Wings of Deception

by Pamela Carron

  Jacks continued to talk openly and honestly to the God he had never believed in. Gradually there was something that settled over him and he felt a bit strange. He touched his face and found his cheeks was wet with tears he did not realize he had shed. Emotionally, he wiped them with a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket and sat for a long time just feeling the unfamiliar peace that surrounded him. It was weird, but he felt as if his heart would burst with all the emotion and it felt good.

  When his ride showed up he was calm and he was ready to face the future whatever it might bring.

  THIRTY-TWO

  The door opened and a woman entered the room where Honey and Sheila were still sleeping. She walked over and stood above Honey’s bed. As if by instinct Honey’s eyes flew open and she quickly sat up. “Who are you and what do you want?”

  Sheila sleepily roused but quickly became wide eyed too, seeing the strange woman who remained stone faced as she said in a husky voice. “Your food is on the table. Eat.”

  Sheila snickered and whispered to Honey, “So they are going to feed us before they kill us, huh?”

  Honey frowned but Sheila continued. “I guess Asa wouldn’t want us to die from starvation and cheat him of the pleasure he will get from killing us himself.”

  The woman turned around looking at them without any expression and just walked out.

  Sheila was still in a flippant mood, as she got up and looked at the tray of food and said, “Gee, it even looks good! Hey, you know, I’m pretty hungry. You think it is okay to eat this stuff?”

  Honey sighed, “I am sure it is, for why would they want to poison us? That would be no fun either.”

  She joined Sheila at the table and looked at all the food. “Let’s bless it first, to be sure. I hate to think what kind of people prepared it.”

  They closed their eyes briefly and silently asked a blessing.

  Honey had been thinking. She prodded Sheila as they began eating, keeping her voice to a mere whisper.

  “Have you noticed that none of these people are talking like normal? No one. I have not heard anyone talk normally, except Asa, why do you think that is?”

  “I don’t know, but you’re right. When we came through that huge room there must have been two hundred people in there working all that hi-tech equipment and no one was chattering. Must be against the rules or something.”

  “Or something.” Honey’s expertise was in the field of the mind and there was definitely something off about the way all of Asa’s employees acted, starting with the ones at the stone house. She was beginning to think they were not ordinary people. If the thing in control of Garrett’s body was a demon, then it could be that all his people were not really human either, or humans under his control. The thought made her shiver.

  “What are you thinking?” Sheila stopped eating, seeing Honey so deep in thought.

  Okay, so when I was going to college to be a physiotherapist, we had to learn all forms of hypnosis. What if all these people are being controlled with some sort of hypnosis?”

  “You could be right but if that is so, we certainly won’t find anyone to help us!” It was Sheila’s turn to shudder at the thought. She put her fork down, no longer hungry. She got up and walked over to the door and impulsively pulled on the handle. It swung up and she gasped as Honey came to her feet and ran over to where she stood with the door wide open.

  “It’s not locked! The door is not locked! Do you think it has been open all this time and we didn’t even think to check it!”

  Honey was eagerly looking down the hall.“That woman probably just forgot to lock it.”

  Sheila was standing behind her, looking too. “Unless they know we can’t go anywhere. That is most likely the case. So how come we don’t just act like we are supposed to be wandering around and see what we can see?”

  “Good idea!” Honey replied excitedly as Sheila was already pushing past her. “Come on! If they stop us we can act dumb and say we needed exercise or something.”

  Walking as if they were not in a hurry, they proceeded to explore the vast hall stopping at the first door. Honey gingerly put her hand on the knob.

  “Wait!” Sheila hissed. “If we open that door and someone is in there how will we explain we are just out for exercise?”

  Honey let go of the doorknob. Sheila was right and she wanted to make it further than just the next door down. They continued on until they came to a wide opening.

  “This is that huge room with all the people!” Sheila stopped. Honey said, “Okay, but if we wander in they must realize we are not trying to escape. As if we could. Don’t you see, there is nowhere else to go? At least we can get a better look at things before they make us go back.”

  “I guess you are right so let’s go!”

  “Hold on just a minute. We need to see what kind of communication they are using in there, so pay attention. It may be the only way we can get out of here alive. They must be in touch with the outside world with all those monitors and stuff in there.”

  They walked through the opening and into the place as if they were supposed to be there and every person kept on doing what they were doing, paying them no attention. They stopped and stood behind a dozen or so men and women who were sitting in front of large screens and typing on keyboards.

  “Whoa, look at how fast they are typing! I wish I was half that fast.” Sheila remarked and at her words a tall woman walked up to them.

  “You do not have permission to be here.” She looked at them from large dull brown eyes. Honey spoke back as nonchalantly as she could, “No one has told us we could not be in here and we are bored so we thought we could get some exercise. It is not like we can hurt anything by walking around. But if we need permission, why not just ask Ga…Asa?”

  “He is not here.” The woman looked at them with the same dullness of the others.

  Honey felt an excitement at her words. “Oh really, then where has he gone?”

