The Junction

Part 1: Sophie

“No no, it’s this next right. THE RIGHT! See how the road turns into a bend. It says the hotel is just around that”

Jasper hastily veered the car to the right to ensure we didn’t miss our turn as we had been for the last 20 miles. He turned quickly Enough to make my moon pies spill onto his lap causing his sudden outburst-

“Dammit Sophie…”

Aren’t you the one who turned abruptly…

“Well you did say you wanted a snack and I mean it kinda did fall into your lap”

I let out a small laugh that was amusing to me but not so much to Jasper.

“You aren’t wrong, but at the same time if you know I’m making a sharp turn, hold onto the things that could fly away instead of acting like you are on a rollercoaster. Now we are going to have to clean the car…”

Irritated I turned up the radio. “I will follow you into the Dark” by death cab for Cutie was playing. I love this song… There is no use talking to Jasper when he is like this. No shock as well I heard the packaging rip from the moon pie and heard the slightest sound of crunches. I rolled down the window to take in the sights of the Texas frontier. Being from Dallas, seeing any mountain larger than an ant hill is pretty fascinating to me. Now granted these aren’t any rocky mountains, but they are taller than the ant hills so I’ll take it. The breeze was hot and humid as it hit my face. I shut my eyes to embrace the wind and tune into the radio but that was short-lived when I felt my window roll up nocking my chin against the glass and the radio being turned to zero.

“Where is this hotel? It’s starting to get dark and I don’t want us out here when the weirdos and mountain lions come to get you, plus the last gas station was that Emerald Belle about 10 miles ago”

He laughed. No surprise he would laugh at something bad happening to me.

“It’s just over this hill. There should be a big clearing and the hotel should be hard to miss. Plus the directions say that should be any minute now”

He nodded his head and the only sound now was the silence muffled by the sound of the road.

….

…..

“Are you excited for this weekend?” Jasper asked clearly to break the silence.

“No work, No phones, Just nature, I couldn’t be more excited. I can’t tell you the last time we have taken a trip that wasn’t to a hospital or to a specialist.. .it will be nice to forget everything that has been happening at home for a while. Even if it’s just for a weekend…”

I paused.

“Don’t worry… I’m also happy to be here with you. Despite how many times I’ve wanted to shove that moon pie in your face during these last 3 hours, but hey it looks like we should be here.”

Jasper smiled at me grabbing my hand with his crumby sticky fingers that I hate to love.

“I think this is it?”

From the top of the hill, I was able to see a panoramic of the property. The property was very private from the outside. Being locked in by the mountains and about 10 acres of flat land. That the hotel sat directly in the center. The exit was also the entrance. Which barely could fit 2 cars. The layout of the hotel was far from normal. It was a completely circular shape. Each cabin is placed on the outer parts of the circle and what I’m guessing is a door connects the rooms to the hallway. This was very exciting to me. I’ve never seen such a funky-looking and shaped hotel. The front entrance was painted in a faded baby blue and the roof was a deep berry blue or night blue. The entrance was covered with an awning that reached out onto the parking spaces. The lining of the bottom of the hotel was pure white.

“Well you were looking for interesting and I think we definitely found it. What do you think?”

Jasper waited for my response. More so waited for my affirmation on how I felt about the place.

“Brilliant … I love it. If this is what the outside looks like I’m excited to see the inside”

Jasper parked the car under the awning and looked at me in that adventurous look that I love to see.

“Well we won’t know until we see”

He smiled at me and dashed over to my side of the door, and very gentlemanly like, opened my door. He looked down at his shirt to see the crumbs and quickly brushed them off before taking my hand.

We walked towards the French doors that opened up into the check-in area, and just like the outside the inside did not disappoint. The floor was marble with that same berry blue, only the difference was that little tiny stars were engraved into the marble. They almost shined back at you they were so glossy and poignant. The furniture was also unique. That of solid black. Sleek and elegant, elongated like that of a 70s conversation pit. The color pallet of the inside was extremely pleasant to the eyes, but before I could wander more, A chirpy voice that of a cartoon bird graced the air.

“Hello! My name is Astrid! Welcome to the Junction of Earth and Ethereal Hotel! Or, the junction for short! What can I do for you two friends?”

