17 Feb Chapter Nine: Abstract

“Torment. Pain. Intrigue. Distilled interest. Insane pathways destined for tribulations. There were too many to walk through, yet I found myself walking upon each; simultaneously. The ground felt like an earthquake… making the ability to focus that much more difficult. Because of that, my patience was being tested on a hierarchical level, almost like I was being forced to learn to adapt to the clandestine environment. However, as tumultuous as the climate was, there was a subtle sense of ultimate peace…peacefulness during this prowl.  That’s about all I can tell you Jane.”

Jane appears frustrated and says, “Jay, that’s all you have to say? You just went through that door, or whatever that was and disappeared for two weeks.”

Jay is not entirely sure what to say, but continues, “Yeah, but now that door is gone and there are only two options left; the elevators and the stairs…”

Jane replies, “Jay… you disappeared for two weeks… and are acting like nothing is wrong with that? That doesn’t scare or bother you?”

Jay looks around the living room at Jane’s house and says, “Where’s Isabella?”

Jane becomes frustrated, walks over to Jay, slaps him in the face and says, “Jay, this isn’t funny anymore…”

Before Jay has a second to respond, the door reappears in front of them (next to the elevator and stairs) except this time the door has the English alphabet engraved on it.

Jay cautiously looks around the room then says to Jane, “Well, it’s like… I can either sit here and dwell on the current situation and fall into an apocalypse of panic and discomfort, or I can try to disable those types of feelings and focus on understanding this conundrum. It’s clear that I… or rather, you and I, are amidst two worlds right now.”

Jane takes her glasses from the coffee table, puts them on and promiscuously applies lip gloss to her lips then responds to Jay, “Jay, don’t try and use big vocabulary on me like I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

Jay interrupts Jane and says, “Jane – you have no idea what I saw or experienced when I went through that door…I’m certainly not trying to re-live it.”

Jane reduces her temperament and responds softly, “Why don’t you tell me what you went through then instead of trying to explain through abstract story-telling.”

Jay sighs then responds, “Because Jane… I don’t know. That’s the only way I can explain… it was like I was at a few million places at the same time. What I do know is that we were forsakenly chosen to figure this out.”

Jane replies, “I didn’t sign up for that with you Jay… this… all of this, just seems far too dangerous for what I want in my life right now… you went from trying to make a career being a writer, to now having to solve the world’s paradigm, paradoxical, puzzling issues.”

Jay smiles and says, “Look whose using big words now?”

Jane appears uninterested in laughter and says, “I’m being serious Jay. Not to mention you also have people after you… wanting to harm you… because of it.”

Jay alters his tone, closes his eyes, holds the medallion that’s hanging from his neck and whispers, “Watch this.”

After a few moments, the door, the elevator and stairs disappear and condense into a single beam of light, which then collects into Jay’s medallion. Jay then says, “See. Can ignore it if you want… if that’s what you want me to do.”

Jane seems shocked then says, “Why didn’t you just do that to begin with? And how did you do that? How did you know you could do that?”

Jay shrugs, sighs then says, “I’m not sure. I just felt like I could all of a sudden.”

Jane appears annoyed, more annoyed than Jay has ever seen her then she says, “Jay, I feel like you’re not being truthful to me about everything that is going on. I’m going to have to ask you to leave for a while… I don’t know if I’m tripping on drugs, or if this stuff is real, but I just need you to leave.”

Jay is demoralized and says, “Why?”

Jane affirms her decision, points to the front door and says, “Leave.”

—

Jay is walking down the street with his eyes closed when he hears a honk behind him and notices it’s Littea driving. She rolls her window down and says, “Hey Jay, get in.”

Jay gets into her car and says, “New car, huh? This is nice…”

Littea laughs and says, “Yeah… business has been good. What’s wrong?”

Jay sighs and says, “Well, Jane kicked me out… again…”

Littea seems somewhat excited about the news, “Oh gosh… and why is that?”

Jay looks down and says, “I don’t know… if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe me. I understand why she did though…”

Littea rolls up the windows and pulls over so they can chat, “I think I would believe you Jay… I was taken to an abandoned house… a few people were there… Ted, this other guy, this girl – look Jay, all I can say is Tim and his clergy of goons definitely want you dead and they’re planning it.”

Jay sluggishly responds, “What else is new? I don’t understand why.”

Littea puts her hair up into a ponytail and responds, “Because Jay. They want what you have…”

Jay looks outside of the window and says, “And what’s that? Misery?”

Littea softens her tone and says, “No… you have what money can’t buy, what they can’t buy… cosmic power. And since they can’t have it, they don’t want you to have it… so they’re conclusion is… it is best to… end you.”

Jay doesn’t respond and just closes his eyes. Jay hears Littea unbuckle her seat belt and she moves to straddle him in his seat, then she says quietly, “You can stay with me for awhile Jay…”

Jay seems tempted, but responds, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Unfortunately, I think this is a journey I need to complete alone…”

Within that moment, both of Littea’s earlobes are illuminated with the illustration of the light bulb tattoo. Jay and Littea stare at each other with confusion before closing their eyes. Jay and Littea open their eyes and they are now in an elevator.

—

To Be Continued In Chapter 10