  “That is not for you to know. I will have you escorted to the gardens where you may get your….exercise.”

  Honey was certain that the woman was under some form of hypnosis after observing her closely. The pupils of her eyes were drastically altered, indicating that she was correct. If only she could get just one person alone she knew she could reverse it, if she was right. It was worth a try anyway so to Sheila’s surprise she put her hand to her stomach and told the woman, “I am not feeling so well but Sheila really could use some fresh air. If you will, let her go and enjoy the gardens and I will just go back to the room.

  “As you like, I will have someone go with you.” She turned and without speaking made a sign for one of the younger men to come to them.

  “Take this one back to her room.” Another appeared to lead a wondering Sheila in a different direction. The first one accompanied Honey back down the hall which led to their room. Honey kept looking at him and recognized the same dullness to his eyes. She was sure he was in a hypnotic state of awareness.

  When they got to the door and he started to turn to go back, she grabbed her abdomen and groaned. Doubling over in fake pain, she was grateful when he put his arms around her to help her in. But when he would have taken her to the bed, she gagged as if she were going to throw up and pointed to the bathroom. She had to get him away from the camera if she wanted to undo the trance. It worked, for he helped her in as she made on as if she were really ill. She leaned over the toilet long enough to make sure he was in and then she straightened up and looked him dead in the eyes.

  “Thank you so much. What is your name?”

  “I am called William. You are alright now?”

  “I will be, but first will you do me a favor?”

  He nodded and she did what she had never done before in her line of work. She used her knowledge of hypnosis for personal gain and in just a few moments, life came back into the young man’s eyes although he looked lost and confused.

  “What have you done? Where am I?” His questions were close to fra
ntic and Honey calmed him before explaining where they were and what was happening. It was not an easy task but she was desperate and when she finished, he dropped his head with shame at her next questions. “How do you know Asa. What is your connection?”

  She sat him down on the toilet and he looked at her in dejection. “I joined a group that used drugs to conjure up spirits. Me and the others, we used a Ouija board at first and when we were successful, we tried others ways. Asa became out teacher. He was very good to us and I thought he was a great man. So did the others.”

  “Okay William, do you want to be free from him?” He looked up at her with a slight hint of hope. “I don’t know if that is possible but yes, more than anything I want to go home. My parents are probably worried to death with me gone and I don’t even know how long I have been here.”

  “So tell me, what is the last thing that happened in the news you remember and maybe we can figure it out.”

  “The election for president, Obama won the night we all celebrated with a party and there was a séance, a special awakening of the gods. Asa told us it would make us immortal.”

  “How old were you when that happened?” Honey asked.

  “Sixteen.”

  “Well, you are almost eighteen now, so that means you have been here for near two years! William, can you pretend to still be under the hypnosis?”

  “I think I can but I really just want to go home.” His eyes watered and Honey knew she would have to convince him that to get away he had to do as she asked.

  “I know you do but they will start to wonder if you are much longer in here and there are camera’s everywhere, so I need you to show me you can keep your face like they all are….like stone. All of our lives depend on you William. Can you do this?”

  “Yes ma’am!”

  “Okay, now here is what I want you to do for me. Do you believe in Jesus?”

  “My folks took me to church and I know about Him but I never was very good or Christian like.”

  Honey sighed, for not to be a believer in this place was a very dangerous thing.

  “You might want to rethink things because without Him, none of us are liable to escape. I keep his name upper most in my head for there are many evil spirits surrounding us.”

  “I will do anything you tell me Miss.”

  “My name is Honey and I have a friend here with me, Sheila. I want you to help me get all of your friends alone with me somehow. It is important to reverse the hypnosis for we will need all the help we can get, understand? Now let me see you look as you did before, without emotion.” She nodded her head as he assumed the dull look she was looking for. She briefed him on some import issues and satisfied that he understood everything she said, “Great! Now go and if you are asked, just say I am ill and you had to help me. Just make sure one of your friends come to check on me later. And William, you should learn how to pray real quickly, because Jesus Christ is your only savoir in this, understand? Now go!”

  He shook his head yes and went out of the bath. She followed moaning and holding her stomach for the camera’s sake. When he left the room she was lying down on the bed eyes closed as if she were going to sleep but her mind was working hard trying to figure out the things William had confided to her. How had Asa pulled off making seven boys and two girls disappear without a trace? She thought about all the people she had heard of who just disappeared and were never found. Could it be that this is what happened to them too? Dear Lord, help me, for I am lost without your help!

  Sheila arrived back shortly after William left and Honey silenced her questions with a ‘look’ and rising, said to her, “I am ill, will you help me to the bathroom?”

  “Sure, come on.” She put her arms around her friend with great concern and helped her to the room where Honey quickly recovered after pushing the door closed.

  “What are you doing? I thought you were ill! I was worried.”

  She was surprised to find that Honey had faked the illness but when she heard all that had transpired she was shocked.