The woman at the front desk was nonetheless interesting to look at as well. She wore her hair up in a sleek ponytail that went passed her bottom and nearly touched her knees. The staff outfit was that of a royal blue dress and a shrugged purple cardigan. Very relaxed but also elegant. Her beauty felt divine. She looked like she could model for Muglar or Alexander McQueen. She probably thought I was analyzing her, but Jasper quickly responded.

“Hi, yeah we have a reservation. It should be under “Jasper Jule” if not that name then “Sophie Licht”.

He paused, but Jasper being Jasper, cannot handle silence.

“I must say, the pictures online do not do this place justice”

“Oh yeah. People always are confused when they come in. They see our good reviews but don’t really believe why it’s that high until they get here. I’m happy to hear that it has surpassed your expectations. Y'all had the single suite correct?”

“Yes. that’s ours.”

“Well tell you what. Since we don’t have any bookings in our deluxe suite (which I may add is our most nice cabin) I’m going to upgrade y'all into that suite. Is that okay with y'all?”

I knew I had a good feeling about this place. I let out my excitement in my response.

“Yes! That would be wonderful! Thank you so much!”

“Super! I have y'alls room keys. I can show you to your room and give you a quick tour of the property if you would like?”

I and jasper responded simultaneously

“Sure!”

We followed Astrid down the hallways.

“So to your left is where all of our cabins reside. All of the cabins come with 2 doors. One leading to the inside of the hallway and one leading to the outside in case you are feeling a taste of nature. To the right, is our common area. Where you can enjoy our complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also have multiple seating areas and a fire pit in the center that is on a first come first serve basis. The space gets pretty popular so I suggest getting there as early as you can. Unless you don’t mind making friends.As you can see we have this area entirely open to the elements allowing this to be a way to incorporate nature into our design. Our guests love this space. This wraps around the entirety of the hotel so you can stand anywhere in the hotel and be able to look inside. It’s one of my favorite features.”

We continued to walk around to where I would guess the halfway mark is. When we stopped to a halt. The room number was not typical it was marked in Roman numerals and ours just had a zero on it.

“And this would be the deluxe suite.”

She opened the door to a massive room. Lined with snow-white carpet and grape-colored walls. To the right of the door was a large fireplace with a bottle of champagne, rose, and sparkling water. With complimentary hot towels. Straight ahead was the second door that Astrid mentioned leading to the outside, and my most looking forward to part… the California king-size bed. The linens were spotless not even a speck of dirt could be found on the sheets. A plush soft purple blanket to match the walls was also on the bed. Then of course the bathroom. The bathroom consisted of a hot tub sized tub, a closet sized shower, two sinks, and a massive mirror showing the reflection of a quite handsome-looking couple.

“This place is absolutely insane. What do y'all not have should be the question”

Astrid smiled and chuckled before responding

“Well, we do hate to say we don’t have any in-room phones. So if you need assistance we have staff here 24/7 to help so just come back down to the reception room and we will be more than happy to help you.”

“Well thank you so much for all your hospitality. We greatly appreciate it.”

Right as she was about to close the door it opened hastily.

“And I almost forgot. We have multiple activities that are highly rated… Come by the front desk if you are interested and I can give you more information. And here are your room keys”

She handed us the keys the was a typical swipe and open. The only difference was that it had some type of symbol on it. She shut the door ever so slowly with a gentle smile. I wandered over to the back entrance door to get a look at the scenery that we had to wake up to. I before I could open the doorJasperr coughed into what he would say

“Aouh i’m going to go get the bags. Why don’t you take a look around when we get back we can go check out the complimentary dinner”

“Are you sure you don’t want any help? It’s not like I’m doing anything besides staring out this door”

“No no. I promise plus it’s getting dark. There are probably some snakes or scorpions out here. Try to see if anyone left any money in the Bibles haha. I saw that on the internet and I’ve been curious to see if it is true.”

“I’ll definitely give it a look”

He winked at me as he left the room. My curiosity poked at me like a needle and a thimble. I headed back towards the door. It was just past dusk. The faint colors of tangerine, lilac, and berry blue filled the night air. I can’t explain what but something told me to go look at the stars and get some air. The door was followed by about 3 small steps to bring you back to ground zero. I took a moment to breathe in the West Texas air.

