Flying to the Light

by Elyse Salpeter

  A man screamed a litany of obscenities, and it chilled him to think he might be the one holding his parents captive. Then his stomach lurched when he heard the man speak to none other than Dobber, his parents’ once trusted friend. He was so livid he had to stop himself from storming in there and attacking them both.

  “Dobber, what do you mean, they’re gone? Are the men searching the marina?”

  “Mr. Herrington, they are, and the cameras saw the kids take one of the boats and move towards the island. They’re here someplace. Don’t worry, we’ll find them.”

  “You better find them, Dobber. I won’t have everyone let two children escape from me again and again. I want that boy.”

  Michael smiled to think he had gotten Dobber in trouble with Herrington. Good, served him right.

  “Of course, Mr. Herrington. Until then, what’s our next step with regards to the hostages?”

  Michael clenched his fists. They were talking about his parents!

  “They have fifteen minutes to cooperate with us, otherwise Gary is gone. I don’t need him anymore, anyway. Then, with her husband dead and her children missing, Maddy’ll have nothing. Which is just what she deserves.”

  A loud commotion broke out from down the hallway. Michael grabbed his brother, and they raced back down the corridor in the opposite direction. Within seconds they reached the far wall and made a quick right, out of sight. Breathing heavily, Michael peeked around the corner.

  Five men stormed into the room with Herrington. There were shouts, and Michael heard chairs being overturned, before complete and utter silence ensued. He was about to walk down the hall again, but stopped when he heard Herrington. His tone was pure evil. “I should have known.”

  A second later there was a deafening gunshot, which reverberated up and down the hall. Herrington and his men left the room and continued down the opposite hallway on some unknown mission, but Dobber wasn’t with them.

  Michael grabbed Danny’s hand and they snuck down the hallway. Michael glanced inside and there, on the floor against the far wall, was Dobber. He was slumped over and blood gushed from a chest wound. He glanced up with stricken eyes when he saw the boys.

  “Michael, get him out of here,” Dobber pleaded, his voice hoarse. “My cover’s blown. I can’t protect you anymore.”

  Michael felt no sympathy for him. “Protect us? How could you possibly have protected us? You were going to turn us in. You’ve been a traitor the whole time!”

  “No, you’re wrong,” he said. “I’ve always been on your side. Herrington’s people just found out I work for the FBI. That’s why they shot me.”

  Michael refused to take the bait. He continued relentlessly. “So why did you desert us in the limo? Why did you take the machine to Herrington? Why did you shoot Agent Frank!”

  “Oh, Michael, it’s so complicated,” he said, coughing up blood. “Some of those men were double agents with me, but Agent Frank was one of Herrington’s people. We’ve infiltrated this facility and almost had it under control, but they found out. I don’t know how, but they did. Please, you must get away. Go out the way you came in. I can’t protect you.” He went into another coughing fit. Blood spurted from his mouth and poured freely from his chest wound.

  Danny moved into the room.

  Michael grabbed his arm. “I don’t trust him, Danny.”

  Dobber’s body stiffened, and he stared at Danny with frightened eyes. “What is it, Danny? What’s happening to me?”

  “It’s your time,” Danny signed.

  “My time?” he said dazed, his gaze wandering around the room. “Oh, yes, I guess it is.” Slowly, his eyes came back into focus. “Danny, it’s so much different from what I thought it would be. I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be scared,” Danny signed. “It’s just level fifteen, Dobber. You’re dying. You shouldn’t fight it. Mommy says it makes it harder. Just let it happen or else your soul will lose the light and you’ll roam the Earth.”

  Michael whirled on his brother. “Dobber is going to the light? Why is he going to the light?” That wasn’t possible. The man was a traitor.

  Danny stared at Michael solemnly. “He was good, Michael. The birds made a mistake.”

  Michael’s jaw dropped. “They made a mistake? What do you mean?”

  Danny shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. I guess they don’t know everything.”

