The Unlikely Savior (The Unlikely Savior Trilogy)

by T. S. Seley Elliott

  “We can only hope this news is overshadowed enough that air time for this picture will be minimal...I’m not sure anyone else knew her well enough to really recognize such a grainy shot. In any case, I think to keep ourselves honest, we should discard her number so we can honestly deny any knowledge of how to contact her. If we’re ever asked, that is.” He knew he was leading a junior troop down a less than honorable path in the eyes of the law, but in his heart, it wasn’t the law that concerned him; it was doing the right thing that weighed heavily on his conscience. He, of course, had no idea the younger man had already made similar decisions just a few weeks before.

  Jason did not respond verbally, he simply stood and shook Jerod Stass’ hand, man to man.

  As the meeting ended, each man, in his own mind, hoped against hope that even with national exposure, no one would make a connection between the mysterious events in a distant city, a random – and poor – photograph, and Johnnie Carter, formerly of the United States Air Force. Specifically, from their unit of assignment and their office. They may have been praying for a miracle, but they were both acutely aware that miracles were possible...particularly in the world of their friend. Even knowing that, if anyone ever needed a prayer, it was her.

  When Jason returned to his desk, he honored the captain’s request and deleted Johnnie’s phone number from his cell phone, fully aware he had it written down elsewhere. It was in the same place as Hoffstedder’s number, which he would keep. Just in case.

  _________________________________________________________________

  James and Paul stood in the kitchen and now that they were out of Johnnie’s earshot, they let the gravity of the past three hours sink in.

  Paul, one hand on the counter for support, ran his other hand across his eyes.

  “James...I only know what I know. And this is new. I don’t sense that she’s in mental danger, but....that was an overwhelming amount of information we just gave her. I don’t think I have to tell you I have no idea what to make of it. Now I’m not sure she should watch the recording, at least yet. If I’d had any idea...” The man was conflicted. He not only worried about his professional competence, but felt he’d let his friend down.

  James, still a friend, put his hand on the doctor’s shoulders.

  “She’s tough as nails, Paul...this is new territory for you, hell, possibly new territory, period. But step back and look at what she’s survived, largely on her own. She’s not alone now. You did what I asked, so if anyone’s responsible, it’s me.”

  Paul thought, and slowly nodded. He understood, although he wouldn’t have sworn that he agreed. His belief system was in a precarious place at that moment and would be for some time after this day. Before he could respond, James added, as he looked for his phone, “Besides, the jury’s still out. Who’s to say this didn’t help?” He found his phone and located Jeremy’s number, looking back at the troubled man. “Time to practice what I preach, don’t you think? I am, after all, the C.E.O of Believe International...I’m just hoping to find out what it is we need to believe in...and soon!” The two clasped hands, and followed it with a man-hug before Paul quietly departed as James called Jeremy.

  ________________________________________________________________

  Johnnie was, indeed, in a form of shock, but was certainly not alone. Betsy had bounded from her imprisonment in Johnnie’s bedroom. They’d left her out of the session to prevent distraction and it proved to be a good call. Betsy wouldn’t have responded well to her lady’s behavior just a short time before. Her lady wasn’t responding all that well, for that matter.

  How much was too much, Johnnie wondered, as her arms received the enthusiastic dog. She couldn’t conjure a single vision of what had happened, she couldn’t remember and she wasn’t sure when she’d be willing to watch the recording. But her mind was on the verge of virtual overload. Although they’d trod as lightly as possible when telling her what they saw and heard, the witnesses and partial participants of her hypnotic session had blown Johnnie’s mind at a time she believed her life couldn’t get any crazier.

  In a blizzard of uncontrolled thoughts and emotions, she tried to sort it all out. Sandy was nearby, but silent. He gave her the space she needed, but would not leave her alone, at least not now.

  She looked at him, nearly pleading. She wanted to understand.

  “I became them? Sandy...if it’s there,” she shoved one finger into her temple, “I want to remember it...really remember. Not listen to...who? Just listen to them again?” With the last statement she bitterly gestured toward the digital recorder, which, while no longer running, was still poised just feet away.

  Sandy knew he had agreed to stand by and protect her. He battled an overwhelming need to protect her now, although the threats were unseen. She didn’t hear him approach or seem to notice him sit next to her, although his weight shifted hers toward him.

  He looked at her and began carefully.

  “You know, you’re a smart lady, and you are not crazy...even though I could make a good case to the contrary.” She sat upright and glared at him through angry tears. He rolled his eyes and took her face before she could turn away.

  “Okay, that didn’t exactly come out right. What I mean is, it is kind of crazy to fight an enemy that isn’t necessarily there...Girl, we’ve both been trained to fight... but to fight a clear and present opponent... not to randomly attack. I know you don’t like all this, but tell me one bad thing that has resulted to anyone other than you. And how come it’s wrong, just because you don’t understand?” She jerked her face from his hands, but didn’t move her body. She just looked away.

  He inhaled and took her response as a positive sign. He was making this up as he went, but he went with his heart...and not a little desperate imagination.

