Melinda's Dreams (The Advent of the Stars) Read online

  © 2019 Paul Harm

  Schörgelgassse 32, 8010 Graz

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design: Dietmar Peinsipp

  Lectured: Julia Mair, Meredith Hanson

  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  The Advent of the Stars

  Melinda’s Dreams

  Chapter I

  II. Science Convention!

  III. Rainy Night

  IV. Tomorrow

  V. The New World Order

  VI. Go, Johnny, Go, Go

  VII. The Plan

  VIII. Cabin in the Woods

  IX. Until We Meet Again

  X. Therapy Session

  XI. The Hand of God

  XII. Crystal Clear Blue Mountains

  XIII. Red is the New Blue

  XIV. And So Fell the Sword of Fate

  XV. The White Lady

  XVI. An Unwelcome Invitation

  XVII. Journey to the East

  XVIII. The Stars do not Lie

  XIX. Sapphire

  XX. Perspective

  XXI. The Falling Star

  XXII. Part of the Truth

  XXIII. Mirage

  XXIV. The Beginning of the End

  XXV. The Dark Archive

  XXVI. A Ghost from the Past

  Chapter I

  “It’s always the same dream.” Her voice was neutral, almost too neutral. “I walk down this wooden floor, smiling people are passing by me and I feel the ocean on the right, but there’s a wall. To my left are giant halls like in an airport hangar where people live, it has to be a hotel of some kind, maybe a refugee center.” She took a sip of her water, closing her eyes as she slowly drank a little gulp. She sighed, her eyes seemed to have lost all emotions long time ago and even though the beauty of her bright green eyes radiated, Joseph has never felt a darkness like this in his life before. She put the water down, slowly, and leaned back to the couch in one motion. With her, Joseph thought, it was always a round movement. She got up to grab the glass and drink another gulp, then she put it back down, pressed her back gently into the couch and started to talk him through her dream. It was one fluent act, there was nothing unexpected or unintentional in her movements. Joseph’s mind slowly wandered off, wondering when this motion started. Was it when she first came in today? Was it when we first met? He looked up. She continued, throwing Joseph out of his mind back into the room with her. “The ceiling was gone, the wall to my right vanished and then I saw the ocean. The shelters to my left remained inside, hangar after hangar.” She took a long breath, establishing eye contact as she collected her focus. Trapped. That was how he felt. Joseph’s gut tightened. He had not seen that coming. With Melinda he never knew what was hitting him next, and at the same time, when it finally hit him, he had known all along.

  “The sky is showing the stars and the moon, the daylight in my dream doesn’t mind the absence of the sun.” Why was she talking so slowly, weighing every word, as if on trial? Sure, dreams had a certain power for the beholder, but not like this. It felt so heavy. “The ash rain had bright sparks in it, but they turned to ash long before they touched the ground. Among the moon and the stars and the strange twilight in this place, only the soft snow of ashes fell down, covering the whole scene, slowly.” She did not break eye contact. Joseph could see it as clearly as he saw her green eyes the ash rain reflected peacefully in her pupils. He was shocked to realize that she was about to take a sip of water again, his eyes drifted to the glass in front of her, breaking the contact. He did not see her hand moving towards it, but it had almost reached the glass. Perhaps he had noticed it unconsciously, he told himself, no big deal. But there was definitely something very strange about this patient. Out of all of his clients she had the least complicated problems, surely nothing that would justify monthly visits.

  He was puzzled when he realized that the second he was pulled back into the room with her she had just sank back into the couch again, her gaze fixing him like a lion a gazelle. “Who’re you in this dream?” He did not realize he said it out loud, how could something like that even happen? He was a professional, who did not interrupt his patients. Maybe he was just getting tired after all those years in her presence, years that did not seem to change her dreams, not knowing where this was going. His counselling group came together every second week, and there he shared his experiences with others in his field of unnecessary therapy, and the most important thing was to be there for people. In these meetings he referred to her as "soul chameleon". It gave them a good chuckle back then, and he laughed with them realizing what a strange name that was. But it was true. He had an exceptional sense for other human beings, it had always been this way. But with this strange woman he felt nothing except a growing dread in the back of his mind.

