by Tara Lutz
The ticking of the clock above the kitchen sink, only heightened Dex’s anxiety. They were just finishing their morning coffee. Gerald stopped him from leaving for the lake at the crack of dawn; they weren’t positive Jessie and Sammy would even be there. Dex didn’t see that as being an option. He didn’t want the battle, that had been brewing for decades, to occur at their house. His jittery leg rocked the entire table. Gerald grasped his mug firmly, to keep the coffee from splashing over its lip.
“Calm down.” That was the wrong thing to say. Dex’s dark eyes shot up to meet Gerald’s, challenging him to an argument he had no intention of starting. “Sorry,” he apologized, preemptively. “I want this to work, just as much as you do. I’ll do anything to make sure it does.”
Dex’s irritation subsided; he tried to smile through the nervousness that pulsed through his body. “I know you will. I know how much they both mean to you.” He reached across to shake his long time friend’s hand, released it and backed away. “I’m going to get changed. We’ll leave in half an hour.”
He strode out of the kitchen, leaving his coffee untouched, and Gerald with a feeling of dread that he couldn’t shake.
*******
The heat was smothering. Not even the coolness of the water could free them from it. Dex and Gerald had been at the lake for over an hour, with no sign of Jessie and Sammy. The more the minutes ticked by, the more agitated Dex became. Gerald suggested they swim out to the island and back; a trip that would take them less than fifteen minutes, but Dex declined, hesitant to move more than a few feet from the shore. He wanted to be close enough to see their car, as soon as it entered the small parking area.
“Maybe Jessie had to work today?” Gerald suggested, giving his friend a smile of false encouragement. “We could go check it out. It’s almost lunch time.”
He saw Dex considering his suggestion and wasn’t pleased with his counter statement.
“If they don’t show up in the next half hour, we’re going to their house.” Dex didn’t want to alert Gerald that he had a feeling something was wrong. Really wrong. He refused the possibility that his fears might have come true; that Gerald’s past protectors had left with his sisters, taking them to another realm, one in which they might never find them.
Dex dunked his head under the water, exhaled, and let himself sink to the muddy bottom of the lake. The underwater silence did little soothe the negative thoughts that pierced his mind. He was sure they would see Jessie and Sammy at the lake, today. Why did he let Becky interrupt them so easily, yesterday? He had Jessie right where he needed her so that he could let her in on the secret, that had been kept from her for so long; one that she spent her whole life, unknowingly, keeping.
He broke the surface. Gerald swam back to the shore and looked up anxiously, when he heard another car approaching through the trees, on the rocky path. They shared the disappointment, when it didn’t match the one they knew Jessie would be driving. Dex had given it enough time, maybe too much. He lumbered out of the water, to Gerald, and let him know that time was up.
“We go to the house now. We’ve wasted too much time,” Dex said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
No matter how much agitation he felt, Gerald could do nothing but agree. There was no way to avoid a confrontation, with the people he once referred to as his parents. He would try, but he knew that everything he had rehearsed to say, would not convey his true feelings. He looked back at the island; hoping the next time he saw it, they would be with Jessie and Sammy, on their way to the gateway, with no resistance.
CHAPTER 45
There was a lone car parked in front of Jessie’s house when they turned onto the street. Dex didn’t recognize it, there was no reason he should, but the sight of it made his blood turn to something colder than ice. The house exuded a quiet, empty feeling as they stopped directly across from its looming shape.
“So, are we just going to walk up to the front door, knock and announce – we’re here to take your daughters?” Gerald asked. He hoped Dex would be able tell he was joking and not take his ludicrous proposition seriously.
Without responding, Dex opened the driver side door and swung his legs out the car. There was no plan, but an unrecognizable determination pulled him towards the door that Gerald wanted to avoid.
