Night Light
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The next morning, I woke up in my own bed. It was a little after seven o’clock and the sun wasn’t even up yet but it felt like someone had put me through an industrial-strength washing machine with a spin cycle on high. My head hurt so badly that I could barely open my eyes to see where I was or what time of day it might be.
The room looked familiar though; there were pictures all over the walls—pictures from when we’d been kids together growing up in our parent’s house until they died and left us their home. There were also photos of his family as well: Dad’s sister, her husband, and two sons who lived out east somewhere.
And then there were some of Mom and Grandma too…but not many because she hadn’t wanted them around much once he started dating me. But now that I think about it, maybe those weren’t really photos at all. Maybe they were paintings done by one of the local artists for sale in town.
They certainly didn’t look real enough to have been taken recently, let alone decades ago. Did this mean I’d actually gone back in time? Or did I just dream last night? Was it possible that everything happened exactly how I remembered it happening except that I somehow ended up here instead of there?
I tried getting up off the bed but couldn’t get myself upright without feeling dizzy and nauseous. “Oh God,” I moaned while trying to sit up again. This time my stomach rolled violently and I doubled over onto the floor before vomiting profusely into the carpeted area between the mattress and box spring.
When I finally stopped retching, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and took several deep breaths. Then I got up slowly and made my way across the room toward the bathroom. Once inside, I turned on the light and sat down on the toilet seat lid.
After catching my breath and wiping my face dry with a paper towel, I examined myself closely in the mirror. Everything seemed normal except for the fact that I still had no idea why I was here or if I should even try going anywhere else. What would happen to me if I went outside?
Would I end up right back in this same place or would something else take its place? How long do you stay stuck in limbo anyway? Is there any point in doing anything other than waiting for whatever happens next? Why am I even thinking about these things when I’m supposed to be focusing on finding my brother?
“Where are you?” I whispered. “Dad? Are you listening? Please tell me where you’re hiding him.” I stared at the reflection in the mirror for another minute before standing up and turning off the light.
After taking a shower and cleaning myself up, I dressed in clean clothes and decided to go downstairs for breakfast. As soon as I stepped foot into the kitchen, I knew something was wrong. There were three empty plates sitting on the counter along with crumbs scattered everywhere.
Had he already eaten? Where is he now? I walked over to the stove and opened the oven door. He wasn’t cooking either. In fact, nothing appeared to be cooked at all. Instead, he was eating cold cereal straight out of the bowl with a spoon.
“You’ve got to help me find him!” I said, rushing forward and grabbing his arm. “He needs your protection! You can’t leave him unprotected against evil spirits like that. That’s dangerous!” I pulled hard on his sleeve and yanked him away from the counter.
His body jerked backward, causing a loud crash as the dishes fell to the ground. Glass shattered loudly and cutlery clattered to the tile floor. I grabbed hold of both sides of the sink and held tight while he struggled to pull himself free. Finally, he managed to break loose and turn around to face me.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked angrily. “Why won’t you stop bothering me? Go bother somebody else. Leave me alone!”
Before I could respond, he stormed past me and headed upstairs. I followed behind him and watched him disappear into his bedroom. I stood in front of the closed door for several minutes before moving closer to listen for any sounds coming from within. Nothing. No movement. Not even breathing.
Even the TV was silent. I knocked on the door gently and waited for several seconds before knocking harder. Still nothing. So I rapped my knuckles sharply against the wood paneling. Again, silence. I listened carefully for a few moments longer, hoping to hear something but found only complete quietness.
I pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. All the lights were off and the curtains were drawn tightly shut. The air was thick with dust particles floating lazily through the room. A layer of grime coated every surface including the ceiling above. It looked like someone had used an entire bottle of Windex to wipe the walls clean but it obviously hadn’t worked very well.
I moved farther into the room until I reached the window. Looking outside, I saw what appeared to be a small garden with rows of flowers planted neatly along each side of the walkway leading to the house. Beyond the fence, I could see part of the street below. Cars passed by occasionally and people walked briskly beneath the bright morning sun.
I turned around and began walking toward the stairs when I heard footsteps approaching quickly behind me. I spun around to face whoever was following me. My heart started pounding rapidly and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. There was nobody there.
But then I noticed the sound of running water echoing faintly in the distance. Turning back toward the staircase, I scanned the hallway once more before making my way up one step at a time. I didn’t want to look back because I thought maybe I’d start seeing things.
