by Sophia Sharp
He took a deep breath and began. “You see, a very long time ago, there was a group of researchers at Harvard who were studying different types of mind-matter stuff. The things that you now think of as bunk and phony. Telekinesis, ESP, psychokinesis—”
“ESP?” Madison asked.
“Extra-sensory perception,” Eve told her.
“Oh.”
“Yes, well, if I may continue…?” Arthur said, appearing unpleased at being interrupted. “The professors were doing research on all things of that nature. Things typically restricted to the pseudoscientific domains. Except, the difference was: This group knew that some of what they were researching was true. The research was being done in… oh, around the ‘60s… and some years before that, one of the professors stumbled, entirely by chance, upon the crystals. He convinced some of his colleagues to pursue these fascinating rocks further, and they did.
“It was a very interdisciplinary group, which was particularly impressive for the time. There were professors and graduate students coming together with backgrounds in geology, philosophy, maths, the hard sciences, and everything else in between. What they uncovered was the ability of the crystals to unlock the true capacity of the mind. Now, this was hugely impressive for the day. It still is, of course. The way they described it, part of which can be found in the paper you brought, was that the crystals acted like a type of catalyst for the brain—like the key to a lock that nobody even knew existed.
“Now, the fascinating thing is that everything that is now thought of as bunk and phony – things like ESP, and the rest – has actually been hinted at throughout human history. In different cultures, in different time periods… there was constant reference to feats of the supernatural. I’m sure a part of that was simply a desire for people to feel like there exists something greater than themselves in this world. But some of that had to be grounded in truth, no? Otherwise, how could groups of people who were never in contact, who lived in different time periods, always have their philosophical thought converge into that one subject? The answer, of course, is: The universality of it. People, I believe, are more in tune with their surroundings than traditional science gives credit. There exists an instinctive longing inside us that guides us towards things like that. And, with the discovery of the crystals, well… some of it was proven true.
“Now, I know I’ve been speaking abstractly. What I really meant when I mentioned philosophical thought converging was the references that have been made throughout history to the four elements of the universe: Water, earth, air, and fire. Some cultures, of course, called them different things, while others added a fifth one altogether – the mystical ether. But, the presence of these elements in philosophical thought is undeniable. What this research group thought of, then, was even more fascinating. They hypothesized that the crystals they had discovered actually corresponded to these four elements. I’ll get back to that later, but I know at least one person in this room who has direct experience with this. Tracy?”
I jumped. “Yes?”
“The crystal I showed you is not like any of the ones you’ve used so far, is it?”
“No.”
“No! Of course not,” Arthur said. “It’s red. It corresponds with fire. You felt it, didn’t you? You felt the power of it pulse through you?”
“…yes,” I answered. Had I really been the one responsible for the fire? That was crazy! “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
“You were the first to ever do so,” Arthur said. “The researchers suspected that different crystals existed that corresponded to the elements, but they were never able to ever prove it.”
“How did you get it, then?” I asked.
“A gift from my father, of course,” Arthur said. “If you haven’t made the connection yet, he was one of the original researchers working on the project.”
“Can I see the red crystal?” Eve asked. Her eyes shone.
“I think not,” Arthur said curtly. “We all know what happened last time. But back to what I was saying. The researchers made some progress—enough so that they could prove that there was more to the supposed supernatural than just mystical voodoo. The group got more money – funding to continue their work. They made some of the first discoveries about the crystals. Word quickly spread through the elite academic circles. Remember now, this was the 1960s, and we were in the height of the cold war. Academia had strong connections to the government, and it wasn’t long before word of this research got out. Military interest in the project peaked. The researchers and scientists were taken away from Harvard and brought to different facilities around the US, where they could keep going without fear of losing funding or inadequate resources.”
“But this was Harvard,” John said. “One of the richest institutions in the world! How could they have limited funding here?”
“Exactly,” Arthur smiled. “The truth was, the government wanted to keep track of what these researchers were doing. What better place for that than in their own facilities? The potential of what they could discover was huge. Think! The Americans feared a nuclear attack from Russia. The Russians feared one from the States. What if they could combat, diminish, or even completely mitigate such a threat through the use of these seemingly magical crystals? Of course the government wasn’t about to let them carry on without intervention.”
“The crystals, though,” Madison said. “Are they magic?”
“Magic is just science that hasn’t been discovered yet,” Arthur smiled. “Anyway, shortly after the government stepped in, the project was shut down. The official word is that progress could not be made. The truth, I think, is that they made too much progress. Somebody decided it was too dangerous, and disbanded the group. But for a nation with a stockpile of nukes, what could possibly be too dangerous? That, I think, is the crux of what we’re dealing with.
“Also – and again, this was never confirmed – I think that the power the researchers unlocked could simply not be controlled. This was the 60s, remember. It meant that all the people working on the project were men—”
“But men can’t access the crystals?” Liz asked.
