Otherland

by Almondie Shampine

  “Yuh, I’ll shoot yo’ sorry ass.”

  Five minutes later, they were parked in a small driveway beside a very small house that had definitely seen better days. The Light knight couldn’t believe his luck. No, not luck. Thank you, High master. Everything had to have been aligned perfectly for this moment to happen.

  “Lydia’s … sensitive. You stay here. If she don’t wanna see you, then I’m goin’ respect that,” Cherise said.

  “Thank you, Light soul,” he bowed his head slightly with respect.

  She chuckled, “You an odd one. Fine, though, you sure that.”

  Cherise opened the heavy hatchback, as usual un-WD-40ed and squeaky as all hell. “It’s me, Cherise. What got you goin’ now, callin’ me not even 6 in the a.m.? You keepin’ me from my sleep.”

  Cherise found Lydia curled in a ball in a blanket at the very end of her bed, her eyes wide and frightened.

  “What?”

  “Look,” Lydia whispered, gesturing her head toward the other side of the bed where there was an orange towel.

  “It’s a towel, girl, jus’ a towel.”

  “Beneath it.”

  Cherise lifted the towel, and stepped back, almost shrieking herself. Instead, she started laughing. “Girl, almost had me goin’ fo’ a moment. Now if that ain’t one of the creepiest things I ever saw.” She picked up the canvas and admired it. “I’d kill to have this kinda talent. What is it?”

  “A fallen angel,” Lydia said, teeth chattering.

  “I told you, you keep paintin’ if you let yo’self. Dis some dark stuff, though.”

  “It doesn’t frighten you?” Lydia asked.

  “Sure does, just like watchin’ those horror flics for entertainment. They’ll love it. You got this type of quality to yo’ paintings, make everythin’ look like it real, like it just jump out o’ the canvas at you,” Cherise turned it around. “Now that some scary shit.”

  On the back, in dripping black, it read, ‘He’s Coming’. “Why you can’t jus’ name it Fallen Angel?” She turned it back around and looked into the red, threatening demonic-like eyes. “Never mind, it fitting. That’s what it sayin’. It sayin’, ‘He Comin’,’” Cherise said in a dark, serious voice before laughing again.

  “Cherise, this isn’t funny. I haven’t been able to stop trembling in fear since I saw it. It’s trying to tell me something,” Lydia said.

  “Yeah, it tellin’ you, you got a very vivid imagination, and the talent to paint it the way you see it. You should be happy. My talent is typin’ and talkin’ to people. That won’t ever make me rich in my lifetime.”

  “I feel like I’m – I can’t explain it. Like I’m … cursed,” Lydia cried.

  “Every great talent a curse, ‘specially when you an artist. Look at Poe. Crazy as a lune, he was, but brilliant.”

  “Now you’re calling me crazy?!” Lydia shouted in exasperation.

  “Well you ain’t normal, that fo’ sure. Speaking of not-normal, I brought someone here that I almost ran over with my car. He say he know you from the past. It was weird. He looked at this paintin’ and instantly called it ‘Otherland’, what you called it, but there ain’t know way he could’ve known that. Get this, he callin’ himself yo’ Light knight. Ain’t that somethin’?”

  “Does it look like I can take on a visitor, right now, Cherise? Look at me!”

  “Says he gave you that necklace ‘round yo’ neck. Described it and everythin’. He may be able to fill in some o’ the blanks to yo’ past. I think you should meet him. He fine-looking.”

  Lydia placed her hand around her necklace, “He knew about the necklace?”

  “Uh-huh. Go get yo’self cleaned up. I’ll make you some of yo’ coffee you always think you need. Probably be less anxious without it, though, you ask me.”

  “That’s why I don’t ask you, Cherise,” Lydia said, making her way to the bathroom.

  Ten minutes later, Cherise stood outside the door, beckoning to him. “She a little worked up cuz of the latest painting she made, so don’t overwhelm her. Like I said befo’, she sensitive. She like a scared cat, and the smallest things get her goin’.”

  The Light knight looked down, his shoulders drooping, “There are unfortunate reasons for her being that way. Her past was pretty wretched.”

