Path Less Taken Excerpt from Chapter 3

 

In that moment, Maria realized that MK possessed similar powers to her own, a revelation that brought a smile to her face as she considered the possibility that MK might be a witch too. MK's striking sky blue eyes met Maria's gaze, and with a warm smile and a subtle nod, she acknowledged their shared connection. Maria took it as an acknowledgement that MK is a witch. She feels comforted.

“The increasing number of missing people is a cause for concern. A woman who miraculously reappeared after a year and she shared a bizarre story of getting lost, stumbling into a cave," Sean paused and took a drink from his cup.  "and she emerged in either Utah or Arizona. She claimed to have spent time with a Native American tribe, leading her to believe she had possibly traveled through time,” he recounted the story as he casually took another sip of his beer. 

Jane expressed her apprehension by sighing and questioning, “Well, I hope we have the proper weapons to take with us. It seems that we’re in for one hell of a time.” Gabriel reassured the group that they were prepared, citing information from Father Patrick about a portal that supposedly transports individuals to a realm inhabited by the mysterious "Ant People." The mention of these beings piqued MK's curiosity, prompting her to ask further about them.

 “Ant People? What do you mean?”

“Yeah, the woman who came back said they look like giant praying mantises,” he said and added, “she said it's hard to explain and comprehend.” MK remembers the creatures that she and Jane dealt with in the Backrooms. She took a hard gulp from her beer and cleared her throat.

 “I hope we’re ready to tackle another assignment involving otherworldly creatures,” she mused. Maria sensed that Jane and MK must’ve been through a great ordeal that still haunts them. After finishing their meal, they made their way back to their rooms. "Jane, it's a shame we can't share a room," Sean joked. Jane, feeling unimpressed by his comment, was clearly irritated by his lack of awareness of her sexual orientation. She scoffed and shook her head, making it clear that she was not amused.

"I'm perfectly fine staying with the girls," she chuckled, trying to brush off the awkwardness. Once they reached their rooms, they parted ways, each going to their own separate rooms. "Sean seems to have a crush on you," MK teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested," Jane replied firmly, making her stance clear. Maria beamed as she stepped into the bathroom, preparing to freshen up before slipping into her pajamas for the night. Meanwhile, MK leaned closer to Jane, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“You do realize that Maria is a witch, right?” Jane's eyes widened in disbelief, her jaw dropping in shock. “Are you serious?” MK affirmed with a nod, prompting Jane to exhale sharply as she sank onto the bed, her eyes stared at the bathroom door. 

“Look, she’s not malevolent; she’s a white witch, which is precisely why Father Patrick brought her on board. I have a strong feeling she’s been on the organization’s payroll for quite some time now.” Jane let out a scoff, shaking her head in confusion. “How is that even possible?”

“Maybe he felt that we could use her insight. Please give her a chance, Jane. I have abilities and you don’t see me as a witch, right? Look at her as a person with abilities and not a witch. It will be easier to accept her presence,” MK urged.

 Jane nodded, “For you,” she put her arm around her friend and kissed her head. Maria walked out and noticed a tender exchange between them, she smiled.

 "The bathroom is available now," she announced as she made her way to her bed.

"I understand what you are," Jane remarked, her tone laced with suspicion.

 "Please don’t," MK interjected, directing a warning look at Jane.

 "I regret that you harbor such negative feelings towards witches, but not all of us are malevolent," Maria defended herself, her voice steady.

 "She’s aware," MK shot Jane a glance that clearly conveyed a message to keep quiet.

"Could you please explain how you know Father Patrick?" Jane pressed; her curiosity piqued. Maria nodded in response, a hint of surprise crossing her face as she sat on her bed. "I’m actually surprised he hasn’t mentioned me, especially since he wanted me to join this mission with the team."

 "No, he didn’t," Jane replied, her skepticism evident as she scrutinized Maria. With a resigned sigh, Maria continued, "Well, he discovered me and recognized my potential, offering me a chance to contribute positively. "My parents are devoted Catholics and have been since I was a child and they noticed that I had,” she paused. “Certain abilities. They thought that maybe I was possessed but it was the priest who gave me a chance and I was trained by the organization to serve and protect people who encounter magic. I sense magic and guide the Hunters. I am also psychic and that’s why I’m here."