Gerald, realizing he didn’t have any other choice, and to stop Dex from getting them both arrested, hurried to catch up to him. Dex quickened his steps; he knew Gerald would try to convince him, there was a better plan, than the one that was about to play out. He was so focused on trying to form the words to support his argument that he didn’t notice Jessie’s mother, methodically rocking in a chair, on the corner of the porch. Dex lifted a tight fist to pound on the door before he heard her clear her throat.
“They’re gone, Dex,” she said, staring straight ahead. A look on her ghostly, pale face he couldn’t identify. The negative energy surging from her, kept Gerald from climbing the stairs to stand, in solidarity, with Dex.
“What do you mean, they’re gone?” Dex spit the words at her. She, like his protectors, had become the enemy. He held the same amount of distain for them, as he did for Rebecca; they all worked together to keep him from Jessie. He was done playing their games.
“They were heading out to the lake, I’m assuming to find you.” Her eyes pitched daggers at Dex. “Jessie stopped by Rebecca’s first, and she was able to alert Jed to what, she thought, you were up to. You have never taken Rebecca seriously, she’s been watching the two of you for months. Did you really think she had no idea you were here? You forget who she is, Dex.” She glanced at Gerald and Dex saw, what he perceived to be, regret, flicker through her eyes.
“The only thing we’ve been up to, is trying to help Jessie remember everything that was taken from her. We would never hurt her the way her protectors, who are supposed to love her, continue to do. Now, WHERE ARE THEY?” Dex voice reached a volume, that caused her and Gerald, to jump.
She wasn’t intimidated; she had planned for this day, for a long time. He and Gerald watched, as she stood up and seemed to slither to the spot directly in front of Dex. The frostiness in her words matched the coldness of his insides, when he first saw the unfamiliar car in her driveway.
Before she spoke, the color started to fade from Dex’s face. After hearing the words, the remainder drained away.
“Like I said. They. Are. Gone. You will never find Jessie or Sammy, again.”
“Where did he take them?” Dex forced the question out between his clenched teeth.
A diabolical laugh came from the behind the screen. Dex hadn’t noticed when the inside door opened, but now he could clearly see the outline of Rebecca. The shadowy figure moved forward into the light and stood beside her ally.
“You and Gerald just couldn’t leave it alone. Did you think the voyagers were going to let the five be reunited, and destroy everything, they have protected for so long?” Rebecca asked.
“You really shouldn’t have left the lake, Dex,” the older woman said. “If you were as smart as you think you are, you would have known we were on to you, and figured out where Jed would hide Jessie and Sammy. Call us what you want, but we are and will remain, their parents, their protectors.
An alarm went off in Dex’s mind, the one he should have listened to earlier. Jessie and Sammy’s father had taken them to the island, to the gateway. Dex was standing here and their souls were probably already in another realm.
“Dex, let’s go.” Gerald bounded up the stairs and grabbed his friend’s arm. “There’s still time. If we go now, we might be able to get to their souls before they exit on the other side.”
Dex knew they were too late. Gerald’s former father, like his son thought, had been a step ahead of them. He would make sure finding his sisters again, wouldn’t be that easy. He decided to find out as much information as he could from Rebecca and Jessie’s mother, without making it obvious that he was interrogating them.
“It’s the tea,
isn’t it?”
“Of course it’s the tea, you insipid boy,” Rebecca spat. Droplets of spit, hit his neck, making his stomach churn. “The amount in the lemonade her father took to the lake – always so worried his girls would get thirsty in this heat – will knock you and your pitiful love affair, from Jessie’s mind, for at least the next two, hopefully three, realms.” She turned to Jessie’s mother. Dex thought they looked like they were about to high five.
“How could you be so selfish?” He directed this question to the person, who once insisted, he call her Mary. “Don’t you want Jessie to be happy?”
“In case you missed it, Dex, Jessie is happy. She has friends here, was just starting to date a nice boy and loves her little sister. Now, because of your actions, we can’t risk them having a relationship again. Who’s the selfish one, now?” She calmed her voice, but Dex still detected the anger that simmered in it.
