Jeremy Chikalto and the Hazy Souls

by T.S. DeBrosse

  The old man grabbed the credit card and examined it with a magnifying glass. “What does it do, exactly?”

  “You can buy anything you want with it. It's linked to a bank. I have a $20,000 credit limit with Manhattan Bank.”

  “$20,000!” gawked Maren.

  “Manhattan bank? Where's that?” asked the old man, who was examining the thickness of the card.

  “Manhattan, New York... Earth–”

  “It's an Earth thing?”

  “Er, yes.”

  “I'll take it!” Fedonis shoved the card into his pocket and held the map out to Jeremy.

  Jeremy winced at losing so precious a commodity, but accepted the map.

  “Now that map's only local, shows a couple levels, of course. But what else will it be? Have lupin spine? I got the cure for you right here!” He dangled a red-orange potion in Maren's face.

  Maren held up her hand to push the potion away from her face. “I was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions for us.”

  “What, so it's information you're wanting? Ah!” The old man bustled out from behind his makeshift storefront and ambled over to another corner of the room, where he sat up on a wooden stool and placed a blue, pointy wizard's hat upon his head. “Welcome, welcome, to Fedonis the Hermit's Circle of Wisdom.

  “But –”

  “Ah, ah, ah, young man. You must answer my riddle correctly and then you may ask me anything you'd like.” The old man whistled his own theme song, holding up a finger and retreating it only after the whistled song reached its conclusion.

  Jeremy's heart was softened by this amiable display of insanity and he laughed aloud. “Let's hear the riddle.”

  The old man cracked his knuckles and gave each of his guests a serious stare in turn. “Visit my family tree and you'll see cousins of brown and black. I am white and naked, with lots of fur along my back. What am I? Teehee.”

  Maren recited the riddle again. She motioned for Jeremy and Lyrna to join her in the center of the room.

  “Fur like animal,” said Lyrna hopefully.

  “Yes, I think it's an animal. Something to do with a family tree.”

  “Monkeys?” offered Lyrna.

  “Black monkeys, chimps. Um...” Maren looked to Jeremy.

  “Aren't there monkeys with naked asses?” He smiled.

  “Yes, very mature,” said Maren. “One species is snow monkeys.”

  “That makes sense.”

  Maren considered this. “It does, but to say the snow monkey is naked except for the fur on its back seems imprecise.”

  “Yeah, but maybe its whole underside is naked. It's a riddle, Maren, it's not rocket science. There's word play, puns–”

  “Puns! A polar bear?”

  “Huh?”

  “There're brown bears and black bears,” said Maren. “It's white and naked, which is another way of saying it's bare, or a bear, and it's furry!”

  “But what about the family tree thing”

  Maren walked up to Fedonis and stood in front of his stool. “The answer is polar bear.”

  “Are you sure?” asked the old man, touching the top of his hat and glaring his best glare.

  “Yes, polar bear.”

  “Correct.” He whistled his theme song.

  Jeremy and Lyrna joined Maren in front of the hermit and waited patiently for the song's conclusion.

  When at last the song concluded, Fedonis wagged his finger. “Ah, ah then. Let's have the question.”

  “Who or what is Mantel?” said Jeremy, stepping forward.

  “Who or what is Mantel,” repeated the hermit, drawing out the letters as though he were tasting each one. “Mantel was once a soul, like so many others you find in this maze. But when he went to be sorted after his death, God couldn't decide where to place him, so he kept him in the Haze where he floated all alone. Ah, but who was he? He was called Cain. Cain!” The hermit chewed on the side of his mouth.

  “Cain?” said Jeremy, astonished. “As in–”

  “Cain murdered his brother Abel and died some time later himself. Yes, he was that Cain. Ah, so then he stayed in the Haze, angry and confused, until an angel took pity on him and said, 'Cain, I see your fate is not fair. Did you not honor the Lord and receive punishment in return?' and the angel returned Cain's soul to his body. His body decomposed but his consciousness lived on, tethered to his bones.

  “Ah, but then one night, Cain noticed there was a spirit haunting the graveyard and he called it over to him. When the ghost was close enough–” Fedonis chomped the air with his toothless mouth and stared at Maren, who quivered under his gaze. “Mantel ate the ghost and gained its power. Of course, it's not eating like you and I know it. He must completely subdue the will of the soul, until it yields to his own and the energy is digested and incorporated into his being. He continued calling souls to him–ah yes, see the dead who continue to haunt the earth are lonely and easily summoned.

