THE TERROR ZONE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sipping on green tea, I glanced at my watch. It was after ten in the morning. I couldn’t imagine why Linda hadn’t peeked her beautiful head out by now. I knocked on her door; no answer. I wrapped my hand around the door handle, and then I paused, remembering what happened the last three times, I’d entered a room, with no answer; but, you know me!

Her blankets had been ruffled, but Linda was nowhere to be found. I searched the house, and then the outside. I came to the only conclusion left, that Linda had been taken, just like my Lindsey. I felt that uncanny, chill, roll up my spine, and panic, soon overtook my body and when the hair again, stood up on my arms, I fell onto the sand, in crazy anger. I’m talking, rip-roaring rage, seethed through my being. All I could think was, I’m broken…but that, devil, Marx, will never, get the best of me. If I die, then so be it. I will not stand idly by, while he extinguishes every, piece of dignity and sanity, I have left.

I paced the floor till I was dizzy. I drank enough tea, to float a battleship. I picked up the phone a hundred times, but thought, I didn’t want to call my friends, as they would again be stuck in the middle of, my war with Marx. How could I fix this, I weeped? There was only one solution. I slumped slowly down to the floor and realized, I was powerless without the brothers, so that solution was to, suck it up, and admit, I had to have help! “The hell with this!” I said aloud.

I picked up the phone, and dialed, what I consider to be, ‘the gang,’ i.e., Paul, George, Alex, Greg and Larry. We were to meet at the Okeechobee Police Department.

When I arrived at the station, ‘the gang’ was all there. I gave hugs all around, and then George, asked, “Where’s Linda?”

I started shaking, and told them Linda was missing. “Guys, you have any ideas, as to what we should do?”

“I am in the middle of a nervous breakdown. There is no deniability at this point. Everyone I loved or even associated with has been in serious danger, because of me. I now have to take things into my own hands,” I said, fervently.

“We need to find Jeffrey. It’s time for the big guns. I’m sick of letting Marx call the shots. It’s our turn to make him suffer and shake in his boots!” I said.

“You’re talking crazy, Susan. What you are suggesting, is that we hold another seance, as it were, and summon, Marx again! Am I correct in my assumption?” asked Greg.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Greg. You, must be psychic too. Join the club.”

“Susan, I strongly suggest you think about what you are about to do. I’ve been and done a lot of crazy things in my day, and revenge, always turns out badly,” said Greg.

“Is it really revenge, when you don’t have anywhere else to turn and no one around is safe anymore? I have been considering it for some time, I just didn’t have the nards to carry it through. At this point, what have I got to lose?” I asked.

The Gregster, didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “It’s your life,” answered Greg.

“It seems trivial, after all he’s put us through, and I don’t see it stopping any time soon. He’s having too much fun!” I said.

“Oh, and one more thing, I spurted; I have come to the conclusion that I am the long lost sister to the cloned brothers.”

George and Alex, looked at each other, smiled and actually looked relieved. “You guys knew it didn’t you? So not only do I have family and friends to consider, I also have siblings involved. Don’t think, for one more minute, I will stand idly by, and let everyone I love crumble. That’s not an option. So, either, you are with me or you’re not. Make up your mind. The clock is ticking and I intend to stop him or at the least, slow him down, one way or another,” I said.

Greg, was the first to chime in, 'okay, its the only way I can keep an eye on you."

“I know from experience, there is no stopping you, when you put your mind to something, so, if only for all our safety, I’m in,” said George.”

“I second that, Sis,” said, Alex.

“All right,” said, Greg, hesitantly.

Greg put an all points out on Jeffrey, and had every available official hunting him down. George, Alex, and I held hands and chanted for him. We found him first. We let him know that we needed him and that he could meet us at the department. We pleaded, that he come immediately. He only agreed after negotiations, were in order. We told him we knew he was innocent of all charges, and that he had another brother in the mix.

Time seemed to spin out of control, while waiting for Jeffrey. “How long have you and Alex known I was your sister?” I asked. I thought that was an obligatory, question, since I had come to the conclusion that, at this point, I didn’t know who I could really trust.

They both looked at me, with what seemed compassion, or was I reading them wrong?

“We weren’t positive,” said George.

