by Beth Bowland
“I have another question,” Aaron said. “What happens if I win?”
“Your mother and friend will be returned and your life will go on as normal.”
Aaron took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “And what if I lose?”
Mr. Kessler frowned. “If you lose, you will be voided.”
“For how long?”
“Permanently,” Mr. Kessler said.
Aaron straightened up. “That’s crazy. My parents would go to the police. They can’t just void me. People will come looking for me.”
“I’m afraid not.” Mr. Kessler sighed and leaned back against the wall. “You see, Aaron, if you lose, it’s not only the game but also your life.”
A siren interrupted their conversation. Mr. Kessler jumped to his feet, pulling Aaron up with him.
“What’s that mean?” Aaron asked.
Mr. Kessler slowly opened the door a crack. “The Equalizer. It monitors practically everything in this dimension. If something new is legally introduced, a scan is run, governing codes are checked, and that brings it into balance. However, if something is illegally brought into the dimension, such as yourself, it follows the same procedures and after running you against the governing codes, it sounds the alarm for the Regulators to investigate. I was hoping to have you out of here before that happened.”
“What happens if they find me?”
“Not anything nice,” Mr. Kessler said. “We must get you out of here quickly. Follow me.”
He quickly led Aaron back down the hallway. The faces in the liquid opened their eyes and watched. A piercing Auk Auuuk sound came from their open mouths. Mr. Kessler stopped and pointed to a small star hieroglyphic symbol located above the panel of silvery liquid.
“Every time you see this symbol, it represents an entrance or an exit.”
Aaron eyed the symbol. “But how can you tell the difference?”
“It will be the one you want.”
Aaron reached into his back pocket and looked at the dagger, before holding it up next to the symbol on the door. The symbol on the dagger matched the one on the door.
“Yes, that proves that Sirius is not playing by the rules.” Mr. Kessler grabbed Aaron by the arms and pulled him through the liquid panel. Aaron found himself, once again, standing on nothingness amongst the stars.
“From this point you are on your own. I will see what I can do to assist, but I may be detained soon and unable to go back and forth between dimensions. Try to maintain a low profile, and stay away from the authorities; no one will believe you,” Mr. Kessler said.
Aaron’s mind flashed back to when he saw Mr. Kessler earlier in the day. “Is that what you were trying to tell the storekeeper?”
Mr. Kessler sighed. “Yes, but not in a way to try and get help. It’s hard to explain my role in all of this, and I won’t have the time to try. Remember, your town is essentially the playing board and the people are all pawns in this game. They’re able to be manipulated at any time, by either side. However, there are times when you will be able to differentiate which side is controlling the person—by their eyes.” He paused for a moment to look into Aaron’s eyes. “Anything out of the ordinary is usually being controlled by Sirius and his team. Trust no one from this point forward—including me.”
“I’m all alone?”
Mr. Kessler nodded. “But before you go, I will tell you this. You may be able to locate one of the objects near the main library.”
Aaron touched his necklace, closed his eyes, and walked back through the darkness.
Chapter 6
Aaron found himself standing next to the meteorite once again. The snow was beginning to melt, and the sun was shining. The weather was changing rapidly. After surveying his surroundings, and hearing no unusual thumps, Aaron headed back to the main road and the truck. His mind raced with thoughts about what he was dealing with. It all seemed so fantastical but real at the same time. He had been there, in another dimension. It had been real. But how was that possible?
A game? He wished Parker was there with him to figure it all out, but Mr. Kessler had said Parker was out-of-play. Aaron thought back on some of the games he’d played. If a player was out of play, he could return at some point, depending on the rules of the game. But when someone was out of play, where were they held? And what about his mother? He knew at some point he’d have to go back inside the meteor.
Aaron neared the truck and noticed the tire had been mysteriously repaired and the truck now faced in the opposite direction, heading back to town. He climbed into the driver’s seat. Just like driving a tractor? Well, he’d driven a tractor a few times with Parker while helping him with his farm work. Parker’s father taught Aaron how to drive a tractor, just as he had taught Parker. He took a deep breath as he buckled his seat belt and started the truck.
He maneuvered the truck back down the main road. The only sound was from the old tires against the wet and slushy ground. As he scanned the area, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. But his heart raced with nervousness as he felt anxiety take a seat next to him.
As Aaron maneuvered the truck slowly through the town square, he watched as the townspeople moved around normally. The snow had just about melted, and the sun glistened against the wet road and the melting icicles.
He pulled into the library parking lot and took a deep breath before climbing out of the truck. The quickly warming temperatures made him remove his jacket and leave it inside the truck. He patted his rear pocket, making sure he still had the dagger, then closed the truck’s door.
Making his way up the long sidewalk to the front of the library, he thoroughly scanned the area. Although he’d been to the library numerous times, he’d never noticed the intricate architectural details on the outside of it. Gargoyles sat atop each pillar, seemingly standing guard, keeping track of everyone who entered. Not wanting to take any chances, he looked directly at the gargoyles’ eyes.
As he entered the library, he noticed the librarians checking out books, cheerfully recommending books, and pointing others in the right direction on where to find books. Aaron was jolted from his thoughts by a passing librarian.
