by Marc Lindsay
“You can’t, or you’re having trouble changing?”
“I can’t, as in at all. Maybe my powers are gone for good. I am half human after all,” Jason said miserably.
“I don’t know about any of that, we can sort it out later, but right now we need to find another way out and the only other way is down,” Selene said determined.
“So what’s your plan then?” Jason asked.
“Recon” and without another word, she let go of Jason and plunged under the water. She swam directly down near the glowing rocks that littered the bottom, allowing her to clearly see her surroundings. After frantically checking from side to side, Selene eventually spotted an opening, a circular port one meter in diameter with a steel mesh sleeve slotted over the opening. She silently cursed their bad luck as she swam over to it for a better look. She slid her hand around the edges of the sleeve inspecting it for a means of removal. She couldn’t see or feel any screws or bolts holding it in place as she continued to search the rim. Selene’s lungs were burning for air and her throat was raw. Nearly at the point of giving up, her hands felt something promising. A draw bolt latch snapped noiselessly open under her fingers. She mentally cheered as she pushed off from the bottom towards the surface. Jason’s patience had grown thin waiting and he was just preparing to go and look for her when she exploded through the surface next to him.
“Thank God you’re okay!” Jason exclaimed with an anxious smile.
“I did it, we have a way out through the intake valve,” Selene replied breathlessly.
“That’s great!” Jason rasped. Selene could hear the exhaustion in his voice and then it dawned on her. Jason saw her reaction and nodded solemnly.
“I’m not leaving you here,” Selene growled angrily.
“It’s the only way. The pipe leading out must be fifty, sixty meters long and I’m too weak,” he gasped.
“Screw that, both of us go or neither. They’re the only two options on the table,” Selene thundered.
“Once you’re out,” Jason said logically.
“I mean it, SHUT UP!” Selene replied, but Jason continued.
“Once you’re clear come back and pull me out.”
“What if I can’t get into the building? What if I can’t work the machinery? What if I can’t pull you out? What if…”
“That’s a lot of what ifs,” Jason interjected. If all else fails you run and get help, I’ll be fine.”
“No, no, no, and that’s final,” Selene replied. “We’re getting out together and that’s all there is to it.”
Jason was about to respond when Selene gave him a scathing glare.
“What’s the plan then?” Jason asked with a sigh.
“Simple, we swim to the bottom, I pull off the steel sleeve and we swim through the length of the pipe.”
“Then?”
“Then we find those dweebs and kick their asses.”
“That’s the one part of the plan I actually like,” Jason said ruefully.
“Good, then let’s get started.”
The pair readied themselves by taking long deep breaths, saturating their lungs with oxygen. They both knew they had one shot at this and they knew they had to make it count. Selene counted down on her hand, three, two, one. They both took a huge breath and dived below. Moving together they reached the bottom and as they approached the blue glowing rocks, Jason began to convulse. Selene’s eyes went wide but instead of grabbing him she made the painful decision to continue on with her plan. With minimal effort she was able to ease the steel sleeve, without deliberation She scooped up a handful of the glowing rock. With her other free hand she grabbed Jason and proceeded to drag him through the pipeline.
Using the blue rocks Selene was able to illuminate the tight passage way, however her progress was painfully slow. After twenty meters of movement Selene’s progress came to a sudden halt. Looking back, she was horrified to find that Jason had become snagged on something. Releasing her grip, she slowly worked her way back, squeezing past Jason until she was in line with his feet. With the rocks in hand she could see that the laces of his left shoe had become tangled on the metal lip of a pipe. Without wasting time Selene frantically ripped the shoe from his foot and dropped it without another thought. The shoe almost immediately reverted into a grey gloop that then dissolved into nothing. Shocked at first, she then remembered the alien clothing they were wearing as she pulled herself past the still form of Jason.