  Michael felt like he had been sucker-punched. The guilt ate at his stomach when he realized Dobber had gotten shot trying to protect them. He ran over to him. “Dobber, no.” He was crying now, pressing frantically against Dobber’s chest, trying to stop the blood from pouring out. It was no use. The wound was too deep, and Dobber was too far gone. He was no longer responding to either Michael or Danny. Instead, he focused on a spot right above Danny’s head.

  A beautiful white dove materialized and flew over to Dobber. Michael watched teary-eyed as Dobber’s body stiffened and then slumped lifelessly against the floor.

  Danny smiled at the bird. Its shimmery image drifted slowly towards the ceiling and then disappeared before their eyes.

  “Did you just send him away, Danny?” Michael asked miserably.

  Danny shook his head. “I didn’t have to. He could find his own way. That wasn’t a real bird Michael, just an illusion because there aren’t any birds in this room. Dobber wasn’t a bad guy. He was just hiding his identity from us so we wouldn’t give him away. That was his secret.”

  Michael turned to his brother angrily. “But what about what you learned at level fourteen? The people there made you think Dobber was bad. He got himself killed because of us.”

  Danny’s cast his eyes downward and started to cry. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I didn’t understand their message.”

  Chagrined, Michael moved over to Danny and hugged him tight, trying hard not to look at Dobber’s lifeless body. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault. Maybe some of those birds on level fourteen did make a mistake, but whatever advice they gave us, they knew enough to tell you about the photograph. They were trying to protect us. The fact is, if we had known the truth about Dobber earlier, there’s a possibility we would have screwed up and done something to blow his cover sooner.”

  “I know,” Danny sniffled. “But all he was trying to do was help us and now he’s dead.”

  Michael stared at Dobber, sickened. He turned to his brother. “Danny, we can’t be expected to know what the FBI, Herrington, and those from above are trying to tell us. Right now we have to just think of protecting ourselves and finding Mom and Dad. That’s our number one priority.” He stood. “Listen, we have to make a choice. I want to find Mom and Dad and we know they’re here someplace, but my job is to protect you. That’s the least I can do for Dobber—try to heed his last words. Do you want to leave? We can go back out the same way we came in.”

  Danny shook his head vehemently. “I want to find Mommy and Daddy.”

  “Me, too, but it’s dangerous and I don’t have any weapons. I don’t know what I’d do if Herrington grabbed you.”

  Danny started begging. “Michael, we have to try. Mommy and Daddy are here, and we can’t leave or they’re going to die. I know it. Please don’t make us go away.”

  Michael shook his head and smiled. “You’re so brave, Birdman. Okay, we’ll stay. We’d never be able to live with ourselves if we ran away, would we?”

  Danny shook his head.

  “Then, let’s go.” They made their way out of the room and followed Herrington’s trail.

  The facility was quiet, the hallways empty. Michael and Danny peeked into many of the rooms they passed, each filled to capacity with various types of scientific equipment.

  They came to a set of double doors and Michael pushed them open, revealing a staircase. He heard voices echoing from above. With a quick glance at his brother, they made their way up the steps, peeking around the open double doors on the floor above. It led out to another hallway.

  He followed the
voices until they came to a door. As they inched up closer, Michael noticed it was open a crack and he peered inside. It was all he could do not to cry out.

  Herrington was screaming at someone and grabbed a woman by the hair. Michael shuddered when he saw her black eye and the tears running down her face. It was his mother. The dress she had worn the night of the awards was covered in blood and practically in tatters. Black rage nearly blinded him. He pushed Danny back against the wall and held him there.

  “Maddy, your cover’s blown and Dobber’s dead. I killed him myself.”

  Maddy gasped. “Please, I can explain.”

  Herrington threw his mother to the floor. “Explain? You can explain nothing. The boys are here on the island, and my men are searching for them as we speak. I found your lab, the documents, and I have the machine sitting in my office. I don’t need traitors like you any longer.” He turned to his guards. “Kill her.”

  Maddy grabbed Herrington’s leg, pleading. “Please, leave my boys alone. They know nothing. I can still help you. Help you with the machine. You don’t know how it works. I promise I’ll tell you, just leave my boys alone.”