  “After he gained immense power, he traveled to the center of the earth where he could have a proper kingdom. He called himself Mantel, and allowed other souls to live with him. He proclaimed that if the ghosts joined forces with him, that they could avoid being sorted in the Haze. Why, he asked, would they want a union with God only to lose their individuality? Why risk going to hell to suffer eternal damnation? Many ghosts joined Mantel and together they built Mantel's Maze. Ah, and his forces are growing, but they're still no match for God or Lucifer. There simply aren't enough souls who haunt the Earth after death.” The old man pointed to his hat to signify that he was finishing up and began to squirm his way off the stool.

  “Wait!” cried Jeremy. He trained his electric blue eyes on Fedonis.

  “Yes, my good boy?”

  “So is Mantel good or bad? I mean, you seem like a nice person.”

  “Teehee! Good or bad? Person! Phooey! Neither and neither!” Fedonis jumped down from his stool and walked back to his storefront. “What will it be today, then?”

  “He's obviously bad, Jeremy! He eats souls!” Maren threw her hands up.

  Lyrna tugged on Jeremy's pants. “Leave now!”

  Jeremy clenched his fist and a blue spark shot up.” What does he want with me?”

  “Let's have a look at that map,” said Maren, her hands outstretched.

  “I'll look at the map.” Jeremy turned his back to Maren and studied the map. It showed that an oasis was only a couple of doors away. “We'll stop at the oasis and then continue through here. Then we'll take the passageway upstairs to avoid this place.” Jeremy pointed to a large, black spot on the map marked 'Kellaware's Dungeon.' “The more direct route would be to stay on this level until we're under the Heart, but I'd rather bypass the dungeon. I don't even want to know what kind of abominations lurk around there. If we take the passageway, we'll arrive at the Heart of the maze from the southern entrance.”

  Chapter 39

  Beastie

  Jeremy, Maren, and Lyrna arrived at the oasis and took a seat beside it. The chamber was thick with ferns and moss and had a pool in the center. The pool had a rainbow hue and light emanated from the bottom. Liquid bubbled and sprayed a fine mist. They saw a small, fawn-like creature drinking from the pool. It looked up with large dewey eyes and then quickly ran away, standing upright momentarily to open a door, and falling gracefully back onto its hoofs before disappearing around a corner.

  “That was kind of cute,” said Maren. She cupped her hands and dipped them into the pool. The liquid tasted like a soothing citrus punch and she drank greedily. When she finished, she sat against the wall and watched Jeremy and Lyrna. Jeremy was as handsome as ever and she enjoyed her view of him. His sweat-soaked shirt and disheveled hair highlighted a more rough, masculine side to him that she hadn't thought possible. He'd always seemed so delicate. Still, his snobbish and moody demeanor was fast eroding whatever charm he held. She especially didn't appreciate the way he handled her, constantly pushing her and pulling her as though she were a rag doll.

/>   Maren also felt frustrated by his lack of speculation as to why Mantel wanted him. He had to know something after everything he'd gone through. Was she willing to die for him? Of course not. But she felt like if she continued to have a relationship with him, whatever it was, beyond this terrifying ordeal, she would likely die at his side. Jeremy was always an oddball, intriguing and delightful to listen to and to stare at, but ultimately a destructive force. No, he hadn't changed, she concluded. And she felt guilty for reaching such a conclusion.

  “Maren,” said Jeremy, interrupting her musings. “I just realized how incredibly tired I am. It looks like we have a ways to go on the map, so we should camp out.”

  “I–”

  “No. I was thinking we can camp either here by the oasis or possibly the next door over. I know it's dangerous, but this area of the maze seems reasonably safe. That old man's set up a storefront and that's saying something.”

  Maren frowned. She was only going to say that she was tired too.

  Jeremy led everyone to a large, dark room. A faint light trickled down from what might have been the ceiling. The walls seemed to climb up indefinitely. Jeremy was the first to fall asleep.

