Alex McKenna & the Academy of Souls

by Vicki-Ann Bush

  "What do they look like?"

  "They stand tall—six feet in stature, furry like an ape, with a weave of hair that resembles a bowl positioned on the top of their head, it is eternally filled with water.”

  "Did you say a bowl of water?"

  "Indeed. You must be especially careful around a body of water. They can make it appear clear, cool, and inviting. When you bend down to take a sip, they pull you in and drag you to their lair. That is where they hold all of their victims until they go completely insane. Once that happens, they manipulate what is left of the poor bastard’s life force into an energy ball, which they use to keep the oil pits bubbling."

  "What happens to the spirit?"

  "It is obliterated. As if they never existed."

  "Wait. You said watch out for water. I don't see any water, just oily gunk."

  "Beyond the oil, further into the plain, there are pools of murky water just like you see over there." Zachary pointed to the left side of the land. "The Kappa create the illusion of salvation in the middle of all this—death. The pools appear azure blue, and so clear, you can see white rock nestled at the bottom. Too many souls have been prey to them while I spent my years here. I was almost one of them. But a girl rescued me right before I was doomed in its clutches. Ruby. She was kind, and definitely did not belong here."

  "What happened to her?" Alex clenched Margaret's hand.

  "She was banished by a powerful wizard for rejecting him. I tried to bring her with us when my uncle rescued me, but in our last moments together, a Kappa tracked us. She sacrificed herself so that I could be saved." Zachary turned away.

  "And what about the left plain? Any creatures of hell we need to watch out for?"

  "There is no safe destination in the Underworld, just the lesser of the evils. The creatures that exist in the left plain can be equally terrifying, but they are easier to avoid. Unlike the Kappa, they are small and slower, we can easily outrun anyone of them. The trick is to not let your guard down. If they cannot get close, they cannot do damage. I realize this is not offering any comfort, but it is all we have. Honestly, if this Soul Gatherer is existing here, and he has Haven and others with him, he must be powerful. Protecting himself and the others he has taken would not be easy."

  "I've been worried about that. I know he's rumored to be a lonely man who takes souls for company, but I felt all along he had to be a sorcerer, and a skilled one. To avert detection for all this time, there has to be magick involved." Alex exhaled. "Left plain?"

  "The lesser of the two evils," said Zachary.

  "Everybody okay?" Alex asked.

  Everyone nodded.

  "Please, follow me and do everything I ask you to. The lightning strikes the ground every ten minutes. We will seek shelter and wait it out when it does. It only lasts for twenty seconds, then it returns to the sky. Stay away from the river and any other body of water we come to. There is a patch of desolate, but clear land about five miles that way." Zachary pointed East. "That is where we will try first. If the Soul Gatherer is a sorcerer, he could offer protection anywhere. But I think he will likely choose a spot that is easier and takes less energy to secure."

  "That makes sense. I'm going to try and connect with Haven. If I can, maybe we can get a confirmation of where she is. It doesn't always work; I could use your energy to make me stronger." Alex said.

  "Stronger? How can you do that?" Ophelia questioned.

  "He has a few tricks up his sleeve." Margaret smirked.

  "I can call her with my thoughts. The stronger I am, the more powerful the connection. With all of your energy, it's a boost to my own abilities."

  "He can also move things with his mind. But that's only when he's sleeping. I'm waiting for that one to materialize when he's awake. It's gonna be so cool." Margaret grinned.

  "Ciucciamia," Alex sighed.

  "What? Just proud of my guy."

  "If the love fest is over, can we go find Ophelia's sister?" Kyle balked.

  "The lightning is about to start up. We must get to our first shelter before it hits the ground. You can try to connect with Haven there." Zachary looked to the sky.

  The fires raged in a pattern of roadblocks, reaching out with their tentacles to incinerate, while murky puddles bubbled, waiting to swallow the careless soul.

  The group stayed close together, following Zachary's moves. He led them to a rock formation that offered a ceiling of shelter to shield them from the upcoming electric show.

