The Bridge (Para-Earth Series)

by Krummenacker, Allan

  Instinctively, he reached up grabbed the railing to keep them from being slammed against the stonework again. “Thank you, Rachel,” he breathed.

  Somehow, the battered skeletal figure managed a sad smile.

  He smiled back at her as everything finally became clear to him. She had recognized his talents the night of the Policeman’s Ball and had broken Cyrus’ control, just long enough to ask for his help. But, he hadn’t understood at the time and hadn’t been able to help her.

  Then on the night of the Open House she had sensed him once more and tried reaching out to him. Unfortunately, he’d still been closed off psychically and had not recognized who or what she was. But, now he knew everything, including what they were really up against.

  At that moment, she released her grip on him. As she fell away, he saw her mouth move. There was no sound, but he heard her nonetheless. “Save her. Please save my baby…”

  A moment later, she hit the water and sank out of sight.

  Alex stared sadly at the spot where she disappeared. ‘All those years and no one thought to look for you down there. But not even death could stop you from trying to rescue your child from the thing that took her from you.’ Having experienced the child’s birth, he suddenly knew what a Mother’s resolve felt like. “I’ll save her, I swear it,” he said aloud, knowing that it would be easier said than done.

  First he needed to get onto the bridge, instead of hanging on its side, like some forgotten Christmas decoration. He tried pulling himself up, only to realize the black length of hair was still holding onto him. And he was slowly losing both his grip and his strength. “I meant what I said before,” he called out.

  He heard a noise and looked down. From the beneath the bridge SHE was watching him. Her face was full of anger, but not hate. He could sense confusion and uncertainty from her. “I do care about you,” he told her.

  Her expression changed as she pulled him away from the bridge and dangled him directly in front of her. It was as if she were studying him.

  Luckily, this gave Alex a chance to get a better look at her as well. She had a very slender frame, with yards and yards of black tresses that moved and waved about. He briefly thought of Medusa, until he noticed that some of the hair seemed to go into the cracks between the stonework of the bridge. That was how it had seemed to come to life earlier and toss him about.

  “You were born of an act of violence,” he told her, his voice tight with emotion. “I know what you suffered and I understand your anger.”

  She drew him closer and he let her see the pain in his eyes.

  “I can’t undo what happened,” he whispered sadly, “I wish to God I could.”

  She quickly turned away.

  At that moment Alex realized she could sense his emotions and opened himself even more. “I’m so sorry, please believe me.”

  She began to tremble. Was it anger? Or was he getting through to her?

  He could see that her eyes were cast down to where Rachel’s corpse had fallen into the water. “She never abandoned you. Your mother…”

  The infant’s scream of rage cut off the rest of his words.

  Alex found himself lifted high into the air as the child’s hair stretched upwards and then quickly brought back down.

  A moment later, his battered body hit the surface of the bridge with a wet thud. It rolled several feet and came to rest. He did not move.

  For several minutes only the sounds of the falling rain and thunder could be heard. Then the scrabbling noise began and grew louder until the child rose up from underneath the bridge. Using her black coils, she lowered herself onto the stones and began to grotesquely half crawl/half walk towards her victim. She could see the marks on his clothing where her mother had touched him.

  The child began to tremble with rage. She had tried to save him, but not her. IT had touched her mind that night. IT had shown her what her mother had been thinking, how she had planned to kill them both. But IT had cared. IT had rescued her from the water, after her mother jumped in so they could both drown together.

  She paused and stared down at her victim.

  This one said he cared, and she had begun to believe him. Then, just as she had thought about pulling him out of the water, her mother had appeared and rescued him. Just has she should have done for her, but didn’t. Trembling with rage she opened her mouth inhumanly wide, emitting a nightmare wail. The tips of her hair-tentacles twisted and squirmed eager to tear her victim apart and…

  “DON’T!” a voice cried.

  Veronica saw the infant/child change into her teenage form and turn to face her. “I know you’re not Rachel,” she told the child moving closer. “You’re her baby.”

  The infant/teen’s hair started to lengthen menacingly.

  “She was going to let me adopt you,” Veronica continued, stopping her approach. “That means I was going to be your Mommy. She was going to let me raise you as my own.”

  The black tendrils halted their growth.

  Ronnie’s voice became more tender and sad. “I couldn’t have a child because I got hurt when I was her age. When she told me that she was going to have a baby but couldn’t take care of it, I offered to take you and she said yes. I was so looking forward to having you in my life.”

  Suddenly Alex stirred and croaked, “Veronica…”

  “Don’t move,” she told him, without looking. The fact that he could speak and move was a great relief. But she didn’t dare look away from the child, who was eyeing her suspiciously.

  Getting down on one knee, Veronica held out a flower. Rachel had told her to do this during their mind-link. It was the only safe way to approach the baby.

  “I never stopped searching for you. I’ve never stopped caring,” she told the child as it moved awkwardly towards her.

  The baby’s face remained emotionless, but her eyes were fixed on the flower. And now the black tendrils of hair seemed to be trembling as if confused and unsure of what to do.

