Kindle Edition
The Book Patch
Category:
Young Adult/Teen
Type: Fiction
Pages: 331
ISBN-13: 9781682731604
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Middle grade sci-fy adventure featuring Todd Walker, Melissa Geiger, a thundering vortex, and a pair of astral shoes.
There are wormholes between realities; cosmic corridors where creatures can slip into our world. This has been happening for millennia. Creatures known as the dimon race transform the energy of human emotion into food. We have called them demons. We are fools.
Earth has been their grocery store. They feed on hate and inspire wars. But now they want more. A new generation of dimons wants to open the wormhole between worlds turning it into a thundering vortex allowing them to enter, move freely and warp the collective human mind. Subtle plans have been made. They will begin by altering the thought process of our youth. Humans are remarkably naive.
Todd Walker bought a pair of really sweet shoes at the estate sale of Edward McGracey. Ed McGracey had been presumed dead. But he was back. He was back to find the astral shoes which allowed him to move easily between the multi-world realms. The shoes now however, belonged to Todd Walker. They were his, They were bound to him. So now Todd Walker from Montgomery Middle School must save the world from the sub-human dimon race.
By W. A. Brest
Excerpt
Chapter 1
McCrazy
A pinpoint orb of radiance formed in the living room of Edward McGracey’s home. The bubble expanded. It intensified and inflated, illuminating the dark corners of the murky room. An audible pitch was heard. It swelled. The sphere vibrated. The house shuddered. Cans and plates toppled from shelves as if trying to escape the swelling anomaly.
Upstairs Ed’s sister Clair McGracey slept. For years she had heard stories about this kind of extreme phenomenon. Still, she did not believe in such things. She refused to accept the crazy ideas of her brother. Should the quantum event occurring below develop into a micro-star she would still deny its’ existence.
The episode continued and grew. Within the glistening globe a form moved. A man crawled from the light, emerging and dropping to the varnished hardwood floor. The light began to fade into the dimness of early morning.
The man rose and stood. This was Ed McGracey. His shadowy form trembled. He pushed back a shock of white hair in the gloom and turned to face the room.
McGracey stumbled to a coffee table, digging through the papers and magazines. He knocked over a saucer full of cigarette butts and an empty bottle of cheap chardonnay. He was a mad man on a mission, searching frantically.
There it was. The tool he sought; a remote control. He picked it up, caressed it, and anxiously, hit the power button.
A new glow illuminated the room, the TV. His scraggily white hair and beard become apparent with the screens luminosity. He fell on the couch with a sigh. For the moment he was content, but a sense of unease still twisted at his gut.
“The TD-A2’s,” he whispered hoarsely. With a grunt of worn out concern his head settled into the pillow. Weariness overtook him. “They’ll be here in the morning,” he decided.
Unbeknownst to the weary old man a young boy watched hidden in the shadows of the adjoining room “No Ed McGracey,” he murmured. “They are gone.” The boy wrapped an orange shoelace around his wrist. “You are too late.”
A light outside the window silhouetted the boy’s frame. This was no ordinary child. Melted, crimson skin and cranial horns were not natural. This was a demon child. A flash revealed violet eyes and spiked red hair. He vanished with a soft audible pop.
Within a moment a snore was heard. The man McGracey was home. It seemed he was not as dead as people had assumed.
Chapter 2
Walker
Todd kicked off. The slope of the driveway accelerated his skateboard. It was the third week of classes and his last year at Montgomery Middle School. The mist of early morning slowed his wheels and the condensed vapor left a water trail in the street behind him.
The light of a large plasma screen illuminated the front room of the McGracey house as Todd went past. He smiled. The sign announcing the estate sale was still on the front lawn. He imagined weird ol’ Ed McGracey would have been upset with his sister for selling him the shoes he was wearing.
Oh well,” he thought. “McGracey’s gone; done deal.” Where the man had disappeared to no one knew. There were reasons why the neighborhood kids referred to the guy as; Mister McCrazy.
Who would have thought the old freak would have had anything good to sell in that broken down old house? Todd would not have been surprised to find some psychedelic mushrooms growing in a dark closet somewhere in that spooky shack, but a sweet pair of shoes in his size, no way. That, he would never have expected. Still, the TD-Astral 2 shoes he got there yesterday were awesome.
“Who woulda thunk it. Right?”
