Alex McKenna & the Academy of Souls

by Vicki-Ann Bush

  "In order to open the gateway to The Nowhere, you have to be a sorcerer. Also, to open any gateway to the in-between worlds, you have to have a sorcerer too. Roger wasn't a sorcerer, and neither is Leon."

  "So how did they do it?" Ophelia curled her lip.

  "We better find out, otherwise we're in deep shit." Kyle stood up.

  "Let's take a look at some of the other chapters," Ophelia whispered.

  "Lia. Why the mellow voice?" Amry chortled.

  "I don't know. This all seems so mysterious."

  "It sort of is, isn't it?"

  Ophelia shook her head in agreement.

  "Okay then," Amry whispered.

  Ophelia grinned.

  "The incantation is marked in red. Leon or Roger must have done that. However, when I flipped forward a few chapters, there's this." Ophelia pointed to the page.

  Written in green on the left margin of the page was a poem. One to open, one to close, to do it again, no one knows. For one soul the course is true, darkness comes, it's different for you. One to close, the deed is done, never ending, The Nowhere won.

  "Uh, what the hell does this mean? The deed is done. The Nowhere wins?" Kyle stuttered.

  "It means, we keep this book a little while longer. We have questions and maybe this darn thing can answer them," answered Ophelia.

  "Take charge, Lia." Amry grinned.

  "Does everyone agree?" Ophelia asked.

  "Agreed," they said in unison.

  Further reading uncovered specific spells to get a soul to the in-between realms. You could accidentally cross into an open gateway, otherwise, only a sorcerer could gain access. It wasn't just the execution of words, but it was the magick needed to travel. There were twenty-eight known, in-between realms. Each needing its own incantation to navigate there. Opting into an in-between without the sorcerer by your side, was ill advised. The realms could be tricky and deceiving, trapping you.

  "This book mostly describes the in-betweens. There's very little about, The Nowhere," Ophelia muttered.

  "Maybe that's because no one knows. I mean think about it. Once you're banished, there's almost no coming back. How could anyone possibly have any details?" Amry rolled her eyes.

  "She's right." Kyle agreed.

  "Yeah she is," Bethany chimed in.

  "Do you agree with everything he says?" Ophelia complained.

  "What?" Bethany's lip quivered.

  "Nothing. I'm sorry Bethany. Forgive me?" Ophelia pleaded.

  Bethany reluctantly shook her head.

  Ophelia hated herself for talking to her friend like that. The pressure of Leon and Roger combined with Haven and now the breather, Alex McKenna, was overwhelming her. Oh, and not to forget the icing on the cake, their little project, Zachary.

  "Nuts. We've been here all day. Maybe we should go check on Zachary," Ophelia suggested.

  "I think you're right," Amry interjected.

  They decided to stay together. Making the usual rounds, and turning up empty handed, Ophelia suggested the movie theater.

  Located at the north end of the campus just before the Headmaster's private cottage, it was the place where aspirations still existed, and Ophelia's other favorite escape. Nothing could beat the possibilities that books created, but this was definitely a close second. Maybe Zachary felt the same way. After all, as much as he complained about the library, he seems to spend a lot of time there.

  The Headmaster had ordered everyone back to their normal schedules. Leon was still out there, but he was not having his school paralyzed by one sour soul. Since the arrival of reinforcements, the security team was everywhere. A perk about being the Headmaster, he knew people.

  The theater was nearly empty. There was a cartoon playing. Something Ophelia recognized from the last movie they had seen. Hovering from a bird’s eye view, she spotted Zachary on the right side, about halfway down the theater. Pointing to him, the group followed her down and took a seat behind him.

  Ophelia leaned in and expelled a long breath in his ear. Startled, Zachary jumped out of his seat.

  Laughing, she sat back. He didn't scare her anymore. She wasn't sure why, he just didn't.

  Zachary looked down, fuming.

  "A stranger girl never I knew. You are..."

  "I'm what?"

  "You are lucky that I am not in the mood." Zachary scowled.

  "Just shut up and come back to your seat."

  Zachary migrated to the center of the theater and sat down. The four followed him.

