Noticing Corona’s concern, Irma said, “It’s okay. Really. There are plenty of preserved pictures there. If one or two of them didn’t turn out, it’s okay.”
“What else is there?” Hale asked.
Corona was afraid to look at the next picture. She sighed in relief as she recognized a fish breaking the surface of the water.
“It’s lovely,” Irma said, passing the picture on to her husband. “Both of them were good photographers.”
“Sure were,” he said. “I think I’ll enlarge this one and frame it for my office.”
Corona was quiet.
“Another problem with the negative?” Hale asked.
She nodded her head.
Hale took the photo from her hand and looked at it with his wife.
“What’s this?” he asked aloud. “I don’t understand…”
On the boat, John could be seen almost death-like. His eyes were closed, arms folded across his chest.
“What in the…” Irma said. “It has to be another problem with the film.” She looked at Hale. “Come on. That can’t be happening. What do you make of it?”
“I don’t know.” He squinted, then laughed. “It has to be a camera or film problem. Look at that. It’s weird. That can’t be real.” He studied the photo again. “It sure looks real, though.” He looked again. “It can’t be. No.”
Despite wanting to believe it was an issue with the film, Hale was concerned with the corpse-like look on John’s face. And, for him, the bizarre body posturing was inexplicable.
“No. There’s definitely something wrong with the film. Or maybe John was kidding around. What else have you got there?” he said to Corona. He nervously glanced at his wife.
“Just more pictures of the water, Uncle Hale,” Corona said. She was relieved the rest of the pictures were normal looking. No wonder Flora and Fancy were concerned about what was in this camera. They must have guessed it was possible that Gramma and Grampa took pictures the day they went missing. The one of Grampa getting ready to pass over would upset them. But then she remembered Flora and Fancy said they didn’t know what happened to her grandparents. I’ll give them to Flora tonight so she can find out what it means.
“Well, time we go do some work,” Hale said. He eyed the pictures again as Corona slipped them back into the envelope.
“I’ll put these upstairs in my closet and get ready to work in the garden,” Corona said. She tried to sound nonchalant so her aunt and uncle wouldn’t suspect anything.
“Sure,” Hale said. “You put them away with the rest of your grandparents’ things. We’ll get our clothes changed and meet you outside. He nudged Irma to the stairs.
Corona tucked the envelope of photos on the shelf near her grandmother’s purse. Taking a deep breath, she got off the chair and closed the door.
When they were out in the raised lily beds, Hale asked Irma, “What do you make of those pictures?” Bent over the lilies, pulling sturdy weeds from the garden, his concern was vented in the pace of his work. A pungent odor of flower pollen tugged at his nostrils.
“Mistakes. Double exposures. Mugging for the camera. Negative problems. Just like you said. Why? What do you think?” Irma bent down and yanked chunks of greenery from between the rows of Madonna lilies. The white flower heads shook as the bulbs were disturbed from the weeding.
“Nothing. It’s weird though. The pictures look authentic. But they can’t be.” He was waffling on the issue and knew it. “That one showing John with his arms crossed, was ghoulish. I’m going to take the photos to someone and have them analyzed. Just for my own peace of mind.” He looked around at the lilies. “I haven’t been out here for awhile and am amazed. Corona does real well with these flowers, doesn’t she? Just like her mother. But that area could use some attention.” He nodded over to the raised beds of tiger lilies with wilted flowers clinging near fresh blooms. “Maybe Corona can get some of that done in the next few hours.”
“Oh look,” Irma said. She pointed to a rippling effect going through one of the lily fields. “A lovely breeze is coming.”
Before going to bed, Corona gave an excuse for not wanting to work in the tiger lily patch until the next day. Knowing the beings were coming to visit, she thought it good to have some of their favorite treats available from which they could dine.
Sleep came quickly to Corona.
Her aunt and uncle checked in before going to their bedroom. Irma stared at the door of the closet where the photos were stashed.
Hale, too, glanced at the closet door before kissing Corona goodnight.
Although neither acknowledged what they were feeling, within each of them, similar doubts were warring with reality. Their imaginations were conjuring up all kind of scenarios to fit the photos. They had a lot of questions in need of answers.
The beings arrived at the Pense home as promised.
Fancy tugged on Corona’s covers to awaken their Hybrid.
Corona’s sense of their presence instinctively stirred her, prior to their making their entrance known.
Hi, Corona messaged to them.
Ready to pass over with us? Flora asked.
Yes. But there’s something you should see, Corona said, reaching for photographs hidden under her pillow. Her fingers tightly grasped the envelope stuffed with precious pictures.
Those are your grandparent’s pictures, aren’t they? Flora said. Can I see them? Without waiting for an answer, she took the envelope from the girl’s fingers.
Fancy and Flora scanned the black and whites, their colorful eyeband pigments deepening when they came to the ones that implicated an otherworldly presence in the boat with the couple. They turned to each other when they recognized Golden presenting herself to the couple. The one of a deceased-looking John folding his arms, particularly concerned them.
Corona attempted to read their thoughts to determine how they felt about the photos but was not successful.
