By the time an unidentified being was reported on the grounds of a sacred tower, it was too late to halt the password its iris recorded...
Katelyn Socoroa, Matches Zaw and Cay'q Stem
With a special appearence by Etch July
Alia and the Boy:
Plot for the Destruction of a Drawbridge
written and directed by Dan Sherrill
and Wooden Box Theater
June 27th, 1844. Carthage Jail.
Gunshots are heard. Loud. The're coming though the front door of the place. We won't be able to hold the mob outside off. I'm so scared right now. Is this even worth it. I might as well turn myself in, but for what? Risking my faith. My trusted friends are here watching me suffer and possibly die for my beliefs in God. Or at least the God I think He is. Isn't he different to everyone? I'm reminded of those first dreams I had as a teen. Finding the plates. Digging them up. Has it really come to this? I thought I was doing God's work?
Alright, calm down. No, I can't! There are real people out there wanting my head on a platter so that they can poke it with knives to make sure I don't go around telling people that I was visited by spirits in the night. I can't possibly lose anything more at this point. If it's a shootout they want, it's going to be a shootout they get.
He feels a tap on his shoulder.
H. Smith-It's alright. Don't talk yourself to death.
Joseph S.-I'm sorry. I don't mean to ramble, or clog everyone's metal bulletin boards with my problems.
H. Smith-Just relax. I'm sure they will bargain eventually. I wish, though, that the Carthage Grays weren't involved. That much is true. We would've stood a chance, had they not been called.
Joseph S.-Are you scared?
H. Smith-What kind of question is that? I can hear them now trying to break the door down.
Joseph S.-God will save us. He always does.
H. Smith-If I have to look in the eyeball of a gun, I'm going to ask God if He can see through my eyes for a split second. I am scared, my brother. I've sat with you and walked with you and believed that you're a prophet, but I'm scared. I'm sorry.
Mr. Taylor walks back toward the others.
Joseph S.-Any news?
Mr. Taylor-Keep your weapon drawn. It's going to get ugly. There's about a hundred angry men outside. They're trying to get something to break the damn door down!
Joseph S.-This will either be a trainwreck or our finest hour.
H. Smith-I know I'd like to think that we will find a magical way out of this, but I guess destroying that newspaper did land us here.
Joseph S.-But I thought that's what God wanted me to do. Ever since those first visions as a teen. I've never been able to properly explain them to anyone.
Mr. Taylor takes one more look at the outside world.
Joseph S.-I wish I could go back and redo a few things. Maybe be nicer to my wife, Emma. She was so nice to me. Wherever she stands, she will hear and see this I'm sure. Someone must come to my rescue. Someone. But, who?
H. Smith-God. Pray about it.
Joseph S.-Can I tell you something?
H. Smith-Sure.
Joseph S.-Part of me is scared, too.
Mr. Taylor-Holy God, they're coming through!!
Joseph S.-Quickly. At least we'll go down defending out faith!
H. Smith-Joseph, what time is it?
Joseph S.-Almost 4:45pm.
H. Smith-Not even dinner time. I didn't even have one last dinner with my friends and family. I feel like this is a witch hunt and I'm the hunted. I don't like this feeling. Not at all.
Mr. Taylor-You two had better think of something in the next fifteen minutes or none of us are going to leave with out heads attached to our shoulders!
Joseph S.-H, do you have a plan?
H. Smith-Well, no. You're the prophet, not me!
Mr. Taylor-I'm serious guys, the door is busting open. The odds are against us. 100 to 3. We're three marked men right now.
He lets out a scream, which is heard all over the jail.
Mr. Taylor-No!!! I don't want to die for this. I don't want to die this afternoon.
By now huge tears are falling from the prophet's eyes, knowing that his mission from God has endangered the lives of his friends and believers.
Joseph S.-What have I done?
Their faces are an evil shade of black. Decorated for an terrible ambush.
All is quiet and then it happened. The three prisioners make their way to the upstairs bedroom and await their destiny. Joseph S. is still very much crying. The other two look at him for comfort, but suddenly feel the need to pray to themselves, with heads bowed and eyes closed, hoping someone outside is protesting their deaths, and taking good notes to share with the people of the future.
When Joseph S. openes his eyes from praying he notices something. The three prisioners are now just two. H. Smith is dead. And no pulse can be found on his body. The famed associate president is no more.
Mr. Taylor realizes what has happened and walks closer to try to revive their fallen friend. The shooter looks him square in the eye as if to say 'We don't want you, we want your friend.'
Mr. Taylor-Joseph, he's dead!
Joseph S.-So will we be, in a few minutes.
Mr. Taylor-What time is it?
Joseph S.-5pm. Wait I hear someone. It's William.
He walks, only slightly injured, to speak a few final words to his friends, but notices H. Smith, on the floor.
William-There's a way out of here. To safety. It's tricky, but very possible.
Joseph S.-No.
William-No?
Joseph S.-We're going out like men of God. Who's with me?
They both take a moment to think.
William-You're right.
Mr. Taylor-Let's do this and then get out of here.
Suddenly the body on the floor begins to move.
Joseph S.-H, you're alright?
H. Smith-Nothing a few seconds of holding my breath can't disguise. I'm injured, but not too badly. Don't tell anyone.
William-Are we ready for them?
Joseph S.-We are.
They each draw their weapons. Two guns and two canes.
William-It's on!
The angriest of men have now cornered the wise men in the bedroom of the second floor of the jail.
Joseph S.-I'm almost out of bullets!
H. Smith-Me, too. The gunshot wound from before is really starting to hurt.
Joseph S.-Hang in there.
H. Smith-I'm trying...
Mr. Taylor, not being able to fend off the enemy fire makes an attempt to jump from the window of the second floor. As he does, he is struck. In his left thigh. He screams out in pain and agony. He is sad he couldn't do more to help Joseph S.
Joseph S.-They're shooting him again!!
H. Smith walks to the window.
H. Smith-Don't keep shooting him, he's already dead!
Guard Chritz Qandall-No, he isn't. And you're next!
