Page 37 of Dark Visions

“What do we do now?” asked Adam.

“I-I don’t know,” said Aislinn. “I’ve actually never been able to get anyone to listen to me. This is all new to me from the perspective of trying to stop the killer. Just the fact that all of you listened to me, believe me, is remarkable for me. I don’t know where to go from here. What I do know is that if he kills again or plans to kill again, I’ll see it.”

“Maybe we try again. Going to the police, I mean,” said Adam.

Flip sat quietly on the big sofa, his massive frame taking up enough space for three people. His worn jeans torn at the knees, his large bear-like paws resting on his thighs. He said nothing but watched the group interact, his mind racing.

“There is something odd happening here,” he said quietly.

“No shit, a psycho is murdering couples left and right, and we can’t get anyone to listen to us,” said Adam.

“Not that, Captain Obvious,” Flip said sarcastically. Adam and Kane smiled. It was the first sign of the old Flip, the Flip that they knew from the Army. Sarcastic, witty, fun. He was still in there. “Doesn’t it seem odd to anyone that we’ve been thrown together after all this time of being apart?”

“What do you mean?” asked Kane.

“None of us knew that the others werespecialwhen we were serving together. We suspected maybe but didn’t really know. Do you really think it’s a coincidence that you were thrust into Aislinn’s life and then Adam and then me? I think there is more at play here, but I don’t know what.”

They all looked at Flip with a mix of curiosity and confusion. There was something happening between their little band, but they were unsure what to call it or if they should call it anything for fear it would be real.

“Look,” he said, standing to his full height, “I’ve been able to do what I do for as long as I can remember. All of you have had your…giftsas well. So, why now? Why now do we find one another here and now?”

“I think he’s right,” said Aislinn softly. “It was no accident that Kane saw me coming out of the office building that day. And it was no accident that he felt compelled to follow me. I also don’t believe it was an accident that Adam got involved, or Flip, for that matter. I mean, think of it. Flip is moving around the country, going from one location to another, and then he suddenly decides to make this his home for a while. Here and now. Why? I think all of this is happening as it should.”

“What do you mean? Like a calling of the Avengers or something?” smiled Kane.

“Call it what you want, but it’s obvious that we’re all stronger when we’re together. Thesegifts,or whatever you want to call them, could change the world.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” said Adam. “I think if the world knew, we would be picked up by the government and dissected for fun.” Aislinn winced, and Flip gave a low growl of disapproval.

“What if there are others like us out there?” asked Kane. “I mean, if there are four of us, there has to be more.”

“That’s true, but where do we start?” asked Aislinn.

“I don’t know,” said Kane, “first we need to figure out what’s happening here with Krauss, and then we address everything else.”

“Okay, so we know that Krauss killed those people, but we can’t prove it. What happens now?” asked Adam.

“Now, we wait until I get another dream. All we can do is hope that it will be in time to stop him. I have to find a way not to turn away from the dream as it’s happening. If I stay in the dream, follow it all the way through, I may be able to find a clue as to where the next murder will take place.”

“Don’t you think that could be dangerous?” asked Kane.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I know anything anymore, but I do know that we have to find a way to stop this man. Maybe we should all go see Dr. Brennan together?” said Aislinn.

“Who is Dr. Brennan?” asked Flip nervously.

“She’s a professor of Paranormal, Parapsychology, and Dream Study. She’s helped me to understand what’s happening and for Kane to learn how to help while I’m in the dream.”

“Wait, you mean you see what she sees? You’re in her dream, in her head? Dude, that’s fucked up,” said Flip. Aislinn smiled at the big man.

“It’s not fucked up,” said Kane, laughing.

“Maybe you’re a dream walker,” said Flip. All eyes turned to him, their expressions telling him that they didn’t understand the term. “Dream walkers are common in many cultures. Native American, Egyptian, Japanese, and Samoan cultures have some version of dream walkers in their history. True dream walkers can find their way into anyone’s dreams and follow them. Is that what it’s like for you? Are you following her through the dream?”

“Yea, that’s exactly what it’s like. It’s like I’m standing behind her, following her from room to room, from scene to scene. I have no control other than to follow, and then when I need to, I call out to her, pull her back. But that has nothing to do with my ability to feel the ‘zap’ when I touch a bad guy.”

“I think that’s separate, but as for the dream, you can’t do that for the next one,” said Aislinn. “You have to let me see the dream all the way through.”

“Okay, okay,” said Adam. “Let’s get back to Dr. Brennan. Do you think she can see us today?”

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