  “I read or heard somewhere that faith is believing in something you can’t see or prove...that it’s…what was it?” He racked his brain, and went on, “It’s walking face first and full speed ahead into the dark...that if we knew all the answers, then it wouldn’t be faith and then the things we do wouldn’t be courageous acts of humanity. Something like that, anyway...” He was on a roll here...and reached to gently turn her to face him.

  “Johnnie...you have proof of good results... you can prove it, so you don’t even need to have faith in the outcome. But you are walking face first and full speed in the dark. But what you don’t believe in is yourself...or maybe that you could be part of something really really amazing. Shit...it’s nothing short of crazy-awesome, when you consider...” He almost had her. She didn’t take her head back, but still looked away. She was thinking.

  “Be courageous. Johnnie...try to believe in this thing and that it could be good; at least stop fighting long enough to look at what you could learn. Just look? What have you got to lose? Not sleep, that’s for sure…that seems to be a built-in benefit.” She looked up at him, getting his little joke and although she was mightily pissed off at her own tears, she tried to let the anger go. She gently pushed him back, but with effort, lightened her voice, saying, “If you’re waiting for a Charlton Heston moment, don’t hold your breath.” She looked at the squirming dog leaning into her lap, then looked at Sandy.

  “But thank you.” She closed her eyes, placing her cheek on Betsy’s head, and heard James’ voice behind them. He had recovered from the session himself and was a man on a mission.

  “Sis...Jeremy’s still bringing Sylvia over, but I asked him to wait a couple hours.” Sylvia Post was the intuitive psychic healer he’d asked to spend some time with Johnnie in whatever the manner the two women saw fit. Johnnie looked in his direction, but not at him, obviously preoccupied.

  “I know it’s a lot to pile on, but I think we just need to press with this...besides, she probably should be gone by the time Mom gets here, all things considered...”

  Johnnie groaned and buried her face in the scruff of the patient dog’s neck. She’d rather think about a psychotic hypnotic session than to
imagine the arrival of Hurricane Mary.

  Pushing away visions of Mary...who would undoubtedly be hailing Mary, Johnnie collapsed backward, and as Betsy whined and settled at her feet, she forced the tension from her chest and swallowed the knot in her throat, recounting what she’d been told in the past hour...what she herself had apparently communicated in the previous two hours.

  ________________________________________________________________

  According to Paul, she had responded immediately to his initial common inquiries about her past. She’d calmly described their family, even her father, from the time she was very small. She did recall moving frequently after her dad was gone, but, as when conscious, she stated it was because her mother told them “it was time to go.” When he asked what was similar about the moves, she said she always woke up, and they would be mostly packed...Mary would place a map in front of the sleepy child and have her pick a spot, and that’s where they would go. She’d said with a childlike smile that she got to pick the place and James always got to pick their new last name.

  These were details she’d long forgotten, but with a glance at James, she remembered as Paul repeated the information. When asked why they moved all the time, she’d said mostly because Mama said “he” was coming and they needed to leave, but sometimes she just said it was time to go. Paul asked if she knew more than that, and with a pout, she’d said sometimes she felt like she’d done something bad, but she never knew what it was.

  Paul had taken this information as a good baseline, but obviously needed to get more specific if they were going to learn anything. Then, with the history of places and approximate dates provided by James, he gently led her to recall more specific events associated with each move – names of affected families that James or Mary remembered, known ailments she’d affect.

  But that didn’t work either. At that point, he’d stretched his own imagination...if the names and places meant nothing, maybe there was another trigger. Nervously, he had glanced at the other two before he told her he had accidently found a catalyst to start recall of unexplained events, and they flowed. Almost nonstop for nearly two hours. Upon hearing this, her heart had leapt...it was short leap, stopping when he followed with, “...but it was difficult to discern exactly whose memories they were. Or maybe I should say, we were – we are – unsure of the source.”

  She didn’t even know how to respond to that statement. That’s when James gently told her,

  “Johnnie, it appeared that you, well... told the story from inside the other person...from their perspective.” He stopped then, looking at Paul for help.

  Johnnie interrupted, but strained to understand enough to even ask the question,

  “Are you saying I acted like them...or thought I was them?” She wanted to understand, but was extremely uneasy with where this was going.

  Paul responded carefully, as if he were still trying to get it himself.

  “I’m saying it was if you were inside of them.”

  Sandy, the other novice in the group besides Johnnie, said, “Girl...it’s like you were them...if they said something, well,” he lifted the sides of his mouth with a swallow, “you sure didn’t sound like you...it was like you transformed. But you switched so quickly...”

  Johnnie suddenly had visions of the movie “Sybil” and every other drama she’d seen about split personalities...or whatever the disorder was called... She instantly feared Dr. Benson had been wrong. She looked at the only mental health professional in the room.

  “... that sounds like that D.I.D. thing... Oh my God. Did I think I was them or someone else when all this happened?” Her mind went quickly to something that, although dreadful, was explainable; she’d temporarily allowed herself to overlook the critical elements – like the healings and other unworldly events.

  Paul quickly shook his head...