Like the ghost of my father who might appear suddenly and scare me half to death. Or perhaps the spirit of my dead mother would come back to haunt me and make me feel guilty for not being able to save her. Maybe she’ll blame me for everything that happened to us. If so, I don’t know how much longer I will be able to stand living in this house.
As I climbed higher, the smell of fresh paint filled my nostrils and the sound of hammering echoed throughout the hallways. I hurried faster and tried to keep my eyes fixed firmly ahead of me. When I finally made it to the top of the steps, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Then I went down the hallway and entered the master bedroom. Everything seemed normal except that the bed was unmade and the sheets were wrinkled. And the closet doors were still hanging crookedly from their hinges. I sat down on the edge of the mattress and ran my fingers across the fabric covering the pillow.
After a moment, I picked up the blanket and shook it vigorously. The sheet slipped off the other end and landed on the floor. I put the blanket back and folded the corners of the fitted sheet over the pillows. The blankets smelled musty and old. They probably belonged to my parents.
I wondered if they ever slept here together or did they sleep separately. Did Mom bring Dad home after work and spend the night with him? Were they happy together or miserable with each other? Why am I asking these questions about them when I should be thinking about finding my brother?
My mind wandered aimlessly as I stared blankly at the wall next to me. I couldn’t think straight anymore. My thoughts kept drifting in different directions and I wasn’t sure where to begin searching for my brother. He needed my help. I knew that without a doubt. I just wished I could remember exactly why.
What was going to happen to him now? How long has he been out there all alone? Where are the others? Is anyone looking for him right now? Has anybody seen anything unusual lately? Do we have any idea where he might go? Are there any clues left behind anywhere that could lead us to him? Wasn’t there some kind of clue hidden somewhere in this house?
Something written on the walls or carved into the furniture? Some sort of message that would tell us where to find him?
A sudden gust of wind blew through the windows and rattled the blinds. It sounded like the voice of my father calling me. I jumped up and rushed to the window, pushing aside the curtain and peering outside. The sky was clear and blue and the streets were empty. I leaned forward and pressed my forehead against the glass pane. I wanted to scream his name but I held back. Instead, I whispered softly, “Dad?”
“Where is your brother?” asked a man’s voice.
Startled, I jerked away from the window and whirled around. Nobody was standing behind me. I searched the room once again for signs of life. I stepped to the side and glanced out the window overlooking the backyard. The garden was deserted; no sign of anyone else. I turned around and headed downstairs to search for the source of the strange voice.
As I walked down the stairs, I spotted a small envelope lying on the table near the front door. I bent down beside it and picked it up. A piece of paper fluttered inside the envelope and landed on the floor. I reached down and grabbed it. It looked like an invitation. Someone had sent me a birthday party invite. On the back of the card, someone wrote:
Happy Birthday! Come celebrate with us tonight. We’re waiting for you…
The handwriting was familiar. I recognized it immediately. I opened the letter and read what was written on the page. The words blurred as tears formed in my eyes.
Dear Jason,
It’s your big day today! You’ve grown so much since last year. Time really does fly by too fast. Before we know it, another year will have passed and it’ll be Christmas again. So let’s enjoy every single minute of our lives together while we can. Let’s try to live each second as though it’s the only one that matters. Because time goes by way too quickly.
We love you very much and hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration.
Love,
Mom & Dad
I dropped the note onto the floor and fell to my knees. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hugged myself tightly. I felt numb and cold. I didn’t want to move. But I had to get out of there before I completely broke down. I stood up and wiped the tears from my face. There was something important I needed to do first. I closed the curtains and locked the front door.
Then I hurried upstairs to my room. I pulled open the drawer of my desk and removed the box containing the ring. I placed it carefully on the bed and then crawled underneath the covers. I lay flat on my stomach and wrapped both arms around the box. I buried my head beneath the pillow and waited patiently until morning.
***
When I woke up the following afternoon, sunlight poured through the window and warmed my skin. I stretched my hands above my head and yawned loudly. I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes. My body ached in places I hadn’t realized existed. I rolled over and tried to stretch my legs. They wouldn’t budge. I groaned quietly and pushed myself off the bed.
“Jason!” called a woman’s voice.