He considered the events which led up to walking into the McGracey estate sale.
It was late afternoon. Most of the students from Montgomery Middle School had already gone home. Todd had the opportunity to shoot some hoops in the open gym. Practice was his answer to perfection. He worked on releasing the ball at the top of his jump, listening for that satisfying pop when he hit all net. When he finished, he gathered his stuff and was about to head home.
“Hey Walker,” Mister Grayson grabbed him. “Ya got ten bucks if you help me fold these chairs.” A meeting had just ended in Gunther Hall and it would have taken the overweight janitor an hour to do it by himself. Ten bucks for ten minutes work! Todd wasn’t going to argue with that.
Cool, he had some bucks in his pocket and was already debating how to spend it. He was going to be conservative and save it for something special. That’s when he saw the sign in front of the McGracey house; Estate Sale. “Yeah, okay why not check it out.” He slipped his basketball under the shrubs and climbed the creaky stairs to the front door.
Inside, grisly old Clair McCrazy sat at a table stacked with old picture frames, a couple lamps, and a number of miscellaneous knick-knacks.
“Hey boy,” her crackling voice jumped at Todd. “I got something for ya.” She sounded as if she had inhaled car exhaust for the last thirty years.
“This is a waste,” Todd whispered under his breath, but he moved toward the woman. She reached under the table and pulled out a pair of silver, white, and orange sports shoes, clean to the point of glowing. One shoe was missing a lace, but they were definitely super sweet and all kinds of fine.
“Like these?” Clair asked seeing the glimmer in Todd’s eye. “Twenty bucks.”
“Are you kidding me?” Todd tried to hide his desire. “I don’t want those smelly old things. How long has your crazy brother been wearing them?”
“They’re brand new boy,” Clair lit a cigarette. “Never worn, still got the tags on ‘em. “
“Your choice kid,” she continued. “Not my bother one way or another.” She hesitated, noticing Todd’s interest. “I’m given’ ya a chance ta own a’ pair-a two hundred dollar shoes for near nothin’.”
The woman sat there waiting with a board look. “Tell ya what,” her tone sounded as made up as her face, “Ten bucks an’ they’re yours,” she spoke with a slur.
“My brother talked about these shoes,” she pushed them into Todd’s hand. “Said they were special shoes… shoes that‘il take ya places.” She grunted a hacking laugh. “Guess they took ‘em to his grave, huh?”
“Eddie wanted ‘em sold with the rest of his crap, so yer getting yerself a bargain.” She tossed a packet of shoe laces at Todd. “Well boy… last chance. Want ‘em or not?”
Clair McCrazy put out a thin wrinkled palm curling it up and down with a greedy ‘gimme’ motion; her long painted nails clicked together sounding like a giant insect.
Todd shivered creeped out at the thought. But he walked out of there with a slamming pair of shoes for only ten bucks.
Clair said her brother got them from some military dude stationed on a moon off the rings of Saturn. “Yeah,” he thought. “She’s whacked out for sure, but the shoes are amazing. I gotta sweet deal.”
He looked up and saw Melissa Geiger coming down the street. He slowed, kicked a heel onto the back of his deck, popping it up into his hand.
Mel and Todd went way back. He could remember sharing crayons with her in preschool. “Dang, she was looking good. Todd hadn’t seen Mel all summer. It’s funny, he had never thought of Mel as the girlfriend type. Hmm, maybe he needed to reconsider that idea.
Mel’s long, brown hair worked like a magnet pulling Todd into her soft hazel/green eyes.
“Todd Walker.” She poked him in the ribs. “What-cha bin doing?”
Todd wiped the sweat off his brow and tried to act casual. “Ah, nothing much, skatebording, school… shooting hoops.”
“Cool,” Melissa tilted her head and pushed her hair behind her ears. “You going to play basketball this year?”
“I’m ready,” Todd replied. “Check it out.” He displayed a silver and orange Astral 2 on his foot. “Got these styling shoes at the McGracey place last night. What do you think? Do they rock or what?”
Mel had a definite sparkle about her as she looked down at Todd’s footgear. “Oh wild,” curiosity mixed with the glisten in her eyes. “Those are solid. I-I’ve never seen… anything like em’.” For a second Geiger seemed dazed… mesmerized.
“She’s messing with me,” Todd thought. “They’re banging, right,” he said.