  In the background, Alex tried to get up.

  “I still want you,” Veronica told the child, who was slowly shrinking in size to her real form.

  “I love you. Just as your mother loved yo…”

  The infant suddenly uttered a wail of rage so powerful, Ronnie to dropped the flower and try to protect her ears.

  At the same time she saw the black tentacles of hair suddenly coming at her with a vengeance.

  But before they reached her, Alex launched himself at the tiny figure using his good leg. The infant was caught completely off guard. Her coils flailed wildly, smashing huge gaps in the railing as he grabbed her.

  The black tresses continued to whip about, sending the two of them rolling back and forth across the bridge and finally towards one of those newly made gaps in the railing…

  They were alone now. There was nothing around them only swirling white.

  “It’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you.” murmured Alex soothingly, as he stroked the newborn’s pink head. His plan to block the ‘other’ from connecting with her mind had succeeded. It couldn’t reach her. Now it was just the two of them.

  The infant seemed lost and confused. Instinctively she clung tighter to him, as uncertainty filled her with fear.

  Alex leaned down and kissed her head, “THIS is love, little one. This is what your Mum wanted to give you. It’s what Veronica wants to give you. And now I’m giving it to you, because you’ve touched my heart in a way you never intended.” He began to rock her gently.

  The baby made a confused noise between a cry and a whimper.

  “SOMEBODY HELP ME!” cried Veronica, clinging desperately to part of the remaining rail with one hand, while holding onto one of Alex’s legs with the other. She hadn’t moved fast enough to stop him and the baby from falling through the opening, but at least she’d kept them from falling into the torrent below.

  The storm had swelled the stream to dangerous levels, and it was moving fast. If they fell in, she might be able to rescue on
e or the other, but not both. And there was no guarantee she’d even succeed in saving herself afterwards. So her only option was to try and pull them back up. Unfortunately, the stones were slick from the falling rain, which meant she couldn’t get her footing straight enough to do so.

  Staring down, she saw the child had reverted what must be its true form. It looked like an emaciated corpse-infant that was somehow still alive. And apparently, it had ceased to struggle against her love. In fact, the child seemed staring off into space, as if witnessing something amazing.

  ‘What’s going on? What is she doing to you Alex?’ she wondered and then thought, ‘Or are you the one doing something?’

  Her attention was so focused on the pair below that she failed to notice the railing she was holding onto begin to crack.

  “You’re confused and frightened. I understand. You’ve never been treated like this before have you?” Alex whispered and hummed a tune to her.

  She seemed to like it.

  He smiled and stood up. “There’s so much you’ve never experienced. Let me show you…” All around them grass appeared, followed by trees and the sounds of birds.

  Soon the sun shone down on them as well.

  A rosebush blossomed nearby. “You like flowers don’t you?” he said picking one and holding it up so she could smell it.

  She refused to look at first, so he brushed the petals against her cheek. Turning she saw the color and her little face lit up. She was trying to smile, but was unsure how.

  “Like this,” Alex said and showed her.

  She tried to copy him, and after a few attempts succeeded.

  “Yes,” he told her, kissing her cheek. “Would you like to see something else?”

  The infant looked at the flower and then curled up against his chest once more. She was still a little frightened.

  Smiling, he sang another little tune as they made their way past a cement labyrinth, towards a playground. There were slides, swings and a pair of large rockets made of tubing. But Alex was heading towards some metal mushrooms, specifically the ones with upside down domes. They were perfect for sitting and spinning in.

  As the railing broke in her hand, Veronica felt her feet begin to slide towards the edge. “NO!” she screamed, while desperately backpedaling to no avail.

  Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her from behind and stopped her slide. “Gotcha!” cried Cassandra. A moment later, Julie appeared and carefully leaned over the edge and reached down to grab Alex’s other leg.

  He was taking her along the pier where colorful boats were moored.

  “I’ve got him,” Julie grunted.

  “Be careful, that’s the injured one,” warned Cassie.

  “Never mind, just pull him up!” cried Veronica.

  They had almost got Alex onto the bridge, when Julie finally saw what he was holding in his arms. Screaming in horror she nearly lost her grip on his leg. Only Ronnie’s bellow of “DON’T LET GO!” saved them from disaster.

  Now they were at the stretch of beach. The sun was shining down as the waves crashed nearby. Overhead some gulls danced on the breeze and she was taking her first steps with his help. He was holding her hands above her head and saying, “That’s it, I’ve got you.”

  Excitedly she headed straight for the sandcastle he’d built nearby.

  “And the fortress falls under the attack of Girlzilla,” he cheered.

  The tiny, decayed figure in Alex’s arms began to wriggle.

  “HOLY SHIT IT’S ALIVE?” Julie cried.

  “I KNOW, NOW PULL HIM UP!” roared Veronica, hoping her tone would be enough to keep the big girl focused on the rescue.

  It did. Using her powerful muscles, Julie lifted Alex and his charge to safety, much too Ronnie’s relief. But once the two were safely on the bridge, she notice both Julie and Cassandra backing away. The sight of the living corpse-baby in their friend’s arms was obviously too much for them.

