Shadow Play 5

by Vega Lizzie

  “That’s the key,” Shannon said quietly, ‘You’re slightly more connected to her than I am. This is the closest thing that Chloe has as a personal talisman. It links her with her past and us with her. Hold it tight and repeat after me.”

  Terra’s eyes went wide, “but…what if…?”

  “I’m right here. You’ll maybe get a glimpse to experience some of what she’s feeling. It’s a long shot but try to see where she is.” She sat down next to Terra, “I’ll yank you out if it gets sketchy.”

  “I don’t care. Do it. What do I say?”

  Shannon shook her head as she took Terra’s hands, “I’m working on it, uh I’ll go part way with you…okay, scarf on your chin. How do you feel?”

  “I’m scared,” Terra whispered as she pressed the scarf to her cheek, “Hang on Chloe, we’re coming to get you.”

  “We search for those in torment,” Shannon began only to have Terra wince at her words. “Open the gate so that we may pass. In the flowing of wind and water, our bond will form.” Shannon paused as Terra began to slump toward the mattress, her eyes fluttering. As she reached to keep Chloe’s scarf close to Terra’s face, she felt a warmth pass over them as if the room had suddenly grown hot.

  “Don’t be afraid, Chloe,” Shannon whispered, trying to keep her shaking voice calm, “We will soon need that warm knowing smile of yours to guide us. Reach out to Terra. Find Terra. Don’t give up.”

  Suddenly Shannon was in a room filled with heat. There was a constant and painful pressure on her arm. Looking down at her hand, there were broken fingernails and ragged scratches along her arm. As she looked across the room, she felt a soft pressure on her right hand. Through the pulsating haze of the heat, she sensed Terra. But Chloe’s voice suddenly came out of nowhere, it was anything but soft and meek, “Let me go,” she bellowed and Shannon could hear the echo of Terra’s voice in her words, “They’re gonna come for you and there’s nothing you can do to stop them.”

  Shannon heard footsteps off to the side. As she turned, there were haybales stacked to the ceiling. She heard a soft whirring sound as Darien stood a few feet away twirling what looked to be an electrified baseball bat in his hands. “Shut up, I’m tired of your lip.” He squatted down to her, pointing at her with the bat, “You’re the bait and after you’ve served your purpose, I’ve got a special treat, just for you up at the shack.”

  Shannon turned her head sharply. The moment she began to move, she tried to pull out from the bridging, her mouth opened, and she drew a deep breath…“Terra…don’t say anythi…”

  The sight faded as she pulled away, the defiance in Chloe’s words dropped to a fading whisper, then she felt a hard slap across her face and was back in Chloe’s bedroom. She instantly yanked the scarf from Terra’s hands as Terra’s head jerked back, her eyes white as snow.

  Terra’s consciousness arrived in the middle of a scream. Both women put their hands to their faces as blood seeped from the corners of their mouths. It only took a moment for Terra to recover and she was instantly on her feet. She stood there, her fists tight and her chest heaving, “I heard you. I heard you say that. I couldn’t help it.” The bright blue surging of plasma began to circle around her legs and Shannon stood to take her hand.

  “He’s gonna kill her,” Terra wailed, “it’s my fault…I couldn’t shut my mouth.” She wiped her hand roughly across her face, looking at the doorway, “I’ll see you in three minutes.”

  “Wait,” Shannon said softly, still gently holding Terra’s hand, “I’ve got a plan. Then you can kick some cowboy ass.”

  Her tone surprised Terra and she powered down, “Alright. Let’s hear it.”

  Five minutes later, a smirking Terra quietly materialized from the void behind the pickup truck at the end of the block. Kneeling behind the jacked up truck, she cursed them under her breath as she generated two small plasma spheres and rolled them silently under the rear wheels of the over accessorized vehicle, “Off-road morons,” she muttered as the heat began to grow under the heavy treaded tires, “overcompensation for so many little things.”

  With a whisper she faded back into the void and was back in Chloe’s living room. “Got about two minutes,” she glared, “then we can make our move. I really wish we knew where she was.”

