rushed throughout my body, coursing through muscles, arteries, veins, and nerves, and worked its way around until it completed the circuit, flowing out of my left arm and into Felicity’s right. The connection continued, rapidly increasing until the current appeared to us as a solid blur.
I began imagining a rope fixed securely about my waist, the free end anchored here in the physical plane, held fast by my wife. I knew she would be imagining something very similar within her own mind as well. The image solidified, and it was time for me to go.
“Are you ready?” I whispered.
“I’m ready,” Felicity answered, her own voice held low.
“Do me a favor and don’t let go,” I told her, then allowed my inner self to fall backwards into the void.
Colors came and went in a tumultuous blizzard, much as they had when I had done this at Ariel’s apartment. Sound slowed and faded, melting into the darkness, then returned as a loud rushing in my ears. Light poured in and the scene before me began to coalesce. It formed in harsh blacks and whites, like a picture on a television screen with the contrast turned to maximum. The brightness slowly dimmed, and color flooded into the apparition until it achieved an appearance of something just the other side of normal.
“ Buster, settle down,” her voice, my voice, our voice was saying.
A Jack Russell terrier is dancing around our ankles. We’re trying to sidestep him as he rings the leash around our legs.
“ Buster, sit!” our voice orders the small dog.
He sits and holds one paw up. He whines lightly.
We’re turning on the water now. The handle on the faucet squeaks. How many times have we heard that before? It’s such a familiar sound. We’ve been here before. We are washing our hands now; Buster is still whining.
A sound. The door is creaking; someone else is coming in to use the restroom. We hope she doesn’t have a dog with her; Buster will freak out. We’re turning off the water. Buster is growling. She must have a dog with her.
“ Buster, stay!” our voice orders him.
We’ll be out of here in just a second. DEAR GOD, what’s happening? Let me go! What are you doing? We are struggling. Someone has grabbed us from behind. Buster is barking. Stop that! There is something over our face now. It smells strange. Our ears are ringing. We’re weak. The room is getting dark.
Look in the mirror, Karen, I told her… or myself… or whatever we had become.
He let go. We have to turn around. We have to run. We’re falling. No, push up on the basin. The room is spinning. Ouch, something stuck us on the arm. We’re pushing up on the basin. Our knees are weak. We have to stand up. We’re looking at the mirror. What is that over our shoulder? It’s moving. Who is that?
I strained to see through Karen Barnes’ eyes the reflection in the mirror. I concentrated and let myself enter into the vision with all my being.
Darkness.
Silence.
My head is killing me, what happened? I can’t move. This bed is hard. Light. I can see. Wait a minute. I’ve been here before. This isn’t home, it’s…I can’t remember. I’ve been here before though. Where’s Buster? Why can’t I move? My arms are numb. I wish I could move them. What’s going on? Who am I?
Did I just see someone move? Who are you? Where are you? Where am I?
What is that smell? It’s strange. I’ve never smelled anything quite like it before. It’s like…It’s like burning roses. My head is really killing me. Where’s Buster?
I’m in the park. I’m in the restroom in the park! Now I remember. Someone grabbed me. My God, am I paralyzed? Somebody help me.
Who am I? Karen? Yes, that’s it. I’m Karen.
That movement again. I can hear something. Something shuffling. What is it? Wait a minute. There’s something over my mouth. Why is there something covering my mouth. A rapist. I’m being attacked by a rapist! Please, somebody come in and help me. Somebody stop him.
Where is my husband? He isn’t home yet. Somebody help me. Where is Buster? My head is killing me. Please somebody help me. Don’t let him rape me.
What is that? Something is on top of me. No, SOMEONE is on top of me. What are you doing? Don’t rape me, please don’t rape me. Why are you wearing that robe? What is that in your hand? Your eyes, I can see your eyes. I’ve never seen eyes that grey. They’re so cold.
NOooo!
He’s cutting me. My skin is on fire.
NOooo!
Pain. Pain beyond all.
Fear.
Darkness.
What is that tugging at me? Who am I? Karen? No, that’s not right, Karen’s dead…If Karen is dead then who am I? There’s that tugging again. It’s coming from my waist. A rope. I’m tied to a rope. Who is that? She’s pretty. What beautiful red hair she has. What is that she’s saying? I can’t hear you. Speak louder. Do you know who I am? Are you the one that is pulling on the rope?
Falling.
Darkness.
Light.
He’s still on top of me. How long was I passed out? It couldn’t have been long if he’s still here. Dear God I hurt. My chest is burning. What is that pressure? Why is this happening? Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come…NOooo!
Pain.
Ouch! What are you doing? It hurts when you pull on that rope so hard. I’ve seen you before. You have such pretty hair. What? You want me to come to you? Why? Do you know who I am? I thought I was Karen but Karen is dead. Why are you so upset? I’m very tired. Maybe I should just go to sleep.
Darkness.
Light.
Fear.
Pain.
Terror.
Darkness. Cold, endless darkness.
I was intrigued by the sight before me. I wasn’t entirely sure how I was managing to float above it in mid air, but I was comfortable, and the mechanics of it were the farthest thing from my mind. Ben and Felicity were kneeling on the floor, and my friend was checking the pulse on a body sprawled between them. They looked very grim and seemed upset.
“ Rowan, follow my voice.”
I heard my wife call to me, but I never saw her lips move. I wondered why she couldn’t see me; I was floating right above her.
“He hasn’t got a pulse!” Ben exclaimed. “I’m going to start CPR.”
“Who hasn’t got a pulse?” I thought. I needed to see whom they were huddled over.
“No!” Felicity told him. “Not yet, this isn’t what you think it is.”
“ Rowan, I know you’re there. I’m pulling the rope as hard as I can. Help me! Follow my voice.”
Once again, Felicity’s melodious voice echoed in my ears, but her lips never parted. I floated a little closer. I had to see who was lying on the floor between them.
“Are you fucking nuts, Felicity?” Ben exclaimed loudly. “He’s dying! His fucking heart stopped beating!”
“Dammit Ben,” she shot back at him wildly. “I know what I’m doing, and your interruptions aren’t helping!”
“ Rowan! Help me dammit! Follow my voice!”
Ben jerked back in surprise from my wild-eyed wife. I don’t think he had ever truly experienced her temper until now. I looked down between them as the space opened enough for me to see. The body on the floor had a