…..

Dusty, but also a hint of honeysuckle. I’ve always loved honeysuckle even as a child. Like a truffle pig on the hunt, I scoured the area to try to find the honeysuckle. I came across a little path. With a heavily forested area with a sign that read.

“Parhelion pond just beyond this path ”

The sign had a symbol under it as well. The same was on the room key.

It was comprised of 7 circle-like symbols. A small circle in the center. A circle twice its size around the smaller one, but made up of Greek Meander-style lines. Then 5 crescent moon-like circles side by side on the outer rim. From the center circle were 5 lines going into each crescent moon circle. The best way I can describe it is that of something you would see written on a cave in Greece or Egypt or perhaps an artsy crop circle.

I looked behind me to make sure Jasper wasn’t calling my name or standing outside the door wondering where I had ventured off to. I don’t hear anything. Looks like he hasn’t filled out a missing persons report yet.

I stumbled onto the path as the dirt and leaves crunched behind me. The trees lead the way through the path. It was about a 7-minute walk. I thought about turning back on account of how dark it was until a soft blue glow lightened the path yet again, and I was greeted with yet another sign

“Parahelion pond, where Earth meets empyreal”

That strange symbol was below the sign again. I didn’t pay any mind as I was entranced with this natural pool. The trees opened up in the center. Making it a perfect spot to come look at stars. It looked unreal, like something you would see in a magical place like the center of the earth or on another planet. Perfectly clear to see the algae and glowing rocks from the bottom. They must have spent a fortune to make this look like how it is. I looked back behind me to make sure there was nobody behind me. I slipped off my denim shorts and my white ruffled shirt to expose myself in just my undergarments. I kicked off my boots to jump in.

Whoosh!

As my body entered the watery portal, I sank to the bottom like a lava lamp, I opened my eyes to see the blues and greens of the rocks and algae glow. like King Trident came to do the interior decorating using materials from his own personal rock garden collection. With his most fine underwater vines, rich enough to bury your face into and take a sea nap. I felt myself feeling comforted by the water. Like I would be safe inside even though I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Something was keeping me safe.

I approached my head out of the waters although I felt like I was under there for an eternity, I didn’t gasp for air. I felt quite calm. I looked up at the sky to see a billion pearls shining down at me and reflecting into the pool I was connected with the universe and in perfect peace. I floated there for what felt like an eternity when I could hear the faint footsteps and calling of my name.

“ SOPHIE! Sophie are you over here!”

It was Jasper, shit! I must’ve been out here longer than I thought. I yelled back at him

“Jasper! Come check this out”

The footsteps got closer. His face of worry quickly turns to surprise and curiosity. He stopped to look at the sign that I had once looked at moments before him. He glanced at it, observantly, analyzing it, then proceeded in my direction.

“This is a part of the hotel?”

I splashed around and even backstrokes in his direction like a playful mermaid enticing the handsome sailor to come to join me.

“It seems so. Isn’t it wonderful! Come in and take a swim with me”

I smiled at him as he looked to the ground beside him to see that my clothes were not on my body, but more so on the ground. Before he could respond, he smiled at me in a flirtatious way, and proceeded to take his outer garments off as well, and just like me, and one swift jump, he was in the water with me.

He looked up at the sky with childlike wonder.

“The view in here is incredible. I’ve never seen something like this in person. Always on the pictures they show on computer screens but never anything like this. I don’t smell any chlorine. I wonder how they get it so clear “

I swam up and put my legs around him and embraced him with the dew on my lips to meet his.

“We should come back up here tomorrow. I’m starving” I said as I broke our kiss.

“Well you are in luck The buffet is 24 hours and let’s just say, you will be impressed”

I smiled and raced out of the pool with excitement. I hurried and put my clothes on as Jasper laughed as he trudged behind me.

“Come on man. I could fly to the moon and back before you get your slow ass out of that water” I teased.

“Oh yeah?”

