The Chardon Chronicles: Season One -- The Harvest Festival

by Kevin Kimmich

  Telia looked to Matt. His eyebrows were knitted together in concentration. He said, “I know what she wants…”

  Owen smiled slyly. “Of course you do.”

  Telia was in the dark, “What does she want?”

  Owen sat down again and gestured to Matt.

  Matt looked at Johnny, “She told me already. Johnny and I created a thing that can tip the balance of power.”

  Owen nodded, “Precisely, and she wants you back. All of you.”

  Robbie leaned forward on his elbow and tapped his fist on the table as if forging his thought. “I am intrigued by what Matt’s been doing, no doubt, but,” he drew out the word. “I believe my family didn’t lose touch with this entity Samantha by accident, rather they abandoned the whole game as a dead end.”

  Owen sniffed and frowned slightly, “Possibly, however, I quibble with your characterization of this struggle. There’s no abandoning it--it’s part of life.”

  Robbie nodded, “I concede that point, perhaps a better phrase would be that my family went down a different road in pursuit of the same goals.”

  Telia asked, “What does it mean to ‘come back’?”

  Owen smiled warmly at her. He gestured at her and Matt, “For you two, it is literally a coronation.”

  Matt guffawed, “Owen, what does that even mean? Be serious.”

  Owen’s face became very serious, then became animated as if his skin enclosed incredible surging energy, “You will lead us, be our beacon, shine on the snake that would devour us all and we will destroy it.” He settled back into his chair, “I would say it is your choice, but there really is none.”

  Matt was skeptical, “That did not clear it up, Owen slash Samantha.”

  “I have delivered the message, I can do no more.” Owen said and held his hands out. “Now will you show me around this wonderful place? I really, truly love watching birds.”

  Robbie stood up, “I’d love to show you around, Owen, follow me.”

  Chapter Twenty One

  Matt, Telia and Owen met Heather Madher at the warehouse. Matt was brooding and quiet and manned the reflectors’ controls while Telia chatted away with Heather and Owen. Heather wore yoga pants and a skin tight top and a lavender track jacket. She had her hair up in a tight bun. She had a yoga class in the morning and was going to pilates later in the afternoon. Owen was almost impossibly charming around the women.

  “Well, what does this thing do?” Heather asked.

  “It’s almost impossible to explain.” Telia said bluntly. “You actually would not believe me if I told you.”

  “Oh come on, I’ve seen some weird stuff, believe me.” Heather said.

  “Alright, well take a swig of this.” Telia gave her the tea. “Don’t smell it, it’s a little stinky.”

  Heather took the cup, “Bottom’s up.” she chugged it down. “Ack…”

  “Climb up there and meditate, but instead of staying focused inside, pretend your mind is inflating, going out, not like you’re trying to grasp something with your hand, just expand it.”

  Heather clambered up the ladder. Matt pointed the reflector. Heather laughed as it moved. “This is just like a movie set!”

  “You ok?” Telia asked.

  “Yep, let me give this a try.” Heather calmed herself and meditated.

  Owen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  Heather was on the shore of Arcadia. The young Owen was standing there next to her. He had chestnut brown hair and a very regular face with a square jaw. Samantha and Louis were sitting on the beach.

  “Welcome!” Owen said to her. Samantha stood up and embraced her. She felt warmth flow through her body.

  “Oh my god!” She exclaimed, then returned to normal consciousness. “Holy shit!” she said. “What was that?” She climbed down the ladder. She was bewildered and slightly off balance. Telia helped her to a chair.

  Telia was smiling, “That place is called Arcadia.”

  “Is it virtual reality? I swear I was somewhere else. There was a man there, he said ‘Welcome’! A woman hugged me. I felt it. I still feel it.”

  “It’s amazing, no?” Owen asked.

  “Where was I?” Heather asked.

  “It’s basically, in lay terms, another dimension.” Owen said.

  “Wow. That’s like sci-fi.” Heather said. “That was amazing, Tee.”

  “You’ll have to try it again. Once you learn to stay focused in that state, you can see more.” Telia said. She took a drink of the peyote tea and climbed up in the chair.

  When she crossed over, Samantha and Louis were waiting for her.

  Samantha embraced her and kissed her mouth and neck. Telia stayed close to her and looked deep into her eyes. Telia could smell her breath. It was like an intoxicating spice. Samantha said, “I am glad you are back.”

  Louis said, “You know what to do?”

  Telia nodded. She concentrated on Heather. Her ghostly form shimmered before them. She felt Samantha flow through her into Heather. She heard Samantha whispering. The syllables were barely audible but they caused Telia’s whole body to tingle.

  “OK.” Telia said and shifted her concentration back to Louis and Samantha.

  Samantha brushed her hair away from her face. “Have you thought of what Owen asked?”

  Telia nodded. “Matt is still skeptical, though.”

