The Dance

by James Goodman

  Jack was regaining his natural color by the time he joined Tom. He kicked at a blackened stud that was leaning away from the hole.

  “Is that absolutely necessary?” Tom asked as he watched debris break loose and fall below.

  Jack likely knew better than to answer and chose to survey the foundation of the house instead. He pointed to a set of steps that lead to what remained of a basement. “Do you think those stairs at the back will support us?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Tom headed for the cellar entrance at a trot.

  “Figures,” Jack said. A padlock was still attached to door.

  “Huh.” Tom looked around for something with which to pry the door open. “Do you mind fetching the crowbar from our trunk?”

  “What are you hoping to find down there? Everything is so burned up I can’t tell what it was before it was crispy crittered.”

  “Oh, let’s see, what are those little things that people look for to help them get a better understanding of what is going on?”

  Jack rolled his eyes. “Clues. Right, I guess I had that coming.”

  He laughed in agreement. “Yeah, that’s the word I was looking for.”

  “Boy,” Jack said through a smirk. “You sure have a serious case of the smartasses today.”

  “I would rather be a smartass than a dumbass any day.”

  “Ha-ha-ha. Couldn’t you come up with something a little less tired to throw at me?”

  “I’m just messing around with you, Jack. Don’t get your panties all in a wad.”

  His partner let out a heavy breath. “So, seriously what do you think is down there?”

  “Something he didn’t want us to find, something that will lead us right to him.”

  “Don’t you think that if he was using explosives anyway, he would have made sure whatever was in there was destroyed?”

  “He may have, but unless we get down there and look, we may never know. Now, do you mind grabbing that crowbar out of the car or do I have to go get it myself?”

  Jack trudged back to the car and returned with the crowbar in hand. “I think I liked you better when you were a drunk,” he muttered under his breath.

  A quick jerk on the handle of the crowbar granted them access into the belly of the house. Jack held his breath as each board creaked beneath their feet while they climbed down.

  Maybe, this isn’t the best idea I ever came up with, but I don't see another way.

  Tom pulled out his flashlight, despite the fact that it was a sunny afternoon. It was as if charred remains sucked the light from the air before it could reach the floor.

  They carefully sifted through the ashes. At first, they hoped to find something useful, but after a while, they just hoped to find something recognizable. Occasionally, Jack had to retreat up the rickety stairs so he could catch his breath and re-apply the mentholated cream, but other than that, they moved through the debris at a deliberate pace. They had covered only half of the basement by the time the sun started to fade.

  “Tom, I hate to say it, but I don’t think we are going to find anything down here.”

  “You’re not wussing out on me, are you?”

  “No, but I am starting to lose steam.”

  “Well, perhaps you should go take another short break.” Tom paused as he looked at how much area they still had to go over. “It looks like we may be here a while.”

  “It’s starting to get dark. Are you sure it’s okay to be down here by yourself?”

  “I don’t mind, really. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to be out of earshot. If I find something or need some help, I’ll holler for you.” Tom tapped the radio on his waist for emphasis.

  “All right, just give me ten minutes or so and I will be back to help.”

  Tom gave him a nod before returning to the task at hand. He pointed his flashlight at the wall closest below where the dining room once stood.

  What the hell is that?

  There was a small crease in the stone floor that ran about two feet away from the wall. The rocks lined up flush there, rather than overlapping like the rest of the basement. The crevice seemed to run under the wall. He had just knelt down to trace out the line when he heard a low growl slowly grow in the darkness. He jumped to his feet and spun his flashlight around.

  It wasn’t a growl after all; it was the groan wood gives just before it breaks. The stairs were giving way as Jack neared the top of them. He made eye contact with his partner just before he disappeared into a cloud of splinters and ash.

  Tom rushed to his aide, throwing wood in every direction as quickly as he could grab it. When he uncovered the hand, it was still moving.

  Thank God! He’s still alive. He doubled his efforts until he could see Jack’s face. He had blood running down both sides of his mouth.

  “Oh, no.” Tom’s shoulders sunk as he uncovered his body. A large chunk of wood was sticking up through his abdomen.

  Jack reached up and tried to grab it once both his hands were free.

  “No, don’t touch it. I’ll get us some help.”

  Tom grabbed the radio from his hip and pressed the button on its side. “Officer down! I have an officer down at the Pearlman house, over.”

  He released the button and waited for a response. The radio remained silent.

  “God damn it! I said I have an officer down. I need help, now!”

  There was still no answer.

  “Holy shit! It must not work down here.” Tom looked for a way to crawl out of the hole. “Jack, stay with me, man. I’m going to get help, but I have to get out of here to make the call.”

  “Don’t leave me here, Tom,” he pleaded, gurgling up blood as he spoke. “Not by myself. I don’t want to go out like this.”

  “You’re not going anywhere. I just have to go get some help.”

  “Please, don’t let me die… not alone… not in the dark.”

  Tom swallowed hard and mashed down on the button again. He continued to move around the basement, trying to get a signal for the radio.

