Legions

by Karice Bolton

  My eyes began to fill with tears, and I placed my cup of tea on the ground doing my best to wipe away the wetness before it was released down my cheeks. I got up onto my knees looking through the window towards the beach. Placing my hands on the cold glass, I saw the boulder where we had made love for the first time. I was almost feeling the same jolt of cold running through me as the memories were pumping through my body. It was like the boulder was speaking to me, confirming that Athen and I really did exist, like our love was truly possible. The only thing stopping me from running down there and collapsing onto the grounds where we were so close was my outfit, flannel pjs and house slippers. I didn’t need to cause any more concern for my family as boaters and ferry passengers see some crazy woman in her pajamas crying hysterically, pounding a boulder.

  ***

  Night had fallen, and we had just finished watching a movie, gorging on popcorn and trying to escape a little. It was a good choice considering we had to impose laughter on ourselves somehow. Cyril and Arie were doing their best at giving me space but also keeping me busy enough so I didn’t put myself in an early grave by jumping off a cliff again or something. Not that an act like that seemed to do much to us, but it was the thought that counts.

  “Hey, guys. That was a good choice, but I think I’m gonna hit the sack now.” Arie was curled up on Cyril, and she looked like she had barely been able to keep her eyes open the last few minutes.

  “Sure thing.” Cyril said scooping up Arie who was now almost completely asleep. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Yeah, you too. I’ll lock everything up… and thanks, Cyril. I appreciate everything you guys have been doing.” I really did. I don’t know that I could have made it this far without them.

  “That’s what family is for. Ana, we’ll get him back. Don’t give up on him.”

  I nodded, and he carried Arie up the stairs. I did my best to keep my tears at bay until he reached the top, and as if on cue, the tear that started the flood rolled down my cheek. I used my sleeve to wipe away the excess misery from my face. I checked the garage door and French doors, and both were locked.

  I turned to go up the stairs and felt a spark. My hair began to softly blow against my neck as if a light wind had crossed my path, but no windows were open. I looked around quickly and saw nothing. I felt it again. Only this time, it seemed to almost grab me and then let me go. The same feeling when we first entered the house began to present itself. I wasn’t alone. I darted up the stairs knowing whatever I might be faced with was something I’d have to deal with by myself. Whether it was internal fear, or one of the demons attempting to make me crack, I needed to decipher its meaning alone. I needed to learn to count on myself not Arie and Cyril. It was the only way I’d get stronger.

  I made it to my bedroom without hyperventilating, quietly and quickly closing the door behind me. I charged over to my window not sure what I was expecting to see. At first, the only thing in view was darkness, but as my eyes adjusted to the gentle cast of light the moon was throwing down, I saw very subtle movements. Fear welled up inside of me, not sure what I was seeing. I quickly arranged myself so I’d hopefully not be seen as I saw what I was sure was a human figure. It was so dark outside, I couldn’t see any distinguishing features. I did my best to move forward a little closer to the window hoping to make something out. I was not feeling contempt or disgust that would often accompany my encounters with the demons, so I was guessing it might be a human who was just wandering our property. At least, that was what I was hoping.

  I watched intently as I saw the figure move from the trail over to the beach. Whatever his plan, it seemed rather harmless, especially since he was moving away from the house, but the fear would not subside. Seeing any sort of person or thing wandering around in pitch black does nothing to calm even the bravest of souls.

  I slowly backed up from the window, grabbing a bathrobe to wrap around me since the cold air from the window was chilling me more than I thought. The terry cloth collar gently wrapped around my neck when I realized I had grabbed Athen’s robe. The smell of his cologne encircled my senses. I suddenly felt so near him. I felt his presence so close to me, his arms wrapping around me. I looked back down at the ground, and the person strolling around, only to see him stop and look up at me. Even though the distance was great between myself and the person staring back at me, I was frightened and confused.