By now Selene’s lungs were burning worse than ever as she attempted to grab Jason’s arm only to discover her hand wouldn’t work. She tried again with the same result, her vision was also starting to blur. ‘Oh no, please God don’t let us die here underground in the dark, Selene pleaded silently, then blacked out.
Chapter 30
Jason awoke with a start and gasped as if struggling for air. It took him a few seconds before he realised that he wasn’t in the pit but lying on his bed at home safe. He looked around at the sunlight flooding in through the bedroom window, he watched as it caught the stained glass, the multi-coloured spectrum casting an ethereal quality around him. Mixed emotions played with his mind.
“Selene!” Jason yelled. “How the hell did I get here?” he muttered out loud as his head fell back onto his pillow.
“Am I going mad?” Jason yelled out.
“No, you’re not,” a voice answered back. Jason jumped in surprise.
“Who’s there?” Jason demanded as he jumped up from his bed, looking around the room. A figure stepped forward from the far side of the room. Despite the fact the room was bathed in light, it was surprising that Jason hadn’t noticed the figure until now. He adopted a fighter’s stance.
“You’ve got five seconds to tell me who you are or so help me I’m gonna go total beast mode on your ass,” Jason said, confusion giving way to anger. With everything that had happened to him recently he now had a target to let it all out on.
“Relax Jason, I mean you no harm, in fact the opposite,” The figure said. Jason looked the individual up and down. A tall, lean, middle aged man dressed casually in jeans, plain cotton shirt and boots. He wore dark brown hair and a beard that appeared well trimmed and immaculately groomed. The skin on his face was tanned with crows’ feet etched at the corner of his eyes which were a deep crystal blue. The figure was smiling but Jason thought it looked kind of sad at the same time.
“Where’s Selene?” Jason asked, still wary of the stranger and how he suddenly appeared.
“I’m here to help you and your friend,” the stranger replied.
“Where’s Selene?”
“She’s in trouble and she needs your help.”
“What? How? We have to help her,” Jason insisted.
“And you will, but first I have something to tell you,” the stranger said calmly.
“No, we have to help her first,” Jason said agitation in his voice.
“We have time Jason, have patience and listen to what I have to tell you.” Jason screwed his fists up to his face and growled.
“Ugh, I am so sick to death of people telling me what to do,” he snarled, transforming into stone, He brought both hands down onto his bed shattering it completely. Jason then turned to face the stranger. “Great, look what you made me do.”
“Relax Jason, its fine,” the stranger said pleasantly. Jason fell to his knees in frustration staring at the grey slabs that were now his hands. The anger fled from him as he transformed back into his human form.
“No it’s not. I wreck everything and when it’s truly important, I can’t even save the people I love.”
“You haven’t wrecked anything, look,” the stranger indicated.
Jason turned his head with a sigh only to find his bed as it was before, unbroken and intact. He turned back to the stranger, a puzzled expression on his face.
“This isn’t real is it?” Jason asked.
“Yes and no,” the stranger replied quizzically. “Please trust me for the moment,” the stranger added. Taki
ng a step forward, he placed his hand on Jason’s forearm and closed his eyes.
“Is this necessary?” Jason started to comment, when a searing surge of heat coursed through his arm where the stranger was holding him. Jason cried out and tried to pull his arm away, but the grip was too strong. Then as fast as the pain appeared it was gone, replaced with a soothing cool. The stranger released his grip on Jason who snatched it away, rubbing the spot that the stranger had held. The pain was already a distant memory.
“What the hell did you do that for?” Jason grumbled.
“It was your legacy Jason, but I have one more thing for you,” the stranger added. Jason took a careful step back, keeping his arms a respectful distance from the stranger, who laughed at his reaction. The laughter was honest and for some reason, he knew at that moment that he could trust him.
“Just some simple words of advice,” the stranger said. Jason nodded for him to continue. “No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny,” the stranger said.
“I don’t understand,” Jason stated.
“You’ll know when the time is right,” the stranger said.
“Really, you’re gonna lay that old chestnut on me? I want to know how to save Selene,” he cursed.