“Excuse me, young man,” the librarian said. She was dressed in a blue skirt, white blouse, and flats. She smiled, and Aaron could tell that she had a cheery disposition. “I think this is what you’re looking for.” She handed him a large hardback book.
Aaron started to tell her that he had not been looking for it, but she continued walking around the floor-to-ceiling bookcase. Aaron followed her, but when he reached the other side of the bookcase, she was nowhere to be found.
Aaron placed the book on a nearby table away from everyone and took a seat. He studied the front cover; it was bound in leather, and on the front of it was the exact same symbol that was on the dagger and on the ship’s panel. He opened the book where a satin ribbon marked a page. There were no words, only an image of a constellation that Aaron recognized immediately—Orion the Hunter. As he studied the image, he realized a portion was missing—the left foot. He sat and thought for a few moments back to what his father had taught him, and what he’d learned at the planetarium.
“Rigel,” Aaron whispered aloud. “Sirius’s team member, Rigel, is located on Orion’s left foot.” He closed the book and pondered his findings. “So, I’m looking for a foot?” He pushed himself away from the table and began looking around the library.
Returning to the spot where he’d met the mysterious librarian, he slowly retraced his steps and spotted a woman restocking books. Aaron thought that perhaps she could tell him where the other librarian could be found.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Aaron said.
The woman turned around. “Yes, how may I assist you, Aaron?” she said as she turned around.
“How did you know my name?” Aaron asked.
The woman smiled, and her eyes glowed amber.
Aaron turned away, hurried around to the other side of the boo
kcase, and then quickly made his way past two more. He stopped and leaned against the wood casing and took a deep breath.
“Aaron,” the woman called out. “Wait. Let me help you.”
The sound of the woman’s heels, clacking against the tiled floor, came closer. Aaron glanced up and down the aisle, contemplating which way to run, when something caught his eye a few feet away. He recognized the symbol engraved in the wood divider above the bookcase.
Every time you see this symbol, it represents an entrance or an exit. It will be the one you want, Mr. Kessler had said. Aaron stood in front of the bookcase, took a deep breath, and stepped through. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in what appeared to be the basement of the library.
The large dimly lit room held stacks of boxes and shelves stuffed with books. A muggy, heavy stench filled the air. The floor was made up of cobblestone. Aaron looked around for anything that might look related to Orion. He moved boxes out of the way, making sure not to overlook anything.
As he searched, Aaron wondered what the others in the town of Bixie could be experiencing. Surely, this council of the Legend couldn’t overtake the minds of an entire town, or could they?His eyes went back to the cobblestone floor, and he realized that they formed a pattern. From both sides of the large room, they came together and pointed to a rear wall. He followed the path.
After squeezing between two stacks of boxes, the path led directly into a wall, or so he thought, covered by a large white drape. He pulled back the curtain just enough to see what was behind it. He felt a gust of wind come from the darkness. He took a step back to see how high up the covering went, before giving it a good tug. As it made its way toward the ground, Aaron covered his face with the sleeve of his shirt to prevent the old dust from getting into his eyes.
After a few moments, he slowly opened his eyes. Behind the sheet was a large oval opening. He stood on the cobblestone for a moment before going through. The light on the other side was barely visible. Aaron had to make his way through a wired mesh fence and scoot beneath the lumber that was propped up against a gate.
“Why would the library have a hole in the wall that leads outside?” Aaron used his body weight to push a large piece of plywood out of the way. Some shrubs were behind the wood, but it was easier to get through. As he emerged, he fully expected to find himself outside the library, and he was. However, it wasn’t Bixie as he knew it. It appeared as if he had gone through a time warp.
Aaron stopped and stooped down behind a tree to allow his eyes to adjust to his new surroundings. He saw Parker’s truck still parked where he’d left it, except it was brand new. He eased closer to it and peered inside. The leather was clean and void of tears. The outside shone with a vibrant red paint job. The front chrome grill was brilliant, and there wasn’t a speck of rust anywhere.
He glanced down the street at the main billboard, which had a life-sized poster of a celebrity from back in the fifties. His grandparents referred to him as the King of Rock and Roll, still listened to his music, and watched his movies on the Classics channels whenever they were on. The poster promoted a concert tour. Scores of cars and trucks lined the streets, all heading to the park. Aaron made his way in that direction, trying his best not to be noticed.
“What in the world is going on in Bixie?” Aaron whispered to himself.
He made his way to the park and was surprised to see a huge coliseum. Aaron vividly remembered hearing his grandparents talk about attending concerts at the coliseum, but he also remembered them saying it had burned down during the seventies and the park had been built in its place.
Aaron quickly ducked behind a tree as hundreds of screaming girls ran past. Some of them were waving posters of the late rock star. Others held homemade signs declaring their love for the King of Rock and Roll. A large poster was nailed to the tree that Aaron had thought was his hiding place, but he soon realized that no one was paying much attention to him. He gazed up at the full-color picture of the icon and read the date beneath it.