Rebecca picked up where Mary left off. “The voyagers have given you a chance at lives that you would never have had before. Why would do you insist on trying to take that away? Do you really think Jessie is worth it?”
“Let me ask you something, Rebecca.” This was the only part Dex had rehearsed; he had wanted to say this to her for years. “Do you even know how to love, or are you a hateful bitch in every realm that your black soul chooses?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Nothing makes me happier than knowing, this time, I’m the one who took Jessie away from you. It’s nice to return the favor. As soon as I find where her soul travelled to, I will do everything in my power, to do it again.” Dex advanced towards her, but Gerald, who still had a firm hold on his arm, gripped it even tighter, to pull him back.
“She’s not worth it,” he said to Dex, under his breath, but loud enough for Rebecca to hear.
“How are you going to explain the disappearance of your two daughters to everyone, mother? Not to mention, manipulating the gateway for your own purpose. Isn’t that a big voyager no-no?” Gerald demanded. The word, mother, left a sour aftertaste in his mouth.
Dex brightened when he heard his friend’s question. “Yes, Mary, you just insinuated how popular and loved Jessie was in this town.”
Her mother collapsed into fake tears, accompanied by a loud wail. She easily pulled herself together again, and grinned like the Cheshire cat.
“It is all so tragic. Our beautiful daughters were killed in a horrible accident, on the way to the lake, this morning.” She looked over at Rebecca. “What do you think, Becky? A dog ran across the road and Jessie tried to avoid it, or did Sammy distract her?”
“I like the dog story,” Rebecca replied. Dex couldn’t believe what he was hearing; they were insane.
“Think about where my husband works, Dex. It will be easy to spin. Besides, sixty percent of this town is made up of voyagers. They will be so grateful we thwarted an attempt to destroy the gateway, they’ll gladly help us with the cover-up.”
Gerald lowered his head in resignation. Dex moved from under his friend’s grip and stood so close to Mary, that her hot breath stung his eyes.
“Did you remember to get the necklace back from her, before Jed tricked her into the gateway?” Jessie’s mother turned the color of starch, and licked her dry lips to stop them from trembling. “I take that to be a ‘no’.” For the first time, since he stepped on the porch, he felt something close to being triumphant.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” He directed this question to Rebecca, who looked like her knees were about to give out. “Jessie started to recall things and have more vivid dreams after she put on the necklace: the one I gave her, the one she promised she would never take off. Now, instead of hiding it from her, or just destroying it, she is wearing it into the next realm. Give her all the magic tea you want, it does little to counteract the visions the necklace creates.” He grinned, and was surprised to feel his twisted muscles start to relax.
Dex didn’t wait for her to argue his suspicions. He left the porch and headed back to the car. As he was leaving he heard Gerald finish the conversation behind him.
“We will find them, Mary. And the first thing I’m going to do, is teach them both, how to get their souls away from you.”
CHAPTER 46
Dex returned to the cottage, feeling empty, in a daze and with a sour animosity gurgling in his stomach. He knew it should be directed at the people that had taken Jessie away from him again, but he directed some of the blame at Gerald. He locked his teeth together, to keep any words he would regret, from spilling out, and remained silent, as he pulled the car into the garage, for the final time in that realm. He left the key in the ignition, but covered it with a dust blanket, to keep it preserved. The inane actions he forced his hands and body to perform, brought him back to a sense of calm, and he was finally able to speak to his friend. Gerald was observing him carefully, from a distance.
“I think forgetting that Jessie was wearing the necklace will work to our advantage, I really do.” Dex’s voice lifted to an enthusiasm he didn’t really feel. “Once I get the cottage closed up we can leave. Back there, you were right. They couldn’t be too far ahead of us. There should be some clues we can follow.”
He had never discussed with Gerald, what they had become. They both knew they were breaking the rules, but he would’ve done anything to find Jessie, rules or no rules.