“Again, you’re right,” Arthur said. “At least, not in the traditional way that you can. The truth, I think, lies somewhere in the middle. I believe all of us have some capacity for the crystals. Men have not discovered their place in it yet.” He winked at Rob and John. “At least, that is my hope. But that’s not all. The next part is where your intriguing group comes in. One of the places that this research took place? In the underground caverns of Traven Island.”
I gasped. I knew the island secrets, but… “Wasn’t the school already there in the 60s?” I asked.
“Yes,” Arthur said. “I think they were looking for young minds susceptible to the crystals’ pull. But before they could manage any of it, the research was abandoned. The research group was broken up. All of the researchers were forbidden to speak of what they had done, under penalty of death – or worse. This is part of the reason you haven’t been able to find anything about my father’s research paper online.”
“Then how do you know about it?” Liz asked.
“Well, a father can trust his son, can he not?” Arthur smiled. “If I kept my mouth shut, he was not in any danger. He spoke frequently to me about it. But it was always in a very abstract way that made me doubt its validity. It was only tonight, after seeing what Tracy did, that my belief was confirmed.”
“Wait a minute,” I said. “If you claim you didn’t know whether the crystals were real or not, how did you know who I was when I came up to you in the Owl for the first time?”
“That’s easy,” Arthur smiled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the red crystal. “This crystal was a parting gift from my father when he left. But it is not an ordinary crystal, you see.” He flipped it over, and for the first time I realized that it was engraved into a larger red ruby, swirled with tiny threads of black. “It’s an amalgamate. I was told, when my fa
ther placed it in my hands, that this back part warms up when someone with innate power comes near. Someone with the capacity to use the crystals. I’ve held it on my person ever since, hoping to someday stumble upon that special someone.”
“Chris had something similar!” Liz exclaimed. “That’s how he knew about us.”
“I remember,” Ashley confirmed. “He said it was… a ruby, or something. He held it around his neck, and it sucked in the power of the crystal.”
“Yes, yes! Exactly!” Arthur said. “And so, today, I finally came upon that someone. Everything my father told me was revealed to be real. But, I haven’t told you the conclusion to my story. When the research group was disbanded, the government began a fierce propaganda campaign against all domains of the supernatural. This is what everybody knows today. But the truth, of course, was that some of those things were real. The crystals were real. The power they unlocked was real. It was not some ludicrous fantasy. That is what my father knew, and that is what I discovered today.
“Wow,” John exhaled heavily. “This goes much, much deeper than what I thought possible.”
“Do you think Chris’s dad is connected to the government?” Rob wondered.
“The professor in whose office you found the research paper at your school?” Arthur asked. “Although I can see why you might think that, I don’t think that’s the case.”
“You don’t?” Liz asked. “Why not?”
“He does not seem the type. Not from the description you’ve given me. If he knew more about the crystals, it would be unlikely he’d focus his attention on you. At least, not in such a clumsy way. My suspicion is that he was working alone, and simply uncovered parts of what the research group found decades ago.”
“What else do you know about the crystals?” Madison asked. “What else can you tell us? Are they… dangerous? What happens if we overuse them? Are any of us ever going to be able to do what Tracy does?”
“You know, I wish I could give you the answers,” he replied. “But, the simple truth is that I don’t know. All I know is the history that I just told you. As I’ve said before, I’ve never had any direct experience with the crystals.”
“Oh,” Madison said dejectedly. I reached over and placed my hand over hers. She looked at me and smiled weakly. I could tell she was disappointed.
“Is there anyone who can tell us that?” I asked.
“Hmm…” Arthur pursed his lips. “I hadn’t considered this before, but maybe…”
“What?” Ashley exclaimed.
“Well, all of the professors who worked on the project are long gone. My father is the only one alive today. At least, I believe he still is. I haven’t seen or heard from him in ten years. He might be able to give you your answers.”
“You know where he is?” Eve asked. “You can take us to him?”
“Maybe,” Arthur mused. “I haven’t decided. Like I told you, all the researchers were forbidden from speaking of it to anyone. But on the other hand, it’s been so long, I doubt the government is still keeping tabs on them. And it might be a thrill for my father to meet a group of girls who can do what he spent his life researching.”
“Well, where is he?” Liz asked.
Arthur exhaled. “I have to warn you that when – if – you meet him, you’ll realize he’s somewhat of an eccentric.” He can’t be much worse than you, I thought to myself. “He retreated to a faraway cabin in the woods. I am his only living relative. So, naturally, I am the only one who would know where that is.”
“So what do we do, then?” John said. “Are you going to bring the girls to him, or not? You’ve been helpful so far, but if you depart now, you’ll be leaving us with more questions than answers.”
Arthur paused to look at each of us in turn. “If I do take you to him… if I do, I’ll be jumping into the deep end. Leaving a life of comfort and luxury behind.” He spread his hands grandly, motioning around him. “Leaving Harvard.” He leaned forward intently. “But, then again, some people here can just be so… stifling. I could do with a some adventure.” He winked at Eve, who scoffed, crossed her arms, and looked away.
“So, you’ll bring us to him?” Madison asked eagerly.
