Terminus Project: Mars (Dystopian Child Prodigy SciFi)

by Casey Herzog

  The door opened and Professor Bethesda was waiting to discuss his long-term care. “I don’t know what’s happening to him, but I fear the worst. The scans we have taken of his magic are showing depletion in force. The magic eyes are still there, but it’s very scarce, a trace of what his power should be. I wish I could tell you he was going to make it out of this one, but I’m not sure I can."

  I was listening to what the professor had to say, but I was also looking for any inkling of life in Damien’s eyes. Damien was the strongest of them all and for him to waste away was like he had cut a piece of my heart out.

  “My father spoke of some kind of treatment, but I’m reluctant to sign off on anything too risky. Can you tell me anything more about what Julian found? Does it make sense to use it or should we wait to see if he comes out of it on his own? Since his father and mother decided to give me the right to determine his care, I have found myself struggling to remain impartial.”

  “I’ve talked to Julian, and he doesn’t even know if he can procure the right ingredients for the treatment. There’s a rare flower involved, and the petals need to be crushed into a powder before being ingested. The only way to get it is to go into the mountains. It’s a treacherous journey, and one that I would not want to make on an empty stomach,” the professor said with his hand on Damien’s pulse.

  “What can you tell me about the mountains?” I knew nothing and only rumors persisted about the possible dangers.

  “This kind of journey should not be undertaken unless you have the stamina. The air is very thin up where the flower can be located. It might be of no use anyway, but it’s the only thing anybody has come up with that might make any kind of a difference.” The flower was a rare Lotus: purple with a white center. I’d heard of its existence, but only one person had been able to bring back a sample. I’ve been told it was my mother.

  “Are you suggesting I should take on this dangerous stunt? I know my mother was the first to bring it to the masses, but nobody has been able to make the journey since. It could be an effort in futility, but it’s very likely I could die making the trip. They say it’s not the fall that kills you, but the landing from a height that stretches into the clouds.” Only two others had convinced themselves they could do it and never returned. How would I make it?

  “I’m not suggesting anything, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say you and your mother share genes in common. I haven’t mentioned this to your father, but it’s something you might want to bring up during dinner. Don’t you think Damien deserves more than what we have been giving him? I know I’m at my wit’s end to know what to do next.”

  I couldn’t think of anything more disturbing than putting my life in peril, but I would do practically anything to bring Damien back from whatever purgatory he found himself in.

  “I’ll have to give this some serious consideration before I make any sort of decision. I’ll run this by my father, but I doubt he’ll be very appreciative of me taking a risk for somebody I hardly know. However, it’s not like he can stop me. I consider Damien a friend, and I would think he would do the same thing for me if the situation were reversed.” I could only imagine what he was going through. He was desperately clinging to whatever shred of life he had left.

  “You should have all the facts before going forward. There are a multitude of references in the library, which I would stress looking into. You need to know everything before you even attempt such a feat. Legend states that only one person is allowed to make the journey,” the professor said running his hands through his white hair.

  Professor Bethesda looked like he had aged many years since I had seen him last.

  The children here were incorrigible and a firm hand was needed to keep them from losing themselves to the magic. It must’ve been very taxing, and I could only imagine what kind of fortitude it took to face those children each and every day. Even my father was showing some age around the eyes and a few new gray hairs.

  “I would like to have a few words in private with Damien. I like to confide in him what keeps me up at night. I know it’s not fair to tell him so much when he can’t even respond, but it’s just nice to talk to somebody without them wanting to fix every little thing.” Professor Bethesda gave me a nod of recognition and left me in the comfort of what was considered a shell of what Damien once was.

  He was stuck in there, away from the prying eyes of others. Maybe he didn’t want to come back for a reason. I didn’t have all the answers, but I was willing to find them with the express purpose of bringing back my friend.

  “The flowers are blooming. Touch them…feel them…don’t touch them.” The words were coming from Damien, but they made no sense. There had to be a reason. I couldn’t ignore it thinking it was only gibberish. It didn’t seem prudent to tell anybody; these words were meant for only me.

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me. Can you be any clearer? This has to be something concerning the flower to help you. Are you trying to tell me this isn’t the right course of action? I need some guidance, but your words only leave more questions than answers.” I waited, but there was only silence. It didn’t even seem like he had said anything at all. I had heard it for myself, but there was nothing to indicate this had anything to do with the flower.

  I touched his shoulder, his cheek and even the back of his neck, but there was no light looking back. The true essence of Damien was lost, but maybe there was a way to find it. Could it mean risking life and limb? Did I have the strength of character? I was the only one to answer those questions. Damien needed me and I was damned if I was going to let him suffer in silence.

  Chapter Three

  I watched him pace back and forth looking at me incredulously and not quite knowing what to say. I had laid a bombshell in his lap by telling him what happened with Damien. It was not my intention to get him involved, but he was right there when I needed him the most. Finding him in the library researching the flower was like fate had lent a hand to bring us back together again.