“Then you need to wake up,” the stranger said simply and touched Jason on the forehead.
“What are you talking about?” he asked. The room seemed to shimmer and blur and Jason felt what he could only describe as a vacuum effect pulling him in all directions. The room began to darken.
“Who are you?” Jason called out.
“My name is Be…,” the stranger said and was cut off in mid-sentence as Jason’s world pitched into black.
Jason slowly opened his eyes and discovered a darkness of a different kind. Claustrophobic, grimy and wet he realised with an unsettling certainty that he was underwater. His body’s defences had kicked in to cope with its new environment, altering to the form that Ulysses and he bore when swimming deep within the lake earlier in the week. His eyes adapted to the dark and the water allowed him to view his surroundings easily. Remembering Selene, he twisted and turned in the tight confines until he saw her body floating lifelessly ahead of him in the pipeline.
“Selene!” he screamed, as his lower torso which was now made up of thick tentacles contracted and propelled him through the pipe towards her. Slowing his momentum he approached her and delicately took her into his arms. Turning her face towards his he was shocked to see the pale and vacant expression on her face. Jason hugged her, despair gripping his heart. He shook the feelings from his head, a fierce determination taking hold as he propelled himself like a torpedo through the pipeline, carefully shielding her body from anything obstructing their path.
The surface of the lake was tranquil and still, the cool weather having deterred any one from town venturing out at this late hour. Only the sounds of forest wildlife could be heard. This was short lived as Jason and Selene erupted from the black surface in an explosive shower of water, his speed propelling them high into the air. For a brief moment Jason’s aquatic form and Selene’s limp figure seemed to hang in the night sky, neither falling nor climbing. Inevitably gravity took over and the pair began their descent. Jason transformed again, this time into the guise of a huge eagle. The change took a split second, his large, powerful talons delicately gripping Selene’s still form. Without hesitation Jason flew off into the night sky, the loud, rhythmic beating of his wings clearly audible through the forest.
In his newly acquired form he circled over the town of Perigord before coming in for a landing directly at the front of the library. Jason carefully placed Selene on the front steps then reverted back to his human form, his clothes automatically changing. He scooped Selene up in his arms and raced for the front doors. Kicking them open he ran through and stood at the top of the internal stairs looking frantically down into the dark interior.
“Ulysses! Jax! I need help!” Jason screamed as he charged down the stairs. About half way down lights started to flicker on, illuminating Jason’s progress. As he reached the bottom he was met by Ms Jax dressed in a nightgown, slippers and hair net. Under any other situation Jason would have found her appearance comical but under the current circumstances he was just glad to see her.
“Thank God, I need help, it’s Selene,” Jason gasped as he presented her body. Ms Jax looked shocked and then determined.
“With me,” she said with authority. Jason nodded and followed quickly through the double doors and into the staff area, then through yet another door, one he had never seen before. They entered a large, empty room with a single stone bench located in the centre. Jason looked around, clearly bewildered by his surroundings.
“Place her down,” Ms Jax instructed briskly. Jason just stared at the stone bench. “Now!” Ms Jax barked. Jason nodded dumbly then stumbled forward and placed Selene’s still form gently on the bench.
“Step back,” Ms Jax instructed and motioned Jason to step away from the bench. “Greymeade, initiate nightingale protocol,” Ms Jax spoke aloud to the empty room and grabbed Jason’s arm, pulling them both back away from the bench. A large, empty echoing sound reverberated through the room, then quite expectantly, a circular opening appeared above them in the ceiling.
“What the hell is that?” Jason breathed as dozens of thick tendrils poured from the opening. He thought they looked exactly like tree roots. The tendrils rippled and quivered and slowly descended towards the still form of Selene. Jason took a step toward her but was held firm by the vice like grip of Ms Jax.
“Don’t interfere,” Ms Jax said in her gravelly voice. “Please, trust me, okay?”