  “Officer down; dispatch do you copy, over?”

  Please God, make somebody answer me.

  “Come on, someone please respond, over.”

  Please—please—

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Come on, Nina.” Kyle swatted her hand away from his chest. “Let me be!”

  “You need to get up and move around, lazy man. It’s not good for your body to sleep this much.” She shook him again for good measure.

  “I’ll get up and move around in the morning.” He pulled the pillow down tighter around his head.

  “It’s too late for that.”

  “It’s never too late for sleep.”

  “It’s afternoon.”

  “What’s so God damned important you can’t let me sleep in a little?” The pillow muffled his voice.

  “For one, you need a shower. I might also suggest that you do a little laundry.”

  “What?” Kyle moved the pillow just far enough for him to see her face.

  “You have been asleep for days. You are rolling around in your own… filth.” She pointed at the bed.

  Kyle sat up and stared at his bed in disbelief. How could I sleep through THIS? He gagged when the smell registered in his brain. He instinctively moved to cover his mouth with his hand, but stopped short. His gags gave way to full fledged vomiting when he saw the amount of feces caked on his hands.

  “Nice,” Nina said as he added to the mess in his bed. “But then again, I don’t think you could do anymore harm than you already have.”

  “I have shit… everywhere.” Kyle looked around for something to wipe the vomit from his face.

  “Yeah, it’s all over your face too.”

  “Son of a bitch,” he managed between dry heaves.

  “And in your hair—”

  “Stop it! Just stop talking. I’ve gotta… I’ve gotta get out of here!”

  He managed to tangle himself up in the sheets as h
e tried to scramble out of the tainted bed and crashed to the floor with a yelp.

  “For the love of God!” He growled as he looked at the mess he left on the floor where he landed.

  “I thought I already told you… there is no God.”

  “Just… just… SHUT UP!” he screamed as slobber ran from both sides of his mouth. He was afraid to swallow.

  “Don’t yell at me,” she warned in a low voice. “I am not the one who shat all over myself.”

  “I’m sorry, Nina. I know it’s not your fault. I just need a minute to think.” The look on her face pained him.

  “Perhaps you could think more clearly after you have showered,” she suggested, waving him towards the bathroom.

  Kyle pushed himself to his feet, trying desperately not to slip back into the nastiness he had spread to the floor. He made his way to the bathroom as quickly as he could without falling. He cranked on the hot water knob in the shower, made the water as hot as he could stand it.

  I don’t know if there is enough steam in the world to make me feel clean after this. He could see Nina’s shadow cross the shower curtain as she entered the bathroom. He sent soap bubbles and water flying over the top of the shower, scrubbing like a madman.

  “How long?” He grunted without slowing his cleansing.

  “Until what?”

  He opened the shower curtain to glare at her. “How long was I asleep in that… stuff?”

  “Oh, that how long.” Nina made a face of disgust. “Well, you were asleep for about four days, but you only mucked about in your own urine and feces for maybe half that.”

  “Only half huh? Well, I guess it isn’t as bad as I thought,” Kyle sneered.

  “Hey, it could have been worse.”

  “Why was I asleep for so long?”

  “Your body is trying to adjust.”

  “Adjust to what?”

  “Ch… ch… changes,” she sang out, before doubling over with laughter.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Life… it is just one giant joke.”

  “I’m happy that you’re so happy.”

  “Hurry up in there,” she urged, signaling for him to close the curtain.

  “If I’ve been asleep for days, what’s the rush now?”

  “I have something I want you to try.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, you will just have to hurry up so you can see, now won’t you?”

  “You are such a little devil.” Steam still rose from his shoulders as he stepped from the shower.

  “You have no idea. Can we please get a move on?”

  “Can’t I at least have some coffee first?” Kyle whined.

  “Coffee? Didn’t the shower wake you up?” Nina’s tone suggested her patience was wearing thin.

  “It was a good start, but I need a little caffeine to get this day fired up good and proper.”

  “The day is almost over,” she pointed out.

  “What, you think I am going back to sleep any time soon?” He shuddered at the thought of the bed he just left. “I’ve been asleep for days; I think I have had enough rest. I just need the coffee to help give me a clear head.”

  “Fine.” She threw up her hands in resignation. “Make your damned coffee.”

  After his shower, Kyle whistled a playful tune as he walked into the kitchen and prepared the coffee maker. He waited patiently for the familiar sounds of percolation.

  How much coffee did I put in there? The smell of brewed coffee filled his nostrils. I don’t remember it ever smelling this good.

  Nina leaned against the doorway of the kitchen with her arms across her chest. She was lightly tapping one of her fingers on her arm, just in case Kyle hadn’t noticed that she was in a hurry. He snorted at her impatience and poured himself a cup, taking a deep gulp of the steaming liquid.

  “Oh, wow,” he gushed, staring down at his mug.

  Nina let one of her eyebrows arch and waited for him to continue.

  “This has got to be the best cup of coffee I have ever had.”