  I didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, but this was certainly a lot to process. He was the only one that knew what Damien had said. The very fact he said anything was a surprise. I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that he had awoken, but I wasn’t even sure if that was true. Julian was my sole confidant for now.

  “I’m glad you felt you could trust me, but I’m not sure I really know what to say. I wasn’t there, so I can’t tell you what it might have been or how to interpret it. I’m a little perplexed that you don’t want to tell anybody about this. I don’t know about you, but it seems like a pretty big deal.”

  Julian was the only one I had confided about my father’s absence. Without him around, I might’ve been more inclined to turn to the dark side even more easily than I had. I was a little mad at Julian for not being there. Julian was apologetic, but it was only words.

  “I didn’t want to get anybody’s hopes up over what could possibly be nothing. I thought that I would discreetly look into these things myself and see if I could make any sense out of it.”

  Julian was wearing a white jacket down to his knees.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered you felt inclined to tell me anything. I wasn’t sure if we were talking after everything that happened. I wasn’t there when you needed me and I can only be thankful that others were able to pick up my slack. Your father being alive must be a great relief, but I’m sure it also is a double-edged sword. You had some time to think about it and I’m gathering words have been shared,” Julian said with his mind occupied on the books on the table.

  I had cheated the fever of the darkness trying to seep into my soul, but it wasn’t by my own hand. I needed the help of my father, Damien, and especially William to draw me back out into the light.

  I didn’t want to put them through unnecessary hell unless absolutely necessary. I needed to confirm my suspicions, but at least for now, I had a partner in crime.

  “I’m in no place to tell y
ou what to do, Gillian. I’m just suggesting that it might be best to speak to somebody. I’m sure your father would love to hear about Damien’s remarkable recovery even if it was only temporary. Temporary or not, it shows there’s still something running around inside his head.

  “I’m surprised he even mentioned the flower, but as you have already said, it may not have anything to do with what we have been looking into on his behalf,” Julian said, trying to play devil’s advocate.

  I had ruled the world with an iron fist for a brief period of time, and I was still trying to come to terms with losing such immense power. I hadn’t told anybody about the sleepless nights, the cold sweats, or the need to walk around the house in the middle of the night. I felt like I was having withdrawal symptoms, but I managed to find a book in my father’s study about meditation that was helping.

  “I’ve been dabbling with some spells as of late, and I think one might come in handy for our purposes. It’s a location beacon; I just have to make sure how to say it without causing any undue side effects. The one thing I’ve learned from all of this is magic can be quite unpredictable if you allow it to be.” Even though I said it, I believed that to be a vast understatement. The shattered windows of my soul had been repaired, but there were still cracks remaining left to be sealed.

  “I can help you with that. This library is a fountain of information ready for somebody to tap into. Jasper and my father knew that better than anyone. I only wish Jasper could give us a helping hand. I didn’t know him well, but what I have seen is a deep understanding of everything concerning magic. He walked over to the dark side, not of his own volition, but he has been unable to find his way back.”

  I had tried in vain to locate him, and when I came close, it was like he vanished before I had a chance to find him and bring him home. I was hoping I could find the boy I was looking for, but Jasper had become something of an elusive whisper of what he once was.

  “I know your intention is to bring Jasper back and rehabilitate him. I’m just not sure if your father and the others can work their magic on him.

  “These archives have a lot to say, but the problem is finding the right book. This locator spell you have mentioned is something we can use, but I would have to know more about it before I could even consider working alongside you on this ill advised project.”

  I didn’t want to say it, but I think we both knew the main reason for this exercise was to determine if taking the trek into the mountains was a good idea.

  “With the two of us, I’m sure we can find something that could lead us to the answer to his unfortunate predicament.”

  “I have the book of spells, but what I don’t have is a vessel, which I think you can help with.”

  I wasn’t sure what he was referring to until he was staring below my neck. I thought he was getting fresh, but then I realized he was looking at the crystal pendant my mother had given me. It had sat in my jewelry box in my bedroom for quite some time, and for whatever reason, I had put it on this morning, not even aware that I was doing it.

  “I’ll let you to use the crystal, but only on the condition you don’t destroy it. My mother gave me this before she died. I have cherished it for quite some time, but I have also hidden from it. After what happened, I found myself drawn to her memories; I learned to see things through her eyes.”

  I had been down and so lost that I couldn’t see what was considered right or wrong. Reality was out of reach. My body had healed, but my mind was still suffering the side effects of going out of my comfort zone.

  I handed him the crystal and we went over to a table with inscriptions carved into the wood. The ceremony of writing on this table was something passed down from one generation to the next. It was known as a place to share secrets in magic. Many spells of different kinds were scratched into the wood, including underneath and on the legs. It had a time stamp of several hundred years in the making. The generational gap was closing quickly, and there seemed to be a meaning for every one of these incantations.

