Update

 

 I thought it might be appropriate to give a little explanation regarding my abrupt halt to “The Panic.”  It was highly suggested by a fellow sci-fi writer that I merge this storyline into my current book.  After my confusion faded and I thought about it for awhile, it started to make sense, so the story of Petra has not completely come to an end. 

 

I do intend to end the story in some way later on.  It actually bothers me that I put something up that is quite obviously unfinished but this little cyber home of mine was originally intended for short stories only so I want to stay on track with that.

 

Also, in the near future I will be posting a short story that has a bit of truth to it.  It concerns the discovery of water on Mars and a mysterious book I came across in a University library a few years back.  It just happened to catch my eye and I ended up reading the whole thing…..instead of writing my assigned paper for class.

 

I couldn’t stop thinking about what the author wrote in this “non fiction” book (even though a lot of people are doing this lately…hmm…oh, well), so I went back a couple weeks later to check it out for a re-read and to note the title and author.  Yep, you guessed it. It was nowhere to be found and when I put my mind to find something……I’ll just say that the entire library was searched very thoroughly. 

 

So, that’s it for now.  I’ll post little updates like this now and then when I feel it’s necessary.  I also have a regular life journal type of blog up at:

 

www.thoughtsandobservationsofacuriousmind.wordpress.com

 

If any of you are interested in getting to know the person behind these weird little sci-fi stories, you can get a little peek there.  It’s very normal and um……..human.

The Orb Station

 

He was there before he knew it.  Out of nowhere he was standing on a platform squinting against the light.  As he focused his eyes from the night he’d come from, he saw them.  Bubbles of different colors floating through the air next to the platform.

 

As he took a step closer to the edge to get a better look, he could see the occupants.  They were just like him.  Just normal looking people but…….they seemed to be sitting behind something in the bubbles, something invisible to the human eye.

 

Standing in the brilliant white atmosphere on a beautiful pearly white platform suspended in mid-air, he caught sight of the other people standing nearby.  They were in groups, huddled together as he stood alone.  Curiosity began to rise to the surface and he wondered if he should walk over and join them.

 

The instant the thought occurred to him, he received the answer.  One of the bubbles pulled up beside where he stood and sucked him in.  The feeling was indescribable, his body just entered the round object effortlessly……like he belonged with it….inside of it.

 

The communications also came effortlessly into his head but he was hesitant.  He was being asked to move this object with his mind. 

 

            “Why am I being asked to do this now?” he thought to himself, “Why is so much confidence being placed in me and when will the tests end? I’m so frustrated with all of this!” he now communicated to the invisible being in front of him. “I don’t care what you think I’m capable of.  I keep asking and you never ever tell!  Why should I keep cooperating with you?”

 

The wordless response enveloped his entire being instantaneously and he almost felt stupid for the childish little tantrum he just threw.  He was born to do this as a spirit.  The human emotions began to calm down as he absorbed the task at hand and received his instructions.

 

As he visualized the movements he wanted to make in his minds eye and felt the speed he wanted to move at, he became more confident with his new ability, although, he knew it really wasn’t new at all.  It was just a matter of getting back on the bike after a long while.

 

After he was instructed to head back to the platform and was sucked back out to stand alone, he was given one last communication.  This wasn’t all for nothing.  Next time……sometime in the future, he would be expected to fly alone as well……and then the night greeted him again.

 

The Healer

He came in the night, silently and forcefully. Wordless yet wise and strong…..very, very strong.  He led her into the darkness and she followed with a knowing, an inner instinct that she had to go.

Through blurred motion and confused direction, she remained with him to the destination.  Downward they went, into the tunnels, breathing in the cold damp air as they now walked deeper and deeper into the mystery.

             “C’mon” he said as she began to slow down and take in her surroundings.  The deep growl of a voice was commanding with a clear objective showing through.  He did not hide this from her.  She did not hesitate as she realized he knew her.  He knew all about her from flesh and bone and from beginning to end.  She knew him too but that was where it ended. 

 As they approached their destination, the damp chill faded into warm humidity and light.  Halls made out of tunnels turned into a home…..his home.  He took her hand and led her into a room.  There was a bed and a television and she knew they were there just for her, for familiar comfort.

             “Sit down on the bed and find something you like on the television” he told her, and again, she did as she was told.  The odd situation was not unfamiliar to her…..it just was.

 As she flipped through the channels, she was aware of his movements behind her.  He was working….preparing, for what he had to do.  She wasn’t afraid as she waited for him.  No questions asked, just a knowing.  An inner knowing that she belonged there.

      “Keep focused on what you’re watching,” he explained “and let your body relax into the force.” 

 Suddenly she could feel the power of the energy.  It was solid yet not.  Her body moved forward uncontrollably as she realized what was happening.  She was being fixed by this familiar yet unknown healer.  The images moved across the television screen, soothing her as bones were moved and repositioned…..and then it was over.

 She turned to look at the figure who had his back to her.  Dressed in sporty casual clothing, if not a bit worn and dirty, he was pure muscle and looked ready for combat, not for what he had just done.

 The questions came without words even though she knew he could not answer them.  He turned his face slightly toward her as she watched him and there was no need for anything more.  This was his world….his only means of existing.

 His face told her his story. She knew why he was there and felt his loneliness, his need to reach out to another who would understand.  He would remain there as she continued her life above.  She would need him again in the future and would wonder why he never showed up again, what the point was in the first place.

As the wordless calls for help flew into each night, she remained broken.   Walking on the surface, a product of curiosity, she remained alone herself, in her own isolated existence but when she turned her face towards others, her story could not be told…..invisible in plain sight.