  Shannon agreed but remained calm. “We’ll buy some time,” she said confidently, “first we have to talk Liam and Issac into committing a federal offense.”

  “Love it. Are you gonna tell me or do I have to guess?” Terra peeked out the window toward their not so secret observers, “They’re clueless. I’d say about a minute left. We can go.”

  Shannon grabbed Terra and kissed her, “Thanks for being patient. I know how much she means to you. Me too.”

  As they stepped out onto the little porch of the house, a bright blue flash lit up the end of the block as the two plasma spheres melted through the tires. The rear end of the truck dropped down onto its’ springs as the two young men watching the house flew out the truck.

  Headed towards their car, Terra angled toward the street and threw her middle finger. “We’ll be in touch,” she yelled down the street as the smoke from the tires swirled around the two cowboys.

  Chapter 39

  “We’re gonna have to hurry, aren’t we?”

  Shannon’s earlier bravado had begun fade and her sober look on her face said everything. “I’m not entirely sure what to expect when we get there, but very minute counts. I’ve got to practice the incantation so if I’m quiet…”

  “I understand,” Terra said softly, “whatever you need, I’m with you a hundred percent.”

  “I’m sorry that I kept things from you. Colin warned me not to share with the family, that some things might be misinterpreted.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Shan. We all trust you. You say the word and we go.”

  “Seems like everybody agrees,” Shannon smirked, “Liam seemed especially intrigued with my idea.”

  “Issac will need his own therapy after this. His bad boy image needed some work anyway.” Terra’s phone pinged, “Marcus has booked our transportation. It’s gonna be a rough ride.”

  It was quiet for a moment and Shannon stole a glance at Terra, “It’ll be fine,” she said with a slightly forced smile, “I’ve got my thoroughbred with me.”

  Terra found a chuckle but the sudden shift in emotions boiled over, “Don’t make me cry. We gotta look normal at the stables.”

  It was all Shannon could do not to run ahead of the horses out of the riding stable. Her anxiety was now on full display. “What did you tell him again?” she asked Terra, “he’s awfully casual about lending us these horses.”

  “We’re good, let’s get going.” Terra turned in her saddle to see the stable manager walking to his pickup, apparently done for the day. “I told him that we would ride out and have them back a bit late but fed and brushed. These are the strongest of the quarter horses.” She patted her horse on his neck, “Apparently, this one can be a little crabby on occasion.”

  “Terra?”

  “Fine, we pretty much have naming rights at this point because as we were talking, a rather large rental payment showed up in his account.”

  “Oh, God, how much?”

  “More than enough,” she answered as his truck left the lot. They were alone at the barns, “We gotta go. There’s not much daylight left. He’s gone. Let’s ride.”

  Riding at full gallop they veered the horses into a different ravine, then cut over in a short cut. Terra watched Shannon as she rode alongside her. Her face was sober in concentration but every few seconds, she would look to the horizon, then off toward the distant rock faces.

  After a long silence, she looked over, “It’s okay we have about twenty minutes, we’ll make it. We’ll get this done.”

  Shannon looked at Terra. There were tears streaming across her cheeks, blown back by the wind in their faces. Suddenly, she looked up, pointing at a break between the rolling hills, “which way?”


  “Left side,” Terra called out, “I studied this for you. There’s a switchback in another half mile, takes us straight to the flatland, then full speed ‘til we get there.”

  “Sorry,” Shannon called out as her horse rounded a rock outcropping, “I’m trying to stay calm.” Her heels dug into the side of her horse again and together they lurched toward the next section of the unknown trail. “You and me both,” Terra called out, “I feel responsible for getting her into this.”

  Now slightly ahead of Shannon, Terra brought her horse tightly around the next turn only to have the animal suddenly rear back and come to an almost dead stop. A large mule deer rose out of the tall brush alongside the trail and bolted across the dry creek bed.

  Terra leaned against her horse’s charging momentum but flew off the saddle, landing hard on the dry creek bed. Rolling in the dirt, she cried out then came to a stop in a cloud of dust.