  “You have got to be joking! You were right? These people are all in some sort of a trance? You really reversed it on this guy? Oh Honey, this is fantastic! Maybe we will get out of here alive!”

  “Yes, if William comes through with the act but we have to be prepared for the worst. He is so young! The others must be around his age too. What a cruel thing to do to families, making them think their children are dead. I just want to strangle that man!”

  “You say there are nine of them and they disappeared together. Honey! I know about this! I remember, it was big news back a couple of summers ago. Yes, it was seven young boys and two girls. The newspapers said it was an accident on the Hudson. Not one body was ever recovered!”

  “Do you remember any of the families?” Honey asked enthusiastically.

  “No, darn it! But Jacks was terribly upset over anyone who would let young kids like that go out in a makeshift boat, without adult supervision. We have to help them Honey!”

  “We can only do what we can. Just pray William is successful in getting his friends here before Asa returns.”

  It was an answered prayer for soon after they went back into the room there was a knock at the door and a young girl entered with a tray of food. Honey looked at Sheila and began her moaning. Sheila asked the girl to help her friend to the bathroom and as soon as they were in, she stepped back out and closed the door. She went to the table and proceeded to eat as if she were more interested in the food than Honey’s illness.

  When the girl came back out Sheila saw a flicker of emotion before she reassumed her poker face look and left the room.

  Honey joined Sheila at the table but just picked at her food just in case they were being watched. Then she lay back down for a while before exerting her pretend illness again which gave them a chance to be in the bathroom again for communicating.

  “I can’t believe you are able to do this Honey, it is fantastic! Thank God you have the training. Now, if only we have more of them to help when Jacks gets here.”

  “This one was not as easy as William though and I am afraid if it fails on one of them, we are in deep trouble and Jacks will be too.”

  “I know, but we can’t think about failure. How long can you keep up this illness?”

  “I think I can get away with it until Asa returns. Let’s just hope everyone that walks through that door is responsive to my….uh….talents.”

  They both laid on their beds waiting for whoever would come to take the tray away, praying it would be one of the young people in William’s group.

  THIRTY-THREE

  Jacks’ was surprised to find that he was taken to a field out of town where a plane was waiting. He had assumed that he would be taken to the stone house. He looked around at the interior of the aircraft thinking that this was no ordinary airplane, as he had boarded and he was right. The semi circle aircraft was lined with windows and far advanced from the planes Jacks was used to flying in. He was not surprised to see Asa seated and smirking as he stood in the entry way. He took the seat next to him to show he was not fearful and Asa laughed and instructed the pilot to take off.

  “So here we are back together, Jacks.”

  Jacks answered him with distaste. “I wonder why? If Honey and Sheila are harmed in any way, I want you to know right now you will not have me for long.”

  “Ah, I love a good challenge! I have to admit you have not been an easy target, especially for someone who is such a fierce atheist.” Asa said with confidence and it was Jacks who laughed then. “Oh, but I am no longer a nonbeliever Asa. In fact, I owe you for opening my eyes to the truth that there is a God after all.”

  Asa’s face took on ugliness at Jacks words and laughter. “It makes no difference what you believe about all that crap. What does matter is what you will be doing and that dear boy, is that you will be working for me!”

  “Be that as it may but it will not bring you the ease of mind that I think you seek.”

&nbs
p; “It is not your business what I seek; you will be my obedient servant!”

  “Just as my grandfather was, or Abe, I think not. I remember how Abe stood up to you that night on the roof. There was something left that you did not control.”

  Jacks words irritated Asa, as he had intended. “You fool. You all are fools. You take on a human body and you have no idea what to do with it and I have watched down through the ages at how man has groveled to a God who deserted them eons ago. Bowing and scraping over a mere promise of eternal life in a world to come. I can make you immortal now. If you choose me as ‘master’ and bow to me, I can give you the world and all that it has to offer now, with no waiting.”

  Asa’s tone had changed to one of cajoling and seduction which was lost on Jacks, for he was keeping his mind on the man called Jesus and on the plan he had to free Honey and Sheila. But Asa did not know the true extent of Jacks newfound faith and he kept talking, making promises of all that would be in the future New World Order. Jacks pretended to take interest in his words while he relished his intentions of destroying what he knew was his enemy. He remembered everything he ever heard Asa say during the time he had him in his good graces and would use it against him when the time came.

  “Since I have agreed to do as you want, don’t you think I deserve to know the full truth about my family. If Simon was my Grandfather, what happened to my father and my mother?”

  Asa was too smart to give Jacks the real truth but knew it would help his cause to placate him with half truths.

  “Your father….ah but he is in my entourage and maybe you shall meet him, eventually and it was as I told you before, your mother took ill after she left you and she died. There really was a letter Jacks, it just took me a few years to find you. By that time you were in your teens. I had people watching over you though, so I knew you were okay. The mark is real too, you see you were born for a place of power in the New World Order. You cannot escape it, even if you wanted to. It is your destiny.”