What Really Happened To Ian Klosterman

What happened to Ian Klosterman?

Days turned to weeks, then to months, following the mysterious disappearance of small boy in rural Minnesota - Detective Watkins decided it was time to take a less than conventional route in trying to locate this child. Ian Klosterman, age 2, now missing for more than 2 months. Vanished from his own back yard in Sulfolk county, on the edge of the Octol forest and the Aims River.

Days before the boy went missing, countless 911 calls, reported seeing strange lights and unusual activities near the area. Neighbors reported hearing growling - like sounds above and around the area of the child's family home, even weeks after his disappearance. Exhausting every means available and running down tips, only to hit dead-ends. Watkins, a father himself, put together a search team equal to that of the Navy Seals, M.O.M.S (Mothers of missing sons, and daughters)

Cashing in every favor he had collected in his department, and that of the neighboring towns, Watkins put together specifically skilled search teams. Each person was assigned to a group of 10, armed with determination, blood hounds and native guides, familiar with the "spiritual and magical " aspects of the area. Past the point of no return, they were given maps of a 30-mile area to cover - sending waves of volunteers pouring into the cold, dark and snow-covered woods.

After only a few hours, several teams were beginning to call in, reporting seeing - strange fire-like bursts in the sky, followed by roaring or growling sounds. As they approached a break in the trees, Watkins witnessed firsthand the firestorm previously reported in the sky. As they headed in the direction of the lights, not far off in the distance, they heard the howling and bays of the hounds, signaling life.

As they reached the Saginaw clearing, they saw him -

Sitting perfectly still, a small silhouette - shivering and pointing - almost expressionless, into the hazy, starless - frost covered night. Rushing to his tiny frame, they began to wrap him quickly in the heated blankets they were prepared with- Watkins, in tears, cradled the small boy deep into his chest, scouring his naked little body for injuries and clues.

As they made their way back to the car, they notice a series of random flashes of light through the fog. Exciting and stirring the boy - pointing into the air again- babbling: wiz-ourd, big wiz-ourd. His eyes grew wide and bright, he began to smile and giggle, pointing into the sky.

Fearing the boy was experiencing a delusional break, due to the freezing temperatures, and extended periods of time in the elements. They temporally ignored his rambling, secured him in the car for transport, and headed off to the nearest hospital for care and observation.

Detective Watkins met with the boy's parents at the hospital. Having been ruled out of any foul play, early on in the investigation - they were beyond anxious to see their son. Astonished by his condition, they cried tears of joy to have him home safely.

Now for the hard part.

Where had this boy been? How was he so long missing with no signs of harm? How can any of this be explained?

The Dr ordered a slew of tests, which all can back, normal. He was completely healthy, mentally and physically - perfect. They brought in a child phycologist to try to get a clearer picture as to what the boy had experienced and what he was trying to say - as he was rescued. What did those words really mean?

They began having him draw and color what he could remember seeing. Who he was with and maybe where he was.

He drew trees covered in lights, and large roaring fires, appearing and disappearing. He drew pictures of tables filled with food and other people there with him, eating. He drew the moon, as if he had been near to it. He also drew pictures of people that appeared hurt and lost. Crying as he did to go home. Baffled at having no answers and no clear path to get them, the hospital released Ian. His parents were more than happy to take him home, still slightly hesitant not knowing if they were safe from it happening again.

A few days after being home, around midnight, Ian stood at the door, calling and pointing for his mom to open it. When she told him no, it was too late, he began to spin in place. Faster and faster, humming and pointing, going faster and humming louder. Frightened and confused his parents called Detective Watkins for help.

As Watkins arrived at the Klosterman's home, it was just before sunrise. Stepping out of his car into the darkness, he felt a strange waft of heat, in the cold air- cross his body. He stopped for a moment, looking around for any source of heat, thinking it was his imagination, he continued to the door. As he was about to knock, he heard Ian inside say," open for the wiz-ourd, mommy." They opened the door to find Detective Watkins standing there, in the shadows there was a delayed movement. Ian giggled and ran to the door- arms in the air, thinking Ian recognized him, the detective knelt to pick the boy up. Ian, however, ran right by him and into the shadows.

Watkins laughed, a little embarrassed, and turned to grab the boy. He stepped out onto the sidewalk, and the boy was gone. Watkins ran into the shadows, following where the boy had stepped.

"And then, they were both gone," the Klosterman's were reported saying.

As the news of the disappearances hit the air waves, the Klosterman's were inundated with calls. Physics and mediums, rumors of Watkin's being less than honorable, and the questionable way he found Ian, when no-one else could. Human nature at its worst.

One call stood out, a native guide, who had joined the search reached out with a small glimmer of hope:

"I know that many people think I am crazy, Detective Watkins took a chance on my theory and found your son once, let me help you again! The detective knew to believe beyond what you could see, like a child. That is how and why he was granted the ability to receive the child and bring him home. Now, I believe, he has followed the child into another dimension. A world we know nothing of, but we can recover them, if you believe."

"Becoming one with nature is far more than being in it. It is allowing yourself to become a part of it, and it, you."

There had been several cases of missing persons in the area, over the past year, many who were believed to have just left their lives. Ian - was the first child, seemingly taken. Now, the cases seemed less voluntary. An ominous feeling began to circulate. What secrets were hiding here, in the middle of nowhere? Where had all these people gone?