  Alex closed his eyes and envisioned Haven.

  "Can everyone get close to me, please?"

  The celestials crowded around him while Margaret took a step back. Each one placed their hand on Alex's shoulder, arm or back. His body jolted like a switch had been flipped. Their energy surged, carrying the charge he needed to send his thoughts out to Haven.

  "I see a child. Long brown hair, she's wearing a green dress. She's not facing me so I can't be sure it's Haven. Wait. She has flowers peeking out of a side pocket. I think it's...rose petals?"

  "That is her. Haven," Ophelia said firmly.

  "How can you be so sure?" Alex asked.

  "She was picking them the day of our beginning. Before the accident. I scolded her, told her our mother would be upset because she was so proud of her roses. It was stupid. They were just petals from one flower."

  "Wait. Lia, I bet that's why you always smell like flowers. I couldn't get the scent until now, but it's roses." Amry smiled.

  "That's part of your connection to the living, and to Haven. The garden sent the aroma of life with you in your beginning." Alex beamed.

  Alex raised his hand in a stop motion. The figure of a little girl appeared like a projection onto a screen."

  "Alex, how the hell are you doing that?"

  "I'm not sure. I think it's because their energy is boosting my know to a level it's never been before. It's cool, though. I just knew what to do."

  "This is beyond cool." Margaret's eyes widened.

  "I can't see who it is, but someone's talking to her. She's shaking her head, agreeing with them. Or maybe acknowledging. I'm not sure. I don't want to call her until I'm sure it's safe. It could be the Soul Gatherer." Alex squinted.

  "Let us concentrate on the where. What does everyone see? It might help me determine the location," Zachary commented.

  "The walls are layered with slats of wood," whispered Amry.

  "There is a window to the left. I see gushing water. It's black," Ophelia said anxiously.

  "I see it!" Amry exclaimed.

  "We do to," Bethany and Kyle replied.

  "Zachary do you know where the black waterfall is?" Alex asked.

  "There are two actually, and this presents a problem. They are on opposite sides of the plain. We need something else. There. That is what I was looking for." Zachary pointed.

  "What is it?" Alex stretched his neck.

  "The water has violet crystals running through it. That is the Purple Fountain. It is the only body of water that contains color. There is a core of Amethyst in the mountain. The rushing water slowly chips it away. It makes the falls have a purple sparkle. I know how to get to, Haven." Zachary grinned.

  "The lightening eased up," said Kyle.

  Using his boosted abilities, Alex tried calling to the little girl using his thoughts. The child stiffened and slowly turned her head over her right shoulder. He raised his finger to his lips and she gently nodded. We're coming, Haven.

  The connection was broken the minute everyone disbursed, but the pain wasn't. Alex wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead. The little girl was scared. That didn't fit the picture of a lonely old man looking for company. His proclivity for children just added to the strangeness. Why not the company of other adults to engage in conversation? Surely if he's that lonely, he would rather fill his time with celestials that could give him companionship. The reasons disturbed him, but he wasn't sure if his suspicions were right. There was no need to add to the mounting anxiety Ophelia had already gone t
hrough all these years.

  The ground offered no help in their journey to get to Haven quickly. The fires walls of heat forced them to take a less direct route. And the water, no reprieve. Too murky and thick, one step in the wrong direction and you could find yourself drowning in a pool equivalent to quicksand and oil. Slow and steady, they followed Zachary further into the plain and away from the portal home. Lightning burst across the black clouds, crackling with loud booms and illuminating the already ominous sky. Alex counted down ten minutes in his head.

  "Zachary, it's almost time for the ground show."

  "I am aware. There is a small cave just around the bend. It will be tight, but we will all fit."

  The road veered off to the left, butting up to a large base of the grayest mountain Alex had ever seen. No trees, or signs of plant life. Stretching his fingers, he ran them along the wall. The color would suggest the rock was cool to the touch—it was on fire. He quickly retracted and blew on his fingertips. The cave was about twenty feet into the bend, and Zachary was right, it definitely was cramped. They piled in, any way they could. Being literally on top of each other was much better than getting struck by lightning.