H. Smith-What are we going to do?
Mr. Taylor is shot again, sending him from the window sill back into the bedroom.
H. Smith also lay dead, for real this time. Next was Joseph S. himself. The mob had won. This time.
A man walks to the body of the fallen prophet.
Etch July-He's dead. Finally.
One of the mob walks closer to the body to check it for an illusion.
Naw Gane-He's out cold.
Etch-Good. I'm worried his followers will protest this to the bitter end. Do you think we made the right decision?
Naw-It depends on who you this this man's blood belongs to now?
Etch-We better notify the wife. Emma is her name, isn't it? Get on that right now.
Naw-As you wish.
Etch-I don't think we have to worry about this guy coming back to life like Jesus. Where do you draw the line though?
She is lead to identify the body of her dead husband.
Emma S.-Oh dear God. My husband. Why can't you breathe? Snap out of it.
She tries to revive him, while the guards look on.
Emma S.-Our children. Don't leave us!!!
She burst into tears.
Etch-We have to go. I'm sorry for your loss.
Emma S.-Yeah. I'm sorry you had to murder my husband in cold blood! You will pay for this. Someday. Someday you will pay.
Sunday February 5th, 2006
Someone walks down the hall of The Father's office building in Narlieana, Heaven. She's carrying a briefcase and a smile.
He doesn't recognize her knock.
The Father-Come in.
She walks with grace and sits in one of the chairs in front of The Father's desk.
Emma Hale-You called for me.
The Father-The plates are missing.
Emma-And you suspect I took them?
The Father-No. I know who took them. Do you know a Mr. Corda'lie? Or an Oscar Vega?
A cold shiver runs through her.
Emma-Yes to Oscar, no to the other one.
The Father-Would you like a cup of coffee?
Emma-How long do you plan to have me recount a very difficult time for me?
The Father-Apparently a while. You know Oscar is plotting against me.
Emma-Word travels here in Heaven.
He is alone in his house in Heaven. Praying to himself. For the loss of the plates. The sacred items he found as a teen. He knows someone by the name of Mor might want an explaination sooner or later if he finds the plates have been taken.
Taking a few sleeping pills to block any dreams he might have tonight, he lays down to rest.
A figure enters his bedroom, as light showers over the entire house.
He forces his eyes to stay closed, almost crying outloud as he knows who it might be.
Mor-I thought I showed you their location, and gave you the assignment to look after them. They're gone, aren't they? Aren't they!
Joseph S.-You're half right.
Mor-So I'm half wrong?
Joseph S.-You will have the rest of your answer soon.
Another figure appears in his bedroom. One with an unforgiving tone to his voice.
Mon-Is The Father helping you?
Joseph S.-I'm not sure.
Mon-What if He chooses not to? How will you recover them then? Do you want to lose all of your followers overnight?
Joseph S. rises from his bed in defiance, letting tears fall at a record pace from his eyes.
Joseph S.-You're lucky I sleep still dressed in my clothes. Look! Look at me!
As father and son look on with impatient looks on their faces, Joseph S. pulls his t-shirt up to reveal four bullet holes in his chest. The wounds were never closed from the day he was shot and are still visible today.
Joseph S.-If not for you two and your mission and you visits in the middle of the night, I might have been spared these holes in my chest, now I admit I lost your plates. All of them. I asked a friend, Empress Alia of Iley and The Father does know about my loss, but don't you dare come here and frown at me when you know good and well what finding them and possessing them has cost me! I should've lead a normal life. I should've. See you guys later. I can get medication to block your visits!
He walks to the front door of his house and tries to open it.
Mon-Not so fast!
The door suddenly won't open.
He tries again. Still nothing. Then he walks to the kitchen table and grabs one of the chairs and slings it at the doorknob. Someone hears the sound from outside his house.
North Karolina Scott-Hello? Hello?
Joseph S.-Whoever you are, get help! Get The Father, no wait, get Alia! Get Empress Alia.
Karolina-Who are you?
Joseph S.-It's me, Joe. Some of my friends live on the other side of Heaven in Nistallin.
Karolina-I just moved in across the street, I haven't met everyone yet. I'll call Jesus instead.
Mon-She can't help you. This is between you and me and finding those plates.
Joseph S.-Well, you're obviously not going to let me leave. Fine, I'll listen to you, but this last time. One more stunt like this and we're done. You hear?
He answers his cell phone to the sound of a woman's voice.
Jesus of Nazareth-Can I help you?
Karolina-There's a man who lives across the street from me who is being attacked in his house. I'm scared, Jesus.
Jesus-You know we're a peaceful place. Heaven doesn't contain fighting and the things of the world. You know that. That's why you're here.
Karolina-He said his name was Joe and that some of his friends live in another part of Heaven. Do you know him?
Jesus-Yes. Wait a few minutes and I'll be over. My phone is almost out of battery life. I don't have time to charge it. Meet me outside your house and we'll see what's up.
Karolina-Hey, sounds good. By the way thanks for letting me move in. I'm sure I'll be happy here. I just wish I could help that man behind the door.
Jesus-Sometimes I wish I could, too.
Meanwhile back in the living room the three sit barely able to speak to each other after the violence that erupted a few minutes ago with a chair flying into the front door.
Mor-So you'd call Jesus to help you? Was he there for you to avoid you getting those holes in your chest? Just a thought to ask yourself.
Joseph S.-Get out! Get out of my house here in Heaven. I'm here, aren't I? Have a little faith in God! Please! He didn't have to die on the cross either! I'm not compairing myself to him, but you must see his dedication to his believers to go through with something like that. There was no trap door on the cross. Just a man hanging up there by his feet and hands being nailed to a wooden structure. It was probably a bloody mess that people cringed at just trying to clean up afterward. I'm more of a victim. I left 33 wives! For what do I have to show for it? I love being here. It's neat to be able to go to church and hear The Father preach and pray with Him knowing He's right there with Jesus, every time. And I like hearing Jesus play his bass guitar in the band and hearing Brittany Leigh sing her vocal solos. It's like being in a dream only I keep wanting to pinch myself in the forearm to make sure I'm not the one dreaming. I took four shots to the chest and I bet I fell pretty hard on the ground once I was out of the jail and dead. I play the scene over and over in my hear until I can almost hear the sound of my brother's final cries as he was killed, too. He doesn't speak to me much here in Heaven. Why should he? I dragged everyone into this mission. His blood was on my hands.
