PART FIVE

 

15

The hunted and the captured

 

  “Why can’t you just go in and grab it?” Ronny asked. “You handled it before.”

   “It has changed. It will be active if either one of us gets near it.”

   Kenny looked in the closet for a container. “We need something made of wood or metal. Something fairly strong that won’t break.”

   “What about your tool box?” asked Ronny.

   “That should work. Good thinking, Ronny.” Kenny grabbed a cardboard box from the closet and went to his toolbox to empty it. He put his flashlight in his pocket.

   “OK…here is the plan. We go in your room and close the door. We will have to locate the creature so you will be able to see it. Then, you will draw it into the toolbox just like you took it from the painting.”

  “OK.” Ronny was feeling a little more confident in his new found power, but he still felt hesitant. “Are you sure that thing can’t hurt us?”

   “No. I’m not sure…We’ve never been in this situation before.” Ronny’s face began to show doubt. Kenny tried to reassure him. “I don’t think it can hurt us. It’s probably scared…We have to get in the room quick so it won’t sneak out. If it got out the front door, we would never corner it.”

  Kenny opened the door and ran in. Ronny followed with the tool box and slammed the door behind him. A whimpering sound came from under the bed. “It’s under there. You get on this side. Make sure you have one hand on the tool box at all times.”

   Ronny bent down to look under the bed. Kenny got the flashlight out and lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. He shined the light in the direction of the sound. The whimpering got louder. Kenny could see it. Its big eyes were looking straight at him and it bared its teeth. It sat there curled up and shaking.

   “I see it, Ronny. It’s against the wall by the head of the bed. Can you see it?”

   Ronny looked where the light was shining. “Yes, I see it. Man, it sure is ugly.”

   “It really is scared. OK, Ronny. Use the hand gesture like before. When it is drawn to your hand, think it into the box.”

   Ronny looked at the creature and extended his hand. The creature let out a screech and reached toward Ronny. A flash of light emanated from its hands that blinded Ronny for a moment. It scampered across the floor and into the closet. It was crying. Ronny got up from the floor, still blinded.

   Kenny said “It’s in the closet.”

   “I am going to need a pair of sun glasses,” said Ronny.

   “I have some in my jumpsuit by the front door.”

   “I’ll get them,” said Ronny as he opened the door.

   “Wait!” yelled Kenny, but it was too late. The creature shot out from the closet and out the door. Its little feet could be heard scampering down the hall. Ronny watched as it ran toward the living room until it froze and tumbled to a stop. It laid there motionless in the middle of the living room.

   “I think it’s…dead” said Ronny.

    Kenny got up from the floor and looked down the hall toward the living room. “No,” Kenny said. “It’s dormant. It got far enough away from us to sleep. If we get near it, it will wake back up.” Kenny thought for a moment, and then asked, “Ronny, can you use your power at this distance?”

   Ronny reached with two fingers toward the creature balled up on the floor. He concentrated. Pull he thought, but nothing happened. He tried again, but there was no reaction. “I can’t do it from here, Kenny.”

   “I was afraid of that. Your power is not strong enough. The front door is shut, right?”

   “Yes, it’s shut.”

   “OK,” said Kenny. “Get a little closer and try again.”

   Ronny gripped the tool box. He began inching his way toward the creature with his fingers extended. As he got closer, the creature began to twitch. Suddenly, it bounded up toward the wall where the painting was hanging before. It bounced from the wall and fell to the floor stunned.

   Kenny’s eyes got big. “Now, Ronny!” he yelled.

   Ronny ran toward the creature with his hand extended. The creature darted under the couch. It was still crying.

   “I missed it, Kenny. I’m sorry”

   “It’s OK, Ronny. Did you see what it tried to do? It was trying to get back in the painting.” Kenny went to the living room and uncovered the painting. He took it to the wall and stood back. Almost instantly, the creature darted from under the couch and leapt toward the painting. With a flash of light, the creature was back inside the painting, in the jar, on the window sill.

   “So, great, we are back to square one.”

   “It’s OK. We’ll try again. Just like before. Are you ready?”

   “Yes,” said Ronny. “Let’s get this over with.”

   “Remember, Ronny. Just like before.”

   “Ronny held the tool box in his left hand and held his finger near the painting. He concentrated and then touched the painting. In he thought.

   “No!” yelled Kenny. It was too late. The tool box went crashing to the floor and Ronny vanished. Kenny stared at the painting in horror. “Ronny, you were supposed to think ‘in the BOX’. Not just ‘in’.”

Kenny looked at the frozen image of Ronny in the painting. “What are we going to do now? I don’t have the power.”