 “Yes, I get it, MK has abilities too,” Jane said. 

Maria glanced at MK, “Are you a witch?” MK shook her head, “I really don’t know what I am, but Jane accepted me, and she’ll accept you too, right Jane.” MK raised an eyebrow and gave her a nod. Jane sighed and nodded. “I will try, that’s all I can say.”

“I know why you feel the way you do about witches and maybe after this assignment is over, I can help you find the person you’re looking for,” said Maria with a nod. Jane smiled and stood up, grabbed her clothes, and walked into the bathroom to shower.

“I believe Jane will accept your help. She just needs time to get to know you,” said MK.

“This case is more than what it seems,” Maria said as she pulled back the sheets on her bed. She is dressed in a white nightshirt adorned with golden printed stars, complemented by matching pajama pants.

“What do you mean?” asked MK.

“Well, there are forces that control space and time. It’s possible that these beings are in possession of something very ancient that can do just that.”

MK pondered, “Maybe this is what I’ve been sensing.” MK decided to skip the shower. Her slim figure was adorned with a cute red nightshirt, which was an oversized tee shirt she had picked up at a thrift store a while back, and a matching pair of sweat shorts. Just as MK settled in, Jane emerged from the bathroom, ready to unwind for the evening. “You’re not gonna use the bathroom?”

 “Well, maybe to pee,” MK chuckled. She got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. Maria was brushing her hair, and she took off her glasses, setting them down on the nightstand.

 “Goodnight Jane, pleasant dreams,” she said.

“You too,” Jane responded and took off her blouse, threw a grey tee-shirt over her head and unstrapped her bra from behind before pulling the shirt all the way down. Maria lay on her side, her gaze drifting to a scar on Jane's back. It wasn't overly noticeable, but it was of a decent size. Curiosity piqued, and she pondered how Jane had got it. Jane caught her looking, "I got this while hunting a velociraptor in Utah. It lunged at me, but thankfully, another hunter took it down before it could sink its teeth into my neck."

  "Really? I had no clue there were still dinosaurs out there," Maria replied, astonished.

Jane sighed, "The world really is an odd place," as she nestled into her bed. Maria pulled the blankets snugly around herself. With her eyes closed, she tried to surrender to sleep, pondering, "I never really thought about dinosaurs walking the Earth, but life is full of unexpected twists, and I've certainly seen my share of strange events." Once MK finished in the bathroom, the three women quickly drifted off into slumber.

 "Have you had a chance to read my letter?" the man mysterious claiming to be MK's father reached out to her through a shared dream. Glancing around, she suddenly realized she was in a different room altogether.

"Please leave me alone. I will read the letter in due time, but I do not wish to remain here."

"But this is where you belong. Return, Princess, come back home." Maria unexpectedly stumbled into MK's dream. As she surveyed her surroundings, she noticed MK engaged in conversation with an enigmatic figure.

The man had his back to her, and he was gazing intently out of a large window from a high rise. She looked around, “It seems to be an office,” she murmured. Intrigued, Maria moved closer to the mysterious man for a better view. Without warning, he spun around and challenged her, “Who are you?” Maria's heart raced as he gradually pivoted to confront her. He possessed three eyes and ghostly pale skin, and when he parted his lips, it revealed a gaping, threatening maw. 

The moment the third eye began to open, a wave of dread washed over her, urging her to quickly wake from the nightmare by murmuring an incantation. Gasping for breath, she sat up in bed, relieved to be free from the terrifying dream. MK was softly murmuring in her sleep. With a sigh, Maria rose quietly and approached her. She tenderly rested her hand on MK’s forehead and whispered a prayer. Gradually, MK’s heartbeat slowed, and tranquility washed over her mind. Maria then slipped back into her own bed, tucking the covers snugly around her and curling up in a fetal position.