  Maren was on watch. She felt herself nodding off but would rouse herself from sleep for fear of some evil entity approaching. She rubbed her eyes and turned over onto the cold, dusty slab of stone. She couldn't fight sleep. The stone tile she chose for a bed was slightly elevated, so chosen in the off chance that a creepy-crawly insect or snake might decide it not worth their while to ascend the tile to get to its inhabitant. When at last she convinced herself that she was safe, she dozed off.

  “Maren! Maren, wake up!” Jeremy shook her.

  Maren's eyes opened wide. “What! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep!” she shouted, jumping up from her stone tile.

  “Look at what you're sleeping on. I've been trying to figure it out for the past ten minutes, but I couldn't wait any longer.” Jeremy pushed Maren's leg off of the edge of the tile.

  “It just looks like a stone tile,” said Maren, holding her head. “How long did I sleep?”

  “I don't know, long enough.” Jeremy called Lyrna to his side. “Think you can stick your paws in here and help loosen it? There's something underneath.”

  Lyrna shook her head. “Too scared!”

  “Scared? Lyrna, it's a rock. It's inanimate.”

  “Under stone!”

  “There might be tuna fish under the stone.”

  “Tuna, happy!” Lyrna danced on her paws.

  Maren sighed. “There's no tuna fish under there, Lyrna. Come here.” She patted her lap and Lyrna joined her.

  Jeremy bent over. “Look! There's a picture etched into the stone. See here? On the top? You didn't notice this last night, Maren?” He brushed the dust off with his hand.

  “No, I didn't,” said Maren irritably.

  “Beastie!” said Lyrna.

  “What is it?” asked Maren, mildly interested.

  “Maren, check this out!”

  Maren crouched down for a better look at the tile. “Don't touch it!” She grabbed his hand. Jeremy laughed.

  “Will you relax? It's a–”

  “Beastie!” mewed Lyrna from the corner.

  “Yes, you could say that.... It looks like that monster from Looney Tunes! What was it called? The big, orange hairy one. Maren, did you ever watch Looney Tunes on Earth?”

  “Beastie...”

  “Gossamer!” continued Jeremy. “It means goose summer. Supposed to be ironic....”

  Maren shook her head.

  “I had a lot of free time at Ms. Donegall's, okay?”

  “Maybe you shouldn't mess with it. Let's get out of here.” Maren rubbed her arms and looked up. There was a massive wooden door hung slightly ajar about twenty feet into the air on the wall. “Jeremy, do you see that? Why would there be a door up there?”

  “Crazy,” said Jeremy. He began chipping away at the base of the tile. “Look! I was right, something's down here.” He gripped below the tile.

  “Tuna?!” asked Lyrna in a renewed chirp. She leapt into the air and spun around, a small pool of drool already collecting beneath her.

  “No, no it's a box! Help me dig some other tiles up so we can get this box. I could probably tip it sideways, and...”

  The offer didn't appeal to Lyrna and, disappointed, she settled next to Maren, who was beginning to feel anxious.

  Jeremy continued uprooting the tiles and finally produced his box. It was a large cardboard box, just big

  enough for Jeremy to sit in. Inside the box was a set of huge drawing chalks, each the length of Jeremy's arm. Jeremy smiled and held the box up for Maren and Lyrna to see.

  “Jeremy, let's go.”

  “Maren, can I have a moment?”

  “With the box?” Maren blinked.

  “Yes, with the box. Is that okay?” Jeremy took up a piece of chalk and drew a goose on the side of the box. He read aloud his inscription under the goose: “For Gossomer, in Honor of the Monster Tile.”

  “Bizarre, Jeremy.” Maren smiled. The thought of her being seven years old and playing with Jeremy inside his parents' art room came to memory. She had some good times with him growing up. Her history with him, though intermittent, had its joys.

  Jeremy sat in his box. “Now, a song.” He cleared his throat and winked at Maren:

  Far away in a maze,

  There sits a monster tile.

  We arrived from the Haze

  And it took us quite a while,

  To hear the ghost tell a ruse

  And buy a map from a quack,

  But because I've drawn a goose,

  We'll ward off an attack.

  Just then, the center door in front of them creaked open. Maren gasped and Lyrna hissed. Jeremy went silent.