Mon-Just return the plates, alright? That's all we're asking for.
Mor-We will persist in asking for them, like we persisted in having you find them. They are a sacred record of the Americas. Without them, what's left? Not very much.
In an instant the father and son are gone, leaving Joseph S. to walk to his door and easily open it. When he does he sees both Jesus and Karolina standing with questioning looks on their faces at the kitchen table chair laying on the floor, by the front door.
Jesus-What happened here? Looks like you tried to break out of your own house? I'll fix your door for you. I just have to go home and grab my tools. Try to be more careful.
Karolina-I'll keep an eye on him until you get back, my friend.
They happened to look at each other for the first time. Square in the eyes.
Karolina-Excuse for a second. I think my heart just skipped a beat. Oh dear. What's happening to me. Why do I feel like this was meant to happen.
Joseph S.-What do you mean?
Karolina-Do you believe in soul mates?
Joseph S.-I just had a pretty traumatic experience a few minutes ago. I'm not sure what I believe in right at this second.
Karolina-Give me your hand.
He does.
Karolina-This is so strange.
Joseph S.-I feel it, too.
Karolina-Do you think it's possible to wait all your life for your soulmate and then find him in Heaven on day? I've only lived here a short time. I've never seen you, though.
Joseph S.-I'm 38. I don't want to tell you about my past. I just don't. It's complicated and confusing.
Karolina-Were you ever married? I mean when you were on Earth. I was he beat me, though. That's...(crying)...that's why I'm here. I stayed with someone who physically abused me. See all these black and blue marks on my arms and my black eye.
Joseph S.-Can I get you some water or a towel? You must be hurting.
Karolina-Just hurt in my heart. You try and try and try and try and cry trying to get someone to snap out of it. I couldn't take it and I chose to not fight back. I gave up. He won. I'm here now, in Heaven. The scars are still there. My eye might be black now, but when his knuckles swung at me and forced my body backwards for the last time I knew I was done for. The blow caused me to cease to exist, and now I'm here. I'm sorry to unload all of that on you, but I just get this awesome connection from you.
He walks to the kitchen and then back again with a damp wash cloth to help with her left eye, which is still part red and part black and blue.
Joseph S.-You're going to be alright.
Karolina-I'm glad someone thinks so.
Joseph S.-Will you stay?
Karolina-I will.
Joseph S.-I was shot four times. That's why I'm here. I take these sleeping pills to help me to not remember it. I've been here for a while. I don't want to tell you this. There's more. My friends and I were hunted down by people wanting us dead.
Karolina-Oh dear.
Joseph S.-The gun shot wounds are still visible.
She pulls up his shirt to notice the holes in his chest, and uses her fingertips to go over them to make sure they're real.
Karolina-Looks like we're both wounded.
Joseph S.-Have you seen Jesus since you've been here? He still has the holes in his hands and feet. It's hard to look at him sometimes. His holes go all the way through, at least mind don't.
He lets himself back into Joseph's house and sets his toolbox down on the floor to fix the doorknob.
Jesus-Who was here with you?
Joseph S.-Mon and Mor. Both of them.
Jesus-About the plates? How do they know they're gone?
Joseph S.-I don't know.
Jesus-Did you tell them that Dad is going to help you find them? I saw Him talking to a lady earlier. I can't think of her name. It was a pretty heated talk, so I just left Him a note.
Joseph S.-A note?
Jesus-I was walking by the computer in the library last night and noticed something.
Karolina-Anything out of the ordinary?
Jesus-My friend Dan Sherrill was over and it looks like he was using one of our computers to send an Ecard to someone. Someone I'd rather not talk about.
Karolina-I'm a woman, let me read it. Maybe I can help him, too.
He takes a deep breath, then pulls a folded up copy of the Ecard from his jeans pocket.
Karolina-Let me read this.
She reads outloud to Joseph S. and Jesus.
Dear Mythaq Osterly,
I was just reading my novel 'Failure to notify the Legal Aid' on the site, and I remembered you reading one of the last Ecards I sent you. I put that in the story. Made me think of you.
They did a story about the novels in the newspaper out here. Sorry for the feeble message I left you. I was nearly fired that day, and my car cost $966 to fix.
I miss you every day. As much as we argued and quit talking for months on end, I still miss and love and care for you very much. I'm sorry I can't write fiction. If you've been reading them all, which you probably do, sometimes writing about being hurt and broken hearted helps.
Christmas Eve was the hardest night of my life. We both know that. I'm sure we knew it going in. I should've asked you what I came there to ask you. I'm sorry I didn't when we were saying goodbye. I'm sorry we can't get along. I really am. I'm sorry I didn't ask you outside to get married. Since that was the plan. I miss you Mythaq. Happy Valentine's Day.
Dan
Karolina-Wow. He's in real bad shape.
Jesus-Yeah. I was there. I wish I could help him. He's hurting so much. I also printed out his blog from yesterday. I subscribed to it so I could keep up with him. I didn't think he would mind. Read this.
She opens the folded printout and again reads outloud to her friends.
Saturday February 4th, 2006: Wooden Box Theater Blog.
I'll never know why I sent her an Ecard tonight.. I was reading my novel 'Failure to notify the Legal Aid' on the website and I got to the part where Dan is in God's library sending Mythaq Osterly an ecard and she accepts it and reads it. In real life she did. She never wrote back or sent a response, but I've been thinking about that scene all day. I remember when I wrote it. Having just gotten the auto reply from the place who does Ecards and I was so happy she read it.
So I sent her one today. Even though we had this whole ordeal on Christmas Eve and even though I should be cursing her name right now for ruining my heart over and over again, I chose the one that said 'I miss u especially on Valentine's Day.' It was hard to send. I apologized to her in the note that comes with it for us not being able to get along.