  “Terra,” Shannon screamed as she brought her horse to a stop. Jumping off her horse, she gathered up the reigns of both horses as Terra struggled to stand up. Covered in dirt, she turned to Shannon, groaning, “I’m okay. That…that damn deer came out of nowhere.” She put her hand to her head, “Ow. I’m really getting the beat down, this time.”

  “Oh, Jesus, you’re bleeding…I…we gotta…”

  “Go,” Terra signaled with a wave of her hand, “Get, ugh-going…I’ll catch up, just go.” She brushed her hand through her hair and coughed, “I’m okay. I can Travel if I have to… You can’t. As Shannon mounted her horse, Terra yelled at her, “Go…we gotta save Chloe.” Reaching out, she slapped the hindquarter of Shannon’s horse. As Shannon disappeared around the corner, Terra labored to take a deep breath, then felt her ribcage.

  “Good boy,” she said roughly as she gathered his reins, “now don’t be a jerk for me.” Grabbing the saddle horn, she tried to pull herself up only to yelp in pain and let go of the horse. He instantly backed away from her.

  “C’mere, boy. Over here” she said softly to the horse as she led him to next to the edge of a large boulder. Using the rock as a boost, the second attempt was successful, and she began to bring him to a quick canter. Only then did she feel the back of her head. Bringing her hand back from the throbbing, the scarlet blood across her fingers did nothing to make her feel better, or to slow her down. With one eye on the setting sun, she saw Shannon crest the top of the rise in front of her.

  With the landmark stand of trees in sight, the beginning flare from the first rock face was begining to glow in Terra’s peripheral vision, “No…not yet,” she cried out, “Shannon,” she screamed, “Go. Make him run.” Time was now critical. She had remembered how fleetingly short the beautiful display had been as the family stood on the side of the roadway and tears began to flow.

  Making the final turn, Terra caught up with Shannon and both horses ran through the scrub and tumbleweed at a full gallop. Shannon hadn’t said a word but her grim expression told Terra that she was scared to death.

  Just then the landscape in front of them lit up in a bright contrast to the approaching dusk. All three peaks had been captured by the setting sun and the rock face in front of them glowed, beckoning them to approach.

  Dismounting and running the last few yards, they stopped as the embankment dropped away to the bone filled chasm below. Shannon was almost hysterical with Terra close behind, “Do it,” Terra cried out, “start the incantation…hurry.” Without thinking she painfully bent down and dredged up a handful of gravel just as they wall of light against the back of the wall began to fade.

  Shaking and out of control, Shannon began speaking in a low halting tone. Something in Latin over and over. As the light began to fade, her voice broke, but the words continued in an almost frantic chant, “In tempore inter mundos, pons animarum revelare… pons animarum revelare… please…please, pons…please reveal the…bridge of souls…please,” she broke down and began to sob as the light continued to fade.

  Terra grabbed onto her, “No…no not yet. We made it in time, Shannon say it.” She threw the handful of rocks out over the bone pit, “It’s still there, say it again. Don’t give up.”

  Several of the smaller stones bounced along an unseen platform, but as many fell through to the pit below. “It’s there, Shan. Keep going, it’s still there.”

  Shannon stepped to the edge of the chasm and rocks and gravel spilling down the side of the dangerously steep incline. “It’s gone…” she sobbed as her foot landed against an unseen support, “I’m too late…it’s over.”

  “No,” Terra cried out, but she began to cough and hack. Suddenly she dropped to one knee, sliding close to the edge of the chasm. With a final sob, she fell forward onto the ground, her arms reaching toward the far embankment. Shannon heard the quiet revving of Terra’s energy shielding.

  A green glistening carpet spread from her hands, “Go” she sobbed, “You’ve got to try. I’ll hold it for as long as I can.”

  The glowing protective carpet that Terra had generated at their quarry reunion spread out from her hands and began to creep and weave itself across the open pit.

  “Keep chanting,” Terra begged, “just keep going.”

  As Shannon stepped out on the carpet, Terra groaned painfully. “I’m good. Try to balance…good…I’m good.” As Shannon took a larger step, Terra’s groaning ramped up and she took one hand back to hold it tight against her ribs, “Plasma…light it up with your plasma.”