  Just then the babe opened its mouth wide.

  Veronica instinctively clapped her hands over her ears only to realize the sound that came was not the banshee-like wail she’d expected. This was the cry of a frightened who needed reassurance and comforting.

  He had taken her down the slide, only to find she hadn’t liked it.

  Forgetting their terror Julie and Cassandra both reached for the baby saying, “The poor little thing…”, and “Oh let me…”

  But Ronnie stopped them both by saying, “Let me, she was going to be mine.”

  “Bugger off, I was here first,” murmured Alex, not opening his eyes.

  All three women sighed with relief. He was alive AND he was being a smartass.

  Although she had no idea what was going on between him and the child, Ronnie decided to follow his lead. “I called dibs on her way before you ever showed up buster.”

  “Fair enough, just remember to open your mind,” he whispered, and reached out a hand.

  Without hesitating Veronica took it and...

  …found herself standing at the foot of the slide. She looked around and began to say, “Isn’t this Wantagh Park…” Then she spotted the perfect little figure, crying in Alex’s arms. “Is that her?” she breathed.

  Her lover nodded. “She was going to be your daughter, Luv. How about giving me a hand with her?”

  Eagerly Veronica reached for the baby who suddenly tightened her grip on Alex.

  Undaunted, Ronnie slowly stretched out a hand and stroked the child’s head. “It’s all right honey, I won’t hurt you. I’ve waited so long to see you,” she told her ‘daughter’. “Will you let me hold you?”

  The child slowly looked up at her.

  Veronica smiled, “Oh, such beautiful blue eyes.”

  The child seemed to be fascinated by the mass of red hair and let Alex hand her over.

  As the long awaited union between the police woman and the infant finally took place, Cassandra and Julie gently helped Alex into an upright position. He was careful to keep one hand on Veronica and the baby.

  The three of them were enjoying her 1st birthday.

  “Alex?” said Julie, shaking him gently.

  “NOT YET!” he hissed.

  The big girl threw a confused look at Cassandra, who reached out and touched her childhood friend and saw…

  It was her first day of kindergarten. She was a little reluctant to leave her parents, especially Veronica. But she was being a brave little thing.

  Alex spotted her and pointed, “Look, Aunt Cassie came to see you.”

  The child looked over and waved at her.

  “Oh Alex what a wonderful thing to do…” Cassie murmured, carefully removing her hand.

  “What? What’s he doing?” asked Julie.

  “Giving her the life she never got to have,” Cassie replied sadly. “She’s never known what it’s like to be loved. After all, she was taken from her mother almost as soon as she was born and used as a puppet…”

  “What do you mean?” asked Julie eyeing her curiously. “I thought she was the one doing all the killings.”

  Shaking her head Cassandra explained, “She’s another victim. Both her, and her mother, were forced into the water. But, only Rachel was allowed to die.”

  Julie’s expression changed from nervous to angry. “You mean something’s been keeping her like that, in order to use her?”

  Cassandra nodded solemnly.

  Staring out at the darkness the big girl murmured, “And I think I know what it is.”

  Now it was Cassie’s turn to look puzzled. “How?”

  The raven-haired beauty started scanning the area, as she answered. “When we came here earlier and split up, I saw something. At first I thought at the time that those hallucinogenic fumes from the stream were messing with my head. But, I’m not so sure now. In fact I don’t think there are any fumes.”

  “Why?” Cassie asked her eagerly, “What did you see?”

  “A white wolf,” her friend replied. “And it was staring at me. I mean reall
y staring at me. Then I started seeing images in my mind, like I was seeing into the past, from a time long before this bridge was built. I know it doesn’t make sense but...”

  “No, tell me everything you saw,” Cassie insisted, grabbing her by the arms. “It could be important.”

  Julie stared at her for a moment, and then looked over at Alex, Ronnie and the baby and made a decision. “All right, it started with a tribe of Paleo Indians living next to this stream. One night strange lights that started to appear in the water…”

  For days the lights had been seen, but only at night. Then they became more and more frequent until one night flashes of lightning that shot up out of the water and a whirlpool appeared. It grew in size until finally it erupted into geyser before subsiding and leaving behind… the thing.

  Then, for reasons they did not understand, they tried to help it. They began by keeping it in darkness, since the light seemed to cause it pain. They tried to communicate with it with very little success. Or so they thought. That night, IT reached out to them in their dreams. That was then they realized the creature was intelligent.

  Soon fish and animals became more numerous thanks to the thing’s dream calls, and the tribe prospered.

  But, when summer came and the stream had receded a bit, the bodies of dead animals were found partly buried in the mud. The carcasses were withered and strangely marked as if many mouths had fed upon it. Upon cutting the corpses open they found certain organs and tissues were missing. Those that remained were either still fresh or extremely decomposed as if they had lain there for years.

  Then, the body of a child, who had been missing for some weeks, was found in the same condition. The elders quickly realized that the thing was not their friend and sought to rid their people of it. But, all efforts to drive the thing back into the water where it had come from failed.