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“‘Rumor is that there is a coalition between the great nations of the world working to find these new worlds. In the 1700’s explorers around the world were finding old leather and some human skin bound-’” Dana cuts me off.
“That is fucking foul. Skin? Human skin bound books?” She gags, her eyes widen and she abruptly turns to the dining room table. “Oh gods. You don't think…”
“No, I think those are all leather and cloth bound. Can you even tell the difference between leather and skin?” I ask dubiously
“Yeah! One is going to look like a good leather bound book and the other is going to look like it was made from your back!” She shrieks. I shake my head and chuckle.
“Let's...put a pin in this and let me read more of this article before you have an existential crisis.” I look back at the laptop. “‘The books were found in many countries and for years the books were kept secret. Archaeologists, linguists and cartographers poured over the books trying to figure out what they meant and how to read them. It’s said that what was supposed to stay secret, did not stay secret. Which is pretty on par for humankind am I right?’” I roll my eyes…really? I continued on.
“‘After quite a few years when all the books finally came under one roof, so to say. The specialists were able to make sense of some of the books. A lot of them were written in ancient, dead languages like Latin, Gothic, Sanskrit, Numidian and more. Some have not been deciphered because of how unknown some languages are.’” I stop and scan over the rest of the page which is not long at all. Just more of the same, they came together and deciphered as many of the books they could. Dana pushes herself up against my side and peers over to skim over the article as well. We reach the final paragraph.
“‘Intersecting ley lines, many intersecting lines, will be best for making portals according to these books. From my research in ley lines, there is one on the southern west coast and one on the northern east coast.’” I mumble out loud.
“How does this person even know this? Is this maybe someone who is related to one of these archaeologists or a linguist? If one person knows this outside of the original group and whomever else was brought in over the years, how is this not a huge conspiracy theory? Like the other ones out there? Like flat earth and celebrities replaced by reptilians?” She flops back with a huff. “My brain hurts.”
I close my laptop and lean back. “My brain hurts too. The only way we're going to get answers I think is if we can somehow talk to one of these shadows or one of the ghosts.”
“The ghost earlier said that they were going to ‘get me’.” She uses air quotes. “Get me for what?”
“I don't know Nix. This is insane. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Nix?”
“Yeah, like phoenix. It just popped into my head.”
“I like that. A lot actually.”
“I do too. You will rise from this.” I say with a wink.
“Gods, you're cheesy. Also, you're going to have to let me out of your sight. I have work tomorrow and so do you.”
“That is true. I just don’t want you alone. What if what that ghost said is true? What if they are after you? With everything changing with your ability I am just erring on the side of caution. Just please don’t allow yourself to be alone. I can meet you at Oleanders when you're off work.” She shakes her head.
“No, just meet me at my house. Nothing is going to happen to me in my car. It’s a two minute drive.” She waves me off like I’m over reacting. I feel the familiar irritation rising up in my chest like earlier. I decide that starting an argument right now is not in our best interest. I will just have to force myself to know that she will be fine. Even if I want to chain her to my side and never let her out of my sight. I take a deep breath and push all my caveman tendencies to the side.
“Let’s try to relax and pick this up again tomorrow?” I lean forward to place my laptop on the ottoman. “Maybe take showers and wash the stress away. It’s getting pretty late as is.”
“Late, huh? You’re such an old man. It’s like nine.” She gets up putting the books on the coffee table and then gets up.
“I get up at four in the morning you brat.”
“Mhmm, excuses, excuses.” She starts to saunter away. “I’m going to go shower and steal a shirt and lay in bed. Then I’m going to watch TV until I pass out.” I watch her walk towards the bathroom and I lean back on the couch. This has got to be the weirdest twenty four hours.
It doesn't even feel like it's only been a day. It feels like it's been longer. So much longer. When did this become life? I’m a farmer; interstellar travel and witchcraft is not in my resume. It’s so far out of the realm of possibilities of what I am capable of. I worry I wont be enough for Dana. What if I’m not smart enough for this? What if this is all real and is not some elaborate hoax. Let’s be real; I know it’s not but I’m still holding out with a sliver of hope. What if it isn't something as simple as ghosts? I wish it was just ghosts. I’ll take ghosts over other dimensions, worlds and shadows. I feel like ghosts would be a lot easier to deal with. Ghost hunters are a dime a dozen. I could talk to all or any of them to find a solution. Only, there are ghosts who want to take her that I can’t see and now shadows that I can see. Portals in basements and books on things I am having a hard time wrapping my head around. I’m not cut out for this.
I think this is the first time I have ever felt not good enough for her. That feeling alone makes my chest hurt. Can I do this? Can I help her in any way she needs help? Or am I hindering her? I can’t even help with most of the research she did tonight because I can’t even see the ghosts. There’s a point in every person's life that you have to buck up and push through and I guess this is my moment. I need to stop playing the pity party and do everything I can to help her. Just as I always have. This is just a new curve ball.
I stand up and throw another log on the fire and replace the grate in front. I wander towards my bedroom and hear when Dana steps into the shower. I keep walking to my bedroom wanting to give her a minute alone to come to terms about everything we looked though and seen today. Shit, I need to come to terms about what I have seen and read today. I saw that smoke gathering in her basement, smoke that was forming into something more solid. Would it have harmed us? How often has it showed up in her basement? Has she been in danger longer than she thinks?
I start pulling out a shirt for Dana and some fresh boxers for me. I take them to the bathroom. Knocking on the door and cracking it open.
“I brought you a shirt. I’m setting it on the counter. Do you need anything else? I’m going to pick up the mess.”
“You could join me, if you wanted.” She pulls the curtain back to peek around it.
I give her a smile. “I do…but are you sure you don’t want some time alone? You have been through a bunch of shit, in such a short amount of time. I don’t want to overwhelm you or add to your already full, overflowing plate.”
“You do realize this is happening to you too? I mean, if you're going to stick around and be my boyfriend. Shit…” She looks down and bites her lip. I walk into the bathroom and tilt her head back up.