  I braced myself against the wall as I stared back, focusing as best I could, disappointed in my inability to see who was out there. I knew it would be foolish to go out there with everything that had been going on, but there was a part of me that wondered if it could be Athen. That part of me was so small because the logic part won out for once, not my heart. Rather than make matters worse, I closed the curtains disconnecting my gaze from the stranger’s. I felt pretty confident it wasn’t a dark demon. They had never been much for hiding their evilness. I had been exposed enough to know the feelings that would have come over me.

  I slowly got into bed refusing to remove Athen’s robe and the comfort that it brought me. The gentle ache in my heart began to spread through my body as I worried that it very well might be Athen outside, and I shut him out. I knew it was impossible. There was no reason for him to know about this place, but I also knew the feelings I felt when we arrived here weren’t right either. What else were we hoping for when we came here? We all needed to somehow connect with Athen on some level. Maybe this was it and all I could do was crawl under the covers. I would know if it was him, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t him.

  The wonderful calmness of my dream world began to invite me in as I slowly drifted off to sleep hearing a gentle bark off in the distance. My two worlds were once again colliding as Matilda welcomed me back to happiness. I was grateful for her loyal spirit as I heard Athen call her off in the distance.

  Chapter 17

  I woke up from a wonderful peace, beating the sun’s presence. I dreamed of being with Matilda again and Athen. We were all on the beach together playing Frisbee. Laughing as Matilda attempted to jump in the air to retrieve the flying saucer. Part of me wanted to force myself back to my dream state so that I could be there in their presence, even it for only a few more minutes, but I also wanted to get down to the beach before Cyril and Arie were up.

  I had to investigate what I swore I saw last night. Promising myself it wasn’t a dream, the swirl of emotions began to run wild in my body. My inability to sense who or what that was last night really unnerved me. Knowing that this being had the ability to reach me inside my home and did so without filling me with complete terror, which puzzled me. The actions fit none of the creatures I had encountered so far. I had been in this very home only months before, approached by demons, and it was a horrible experience; one that I could never forget and one that I could never mistake. That’s why I knew this was different.

  I quickly got dressed and got my shoes on, sneaking quietly down the stairs attempting to make no noise whatsoever. This was something I wanted to do privately. I had been avoiding this area of our yard since we arrived back here. I decided now was as a good of a time as any to go check it out. I gently closed the French doors that led down the path where I saw the figure traipsing around. I took a deep breath hoping for a sense of tranquility as I traveled the very same path to the beach where Athen and I had last gone. A smile returned to my lips as I remembered us attempting to make s’mores on the beach and enjoying each other’s company in every way possible.

  I was thankful that it hadn’t rained recently which lessened my chances of slipping all the way down the path. As I proceeded, I looked for any kind of clue that I thought would tell me who this person or creature was. I was pretty sure what I hoped for versus what was actually possible were two conflicting things. I got closer to the beach and noticed that I didn’t see one footprint the entire length of the trail. I was leaving a print with every step I took; so I found that unnerving. When I reached the beach, the feelings came crashing down on me. The
memories were flooding my mind of Athen and I becoming one on this beach. I was unable to concentrate on anything but his images. The way he held me and spoke to me during our most intimate moments. The sound of the fire crackling from that night was echoing through me. I swore I could smell the burnt logs. I remembered how we left the chocolate that was supposed to be for our s’mores too close to the fire, but we got too carried away with each other to care. The emotions traveling though me were almost more than I could handle.

  The wind gently tore my hair away from my headband creating a chill as the strands of hair ran across my cheek. I looked up at the trees and realized there was no breeze. It was the same sensation as the night before. I quickly glanced around, thankful the sun had begun to make its appearance. Frightened for what I might find, I saw nothing that should have caused a sensation like this to appear. I kept on moving towards the boulder. I needed to touch it, be near it. So much had happened there. I needed that closeness we experienced here. The waves of the ocean were lapping against the rocks quietly guiding me closer to my destination. I saw off in the distance what was probably the first ferry of the morning, chugging away. Hoping that I didn’t attract the attention of any of the ferry passengers, I made my movements more slow and deliberate, reaching my hand out to finally come into contact with the boulder. Feeling a charge, I knew I had made it. I looked down for a place to stick my foot to steady myself on the pebbles when I saw it. There before me was a long-stemmed, white rose laying on the only section of sand that existed in this tiny stretch of beach. I was no longer in my body. My head was fuzzy; my world was no longer my own.