Website

Chapter 6: The Overlords

 

Lost in the Backroom: Sneak Peek of my New Book

 

Excerpt

Lost in the Backrooms

(an excerpt from chapter 1)

Jane Phoenix is sitting at her desk looking through the computer for articles related to unusual and paranormal phenomena. Sometimes people post on forums or on social media websites of related content and if the story is interesting and believable, she would ask questions and see if it’s worth investigating. She sent her assistant MK (Mary Kate) out to collect a few ‘Hot Sheets’ (tabloid papers) so she can search through them and possibly find one or two unique stories that stand out and are worth investigating. “Hmm, it’s been kinda slow lately,” she mumbled. The bell hanging above the door chimed as Father Patrick walked in carrying a black briefcase. His light brown eyes met Jane’s smile. She stood up from behind her desk, walked toward him, meeting him halfway. They gave each other a friendly hug. The priest is wearing his usual outfit, black slacks, a button up short sleeve shirt, with a Roman Collar and a silver cross around his neck. His dark brown hair is sleeked back, and a mustache rims his upper lip.

 “The mustache is new,” Jane remarked, in jest. She glanced at the briefcase; she suspects another job is about to be assigned, something very important. “Father, what brings you here?” she said. They walked back to her desk, and he sat across from her. “I came to visit my favorite Hunter,” he smiled. 

“So, the organization, Soldiers of the Holy Trinity sent you, I wonder why.” 

 

“Where is your assistant MK?” he asked.

 “I sent her out to fetch me a Starbucks coffee and Hot Sheets.” 

“You still call them that?’ he chuckled. 

“Why not, sometimes those articles have some truth to them, you told me to always look at everything, never leave anything unturned, besides some of my cases come from those Hot Sheets,” she fingered quoted and smiled. 

 The priest chuckled. “Oh Jane, you always make me smile, but I am here not just for a casual visit, but I have an assignment for you,” he said as he opened his briefcase and pulled out a file. 

“Hmm, what could this be?’” she said as he handed the file to her. 

“This is labeled confidential,” she said, letting out a sigh. “The Backrooms, case 47,” she whispered. 

“Hmm, what is this Father?"

 “Well as you know some of the cases the Church comes across are confidential and since we are in league with the governments of the world, we help them with difficult and unusual cases that are related to the supernatural or otherworldly phenomenon. This is one of them.

A teenager slipped into what is called, the Backrooms.” Jane looked at him perplexed, but as she read through the first page of the file, she sees that the young girl missing is the bishop’s great grandniece, his sister’s daughter’s child. Her mouth dropped and she looked at the Priest. “Oh wow. I can see why it’s a top priority. How do we get to the Backrooms?” Father Patrick sighed. “Well, before you go to the site where the team will meet us, you must interview a young woman who had a similar experience in the Backrooms.”

Reyna

“Who is she?” Jane flipped through the file.

“Her name is Reyna,” he said.

 “It says she found her way out by running through a weird wall?” said Jane, Father Patrick nodded. 

“A weird wall?” Jane repeated and gave him a puzzled look. “It seems that there are exits throughout the Backrooms but finding them is nearly impossible. This young woman was lucky, she had Faith and courage that brought her out of the Backrooms,” he said. 

“Faith in God? Why would God create something like the Backrooms?” said Jane, with a sigh. “God did not create the Backrooms Jane, Man did but when things go wrong, the project gets abandoned and, in some cases, the supernatural moves in.” Jane tapped her nails on the desk, thinking. “Hmm, this case does intrigue me,” said Jane. 

“Everything’s in the file, and an SD card is in the envelope too. A short video is saved in it and other information that might be useful,” he said. He sent her a text of the location where the site is and where she’ll meet him if she accepts the assignment.

“Why would God allow these places to exist?”

“God is everything, God is infinite in every aspect of what we call Life. You know this. You were taught this, but sometimes when Man messes with the natural order of things, something can go wrong and most of the time opens a portal to other realms. Realms that should not be opened,” he said. Jane sighed and nodded.  “Yep,” she responded and set the file on her desk.

“I suppose there’s something that Reyna didn’t tell you?” 

He nodded, “When we interviewed her, she was still distraught, but time has passed and it’s been almost a year and a half since her experience, we need to find out if she had seen anything else in the Backrooms of interest to your mission,” he paused. 

“Seen what?” asked Jane. 

“Well, back in 2015 we sent a Hunter to find a young man who, along with his friends, were exploring an abandoned house. When we came across the case, we interviewed his friends, who told us that he just disappeared. They couldn’t find him anywhere and they concluded that he may have fallen victim to a homeless who might have been living in the house, unbeknownst to them.”

“So do you think this young man is still in the Backrooms?” He sighed and shook his head. 