  “Don’t take a rocket scientist or a Light knight to know that. She a walkin’ canvas of tragedy, that girl. She my girl, though. You hurt her, you deal with me, got that?”

  “Got it,” he chuckled.

  His heart picked up and his human body began sweating in nerves. Moments away from seeing her again, he went through the door, and walked up the stairs.

  “Here, let me,” he said, moving in front of Cherise and opening the hatchback for her.

  “Fine, and a gentleman. You definitely not from ‘round here,” Cherise commented.

  Lydia stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her hands clasped in front of her. She wore a simple white v-neck blouse, and black pants. Her hair was brushed and placed around her shoulders, and she’d added a very touch of makeup to attempt to cover the bags beneath her eyes. Was she ready? Was she ready to confront this person that may be able to tell her who she was in the past?

  He stood, probably 6’2”, wearing a white t-shirt himself, and beige khakis that had ripped at his bleeding knees. He looked at her with beautiful blue-emerald eyes, was all she could think, not the green eyes of the picture of the boy. His face seemed carved of stone itself, muscled and angled. A slow grin formed on his lips, revealing a dimple on his right cheek.

  The way he was looking at her was that of a person seeing another person that they’d known and hadn’t seen in a long time, almost as though he was barely containing himself from running toward her and embracing her.

  Her eyes dropped in disappointment. “I’ve never seen him before, not a day in my life. I’m sorry,” she said. “Please leave.”

  “Girl, you ain’t even goin’ give him a chance to speak? You don’t even remember who you is. It make sense you won’t remember anyone else.”

  “Aliyah,” he said at her turned back while she was walking away into the kitchen.

  She turned back to him suddenly. “What did you just call me?”

  “It’s you. I can … feel it. I called you Aliyah. I fear your not being able to remember anything is my fault, but now it’s time. You must remember everything.”

  Lydia stood there, indecisive for a moment, then began moving quickly. “You’re hurt. Sit down. I’ll get the first aid kit. Cherise, get him something to drink.”

  “There’s my girl,” Cherise hooted. “You like coffee? I’m ain’t a fan of it, but Lydia drink it like candy.”

  Instantly, his body’s glands began salivating. Ah, the temptations in this world. “Please, I would love a cup of coffee. That is something I have not had in ages.”

  He stared at her beautiful honey-blonde hair as she cut his pants into shorts above his knees, and cleaned and bandaged the scrapes. He bent down slightly and sniffed it, a smile playing on his features.

  “Boy, don’t think I ain’t see that,” Cherise said. “Eyes like a hawk, and I’m keepin’ my eyes on you ‘round my girl.”

  The Light knight chuckled lightly, though he was saddened to see that Lydia had not moved forward in happiness, as he had wanted of her, seeming even more alone and broken and beaten than ever before.

  He had hoped she would have found love with another, someone who could stay with her and protect her always. More and more was he recognizing that his good intentions had only caused more harm to her. He hoped she’d be able to forgive him. He hoped he’d be able to forgive himself, which wasn’t something he’d be able to do if anything bad happened to her.

  There had only been one other time he’d seen her in the human world. It was the day he had carried her to the outer doors of the hospital and left her there without any memories of her prior life.

  Some thing in this world that had been intent on his destructi
on had wound up hurting her in the process. He hadn’t been back to the human world since … until now. He sipped the coffee, allowing the bitter, the sweet, the creamy, to swirl in his mouth and delight his taste buds. Simply heaven.

  “There, you’ll live,” Lydia stood, then left the room. She returned with the canvas and placed it before him. “This is the only reason I didn’t kick you out.”

  He stared at the words, ‘He’s Coming’, then looked where she’d placed her finger. A small signature. Aliyah. He turned the canvas around. “One of the fallen angels,” he commented. “Show me the other paintings.”

  She placed before him the picture of Otherland and the boy. He touched the tips of the blue emeralds. “You may not think you have any memories, Lydia, but you do.” Then he looked at the boy, the human-child that, at this moment, was at the Light knight’s home in Otherland.

  “He was right,” he said in surprise. “That’s why you came back. You were searching for him.”

  “You know him?” Lydia exclaimed, and cautiously sat down in the chair beside him.

