Path Less Taken: The Phoenix Files Vol. 2

 

Path Less Taken

excerpt from Chapter 1: Dreams

Jane sat in her office, reviewing case files on her laptop. "Most seem straightforward. I'll let others handle them," she thought, taking a sip of her coffee. MK arrived after her last class, asking about the next assignment Father Patrick had mentioned. She entered the office with a messenger bag slung over her shoulder, wearing a red and white striped tee shirt with faded jeans, and her hair cascading loosely down her shoulders. 

Jane told MK that Father Patrick had left a file for them in the teacher's lounge the previous day. "You're excited to start this new assignment. Are you sure you want to join? Are you prepared? It involves potential portals and other dimensions," Jane mentioned as she got up from her desk and walked to the water dispenser. MK thought for a moment. She sighed and sat down on the chair across from Jane's desk. Jane returned to her desk, sat down, and placed her stainless-steel water bottle beside her. 

 "I understand why you're questioning me, but I assure you, I am ready. Besides, we've been delaying major assignments for a few months now." Jane gazed into MK's beautiful blue eyes, eyes that could see beyond what she could see; she nodded. "MK, let's discuss it. Mainly about the dreams, okay?"

MK hesitated. "My dreams are intricate," she admitted. MK got up and went to the coffee maker, noticing that Jane had made coffee earlier. She added sugar and cream to her cup before sitting down and placed it on a coaster with a South of the border design. "I still dream about the mono-yellow labyrinth, but lately, my dreams have been even stranger and more vivid," MK explained to Jane. Jane’s brows furrowed; a solicitous look shadowed her face.

 “What?” Jane looked at her with a mix of curiosity and worry, urging MK to elaborate on her connection to the mysterious Backrooms. MK hesitated for a moment, aware of the unsettling nature of her experiences. "In my dreams, I find myself in different settings - suburbs, farms, even a city but it feels empty, like there's no one around. And then there's this man," she shuddered, as if reliving a haunting encounter. In the towering skyscraper overlooking the bustling city, a figure with pointed ears and an enigmatic, pale complexion stands by the window, his face concealed from view.

Clad in a suit of greyish blue, he engages in conversation with me, his words shrouded in mystery."
“What does he say,” asked Jane, she is perturbed by MK’s revelation. MK paused and continued, “I see him experimenting on some of those unfortunate people that stumbled into his territory. He is dressed in a white overcoat like a doctor, I am unbale to see his face, it’s blurred out. I sense evil when I see him and one time, I think he saw me watching him. 

He said, “Ah, princess you’re here.” I woke up with a start.” Jane took a moment to reflect, releasing a deep sigh. "It pains me to witness your torment," she expressed, "but unfortunately, since this creep resides within your dreams, I am unable to extract and eliminate him." Jane paused, sighing once again. 

She had a hunch that someone from the Backrooms was attempting to reach out to MK. Feeling powerless, Jane yearned to sever the ties between that individual and MK, yet she understood that MK had to take matters into her own hands. With another sigh, Jane swallowed her frustration. “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 perturbed look shadowed MK’s face. “Don’t worry, we’ll work on this and stop the connection, I promise.” Jane reassured her and reached out to hold her hand, but Jane hesitated to confess her true feelings for MK. MK reciprocated by holding Jane's hands and she changed the subject to the missing person case in Yosemite Park, expressing surprise and curiosity about the situation.  “So, where will we be going next,” asked MK. Jane showed her the file.

“Katy Lois Tyler missing in Yosemite Park? Probably one of those paranormal cases, right? Jane agreed, with a nod. "But how?" MK inquired.

"Well, it says here she's been gone for three months. She has two sons and a husband who loves and miss her," Jane explained.

MK's enthusiasm was evident as she eagerly asked, "So, when are we departing?" Jane, on the other hand, mentioned that Father Patrick would contact her for additional guidance. She got up, went to the table where she had kept the donuts, took one, and returned to her desk. Lost in her thoughts, MK didn't pay much attention when Jane sat back down. However, Jane noticed the distant expression on MK's face and inquired about what was troubling her. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” responded MK.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I've got your back, and this task will be just like the rest." She reassured her. MK nodded in agreement, expressing gratitude for the support. "You mean a lot to me, we're a team in this fight together." Jane comforted MK, helping her push away the dark thoughts from her mind. Both had unsettling dreams, and Jane's dreams take her to the Backrooms where she was searching for MK but encountered a Hound. As it attacks her, she slowly begins to transform into the same creature. She can sense her body changing into something grotesque and repulsive, feeling the agony of each bone twisting into a vile and supernatural form. The man from MK’s dreams, hints at her being an entity from the Backrooms but MK keeps Jane in the dark about what he revealed. MK suspects that the mysterious man in her dreams was once human but has yet to uncover the full extent of his relationship with her. MK notices a flyer on the desk and brings up a local church festival to raise money for the poor, shifting the conversation away from their previous somber discussion. “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 that evening, Jane and MK found themselves enjoying a delightful dinner at the restaurant. “Hey, fancy meeting you two here,” John joined them at their table and greeted Jane with a friendly remark. Although surprised, Jane was pleased to see him there. Curious about his presence.