Golden is not authorized to pass over, Flora said. She’s a member of the Homelings pack. They’re forbidden to do this. And where did she get the passing tool to help Linda and John leave this dimension? What has she done with them? I want to know. John and Linda Bond aren’t in the Human Camp at In Situ. I’d have known. We have Linda’s swimming suit which we found in the recycling bin in the Common House. We were never sure how it got there and showed it once to your mother to verify it belonged to your grandmother, she said to Corona. So, where are Linda and John? She posed that question to Fancy.
At first Fancy had nothing to say. Then she offered, Maybe this isn’t what we suspect. Maybe something else is happening here.
It looks clear to me, Flora said.
Are you saying that Golden kidnapped my grandparents? That’s what happened to them? Corona asked. I thought I was one of the first to be Hybrid enough to pass over. How did my grandparents do it if that’s true?
Corona attempted to read their thoughts again. Nothing came to her.
For cases when we need to bring a less-gifted human back to our dimension, we utilize a passing tool. But Golden shouldn’t have had one. I don’t know what’s going on here, Flora said. But we’ll try to get these answers for you and for us. This could mean something terrible has happened to them. That some of the other In Situs, maybe Homelings, including Golden, have already committed acts against the All and harmed some of our Hybrids. She turned to Fancy. We’ll need to call our group together tonight to alert them to what we found here.
Corona, I’m taking these two pictures with me. I already have them stored up here, Flora tapped her head, but I want the physical evidence as well. She tucked the pictures in a pocket of her shift.
Is that an air sparkle you have with you? Corona asked. She pointed to a fold in Flora’s arm which had a faint glow.
Why yes, it is. Why? Flora asked.
Nothing. Just askin.’
Chapter Fourteen
Corona’s visits from Flora and the others continued, but she hadn’t passed over wit
h them since the first time they arranged for her visit. The beings claimed it was still too risky for her.
Flora said she had nothing new to report yet. She explained her investigation was ongoing of the incident and implications of the pictures Corona had given her from the day her grandparents were missing off their boat.
Bob-Boy finished his mandatory work for the All and resumed tutoring his favorite student, relating the studies to his dimension. He enjoyed his importance in this mission. Sometimes he encouraged Corona to use stringed instruments to facilitate learning the more complicated theories.
Corona felt uncomfortable on the nights they didn’t visit. At those times, her sleep was thready, filled with thoughts of the Homelings and what they may have done with her grandparents. She remembered her vision of them in cages and was worried. Dreams of their being captured haunted her. Clutching her grandparent’s photo to her bosom helped relieve the discomfort. Corona’s inner voice spoke soothingly to her to help alleviate concerns.
Corona sometimes felt she was being watched by someone or something other than her usual visitors. Occasionally, an orange glow would appear behind her bedroom draperies then disappear. She would get out of bed to see what it was, but by the time she reached the window, it was gone. She wondered if this orange eyeband was connected to one that the Valers created, and if so, she couldn’t imagine why it’s at her home.
Despite the drama in Corona’s nighttime life, Hale and Irma’s love for her kept her grounded. She excelled at her studies during the daylight hours. Her first university semester was an all-around success. She easily achieved the highest grades and was encouraged by the Physics Department Chairman to apply for a fellowship over the summer with one of the world’s top physicists who had specifically requested Corona.
“We’re proud of you,” Irma said. “You’re doing so well.” She handed Corona’s university transcript to her husband, along with the official letter offering the fellowship.
“Thank you, Aunt Irma,” Corona said. “I enjoy the lectures and the work. Our lab sessions were especially fun. And, some of the older students are starting to talk to me now. Especially if they need help.”
“How are you getting along with Sarah and Stanley?” Irma asked. “Do you see them much when you’re at school?” She was hoping Corona was cultivating friendships with them.
“We get along fine and I enjoy their company. We text back and forth. It’s fun to talk about school and music and other things we’re interested in. I see each of them a couple times a week. Dr. Collins made that a requirement of our first semester experience.”
“If you want to have them come visit you here sometime, we’d like that,” Hale said.
“Thank you, Uncle Hale. That’d be fun during a long weekend or over a semester break. We’ve already talked about going to each other’s homes.”
Corona remembered how she first became aware that Stanley, an Economics major, was a Hybrid when she saw some drawings he’d done on his class notes during one of their Humanities courses. There was no mistaking the creature he’d penciled on his paper.
The drawing was clearly of Flora.
He’d even colored her eyeband a bright blue. Behind the being, he’d drawn an orange eyeband in a dark background, with lightning bolts around it.
Without revealing her knowledge of the creature, Corona had asked Stanley if she could borrow his drawing.
Corona waited until the three of them were together in the student lounge and pulled the drawing out to show to Sarah and Stanley together. Corona casually placed the picture in front of her friends.
Sarah squealed.
Her outburst caused some of the older students to look their way, shaking their heads at the students whom they believed were immature geniuses.
Sarah covered her mouth with her hands and looked at Stanley.
“What do you want me to say?” Stanley asked.
“We need to talk about this,” Corona said.