Jasper quickly jumped from the water, grabbed his clothes, and chased me. The whole hotel could probably hear how loud I was giggling. He chased me right up to the back door of our suite where I struggled to get the room key out of my damp pocket. I felt Jasper put his hands around my waist in a “GOTCHA” way

“Fine fine. Maybe you aren’t as much a slow ass as I think.”

“Remember that… I would chase you past the moon, and farther as well.”

“Yeah yeah come on Casanova. Let’s get some food and maybe test out that bathtub?” I suggested

He stuck a kiss on me and as much as I wanted to fight. I let him in and embraced this sweet gift, dropping my room key. I wonder what else this hotel has heard…

Part 2:Jasper

Sophie laid next to me fast asleep. I, however, was restless. I couldn’t get the image out of my head of what I saw when I went to the front desk and again the feeling I felt when I looked at that strange symbol on the sign where the pond was. Something about this place doesn’t seem right to me but I don’t want to tell Sophie. She seems so ecstatic, plus I don’t feel in immediate danger perhaps just an odd feeling, but I’ll shake that off for her sake.

I decided that maybe it would be a good idea to put us down for one of the activities tomorrow perhaps hiking? steadily like a thief in the night, i crept out of bed slowly. I tiptoed to the door, making sure I had my room key with me, I slowly opened and closed the door, making sure not to wake her. She is so peaceful when she sleeps. It’s like everything she has gone through just goes out the window. I’m glad she can experience some type of peace. She hasn’t been the same since her diagnosis, I don’t blame her. The best I can do is just be there for her…

I walked down the hallway. There was a certain eeriness to the emptiness. Nobody in the hallway. Nobody In the common area. Just me. Just the sound of my footsteps and my breath. I reached the reception desk to see a different front desk worker. This time a male. Mid-50s. Only his attire was much different from that of the woman. He wore an all blue robe tied with a purple rope belt. His name tag said “Marshall”

My sudden appearance didn’t seem to startle him.

Like he was waiting for me….

Well, his job is to wait on people so I guess that makes sense.

“Hello marshal I was wondering-“

“ Hello Jasper”

What the fuck.

How did this heavens gate looking motherfucker know my name?

“Sorry for the forwardness. It’s our job to know all the guests that come inside. The hotel. We only have 8 rooms so intimacy with our guests is very important to us. Also, it’s a matter of safety. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable”

“No no, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off rude. It just threw me off. Um. I came by to see if I could sign me and my wife up for hiking tomorrow.”

He spoke in an ominous tone. Almost like a prerecorded message. Maybe it was because it was late and he didn’t have any energy, but something about the way he spoke was not fully there.

“Why of course sir. We have all availability for 7 am, 10 am, and 3 pm. We also have a night hike at 8 pm that is a real guest favorite. Just come by at any of those times. No need to sign up.”

“Okay, that sounds good. We will probably come to the 10 o’clock one. The wife likes to sleep in.”

“Of course sir. We will see you at 10”

I took the pamphlet and began to walk back to the room.

“They can fix your wife’s illness”

I stopped in my tracks. Dropping the pamphlets in my hand and onto the floor.

I turned around to see the man smiling at me in that wax figure smile.

“Oh, dear. Need any help, sir?”

I looked at him in confusion. What did he just say? maybe I am more tired than I let on.

“No, thank you… goodnight….” I said bluntly.

“Well, the night is good,” the ominous man said, shooting shivers down my spine.

I picked up the pamphlets and headed back down the hallway at a quicker pace.

I nearly made it inside when in a quick glance I dared look to my right into the common space.

8 people in the same robes as the front desk man stood joining hands in a perfect circle. Including the first receptionist Astrid. All of them chanting some type of language, unlike anything I’d ever heard. Their faces were that of horror. Their heads stuck facing the sky with each of their eyes rolled to the back of their skulls. Complete white. Completely gone. Bodies are all in harmony. All chanting.

In a panic, I pulled out the room key as quickly as my futile fingertips would allow me.

I stopped. The symbol is also on the room key?

I slammed open the door with great force.

To my absolute horror. Upon opening the door. I saw Sophie hovering above the center of the room. Only the same symbol of that on the pond sign was now stained into the floor in a bright white glow. Only bigger and entrapping my wife under its forcefield.