“I think so,” Arthur replied. “Besides, I could never say no to a girl like you.” This time, his wink was directed right at the young girl. She giggled in response. I rolled my eyes. “The markings you said you found underground – can I see them?” Arthur asked.
“Of course!” Liz exclaimed, and ran to the other room to get them. She returned quickly, and unrolled the scroll on the table. Arthur examined it carefully.
“Hmm… Yes, yes!” he said after a minute. “Your suspicions were right. This is definitely a blueprint.” Suddenly, he flipped the paper over, and pointed at the CIA stamp. “This has the government’s fingerprints all over it. That seals my decision. Tomorrow morning,” he proclaimed, “we can go meet my father.”
Chapter Seventeen – A Pot of Tea
Arthur left twenty minutes later, after revealing his intentions for the trip. It turned out that his dad really was in a reclusive cabin at the end of the woods. He had cut himself off completely from the world. He had no internet, phone, TV, or radio access. I wondered what type of man he must be, to do something like that.
The only way to get there was by plane. Luckily for us, Arthur had revealed that he had attained a pilot’s license when he was just fifteen, and that we could rent a private jet big enough for all of us from a nearby airfield. The plan was to leave the hotel at dawn and make the trip the next day.
With Arthur gone, I could finally shower and change out of my sooty red dress. There were not enough beds for everyone, so I had to share with one of the girls. I was delighted when I realized I would be sharing with Madison. The massive beds easily accommodated two. I got out of the shower and quietly tucked myself under the covers. Madison was fast asleep, snoozing away beside me.
I tried to get some rest. My body was exhausted, but worries kept swirling through my mind. My eyes would just not close. Had it really been the right move to tell Arthur everything about us? What was the alternative? Like I told Rob before, Arthur was the only one with any information about the crystals.
As thoughts turned to Rob, I sighed contently. He had saved me not once but twice, and he genuinely cared for me. I had never dreamed I’d find myself in that particular position. Although I’d dreamed of it, not once did I ever think that Rob would be the guy. I closed my eyes and imagined his kiss again. I remembered what it felt like to be held in his arms. I felt the deep passion behind it. And then I had a devious thought. He was in the room across the hall. He and John were the only ones to get their own rooms. Everyone else was asleep. What was stopping me, exactly, from tip-toeing over there?
Nothing, I decided. A little flare of excitement bubbled within. Giddy excitement. I rolled out of the bed, careful not to rouse Madison, and inched to the door, being extremely careful not to make a sound. I gently turned the knob and pushed it open.
To my surprise, I found Eve in the common room, fully dressed, ready to step out the front door.
“Eve?” I asked uncertainly once I’d closed the door behind me. “What are you doing?”
The tattooed girl froze, and her back stiffened. I could tell she hadn’t been expecting anyone. “Tracy?” she turned to look at me. “Uh… nothing. I just, um, couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d go for a walk.”
“By yourself?” I asked, incredulously. “You know it’s dangerous out there. Right?”
“Yeah, I know,” she said, “but I didn’t want to wake anyone.”
“If you want,” I suggested, “I could come with you.”
“Oh! Um, no, that’s alright!” she said hastily. “You know what? It was a stupid idea!” Quickly, she closed the door behind her. “Maybe I’ll just go back to sleep.” She hurried to her room before I could say anything else. I frowned after her. That… was one of the strangest exchanges I’ve had this whole trip, I though
t.
I started toward Rob’s room, and stopped. I realized, somewhat belatedly, that Eve’s room was right beside his. Rob and I agreed to keep ourselves a secret for now. If I tried sneaking in now, Eve would know. I looked regretfully down the hall, sighed, and returned to bed. Sleep was a long time coming.
***
Madison woke me the next morning. “Tracy, come on!” She tugged me. “Everyone’s waiting for you!”
“I… what?” I asked groggily. The little sleep I’d gotten was filled with nightmares. I literally felt like I just now fallen into a deep slumber. I saw the sun was shining through the window.
“You were sleeping so soundly we didn’t want to wake you,” Madison said. “But now everyone’s ready! We’re all waiting for you!”
I frowned at Madison. Me? Sleeping soundly? Surely not! I rose, and dressed as quickly as my cloudy head would allow. Madison left the room, and I could hear bits of conversation through the door. When I was finally ready, I stepped outside.
“There you are,” Rob said. “We thought you’d never get up. Oh, and you look splendid,” he teased.
“Shut up,” I said humorlessly.
“Ready to go?” John asked. I saw that what few belongings we had had been put into a backpack that was lying at his feet. He picked it up, slung it over his shoulder – and Liz quickly ran to take it away.
“No, you’re still hurt,” she said gently. She shot me an abashed look. “Here, I’ll take it.”
I cocked an eyebrow at Rob, who just shrugged. With the way Liz continued to act around John, I was starting to suspect there wouldn’t be much trouble when she found out about us.
“Everyone else is ready, then?” I asked. The girls gave their confirmation, except Eve, who refused to make eye contact. She was staring into a corner, and looked almost… dejected. Had I caught her doing something last night I shouldn’t have? I would need to talk to her about it.