  ***

  Back when he was in college there was a bully who was an exceptional asshole and sadist. He used to pick a kid at the beginning of the year and then humiliate them for everybody to watch until they broke down. Of course he never did it alone. He had his whole dysfunctional gang with him. The first year Joseph witnessed them humiliating and bullying a new kid. He was too scared and shocked to act, but he told himself that this was it. That was his call. He was going to fix this, even though he had no idea what ‘this’ actually meant. It haunted him, the dysfunctional gang picking on the little newcomer. The boy was a classic victim and Joseph had not seen him around in school before. Maybe he was new in town. He had big glasses, a kind but slightly odd smile, always carried his own lunch bag with his name on it, he was exceptionally good in math, physics, languages, geography, history... well, maybe he was just really hard-working and dedicated. Joseph had an analytical mind even back then when everyone was wound up in their own narcissism caused by adolescence. So, Joseph’s first impulse was a strike. He wrapped his mind around this plan for a while. How many of his friends did he have to bring? What were the odds that they would win a straight-on fight and what if they lost? If they lost, they were going to be fucked all through their high school years. Joseph was good at school, not particularly interested in it, but okay. He had his two favorite subjects, history and biology, in which he kept up with the best of his class, he developed a friendship with them because they had a lot to talk about, because they shared common interests. Well, the scenario in which they won the fight was unlikely at best. He instead tried to understand the victim and the bullies, which turned out to be a bad idea.

  He talked to the shy boy casually as they passed each other in the hallway of their school. “Hey.” Joseph greeted. The nameless boy looked around shocked to find himself the only one around. “Hi.” he replied. Joseph made a mental note: the boy was mediocre. Joseph was not aware he had made this assumption. “Can I help you with something?” The boy asked nervously. “Hi, I’m Joseph, what’s your name?” “I’m John.” Joseph smiled, he instantly took a liking in the boy who must have been about his age. John was perhaps a year younger than him. His voice was soft and his eyes shy and canny, the terror of the day before still lingering, causing him to tremble, and to appear weak. “There’s a science convention at the docks this afternoon, I thought you might want to join me and my friends.” John frowned. Joseph did not expect him to come, but there it was, an always working hunting technique, like a mathematical axiom. How do you got people to do what you want? You did not. You had to sniff out what kind of beings they were. Were they gatherers? Yes? If so, what did they gather? John seemed to gather nothing but physics, math, geography and so
on and so forth. So now you had to roll your dice, was John really this kind of a guy or was he doing his moms bidding? Joseph rolled his science convention and the trap snapped. “I guess?” John asked. “Alrighty then. Let’s meet at three o’clock in the Pavilion at the park, see you later, John.” Joseph gave him a peace sign when he turned and vanished around the next corner. John smiled an honest smile as his whole composure straightened, his shoulders relaxed, his head rose and his chest faced upwards again.

  ***

  “I’m a little girl and I’m holding the hand of my father, we’ve walked through here once a year since...” She broke eye contact for the fraction of a second, they were wandering through her dream and Joseph felt the connection drop. Her eyes wandered down to his lips, her pupils narrowed. A darkness crept into her eyes and it vanished as she focused on him again “... he died.” It hit him hard, harder than he had expected. For the first time in a long time he did not see it coming. It threw him off, she noticed. This patient was so intense, and so unbelievably beautiful that she must have an ocean of admirers. Not only was her body just perfect from what he could tell from her silhouette, but her eyes, he had rarely seen someone who had eyes like hers. They were so awake... so present. They say the eyes are the mirror to the soul, and this soul, this mind, this being, it was something else. But what? With one swift motion she threw her hair back, golden curls flew wildly through the air, and he sighed. You are a beautiful human being, he thought. She seemed to notice, he was sure she did. As he grabbed his glasses and started to clean them, a well-trained ritual when being thrown off so heavily that he needed a couple of seconds to recollect himself, he drifted back to the hangars. He wondered if they looked as she pictured them in her dreams, he wondered if he imagined the same hangars, the same wooden floor, the same firmament and the same sunless daylight. Sunless daylight. He could not wrap his mind around it, because it seemed to be a contradiction. No-an oxymoron. Yes, that was it, he thought. And now that he thought of it, the hangar at the harbor did not make much sense either. He put his glasses back on. Looking at her, she was focusing on him as usual. He would never get used to that. She truly was the predator here, no doubt about it. He was usually able to sniff out intentions before the person he was talking to had even conceived of them, but not with her. She was almost not human in that regard, an emotional chameleon.