  Samantha smiled broadly and kissed her again. “He will come around.” Her hand slipped down Telia’s back to the base of her spine. Telia felt electricity flow through her entire body. “It is too important we will have to convince him about the danger.” Samantha said. “In the mean time, you coax him, but do not push hard.”

  “I will.” Telia breathed.

  She returned to normal consciousness. She was panting and her face was flushed and red and sweat beaded on her forehead. “Wow.” she said. She slowly climbed down the ladder.

  Heather was waiting for her, “Telia that really was incredible. I haven’t even started to process that, but I need to get going to make my class, walk with me?”

  Telia put an arm around Heather’s shoulders and she gripped Telia’s waist. “I told you it was life changing.”

  Heather said, “It was indescribable. I still feel it. It’s just there, like a taste.”

  Telia brushed a few straggling hairs from Heather’s face and looked at her with appreciation. Her voice was still a little husky from Samantha’s touch. “I know people tell you all the time, but you’re radiant.”

  “Thanks, you too, Telia. I could just eat you up.” Heather hugged her and then kissed her cheek.

  “Say Hi to Bethany and Charlie.” Telia patted Heather’s car, then she pulled away. Heather honked the horn as she turned onto the road. Telia sighed and went back into the warehouse.

  “What a lovely young lady. She looks familiar.” Owen said.

  “She’s an actress.” Matt said. “Maybe you’ve seen her?”

  “Oh yes, maybe.” Owen nodded.

  “Are you going?” Telia asked Matt.

  “Not today. I think we need to get Owen to the airport.”

  “Quite right, my flight’s in a couple of hours, and with the security these days, I’ll be lucky to make it!”

  ~End of Episode Seven~

  EPISODE EIGHT -- Homecoming

  Chapter One

  Present Day

  Demetria looked through the pile of photos of the Wells house and the family. Judge Ralph kept going over various aspects of their plan. She didn’t intend to follow any of it.

  “Oh shut up, already.” she said. “I’ll get these books. If I need help from you, I’ll tell you what you need to do.”

  She stood up and picked up her motorcycle helmet. She was wearing fitted gold and black leathers. Ralph attempted to start another sentence but she glared at him, “Not another word from you.”

  She climbed on a black Ducati that was parked in front of the campaign headquarters, lit the rear tire up and swung it around in a cir
cle then rode off.

  “Well, Yuri, I hope you’re happy.” Ralph said.

  Yuri shrugged. “You don’t think she will succeed at this simple task?”

  “I think she might get the books, or just forget about it in five minutes. God knows what else will happen. I don’t think she’s good at taking orders.” Ralph said.

  Chuck nodded, “Yeah, I agree with Ralph. I guess we need to do our best to back her up, but stay out of her way.”

  Chapter Two

  Tracy and Chloe drove to school together in Chloe’s car. It had been repainted a dark bluish black and a faint white arc of stars splayed from one wheel well to the other. The old steel wheels had been replaced with new alloy wheels and low profile tires.

  “I love my car.” Chloe hugged the wheel as they waited at the light.

  “How are you so calm?” Tracy asked.

  Chloe took her hand, it was clammy. She said, “Even though I was in danger, I was still in control of the situation, I took the initiative to act and chose the outcome. I kicked ass.” She smiled.

  “I wish I could be so calm.” Tracy sighed.

  “Girl, you’re doing alright, but as my dad says, I think ‘you’re wrestling with ghosts.’”

  “Huh? What does that mean?”

  “It took me a long time to figure that one out, too. He means, you need to think about these problems in concrete terms. From my point-of-view, you should be confident, your family is awesome and you are very intelligent. Put that intelligence to work. Don’t just wait for this to be resolved.” Chloe emphasized her words by poking the dashboard.

  Tracy nodded curtly, “Yeah, I think I get it. Still, it’s not easy, right?”

  “I didn’t say it would be.”

  They pulled into the lot. Berto and Richard Golden were waiting for them. Richard had a knit hat on over his curly blond hair and wore ridiculous mirrored aviator glasses and had a candy cigarette in his mouth.

  Berto opened her door and said, “Good morning ladies.”

  “Oh such a gentleman.” Chloe climbed out of the car.

  Richard took his cue and hurried over to Tracy’s door. “What up Trace?” he said.

  She laughed at him, “Oh man, I love those glasses.”

  Berto said, “If you need to do your hair in them, you probably can.”

  Richard said with mock seriousness, “Hey, quit clowning, Berto, we’re here on business.”

  Chloe scrunched up her nose, “What are you talking about?”

  Berto looked around the lot, “We have a proposition.”

  Tracy was intrigued, “OK, well, what is it?”

  “Tracy, how would you like to be homecoming queen? Chloe you would be on the court.” Richard offered.

  Berto added quickly, “We,” he gestured back and forth between Richard and himself, “thought that was fair, since Tracy’s been here a while and you’re relatively new… That’s the only reason.”

  Chloe laughed, “How?!”

  Tracy said, “Yeah really, I mean, how can you even make the offer?”