  “Yes,” the Light knight said hesitantly. “Do you remember him?”

  All of a sudden, Cherise started coughing and making a huge racket, ruining their gentle moment where he’d been about to take her hand. “Girl, don’t you ever go shoppin’? Ugh, yo’ milk is curdled.” She threw the milk and the bowl of cereal she’d been attempting to eat into the garbage.

  “That’s what you get for helping yourself to my food, Cherise,” Lydia laughed.

  “You call me at dawn, actin’ like someone ‘bout to murder you. I didn’t exactly get time to eat breakfast. I’m goin’ out, get us somethin’ called real food.”

  “Wait, Cherise,” Lydia hurried after Cherise into the living room.

  The Light knight heard their urgent whispers.

  “You can’t just leave me alone with him. I don’t even know who he is. He could be a stalker or something. He could be the bad guy.”

  “Yeah, cause he look so much the part,” Cherise chuckled. “25 years old and still petrified of bein’ alone with a guy.”

  “Shh, shut up, he can hear you.”

  “He can hear you too, fool. Ten minutes. I be back. I promise.”

  “Cherise,” Lydia whispered harshly.

  “You kids have fun, now,” Cherise called as she walked out the door.

  Lydia paced nervously in the living room. “Can’t believe she would just up and leave me like that,” she mumbled.

  “Aliyah, er, Lydia. I won’t hurt you. I would never hurt you. I’m here to help you. I’m here to protect you.”

  “Protect me from what?” She stopped pacing.

  “I don’t want to overwhelm you. I want only to tell you what you’re ready to hear.”

  “So it’s true then, isn’t it? Something bad is about to happen. Am I in danger?”

  Slowly, he nodded his head.

  “Who is HE? Who is coming? And how do I know you’re not him?” At that thought, she grabbed a knife and held it toward him.

  He smiled at her, “You always looked like the warrior princess with your sword. A steak knife, I’m afraid, does not have the same look.”

  “Who is the child?” She continued standing there with the knife pointed at him.

  “I don’t think now is a good time to - .”

  “Tell me,” she demanded.

  “Aliyah, these are all very sensitive subjects. One thing at a time. You need first to grasp your memories or else everything I say to you is going to sound like I’m a lunatic. Otherland, do you believe it as being a real place? Do you remember it?”

  “I don’t even remember painting it. I did tell Cherise, though, when I saw it, that it felt like it’s a place I’ve been to before. She said that perhaps I used to live in France or Italy.”

  “It is a place you’ve been to before. It’s where we first met. You’ve been there many times, and you’ve been there recently, but it is not in France or Italy.”

  “Where is it? Which country? And how could I have been there recently when I’ve been holed up here in my home other than to go to the store?” Lydia questioned rapidly.

  “It is not in a different country, and it is not a place you travel on foot or by plane.”

  “Another world?”

  He sighed in relief. He had feared so much she would have difficulty accepting this information, but so far so good.

  He nodded, “Yes, another world.”

  “And how do I get to this world?”

  “Your soul travels into the sub-conscious and beyond into Otherland. Most humans do not have those abilities. You, Aliyah, do, beginning as a small child. You are able to travel between worlds with ease. A while back, an agreement was made with the elders that you would not return, and in exchange for you not returning, you would stop being hunted. Your recent return has resumed the hunt, and now you are in danger.”

  She stared at him intently, and then she belted out in maniacal laughter. “I knew it, you – you’re crazy. Schizophrenic. I’ve met plenty, walking the streets, talking to themselves about fighting the devil, calling people demons, talking about places that are completely out of reality.”

  The door opened and Cherise ran in. She hurriedly placed the food down and wrestled the knife out of Lydia’s hand. “Girl, you friggin’ crazy? I leave fo’ ten minutes so you can get to know this fine man, and you threatenin’ him at knife point.”

  “He’s crazy, Cherise. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s schizophrenic.”

  “Now you a doctor, all a sudden? How he know ‘bout the necklace? How he know ‘bout Aliyah? How he know ‘bout the paintings?”

  “What is my full name?” Lydia demanded of the Light knight.

  “Aliyah Destiny Demonica.”