I told her I should've asked her to marry me on our fateful last visit. I have no clue if she'll open it or read it. She brought so much love and joy into my life. It's been 10 months since we met. I wrote 'Cross shatter Eye' about that night. And the later ones about what it was like to be hurt by her.
My novels are hideously honest in parts. Well, most parts. I can't write fiction. I can't write stuff that's made up. I wish I could've just made up a story like what happened between me and this woman. I wish that all the time.
I know I should've blurted it out. I mean a marriage proposal is dramatic as it is. It was Christmas Eve, outside her church. All I could say was 'I adore you' and even then I was half crying, while some pastor was looking over my shoulder. I've replayed the scene over and over. The plan was to go to church, walk her to her car afterwards and ask her. I didn't have a ring or anything. I didn't need one.
I remember looking at her just after I gave her Christmas card and reaching out to hold her hand, which she took, but changed the hand holding into a handshake. I looked back and saw the pastor, and I should've asked her. My mouth opened to do just that, but I was scared, I let the moment slip.
She used to read my novel series. She could even quote them. Maybe she still does read them somewhere or sometimes. If she read 'Made in Portugal' she probably knows what I went through that night. Especially on Christmas Eve. I knew it was going to be the last time we'd see each other for a long time. She did manage to wave to me through her car window as she drove away, leaving me to drive the other way to the line dance club, and her back to 'East Kaesa' Even the three voice mails I left her on my way to the club didn't get her to call back.
Why the Hell am I still missing her? You're not supposed to still be in love with someone who could do nothing but hurt you, every time! A friend was reading 'Made in Portugal' while chatting with me on AIM and I remembered just how emotional Christmas Eve would've seemed to someone who didn't know the situation real well.
I threw away 3 pretty amazing relationships on a whim to hold onto this love for someone who turned out to have nothing but a black heart in return for my love and care. Then why still care? After 3 awesome months and 7 dramatic heartbreaking months...Why does the storyline persist? I have no idea. I've never been able to replace her.
So I sent her an Ecard tonight. I haven't really wanted to talk to or be around anyone. So I can go home and play my favorite Silverstien and Underoath songs that make me think of her, but it's not going to do any good. Maybe she doesn't even check the same email address anymore. I just got a chill when I hit the send button.
If she wasn't so damned right for me I wouldn't be so quick to keep her place in my heart open. If she wasn't such an amazing singer, guitar player, flute player and Sunday school teacher I'd write her off right now, tonight. But I can't. If you read 'Made in Portugal' you'll know I included an open air proposal to her at the end of it. Trust me it's as honest as it gets...
You always end up missing the ones who hurt you the most. Might explain why during my latest car trouble I walked a mile in the snow with my last 4 quarters to call her to ask her for help. I just got her voice mail, and she just got a weepy message from me.
I never got a call back, an email, or anything. But there must be some good in her. Like Luke trying to get Darth Vader to change back to Anakin Skywalker. That's the only way to illustrate it.
Then how can a church employ such a heartbreaker? How can she be a Sunday school teacher and still carry on like this? How can it truly be?
Right now I'm listening to Underoath sing 'When the sun sleeps.' It makes me think of her. I just wish she would write back or at least read the card I sent her. Don't worry my next novel is going be pretty damned emotional. Get ready. I'm starting it tomorrow....
Dan
She's visibly crying.
Karolina-I can't read anymore. I'm sorry.
Jesus-There's one more you have to read, then I'll just pretend like I didn't print these out. I just need a woman's opinion on this last one.
He pulls out the last folded sheet of paper from his pocket and hands it to her. By now Jesus has fixed Joseph S.' front door and the three are sitting on his couch trying to figure out Dan's current situation.
Wednesday December 21st, 2005: Wooden Box Theater Blog
I can't believe I'm typing this right now. I've got a million different emotions going through me. All I know is that I went from not knowing weather or not I wanted to go to my Godparents house for Christmas, and wanting to hang out with the Mormons, to about 2:30 this afternoon sitting in my car on break at work.
All I can say is I can't explain it yet. I don't wanna jinx it, but I know in my heart that God, or 'The Father,' as I like to call him in 'Alia and the Boy' still likes me. I had a conversation that has me on cloud 9. A very cautious cloud 9, but still cloud 9.
It was freezing cold. I knew our computers at work were freezing up, so I had tossed and turned with the idea of sending flowers to someone for Christmas, and I even called several places to get some in a hurry. You know when that feeling comes over you to do something spontanious that you hope works. I know the main florist on 'East Kaesa' doesn't deliver, I got 4 different numbers and none of them were able to help me so finally I found one on 'East Kaesa' and the lady was very hard to understand and wanted like $30 to send 2 roses to the same freakin town! The one day I would manage to need my credit card for something more than one last spectacular fast food trip, I would need it for something constructive.
Anyway, fed up with not being able to understand the woman, and with getting nowhere anywhere else. I managed to take matters into my own hands. I punched out for break early and what happened next should only be remembered as amazing.
When I was talking to her I swear it could've lasted forever. Not to sound mushy or anything, but some people float into your life on a whim, break your heart, but still keep it close to theirs. I think that might have been the case because I'll never know what made her so happy to hear from me again. I can't explain it.
Christmas Eve is gonna be like walking into a ladder match on wrestling. I have no idea how to predict anything with this woman. I could come home choke sobbing or come home happier than ever or come home at peace. All I know is for ten minutes today a wish was granted and someone I adore with all my heart might be coming around again.
It's hard to think that I met her back in march, wrote 7 'Alia and the Boy' novels about meeting her and how hard it was to lose her, but I was not expecting a civil and upbeat conversaiton with her today. I just wasn't.
There are people you meet and date who you can say 'blah' you know. But there's other people who totally change your life and way of thinking. I've never cherished anyone in this world quite like 'Mythaq Osterly' it's strange to refer to her that way, because I wrote most of 'Cross shatter Eye' after the night we met. About meeting her. She knows who she is in real life, but I'll put 'Mythaq' here because most people know the situation form reading 'Alia and the Boy,' anyway I'm very happy I made that first move and called her.