  My head began spinning as I did my best to prop myself up against the boulder. I didn’t understand what was going on. But I knew that Athen had to have been part of it. I slowly bent down to pick up the rose, careful not to make any sudden movements for fear that I might collapse at the enormity of the situation.

  I was certain this rose had to be from Athen. But why? How? Did he know what he was doing or why? If he truly knew, why would he not come to the door?

  A pebble began skipping across the water, and I quickly turned my head in the direction it was coming from, only to see nothing staring right back at me. My mind was beginning to feel very fragile again, like someone was playing games with me. I was positive if it was a demon trying to trick me or send me a message that I’d be able to sense it. I could recognize their evil. I had been able to recognize the close proximity of those evil creatures time and time again. I knew in my heart, if it was one of them I’d have caught it, leaving only one answer for me to slowly embrace. I scanned the brush, mostly tangled blackberries, trying to ascertain what I could be missing. Where he could be hiding. All I could see was my hopes diminishing with every second that passed.

  “I’m all yours, Athen. I’ll wait for you for as long as it takes. They can take you away, but they can’t take you out of my thoughts or out of my memories.”

  I held onto the single white rose that was placed for me with such care, unable to understand what was possibly the significance of any of it.

  Chapter 18

  A week had gone by, and the white rose was still as upright as the morning I had picked it up off of the beach. We had made our way back up to Victoria, and I made sure that the rose made it across the border with me. It was a sign. I was certain of it. Cyril and Arie thought I was reading too much into it. I knew I wasn’t. It gave me the hope I needed. So many distractions had started to spring up in the last several days that I needed what solace I could find by staring at the purity of the petals.

  We had been so busy Athen hunting that we had put some of our other important duties on hold. We were contacted by some of our friends in Whistler to let us know the severity of meddling by the Legions had increased. Arie had reached out to several other families, and they had all warned of the same thing. Besides the demons’ interfering more with the humans, they were beginning to pick off family members that much more aggressively amongst our network.

  I went into the kitchen where Arie was baking cookies. Cyril was already in the family room making lists of things he wanted to investigate. He felt there was a pattern that we were overlooking. I kind of thought that maybe we were over thinking things. Demons are bad, and they are going to do bad things. Maybe, we need to start confronting them more head on. Play the game they want to play. I knew, regardless, it was time that we started to channel some of our energy into these events again; otherwise, it wouldn’t much matter if Athen returned or not. If our worst fear was realized, there might not be much to come back too.

  I grabbed the newspaper off our porch. I was thankful the newspaper carrier put it in the plastic baggie. The rain was coming down in buckets, and even though the paperboy threw it under the eaves, the Northwest’s version of rain had a tendency to be able to get anything and everything wet. Maybe that was why everyone’s skin had such a beautiful, dewy glow. Not enough sun to ever dry a person out and create the dreaded leather effect.

  I went over to the dining room table where my orange juice and toasted bagel with cream cheese was waiting for me. The window was still open from the night before, allowing the dampness to creep inside our home. I had to admit I kind of liked it. Not the same feeling as crisp snow-filled air but definitely a comforting feeling.

  As I slipped the rubber band off and unfolded the paper, I noticed the front-page headline reading “THIRD COUGAR ATTACK IN 2 MONTHS” blazed across the page in the black, looming font with a picture of a man underneath.