Melissa snapped back cool faced. Todd ignored the brief bizarre spell… what the heck, it was early in the morning.
“Got ten bucks from janitor Grayson last night,” Todd continued. “Then saw the McGracey place was having an estate sale. So I went in and found these.”
“What,” Mel made a face of disgust. Ed McCrazy’s old shoes? Oh my God Todd, that’s just gross.”
“Whoa,”Todd chuckled. “No way. They’re brand new. Still had the tags on em’; weird tags. Check it out.” The two plastic labels were still in his pocket. He handed the first one to Mel.
“TD-Astral 2’s,” she read aloud. “Never heard of ‘em. Okay, that is a little weird.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Name’s radical. Now, check out the second card. Reads like a bad rap song.”
Mel scanned the words.
“All you hope and all you see…
is all your life will ever be…
What you see and what is true…
is just a choice left up to you.”
“Hmm…,” her eyebrow rose. “There’s a strange kinda awesomeness in there somewhere.”
“Yeah, hardcore, right? Cool thing is they can be used as a skate shoe or a basketball shoe… and they look awesome.”
“I gotta tell you Todd,” Mel said with some hesitation. “I wouldn’t trust anything I bought from that toasted, old hippie McCrazy. The guy’s a freak. Who knows where he picked up those shoes. They’re probably nasty… and dangerous.”
“Yeah right Mel,” he laughed. “Shoes can be so dangerous. Those laces can be lethal.”
“You know what I’m saying” she smiled. “It’s McCrazy.” Melissa had a way about her. Todd saw a slamming sort of sensuality which kind of embodied her own wacky wisdom.
“Hey, I believe everything happens for a reason.” Todd tried to sound insightful. “This insignificant little bonus is going to lead to something major. You watch.”
“Whatever, Walker,” Mel acted as if she was all indifferent, but Todd knew she was really bothered by the whole McGracey connection. She cracked him up.
“I’m sure ya know,” she added. “McCrazy disappeared a few weeks back,”
Todd had heard the rumors. Who hadn’t? He carried his board as they continued at an even pace towards the school.
“Yeah, I guess the guy’s dementia finally got the best of him,” he added. “Some people say he wandered off and got lost. Others think he just vanished. His sister Clair believes he’s gone for good. That’s why she’s selling his stuff.”
“I’ve heard some pretty wild stories,” Mel’s hair fell across her face. “You know Debbie Taylor?”
Todd tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. “Boo-ya,” was his only response
Mel rolled her eyes but continued. “Anyway… Debbie told me McCrazy went completely nuts. Said he killed three state troopers before he jumped off the Montgomery Valley Bridge. Although, I don’t think the guy was ever wrapped too tightly to begin with.”
“C’mon,” Todd laughed. “I’ve always kinda liked the dude. Yeah, he’s a little whacked, but he’s harmless.”
There was a brief awkward silence as Melissa bit her tongue.
“Listen, Todd,” Mel’s tone changed. “My Dad built a game room in the basement. We just got a new pool table. I was wondering if maybe you and Jake Thompson might wanna come over and check it out tonight.”
“Ha,” It was Todd’s turn to poke Mel. “You’re still crushing on Jake Thompson?”
“Hey,” she tried to act hard and hide her blush. “Jake Thompson is smoking. You’d probably date him yourself, if you went that way.”
“Ho no, I don’t think so.” Todd was ready to give it up… when a fresh idea smacked him. “You know, Mel… I might be able to get Jake there.” He paused and smiled proud of his shrewdness. “You get Debbie Taylor over and I’ll talk J.T. into coming.”
Melissa’s smile was beautiful. Todd might have been jealous of Jake Thompson, but Debbie Taylor was hot.
“Debbie Taylor,” Mel laughed. “Oh my God that girl is pathetic. She makes everything into a major issue, like the world’s gonna end if she don’t get her way.”
“Then I’ll let her have her way… with me.” Todd laughed.
“Get out loser,” Mel’s weak sarcasm was playful. “Just set it up with Jake. I’ll get Taylor. Be at my house around six.”
“Nice, I’ll be there. I should be able to get the Jake confirmation before second period.”
“Second period confirmation,” Mel held out her cell with a thumbs up sign. Todd gave her a fist bump.
Chapter 3
Air Walker
The back half of Montgomery Middle School was being rebuilt. He dropped his deck and looked over at a broken cement set of stairs. Todd was hit with a strange brain rush. “Betcha I can stick a grind down that rail.”