  Julian started to mutter something in Gaelic with his eyes rolling into the back of his head until only the whites remained. I was worried for his safety, but I didn’t dare touch him while he was in what was considered a deep trance. I had no idea what touching him during this crucial time would do, and I wasn’t ready to hurt another person I cared for. I felt this compulsion to do something, but I made myself refrain.

  He had the crystal in his hand and it was swaying on its own without any manual stimulation. It swung quickly in a wide arc; I was getting dizzy looking at it. I tried to look away, but I just couldn’t bring myself to turn my head in any direction other than where the crystal was spinning.

  Julian began to shake and there was a droplet of blood coming from his left nostril. I didn’t want him hurt, but this was a course we had chosen together. The only way to learn how to help Damien was to seek out the answers inside the library.

  Volumes of text, dusty and moldy, were waiting to be discovered all over again. My father had said after the Elders were gone that he was tempted to open up the library to the public like it had been in previous times.

  Julian’s mouth was moving and the whispers in Gaelic were in a different tone. His voice had changed, and whatever source he had tapped into was wreaking havoc with his mind. It had taken him over and was using him as the vessel, much the same way he was using the crystal.

  I watched it change colors several times --- this was the first time I’d ever witnessed anything supernatural about the crystal. It seemed like a smaller version of the amulet my father had confirmed to be under lock and key, consisting of several layers of magic each more daunting than the last.

  Julian had stepped forward, his chin touching his chest. He let go of the crystal and it hung in the air over the table, glowing a magnificent red crimson color. It suddenly took off, barely missing my ear with such a force and speed it was hard to keep track of it. Julian was in no shape to go on this scavenger hunt; I was going to have to take the journey on my own. It wouldn’t have been the first time I went out on a limb, alone. Chasing this mystery was better when I was with someone. Unfortunately, Julian was indisposed, which once again made this responsibility fall on my shoulders.

  I looked behind and over my shoulder to see the crystal waiting for me to follow it in its wake. I heard what sounded like a crack of thunder. I turned back to see the table was breaking apart. It had splintered, leaving one jagged crack down the middle. There had to be some kind of significance behind it, but I had no time to delve into the mystery.

  I felt like I had done William a disservice by not telling him anything I had discovered. We were forbidden to see each other until the wedding day. He was sequestered into a monastery for quiet contemplation. I didn’t know why I wasn’t made to do the same, but apparently, this was only for the groom. He told me there was nothing to worry about, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end when he was walking through the double oak doors. I hadn’t heard from him in almost a month.

  I still remembered the sound of those doors slamming together, leaving me to wonder if I was ever going to see William again. I tried to keep myself occupied with the school and the children. For the most part, it worked amazingly well and also gave me time to reconnect with my father.

  I was waiting for the day when William and I would be reunited and finally able to start our lives together. I wanted a big family with several kids, and I could just see my father’s face when he learned I was going to give him a grandchild. He never could get it out of his head that I was no longer his little girl. He said I would understand when I was old enough to have a child of my own. I was hoping I would not make the same mistakes as my parents did, but every parent had their own trials.

  I thought the love I shared with William was here to stay, but I was worried he was going to be a fading memory. The only way to know for sure if what I had was true was to see his face again.

  I heard a loud-pitched squeal, and I had t
o hold my hands over my ears with my legs almost buckling underneath the strain of the pain assaulting me. I found the source to be from the crystal. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that it was tiring of my walk down memory lane.

  Julian crumpled to the floor, and fortunately, he did not hit his head on the way down. Once I started to follow the crystal down the aisles of books, the piercing wail subsided slightly. It was still there as a painful reminder not to ignore something more powerful than I was. I had no idea the crystal had that kind of pull on me. It did somehow make me put it on this morning, which should have been a sign, but I really didn’t pay attention to it.

  I went up a twisting metal staircase following the floating crystal. I went down into what was considered the occult section: black books embossed with a gold leaf. It felt like the volumes were reaching out like the gnarled fingers of an old man’s hand about to touch me inappropriately.

  One book in the very back corner began to shake and then shot off like a cannon towards me. I saw it coming, but there was no way to avoid the impact.

  Chapter Four

  I thought for sure the book was going to slam into me and send me spiraling over the railing and down onto the floor below. I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, but after several seconds there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. I was still hesitant to open my eyes even a crack, but there it was floating within an inch of my nose. It didn’t come any closer, but it seemed to be waiting for me to take possession.

  I put out my shaky hands and it dropped into my grasp with a heavy weight. I made an involuntary gasp at how hard it was to hold onto. It was heavier than normal, and I could swear there were weights between the pages, but that couldn’t be possible. I struggled to keep ahold of it as I brought it over to a nearby table where the crystal was lying inert and seemingly mocking my existence.