  “That is the stupidest name I have ever heard. Who has a middle name of Destiny and a last name with Demon in it?”

  “It was your guardian’s last name. He named you. It’s he that is coming back for you,” the Light knight spoke quickly.

  “The child? Who is the child?”

  “Lydia, calm yo’ stupid ass down.”

  “Aliyah, please,” he pleaded.

  “THE CHILD!”

  The Light knight dropped his head, then looked into her eyes. “I think he may be your son,” he whispered. “I think he’s the reason you keep coming back.”

  “Get … Out!” Lydia said dangerously. “Now!”

  “Lydia, hold up a minute. You may have a child that been out there all dis time that you ain’t rememberin’. How you deny that?”

  “I can’t have children, Cherise. I was born sterile. I can never, ever have children,” Lydia sobbed once.

  Cherise sucked in her teeth. “In that case, You. Out. Now. Before I bust yo’ lyin’ ass, and don’t think I won’t. Hurt my girl like dis. I should’ve known you was up to no good.”

  The Light knight put his hands up in surrender, his eyes full of pain. This is what he’d been trying to avoid. He backed slowly toward the door. “I’m leaving,” he said gently. “If you need to find me again –.”

  “Uh-uh, you ever come back here, bother my girl, I call the po-lice on you.”

  Only once he was gone did Lydia fall into her chair in heart-wrenching sobs.

  “Why you ain’t never tell me? All the times I throw in yo’ face I got kids and you don’t. Girl, I am so sorry.”

  Lydia shook her head, “No, it’s okay, Cherise. I only just remembered. It was before I was Lydia that I learned this stuff.”

  “So you remember who you was befo’ Lydia?”

  “Not all of it, not everything, but he was right about one thing. My real name is Aliyah.”

  CHAPTER 10

  The darkened soul roared furiously. Coming from a place of no time made time in the human world unbearable. In his world, eternity was simple. Here, he felt an eternity until the sky would darken again so he could travel without being burned. He’d attempted even minutes in the
light to attempt to get into the subway where it was dark, but the scorching pain was excruciating and he turned back in seconds.

  He was stuck in the basement of some house, trapped, in the darkest corners away from the window, feeling worse than his imprisonment in the Darkness, for at least there, he didn’t have to feel every second of torturous time not ticking by fast enough.

  His sense of her, so close, he wanted her NOW! When would this day end?! He panted in fierce need, a need stronger than that of his former needs when he had a physical body. Every torturous second that passed, he vowed he would make her pay. He would make her suffer. He would torture her with the seconds as he was being tortured now.

  ***

  As much as Lydia didn’t want to know. As much as she just wanted to lay down and sleep and sleep and sleep, for whatever it was worth. As much as she wanted to get into her still-unopened box of wine and find oblivion and solace, she went to the library instead, and typed in ‘Aliyah Destiny Demonica’ into search.

  Other last names for Aliyah showed up, a lot of useless information with the keyword ‘Destiny’. She scrounged through hundreds and hundreds of search results.

  “Ah, this is taking forever,” she cried in frustration. She typed in Demonica. Finally, she was getting somewhere. Apparently, it wasn’t a very popular last name.

  She opened an obituary on a Dwayne Demonica, dated three years ago. She read through it quickly. “Dependent, and only known relation to Dwayne Demonica, Aliyah Demonica, made the most difficult decision to pull the plug, after a six-month period of Dwayne Demonica being comatose and surviving on life-support alone.

  “Dwayne did not show any sign of brain activity throughout the course of that six months, though his condition was labeled as ‘different’ in the medical community, as there were no outward physical signs to determine his comatose state. There were no brain injuries or damages to his brain or skull that would explain his state of being or non-being. His death has been ruled as natural-causes, nonetheless.”

  Aliyah recalled her own two-month coma where they told her it had been a ‘different case’, because she too had had nothing physically damaging enough to explain her comatose state. She hadn’t needed life support, though. Her body had worked on its own, her heart, her lungs, and she’d shown brain-wave activity. They’d said her brain-wave patterns had mimicked those of sleep, all the stages, including active dream sleep, like she’d just taken a long nap.