“Really,” Mel said in a cynical tone.
“Really?” Todd’s own brain was questioning its judgment. It was as if some kind of undeniable need was challenging him. “This is challenging absurdity,” he thought.
Yet, the desire became urgency driving him. It radiated up his legs screaming, “Go for it.” No, this was not him. This was not his brain. It was not his mind at all. It was something else. Some kind of profound idiocy filled him with an unwarranted confidence.
“You can’t make that grind.” rational thought was there. “The rail is bent and clearly unstable. It would be foolish to try.” The logical mind continued to reason. But major electric currents ran up from his feet, up his legs, and struck a fanatic sense of adventure in his gut. “I want to try this,” he said.
“You can’t be serious,” Mel said with some concern, noting the bizarre look of determination in Todd’s eyes. “You’ll kill yerself Walker. There’s a reason they put that yellow warning tape around there, ya know.”
“You got no guts Geiger,” the sense of excitement rose from Todd’s feet. “Look at that. Ya couldn’t ask for a better set up to slam a stunt.
“Todd, don’t,” there was a definite trace of anger in her voice
“I’m going for it,” Todd replied
Mel’s jade eyes rolled upward with a frustrated sigh. “You’re a freaking idiot, Walker.”
“Yeah, but I’m gonna shine like a star.” Todd skated away feeling confident and comfortable with his decision. He knew something was off, but he made the approach toward the dilapidated railing anyways.
Inside his mind raced. He never considered he might skate into a wormhole, or air-walk out of reality. He knew his reaction to the scene made no sense, but he was going for it.
“Oh well,” he reasoned. “I guess you can’t be too surprised when you try to bust a move likely to end life… and you end up finding your brains all over the sidewalk.” He knew something else was driving him, compelling him to attempt insanity, but he couldn’t stop it.
His ollie was perfect. He hit the rail like a pro. The banister was slick, but he easily stuck the grind.
“Why did I do this? Why am I attempting this lunacy?” It felt as though his mind was separating from his body. Somewhere deeper, below the sudden absurdity was a vision. Todd watched as if removed from the scene as the rail snapped. Yet still, the rush of adrenalin could be felt as he watched himself progress toward a deadly face plant.
As if behind time, he was back in his body just as the loud crack announced his doom. The handrail dropped, leaving the support shaft sticking up like a spike about to impale him. It was too late to bail.
Gravity took over. He tumbled out of control. There was nothing but space between Todd and the shaft. He knew pain and injury were coming his way, maybe even death. Todd was certain there would be blood… a lot of blood… his blood. Yeah, this was not cool.
“Look out Todd,” he could hear Melissa.
“Thanks, Geiger,” he had to scowl. “Ya know, with a little more effort you might have talked me out of this.”
Todd was astounded by the fact his brain was operating like this; amazed he could think at all. “Nice. Mel is gonna see me wipe out. This is going to suck; big time. She won’t let me forget this, for sure.” He watched as his skateboard flew off on its own.
Curiously, everything slowed down. He realized the absurdity of what he was seeing, but Todd also felt certain somehow the world was changing. The wheels on his board spun sluggishly. They stopped. The deck froze in midair. He was motionless, a statue held in the sky by some unknown force.
“What the…” Todd blurted out. “This is wild!”
He looked over and saw petrified panic on Mel’s face. “She’s freakin.’ I guess I am too. So, why am I worried about Geiger? I’ve got bigger problems here. Crap, I could die.”
“C’mon,” he growled. Todd tried to shake his head, but it didn’t move. “Okay” he said while hanging in the sky. “Maybe, I’m getting a bit dramatic,” his mind raced. “I ain’t dead yet.” He supposed his reasoning was sound, but his sense of calmness was uncanny almost creepy. How can someone continue to think rationally in an irrational situation? Even his simplest thoughts had to be crazy.
Right… so much for reasoning.
A strange pulse of energy heightened his anxiety. Some kind of super magnetic field latched on to his feet, his shoes. “Okay, this is bizarre,” he spoke in his eerie tranquility, but the words dropped like stones in the stillness.
A wall of lights and colors formed around him. It shimmered like phosphorescent cellophane. The luminescence fell through him. He was surfing without a skateboard, air walking into a bubbling cloud of confusion. This was definitely not natural. He realized he was defying at least half a dozen laws of physics.
