1. Illusion
The sound of the ringing phone woke me. I searched for it. It must be somewhere under the blanket.
“I was thinking about you.” His voice was serious.
“Hey,” I sighed. “You woke me.”
“But that is not the reason I called,” he said.
I was still sleepy and too tired to be curious. “Mm…” I muttered.
“Meet me at Eastern High School at noon,” he said.
“That sounds almost like an order. Besides, it’s Sunday!” I said and
yawned into the phone, but he ignored my comment.
“Danielle, I’ve never been more serious. Please do as I ask.”
I made a slight effort, and sat up in bed. “What …?” I was
rendered speechless by my surrounding; the room was a mess. I was completely
awake now, and trying to understand.
“Is everything ok?” His voice sounded far.
“My room,” I said. “I don’t remember leaving it like this when I came
back from Ocean City.”
“Get out. Now!” he said.
“Get out? Why? Where to?!” I asked, confused.
It seemed like someone had been here, looking through my personal
things. The hum of a dead line filled the phone.
“Hello?”
There was no answer. Why would he hang up on me while trying to warn
me? What is going on? I stepped into my jeans and grabbed a long sleeve shirt.
One glance out the window was enough to guess that a storm was coming soon.
I sat on the floor to tie my shoes. Suddenly, I felt a strong wind. It
was as if the storm was actually in my room; it wrapped around me like a
whirlpool. I looked at the window - it was closed. I covered my face with my
hands; now I could barely see anything, but I could feel his presence. My feet
were too weak to fight the pressure, and I couldn’t stand up. I tried to grab
the chair, but it became blurred and I couldn’t reach it. I was determined to
save myself, although I didn’t know what from. I couldn’t feel any fear;
on the contrary, adrenaline filled my body with euphoria, and I anticipated
something divine happening, something that would sweep me off my feet, and
shake me from the enormous boredom of Voorhees.
My body was no longer under my control. It felt as if a powerful
incomprehensible force was tossing me about. I believed that only the man I was
craving so much could be strong enough to resist this incredible force. I was
pulled into a dark whirlwind, and only then did I feel the fear of being
completely helpless.
The next thing I remember is waking up under a pine tree. I could feel
a hand gently petting my hair, and a voice whispering to me, “Danielle, wake
up.” It was his voice again. I was lying on his lap, and tried to sit up,
but my dizziness knocked me down instantly. I had never felt so heavy. A
horrible stomach cramp made me roll to the other side of the tree to avoid what
would potentially be the most embarrassing moment of my life: vomiting on the
guy I cared for so much. I couldn’t breathe for a moment, and desperately
searched for my inhaler.
“Where the hell am I?” I asked nervously.
He tried to help, but I pushed him away.
“You’re ok!” he said smiling, but surprised.
I looked at him suspiciously. “You’re too cheerful for me at the
moment.”
“You don’t understand,” he insisted, handing me a piece of newspaper.
I sat on the ground, holding my stomach. The date on the newspaper kept
my breath frozen for a whole minute. It read “September 26, 2031.”
“How?” I asked.
“You were in great danger. I had to get you out of there, and I
couldn’t think of any other way. I had a couple of minutes to slide somewhere,
slide back to you, and pull you out with me.”
I looked around, trying to recognize the place. “Where are we?”
“In your back yard,” he said, trying to avoid eye contact.
My heart was beating too fast. Could it be? Didn’t I want to be
overwhelmed by an unnatural force that would sweep me off my feet, and save me
from the boredom of Voorhees? I was indeed overwhelmed – shocked,
actually. My house wasn’t there, and my swimming pool was probably buried under
the ground on which we sat.
“I remember this pine tree,” I said. “What happened to our
house? Where is the swimming pool? Are we...?” I stopped. I wasn’t sure I
could bear the thought… or to hear his answer.
He came closer. I could feel his breath on my skin; it was so familiar,
like I had longed for it, like I had longed for his touch, his smell. He
pointed to the path behind us, but all I could notice was him. How transparent
he became then, how vulnerable. I reached for his hand and wrapped it in mine.
His face was sad. I could see the wrinkles spreading all over his
forehead. He was trying to say something, but at the same time he was fading
away like an old picture. I reached to touch his lips.
“Don’t go,” I whispered. “Don’t leave me here by myself.”
His hands disappeared, and I knelt down to grab his legs.
“Please,” I begged.