She was completely nude. Her legs were wide open. The bright white light moved like a slinky. It wrapped around her breasts and into her neck and penetrated into her eyes and mouth.

I flung myself forward to her. Only making it a few steps without being flung back towards the door like a puppet being pulled back to its string. I was now what felt like glued to the wall. At the will of my puppetmaster. Having to watch this happen to my unconscious wife I shut my eyes in horror. Only screaming. Screaming for release. Not of me. But of her.

“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH HER.”

I screamed so hard I was screaming blood with every word.

“Pleaseeeess. Take me. Take me”

She still hovered there. Lifeless. Only now the snake of light was traveling up her legs and inside her.

I spat the blood from my mouth out and cried out

“NO NO NOOOOOO”

I wept. I wept for my wife I wept from what they were taking from her.

An ominous figure approached me. I veered my head down. I could feel the strain in my neck from all the screaming. I kept my head down. Accepting that I could not save my wife.

“Look at me” the voice spoke in a too-familiar tone.

I looked up to see the ominous light figure mold itself into another form.

It was me.

“You must be incredibly scared and confused”

I looked at what must be a Delusion of my mind. My body must be giving up.

The apparition grabbed my face gently to face it.

“I know this is hard, but I promise this will be easier if you just focus on me. You are a small part of who you actually are. This body that you have here is only part of where else you are connected to. This is just your earthly body. Where part of your consciousness is only connected to here. You being in this portal is able for you to connect with your energy force being me. While also being you. Only those who have dipped in the parhelion waters and are in the right place at the right time right at the junction can tap into this true self. Every human on this planet is connected to an energy source but rarely any can tap into it. I’m sure you know of Ufos. Many fear the unknown of “aliens” They shoot us down and have been trying to dissect what we are without letting us try to help. We are not immortal. If our human body dies before we can transcend to full energy then the light goes out”

I spit the blood from my mouth.

“If you are about “transcending people” and bringing peace to earth then why are you harming my wife”

“We aren’t harming your wife. Sophie has cancer. We are taking the disease out of her body.”

“Look for yourself.”

The figure made itself translucent so I would be able to see Sophie.

The white light pulled itself outside of her mouth and her legs to show a black orb with red veins. Pulsating like a heartbeat. The white light. Wrapped the orb in itself crushing its very essence.

“We bring the truth. We show people what they really are. We also protect against those who seek to hurt what we are. Some people’s orbs are much darker in color and also hold more volume. Their whole beings become the darkness. Humanity is our greatest darkness. If destroying all of humanity and preserving what light is left. Then so be it”

“The decision will be up to you if you are going to transcend to the light. If not then we will have to destroy you. Your love for Sophie will also be tested. The choice will be yours:”

The figure dissolved back into the symbol. And Sophie fell back down to the floor gently.

At the same time. I became free from the invisible chains I was bound to.

I ran to her. Grabbing the blanket and wrapping her around it.

.

I shook her and called her name. Accidentally spitting blood on her.

“Sophie! Sophie!”

I looked at her waiting.

She coughed harshly. I reached for the water on the fireplace and forced it into her mouth to drink.

She coughed a bit more until looking at me. Not in a fearful or confused way, but more like she had made her mind up on a decision that she had been pondering on for years.

“We must go to the parhelion”

Part 3: Sophie

I thought that I was dreaming. That’s how sweet it felt. That’s how gently I was being held. I felt as if I was back in the womb. Floating. No pain. No death. No worry.

It came to me. An all-knowing mother and father. I saw it approach me and embrace me with a kiss.

“You’ve suffered a great deal so far in your short existence” it spoke to me.

I wept and embraced this entity.

“Do you know what I am?”

I knew exactly what it was. It was everything I was looking for. Everything I longed for. Everything I was and wanted to be. Divine. Pure. Just. It was the all-knowing truth.