  “I see why you think that, but it’s way more, um, complex than that.” She stared at the doctor who was so stumped he’d said ‘um.’

  This was getting worse. She’d crossed her arms and tried to focus over her surging panic.

  He continued, as if walking on eggshells.

  “That wouldn’t explain the results of your—interventions, for one—and it just isn’t possible that you were the- uh – source of the communication unless you also have an extensive, I mean, extremely detailed knowledge of human anatomy.” He stopped and grabbed his water, as James added, “And a spiritual map that defies explanation.”

  Johnnie wasn’t sure if they both stopped talking because they were trying to decide what to say next, or if they wanted to give her time to think about it.

  She’d had enough time to think about it, because she was sure it made no sense and never would...she wanted to know what in the hell they were getting at. She looked to the single person whom she most trusted to explain in terms that would work with her own brain.

  Face flushed, simultaneously fighting fear and frustration, she turned to Sandy. She shook her head, as if to say, “help?”

  The large man licked his lips and spoke as if he were explaining a scene from a movie...which would be pretty close, except the star character sat before him.

  “See, it’s like they said... Once you started...and depending on which situation it was, well, if it involved a person...you kind of transformed into them. Like you talked like them –at least what they must have sounded like...but we didn’t necessarily know who they were...” He shot a look at James, who had thought he remembered some of the individuals based on the behavior or the situation she depicted. James looked at Johnnie, and with a slight wince, nodded.

  “Sis, you were them. Didn’t matter who it was...the ones I remember, well – I remember them a lot better now because it was that real. We haven’t had time to match all the information with the list we already had...” He gestured toward the chronological notes in front of Paul.

  She shook her head, “That’s creepy, but I still don’t understand what makes this different from ...” Paul, knowing she was back on the split personality track and quickly looked to Sandy to translate. He obstinately returned the doctor’s gaze, obviously thinking the pro should do the talking. He continued, nonetheless.

  “Johnnie...you weren’t always a person....um....sometimes you were in them...their bodies, their disease...” He suddenly had a “eureka” expression, and leaned forward, asking, “Did you ever see that really old movie, where they went inside a person’s body, like, in a space vessel?”

  There were no words for what she was thinking. But, in response his question, she focused. She a serious movie buff and course she’d seen Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch and Donald Pleasence; and she nodded soundlessly, although her face was blank.

  Triumphant, Sandy slapped his knee. “That’s exactly what it was like...but Girl, it was like you were in there, and even though I don’t know a thing about it, you knew every single detail...”

  “Down to the cellular level.” Paul added.

  Johnnie looked from one expectant face to another. She closed her eyes and sat still for just a second before shaking head so hard her hair flew.

  “Okay...okay. Just for the sake of argument...if I became them...or their bodies, or ....whatever, where was I during all that? I mean, if I remembered it for them...where was I...and why don’t I have memories during the lost time afterwards, and how did the changes in them happen?” The questions spilled from her mouth, and even as they did, more questions filled her mind.

  Paul looked at James...he needed some help here.

  “Johnnie...none of us know, really, what the spiritual realm is like, you know, if there’s a heaven or if it’s something else...but most believe, no, know, there is something else there, but most people are separated from it. For myself and millions of others...well we believe it’s all one system – all connected.” He was struggling to explain something.

  She was suddenly so tired...but not finished.

  “James...what are you talking about?”
>
  Sandy piped in.

  “Little Sis, look here. It seems like when Paul tried to get you to remember your dead times...you know what I mean...when you weren’t in – or with –the others, well....I don’t know anything about the spiritual realm thing ...but it sure sounded like heaven to me...only you weren’t you – in fact, you started this whole thing before you were even you!” With the last comment, he knew he’d gone too far. He looked back at James worriedly,

  “Sounded like you were in a place of total peace...well, it sounded like you were total peace...it’s like I was trying to say; it’s all connected...”

  Paul could see this woman was completely overwhelmed, and he wasn’t particularly comfortable with this part of the discussion either. So he switched gears. He reached and touched her knee.

  “That’s a lot to digest...but let me ask you this. Have you ever heard of an empath?”

  As if on automation, Johnnie slowly turned her head to him.

  “Sure...in an old Star Trek episode there was one. Gem...she absorbed Kirk’s injuries. And there was Troi on Star Trek, the Next Generation...only they were different. One healed people physically...” She stopped for a second and touched her hand to her forehead. She had that feeling...strongly...that she was crossing into that no man’s land again. This was the most ridiculous conversation she’d ever had in her life. But, this part, she understood....

  “And the other, she was kind of more an emotional empath. What are you getting at?”

  Paul had sighed, lifting his hands in disclaimer.

  “I’m just speculating...on how you exchanged, shared, took – or gave energy to others, it just seems as though you shared it enough to own it. Then there is the healing element, which from all accounts, sounds hard to challenge…we know you were involved in healing. Where there were physical ailments you might have taken it, or absorbed it, which could conceivably have healed the other person...and given you complete insight to the disease or disturbance, but put you in a position where you needed to heal yourself afterwards...”