After what they had been through during the previous months, it didn't take much persuading for them to heed the warnings and aid from this guide. He called himself a tracker, a traveler of sorts who could move in and out, through other dimensions. They did not care what anyone else had to say, they were willing to trust the man who aided the man, who HAD found their son. And they would do whatever was necessary to get them back.

For the next several days the tracker watched the skies, followed the lights and the sounds, keeping them, all recorded in a book. Late one evening while he was stirring the fire - in the place Ian had first gone missing, his mother approached him with something in her hands.

"I didn't know if this would be helpful," she said timidly. "Ian drew this the day he was released from the hospital." She pulled out a picture and handed it to the guide. He scanned his eyes across it and then looked up at Ian's mother, with a growing smile.

"This is so very helpful, " he smiled, almost laughing.

"Ian has given us directions!" as he said the words, he was up and running towards the house. "Get me a glass of water, it needs to be room temperature, hurry we are running out of time." He said excitedly.

She gave him the water; he began to pour it over the threshold of the back door. Slowly and intentionally, he poured the water, following the crack down the sidewalk to the edge of the backyard. they watched it as it began to freeze. The water filling every available space along the way. As it froze, the ice began to reflect a hint of color, a little orange, then yellow, until it was a bright shade of red. As the red ran along the fragmented concrete, they felt a slight breeze of warm air.

On the very edge of the yard, next to a broken fire ring, a hazy area appeared. Like a water droplet in the direct sunlight, a little magnified, but unclear. The traveler took a rake from the side of the house and pointed it into the small circle, to their disbelief, that part of the rake disappeared. Without hesitation, the traveler stepped part way into the opening.

He stood for a moment, laughing, standing there in between two dimensions. The Klosterman's stood staring in disbelief.

Then, it dawned on them. He did it! He actually opened a portal to another place. They began to approach the opening, but the guide signaled for them to wait. They could feel an intense heat coming from the portal.

The traveler lowered his head towards something in the opening and began to speak. "We are honored to be in your presence, we mean you no harm. We have come to find the boy - I believe you are caring for and have protected from harms we could not see." he continued - becoming more animated with his movements. The Klosterman's were shocked when they heard another voice from inside begin to speak.

"I am aware of who you are - traveler; you have traveled here before. I have only entered your realm on occasions of survival and protection, the boy is here, but-he is not alone. His true protector has come." The voice admitted. "All who are in my care - come and go as they will. No one is here unwillingly; I am only a keeper. I rescue and save those who cannot save themselves, " he hissed.

The traveler looked at the Klosterman's - who were inching closer to the portal. "Stay back, " he warned them.

The father in anger pushed his way into the opening, knocking the traveler off of his feet. The lights that once were mild and hued became unbearably bright, and the heat so intense, that the portal tore open completely. Spanning from the house, through the woods to the water's edge.

Standing there in the night, covered in rays of unbelievable shades of color - bouncing and dancing off of the clouds and returning to the large figure, still obscured. As the traveler got back onto his feet, he was joined by the detective.

The father yelled angrily, "I don't know what kind of mind games you are playing, but I demand you give me my son back, now!

Ian called out to his mother from atop this beautifully majestic and colorful beast. She had never seen anything like it. She could hardly believe her eyes - but the cry of her child was enough for her to look beyond her fears and run to his aid. As Ian's father began to follow, Watkin's grabbed his arm and said, "I know what you've done, don't you move!" But before he could be contained, he broke loose and ran towards his son.

Completely visible now, and exposed by the daylight, the massive dragon stepped directly into the path of Ian's father. His belly glowing orange and red with fire, and his face twisted and distorted with anger as he bellowed. "I am the keeper of the broken, you will not harm a hair of the ones I protect." His father froze with fear. "I will bring a justice that is quick and fair," fire sprayed as he spoke, "I have seen and know what you are...you have stained the ground with your disease, I will cleanse it with fire, and remove your being from existence!"

Before the dragon could turn him into ashes, the detective had him cuffed and on the ground. "We will take care of taking out our own trash! We are eternally grateful for your selfless and generous care of those we have been unable to help. Your protection and wisdom are a gift all worlds and dimensions could learn from. I am honored to have had the eye-opening privilege in experiencing it first-hand." The dragon lowered his head, in acknowledgement and assurance he would always be watching.

Ian and his mother, along with the detective, assisting Ian's father, stepped back onto the sidewalk and into the current realm. The traveler took a moment to say his goodbyes to the dragon, insuring the complete seal of the two dimensions.

As the firelight of the dragon realm diminished, the sky lit up with a different form of lights. In the distance they could clearly see the red and blue flashes of the Sulfolk counties - finest boys in blue.

As the news began to break about the local serial killer caught in Sulfolk County. Ian and his mother were already packed and on their way to his grandmother's house in Arizona. The traveler and Watkins saw them off, along with some vital information they might need to get through this experience. The guide sent word ahead to his family on the Navajo reservation, knowing they would be fine.

Hidden under the sidewalks and fire pit of the Klosterman's property, were the remains of several missing persons. They believe they would never have been recovered if not for the broken concrete - due to the freezing water poured earlier. The traveler and Watkins knew it was because the protector was getting his people home where they belonged.

Detective Watkins had another successful case under his belt. Another experience he couldn't repeat. And a brand-new tattoo of a magical beast, next to the words: "To Protect and Serve"