  "Everyone in?" Zachary asked.

  "I think we're all good," Alex spoke, "Zachary, were you ever struck by lightning when you were here?"

  "I was. It was beyond frightening."

  "What happens? I mean, I know if Margaret or I were to get hit, it's a pretty good bet we're dead. But without stating the obvious, what could possibly happen to you guys?"

  "It is similar to when a light bulb glows with a surge of electricity and blows out. If we short out, it has the same effect. All our energy is gone. Presumably, we die for good. No existence of any kind after that. I was lucky, it barely caught me. The pain was indescribable, and it took me time to recover, but as I indicated, I was fortunate."

  "Should we try calling out to Haven again?" Ophelia asked.

  "No. She knows we’re coming. I don't want to risk tipping off the gatherer," Alex stated.

  "He is correct, Ophelia. Better to have the element of surprise in our favor. It is safe, the lightning stopped,” said Zachary.

  A light wind carried the heat from the fire, stacking it like a brick wall. It was the intensity of your worst Summer day with no cool drink. Sweat beaded up along Alex's forehead and upper lip. Trickling down his cheeks and jaw, a few droplets rested on his mouth, stinging his lips. The salty taste brought nausea to the ripples of acid in his stomach. Pushing their way up into the back of his throat, the sour taste was forced back by a coughing fit.

  "You okay?" Margaret whispered.

  "Yup. Just my usual damn stomach talking to me."

  "Follow me... We need to get to the cover of that group of trees over there," Zachary shouted.

  It was like a mirage in the middle of the desert. About fifty feet directly in front of them was a dense grove of topiary wonder.

  "How are they here in the middle of all this?" Alex wondered.

  "It is a trap of sorts. Rest assured, I believe you and Margaret will not be affected."

  "What do you mean, a trap?"

  "It is used to snare spirits by luring them in with their beauty among all the desolation. Once you are there, it has a hypnotic effect. You remain while the trees slowly drain you, that is what keeps them green. I was stuck once. Ruby pulled me out. Twice she saved me, and I repaid her by leaving her in the clutches of a Kappa."

  "Why do you think me and Margaret will be immune?"

  "Your life force runs on a different frequency than a celestial. Correct?"

  "Yes. Oh, wait. I get it. You think the trees won't recognize our frequency and won't be able to tap into it."

  "Precisely."

  "Well—let's hope you're right."

  The cracking of a whip followed by a loud boom indicated they had run out of time. Lightning had hit the ground about ten yards away. Running at full speed, Alex and Margaret darted to avoid the bolts of death. Without leaving their side, the rest of the friends floated beside them.

  "Go! Get yourselves to the trees," Alex shouted.

  "No. We are not leaving without you. We stay together," Zachary argued.

  "If the whole lot of us gets hit, Haven doesn't stand a chance. Go!"

  But none of them paid any attention to Alex's warning. Insisting on staying in a group, they reached the grove together.

  "You're the most stubborn bunch of dead people I've ever met," Alex barked.

  "Us? Look who is breathing in the middle of the Underworld. Do not snap at us about following directions. You would not have listened if we told you two not to come. I believe we are at an impasse." Zachary smirked.

  "Point taken," Alex muttered.

  "Are you sure these trees were a good idea for protection? I mean, lightning can strike trees down," said Margaret.

  "Not these trees. They are protected. It is all part of this foul world," Zachary replied.

  Alex and Margaret slid down the side of a trunk and rested.

  "The flames are kind of beautiful. They remind me of that painting we saw at the fair in Hicksville, remember? The entire painting was black and white, except for one red balloon a little girl was holding. The red and orange of the flames resemble that same look. They're beautiful against the gray and black of this world. Like a beacon of light," Margaret sighed.

  "Careful. They're fooling you." Alex narrowed his eyes.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I can feel their pull. They want to draw us in. Capture our life with the fire. None of the spirits can be harmed by the flames, I think they're here for living souls that may get trapped or banished. If you let yourself go, it will be like a moth drawn to a flame. You wouldn't be able to stop. So please stop staring," Alex pleaded.