The three brilliant students, unknowingly bound together by a similar heritage and experiences with otherworldly creatures, stared back and forth at each other. For a few minutes none of them felt emboldened enough to put words to what they all knew - that they had other-dimensional experiences with beings who’d visited them on a regular nighttime schedule.
Now, a serendipitous glance at a drawing changed their encounters from one of isolation to one of communion.
Sarah, whose interest was in medicine, slouched her tall, skinny, teenage frame in her chair and looked to her friends. “Who’s going to say it first?” She asked. She nervously twisted a strand of hair between her fingers. “Huh? Who’s going to say it first?Not me. Nope. That’s it. I’m done until one of you open up. Hello! Who’s it going to be?”
Stanley eyed his two friends, clasped his fingers together, fumbled with an app on his cell phone and gave a nervous laugh. He coughed a couple of times, rubbed his nose and clasped his hands in front of him. He put his phone down and fussed with his laptop.
Sarah coughed, too.
Then they all laughed, followed by quiet acceptance.
“I’ll say it,” Stanley said. His eyes looked cautiously about the lounge as if to ferret out any would-be eavesdroppers. He put his cell phone on the table and shut his computer.
“Well, say it,” Corona whispered.
“Flora. Fancy. Bob-Boy. There. I said it. If you know who they are, nod your head,” Stanley said.
The girls nodded their heads. Stanley joined in.
“Now what?” Corona asked. “Shouldn’t we talk about this? We could help each other understand what’s going on. And there may be more of us around here who’ve experienced this who’d want to join our group. If we figure out a way to get them to open up and admit what’s happened to them, maybe we can have our own secret meetings. Learn from each other, and share our experiences. This is awesome. Just sayin.’ ”
Sarah looked puzzled. “What about the orange eyeband?” she asked. “Anybody know what that is?”
“I’m not sure,” Stanley replied. “Sometimes in the evening, when I’m awake and alone, I see it watching me from the corner of the room. It doesn’t surprise me with everything else going on at night. I don’t know, maybe I’m imagining it ’cuz when I get up to check, it’s gone.” He fidgeted a little at the disclosure.
“I sometimes see the same thing,” Corona said. “It comes and goes. Then, I think maybe I dreamed it, too. I was told once about a mistake that was made and the orange eyeband could be it, but I don’t know. One of these days, I’m going to invite it to show itself and talk to me.”
“Cool idea,” Stanley said. “I’ll do the same.”
“Not me.” Sarah said. “It makes me feel creepy. I hope it stays away.”
“Maybe it’s something that happens in our imagination because we’ve dealt with so much unusual stuff,” Stanley said. “A Folie a’ deux or trois? Huh?”
Corona and Sarah each gave him a strange look.
“Doesn’t fit the syndrome,” Corona said.
“Nah,” Sarah said.
“I wasn’t going to mention it, but now that I know you two have seen the orange thing, too, I think we should ask Flora about it,” Corona said. The conversation was making her uneasy. “Hey. Did either of you ever feel vibrations when you’re studying particular theories or touching certain items? I know that sounds weird, but I sure do.”
“Sure, I do,” Stanley said.
“Not me,” Sarah said. “Why do you two have that and not me? Huh?”
Corona shrugged her shoulders. “We need to tell Flora about this.”
Each of them agreed Flora should be made aware of what they’ve been discussing - that three Hybrid geniuses, studying at the same university, had discovered each other’s connection to the In Situ beings. And, they’ve all witnessed a mysterious orange eyeband watching them.
“It’s too big a coincidence that we ended up here together. Someone or something planned this,” Corona
said. “I’m right. Aren’t I?”
“There are no coincidences,” Sarah said. “At least I don’t think there are.”
“Bob-Boy is cool looking. I’d love to get a tattoo of him on my arm,” Stanley said. “Yeah. Sweet.”
The girls looked at him like he had two heads.
He laughed and tapped Corona on the arm affectionately.
“Depends where you’re thinking of getting the tattoo. Hope you’re not planning a tramp stamp or anything like that.”
“Corona!” Stanley said. “No. I’m thinking it’d be great to go to a tattoo parlor and show them a drawing of Bob-Boy. He’d look awesome tattooed in bright colors and maybe have him with his arms crossed, ready to pass over. Maybe get it on my leg. Hey, I know. I’ll have him doing a dance. That’d be so cool.” He laughed at his own joke.
“Would your parents let you do that?” Sarah asked. “I’d be afraid to do something like that. My parents would freak out.”
“Yeah, mine, too,” Stanley said, deflated.
The knowledge there were others like themselves, encouraged the comrades. They felt woven together with a sense of unity. From their conversations they realized something else they had in common - none of them had a pet. Each said they wanted to get one but their parents thought that this wasn’t the right time. They all vowed when they grow up and had their own homes, they’d get the pet of their choice.
“I’d really like to have an elephant and a monkey,” Stanley said. “My parents have a fit when I tell them that. But it’d be great. Don’t you think so, Corona?”
“I don’t know what to say to that,” she answered honestly.
WATCHING CORONA: From Our Dimension to Yours Page 12
