Path Less Taken Excerpt: The Phoenix Files Vol. 2 Chapter 1

 

Path Less Taken

excerpt from Chapter 1: Dreams

Jane is in her office, reading through case files on her laptop. “Hmm, most are short and solvable. I guess others can take care of them,” she said and took a sip from her coffee. MK finished her last class and headed straight to the office.

 "Hey Jane, has Father Patrick given you any updates on the next assignment?" she inquired, entering with her brown leather messenger bag slung over her shoulder. Dressed in a red tee featuring a black Infinity Symbol on the front of it, faded jeans, and sporting playful ponytails, she looked ready for anything. Jane replied, "Actually, he dropped off a file yesterday while I was in the teacher’s lounge." 

Curious, MK pressed, "So, where are we headed?" 

Jane raised an eyebrow, with a hint of caution in her voice said, "You seem eager to dive into this assignment. Are you sure you're prepared? It involves potential portals and other dimensions." She rose from her desk to refill her water cup. MK pondered. She let out a sigh and sat down on the chair in front of Jane’s desk. Jane walked back to her desk and sat down, placing her stainless-steel water bottle next to her. “I see why you're bringing this up, but you can be confident that I'm prepared. We've been delaying significant tasks for several months now.” Jane gazed into those striking blue eyes, which seemed to perceive more than she could. She nodded and said, "MK, we need to discuss this, especially the dreams you’ve been having." MK paused, her expression thoughtful. "My dreams are complex," she replied.

“I once overheard you murmuring in your sleep during your stay at my apartment, and I can't shake the worry that you're still haunted by nightmares of the Backrooms. Please, share with me what's on your mind.”

 MK rose and approached the coffee maker, grateful for the warm brew Jane had prepared earlier. With a sigh, she admitted, “I do find myself dreaming of that endless yellow maze, but there’s more to it.” As she added two sugar cubes and a splash of cream to her coffee, she stirred it thoughtfully before returning to her chair.

She set the coffee down on a ceramic coaster adorned with a vibrant South of the Border design, a set Jane had purchased during their trip to Baja last year, prior to the Backrooms assignment.

“I’ve been experiencing some strange dreams, almost like they’re real,” she confessed. Jane’s expression shifted to one of concern as she asked for clarification.

“Sometimes, I find myself dreaming about various sections of the Backrooms.” A frown creased Jane’s forehead as she processed this revelation. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t explain it, but I feel a connection to the dark energy that permeates the Backrooms. It’s as if there are people trapped there, not just within the yellow labyrinth.”

“Explain, I want to hear more.” Jane threw a concern look at her. MK’s connection to that other dimension is disturbing; she fears that the darkness of that place will find her and lure her back in. “In my dreams, I wander through quiet suburbs, expansive farms, and a sprawling city that feels eerily deserted. The fields we traversed linger in my mind, accompanied by the unsettling presence of a man.” MK shivered, as if a specter had brushed past her, she continues, “This man, with pale skin, remains elusive; his face hidden as he gazes out from a skyscraper overlooking the vast empty city below. Clad in a muted blue-gray suit, he speaks to me, his words echoing in the silence of the dream.”

“What does he say,” asked Jane, as she is perturbed by MK’s revelation. MK recalled a moment when she felt the figure's gaze upon her, as it acknowledged her with a sinister greeting, "Ah, princess you’re here," causing her to awaken abruptly. In addition, she describes chilling scenes where she witnessed a figure conducting experiments on unfortunate souls who had wandered into his domain. Clad in a white lab coat reminiscent of a doctor, the figure's face remains obscured, leaving only a sense of malevolence in its wake. 