Alex, finished Georges, story. “We had discussed it a few times and had pretty much come to the conclusion, but how would we really, know?”

“Here, drink this,” said Greg, handing me a cup of coffee. “Not that you need the caffeine, that walking back and forth is going to drive us all nuts, so, I assume you haven’t eaten anything yet today.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Do you think Jeffrey is going to show?”

George put his hand on my shoulder and said, “He said, he would. That’s all I need to know. He’ll be here. We all know how he feels, about the terrifying, invasion into our minds, the not knowing what will come next, who Marx will hurt next, or if not what and who, then how. Make no mistake, He’ll be here. "

“Yeah, you need to sit down and catch your breath. Everything will be all right,” said, Paul.

“George, you hit on something, that is absolutely important. Even though you didn’t put it in these words; Marx is feeding on our most appalling, feelings, to nourish his mind, and by that, I mean he’s using our brainpower and our worst nightmares to do his best to keep us under control. We are, our own worst enemy. We are, the terror zone. If we don’t give in to Marx’s head games, then we have a chance to make it out of this alive. We could actually win! I’m all for figuring out how to boil him in oil. Yes, we've, tried before, but we have the advantage, if we take him by surprise and we have one other little thing, he doesn’t know about,” I said, looking, towards the doorway…

“Jeffrey, you made it, I’m so relieved, that you came. Please, take a seat and we can get started,” I said.

“What are we going to do?” asked Jeffrey.

“Susan thinks, if we join together, we can discover Marx’s hideout, and end this devastation, once and for all,” said George.

“We’re going to have to stay strong, and be sharp, to ward off any thing he uses to stop us. If Marx senses any weakness at all, he will use it to his advantage. He’s evil through and through, so don’t underestimate him. He will try to squeeze our brains, until we’re wreathing with pain, and then he’ll squeeze some more!” said Alex.

“Okay, Alex, thanks for that, oh, so intense, yet alluring detail. I think we get the picture. I’m not looking forward to being, invaded, in all ways possible, either, and the picture, you so, vividly, painted, is very clear, I said; but the plain truth of the matter is, what choice have we got? If you have another way to stop this disturbing, hell, Marx is dragging us into, I’m all ears.”

As we all waited for someone to speak up and lend a solution, “Does the cliché ‘You could hear a pin drop’ ring any bells?'

“I just meant, even if he’s got you on the run, don’t give in,” said Alex.

“Okay, my brothers, this is what we need to do,” I said. George and Alex, you keep, Marx busy, while Jeffrey, tries to find out where Marx is hiding.

I am going to see if I can communicate with Lindsey or Linda.

Paul and Greg, I’m going to trust, that if we really need help, you’ll jump in and do something!” I said.

“Like, what, Sweetheart?” asked Paul.

“Just play it by ear, but please don’t do anything, unless all looks hopeless. I'd hate to end it prematurely , we'd lose everything,” I said. Paul and Greg, just looked at each other in bewilderment, and certified distress. I kissed, Paul and Greg, and then, the dreadful, unpolished plan began.

The four of us, clutched hands, looked at each other, for several seconds and then, we started chanting. “We will come to you, this time Marx. Show yourself,” we said, together, as we were connected, as one.

There was no reason to chant anymore. We could, read each other’s minds. I don’t know about the rest of the group, but I felt like I was invincible. It was almost, as if, I was flying above everyone, including, myself, and I was all powerful. The peace I felt was unimaginable. My body felt like it was being, warmed by the sun, with a feeling of wholeness, for which, life was beautifully, eternal. Then, suddenly, as if torn in a million pieces and pulled in all directions, misery, doom and gloom, fell upon my serene, utopia. Marx, was in our heads. He’d grabbed hold of my brain and squeezed so hard, I thought it would burst. I screamed loudly and Paul grabbed my arm.

“No,” I whispered. “Don’t break the chain. I’ll be okay. I just need to obliterate the pain. Tell myself, that it doesn’t exist.”