“No, Reyna brought back a mini handheld video camera and it recorded his last days.”

“Does the video show when he entered the Backrooms?” Jane is intrigued but something about this case makes her feel uneasy. “The video was transferred to the card so you can look at it.” 

 “There may be other things that she can tell you, maybe something she might’ve forgotten,” he said. Jane nodded.

“So, where’s the site that we will, or should I say, might meet if I take up this assignment?”

“The site is located in San Bernardino, in a nice community.”

“Really? How nice?” she asked. 

“The community was built several years ago, however a portal developed within the house which incidentally took another person in,” he said.

 “I take it that this house has dark paranormal energy?” she asked. He nodded. “It’s more the land than the house itself. In 2018, a family had an incident at the home. The Michaels lived in a two-story house and the father was a handyman, and quite a carpenter, he built a small storage room

beneath the stairs, adding a door to it. There was nothing unusual about the room, it served its purpose for several years. However, one day the mother had entered the storage room to take out a plastic container filled with Christmas decoration,” he paused. “Can I have some water please,” he asked. Jane got up and poured some water from the dispenser into a cup and handed it to him. He took a heavy gulp. Jane can see that his hesitation is a sign that the case is still unsolved and ongoing.

 “It must be a case that was never solved,” she thought. “When we heard that the woman had gone missing and the details of the case fell into the unexplained, I visited the family to investigate. Naturally they were distraught. The husband told me that his wife was in the house, she did not step out into the backyard, nor did she leave in the car. One of her kids, who at the time was ten, saw her enter the storage room but never came out. She said that after her mother went in, she could feel a strange vibration, like a pulse radiating from the storage room and the hairs on her arms stood up. She went into the room, but her mother was not in there. She said that the room felt odd, brooding, and her hair on her head, stood up like when a person rubs a balloon on their hair, and it sticks upright. She called out to her but nothing. Instinct kicked in and she stepped back away from the open door and ran to tell her father. At first, he did not believe her and decided to see for himself. He went into the room, looked around, she was nowhere in sight, only a storage container that was open. He knew his wife would not have left without telling him and there was no sign of a break-in, so he was baffled and beyond himself. He too felt something inside the room but ignored it. His daughter told him what she felt when she stepped into the storage room. Naturally, the father was confused. He then called the authorities, and since the organization has someone inside each city that would let us know about unusual cases and unexplained phenomenon, we went to interview the family. The Church is well established in communities and our goal is to investigate unusual phenomenon and to help the best we can. When it’s determined that the case falls into the realm of the paranormal/supernatural, then we must relocate them and take the case. That is what we do, we help the unfortunate people that stumble across supernatural phenomena.”

“So, what do you think happened to the woman?” asked Jane. Father Patrick sighed, “We sent Hunters to retrieve her, the portal was still available for entry. They wore bodycams. The devices are waterproof, high tech. Our scientists created the cams. So, we sent two Hunters equipped with devices that our scientists created special for crossing dimensions. In addition, they also created a device that can mimic the vibrations that trigger the portal to open. It is unknown why the portal opened in the first place, but it is believed that it occurs randomly. 

When the Hunters went in, the bodycams showed a vast, enormous maze of yellow walls, dirty carpet, and florescent lights. During their investigation, we lost connection with the hunters, and thus they never returned. We feel that they came across entities that exist within the Backrooms and did not make it. Our soldiers fought the fight but lost. We quickly informed the family that their house is no longer livable and is a hazard to humans, we relocated them.”

“They agreed?” asked Jane.

“Yes.”

 “Where are they now?” she asked. 

 “They are living in Murrieta, but they grieve for the wife and mother they lost. The church prays for her return.” Jane was silent for a moment and sighed. “Wow, some never make it out do they. What about the people that do make it out like this woman named um,” she looks at the name on the file, “Reyna?” 

“Well, those who make it out, tell of unusual horrific creatures that exist throughout the Backrooms. The experiences have scarred them for life,” he responded.

(This book is an original story and a part of a book series. Not all books from this series are related to the Backrooms, only this one. TY for stopping by please add a comment in the comment box below, you can remain anonymous)

Inspiration: Supernatural, Lockwood, Fate Stay Night, and other related shows.

LINKTREE

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