  “It is the same as the coffee you always make.”

  “It can’t be. This is so… wonderful. I either added more by mistake or less or—”

  “You buy your coffee in packets. You don’t even measure them out.”

  “Well, something is different.”

  “Yes, there is,” she whispered. “It’s you.”

  “Huh? I don’t follow.”

  “You are different. It is all part of the change. You are experiencing a heightened level of sensory perception.”

  “Okay.” He gave her a perplexed look. “So, my coffee was always this good. I just couldn’t taste it before?”

  “Something like that, lover. Don’t get so hung up on the details. Everything will make sense to you eventually. I promise.”

  He finished his coffee and rinsed his cup out before putting it in the dishwasher. “So, what is it you want me to do?”

  “I want—to see—you fly,” she said between giggles.

  “Yeah, right. Seriously, what’s on your mind?”

  “I want to see if two days of lying in your own filth has done anything to improve your focus.”

  Kyle cringed at the mention of his defiled bed. Nina turned and walked into the living room before motioning for him to sit in his recliner. He obliged her slowly before looking up at her with expectant eyes.

  “I think we should start off with something simple,” she said as she looked around the room.

  “Wonder twin powers activate.” He brought his fists together in front of his body. “Shape of… a penguin.”

  The act sent him into an uncontrollable laughing fit. Nina glared at him with poorly concealed ire.

  “Ah, come on, that was funny.”

  “Why do I even bother?” she thought with exasperation.

  “Because you love me,” he returned, earning him a shocked stare.

  She gasped and stared at him.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, when he couldn’t stand it any more.

  “You—never mind, let’s get on with it, shall we?”

  “I will have to be more careful with my thoughts,” he heard her say to herself before willing her thoughts to reside deeper within her mind.

  “I want you to picture—”

  “Ah man, you want me to try to jump again?” He sat up in his chair, wondering if she remembered how horribly he failed the first time.

  “No, I want you to do it. I can assure you, it is well within your power. You just need to focus.”

  “Focus, Right. Foc me. Foc you…. Focus.” He couldn’t help but laugh again.

  “Please tell me you aren’t really this dumb,” she begged. “You have heard the word before, no?”

  “Lighten up, Nina. I’m just playing around.”

  “That’s the problem. This is something you need to take a little more seriously. I am teaching you things that will change the way you look at the world.”

  “What if I like the way the world looks?” He smiled as he pressed her buttons.

  “Then you can keep it,” she snapped and stormed out of the room.

  He was on his feet in a flash, chasing her down the hall.

  “Wait!” he called after her, knowing he had pushed too far. “That was my last joke for the entire night. I swear it.”

  She stopped and glared over her shoulder at him, causing him to take a step back.

  “It had better be.”

  “I love you, Nina.” He touched her face as he spoke. “Being around you makes me happy. When I am happy, I tend to act a little… goofy.”

  “Duly noted.” She kissed his hand before leading him back to the recliner.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” he said with as straight a face as he could manage.

  “Good. Now I want you to picture your bedroom.”

  “My bedroom? That’s only a few feet away.”

  “Kyle,” she said, the warning in her voice almost tangi
ble.

  “Okay, okay I’m picturing my bedroom and it’s filthy.”

  “You won’t have to stay there long,” she assured him.

  “But why the bedroom?” Kyle hadn’t planned on ever setting foot in there again if he could help it.

  “If you can make it to your bedroom, you can make it anywhere we need to go.”

  Kyle nodded.

  Nina knelt down beside his chair. “Remember your breathing.”

  He closed his eyes.

  “Now, just like before, I want you to picture yourself in the room.”

  Kyle could hear his heartbeat pounding out a slow but steady beat. I am in the room, he told himself.

  The air around him began to dance, tickling his skin. The sound of rushing water roared in his ears. Then just as quickly as it started, the sensation stopped.

  “I told you it wouldn’t work,” he said as he opened his eyes.

  “Really?” Nina smiled back at him.

  “No way!” He was staring down at the dark stains on his stripped mattress.

  He looked down at his feet and back up at his smiling friend. “I was sitting in the chair.” He shot a glance back over his shoulder at the hallway. “I can still feel the chair on my back.”

  Nina grabbed him by the hand and pulled him in close to her. “You pictured yourself standing in the room and here you are,” she whispered in his ear. “How does that make you feel?”

  “Like I can do anything,” he said in a shaky voice.

  “Well said, lover. Are you ready to try a bigger jump?”

  “How much bigger?”

  “Let’s see what you are really made of.” She walked over to his dresser and rummaged through one of his drawers.

  “I like the sound of this already.”

  “We know you can do it when you have seen the place you are jumping to, but can you do it from this?” She held up a photograph.

  It was a picture of someone’s living room. Kyle could see a chair, a sofa, and most of the coffee table. He could even make out the beige of the carpet. He looked along the walls for something more detailed to latch onto. There was a painting on the wall behind the couch. It was an ocean scene with two children walking along the shore. That’s what I need to get me there.