I just couldn't get through the holiday without at least knowing where we stood. I'm glad I did. Maybe it's a new start or maybe nothing or maybe a friendship. All I know is I have lots of push ups, sit ups, chin ups, and graperuit juice to drink before Saturday. 'Made in Portugal' is wrting itself for me.
Whoever reads this, just wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. Reminds me of the scene in Notting Hill when Will is mourning Anna all through a winter and everything and one day decides to get the whole family together and go and see her press confrence. At the end while Steve Winwood is singing 'Gimme some lovin' It's also one of my favorite movies.
No matter what happens Saturday, I just hope its for the best. I got the one thing I wanted for Christmas today. This afternoon and I couldn't be happier. Just cautious, though, till we see each other again.
Karolina finds Jesus has unveiled yet another sheet of folded printer paper.
Jesus-He was so happy...then it just died. Read this one. He wrote this one the night before all this happened.
Friday December 23rd, 2005:
Wooden Box Theater Blog
How am I gonna get through Christmas Eve? Well I already missed work today. Just not feeling good. My apartment is really dry during the winter so you either wake up sick, a sore throat, or a head cold or a migrane. But hey, I love it! Am I stressing out over tomorrow nite? I think so. I just can't believe that in a flash things don't seem so impossible. Maybe it's due to the fact that I probably did find my soulmate back in March. You know when you meet someone and fireworks go off and you wanna run around screaming 'Finally, I found her'
I've only felt that way once in my life. Just once. Sorry for anyone that that comment offends, but being away from someone you love for 8 months can take a toll on you. We had the most amazing relationship for three months. I can't explain properly why it ended, I'm still figuring that out, but hopefully tomorrow night will be a new start, even as friends. I have no Earthly idea how it's gonna be. I wish I did. I wish I could trace the steps from my car to her eyes, but I can't. All I know is hopefully it'll be nice out tomorrow nite.
I have no expectations either. Just the fact that we talked for 10 minutes is enough of a shock and breath of fresh air than I was ever expecting from her. I mean keeping someone alive in Christian Mystery novels is one thing, but you do that because you miss them and at least you have a little something to remember how amazing they were to you.
It's a lesson. I about cried when I heard 'Memories of Us' by Keith Urban today. I remember putting that on and listening to it when I was getting ready to see her one of the last times. But, yeah it's gonna be like the most cautious, rewarding thing I will probably ever do. I'm sure I'll be back to work tomorrow and everything will be fine. Fingers crossed.
Last time I checked God never tells lies and never whispers lies in your ears. One night he told me that I'd found my destiny in the eyes of a beautiful woman.
I managed to lose her for eight months. I'm hoping I won't lose her again and that our call will produce something good. There's very few people in this world I would pack everything up and dedicate my entire life to. It's a wierd thing to think about. Being under the same roof with her. Last time I was in church with her, I cried a lot. I remember feeling God's presence there. I'm sure people wondered about why this guy they'd never seen before was sititng there crying during the music part of the service.
I've retraced that day and written about it in 'Alia and the Boy,' but there's no way really to describe it other than 'you had to be there back in march.'
But I also remember her walking from the stage and holding my hand through the rest of the service. No one in the world could've separated our eyes. I don't think I would've wanted them to, either. I just had one of those feelings at that moment like my whole life was falling into place. It's too bad it totally fell apart along with my life shortly after. Either way, her and I talking the other day was the most awesome Christmas present I've ever gotten. Wish me luck.
Karolina-Do you have one from right after that night, now I want to know what happened?
Jesus-Yeah, I printed on the back of the one you just read.
Karolina-Do I even want to read it?
Jesus-It's up to you, it's pretty graphic and emotional. I got a little choked up when I saw it online.
Joseph S.-I don't really know Dan that well to be able to advise him. I could tell when I called him that one time that he was hurt over what happened with her. I could just hear it in his tone of voice.
She reads outloud the final entry of Dan's journal, that Jesus had printed out.
December 27th, 2005:
Wooden Box Theater Blog
Its time to deal with or write about what happened Christmas Eve night at church.
I probably will out of respect for my heart not attend any more services for a while of any church.
I'm not trading in my faith in God for nothing, but so far I've had 2 bad experiences at the same Lutheran Church. I left 2 voicemails for the main pastor about what went on under his nose. Not looking for any returned calls so I didn't leave a number for him or anyone to call back. Just thought is was an inappropriate location and date to have someone be set up to get hurt again. I shouldn't have had to try desperatly to call friends because of being shook up after someone I cared about for 8 months decided to show her true colors following what should've been an awesome candlelight service.
I have no sympathy or room in my heart for someone Hellbent on breaking it. Basically, I did everything I could, in my power, to make the situation a little less nervous, even smiling a lot. We both knew it was gonna be hard to see each other. I wasn't ready to get my heart broken on of all days, the night before Jesus' birthday. You just don't do that to someone.
Luckily I did get through to a few people to talk and cry on their shoulders. I made it to one of the karaoke places I sing at which was nearly empty so I went up to the line dance club and had to take a 'time out' before going in. They never really did get busy. It didn't matter. I still danced with the 5'11, long blonde haired cowgirl all the guys wanted. That made my nite. And the cute foreign girls who came to line dance.
I explained the situation to 'Gabe' from 'Alia and the Boy' when I got there, and I think all the regulars knew I'd just been crying. Not hard to hide.
I was so looking forward to the whole night, I even worked out, got all dressed up, actually sang the Christmas songs along with the church band, who 'Mythaq' is the leader of. I'll hand it to her, she looked amazing! She sang and she has one of the most beautiful voices ever, but then how can you with as high of a rank as she has in her church be just as cold hearted as someone out to intrude on and break your heart? She changed her mood and attitude in about 4 seconds once we were outside ready to leave.