  Still chanting softly, Shannon made her way carefully across the open pit. She too had gathered a handful of gravel and began to parcel it out across the carpet as she walked. Some of the pebbles fell through at the edges while others stayed still on the surface of Terra’s energy field.

  “Go,” she heard quietly from behind, “Please…keep going.”

  Terra laid her head in the dirt to take a breath and while Shannon was only halfway across the pit, the shield faltered as a blank streak shot the length of the walkway.

  “Terra,” Shannon called out as she looked down at the hundreds of bones and sharp antlers pointing up at her, “stay with me. Keep going. I’m almost there…please try harder.” A second empty section shot across the path and Shannon narrowly avoided stepping through it.

  “I’m trying,” she heard through the static hum, “I’m…” Suddenly it went quiet as everything around them became still. No breeze, no evening birdsong or movement anywhere.

  A small wedge of light appeared on the edge of the solid rock wall. Shannon was only a few feet away and she lunged for the safety of the cliff’s edge. Her heels hit the soft earth just as Terra passed out on the far side and the shimmering pathway went dark. Only then did Shannon hear the low hum as the ground at her feet began to vibrate.

  As the dirt and rocks around her began to break away from the rockface, a small crack appeared to Shannon’s right. From the one side of the ledged the wall of stone shifted, and the crevice shot across the moss-covered granite wall. First up and then at an angle, Shannon watched as the thin crevice grew in front of her. As it widened, it shot straight across the granite and suddenly the shaking earth was quiet.

  Shannon looked back at Terra only to see her exhausted and still on the far side of the pit. She turned back to the stone wall and placed her hand on the cold broken monolith, “I’m here now. I can’t have come this far to have this end in failure.” She broke down in tears, “Please, I have to save her. I have to save her now.”

  More shards of the stone began to break from around her fingers then settled again. The light shining from the small crack seemed to be taunting her.

  “I don’t have the right words to say and I don’t understand my role in all of this. I have a family to care for…that’s all I know how to do. I want their future to be bright.”

  Now the rock wall shifted, and the grinding of the sections created a small hollow for Shannon’s hand. Inside was a handprint carved into the granite. As Shannon pushed, a section of the rock face drew back inside the wall of stone, its
angular door shape lit by a soft light from the inside. With a final deep breath, Shannon walked into the side of the hill.

  “Terra, wake up,” Shannon beckoned as she knelt next to her, “we have to go.”

  Terra stirred, then jerked awake with a shriek, “What the hell happened?” She sat up quickly then realized she felt better than her earlier experience should allow. Opening her hand, only dirt and pebbles fell to the ground, “Did I go to sleep? Shouldn’t be darker?” She looked across the bone pit as a soft golden light faded from the bridgeway.

  Shannon only shrugged and Terra blinked as the chunky golden crescent necklace around Shannon’s neck began to disappear. In the center of the moon-shaped pendant, “Chloe’s crystal. It’s the moon shape.”

  Shannon shrugged again, “We need to go. I’ll try to explain…once I figure it out myself.”

  “I suppose no owner’s manual, right?” Terra joked as she stood up brushing the dirt off herself, “I feel like I’ve slept for a week and,” she looked down at her empty hands again, “like Silva did me another favor.” She grimaced into the air, “Sorry, chief.”

  “No instructions in the conventional sense,” Shannon smiled as she brushed Terra’s cheek. “Let’s round up the horses. Mine took off running. Yours is standing there waiting for you.” Just then the stallion’s head turned toward the rock face.

  “Shannon,” Terra whispered, “over your shoulder. Look.”

  In the remaining dusk, two elk stood on the top of the hillside, framed in the dying light of the day. As the women looked on, the majestic animals were joined by three others. Two with long single spiked antlers stood off to the side and a third, larger bull that stayed just off the crest of the hillside.

  “Isn’t that interesting,” Shannon said as the animals stood silently watching the two women, “And for once, the bull is standing back. Maybe he knows this isn’t his show. The younger ones have joined the cows to see us off.” Just then one of the cows raised her head and let out a high-pitched call. The one standing next to her did the same as a series of quiet calls and grunts came from the younger animals.