MK inquired, "What brings you here?" While taking a sip of her margarita. John explained that he was already at the bar when he saw them come in, finished his drink, and decided to join them because he had something to ask. There was a serious expression in his eyes, causing Jane to furrow her brows with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, I just wanted to ask you both if,” he paused. “If you are having dreams,” he said and took a sip from Jane’s beer.

 “John, I don’t think this is the place to talk about this,” Jane responded. He nodded.

"So, you're going to the festival, right?" MK mentioned. Jane gave her a glance.

"Oh, I assumed he already knew," MK apologized. "Why is the Padre sending you to Yosemite?" he inquired, grabbing a tortilla chip from a bowl near Jane's plate, dipping it in guacamole, and eating it. Jane sighed, "We're searching for a missing person with a supernatural/paranormal link, and that's why the organization is involved." He gave a nod. "Are you both prepared for this task?" MK nodded in response. "We're all set," she glanced at Jane. Jane smiled and confirmed, "Absolutely."

"Alright, if you need assistance, you know where to reach me," he assured her. Later, after Jane left MK at her apartment, she returned home. John was waiting outside her door. They entered her apartment together, and she secured the door behind them. “Do you want anything to drink other than liquor,” she asked as she exhaled and walked into the kitchen to get a cup of water and took a sleeping pill of 25milligrams. It wasn’t a prescription pill, just the standard off the counter pills. John noticed. “You never needed to take anything to help you sleep. Are you sleeping well?” he asked. Jane sighed and walked to the sofa and sat down next to him. She took a better look at her dear friend and noticed that he too must not be sleeping well. “I think all of us have been having unusual dreams,” she said.

 “Unusual is not what I’d call them,” he said as he took off his boots and placed them on the floor.

 “John, do you want to spend the night here?” he nodded. “I don’t know if you or MK have been having nightmares of the Backrooms but sometimes, I swear they seem so vivid that I’m back there again.” He put his head on her lap, like a child needing to be comforted. “Yes, you can stay the night here, you can take the couch. It’s a bit lumpy but…”

“I know you save your bed for MK,” he joked.

“Does she know how you feel about her? Have you told her?” Jane smirked and shook her head.

“John, my love life is none of your business, anyways, I don’t think it’s the right time.”

 “Uh-huh, well one day she will pick up on that feeling. I think she swings both ways,” he smiled and shrugged. “Shut it,” said Jane. John sat up and Jane got him a blanket and an extra pillow. She sat next to him. “What kind of dreams do you have,’ he asked her. "I have returned to the dreaded Backrooms," she said, her voice trailing off.

"And then what?" he inquired.

"Well, I encountered a Hound while searching for MK, and I endured the excruciating transformation into one of them," she explained. A heavy silence hung in the air. John swallowed hard; his breath shaky.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"In my dream, I found myself trapped in the Backrooms, consumed by the desire to hunt you down and end your life because you had become one of those abominations. I felt a looming danger threatening my very existence," he confessed. Jane gasped; her eyes filled with worry as she gazed at him.

"But it won't happen, John. These dreams are mere illusions, not reality. I believe they are being sent to us from the Backrooms, but we must resist their influence. We share a bond, you were my mentor, and I was your apprentice," she reassured, injecting a touch of humor with a Star Wars reference. "I never want to return to the Backrooms, but if you find yourself there again, I will implore Father Patrick to bring me to your aid." Jane nodded, understanding that if she ever transformed into a Hound, John would have no choice but to do what must be done. Surprisingly, they all had a restful night's sleep, including MK. Their minds were free from any unsettling dreams. However, Father Patrick's experience was quite different. He was tormented by a forbidden desire that haunted his dreams, a secret that remained hidden in the depths of his being. 

As he sat up in bed, he whispered, "The Light." Taking a moment to catch his breath, he got up and made his way to the bathroom. Filled with uncertainty, he prayed for strength, asking for God's help. While pouring water into a Dixie cup, he caught a glimpse of the mirror and saw a woman with dark hair and captivating hazel blue eyes. Startled, he dropped the cup, but the woman smiled and blew him a kiss before vanishing. He closed his eyes, let out a sigh, and returned to bed.

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The Phoenix Files