Jason watched with apprehension as the roots flowed down like running water toward Selene. The tendrils curled and twisted, slowly enveloping her. Jason found the scene almost impossible to watch as the roots started to form a crude, egg-like shape around Selene’s body. Hundreds of tiny shoots began to sprout forth all over the egg, then slowly each shoot unfurled into a vibrant, green leaf.
The leaves proceeded to flatten against the surface, eventually covering every inch of the egg shape beneath. It reminded Jason of the sack certain types of ants make by excreting a sticky substance that bonds leaves together in a soft ball sized shape. The leaf-covered egg remained perched upon the stone bench, then as if things weren’t strange enough, it began to hum. A pale electric light within started to pulse. Jason covered his eyes with his hand, trying to watch the process. He could just make out the still figure of Selene illuminated within during each burst of light. The humming noise grew louder and the light pulses increased in both speed and brightness. It elevated to such a level that Jason had to cover his ears and shield his eyes completely. The room was enveloped with the strobe light pulses emanating from the egg. Ms Jax leant over and whispered something in Jason’s ear, but he couldn’t hear. He watched as she too covered her eyes. The pulsing light stopped for a split second and then one pure nova burst of light seared through the room. Even with his eyes covered it wasn’t enough. As quickly as it had started, it suddenly stopped. The light and the humming were replaced with a haunting silence. Jason struggled to make out anything in the room, his vision blurred from the light exposure. He rubbed his eyes and was able to catch a glimpse of the roots retracting into the ceiling, leaving the egg shape on the bench. The shapes’ leaves were now dry and brown.
“Selene!” Jason exclaimed as he raced over to the bench. He knelt beside the eggs and slowly extended his hand, gently brushing the surface. The dried leaves turned to fine ash under his touch, creating a shockwave effect as the entire surface became consumed by ash. It eventually disappeared revealing Selene underneath. Jason carefully stroked her cheek and was overwhelmed to find it warm to the touch. He checked her pulse and found it steady. He could see she was breathing and colour had returned to her pale features.
“Thank God,” Jason whispered, his eyes wet with tears. Ms Jax came up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
In a moment of pure abandon Jason turned and swept Ms Jax into his arms hugging her fiercely.
“Thank you Ms Jax, I don’t know what to say,” Jason said his voice cracking with emotion. She looked a little taken aback and then smiled warmly and returned his hug.
“She’s going to be okay,” Ms Jax replied. Jason stepped back and wiped his eyes on the back of his hand.
“Let’s move her into the staff room,” Ms Jax instructed. Lifting Selene gently Jason carried her through the doors and laid her down upon the lounge opposite the fire place. He was now starting to feel the effects of his fatigue and slumped down beside her.
“I don’t understand, what just happened?” Jason asked.
“I need to make some phone calls, stay with her,” Ms Jax replied, then departed quickly, leaving Jason to ponder the miracle he had just witnessed.
He must have dozed off, for how long he had no idea, but when he awoke he was still on the lounge with Selene’s head resting on his lap, her body covered with a blanket. She was breathing peacefully and despite everything that had happened, looked quite well. Stroking her hair, Jason thought to himself how beautiful she looked and that even though they had only known each other for a short time, how horrible life would be without her. His thoughts then turned to how they had found themselves in this predicament. Hector and Tiberius, those murderous sacks of crap, he would make them pay for what they nearly accomplished. Lost in thought he jumped as Ulysses burst through the door, followed closely by Ursula and Ms Jax.
“Are you okay?” Ulysses asked, concerned. Jason gently slid from under Selene, careful not to move or waken her.
“I’m fine, and so is Selene I think?” Jason answered. Ursula went straight to her granddaughter’s side. Kneeling by the lounge she placed her head on Selene’s stomach and began to cry tears of relief and happiness at seeing her granddaughter alive.
“I’m so sorry,” Ursula cried, her body shaking with emotion. Selene stirred and everyone went quiet, watching with anticipation as she slowly opened her eyes.
