Chapter Nine
Telia and Matt spent a couple of days shuffling from car to truck to car in an elaborate shell game that moved them across the country, this time to Alaska and another cabin with a view of the Pacific Ocean. It was nestled in tall old pine trees and was only accessible by plane or boat or a very long hike up the coast.
A doctor spent a couple of days testing Matt, but she couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He was in a coma, but was in stable physical condition with no apparent major injuries. Telia avoided telling her anything about the reflector or his journeys to the other side.
The doctor sat with Telia and had a cup of tea. She was an Indian woman, with chestnut skin and black straight hair. She was used to treating people at the cabin with all sorts of injuries, weird illnesses, and bizarre symptoms, usually with no questions asked, and minimal background, but Matt left her flummoxed.
She said, “As far as I can tell, he’s healthy. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him physically and there’s no brain damage apparent. I looked and looked. All we can do at this point is tend to him.”
Telia said, “Like a plant…” and sighed.
The doctor patted her shoulder and said, “The brain is mysterious. He might wake up tomorrow, or a week from now. I can’t see any reason he won’t. In the mean time, a nurse will be here later today and she’ll help you take care of him.”
Telia rubbed her eyes and asked, “Then what?”
The doctor shrugged, “Not my department, sorry. I wish I could help you. But the way this works for me: I get a call, hop on a seaplane and do my thing here and try not to learn anything about the people I treat. If you’re still here in a couple of weeks, I’ll come back for another exam.”
Telia asked, “What about me, are the twins OK?”
The doctor smiled, “Yes you’re doing well and the babies are strong and healthy. Everything looks good.”
Telia nodded, “Thank you very much. It’s a relief to know we’re all basically alright.”
The doctor donned a dark wool peacoat and hat and left on the seaplane. Telia watched it buzz away from the dock, gather speed, then take to the air and head south. She went over and kissed Matt on the forehead, then gently knocked on his head with her knuckles. “Anybody home?” He didn’t stir.
Somehow, Owen’s copper mirror had caught up with her on their way across the country. It was a simple rectangular piece of hammered and polished copper. It had an ebony frame that was tooled with intricate geometric patterns that were now worn and rounded by hundreds of years of hands rubbing them. The copper surface was a dull, orange yellow color, and wasn’t a specular surface like a bathroom mirror, but had been hammered and smoothed and polished so she couldn’t see her own reflection, yet the surface was shiny like a rippled pond surface. It was hypnotic to stare at.
She finally had a chance to put it to use now that she was alone. She sat on the floor of the candle lit bedroom and focused on her breath and tried to go into a deep meditative state. She fixed her gaze on the mirror and let her eyes wander over the dimly reflective surface, but all she saw was copper.
She flopped onto the bed and puzzled about over why she couldn’t cross over. She thought about Owen’s experience--he was in young love when he first used the mirror. So she turned her mind to Samantha and the incredible erotic charge she could produce. She conjured up the desire to feel her touch again, then gazed into the mirror.
A fuzzy image materialized in the copper. Telia heard Samantha speak, “This will take a lot of practice, don’t get frustrated it gets eas...i...er...” Then she was gone. She was relieved to have an outlet for her restless mind. After taking a break, then making a few more attempts she was able hold a sustained conversation.
Samantha stood with her on a shoreline. Everything was dark green and damp. Samantha hugged her, the warmth of her embrace was very comforting. They sat down on a rock, she was stiff and clearly hurt.
Telia sat next to her and asked, “What happened? I’ve been on the run for days now! Matt is completely out of it. Francis survived, but alas Owen did not.”
Samantha’s eyes brightened. “I’m very glad you and Francis made it, and in fact, Owen did survive.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “He’s over here. So is Matt.” Telia felt Samantha’s concern.
“Oh! Where is he?!” Telia was shocked.
Samantha leaned on her. Telia could feel her stiff arm. She asked, “Could I enter you again? It would help me recover.”
“Could it hurt the babies?”
Samantha’s eyes brightened, “Babies? You mean twins? That’s very special! No, I think it will not hurt anything.”
“Yes, then. The loneliness is really terrible.” Telia sighed.
Samantha squeezed her, “This time will be different, though, I don’t think it will feel as enjoyable.”
Telia put her forehead against Samantha’s, and she felt her presence, then was just staring at a piece of copper. “Owww!” she held her arm. It felt cold and ached to the bone.
“Sorry!” she heard Samantha in her mind. “That happened during the battle. I was exhausted from Owen’s effort, then Matt joined, which made me even more tired, and finally when the reflector ruptured, it hurt me.”
Telia walked over by Matt she spoke out loud to the room to address Samantha. “What happened to Matt?”
“When the reflector split apart, I think Matt did not know where he was, he was disoriented. I was too weak to assist him, then the Beast took him.”
Telia was anxious, “Took him? How?”
Samantha tried to soothe Telia. “Don’t be alarmed! I believe he is alright. I can feel him on the other side.”
Telia wondered out loud, “How can we get him back?”
Samantha said, “Well, for now, the connection is not as strong. Maybe you will see him in your dreams. We will need to figure out how to get him back here, I think.” Telia patted his chest.
EPISODE SEVEN -- The Other, Other Side
Present Day
The Chardon Chronicles: Season Two --- The Winter Page 52