So, what’s the penalty for breaking the laws of nature? Life?
“I’ve been sucked into some kind of a rip in time and space.” Todd’s mind continued to play with its own personal interpretations. “Yeah right,” he laughed. “I have no idea what that even means.”
His shoes vibrated, sending sparks of electricity up his legs. This was definitely way out there... literally.
He considered the possibility he may have crossed into some spiritual dimension, or maybe some alternate reality. Maybe he was already dead. Strange as it was though, Todd felt as if he had somehow fallen into some hidden dimension of his “Self.” It was almost like he was caught in a world structured by the essence of his soul.
A scene materialized around him. Holly crap! Bizarre was not a big enough word. No way, he wasn’t in any dimension of Kansas anymore. Not a chance. Amp it up a little! This place was different. And not just different like New York is different from Chicago, or like the city is different from the country. Todd suspected this place was different from anywhere in the galaxy, Milky Way or any other. No, this place was different, strange, odd, unusual; bizarre to the extreme.
Was he dead? Todd imagined his body lying in a bloody mess on the blacktop. No other logic could be applied here; that must be what had happened. But for now he was here, seeing this place wherever this place was.
His shoes flashed and sparkled as the odd sensation ended. “Wow,” he wondered. “Could this really have something to do with my shoes? Maybe buying footgear at the McCrazy place wasn’t such a good idea.”
Chapter 4
World Walker
“Did I get the garbage out before I left this morning?
“Really? I’ve fallen into another world and this is the thought that crosses my mind.”
Todd tried to find some sense of normalcy in his thoughts, but it wasn’t happening. He realized things had gotten a bit off… like way, way off… like way off the deep end. It was tough to keep it together. He wanted to just freak out… then he realized… maybe he already had. Was this even real? Maybe this was just the kind of place you find yourself in when your mind slips and you’ve gone completely insane.
“C’mon, I gotta be bleeding on the pavement in the schoolyard. I saw it coming. How can it be any different?”
He couldn’t remember what he had said to his Dad that morning. He remembered his father saying; “love you son,” but did Todd even respond? He imagined he had answered back automatically, without any thought. Of course there you have it. Does anyone ever think their words might be the last words they say to someone? Todd had left the house thinking everything would move along on its normal mundane path. He ollied up onto a rail, and slam-bang… he was riding an electric wave.
He never thought the stunt might leave him dead, or lost in another dimension. (Then again, didn’t those exact thoughts cross his mind?) Could he truly have been hit by a blast of electromagnetic energy? More likely he was comatose in a bloody mess, his head cracked open like a rotten melon.
“Ugh! That’s nasty,” he said in response to his thoughts. He ran a hand through his curly brown hair.
“Whatever,” he sighed. “This is where I am. It don’t look like heaven. And if it’s hell… well, it ain’t so bad.”
Todd pulled his iphone from his back pocket. Of course there was no signal. Guess he wasn’t going to be googling; the top ten alternate realities, or tweeting; “Lost in La La Land.” There was no calling home from here.
He scanned the dreamlike surroundings. The sky was a deep, cranberry orange, and tall jelly-like plants loomed over him. They looked like long, thin translucent balloons filled with a lavender soap. The uncommon foliage gave off a curious scent of citrus and mint.
“Okay, so I’m here,” he spoke to the place as if it might understand. “I’m breathing. I don’t feel dead.” However, he did feel uneasy and certainly a bit unnerved. “Guess I gotta roll with it. My head still seems to be together.” He looked around again. “Yeah okay, maybe not.”
“Hello” he called out. His voice seemed foreign to the alien atmosphere. It was questionable who might hear it anyways. This was not your normal vacation spot. No mapquest, google earth, or GPS was going to locate him here. He looked up, doubting there were even any satellites in the upper atmosphere.
“This is freaky,” he whispered looking at his feet. “Yeah… astral shoes… no way… too extreme. I have completely lost it.” The idea the shoes might somehow have teleported him here was more absurd than the bloody image he imagined. He shivered unable to accept either concept as reality.
Despite his unease he had to admit the scene around him was awesome. He moved forward on crude organic bricks of amber and emerald. Multicolored mushrooms in a variety of shapes bordered the pathway. They ranged in size from giant protective umbrellas to dainty little teacups with bright psychedelic patterns. The scene was eerie yet strangely intriguing and hypnotic.