  “You’ve never mentioned this before.” Joseph mentioned calmly after recollecting himself, which had created a more-than-awkward silence momentarily. “I didn’t think it was that important”, she responded gently. “Well, it seems important to me, if you’ve been having this dream on a regular bass since your father died.” She looked puzzled, which was unusual enough for her, but she did not come up with an explanation or thought of any kind on the topic. She would probably just let it pass, as she had with the countless remarks Joseph had made over the last few years. He sighed. She smiled gently upon him as if they had had a satisfying talk. Well, maybe they had. “Afraid our time is up, Doc.” Joseph glanced at the clock. She was right. How much time had his mind spent wandering in this session again? Why had she never mentioned something when he grew silent for a couple of minutes? An odd patient, that is all, he told himself. Not unpleasant, well, she was unpleasant in a way, but lovely too. Her unpleasant dimension could be reduced to her inability to accept Joseph as a therapist, or the therapy for what it was. Joseph felt this woman was honestly exceptionally pleasant. If she had not been such a pleasant patient he probably would have gotten rid of her years ago. A strange sensation, he thought again, she was his private project, as weird as that may sound. “Well, Melinda, I guess I’ll see you in two weeks then.” “I’m looking forward to it, but after our next session I’ll be travelling a lot and won’t be able to attend a couple of our meetings. Can’t really tell yet how long, though.” Now that was unusual. She had never dropped a single appointment so far. “That’s alright, Melinda, you’re always my last patient on Friday so it doesn’t interfere with any other appointments. Please let me know as soon as you can when we’re going to continue our work.” “I will”, she replied as she threw her blue scarf around her neck. As she was halfway through the door, she stopped and turned around to him one last time. “I’m very glad I have you to talk to, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it.” He smiled. “I’m pleased to hear that, Melinda, it’s my job after all. Godspeed!” She closed the door behind her and Joseph fell back in his chair and let a long and intense exhale resonate through the room.

  He took a sip of his ginger tea and, as he put the cup back on the desk, he closed his eyes. The SCIENCE CONVENTION! The banner in Josephs mind read in great, red letters. Yes, he thought, the fruits of an old brain and a long life. It made him smile, when he thought about that day, it was an eventful day after all. Joseph slowly drifted into his memories, unable to do anything about it. Sleepiness closed his eyes and he slowly recaptured that day in his mind, half-asleep, half conscious. He could not help eventually falling asleep in his chair.

  II. Science Convention!

  It was a warm day in the middle of June when the gang decided to get on their bikes and ride down the alley to the harbor that was hosting the science Convention that weekend. As usual they met at the white pavilion in the center of Rucon park. Joseph arrived last. “Hey guys!” He yelled, as he used the last of his bike’s momentum it crashed in the bushes next to them. “Hey Joseph.” a chorus of voices replied. “Hurry up!” declared a wild-looking girl. She stared at him with wide-open green eyes. Her red hair was bound up into a ponytail. “Don’t make such a fuss, Mathilda, I’m just on time.” Joseph snapped back at her. “Just... on... time...?!” The girl stretched every word into a ridiculously long syllable, making it both a question and a statement, when really it sounded like nothing but a threat. Joseph did not reply, but instead stared back at her. He did not really know how to approach her right now, for he was not late at all. All of a sudden, she started to grin a beautifully taunting grin and the whole world could see her spotless white teeth. “I’m just messing with you, kid.” Mathilda teased while patting him on the shoulder. “Very funny”, Joseph retorted, while looking rather pissed. “Hey Mike, what’re you up to?” “Hey Joseph! Good to see you I’m working on my list again.” “The list with the special numbers?” “Yeah!” That was one hell of a ridiculous list.