  Berto said, “We have our ways.”

  Chloe said, “Wait, what’s the catch?”

  Berto looked confused, “Catch?”

  “I mean what do we need to do in return.”

  He laughed, “Oh! Nothing. I mean, we were also going to ask you two to the dance, but no strings attached.”

  Tracy smiled, “I leave it up to Chloe.”

  Chloe nodded, “Sure that sounds good, I really just want to see if you can do it.”

  Berto and Richard high fived then fist bumped. “It’s already did, well, not quite yet, but by the end of the day.”

  They started toward the school building. Demetria’s Ducati roared past. Her blond hair was flowing out of the back of the helmet. She turned into the front drive of the school and then rode up onto the sidewalk and parked in the front of the entry way. A vice principal walked out to her waving a finger.

  “You cannot park there.”

  She took her helmet off and hung it from the bars. She fixed the man with her gaze and unzipped the top of the leathers down to her hips. She was only wearing panties and a tight white tank top with no bra beneath. A crowd of students was gathering around like iron filings to a magnet.

  The vice principal became completely confused. She ignored him and pulled out a slip of paper from the hip strap of her panties. She announced, “Is Steve Polloy here? Someone go get him.”

  A boy sprinted into the building. She sat down on the bike.

  “I’ll just be a minute.” She smiled at the vice principal. She lounged back and soaked in the morning sun.

  Steve walked out the front doors. He was a slender boy with short blond hair. He dressed like a skater, even though he wasn’t one. The crowd parted like wheat before the wind.

  “Steve?” She said in a pouty voice. She brushed her fingers through her hair.

  “Yeah, that’s me.” he said. The crowd formed a half moon around them.

  “I’m your cousin, Demetria from the old country.” she stood up. She was slightly taller than him. She put her hands on his face and kissed him on the lips and pressed her body against him.

  “What?” he mumbled.

  “Does it even matter?” she asked.

  “No. It really doesn’t.” He said matter of factly.

  She kissed him again, and put an arm around him. He saw that her armpits were noticeably hairy, blonde wispy hairs glowed in the morning sun. He felt disoriented. She handed him a phone number. “Call me. We will meet later today.”

  She put the helmet on again and fired up the big engine. It rumbled and roared to life. She patted the gas tank and zipped up her leathers. The crowd instinctively moved out of her way. She lit up the rear tire until it smoked, then rode off the sidewalk and roared away like a lightning bolt.

  Steve was dazed, he turned around to go back into the building. Everyone was gawking at him. He noticed the girls were now eyeing him in a completely new, interested way. He smiled and nodded at the crowd and walked back into the building.

  Morgan was waiting for him by his locker. “Who was that? I saw it from the window.”

  Steve said, “She said she was my cousin from the old country. Demetria.” he breathed. “Wow. This day is going to be so slooow. I got her number.”

  Morgan nodded, “Why don’t we get out of here early?”

  Steve thought about it a moment, “yeah, why not?”

  “Why not now?” Morgan added.

  Steve laughed, “Hell yeah.”

  They rode away from the building on their bikes. Steve whooped as they went out of sight of the school. “What a great feeling!” he said.

  Morgan added, “I know, right? Freedom of the open road.” he laughed as they rolled along the sidewalk.

  They made their way to Steve’s house. Steve said, “Dude, let’s have drinks, then I’ll call her.”

  “Whiskey?” Morgan asked.

  “It’s like 7:55AM” Steve laughed.

  “So?”

  “Right, right, right.” Steve poured a couple of shots into ice filled tumblers. They went out on the patio.

  They sipped their drinks and relaxed in the sunlight. “Are you going to call that girl?” Morgan asked.

  “Hell yeah! Be patient, dude.” Steve said.

  “Why not now?” Morgan asked.

  Steve nodded. He called the number. A woman with a spanish accent answered. “Is this Meester Stefan?”

  “Uh yes, it is.” Steve said.

  “What is your address?”

  “Uhhh. Why? Is this Demetria’s phone number?”

  “Yes. She said you might be confused. She’ll send a car for you.”

  “A car?” Steve asked. Steve looked at Morgan, “Oh and a friend is here, too.”

  “That should be fine. Address?” she asked curtly.

  Steve read the address. She repeated it. “Thank you, Stefan. The driver will be there shortly. Both you and your friend, plea
se be fully showered and completely clean. I mean every square inch.”

  Steve answered, “Uh, OK I guess.” He hung up.

  “Well?!” Morgan asked.

  “Come on! Hurry up.” Steve stood up and gestured to Morgan. “You go in there.” he pointed at the guest bathroom. “Shower and scrub your ass and balls.” he laughed and trotted up the stairs. Morgan shrugged and went into the shower.

  A black livery car honked the horn. Steve and Morgan hurried outside. Both of their faces were rosy from scrubbing. The driver was a tall broad shouldered man. He addressed them, “Gentlemen, please enjoy the ride.” he pointed into the back seat.