She didn't even have the good in her to sit by me during the service that she invited me to. That should've spelled 'trainwreck' right there. After I'd pulled over before to pray and to cry before going in even. It was a sad ordeal. I never knew in my life someone could take such pride in making someone else feel bad. I know now, though.
I couldn't help but leave a message or two for the main pastor, thanking him for having me there, but assuring him I'd never be back and wouldn't ever talk to her again. The visitor mug, and paperwork hit the dumpster outside, hard. And I'm moving on..
It's new years eve this Saturday. It's On! Maybe I'll find a replacement. Maybe there's someone out there who won't mess with my faith in God again.
I guess I felt bad when when the person who invited me number one wouldn't sit by me, but another guy. I almost left, but then again she did have to be close to the stage to play guitar and sing and play the flute. I'll give her that much. She probably didn't see me crying 2 rows back. Maybe she did. I even went up for their communion, which was strange, it just sort of happened. The service itself was pretty amazing. Her and I finally made eye contact once I was in line waiting to get the little cup of grape juice. Long enough to smile at me. Which was returned. I walked back to my seat not as nervous. Didn't stop me from crying again. Hey, I still had hope things were gonna be okay.
The service cautiously ended and I waited with my 'Silent Night' candle and my jacket to talk to her. I walked up and we sat together and had a conversation. I told her my car almost overheatedd getting there and that it took a while to get there because of the fog we had that night. I showed her my visitor mug, she told me I could help her carry her stuff out to her car, which I'd parked next to. Just seemed symbolic. She introduced me to her pastor, again, and a few other people as 'her friend,' I carried her guitar in it's case, and waited for her to grab her coat. I was smiling the whole time. We stopped to talk to one of the pastors, and she introduced me to him too, but something was up. I could tell. Her voice was changing from calm to formal. But, then again, we were standing together, leaving together. What could possibly be next?
In about 5 minutes the night turned dark.
She looked amazing, don't get me wrong. She held the door for me. The church door. I was still carrying her guitar. One of the pastors followed up. And started talking to her about what she was doing later that nite. She said something about going out singing Christmas songs to the people in her neighborhood and then staying home. I figured maybe she'd invite me with, but not taking any chances.
'East Kaesa' is only about half an hour from the church. As I loaded her guitar into her trunk, I saw the pastor again march up to her, then I knew something was seriously up. I walked to put the folder and mug in my car, and then walked back only to hear her in a formal voice command that 'she'd see me some other time' while the pastor was almost blocking her from talking to me.
I knew it was one of the main guys because he had the white collar thing going on. So in Wooden Box Theater fashion I still had a Christmas Card to give, so I walked right past him and looked in her eyes one last time. There's no spark anymore, though. Her eyes never looked so cold as they did at that split second. Here's someone I wanted to marry and live happily ever after with.
I looked at her. I asked her 'When do I get to see you again?' The guy was like 6 inches from me, and probably heard me ask her. Almost on cue she said she didn't know. I gave her the card, which she took with her. I reached out for her hand as this guy was moving in closer to apparently inspect the ordeal.
She took my hand in hers one last time. But it was turned around and turned into a handshake. A formal handshake. Meanwhile all this is going on outside, at a church, on Christmas Eve whith the woman who invited me there in the first place. Can't say I was uninvited.
I looked at her one last time as the pastor was trying to motion for me to leave by trying to talk to me about the service and all of that, but there was still more to say. I managed to let her and I let our eyes meet one last time, and told her flat out 'I adore you.' It was terribly sad.
She did manage to wave goodbye to me through her car window as she drove away, with my heart. So a week of preparing and that's it. How can people who claim to be Christian act in such a way? Anyone's guess. I hope that guy was the one I left the voicemails for. They weren't bad, trust me, just assuring that I'd never be back. And why would I? So I can set myself up to get hurt again? I'm not doing that. I put my life on hold for her from March until now. It's done.
Of course I was a mess afterward. I called several of my Wooden Box helpers and friends. I got a hold of a couple of them 'Countess Dashia' was super sweet and let me talk for a while. I hated to bug anyone on Christmas Eve. But when I pulled over at the New Iley outlet mall to take a time out, I had tears running down my face.
I left her a couple of messages. One I know I cried through, and rightfully so. I was devastated. When it all finally sank in what had happened, I recharged my phone hoping she'd at least play her messages and call. Just to see how I was doing. I knew she was headed home. Unless that was a lie, too.
No returned call. No email. No nothing. Just a cold hearted woman that I trusted and let into my heart. Just gotta be more careful next time. Even though someone is highly ranked in a church, and teaches Sunday School, and works with kids. It doesn't mean they're a good person on the inside.
Maybe she asked the pastor to follow her? Maybe he did it to be nosey? Maybe he didn't know the situation. Well the thing that saved me what I know for a fact he heard me tell her I adored her. That was enough of a 'win' for me. Let the questions fly come next Sunday. Someone'll have to pick up those church voicemails.
I still got to dance with a pretty cowgirl. I skipped out on family Christmas dinner because of what happened the night before. Choosing to stay home and rebuild my heart from scratch.
Like I said on the pastor's voice mail, 'It's never fun getting your heart broken on Christmas Eve.' Don't worry, I never want to speak to 'Mythaq' again. I obviously did everyhting she wanted. I put my life on hold and my heart on hold, and for what? For her actions on God's holiday? That's not worth it. Not worth second guessing my faith. She's not the one anyway. I went in with a glimmer of hope. Hell, it's Christmas. It's supposed to be cheerful, not this one.
There's a brief part of the same blog from January 2nd. A week or so after the ordeal. Karolina hesitates before reading it to her friends as well.
January 2nd, 2006:
Wooden Box Theater Blog
Now that 2005 is over it's time to clean out some cobwebs and things out of my heart and move on. I keep finding myself wanting to forgive 'Mythaq' for what she did to me. I don't know how to explain it. As much as she hurt me and broke my heart and used me and pretended to like me and shattered my heart on Christmas Eve, I dont know. I can't explain why I'd still forgive her if she were standing right here. It's the damnest thing to have creep up on you.
I went from being single to finding her, to finding a crazy philosophy fan, to someone else to being single again, to Christmas Eve.
