed the button and braced for the unknown. Nothing. Sophia pressed the button a few more times.

  Tammy heard the garage bay door creaking opening. Finding the door leading to the garage, she opened it and saw the opening in the floor. She ran back and grabbed Sophia. Together, they stood in one garage bay and looked down the ramp.

  That could be a very long tunnel. I don’t think we should walk down there, Tammy thought. We need to find a vehicle to drive down there.

  Tammy… Sophia thought, tapping her on the shoulder. A large SUV approached the house. The women dashed over to a large rolling toolbox and hunkered down behind it. From there, they watched the SUV pull up to the entrance of the underground tunnel. At the edge of the downward slope, the vehicle stopped.

  What are they doing? Sophia asked. I can’t tell if anyone is moving inside.

  The two waited and watched the SUV, but there was no movement. Moving away from their cover, Tammy stepped towards the vehicle.

  Come on, Sophia. Let’s check it out. We don’t have time to wait, Tammy waved her over and the two crept up to the side of the SUV. Peering inside, they found the vehicle empty. The engine was still running, but there was no one in sight.