  "Whoa. You're right. As soon as I broke the connection by turning away, I felt it. Like a cord was cut. So damn weird. Hey, check out our group of merry ghosts."

  Alex gazed up at the five hovering celestials. With wide eyes, their gaze was frozen. He turned to see what they were fixated on. In the center of the bluff stood a large, stoic, Weeping Willow.

  "Did you see that tree when we first got here?" Alex asked.

  "Uh. Nope." Margaret shook her head.

  "Me neither."

  "So what? It just appeared out of nowhere?" Margaret stood up.

  "I don't think so. Look. See those other trees circling the outer edges? I think when we first got here, they were covering it."

  "They moved?" Margaret's jaw dropped.

  "Yup. Pretty sure. They were much denser. I swear."

  "Well that's not creepy at all. I think we've got a bigger problem. None of these guys seem to be able to function. They're all just floating like a puff of smoke. I mean they're expressions are completely void of coherence. Hey. Ophelia. Amry. See, nothing."

  Alex got up and waved his hand in front of Zachary. The teen remained focused on the Willow.

  "This is what he was telling me about. And he was right. You and I are immune. We need to snap them out of it before we miss the next interval of lightening reprieve."

  Margaret tried shaking Amry, but her hands passed through the teens body, scattering molecules of color in the air before settling down to re-formulate her billowing spirit.

  "I guess that was pretty stupid," Margaret sighed.

  Alex grinned.

  "Kind of. But I have another idea. Let's float them to the edge, away from the Willow."

  "How? We can't get a hold of them."

  "Push them. The force of the air should carry them away. They'll break up but reassemble like Amry just did. It'll take a few shoves, but I think it'll work."

  "I love you McKenna, but this is ridiculous."

  "Do you have any other suggestions?"

  "I guess not. This sort of reminds me of The Wizard of Oz. You know, when Dorothy falls asleep in the field of poppies. What did they use to wake her up? I can’t remember.”

  “Snow. But that’s
not gonna help us. You ready?”

  “Yup.”

  “I’ll start with Zachary, and then Kyle and Bethany. You get Ophelia and Amry," Alex commanded.

  Margaret nodded.

  Alex made a fist and pulled back his arm. Then, like taking a pitch on the mound he let it go. Zachary's spirit broke apart like hundreds of colorful Lego pieces. When they connected again, he was about five feet away.

  "It worked. Hurry, let's keep going."

  Margaret took aim for Ophelia and let it go. Her fist shattered the teen into beautiful little specks of bursting color. Just like Zachary, she came together a few feet away.

  "Hey, it helps if you blow out air right after you swat. I got Zachary much further away the second time." Alex puckered.

  "Okay."

  Once Alex had Zachary at the edge of the grove, it only took a few seconds for him to be released from the tree’s hypnotic clutches.

  "Zachary. Help us. We've only got about a minute before the next interval."

  Zachary quickly teleported back to Amry, Kyle and Bethany. Wrapping his arms around them in a bear hug, he brought them to safety.

  "What the hell happened?" Kyle raised a brow.

  "I'll explain later. But now, we need to go. The lightning's returned to the sky." Alex stated.

  Trying to make the most of their ten-minute ground time, the teens hustled as quickly as they could. But having two breathers with them meant not being able to use their ghostly attributes to get around.

  "We're slowing you down." Alex shook his head.

  "Nonsense. We are not that far away. Maybe another three or four of these stops and we should be there," Zachary reassured him.

  "Bethany! Beth!" Kyle yelled.

  Alex and Zachary turned around. Kyle was furiously scrambling around the area.

  "Kyle, what's wrong? Where's Bethany?"

  "I don't know. She was right here. I was distracted by that last jolt of lightning, and when I turned back, she was gone. This is crazy. She wouldn't just leave. Somethings wrong."

  Alex shivered. He held up both arms—gooseflesh.

  "Hey, your arms are loaded." Margaret frowned.