I concentrated on the agonizing, message, Marx had sent to my brain, and made myself, believe that it wasn’t so bad. When I’d controlled it to a dull ache, I realized he’d been inflicting, the same pain on the rest of the group. I manifested, with deliberate, calculation, a world the guys would associate with, painting a scene, that would embrace their aspirations, steadfast. They were basking in the sun, and they could feel no pain. When I figured all was rational, again, I told the guys to proceed. Of course, my mantra only worked, briefly. Again, he tried hurting us, only, at this point, he tried inflicting pain, one sibling, at a time. Little did Marx, realize this, was the point, we had him on the run. We had him, where, we wanted him. Broken up and fighting in desperation. We for now, held strong and kept our heads, so to speak.

Jeffrey, wandered around in Marx’s head, looking for some inkling of where he was. Alex and George, took the blunt of the siege. Marx was using every ploy, imaginable, to spark hate and fear into them. I guess, so that they would break the chain. Every once in a while, to keep Alex and George from going completely insane, Jeffrey and I would, jump in and steer Marx, in our direction. It was in no way, an easy task. To put it mildly, I felt like a mouse hanging from a cat’s claws, looking straight, down his oral cavity. That being how small, he made me feel. Sometimes the pain was unbearable, but for me, I took it, because, I had the most to lose. My best friend, in the entire world, and my only baby girl, whom I had missed and mourned for all these past months, kept me going, now. I told myself the agonizing pain, was an acceptable sacrifice.

Because of all the misdirection and the unsettling horror, he’d directed at each and every one of us, we couldn’t communicate, like we had planned. So, I went, about my business, as we had decided earlier, and I spoke with Lindsey, first. I didn’t have to try hard. It was like she knew I was there.

“Mom,” is that you?” asked a timid voice.

“Yes, sweetheart, are you okay? You sound weak,” I said.

“I am tired and hungry, Mama, but the bad man, hasn’t done anything to, awful to me.”

“Did he touch you, honey?” I asked.

“Not in a bad way, like we talked about.” I want to come home, Mommy,” said Lindsey.

“Lindsey, do you know where you are?”

“I think it’s a motel; but I don’t know which one. He ties a rag around my eyes, when we move, and we move a lot.”

“Okay, sweetheart, I need you to be strong, for me, for just a little while, longer. I am going to talk to Linda. Promise me, you won’t do anything to irritate the bad man or make any actions to call attention to yourself,” I said.

“He’s to busy, with something else, but I promise, Mommy,” said Lindsey.

“Sweetheart, one more thing, if we get separated, please know that I will be coming back for you. I love you baby, girl,” I said.

I heard, Alex, howl, like his life was ending. I knew I should keep looking for Linda, but my gut was telling me, that sound he was making, couldn’t be good. I turned my attention on Alex. His aura was surrounded, by a blazing fire. It was so, real. I felt my throat close and my stomach, convulse, from the putrid smell of burnt flesh. I fought with myself to snap out of it.

“Alex, it’s Susan, your sister. Please listen to me. We are on the beach. I’m playing volleyball with you. We are laughing and enjoying our warm sunny day. The ocean is swirling around your toes, as we bat the ball, back and forth. You won the game.” I could feel the tension, releasing in Alex’s body, as I spoke telepathically. “Now I’m wrapping my warm loving arms around you.” I saw a tear, roll down his cheek, as I kept up the false façade. “Do you feel me, Alex?” I asked.

Without moving his lips, Alex relied, contently.

“I have to get back to Linda and Lindsey. Don’t let him in, honey,” I said. “We can’t do it without you. Besides, just think how your feel, wrapping your arms around, your niece for the first, time ever,” I said.

Jeffrey, tapped into my brain, and implied, that his mission, had been accomplished. “What, do I do next?” he asked.

I asked Jeffrey to help Alex and George, and then I went back to try and get Linda’s attention.

“What the hell is going on?” she screamed. “This cold-hearted bastard, is acting like, he’s schizoid or something, swatting at things in the air that aren’t there, screaming for no reason and other movements, I can’t quite explain!” said Linda.

“Linda, can you hear me?” I asked.

“Yes,” muttered Linda.

“Listen to me honey, I want you to stop moving your lips. I can understand you, if you think what you have to say. I don’t want Marx to know, I’m communicating with you. Do you understand?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Okay, next time, just think, ‘yes’ instead of mouthing it!” I said.

She nodded, ‘yes’.

“Linda, is there any possible way, you can get Lindsey’s attention, and you two can walk out of there?” I asked.

“Are you crazy?” Linda thought. “He’s standing right here, acting like he’s having spasms!” thought Linda.