While I had a lot of plans for 'Made in Portugal' when it was first developed and I know everyone probably thinks it's gonna be an in depth look at Christmas Eve, I promise it won't be that sad. Not as sad as me driving to the outlet mall on New Iley and crying to myself in my car before driving to the line dance club. I want to convey the message and theme of that night, but it'd be cool to have some of the Bible characters there in certain scenes to flesh it out.
For now though, I'm planning the next 2 part miniseries, and rearranging my apartment. I'm signing up for free checking, but most of all kinda closing myself off for a couple of weeks while I try to deal with why I suddenly want to write a letter to 'Mythaq' It sucks when you know you should forgive someone for hurting you. I remember when Jesus asked God to forgive the people for killing him. I remember it from the movies.
I guess it's never fun trying to put a loved one out of your heart. I don't have the heart to kick her out totally. This woman made me question my faith in God, something no ones ever done! She made me cry on Christmas Eve. Both tears of joy and mourning. I'm mourning that place in my heart she moved into over the Spring and then moved out of in the middle of the night, while we talked on a payphone for an hour.
It's never fun standing out in the rain trying to get someone to make a relationship work. I know, I've done it. Anyone not knowing what I mean can read how I dealt with it in 'Failure to Notify the Legal Aid.'
Joseph S. is completely in tears. As he looks at Karolina now that she's done reading Dan's heartfelt thoughts, he looks at her in a different light.
Jesus-I'm almost done with your door. I left my main screwdriver at home. Wait, maybe Brittany can bring it to me. Hang on a second.
Once Jesus is outside the doorway, on the sidewalk, he places a call, but not to Brittany, his friend.
Noah-Yes?
Jesus-Keep an eye on Joseph S.
Noah-Why?
Jesus-Just do it. Don't take any chances. I think two visitors tried to attack him.
Noah-The Father told me about the missing plates of his. Are we sure we even want to help him?
Jesus-He's here for a reason.
Noah-I know. Just don't let anything bad happen to him, alright?
Jesus-I won't. Dad's monitoring him, too.
Noah-I don't like the tone of your voice.
Jesus-I think, well, it's not important. I think someone's trying to contact him.
Noah-Like?
Jesus-The 'Inventors.'
Noah-Through who?
Jesus-We'll have to see. I am going to email you a list of files I want you to pull to further investigate what went on in his house a few minutes before I got here.
Noah-By the way, Emma S. is here.
Jesus-What?
Noah-Just thought you should know. She's a nice lady.
Jesus-Better make me a cup of coffee. Strong. Maximum cream and sugar. This is going to be a long night.
Noah-Why?
Jesus-Joseph S. just met his soul mate.
Noah-Well make sure this gal doesn't find out about this guys track record with wives. Might scare her away. But then again, how many bad ones do you have to go through to really find your soul mate?
Jesus-Noah?
Noah-Yes?
Jesus-I smell burning. Like something's on fire.
Noah-Where are you?
Jesus-I've been walking while talking to you.
Noah-Walk back to the house you just left.
After a couple of blocks he finds what he almost can't believe to be true.
Jesus-Get Dad! Right away!
Noah-What has happened?
Jesus-Joseph's house is on fire! Somebody get help!
Noah-That's funny, my friend. We don't have the resources to extinguish a full blown house fire! This is Heaven. You're going to have to get him out of there yourself.
Jesus-I can call L. He's one of the few people who can stand the heat. Call me in a few minutes.
Noah-I'll call your Dad.
He walks closer to the doorway that He had just tried to fix, and sees it completely covered in flames.
Jesus-Joseph!! Karolina!!
He races across the street to Karolina's house and grabs a gallon of water from her refridgerator and races back to the burning house. The contents of the gallon of water are thrown right at the flames.
Jesus-Hello!! Anybody?
The gallon of water doesn't do any good.
Jesus-Dad!! Where are you!!
The Father and Isaiah drive close to the scene of the fire in Isaiah's car.
The Father-Who did this?
Jesus-I left long enough to call Noah. I couldn't have been talking for more than three minutes. I took a walk while I walk talking. I wanted to leave him alone with Karolina so they could get to know each other.
The Father uses his phone to call to the one expert he does know about extreme heat.
L-Yes, I'm busy, what is it?
The Father-I've got a pretty massive fire on my hands. I need some estimates as to if there will be two survivors or not.
L-Oh, it's you. I'm sorry. Are you in Heaven?
The Father-I am.
L-Things aren't supposed to catch fire in Heaven on a whim. Something is behind this. What we need to do is calm down and figure out who or, might I suggest, what, did this?
The Father-Joseph S. and his soul mate, Karolina are in there. They met for the first time today.
L-Did you guys find his plates, yet?
The Father-I think I know who took them.
Meanwhile deep inside the burning structure which stands three stories tall, Karolina and Joseph S. have made their way to the second floor bedroom to escape the fire on the main floor.
She is out of breath and strating to cry. Smoke has began covering her face and her breathing is becoming harder and harder for him to listen to.
Joseph S.-Don't give up, Karolina, I just met you. Hold on. Jesus will save us.
Suddenly he sees something that catching his memory bank off guard. There is a window in the bedroom, on the second floor. He's lived in Heaven in the same house for many years, but not until this moment does he realize that he's been in this same position before.
Karolina-What is it, hun?
Joseph S.-This is all too familiar. Someone planned this. I can't believe I just half considered jumping out the window. I'm again on the second floor, in a bedroom, facing near death. How can this be? Someone is hunting me down. I must escape. I must bring you with me. I don't know how we met, lady, but I'm not going to see you burn. You're coming with me to safety.
Karolina-I believe you. I just wish I knew who you were. You're captivating, but at the same time worried about me and you've only known me part of one day.
He sits at his computer and begins to type one last letter to her.
One last and final letter to show her and his heart that it's over between them. No more benefits of the doubt.