  A bright light spilled into the room. Soon the blinding light was adjusted to a softer glow. A hand appeared in the doorway. It was holding a lamp.

  “Hello?” said a low, strong voice. A man stood in the doorway. “Hello? Hi guys!”

  “Hello...?” said Maren, rubbing her eyes.

  “Hello! Sorry for bursting in like that, neighbor!” A young man with black, close-cropped hair stood before them, the white letters of his lacrosse sweatshirt matching his teeth in intensity. He let out a hearty laugh. “My name's Steven. There are six of us at a camp site a couple of doors down. I thought I heard some–” Steven looked directly at Jeremy, who was still sitting in his box, “–singing... Some voice, eh?” Steven smiled at Maren. She gave a friendly, guarded smile back. Jeremy only raised an eyebrow and feigned an interest in his nails.

  “I'm Maren. This is Lyrna and that's Jeremy.”

  Steven walked into the room and knelt down in front of Lyrna. “Lyrna, is it? What a great-looking critter.”

  “Thanks,” said Lyrna. Steven jumped back.

  “She can talk! I tell you, this maze is full of surprises. But hey, we have a ton of food at our site and you guys are welcome to it.”

  Jeremy rose from his box, clapping the chalk from off his pants. “Maren and Lyrna are both ladies. They probably don't like that expression – you know, using the term “guys” interchangeably for both men and women. I know I can't stand it.”

  Maren ignored Jeremy. “Thank you, Steven. I haven't eaten in so long.”

  “We stopped at the oasis,” said Jeremy, stepping out of his goose box.

  “The oasis is all fine and well, but wait 'til you see what we have at our camp!” Steven laughed and punched the air with his fist.

  “I'll be glad to be around more people,” said Maren. She suspiciously eyed his immaculate presentation. “Did you, er, fall into a volcano?”

  “Sure did. I was hiking with some friends on Mt. Saint Helen a year or so ago when we fell into the mouth. We were standing there taking pictures when the ground collapsed beneath us. You?”

  “Oh, well we fell into a hot spring,” said Maren. She looked to Jeremy for support.
<
br />   “We jumped into the hot spring, actually.”

  Steven smiled. “We'll all swap stories. Love finding newcomers. You'll see what I mean about the food. Won't believe it 'til you taste it. My lady.” Steven opened the door for Maren. Lyrna followed. Jeremy frowned and picked up his box and chalks.

  “Jeremy, are you really bringing that box?” asked Maren.

  “We have cots to sleep on, fella.” Steven's smile wilted a little when his eyes met the goose.

  Jeremy proudly hoisted his box over his shoulder and walked through the door, pausing briefly to allow the goose drawing to linger for a moment in Steven's face.

  Chapter 40

  The Dungeon

  Jeremy, Maren, and Lyrna followed Steven through a couple of doors. Steven kept a grueling pace and Maren had to jog to keep up.

  “Hey Steven,” said Jeremy. “I thought you said you were next door.”

  “I am. We're in a maze and sometimes next door isn't exactly a stroll down the block, know what I mean?”

  Jeremy cursed Steven under his breath. He had never gotten along well with other guys and this one was no exception. Maren heard Jeremy curse and nudged his shoulder.

  “What's wrong?” she whispered.

  “Who is this idiot?” said Jeremy.

  “He seems like a nice guy, but we should probably be careful.”

  “You especially.”

  “Me?”

  “He's going to grab you like this.” Jeremy set his large box of chalks down and grabbed Maren, throwing her over his shoulder. She struggled and laughed because he'd tickled her.

  “Is everything all right?” said Steven, stopping abruptly to inspect the party.

  “Put me down.” Maren's cheeks flushed.

  “Embarrass,” said Lyrna.

  “I was just playing. She's out of breath, you're moving too fast.” Jeremy placed Maren back on the ground.

  “Oh?” said Steven.

  “Jeremy, I'm fine. You're both just taking wider strides than me, but I can keep up.”

  “But your cheeks are red,” said Jeremy. He leaned against the wall of the corridor and crossed his arms. “You're out of breath.”

  “I'm fine!” Maren, confused and humiliated, jogged away from Jeremy and caught up to Steven.

  At last they arrived at a hall with silver tables set with silver cutlery and a gold statue depicting a harvest scene. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and the room smelled like rose water.