  "What is wrong with all of you? Why don't you leave me alone?" Zachary demanded.

  "You know why. Besides, it's been a long time since we've all seen a movie. How about we stay? What do you guys think?" Ophelia grinned.

  "Sounds like a plan, Stan," Kyle chuckled.

  "Wonderful." Zachary replied sarcastically.

  While the group hunkered down in the seats, Ophelia floated on a pocket of air in the center row. Eye level with the screen and submerged in the characters, she soaked up every bit of dialogue. She had only seen one movie before that car took her future, and it was only a short black and white documentary on the blizzards in New York City.

  This was so much more. She was completely enamored with anything Hollywood. Ophelia swore that if her life hadn't been taken so abruptly, she would have been an actress like Mary Pickford. She wasn't much bigger than the actress and who knew? Maybe she would have been America's darling.

  Ophelia peered down at her friends and the delinquent in their charge. She felt differently than when they first met Zachary. As if he were hiding himself. He talked like he was a criminal, but his actions didn't back up his words. Since he had gotten to the Academy, he'd pretty much kept himself. Maybe there was more to Zachary Kowal than he let them see.

  Amry waved for her to come down, but Ophelia just nodded. She was where she wanted to be. The film was a comedy from the late nineties, Galaxy Quest. About a group of actors starring in a television series where they portray space travelers. The funny part begins when it happens to them in real life. Ophelia had found it hilarious, although she didn't quite understand all of it. She preferred the silent films herself.

  Lying back, her body glided on the tracks of air, swaying her slightly. The opulent decor surrounding her, cushioned the part of life she missed. Her soul soaked in the majesty of a world that had passed her by. The stories she watched on screen, and heard from recent students, were nothing like the time she knew. Modern. Contemporary. Urban.

  Walking through a mall, playing with an iPhone, and the deliciousness of fast food.

  Her thoughts clouded her mind, robbing her of the peace she had felt moments ago. Reminding her of experiences she would never know.

  Shaking it off, she pulled herself back to the present.

  Ophelia hadn't noticed when the stranger seated next to Amry arrived. They were engaged in conversation. An older gentleman wearing a black suit and a white shirt with a long gray beard draping over the collar and nestling on his round belly. He leaned in close and whispered furiously. Straining her neck to get a better look at the man, an Amish style hat hid most of his face. Abruptly, they ended their talk and he left.

  "Lia. Can you come down here for a minute?" Amry called.

  Ophelia sat up and floated down to an empty seat next to her.

  "Everything all right?" Ophelia whispered.

  "Yeah. I had a question for you. When Haven ran out into the street to get the ball, where were you?"

  "What? Why are you asking me this? You know where I was," Ophelia snapped.

  "The porch, right?"

  "Yes."

  "You heard the horn, saw the car and ran out to Haven, right?"

  "Indeed. What is going on? Why are you bringing this up?" Ophelia pursed her lips.

  "I need to be sure I got the facts right," Amry replied.

  "The facts right for what? Enough of this secrecy, tell me now," Ophelia raised her voice.

  "Will you two take it outside, we're try
ing to watch the movie," Kyle scolded.

  "Okay Lia, let's go to the lobby."

  The two girls whisked up toward the ceiling and whooshed into the lobby. Ophelia sat down on the bottom step of the staircase leading to the balcony.

  "Amry, I don't know what you are doing, but stop. You of all people know how badly this upsets me. I haven't heard any new information about the Soul Gatherer or Haven in months. Bringing up that day just makes it worse," Ophelia pleaded.

  "I'm sorry, Lia. I know it's painful. But I was trying to help you."

  "Help me, how? And who was that man you were talking to?"

  "His name is Albert Johnson. He's been here awhile. Refuses to cross over. Says he can do better by sticking around. I heard about him from one of the other teachers. That is, I heard one of the teachers talking about him. I tracked him down yesterday. This was our first meeting."

  "And what was it you wanted from him?"

  "Two things, actually. First, to find out if he knew anything about Haven and the Soul Gatherer."

  "Does he?" Ophelia scooted closer.

