by Karl Morgan
Carl smiled. “Are you still going to destroy the universe?”
She groaned and then stared upwards. Finally, she looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what I want anymore. Being God seems cool and would definitely get even with Dad, but now I just don’t want you two to hate me.”
Barbie smiled and patted the demon on the shoulder. “I don’t hate you. I just hate the idea that you might actually destroy everything to get even with your dad. All dads piss off their kids. It’s just part of the job.”
“I don’t hate you either, Sylvia. What we saw was a possible future, not the only one. Maybe you’ll change your mind, or maybe Barbie and I can stop you. Let’s just get this adventure over with, okay?”
Instantly, the two were back inside Carl’s head. He then joined a throng of people heading up a hill. No one spoke, and a heaviness filled the air around them. When they reached the hilltop, Carl understood their moods. Three crosses were inserted in holes in the ground. The men on the outsides were gasping for breath and begging the nearby soldiers for help. The man on the center cross was already dead. He had been stabbed and a line of blood flowed down his body.
A younger woman was capturing the blood in a chalice of some kind. An older woman was on her knees crying. Several others were standing around, and three men were on their knees praying. Joshua’s head hung down and a crown of thorns rested on it.
Carl walked over to the three kneeling men. They all turned their heads to face him. All three looked like Manny at different ages. Carl got on his knees with them. Each of the men touched his back with their hands as tears from Carl’s eyes fell into the dirt below.
Carl knelt there for a long time. Finally, he felt a hand on his back. He turned to see Joshua standing before him. Carl looked around the area and realized he was no longer on the hilltop. He appeared to be in the center of a grove of olive trees. “Come with me, Carl.”
He stood and followed the other man. “I’m so sorry, Josh.”
Joshua put his arm around Carl’s shoulders. “I’m not. I agree that particular part of the story was not pleasant; however, each person’s story must have a beginning, middle, and an end. In case you didn’t notice, endings tend not to be positive experiences.”
“Did I fall off the Rope Bridge?”
Joshua removed his arm. “No, this is another of those stops along the way. This time, I thought it would be better if it were just the two of us, so the ladies are still asleep. Besides, I don’t think the demon queen likes me.”
Carl nodded. “I’m not sure if she likes anyone.”
Joshua laughed. “No, I think it’s clear that she has a crush on a certain Hand of God.”
“Me?”
“Carl, it’s obvious. She’s teasing you constantly. I wager if you think about it, you’ll remember more than a few lip-locks with her too.”
Carl shook his head. “No, she’s just trying to manipulate me or make me join her.”
They walked over to a fallen log and both sat. “Think about it. She’s a woman and a demon. Of course, she wants to control you, but she also wants you to love her. Now, I’m not saying that you should, but it’s something you should give some thought, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll think about it. What happens now?”
“I’d really like to hang out some more, but I have a meeting at the RBS.”
“What’s that?”
Joshua smiled. “The Rope Bridge Society.”
Carl blushed. “Oh yeah, oops.”
Joshua stood and opened his arms. Carl stood and hugged the other man. “Just close your eyes for a few seconds. When you open them again, you’ll be back on the bridge.” He released Carl. “See you soon.”
Carl closed his eyes.
“Good morning, Carl,” Barbie said. He opened his eyes to find himself back on the Rope Bridge surrounded by fog.
“Carl, we had nothing to do with that whole thing,” Sylvia noted.
“What thing?”
“The crucifixion, of course. Duh. And I most definitely am not in love with you.”
Barbie laughed. “Who could ever love you, Sylvia?”
“I disagree, Barbie,” Carl interjected. “Yeah, the whole destroy-the-universe thing is pretty much of a non-starter. Other than that, she’s very pretty, smart, and sexy.”
Carl could feel the heat of her blush on his own face. “Thanks, Carl,” Sylvia replied without emotion. “Can we get to walking or something?” She moved out ahead of Carl and Barbie, and they hurried to keep pace.
He thought about the blush and her anger at Barbie’s comment. He realized that Joshua was likely correct.
A while later, Sylvia’s mood had not changed. She was far ahead of the others, and the thin silver thread that seemed to bind them together was pulled taut. Sylvia suddenly spun around and headed toward them. She stood two feet away. “Carl, you have to explain this to me. Unlike what you said, I must be stupid. This dumb bridge is supposed to lead to enlightenment, right?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, other than the hurricane, the slip and slide, the possible future, and a few rest stops, we’ve just been walking. That doesn’t seem like what I was expecting.”
“I agree,” Carl replied. “When that first stuff happened, I figured we’d be fighting for our lives every step of the way too, but now I’m beginning to think differently.”
“Oh, do tell, old wise one,” Sylvia said.
Carl leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. Then, he stepped back and smiled. Her eyes were wide open with pupils dilated.
She took a step back. “I didn’t give you permission to do that.”
Carl winked. “Okay, sorry that you hated it.” She blushed and took a deep breath.
“What is going on over there, you two?” Barbie asked.
“None of your business,” Sylvia snapped.