“This has to be a Hollywood movie set.” Todd considered the idea, but careful examination told him it was not. The experience was too profound, too real. Perhaps, this was more of a location of mind rather than a physical place.
But then again; he was here. He was breathing; existing just like he might be anywhere else. Yeah, it was weird.
He walked along amazed by the events which brought him here; stunned by the outlandish imagery into which he had been placed. There was no way to avoid the thought he had gone insane. This was crazy.
The sun moves across the sky. Time progressed at its own pace. Soon a magenta evening was coming down with a million twinkling stars. Confused and bewildered he wondered what this was all about. What was he doing here?
His eyes were drawn to a dazzling gemstone glowing in the rough. “Oh my God! What is that?
Slam, an answer popped into his head. It’s something like a goal, a purpose; a reason for being. Where this impression came from Todd had no clue, and at that moment he didn’t care.
Once again he couldn’t help himself. He was completely transfixed by this shimmering diamond. Todd was captivated, enchanted by the power it held. The crystal’s very nature seemed to be calling him, pulling his soul toward it. He felt this jewel was meant to be his. It was wonderful, glorious. He reached out…
With a sudden ‘pop’ a young demon boy inexplicably materialized between Todd and the stone. The child’s wild, violet eyes stared. His scalded leather skin and spiked red hair should have deviated Todd’s attention, but Todd hardly noticed. The demon child was a distraction, a barrier blocking him from the thing he wanted; the gemstone.
The boy wore a sleeveless brown T-shirt and ripped up coffee Dockers. A broad orange string was tied around his forehead and the cord dropped to his shoulder.
On first impression one might have seen a happy, innocent child, but closer examination revealed a devil. Todd should have been shocked by the small horns on the boy’s forehead, or the strange birdlike manner in which he moved. Now however, the radiant gem held Todd’s focus. He could not break the hypnotic lure.
The boy gazed at Todd then at the diamond. Horror grew in demon’s violet eyes, “Oh-ho no Walker,” he sang in a vile kind of brogue. “Ya don’t wanna be trapped by that thang. There’s a tangled mess in there.”
Perhaps this devil-like creature confirmed the idea of Todd’s death, but it did not matter to Todd at that moment. He was spellbound by the magnificence of the stone. It called to him, sucking him in with a wild, persuasive draw. Walker was mesmerized, held hostage by the sparkle of the prize.
This was an object of glory, a marvel of attraction and beauty. There was fascination burning inside. It set fire to the lust in his heart. But the demon boy blocked him from it.
“What is it?” Todd asked his voice full of wonder.
“Get a grip, Walker,” the boy’s tone was sarcastic yet sympathetic. “That’s your Life, man,” “Walker, listen to me,” he grabbed Todd’s arm. “My name is Orion and I’m tellin’ you to stay away.”
“The A2’s on your feet contain zoid,” the sing-song guttural voice sounded sincere. “Your body and soul will unite with the omniverse. Life… your life will no longer be your own. A cosmic destiny will be set in motion”
“This place,” he continued, “is a mindscape of choice. That jewel represents your life symbiotically entwined with the astral shoes. If you choose the stone it will overwhelm you, and things will never be the same.”
Todd heard his words but they were simply too mind-boggling. The kid was completely out of place here. What he was saying… It made no sense.
“Don’t know where you came from kid,” Todd growled. “But you better get out of my way. If that’s my life; I want it. This whole flipping thing is too far out there. But I - I want that life; the life held inside that stone…” Todd’s voice trailed off lost in obsession.
“Out there?” the boy laughed. “Out there… I have been out there Todd Walker. I’ve seen the wicked and the wild. I know about choices and I can tell you; Life is more about ‘what you believe,’ and ‘how you see things,’ than it is about what is, or what you expect it to be. You have power, only if you have control.”
The words rambled by the boy meant nothing. Their meaning was beyond Todd’s ability to understand at that moment. Need burned inside him like flame to a fuse. He was already dead in his mind. And this diamond was Life, his life. The Life within the gem was his possession. It belonged to him. The destiny was his and no one else could lay claim to it. Todd could not deny the uncontrollable urge to take his Life back. Desire permeated him. He could not control it.