“I know this is not a dream. I know that you are real”

“I am real. I’m as real as the cells in your skin and the fibers in your hair. Me and you are pieces of each other. We must have another to survive. The only thing is it’s rare for us to be able to speak to each other to express our Same goal. You see. In the beginning, the spiritual realm and the mortal realm lived together in a junction. We helped each other. There was no disease, no aging, no war or murder. We were able to tap into our spiritual self to make the world a paradise for other species and entities to visit. It was truly heaven on earth. Until the mortal realm got greedy. They craved the knowledge of the spirits and began to turn their back on them. They killed one another. Destroyed the land. Banished the spiritual realm into solace. They began to fear them and what powers we possessed. They lost touch with their power as well. The world is filled with darkness and this planet has been en route for doom for many centuries now. The spiritual energy that I am is slowly dying, and once we die then all hope for humanity is lost and hope for healing is lost. You are special because you have the energy inside of you. You have me inside you. I’ve always been there. You felt me when you went inside the parhelion pond. You felt me when you arrived here. You feel me now as I speak to you. We met here on a date with fate and a kiss of destiny. You are me and I am you.

Everything it said made sense. Nothing came as a surprise. I accepted the terms of this contract without reading the fine print. I didn’t need to.

“We are not god nor do we know where we came from, but we know our purpose and what we must do. “

Curiously I asked “What must we do”

“We must bring those to us who seek to join, and destroy those who seek to destroy us. We are the key to restoring humanity to what it once was. We’ve tried for many years to let those be known of our presence. Crop circles. Radio communications, but the mortals are so scared of us that they put us as a “threat to national security”

“So how do we become one?” I eagerly asked

“ You will submit to me, just as I will submit to you and I will gift you all our power. When you are ready. You will go back to the parhelion pool and submerge yourself completely as if you were a child. Then our work will begin”

I was silent. Not because I needed to think about this decision but because I already knew my answer. This was my destiny and this is who I was made to be. I’ve never been good and I’ve never been bad.

I held this entity. Giving my pain and my suffering to them fully. It brushed my hair and put me in front of them.

“There is still much more you will not understand, but all will speak in clarity soon. No pain. No suffering. You will be something that those dream of being and what most will never become. Right now I’m pulling out the cancer that has been eating your body from the inside out. You will never know what pain feels like ever again after today. You will come back to the mortal realm momentarily. Those close to you may rebuke you or try to stir you away, but you know what you must do. If they follow. Let them follow. If they choose to stay in the darkness. Let them stay.”

I wept the final tear I would as a mere mortal once more as the entity kissed my lips once more.

….

…..

I awoke.

I felt liquid on my face and could see Jasper over my body in tears. He rushed some water to me and proceeded to pour it down my throat. I coughed it up and grabbed the bottle. I looked at Jasper and said what we must do.

“We must go to the parhelion”

Without thought I got up onto my feet. I left the blanket on the floor and in my nudity I walked towards the back door. I heard Jasper chase behind me. And call in a scratched voice.

“Sophie! Sophie! what the hell are you doing?” he put the blanket back on me.

“Jasper. It came to you too and you know what I’m talking about”

The room was silent.

“We need to leave now! They drugged the fucking water or something!. We are leaving now”

He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me to the other door. I pulled and pushed away from him.

“Let me go! I’m not leaving!”

“I know it came to you too. How can you be told the truth but still want to live in ignorance? Our truth about who we are has finally been shown to us in a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence from god, and you just want to just go home? Because you don’t understand it? I have a second chance at life and not just life. Something more than that. Something eternal. I’m going. If you want to stay then stay, but you won’t stop me.”

I released the blanket from my body again and headed out the door. I walked through the field and back to the path where the pond was. I followed the blue glow and stood at the edge of the pool.

I waited.

I waited for the hope that Jasper would come chasing behind me like he always does to come to join me. To be with me in every way. In the trees, in the stars, in the water…

I waited.

And waited.

With no more time to wait. I looked up at the sky.

This was it.

“Wait!”

I turned around to see Jasper in his most vulnerable state, and tears in his eyes. He spoke to me.

“And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark.”

With these familiar ever so comforting lyrics, I smiled at his decision He put his hand into mine and we looked around to see those of the hotel workers in their garments watching us as we get ready to take our plunge into our eternity. I smiled at them. Kissed Jasper once more before we are born anew into our new life.

For I will follow you.

I’ll follow you into the light