  "He's gonna work on it. Says he knows who we're talking about. The Soul Gatherer has been around a long time, way before Mr. Johnson got here. He has a contact he can speak to. He'll get back to us in a few days." Amry rubbed Ophelia's shoulder.

  "And the second thing?"

  "Um, that's the one I wanted to find out for you, but also for all of us." Amry wriggled."Just say it. You are making my stomach ball up in knots." Ophelia rubbed her belly.

  "That."

  "That what?"

  "The thing you just did. Rubbing your stomach like it hurts."

  "It does hurt." Ophelia knitted her brow.

  "I know. But why does it hurt?"

  "I just told y..."

  "No. Why do you feel pain? Warmth? The need to sleep. None of us have experienced anything other than the energy drainage from making ourselves solid for too long. Why can you do this? I know it bugs you. And it confuses us. I thought it was time we got some solid answers. Headmaster Abernathy continues to brush it off. Tells us he'll investigate it, but I think he already knows and doesn't want to say. That's why I asked Mr. Johnson to help. But I wanted to be sure the facts I gave him were correct." Amry leaned into Ophelia.

  "You know they are," Ophelia spoke in a small voice.

  "I do. But this had to be accurate, so we could get answers. I was just fact checking. Hey, I thought you'd be excited?"

  "I am. It's just, I don't know if I want to hear the answer. What if it's something creepy?"

  "Something creepy?" Amry laughed, "We're already dead, how much creepier can we get?"

  Ophelia giggled. All the tension she felt a moment ago, vanished. Amry was right. No matter the explanation, it didn’t really matter. She was celestial and there was no coming back from that.

  A surge of electricity raced through her pseudo veins once she allowed the thought to take hold.

  Maybe I will finally find out why I am different. And Haven..., she felt lightheaded.

  Amry continued, "He told me the Soul Gatherer has been here since forever. Like the beginning. No one knows what happened to him and why he won't cross. But he's fondest of the children. Maybe something happened to his own kids or something. I don't know. Hopefully, Mr. Johnson will be able to help you find Haven."

  "I miss her so much. The thought that she is out there alone, sickens me. Our parents don't know what happened to us. If I can find Haven, we can be reunited." Ophelia's eyes sparkled.

  "I know. It'll be a happy, and sad day." Amry looked away

  "What is wrong?" Ophelia was confused.

  "You'll be gone. I'll be alone."

  "No, you won't. You'll still have Kyle and Bethany. Besides, maybe if I'm gone, you'll figure out why you're still here. Then we can be together on the other side. You will see your family again, too."

  Ophelia tried to soothe her friend. It hurt her, too. The thought of never seeing Amry again tore her up.

  "You're right. The whole thing is so weird, though. You'd think after all these years, I'd get used to the dead thing. But the truth is, most of the time I'm clueless. I just put up a good front. I do miss my family, but I've never spent too much time on the why. I just knew I was here." Amry frowned.

  "We'll figure this out. Thank you, for trying to find Haven. And, also for me. I wish I knew you when I was alive." Ophelia hugged Amry.

  "Yeah, me too. Although, by the time I was born, you'd be really old." Amry grinned.

  "Details." Ophelia smiled. "So, where do we go from here?"

  "We wait."

  "What about Alex? I think he's important to all of this." Ophelia fidgeted with her hands.

  "I need to tell Mr. Johnson. Maybe he knows something about Alex McKenna."

  "No, don't say anything. Please. Let Mr. Johnson find out what he can and, in the meantime, I’m going wait for the portal to open again. And this time, I'll be ready with questions."

  "Okay Lia, however, you want to do this. I'm in." Amry hugged her.

  The girls went back into the theater after a promise of keeping this to themselves until they had more information.

  Ophelia levitated back to her comfort spot, taking with her the newly found feeling of hope. Letting out a heavy sigh, she quieted the traffic in her head and let the movie shove out all the questions. There would be plenty of those over the next few days. For now, she needed to laugh.

  8

  Cain Amry Thearige Academy

  Two days had passed since Amry had told Ophelia about Mr. Johnson, and the quest to find Haven. The waiting was the worst, and no matter how many questions she had for Amry, there were no answers yet.