  Michael closed his eyes for a moment against the sound of his mother’s begging.

  Herrington pulled his leg disgustedly from her grasp and moved away from her. “As soon as we understand how Danny’s powers work, which I’m sure won’t take too long, I’m going to lock him up. Perfect little lab rat, don’t you think? As for Michael, my data indicates he has no special powers.” He stared at Maddy evilly. “I have a few new strains of viruses to try out. Think he’ll agree to be my guinea pig?”

  Maddy screamed, “Don’t you touch him!” She stood and ran towards Herrington.

  “Kill her!” he ordered, as one of the guards aimed his gun. Just as he was about to fire, Michael’s father sprang from where he had been lying silently on the floor. He flew across the room and threw himself in front of Maddy.

  “No!” Maddy let out a blood-curdling shriek, as the gun went off. She grabbed her husband as he fell to the floor. “Gary, oh, Gary,” she screamed, over and over. She desperately tried to stop the blood from pouring out of his chest. Once she realized it was futile, she turned to Herrington with the most intense look of hatred in her eyes. “I’ll kill you for this.” She flew towards him. He shot her point blank in the stomach. She fell to the ground, right on top of her husband.

  In less than ten seconds Michael’s life was shattered, and he lost all sense. Shrieking, he flew into the room, collapsing onto his parents, and sobbing hysterically.

  “Get him,” Herrington ordered.

  The guards grabbed Michael and forced him to his feet.

  Herrington stormed over and grabbed his hair, forcing Michael to face him. “Where’s Danny?”

  Michael spit in his face.

  Disgusted, Herrington reeled back and punched Michael in the stomach. “You’re worthless, just like your parents.” He turned to his guards. “Go find the kid, he won’t be far away.”

  Michael struggled against his captors, trying to find his breath. “Leave my brother alone,” he wheezed. “He can’t help you.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Herrington glanced at his guards again. “Now go. Get me Danny.”

  “He’s right here, Mr. Herrington,” another guard said quietly. He held Danny’s lifeless body in his arms. “He’s dead, Mr. Herrington.”

  Herrington’s eyes bulged in incomprehension. “What do you mean he’s dead? Was he shot?”

  The guard shook his head. “No, sir. There’s no blood or anything. He was just lying in the hallway, outside this door. I checked his pulse. There’s nothing. He’s dead, sir.”

  Michael started screaming, fighting his captors. “You murderers. You killed my brother and my parents.” With renewed strength he pulled free and hurled himself at Herrington.

  Herrington took out a knife from his arm sheath, but before Michael reached him, Michael’s body convulsed. His back became rigid and his head arched back, gagging sounds coming from his throat.

  “What’s the matter with him?” Herrington asked, dropping the knife in surprise.

  “I don’t know,” the guard answered, confused.

  Michael’s eyes rolled back in his head, before his entire body went limp. He collapsed in the guard’s arms.

  The guard laid him on the ground and took his pulse. He glanced up at his boss, stunned. “He’s dead too, Mr. Herrington. I don’t understand.”

  Herrington screamed out a host of obscenities, grabbed a chair, and threw it across the room. He stormed over to Michael and seized his arm, trying to jerk him to his feet. Michael’s body remained limp. Disgusted, Herrington threw him onto his mother. Then he stormed over to Danny, picked him up, and threw him on top of his father.

  Michael watched through half-closed eyes, paralyzed and unable to move. He was drifting, like he was falling into a deep sleep. In the distance, Herrington ranted about poison and antidotes, how the Andersons would rather have their children dead than have him learn about Danny’s powers. He commanded the rest of the guards to locate the FBI spies who had infiltrated the facility and described the penalty they’d incur if he found anyone else who had slipped through his grasp.

  Just as Michael was about to fade out completely, he heard Herrington bark one final order to another guard who just came into the room.

  “Bob, it’s about time you got here. Wrap up the bodies. I’m taking them to the mainland. Let’s try to salvage something from this.”