  The hair on the back of my neck began to rise. Something didn’t seem right about this. Granted, Vancouver Island had its fair share of wildlife, but I didn’t like the feel of this. I scanned the page looking for something to confirm my suspicion. Nothing was there. There had to be something to this. I grabbed my bagel and orange juice, heading to my bedroom where I could look up these other alleged cougar attacks in private. I hoped I was wrong, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t.

  I curled my legs underneath me as I scanned the articles I read on the other victims who were attacked by cougars. From what it looked like, none of them had seen the cougar. All of the attacks had been from behind and close to dusk - two on the beach and one on a local trail. The morning’s paper had been a bit misleading. Technically, you could call it three attacks in two months, but there had been four victims, not three. The first cougar attack occurred with a couple who was on their honeymoon. Neither of them saw the cougar. Yet they were both attacked. He was on the beach, and she was found on the trail leading back to the parking lot, which was very contradictory to a normal cougar attack. The first victim should have been plenty to satisfy the cougar’s needs. Thankfully, the attack occurred near a popular park so help was called almost instantly; yet nobody was able to identify a cougar, and the hounds that were brought in were unable to trace any sort of scent. The couple was interviewed while still in the hospital recovering from their wounds. Neither saw a cougar attack the other. It didn’t make sense. I was pretty sure this wasn’t a cougar. I knew I had to bring it up to Cyril and Arie immediately. I may not be having any premonitions surrounding this, but I certainly wasn’t going to discount good old-fashioned instinct.

  Scanning the newspaper, my heart began beating faster and faster as I knew the very thing that I was looking for was waiting for me to find it, right in there among the mix of useless facts. The attack was about ten miles from my practice ground. I knew it. This was no coincidence. The Legions were announcing their presence to us all. It was our turn to announce our stance. We hadn’t been doing a very good job of that lately.

  I wish I had Athen here to discuss my hypothesis. My heart ached as I looked at the white rose. I knew he was getting closer. I needed to be patient.

  ***

  It turned out that humans being attacked by wild animals wasn’t unique to Vancouver Island. Every family we contacted throughout this country and the next, confirmed that wild animal attacks were on the rise. Whether it was an alleg
ed bear attack in Yellowstone or Russia, the details were always the same. Nobody saw the animals, and the attacks were gruesome. It was definitely the Legions beginning their formations, making their intentions known, and now they were heavily involving humans. I did my best to push the thought of Athen away and tried to concentrate on the tasks at hand, but it would be so much easier to bounce my ideas off of him. Cyril and Arie were great to talk with. They really were supportive, and I felt like I could tell them most things, but the emptiness that I felt was sometimes overwhelming. Seeing them together made it worse at times too.

  We decided to go to some of the areas where the attacks were taking place to scope out the surroundings and see if we could find anything. I doubted we would find all that much. They were very good at being noticed when they wanted to be and hiding when they didn’t want to be. Cyril and Arie had gone to the library to grab some topographic information we couldn’t get online and promised to be back by noon. I had about 30 more minutes before they would be home so I decided to go for a walk.

  I had started seeing Athen in my dreams again, and I was pretty sure it was the real thing. I think he was getting closer to finding his way home to us, and all I could do was wait. I had scared him off enough already, first at the library and again at the hospital where the poor guy was supposed to be recuperating. I’m lucky he was on the same continent let alone in the same area, or at least I hoped he was in the same area. It was still pretty hard to track him down. Cyril and Arie led me to believe that he was around, but for all I knew, that was to keep me from going hysterical. I already felt on the verge more often than not. I wanted to be held by him or have his familiar laugh bounce off the walls. I now understood what he meant about it being harder on him than me because he knew what he was missing, and I had no recollection. I never thought I’d be the one with the memories and he wouldn’t. It was pretty hard to fathom in such a short time that so many things had reversed. Not only that, I missed my little Matilda too. I worried about her a lot as well since we couldn’t completely sense her, I didn’t know what that meant either. I was trying my best to trust, but it was hard.