“Linda, please, calm down. I can feel your fear. It hurts me too, but he is busy, fighting with Jeffrey, Alex and George. “I’m pretty sure, he can’t see you right now!” I said.

“What if you’re wrong?” asked Linda.

“Linda!” I yelled at her subconscious. “Please calm down. We don’t have time for this. The brothers are all screaming in agony, from the wrath that is Marx. Please honey, I don’t mean to be harsh, but we haven’t time to argue. Stay with me here. Trust me like you use to.”

Linda unwillingly and hesitantly, stood up. She was trembling, like an earthquake, that had just rocked her world and she was standing in the epicenter.

“Okay, Linda, now hold onto Lindsey, tight, and I want you to walk out slowly, without looking back. When you get a safe distance, run like hell and keep going. What ever you do, don’t stop,” I said.

The agonizing pain I felt for my brothers, was unbearable; so, instead of watching out for Linda and Lindsey, I joined my counterparts. I could taste the hell, I would reap on Marx, and it only grew stronger, as I felt the freedom, over whelm me, as my daughter and best friend walked further and further, from evil incarnate. I told Jeffrey, Alex and George, one by one, to tell Marx, that his brain was cleared of all evil and it was useless to fight back. I felt the pain lessen in my brothers as Marx’s brain waves started to deteriorate. He fell to his knees, and as much as I wanted to torture him, as he did us, I fought back the urge. I communicated to Marx that he was our brother and that hurting us would only tear us all apart. I told him we loved him, as we did in the womb, and even after his birth. He shook his head back and forth, like a dog scratching a flea. We all told him, telepathically, the love we wanted to share with him.

“Do you want to be with us, brother,” I asked. “Do you want to end your anguish, loneliness, and shame forever?”

He nodded. His eyes were wet and his shoulders hung as he stood like an old disheveled teddy bear. My heart almost broke, when I saw his eyes. He had been miserable, for so long, that his heart ached, for the comfort and warmth of as simple a thing as kindness. Which I had decided was hard to come by these days. I told Marx to go to the nearest police department and turn himself in. I said we’d be with him every step of the way; and when he arrived and they were done questioning him, he was to name me as his doctor, and we’d take care of the rest.

George, Jeffrey, Alex, and I were exhausted, by the time Marx was in custody. We fell to the floor and laid there. Paul and Greg just stared, speechless.

I heard, ringing, in the background. I couldn’t quite make out where it was coming from. Then I realized we were still in Greg’s office.

“This is Linda, is Susan, there?”

“Snap out of it, Dr. Skyler, you have a phone call,” said Greg.

Greg handed me the phone, with a delightful smile on his face.

“Susan, it’s me, Linda. You must have left your cell phone at home. I couldn’t reach you on it. I have someone here, who wants to say hello.

“Mommy,” said Lindsey.

I could feel the tears well up, as I spoke with my daughter.

“You just stay where you are baby girl and we’ll be right there to pick you both up. I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart. See you soon,” I said.

Several weeks had passed, since that fateful night at the police station. All things were back to normal, so to speak; as if they ever could be! I dropped Lindsey off at school and wondered how long it would be, before I wouldn’t be terrified of leaving my daughter, out of my sight.

Sitting there pondering how frightened, I might have been, at that age, held up and living with the devil, cold, alone and so young, yet so resilient, gave me a new found appreciation for family, friends and the love and warmth you feel when among them. As I reflected on how wonderful it was to find my new life, my attention wandered to a familiar melody.

When I finally clarified what the sound was, I discerned that it was coming from underneath my seat. I reached way back under and grabbed hold of something small and warm. I pulled it out from where it hid and discovered my old cell phone.

Curious, as to the beeping, I opened it. You have four missed messages, it noted. I listened to the first, it was Paul. He’d been running a little late a few weeks earlier and would be home as soon as he could.

The next two were from Linda, the night we rescued her and Lindsey from the grips of hell.

The last call was a kick in the head…

“You haven’t heard the last of me. After all, I’ve invaded your mind so many times, we’re practically one and the same. In fact, as close as we’ve been, these last few months, well, I’d guess there’s no need for introductions. I’ll be occupying part of your brain, like a plague, before you have a chance to miss me; I promise!”