Gerald didn’t share his positivity, the guilt he felt about not letting Dex go to Jessie sooner, was disintegrating any hope he had left. They would have to start over again. If Rebecca and Mary had been telling the truth, Jessie and Sammy might be lost to them forever.
“Ok, but remember what I want you to show me this time, before we exit,” Gerald said. “It might help us, using the same vessels hasn’t worked, we were recognized too easily.” Dex nodded his agreement.
“You’re right, I think we should separate completely after we jump this time, we’ll be able to cover more ground.”
He thought back to the snow storm. He had given Gerald the same instructions, only this time Jessie wouldn’t be sheltered in a barn, curled up in the hay. This time she was a needle lost in it. Dex didn’t like going in different directions, they had always stuck together in their search, but it was a necessary risk. He knew they were running out of time. The more they manipulated the gateway, the more apparent it would become to the voyagers, but he still had one trick up his sleeve.
Dex was one of the few that could read the gateway’s energy. Instructions for manipulation were like a drawing that became clearer, each time he jumped. He used these directions to develop the entrance to the gateway that only he and Gerald knew about; one that would take them to the gateway without the risk of encountering other souls. Their voyages, to locate the five, had become more intense and a private entrance to the gateway allowed them to pass through it more often. Using it didn’t alert any other voyagers; the personal entrance gave them the ability to hide what he had taught himself, and today, he would teach Gerald. It was imperative this new knowledge didn’t fall into the wrong hands, like Rebecca’s. She was always the same, in every realm, making it simple for her to be recognized. She followed a pattern. He wanted to keep it that way.
Still feeling defeat, they walked through the doorway connecting the garage to the cottage, and heard an urgent pounding on the front door. Gerald looked at Dex, who held his hand up, to silent him. He mouthed the words, “no one knows we’re here.”
They chose the cottage for its solitude; the causeway approaching it, allowed them to easily see if anyone was following them.
The knocking came again, this time with a little less vigor; the visitor losing hope that it would be answered. A voice whispered through the crack in the door. Dex’s eyes widened with surprise and he bolted down the hall towards it. When he swung open the door her small shape was silhouetted against the fading afternoon sun. It was Sammy.
“Sammy!” He said, incredulously. “How did you know we were here?”
“I saw your car pull onto the cause
way. I was hiding in the woods,” she replied.
Her face was flushed and scratched, like she just hiked through a mile of rose bushes, but she was smiling with relief. Dex had never been so excited to see anyone in his entire life. Gerald reached for Sammy’s hand and pulled her inside. He scanned the woods that surrounded the cottage, shut the door and slammed the dead bolt together.
Gerald led her into the living room and sat her on the couch. “Explain,” was the only word that he could get out.
“We went to your house, Sammy. Your mother told us that your father had taken you.” Dex still didn’t know how much she knew about the gateway. He wanted to hear what happened in her own words, but thought she might need a little more prompting than the harsh, ‘explain’, she received from her brother.
“Dad took us to the gateway. Jessie was so confused; he kept telling her to - go stand over there - and was pointing to a giant rock. He made her drink some lemonade. Her eyes changed, and reminded me of how I feel when I wake up in a strange place, and for a few minutes I’m confused where I am. She didn’t want to do what he was asking, so he told me that he would be right back, and he walked her towards the fuzzy spot. They disappeared and I ran; that’s when I saw you.”
She stopped to catch her breath, looking uneasily between Dex and Gerald.
“I should’ve followed them, I could have protected her until you found us again.” The tears that prickled her eyes overflowed under her lashes and she turned her head into Gerald’s shoulder. He patted her hair and looked at Dex. She understood more than they thought. She could’ve helped them; could help them.
“Sammy, what do you mean, fuzzy spot?” Dex was overwhelmed. Can she actually see the gateway that has always been invisible to me?
“The gateway, it looks fuzzy,” she answered matter-of-factly.
Gerald shifted, so he could see her eyes. “You can see the gateway?” They heard of voyagers hearing a hum when they got close to it, but had never heard of one being able to see it.
