Ghosts of Cyan 103

            Xerces had to think a moment. The idea of a ghost was something he was only vaguely aware of. In his supposedly advanced culture of science, reason and logical conclusions the only time ghosts came up were in ancient history classes and sometimes in very old literature. He studied Uma’s pretty face to see if there was an element humor or kidding. There was none, she was completely serious.

            “No. I don’t think so. They do not exist where I’m from. I doubt they exist anywhere.”

            “Yves said basically the same thing when I brought him here the first time. As you are about to see there is something to the idea. After meeting him and now you, I have a new hypothesis.”

            “About ghosts?”

            “No, about us in this reality. The more advanced we become, the more we lose touch with other times, places, happenings… Other realities, other realities as real as you and I standing here having this discussion. It is as if we close it off, unable to admit to ourselves the other things exist. You and Yves have closed it off completely but they are here inside us, next to us and all around us. Come over here and let’s sit just below the track on the wall.”

            Xerces thought she was going a little crazy down here in the tunnel and wished for the elegant woman just an hour or so ago but he felt no danger from her. A new and strange feeling began to seep in slowly robbing him of reason and judgment. It was not fear but something similar. He followed her over and sat down.

            “Total darkness. Have you seen it before? Turn off both of your lights.”

            He did and she did the same, plunging them into an inky blackness the likes of which he had never seen before. All the sudden, Xerces felt as if walls were closing in all around him. Uma took his hand.

            “Relax Xerces. The Tisiphones travel this long forgotten tunnel. They are the ghosts of the world as it once was before the careless and reckless destroyed it.”

            Xerces herd them first and his rational brain told him it was a maglev train and he hoped they were in a safe spot sitting so close to one of the rails. The distant scream grew louder and his rational brain began to slowly retreat giving way to something more primeval and basic. His lifetime of training and work as a spy held back the cold damp hand of fear reaching inside and turning his insides. Uma held his hand as the sounds grew louder and then he saw something coming into view far down the tunnel. A train he thought but it was no train. A cobalt blue ball of light was coming toward them shooting bolts of energy along the tracks and walls of the tunnel. He knew Uma was there but felt utterly alone at the same time. The screaming stopped and the ball came to a stop in front of them well out of arms reach. A face took shape and stared at them. Xerces felt every emotion he had ever felt in his life seemingly all at once.

            “I’m the residue of the dead. All of their hopes, dreams, emotions, fears and desires stolen before their time. Go no further into my tunnel.”

            Xerces saw only a bright white all around him and felt his heart pounding. Then he saw and felt the untold suffering of an entire world wiped out in a matter of hours. People burned alive, crushed under endless tones of rubble, choking on poison air and what seemed like every possible death in such a monumental catastrophe. The worst was yet to come.

The Tisiphones said, “Now you will truly know what suffering means.”

Xerces no longer felt he was in his body, a feeling he had never had before. A strange new reality overwhelmed his senses. The physical suffering was bad enough but the mental suffering was much worse. Parents taken from their children and each other, friends taken from friends; the very fabric of being ripped away in an instant and sadly each person knowing it. Xerces felt it all.

“Your science explains but a fraction of reality. The universe is far larger and complicated than you will ever know. Look for open doors where there seems to be none as you go fourth from this place. Never forget the value of life.” 

            Other voices slowly came through but speaking as one. “Help us Xerces. We are trapped in a dark place far away.”

         

              Everything went black. He awoke in a soft large bed to a giant humanoid looking being covered in long white hair wearing purple and gold clothes slapping him gently. He saw empathy in the being’s large gray eyes. 

          

            “Easy there and welcome back. I’m Eldam, a friend of Uma and Yves. Yves found you and Uma after you were gone more than two hours. The visions in the tunnels can be quite strong at times. I guess it is not often they encounter such a new mind as yours. I told Yves you would be okay. You are not the same person who went down the latter.  You feel and look different.”

            Xerces glanced around taking in the surreal scene he now found himself in. He was in a large round bed under soft pink sheets and a thick blue blanket. Daylight streamed in from a large round window to his left and bounced off the soft green walls. The ceiling was a dome. Eldam held up a mirror. Xerces saw a strange face staring back. His once black short hair was as white as the creature’s and so were his eyebrows. His skin had a reddish sunburned look.

            “Your skin will soon return to it’s normal color but your hair…” 

            “Where am I and where is Uma?” He managed at last.

            “You are in their home still. Uma is okay. Yves come!”

            Yves came in through the door and stood at the foot of the bed.

            “Xerces. We are so sorry. We have never seen such strong visions. Uma and I wanted to let you know there’s much more to this universe than even we understand but we had no idea.”

            “How long was I out and how did I get here? I can only remember going down the latter and… and things I cannot yet speak of. Thanks for getting us out of there. I’m not upset with you but things are not the same now.”

            “Just from last night. It is only mid-morning now. This world like our own is both deeply troubled and at the same time promising.”

            Eldam helped Xerces sit up and handed him his clothes.

            “I gave you some strong herbs to pull you back to this world. You may be a little dizzy today but it will pass. Do you want to dress and join us now or rest some more?”          

            “I’ll dress and join you.”

            “I’ll be just out the door.” Eldam said following Yves out of the room.

            Xerces was a little dizzy but quickly dressed and followed Eldam up to a large well lit dining room and he was relieved to see Uma sitting at the table. Much of the color had gone from her hair and she too looked like she had a terrible sunburn. She rushed to Xerces and embraced him.

“I’m so sorry Xerces. I’ve never seen Tisiphones like those we saw last night. I’m happy we are both safe.”

“Me too. I’m glad to see you as well. I’d like to stay above ground for the remainder of the time I’m here. I accept both of your apologizes. I don’t think you meant me harm.”