Carl cleared his throat. “Like I was saying, I used to think it would be a fight, but when I spoke with Josh, he reminded me that the fight ends when we die. Those experiences, like the hurricane and when you two went over the side, were us shedding our earthly connections. That’s also why we had those side trips. Each of them was designed to teach us that life is so much more than what we experience on Earth. That was just a day in our true lives.” He turned to Barbie. “Don’t you see? We’re just like Sylvia. We’re immortal too. It’s just the experience of life on Earth that is temporary.” He turned back to Sylvia. “Even if you destroy the universe, all of us will survive in our most perfect form.” He put his hand against her chest, and the glowing orb moved out through her skin and onto his hand. “Like this.”
“You put that back.”
Carl smiled and allowed the orb to move back into her body. “You know your body isn’t really here, right?”
She put her hand on his cheek. “I bet my lips felt real, didn’t they?” She turned to leave and stopped suddenly. The end of the Rope Bridge was just in front of her. “Where did that come from?”
With a pop, both women disappeared into Carl’s body. Joshua walked over and stood a few feet from the bridge. “I see you almost made it. Before you step off, I need to ask you a few more questions.” Several other members of the Rope Bridge Society began to gather around the end of the bridge.
“Okay, Josh. I’m ready.”
“Why do Manny, Luce, and Mort look alike?”
Carl tried to take a step forward, but his feet were stuck to the ropes.
“Yeah, that’s as far as you can go until you answer the questions. Silly rules, I know. Go ahead.”
Carl took a deep breath and released it slowly. Then he smiled. “They do not look alike.”
“Of course they do, Carl. Please elaborate.”
“They do not look alike because they are one and the same.” Now, there were three Carls on the bridge. The center one pointed to the Carl on his left. “Do I look like him, or is he me?” He pointed at the other. “Same question.”
“Good, evil, and death are very powerful aspects of sentient life. Is it okay if I use people, since that’s what I am?” The others nodded. “Well, people are generally drawn toward either good or bad behavior, depending on their own situations and personalities. Over the millennia, society created rules about what constitutes good or evil, which are enforced whether they are accurate or not. Of course as humans, we are mortal, and so death is always part of the mix. Since we see those three major aspects of life, we came to expect that someone different was responsible for each.”
Joshua smiled. “Good answer. Next question. There is good and evil in the universe. I think we can all agree to that. Why isn’t there a real devil with horns and a pointy tail?”
“Life is like a classroom. Since I’m still in school, I have recent knowledge of that. Sometimes you do great, and other times, you may fail. Sometimes, you like people who end up your best friends in the world. Other times, they think you’re a freak and a loser. Either way, at the end of the day, you go home to your mom and dad, and they still love you.”
The members of the Rope Bridge Society nodded. Joshua said, “Last question. I already know the answer, but rules are rules. You should know that your perspective on existence will change permanently when you step off the bridge, and there is no shame in turning around. Why do you want to cross this bridge?”
“I want to separate Barbie’s and Sylvia’s spirits so that Sylvia cannot destroy the universe.”
“I don’t think that will work,” Sid noted. “What do you think, Joshua?”
Joshua sighed deeply. “Carl, Sid is probably right. You might be throwing away the life you had for a slight chance of success. Are you sure the risk is worth it?”
The two women were shouting at him to turn around, but he ignored them. “Yes, I’m sure.”
The group of society member’s broke in two, creating a path for him to take past the bridge. Carl struggled to move his foot. “Josh, the glue is still holding me!”
Josh stood upright. “No, it’s gone.”
“That’s me, Carl,” Sylvia scowled. “I am not letting you do this.”
“I’m not either,” Barbie said. “I won’t let you throw your life away for me.”
He managed to pick up is right foot and moved it forward. “My mind is made up.”
“Stop! I’m begging you,” Barbie screamed.
“Please don’t push me aside, Carl,” Sylvia begged.
He moved his left foot to the edge of the bridge and struggled to move the right. “Let me go!”
“I trust you,” Barbie said.
Carl picked up his right foot and prepared to step down on solid ground.
Sylvia shouted, “Please stop, Carl. Don’t leave me like this. Do you remember when you suggested we’d shared lives together? You were right. You cannot abandon me like this. I cannot live without you in my life. Carl, I love you!”
“What?” Carl asked. He turned toward Sylvia, stepped on top of his other foot, tripped, fell forward, and landed on the ground at the end of the bridge.
Sylvia pulled out of his body. She reached over and began to pull Barbie away. Carl grabbed for her legs, but Sylvia reacted faster and the two shot away into the fog. Carl fell back to the ground and groaned in pain and frustration. “I can’t believe I failed,” he said through tears.
Joshua pulled him into his arms and hugged him. “You didn’t fail, Carl.”
“Of course, I did. She took Barbie. All of this was for nothing.”
Joshua released him and stepped back. The society members were all around them. Sid said, “We saw it. The two were separated. The thin silver thread was broken; therefore, they are no longer joined. There is still a chance if you act now.”
“But it took days to get here. She will have destroyed everything by then.”
Josh swept his arm through the fog, and it dissipated. The thin peak with Death’s cabin was ten feet down the much shortened bridge. “Go now. Save them both and the world.”