   Ronny could see out of the painting. Kenny was standing in front of him, looking up at the painting, but he was not moving. The tool box was frozen in space above the floor where Ronny had just been holding it. Ronny could not move. He was fully aware of where he was, but he was paralyzed. Time had come to a stop and he was helpless.

  

16

Life line

 

Kenny stood in the phone booth waiting for Suzy to pick up.

   “Hello?”

   “Suzy, we have a problem.” Kenny’s voice was trembling.

   Suzy knew something serious had come up. “What’s happening?”

   “Ronny wound up inside that painting.”

   “What?”

   “It’s really a long story. I don’t know what to do.”

   “Well, fill me in. How did he wind up inside the painting?”

   “Remember when I told you that the receptacle failed?”

   “Yes.”

   “Well,” Kenny explained, “…Ronny got blood on it, and the receptacle started changing shape from Ronny’s contact, and somehow, I think, Ronny projected it into the painting. I didn’t know his power would surface like that.”

   “So, how did he get in the painting?”

   “Well,” Kenny hesitated. “I started teaching him about the power and…”

   “You started teaching him already? You know that’s dangerous.”

   “I know, but we tried to get the receptacle out of the painting, but it got away and…”

   “It got away? What do you mean it got away?”

   “It changed into a scared little creature. You know, with arms and legs and teeth.” Suzy was speechless. “…So, anyway, the creature got back in the painting and the second time we tried to retrieve it, Ronny messed up and got himself in the painting. He is stuck and I can’t get him out. I don’t think he can get himself out. Suzy, what are we going to do?”

   Suzy was silent for a moment. “Go home, Kenny, and wait for me. I think I know what to do.”

   “Oh Suzy, I love you. I hope you’re right.”

   “I love you too Kenny. I’ll be there soon.”

   Kenny hung up the phone and started running back to the apartment.

 

 

17

There’s no place like home

 

   Kenny stood at the painting staring at Ronny. “I’m so sorry, Ronny. I should have made sure you understood you have to be specific with the power.” Ronny stood motionless in the painting. He could not hear Kenny or see anything different from the moment he entered the painting. Time had not moved a moment to him. He felt that he had been there for an eternity. All the while, he could feel his power depleting into the receptacle next to him.

   Kenny jumped at the sound of someone knocking at the door. It was Suzy. Kenny went to the door to let her in. “Oh, Suzy” he said. He grabbed her and hugged her tight. She held him and said, “I brought Sharlina. She is the only one who can help us now.”

   Kenny’s face lit up. “Yes!” he said. “Sharlina! Why didn’t I think of that?”

   “What is going on, you guys?” Sharlina asked. “Suzy has been telling me some crazy stuff and I am beginning to think you guys need a shrink.” She looked around. “Where is Ronny?”

   “You have to sit down, Sharlina,” Kenny said. “You are not going to believe this.”

 

   Over the next hour, Suzy and Kenny explained to Sharlina things that could only have come from a science fiction movie. They told her that Ronny’s power had gotten out of control, and that he had wound up in the painting because of it. She could barely comprehend what she was being told, but soon, she realized the seed of truth when she tried to remember anything from beyond two years ago. With tears in her eyes, Sharlina looked up at the painting. “Ronny” she cried. “My Ronny.”

   She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “So, what am I supposed to be able to do about all of this?”

  Kenny explained, “You have the power, just like Ronny.”

   ”…and we know how it works,” Suzy inserted

   “…and that’s because of the split” Sharlina added. “OK.” Sharlina took a deep breath. “What do I have to do?”

 

   Sharlina was a quick learn. She had the matchbook doing all kinds of tricks, and it seemed that she was able to focus her mind well. She would not be affected by the receptacle because it was not made for her. Kenny brought a chair over by the painting so Sharlina would have a destination to project Ronny into. Sharlina kept one hand on the chair. She stared at Ronny in the painting. “You will be out soon, baby.” She closed her eyes. Suzy and Kenny waited nearby. Sharlina opened her eyes, took a deep breath and said “In the chair.” She touched the picture of Ronny. A surge bolted through her body and she fell to the ground. In the chair sat a confused and startled Ronny. He looked around and groped at himself to make sure he was real.

   “Ronny!” Sharlina got up off the floor and grabbed Ronny.

   “Sharlina!” Ronny said. “Oh, Sharlina, I’m so glad to see you!” He held her tight. “What are you doing here?”

   Kenny spoke up. “Sharlina got you out of the painting.”

   “Oh, wow! That’s right. Sharlina has the power too.” Ronny smiled at Sharlina who was looking a bit proud. “Sharlina, you are my hero.” Ronny gave Sharlina a big kiss. She hugged him tight.

    Kenny asked, “How are you feeling, Ronny?”

   “Really weak. I could feel power coming out of me while I was in there? How long was it anyway? It seemed like years.”