Todd pulled away from the boy and grabbed the diamond. It was like ripping his soul from the ground. He felt as though he was harvesting a golden apple, or plucking some magnificent piece of radiant ice from a fast moving stream. He had it. It was in his hands. It was his.
At once the gem began to melt. A tarry, crystalline substance entangled Todd’s fingers and dripped down, ensnaring his arms. He was being swallowed, consumed.
Screams of pain and confusion erupted from his throat as the material moved to his shoulders. It clung to him like a giant, ravenous snake eating him alive. Todd fell to his knees as the essence of this Life overtook him.
Orion hovered over the sparkling gem as it dropped to the deep blue grass. Todd looked out from inside the gem. He was truly trapped now, imprisoned inside the crystal stone.
“Ah Walker,” Orion spoke sadly. "You can’t own Life.” The demon boy reached down and picked up the jewel. “You are its captive… Life owns you.”
“Dang it, dude,” the boy continued. “Now you got the burden of the A2’s and the zoid imperative wrapped around yer soul. Ain’t nothin’ gonna be easy no more.”
“B-but,” Todd stammered. “I had no choice… This was my only chance for Life?”
“Chances and choices,” Orion shook his head. “Expectations are dangerous. That’s why you have to listen for the Voice.”
“Are you some kind of demon?”Todd asked.
The boy giggled. “It’s pronounced dimon. You humans have messed up the name for centuries now. And I gotta tell you, I don’t know if I like the whole implication. But then again… some of my people love it, and deserve it.”
“Anyways,” he continued. “Ya might wanna get outta this mindscape. Slip back through the crack where you belong. Take off those Astral 2’s until you’re ready ta play for real. Things are gonna be gettin crazy for ya, real soon.”
“W-what?”
“This is not a valid dimension, Walker,” the boy said. “It’s an emotional reality; a spiritual manifestation. Take off a shoe and you’ll go on outta here.”
Who was this crazy, burnt boy? What was he saying? It made no sense. Nonetheless, Todd reached down and pulled off a shoe.
With a flash, a jarring jolt Todd was on his knees on the school blacktop. Somehow he had missed the pole sticking out. His skateboard crashed down beside him. With a groan he sat up staggered and sore. He held a glistening shoe in his hand.
I’m not dead, he realized. Whatever had just happened; it wasn’t a dream. No way, it was too intense.
“You okay Todd?” Melissa Geiger ran up.
Todd’s jeans were ripped and he could feel a flap of skin under the blood on his knee. “Crap,” he gritted his teeth and focused on Mel. There was a sense of stability with Mel, an assurance that at least some part of his reality was still the same.
“Yeah,” he tried to tough it out. “I’m fine.”
“You coulda’ been killed Walker,” Mel was upset. “I don’t know how you didn’t smash your skull.”
“Just blessed I guess,” Todd mumbled through a clenched jaw. “I’ll be fine.” Slowly, he rose to his feet. He stood hunched over, his hand on his knees, his head down. He had to fight to get back his senses.
“You don’t look fine, Todd. Here,” Mel handed him a pink bandanna.
“Ah thanks Geiger,” he gave her a grin. “But you look fine… as always.”
Again she rolled her jade eyes. “Yeah, okay Killer.”
He glanced at the brightly colored piece of cloth she had given him. “I don’t wanna mess this up, besides pink is not my color.”
“Just take it Walker,” she was annoyed. “That blood will make the pink look more manly for you. I’ll see you in school.”
“Yeah, I’m good, Mel. Thanks.”
“You’re an idiot Walker,” she said with a harsh look. “You coulda messed up my chance ta hook up with Jake.”
“Oh,” he laughed. “That’s all I’m good for.”
She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Glad you’re okay, Todd.” She kicked up his skateboard with a fluid motion and handed it to him. “Now get to school and set things up. I’ll talk to ya after first period.”
“Cya then,” he replied with a wave. Todd watched her walk away. Was she concerned about me, or just disturbed by my stupidity, he wondered. The former was certainly preferable.
No doubt she was right about Todd’s lack of sense. Whatever had just happened, he was lucky to be alive. And that place, that weird boy, those feelings. What was that all about? Todd was back here with no time missing. His mind was reeled with the absurdity of it all. Yeah, something wild definitely went down. The first hour of wearing the TD-A2s had certainly been fierce.
“Right Walker,” he laughed to himself as he checked the wheels and trucks attached to his deck. “Blame it on the shoes.”
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