  When Mike first realized you could turn around a calculator and express words with the upside-down numbers displayed, Mike could not help but create a complete list of those combinations. So far, he had three. He called it: Mikes list of calculated insults. There was 317537 and 32009 and - his recent favorite - 5318008. Not very insulting so far, but considering his age, he stood out in the group as the "math-wizz". “I’ve been working on a new one, but I’m still waiting for an opportunity to use it”, Mike proudly announced. “You’re an idiot!” Lucia, Mike’s older sister had majestic long black curly hair, she was a wild young lady and known for her short fuse. She had no interest in her little brother’s silly list of insults. “Lucia”, Mike proclaimed as calmly as he could manage, “Just because you don’t understand something as complex and genius as this list of insults, doesn’t mean it’s silly!” “Yeah that’s it, I don’t understand it, that’s why I don’t think it’s funny, you’re right, little brother.” She replied annoyed grinding her knuckles on his head until he ducked away. “Lucia!” Mike took a long breath in to start the foreseeable sibling dispute when Mathilda roared in between them. “So, can we go in already? We’re late as it is.” “No.” Puzzled looks faced Joseph. “We’re waiting for someone.” “What?” Mathilda was not amused. Waiting, as most people know, is a skill very undeveloped in a child’s mind. “Just a couple of minutes, maybe he’ll show up.”

  As Joseph’s words left his lips, a bike emerged from around the corner, a skinny and pale-looking boy astraddle. “Don’t tell me you...” Mathilda started, as Joseph waved at him. “Joseph, are you serious? Isn’t that the kid the older students picked
on the other day?” Mathilda folded her arms before her chest, and so did Lucia. “Yes, but he’s alright. I talked to him, his name is John.” “God damn it Joseph, you’re getting us all in trouble here, I’m telling you.” Mathilda’s voice sounded equally outraged and alarmed. When John spotted them at the pavilion he must have not felt very welcome. In fact, for a second, he thought about just turning around and hitting the road. There they were, the two girls with very gloomy looks on their faces, and two boys, one of which had a pencil, block of paper and what seemed to be a calculator. And there was Joseph. He approached Joseph who was waving and smiling. When he reached them, the girls’ expressions had not changed at all, in fact, they looked even more dangerous now that he was closer to them. “Hi.”, he replied, quietly looking at the ground. But Joseph did not allow him to be shy. “Hey!”, he answered, smiling a broad, welcoming smile. It helped a little, at least until he dared to look around at this newly-discovered group of individuals to whom he was about to be introduced. “Hey there!” Mike’s greeting was friendlier than it usually was, he was exaggerating it because his sister was obviously against the new guy and he wanted to be extra friendly. “What’re you doing here?” Mathilda’s words were harsh. Before John could come up with an answer, Joseph sprang to his rescue. “I invited him, which means he’s our guest today. Show the new kid in town around and spend some time with him, you know.” Mathilda was not there yet but at least her expression had not hardened any more, which was actually a good sign. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause any trouble. I’ll just go home.” John was as confident as a sparrow in Antarctica. “Just don’t bother us and don’t get us in trouble. And, most importantly, don’t talk to us at school tomorrow!” Lucia’s voice was as threatening as it was harsh. John swallowed the lump in his throat, well he tried. “Don’t be a 3754x827, Lucia!” Mike felt like this was the perfect moment for the joke he invented a couple of days ago and while he told it he wrote the fourth combination on ‘Mike’s list of calculated insults’: 3104558. Lucia did not understand, no one did, but what did he expect with that level of multiplication thrown into a heated debate. “What did you just call me?” In Lucia’s eyes flickered a fury only siblings are able to conjure that quickly, but before she could grab Mike, he was already on his bike taking the high road to the science convention.