  As the last vestiges of consciousness left him, he heard the reply. “Of course, Mr. Herrington.”

  It was the voice of Mr. Daley.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  In the Light

  Michael blinked. Where was he? He drifted through a rainbow. Slowly, he extended his hand into the prism of colors. A beam of light extended from each of his fingers, each reflecting a different color of the spectrum. He gazed around him, noticing how he floated through the sky, drifting up higher and higher, circling towards a beautiful beam of brilliant white light. The illumination was so radiant he thought he might have to look away, or his eyes would get burned. Instead, he found he could stare directly at it and see right through its glare. In fact, the more he stared, the more he thought he saw someone within the glow waving at him.

  “C’mon, Michael!”

  It was Danny.

  “I’m coming, Danny,” he cried out ecstatically, soaring towards his brother. “You can hear me?”

  “Yes, I can. Now, come on! We’ve been waiting for you—and do I have something to show you.” He disappeared from view.

  “I’m coming, wait up,” Michael called back, as he flew directly into the light. Suddenly, the image changed. He was no longer in the clouds and alone. He was no longer flying, but standing in a beautiful valley surrounded on all sides by green mountains. It was the same place he had visited in the limousine when the bird flew right through him, though now the feeling and experience was magnified a thousand-fold.

  He gazed to his right at a brook lined with rose bushes and hundreds of different kinds of flowers. The perfume the blossoms gave off was intoxicating and made him feel slightly drunk. As he laughed out loud in unexplained joy he felt around him the presence of multitudes of birds and souls. Once he realized they were there he couldn’t help but see them by the thousands, and he thought he should feel claustrophobic. Instead, it was the most natural feeling in the world.

  “Danny, where are we?” He wanted to ask more questions, but stopped. That’s when he saw them.

  “Mom! Dad!”

  Both his parents emerged, unhurt, from behind a grove of trees, Danny in the rear. Michael sprinted towards them, and though he felt himself running, it was more like gliding. What would have taken him thirty seconds to do down below, he could do here in five. Michael bounded into his mom’s and dad’s arms as they descended on him with hugs and kisses.

  “Oh, my boy,” his mother cried, squeezing him
so hard she took his breath away. “My sweet boy.”

  He turned to his father. “Dad.”

  Gary cried, slapping him on the back and then grabbed him into a huge bear hug. “Oh, Michael. I couldn’t have trusted Danny with anyone more than I trusted him with you. I am so very proud of you.”

  “Hey, look everyone!” Danny called out, pointing up to the sky. “There’s a whole new group coming in.”

  They all gasped as thousands of pure white doves suddenly filled the sky. The light from the sun bounced off each of the doves and formed a rainbow which showered a glittering cascade of colors onto each of them until they were no longer bathed in sunlight but in brilliant, sparkly hues of red, yellow, and blue.

  “Danny, what is it?” Michael laughed, delightedly as rainbow colored snowflakes seemed to fall around him.

  “Just the new souls coming in,” Danny said. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? They’re going on higher.”

  “What’s higher than here, Danny?” Michael asked. “This must be Heaven because I can hear you. Did we make it to level fifteen?” Abruptly he stopped smiling and he stared at his brother, panicked. “Oh, my God, this means I’m dead, doesn’t it? We all are, aren’t we?” He gazed at his family and felt overwhelming grief.

  His mother patted his arm. “Michael, Danny explained some of it to us while we were waiting for you. We’re not dead, yet. As soon as Herrington shot your father and me, Danny took himself straight to level fifteen and brought us with him. I don’t understand how he did it, but he had us bypass the transgression phase where we would remain in our bird bodies until we took ourselves into the light. It seems we never went into them at all and just came straight here. He wanted it to look like we died so Herrington would leave us alone, but we’re actually still alive, though barely. Our souls can be brought back and as soon as it’s safe Danny will lead us back into our bodies. Did I explain it right, Danny?”

  Danny nodded and smiled. He glanced down and watched the ground intensely. Michael followed his gaze, but all he could see was the ground covered with green grass and tiny yellow wildflowers. “What is it, Danny?”