Fri Dec 16, 1956
Aaron slumped down beside the tree to get his bearings. He watched in silence as cars parked along the grassy areas. Girls were dressed in brightly colored party dresses with full skirts. He noticed that there weren’t as many guys attending the concert. They mostly stood outside, dressed in jeans with the cuffs rolled up, white socks, and loafers. Aaron’s long scruffy hair was a stark contrast next to their slicked down duckbill hairstyles.
“What a bunch of dorks,” Aaron said with a chuckle.Another swarm of screaming girls went past him, and this time he followed them up to the gate. He was able to slip past the ticket counter because of the number of girls running through the gate. They threw their tickets at the young man who’d pretty much given up trying to get them to enter single file.
Aaron found himself being practically carried by the mob of girls directly to the stage. The band members had big grins on their faces as they warmed up, seemingly enjoying themselves as the announcer tried to get the screaming girls to quiet down.
“Is this your first time seeing him?” a girl yelled into Aaron’s ear as she smacked on a huge wad of bubblegum.
Aaron nodded. “Yeah. What about you?”
“Yes, and I’m so excited. I saved my babysitting money to get a ticket.” She grinned then stopped to clear a piece of bubblegum from her front tooth. “I’m Cindy.”
“My name’s Aaron.”
The band played louder, and just when Aaron thought the girls could scream no louder, they took it up another decibel when the icon’s shadow silhouetted behind the curtain.
Aaron’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No. Way.”
Cindy jumped up and down, while screaming and yanking on Aaron’s arm. “I know! Ain’t he the coolest cat around? I’m going to marry him!”
“How old are you?”
Cindy fluttered her eyelashes at Aaron. “Fourteen and a half,” she purred.
The announcer grabbed the microphone once more. “Welcome to the stage. Mr. Dynamite himself … ” The crowd erupted in screams, drowning out the introduction.
The singer stood center stage with his guitar slung across his back. He was dressed in all black—blazer, button-up shirt, shiny shoes—except for his white socks. Aaron could hardly believe his eyes. There stood, the King of Rock and Roll, in living color. This was not a documentary on the History Channel, or a movie being watched at his grandparents’ house. Aaron was actually watching the legend live in concert.
“How you all doing this evening?” The musician sauntered across the stage. He stood directly in front of Aaron, made eye contact with him, and then winked.
Cindy screamed and fell over. “Oh, he just winked at me.”
He spun around, cued up his band, swung his guitar around, and began to sing about a special pair of shoes.
Aaron noticed his left foot had a faint glow to it. He tried to move closer to the stage but was being pummeled, kicked, and elbowed by the screaming mass of girls. He kept his eye on the shoe as the glowing increased as if a beacon of light shone on it.
Aaron felt a gust of breeze across the back of his neck, and that weird odor came near. He felt someone staring at him and turned to see Nakal standing on one of the chairs, smiling at him. Oddly he blended in with the other local boys Aaron had seen earlier. Nakal was dressed in blue jeans with upturned cuffs and sporting a duckbill hairstyle. When Aaron looked at the boys, their eyes began to glow amber.
Aaron slowly began easing his way toward the other side of the stage, through the crying, yelling girls who were reaching out to try to touch the singer, as he taunted and teased them by coming within inches of touching and then gyrating away.
Just as Aaron was able to put some space between himself and Nakal, pure pandemonium broke out when the man wiped his face on a towel and prepared to throw it into the audience. One of the girls grabbed it while it was still in his hand and caused him to fall on stage. The police and firefighters d
id their best to reach the superstar when the girls began tugging on his clothes.
Aaron watched as Cindy pulled off the singer’s left shoe and lifted it up in the air in victory. But another girl knocked it from her hands, and it fell into the mosh pit of teen girls gone wild. Aaron quickly tried to weave himself in between the girls, the police, and the firefighters. He looked up to see Nakal and his goons coming toward him. Aaron dropped down to the ground and crawled to the area where he’d last seen the shoe.
Chaos ensued.
Aaron located the shoe then crawled, wiggled, and pushed himself through the web of legs. He reached out, and as his fingertips brushed against the heel, poof, it was gone, scooped up by Nakal. Aaron scrambled to his feet just in time to see Nakal toss the shoe to one of the band mates, who was then escorted off the stage along with the singer.
“Now what?” Aaron mumbled to himself. “Of all the shoes they could’ve picked for me to grab, it had to be one that belonged to one of the most popular performers of all time. He slumped into one of the chairs and watched the crowds slowly exit the arena.
Aaron looked up just as Nakal approached.
Nakal laughed.
“What are you so happy about? You’ve not won yet,” Aaron said.
“Oh, but I will.” Nakal crossed his arms and leaned back on his heels. “And this victory will be oh, so sweet.”
Aaron rose to his feet and looked Nakal directly in his eyes. “Why did you pull me into this stupid game? Why did you pick me?”
“Easy,” Nakal replied. “I liked your family.”
“But you never knew my family until after you came to the house.”
Nakal shook his head. “That’s not true. I have been watching you and your family for a year.”
“What?” Aaron yelled. “So, the whole story about your family driving here from New Mexico was a lie?” His throat suddenly felt dry. “Where are you really from?”
Nakal looked up at the sky. “Somewhere up there, but that’s not important right now.” Amber sparks swirled around in his eyes.