Carl raced across the bridge and into Death’s cabin.
Chapter 14
When they returned to the Thorndike Institution, all went to the headmaster’s office to discuss what had happened. Aida Whitehall and Grace Mulligan were also summoned. Carl yawned. “How long was I gone?”
“About four hours,” Dorchester replied. “I was about to return with the dean when you came into the cabin.”
Carl yawned again and then chuckled. “It was days for me. I can’t even remember how many.”
“But you were not successful in saving Ms. Conway,” the dean noted.
“No, I don’t think I was, although the other members of the Rope Bridge Society say they were no longer joined. Still, the demon queen took her anyway.”
“Are you tired, Carl?” Donnelly asked.
“Yes, Professor. Frankly, Barbie and Sylvia argued most of the time. Plus, we had some difficulties on the bridge and a few side trips.” He studied the faces of the others. “I know it looks bad, but we have to try to stop her, or we’re all dead.” He turned to Aida. “Have you made any progress with more Invisible Hands?”
She shook her head. “Not really. You’ve only been gone one day. Burt is getting closer, but it takes time.”
Grace added, “Now that the headmaster, dean, and professors are back, we’d like to try with them too.”
“Well, if the alternative is death, I’m sure we’ll put forward our best efforts,” Thorndike said.
“Get some sleep, Carl. You’re no good to us in this condition,” the headmaster suggested. “We’ll get started right now.”
As soon as Carl stepped into his bedroom, he kicked off his shoes and fell onto the top of the bed. He wrapped his blanket around his body, rolled onto his side, and promptly fell asleep.
Sometime later, the fragrance of flowers filled his lungs. He opened his eyes to find his bed sitting in a large field of flowers. He sat up and looked around. Sylvia was sitting on the bed with her back against the headboard. “Hi.”
He moved to the top of the bed and sat next to her. “Well, now what?”
“I guess we’re back to square one, where I destroy the universe.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.”
She moved a few inches away. “Like when you reconsidered me saying I loved you?”
He sighed and shook his head. “That isn’t fair. Didn’t you see me trip?”
“No, I did not. I saw you dive off the bridge to get away from me. And you say I’m cruel.”
He put his hands together. “Sylvia, I beg you to remember what happened. When you said that, I already had my foot up in the air for my next step. I was so shocked to hear what you said that I turned my head.” He pointed at himself. “Then this dummy goes and steps on his own foot. I tripped and fell. I did not walk or dive off the rope bridge.”
“It really hurt me, Carl, but I shouldn’t be surprised. You lied to me when you stole her soul and mine in the castle. In fact, I can’t remember anytime you ever said the truth.”
Carl sighed. “I did what I had to do to save the universe.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, save everyone but me, right? You could never really love me, admit it so we can go our separate ways.”
“Well, it would be difficult to love someone who is set on killing me and everyone else I know. There’s also the issue of age difference. I’m fifteen, and you’re what? Twenty-five?”
She chuckled and moved closer to him. “Yeah, more like twenty five million. What else?”
“Well, you’re a demon.”
She smiled. “And you’re a teenager.”
He smiled and looked down. “Touché.”
“You already have a girlfriend too, right?”
He nodded. “Yes. That relationship could last forever, or not. I had a girlfriend before, but then she dumped me for my other best friend.”
> She laughed. “Ouch. That had to hurt.”
“Yes, it did, but now that’s over, and I’m okay.”
She took his hand in hers, and they interlocked their fingers. “So, someday when you’re older, unattached, and perhaps I’m not so demonic, we might be a couple, is that right?”
He turned to her and smiled. “If that’s what happens, I’m sure we’d have a great time together.”
She gently kissed him, then released his hand, and stood up. “If I decide not to destroy the universe.”
“I really hope you don’t, but not just for my family. You remember the possible future we saw from the bridge. It could end up that way, and then you’d be dead too. I wouldn’t want that to happen either.”
She vanished, and his bed was back in his room. He rolled over to get more sleep.
When Carl walked into the dining room the following morning, all eyes were on him. Those students with the Mentalist talent had obviously learned about his trip across the Rope Bridge. Carl could feel their terror knowing the planet and universe could collapse around them at any moment. After he filled his tray and moved away from the service line, the staff there began to whisper back and forth. He smiled when he discovered that Burt, Grace, and Aida had saved him the seat facing the window. At least he would not have to deal with stares while eating. “Morning, everyone. What’s the news?”
Aida leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Everyone is freaking out, ourselves included. How much time do you think we have?”
Carl put his fork down. “Sylvia came to me last night. I woke up and my bed was in a field of flowers.”
“What did she do?”
Carl sighed. “Aida, please don’t be jealous. I am not interested in someone whose goal in life is to kill me and everyone else.”
“So, what happened?” Burt asked.
“I tried to clear up the misunderstanding about me falling down. She thought I dove off the bridge to get away from her.” He picked up a piece of toast and bit it. After swallowing, he continued, “When we reached the end of the bridge, she told me she loved me. Well, I was shocked, as you can imagine. I had already picked up my foot to take a step, but then I turned my head, tripped, and fell off the bridge.”