  It was Sunday evening and Monday classes had been canceled. The teachers were off to a yearly council meeting to discuss the curriculum for the new year. Or, at least that's what they told the students. Ophelia felt there was more to it, but there was no evidence of this assumption, only her gut interfering with her brain. She decided to settle in and read a new book, 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz. He had become her favorite author in death. Books had drastically changed over the past one hundred eight years, and she for one, loved it.

  A trickle of chills ran up the cavity that once held her spine, and her hands ached from the night air. Closing the window, she decided a hot shower would melt away the beginning of spring, which, in the evening, offered a complete contrast to the seventy plus degrees of the day. Apparently, she wasn't the only one to feel the angst of the living. Someone needed to tell the Academy it operated in the world of the dead and stop with the seasonal changes. But then again...why were there showers? She quickly dismissed the thought. It didn't matter, she was happy they were there.

  Stepping into the water, she closed her eyes and let her energy drink up the relaxing calm of security. Peace flooded her overactive thoughts, and the vision of white sheets bellowing in a soft breeze succeeded in completing the harmony. When she was sure the events from the past few days had been securely locked away, she eased down the lever, reducing the waterfall to a trickle, and then a memory.

  Wrapped in a plush pale pink robe, she pulled the comforter down on her bed and wriggled underneath the covers. Fluffing her pillow, she propped it up against the wall and enjoyed the moment. Since you only receive one outfit upon arrival to your beginning, having the comfort of a warm robe was an exception the Headmaster made just for Ophelia. He told her it was a gift to make her time at the Academy more comfortable. Ophelia knew it was because she was the only celestial to take showers, and naked was not an option for high school.

  Closing her eyes, Ophelia could still picture her bedroom in the house she had loved so much. A large, oak dresser with matching mirror captured the eye as you walked into her room. Her mother had a huge, paisley patterned area rug placed under her four-poster bed for the cold winter mornings. A gold, brocade comforter with tiny, brown flowers was the main attraction. It had been ordered from Paris and took several months to
arrive. Ophelia adored the lush, plump feeling as it draped over her at night.

  Opening her eyes, she squirmed further down, tucking the comforter under her chin. Inhaling the scent of print to paper, she turned the page to the first chapter.

  Bam! The door flung open, slamming into the wall. Startled, Ophelia shot up, dropping her book on the floor.

  "Lia!" Amry's voice was penetrating.

  "What is going on?" Ophelia tensed up.

  . "You need to get dressed. Now." Amry pulled out a dress from Ophelia's side of the closet.

  "What's wrong? You're scaring me." Ophelia slid into her mid-length dress and snatched a sweater from Amry's hand.

  "I'm sorry, but we have to go."

  "Where are we going?"

  "Kyle and Bethany are waiting for us downstairs. Headmaster wants us to take Zachary and hide in the in-between."

  "What?" Ophelia's eyes widened.

  "I'll explain later, promise. No time for privacy and closed doors. Grab my hand!"

  One step through the wall and they were in the lobby with Kyle and Bethany.

  "Where's Zachary?" Ophelia spun around searching the room.

  "He's in the Headmaster's office. We're going there now." Amry took Ophelia's hand.

  "Wait. Is Zachary in danger? Why the in-between?"

  "Yes. And because the Headmaster said so," Amry stated.

  "Oh great. That clears it all up," Ophelia said sarcastically.

  Amry furrowed her brow and tightened her grip on Ophelia's hand. Two steps forward placed them in the office of Headmaster Abernathy. Zachary was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by the sorcerer twins, Mr. Coal and Mr. Rain, Dictator Dick, and Abernathy himself.

  "All of you, hurry up," the Headmaster insisted.

  Zachary's face had lost all poise. His fear filled the room, drawing each one of them closer to console him. Ophelia's heart cavity mimicked a manic pounding as if the organ still lay nestled in her chest. She clenched her fist to her breastbone to quiet the thumping seizing her ears.

  "Miss Wetherton, are you all right?" Dictator Dick glared.

  "I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Ophelia snapped.