 Jane reflected on this revelation, her heart heavy with concern for MK's tormentor. She expressed her frustration at being unable to confront this menace, trapped within the confines of MK's dreams. As she contemplated the situation, a nagging feeling suggested that someone within the Backrooms might be attempting to reach out to MK. Jane feels helpless and wants nothing more but to cut that person’s ties to MK, but MK must do it herself. Jane sighed and gulped. “I think that if you find out what his name is, maybe I can have Father Patrick look him up. He might be one of the scientists that became trapped in the Backrooms when the accident happened. Maybe he lives somewhere within that Hellish place and developed psychic powers.” A look of concern crossed MK's face. Jane quickly reassured her, promising, "We'll figure this out and sever the connection." As she gently took MK's smooth hand, Jane savored every second spent with her. Deep down, she cherished her feelings for MK but lacked the courage to express them. MK responded by clasping Jane's hands with both of hers, a soft smile illuminating her features. MK shifted the conversation, asking, “So, where are we headed next?” Jane opened the file, her face serious. "Katy Lois Tyler has gone missing in Yosemite Park. Here’s her picture," she said, passing it to MK.

"She’s beautiful, those green eyes are stunning," MK commented, to which Jane replied, "She’s half Caucasian, I think." Curious, MK asked how she got lost. Jane explained, "She’s been missing for three months, leaving behind two sons and a loving husband." With a sense of urgency, MK asked, "When are we leaving?"

“I’m waiting for Father Patrick to call with more details,” Jane said, as she stood to grab a donut from the table, MK remained lost in thought, barely noticing Jane’s return. Jane observed the distant look in MK’s eyes, sensing her friend’s preoccupation. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” responded MK.
“Look don’t let it bother you. I will take care of you. I’ll have your back. This assignment won’t be any different than the others.” She tried to reassure her. MK nodded. “I know you’re right. Thanks for your concern.” 

“Not at all, you are very special to me, you’re my partner, we fight the good fight together.” MK smiled, brushed off the aphotic thoughts of her dreams and exhaled. Jane did not want to dwell on the dreams that still haunt MK, but she too has had them, and not good ones either. Her dreams take her into the Backrooms, and in them she is searching for MK but is attacked by a Hound. She slowly starts to turn into one. She can feel her body morphing into the grotesque, repulsive creature. The pain of each bone in her body twisting, contorting into something vile and supernatural, haunts her. The man MK speaks of is in fact, an entity that resides deep within the Backrooms. He once was a Human; he is connected to MK in ways she has yet to find out. MK noticed a flier on the desk. “So, one of the local churches is setting up for a festival to raise money for the poor?" asked MK.

“Yes, and we are supposed to attend and help with some of the festivities. It will be fun,” Jane said, swaying away from the grim conversation they had earlier. “Good, this is what we need before we go off again. I can’t wait.

”The festivities will involve rides, game booths and food venders. 

“Well, where do you want to have dinner tonight?” Jane asked.

“I guess we can go to Manuel’s Mexican food. I’m feeling Mexican today,” said MK with a chuckle. Jane smiled and nodded. Later in the evening, Jane and MK were at the restaurant enjoying a pleasant dinner.

“Hey Jane, fancy meeting you two here” said John as he pulled up a chair and sat at their table. Jane was surprised to see John, but it was a welcome sight. MK, sipped on her margarita, and turned to John with a curious expression.

“So, what brings you here?” she asked. He explained that he had been at the bar already and noticed them walking in. After finishing his drink, he decided to join them, hinting that he had something important to discuss. His serious demeanor caught Jane's attention, and her brow furrowed in concern, “What’s wrong?” she asked, sensing the weight of his words.

 He hesitated, then asked if they had been experiencing any dreams, taking a quick sip from his beer as he spoke. Jane felt a twinge of unease and replied, “John, I don’t think this is the place to talk about this.” He acknowledged her concern with a nod, then shifted the conversation slightly, asking if they would be attending the festival.

“Yeah, we are before we go to Yosemite,” MK chimed in, casting a glance at Jane that hinted that John didn’t know about their assignment. “I assumed he was aware,” she said. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as John asked, “What’s the good father’s reason for sending you to Yosemite?” Jane swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment, and let out a soft sigh.

John casually grabbed a tortilla chip from the bowl beside Jane’s plate, dipped it into the creamy guacamole, and savored the bite. “We’re on a mission to locate a missing person. She’s been unaccounted for over three months, and due to the supernatural and paranormal elements tied to her disappearance, our organization has stepped in,” Jane replied, as she swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment, she took a sip from her drink.

