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, a hint of caution in her voice. "You seem eager to dive into this
assignment. Are you sure you're prepared? It involves potential portals and
other dimensions," she said, rising 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 concerned 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 pointed ears and skin
tinged with gray, remains elusive; his face hidden as he gazes out from a
skyscraper overlooking the vast 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
hesitated before continuing, describing a chilling scene 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. 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. 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 and can somehow use them to communicate outside of his realm.”
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.
“One of
the local churches is setting up for a festival to raise money for the poor?”
said 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,” MK said with a cheerful smile.
“The
festivities will involve rides, game booths and food venders,” Jane added with
a smile. MK nodded and asked,
“Great so where do you want to have dinner tonight?”
“I guess
we can go to Manuel’s Mexican food restaurant. I’m feeling Mexican today,” said
Jane with a chuckle. 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, sipping
her margarita, turned to John with a curious expression.
“So, what
brings you here?” Jane 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.
“Have you
been having strange dreams?” he asked. Jane suspects that he too has been
experiencing similar dreams like her and MK.
Jane felt a twinge of unease and said, “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,” MK paused and took a sip from her drink, “before we head to Yosemite,” she said, casting a glance at Jane who hinted that John didn’t know about their
assignment.
“I assumed he was aware,” she said. Curiosity
flickered in his eyes as John asked, “So, 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. Jane stood up and moved toward the closet, retrieving a
blanket and an extra pillow before settling beside him again. 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.”
She smiled and added, “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 in.” John
said. 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. John slept on the couch and
Jane slept in her room. Oddly enough they slept well that night and so did MK.
No dark dreams haunted their minds that night, but 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 tossed and turned in bed, restless and
unable to find comfort. Finally, he sat up, took a deep breath, and let it out
slowly. He 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 then went back to bed.
Amazon Author's Page
The Phoenix Files
A Path Less Taken: Chapter 3-At Yosemite
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