   “About three hours,” said Kenny. “What was it like in there?”

   Ronny’s expression went sober. He almost began to cry. “I could see you, but nothing moved. Nothing ever moved. It was so creepy… So lonely”

   “Well, it’s all over now,” said Kenny, “…except that, now, it’s your turn to get the creature out of the painting, but this time, think ‘in the box’.”

   “Yes,” Ronny agreed. “Believe me, I don’t want to end up in there again.”

   Ronny stood up and picked up the tool box. He stood in front of the painting and took a deep breath. He touched the painting and thought, In the box. Nothing happened. He tried again and said “Get in the BOX!” There was still no reaction. “I’m too weak. I can’t do it.”

   Suzy spoke up. “Sharlina, you give it a try.”

   Sharlina turned and looked at Suzy. She had an expression of uneasy anticipation.Ronny handed Sharlina the tool box and gave her a kiss. “That’s for good luck.”

   Sharlina smiled at Ronny, then, turned to the painting. She hesitated for a moment, and concentrated on the little creature. She knew she had to get this right. Ronny may not have enough power to save her if she wound up in the painting.

   Suzy spoke up, “Don’t let those thoughts get in your mind, Sharlina. You can do this.”

   Sharlina smiled at Suzy. She glanced at Ronny, then at the painting. She closed her eyes tightly and she gripped the tool box. Then, with her hand trembling, opened her eyes and reached up toward the painting. With a loud voice, she yelled, “GET IN THIS BOX!” and pressed her finger on the painting. An electric bolt ran though her body to the toolbox in her left hand. The box began to shake with a loud rattling.

   “You got it!,” yelled Ronny. He looked at the painting and began to laugh. “You got the jar too?”

   Sharlina smiled. “Yeah. Well, I figured that would be the safest way”

Kenny and Suzy looked at each other with relief. Kenny squeezed Suzy’s hand.

   “OK, well…” Suzy began. “Before anything else happens, I suggest we depart.”

   Sharlina looked at Ronny and held him close. “I’m scared, Ronny.”

   “Don’t be. There is something wonderful waiting for us. That little bit of power you learned about is only the tip of the iceberg.” She looked in his eyes with trust. Ronny continued. “You know we belong together forever, right?” Sharlina smiled and tears came to her eyes.

   “All right then, if we are all ready…” Suzy said.

   Kenny spoke up. “Come to the middle of the room everyone. Place the tool box right here in the middle.”

   “What about the painting, Kenny?”

   “Yes, Ronny. Get it and put it here too.”

    Ronny took the painting from the wall and set it on top of the tool box. The creature shook inside the box. It could feel the painting was nearby.

   “Ronny,” Kenny continued “you hold my hand and Sharlina’s hand. Sharlina, you and I will hold Suzy’s hands.”

   The four of them stood in a circle holding hands. They waited for a moment. “Now, Sharlina, you concentrate on Suzy and Ronny, you concentrate on me. While you are doing this, I want both of you to imagine the space between us turning inside out. Concentrate.”

   The room was quiet. Then a hum began, weak at first, and started to build. The room began to vibrate. A multi colored glow began to swirl between them. The tool box burst open and a flash of light arced between it and Ronny’s chest. A wisp of light also came from the painting. Suddenly, the room was silent …and they were all gone.

 

     In the apartment on Laurel Canyon Blvd. all that’s left of a strange story is a painting with a hole burned in it and a very damaged tool box with a broken jar inside. Mail is piling up in the box by the front door, but the tenants won't be returning. They have gone to an existence where there is no time or dimension. Explorers returning home for a moment before they visit another place and time, another realm, another reality.  For now, however, somewhere in the universe, where there are things way beyond our imaginations, at the very edge where light and time seem to stop, someone is going home.

  

 

 

 

                                                                                         EPILOGUE

 

   The landlord pounded on the door. “They haven’t answered for over two months now. Look at all this mail. These guys aren’t coming back. Let’s go in.” He unlocked the door with his master key. His assistant followed him in with a hand truck.

   “They left everything” The landlord walked down the hall to examine the bedrooms and bathroom.

  The other man went to the Kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “They left all their food.”

   “Get out of there, Jake” yelled the landlord. “You’re always thinking about your stomach.” He came back to the living room. “Well,…let’s get the big stuff first. Help me with the couch.”

   Jake went to the opposite end of the couch and grabbed the end. “I’m ready”

   “Lift” said the landlord.

   Something darted out from under the couch, across the room, and out the front door.

   “Did you see that?” inquired Jake.

   “Yes, it was probably a squirrel. Who knows what else is living in here? Great! Now I have to get an exterminator… I wonder what other surprises are in store… Well, we have a lot to do. Let’s get to work.”

 

 

 

THE END