He nodded thoughtfully, processing the gravity of their task. “Are you both prepared to tackle this assignment?” he asked. MK affirmed with a determined nod, glancing at Jane for support. She returned the look with a reassuring smile, signaling her agreement and readiness to embark on this challenging journey together. “Okay, well if you need my help, you know where to find me then,” he said. After Jane dropped off MK at her apartment, she went home. John was waiting outside her door. As they entered her apartment, Jane secured the door with a click. “Would you like something to drink besides alcohol?” she asked, her voice light yet tinged with an underlying weariness. She moved toward the kitchen, filling a glass with water while discreetly grabbing a sleeping pill from the counter. John observed her actions with concern, his brow furrowing slightly. “You never used to rely on anything to help you sleep. Are you having trouble sleeping?” he asked, his tone laced with genuine worry. Jane sighed softly, settling onto the sofa beside him, her gaze drifting over his features. It was then she realized that he, too, bore the marks of sleepless nights.

“I think we’ve all been experiencing some strange dreams lately,” she remarked, her voice barely above a whisper. John chuckled dryly, shaking his head as he removed his boots and set them down on the floor. “Strange is an understatement,” he replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice, as they both grappled with the unsettling thoughts that had invaded their sleep.

“John, would you like to spend the night here?” He nodded in response, a silent agreement that spoke volumes.

“I’m not sure if you or MK have been experiencing nightmares about the Backrooms, but sometimes they feel so real that I find myself back in that unsettling place,” he confessed, his voice tinged with unease. As he rested his head on her lap, he resembled a child seeking solace, a gesture that revealed his vulnerability. “I too have had dreams of that horrific place,” Jane responded softly.  “What kind of dreams do you have,” he asked her. 

“Well, I am back inside the Backrooms and,” she paused.

“And what?” he pressed.

“Well, I am searching for MK and a Hound attacks me, I then go through the agonizing trial of turning into one.” There was silence for a moment. John gulped and took a deep breath. “What is it?”  she asked. Jane's voice was barely above a whisper. “I too have experienced nightmares of that horrific place.” She moved toward the closet, retrieving a blanket and an extra pillow before settling beside him again. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he asked, “What kind of dreams do you have?” She hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. 

“In my dreams, I find myself back in the Backrooms, and…” she trailed off, the weight of her memories hanging in the air.

“And what?” he urged, leaning closer.

“I’m searching for MK when suddenly, a Hound attacks me, and I endure the harrowing transformation into one of those creatures.” A heavy silence enveloped them, and John swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

 “What is it?” Jane asked, sensing his unease.

 “In my dream, I’m in the Backrooms too, but I’m hunting you, driven by a chilling intent to kill because you’ve become one of those monsters. It felt like a dark shadow looming over my very existence.” Jane gasped, her expression shifting to one of deep concern as she regarded him, the gravity of their shared nightmares weighing heavily between them.

“It’s not gonna happen John, these dreams are not real. I feel they are being sent to us from the Backrooms, but we should ignore them. We have a connection, you trained me, I am your Apprentice, and you are my Master,” she joked as she threw a Star Wars reference in. “I don’t ever want to go back into the Backrooms but if you end up there again, I will ask Father Patrick to send me.” Jane nodded, she knew that if she did become one of those hounds, John would have to do what he must do, give her mercy. 

Oddly enough they slept well that night and MK slept well too. No dark dreams entered their minds that night. Father Patrick was another matter. His dreams are plagued by a desire, a forbidden desire that haunts him; a secret that burrows deep within and hides from the light. “The Light,” he softly mumbled. “She comes into my dreams.” He panted and took a deep breath and exhaled. He slowly got up from his bed and walked to the bathroom. “I don’t know how strong I will be God.” He took a Dixie cup from the dispenser and poured water into it.

His eyes glanced at the mirror and a woman with raven colored hair and deep greyish blue eyes materialized in the mirror. He gasped and dropped the cup. She smiled and blew him a kiss before she disappeared. He closed his eyes and sighed. He went back to bed.

 

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The Phoenix Files

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