I froze and listened intently. Whoever was talking sounded close by. I crept toward the closet and peeked inside. The light bulb hanging overhead flickered erratically. I took a deep breath and exhaled sharply when I saw her sitting on top of the wardrobe. She wore a beautiful white dress and a pair of black high heels.
Her hair was tied neatly into a ponytail and she carried herself gracefully. I stared at her for several seconds before I finally spoke.
“Who are you?”
She smiled gently and said nothing.
“What am I supposed to call you?”
Her smile widened slightly. “You may refer to me as ‘the lady. That seems appropriate.”
I nodded. “Okay,” I replied cautiously. “So who are you?”
“That would be telling.”
I frowned. “Why won’t you tell me anything? Why did you send me this invitation if not to give me some answers?”
“Because you don’t need any answers right now. Not yet anyway.”
My heart began racing. “But why?”
“If you must know, I’m here because you’re about to make a decision that could change everything forever. And I thought you might appreciate having someone to talk to during such a difficult moment. Someone who understands exactly how you feel. Who knows what you’re going through and has been where you stand?
If you ever decide that you’d like to hear more, just ask. I’ll always answer honestly. Until then, all you need to worry about is making the best possible choice for yourself. Everything else will fall into place eventually.”
A shiver ran down my spine. This woman knew far too much. I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not she really was human. Or perhaps she was something entirely different. Something beyond my wildest imagination. It made no sense. How could anyone possibly understand what I was feeling after reading a few lines of text?
What kind of person was she, really? Was she even real? I wasn’t sure anymore. All I knew was that I wanted to believe her. I desperately hoped she was telling the truth. But I also feared that she was lying to me. A part of me believed she was trying to trick me somehow. To manipulate my emotions with lies and half-truths.
But another, a larger portion of me refused to accept the possibility. No matter what she told me, I simply couldn’t bring myself to doubt her. I decided to take a leap of faith instead.
“All right,” I whispered. “I trust you. Please continue.”
The lady smiled warmly. She reached behind her back and pulled out a small velvet bag. Inside were three golden rings. Each bore an intricate design engraved upon its surface. One was shaped like a circle. Another resembled two intertwined triangles connected by their corners. The third looked similar to a starfish.
“These are the keys to your future,” she explained. “They represent the path you should follow. Choose one and wear it proudly. You can never go wrong with these things.”
I examined each item closely. They appeared to be solid gold. I picked them up and turned them over in my hand. Their weight was surprisingly heavy. I held the smallest key between my thumb and index finger. Its smooth edges glimmered under the fluorescent lights. I slipped it onto my ring finger and admired the way it fit perfectly against my skin.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything.”
“Don’t mention it,” she replied.
I stood there silently until she left. When I returned to my room, I placed the other two keys on my nightstand next to the first one. I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes. As sleep claimed me, I felt certain that whatever decision I chose, it would turn out alright.
***
It didn’t take long for me to arrive at my destination. I stepped out of the elevator and walked along the corridor towards the office building. After passing several doors, I stopped outside the last door on the floor. I knocked twice and waited patiently for him to open it. He glanced up from his computer screen and smiled broadly when he recognized me.
“Hey! Good morning!”
He rose to greet me and we embraced briefly. We exchanged pleasantries while walking past the reception area toward his private office. Once inside, he offered me a seat and poured us both a cup of coffee. I sat across from him and sipped slowly.
“How have you been?”
“Fine, thanks.”
We talked for a little longer before I asked him the question I had come to discuss.
“Have you heard anything new about the case?”
“Not really,” he sighed. “There’s still no sign of either victim so far.”
I nodded sadly. My mind drifted off to thoughts of the mysterious girl who had contacted me earlier that day. Her words echoed loudly in my head.
“Everything will fall into place eventually…”
Was she referring to my investigation? Did she mean that the mystery surrounding the murder of Mr. Adams was finally coming to light? Or was she talking about something completely unrelated altogether? Whatever the case, I needed to find out more.
“Do you think you’ll get any leads anytime soon?” I inquired.
“Maybe,” he shrugged. “Depends on how cooperative they are.”
I took a sip of my drink. I tried hard to remain optimistic as I gazed around his office. There were pictures of him and some of his colleagues scattered throughout. Most of them seemed to show him posing with various celebrities. His desk was covered in papers and files.
I wondered if he found time to read all of them. Perhaps he did. Maybe he spent hours poring over every single document. Occasionally, he would glance up from his work and smile at me.
The End