Dear Mythaq Osterly,
It's Thursday, I'm writing a novel about Joseph S. and Jesus and all of that, but what I'm trying to say is that it's time for this doubt to end. It's time for me to no longer think of you as my one and only love in this world. I went on a horrible date last night. It didn't seem horrible at first, but then again I went on it looking like Hell.
I still binge eat, honey. I still stuff my face full of fast food. I still write bad checks to order pizza at 2am. Why? Why do you think. I turned to food when you left me. I turned to it instead to finding someone else to love me for who I am. I chose to call a pizza place and send the driver off with a bad check so I could sit up and look like absolute Hell, thank God my roomates never saw the worst of me wading through filthy dirty clothes on my floor with fast food bags and wrappers that used to house fattening sandwiches. I'm done with it. I'm done with you.
I let you storm into my life and break it all apart. I let you ruin three relationships that could've turned out so well, but then again how could it ever be as well as it was with you. I'm sorry to drag you into yet another novel of mine, but I can't focus on the fire I'm supposed to be writing or anything for that matter.
Last night I had a little bit of a crisis that I want you to know about. I was on my way to planning a date. My car has been overheating bad. I think it's going to blow right up with me in it sometimes. I wish I had a new car like yours. I drove home from work and the thing was overheating and running out of gas. I barely made it to North Iley in one piece.
I was supposed to go and write a bad check for a few dollars over to get some coolant for my poor car. You have to understand that I lead such a shabby life that sometimes I even find myself moving the seats forward in my car to look for loose change to buy something to eat at work. Mostly just coffee. I like the strong kind. Makes me not think about being hungry. The first place I went with my check said it was declined? Declined? How was I going to get to work? I can't call you, you won't answer. I can't email you, you won't write back. Just like you haven't read the Ecard I sent you.
I check the inbox every so often since the site says the card expires soon. Great. Just great! I'm never going to set foot inside another Lutheran church as long as I live. I did everything. Everything. Everything you wanted. I loved you with all of my heart. I gave up so much for you. What did you do for me? You showed me hope of true love. You loved me back and adored me. Yeah, for a while. A short, short while. But, I guess it was what happened during that short while that keeps me missing you even now, eleven months after we met.
Can you believe it's been almost a year since we met? I can't. Part of it seems like a terrible nightmare, but the other 25 percent of it seems like I spent two and a half months with a beautiful angel from Heaven. I'm pausing my story about Joseph S. finding his soul mate in the afterlife only to have him nearly burn to death with her. Tricky topic. I feel like I got burned when you left me. Worse than any house fire. Worse than an inferno. I've never slept right since.
The worst part of it all is that I go on these dates already hoping she's like you. When I came home last night I looked at myself in the mirror and saw someone who was unshaven and ugly and I looked at my ratty second hand clothes and and I thought about you all dressed up and looking like a celebrity on Christmas Eve and me sitting there with my feeble looking spring jacket that I wear even when it's cold outside. They like to tease me at work because it's so cold outside, but deep down I know that with my car trouble and everything else, I can't afford to just up and buy something like a winter coat right now. I don't mind freezing. Every time my car overheats on the side of the road or on the way to work I want to pull over and curl up in my back seat and just cry.
I miss you, honey. I stood there at the grocery store and tried to pass off a bad check, knowing full well that a branch of my bank is located directly inside the damned store! My gas tank was well below the 'E' and even the 'Check Gages' light came on, which warns you when your low and the car is about the stop altogether. I coasted home and made a couple of unproductive phone calls on my prepaid cell phone that at any given time only has enough time on it for a quick hello and a quick goodbye.
I'd beg, borrow or steal money tonight if I knew you were going to call me again. I swear I would. The worst was driving home from the store with no money, no coolant and no gas to get to work in the morning to a job I'm nearly being fired from, as it is, for poor attendance. At least they moved me away from the desk that houses the phone that you first called me on. It's not a daily reminder of you anymore.
I called into my supervisor to see if anyone knew a way for me to write a bad check for cash and coolant to avoid missing work and I just knew if I'd missed another day I'd be fired for sure. I know these things. I've been there. I've been fired a couple of times for poor attendance. I don't want to sound like poor pittiful me is missing awesome beautiful you, but damn you, I do. I know you didn't want a rescue mission in being with me, and I know I'm fragile enough to indirectly lead you to rescuing me from poverty. There, I said it. I'm poor. I walk home and look in my empty cabinets and see nothing! When I do eat it's way too much to the point of making me either fat or sick! If someone was to give me $5.00 I know there'd be a part of me that would figure out in my head how many double cheeseburgers that would be for $1.00 each.
I never considered getting help for my eating habits, but they're rather scary to my body who has to put up with me losing control at all hours of the night. It's not like I weigh more than 160 pounds, because when I'm not pushing this stuff down my throat and wanting to puke it back up into the sink or the toilet later on when I've ruled out sleeping for fear I won't trigger my heart beating either out of my chest or not at all, I lay there miserable and things clutter my apartment floor. Things like clothes I've worn many times over, even without washing them. I don't know why I'm telling you these things. I can't focus on my novel right now. I can't. I'm waiting for my direct deposit to go into my account so I can eat tomorrow and get to work on my suspended license plates! Yeah, that's another thing. If I get pulled over again on those I really will be calling you to cry in your ear about how they've locked me up in jail because I can't post bail and they've taken my car, what little is left of it and I'm going to spend the night remembering that one night. One night. One night. I was out dancing and I just happened to run into a beautiful woman that changed my life over the coarse of two and a half months, but also someone who tore apart my entire world for 9 months after that.
But, I won't keep you, Mythaq, or whatever your name is in this novel. You know who you are. I don't want to keep the readers from this novel I'm writing. I finally did walk upstairs and a beautiful woman loaned me money for gas. I wish you had her heart. I wish you had her compassion. But you don't.
I went back into my apartment with the $7.00 and I swear I tore into my cluttered floor and put on a CDR with Underoath, Glory Nights, and Amber Pacific on it, and I turned it up real loud, and I threw my clothes into a basket and I picked up my shower stuff from off the floor, and I made my bed and I shaved, and I took a shower and I put on cologne and I hung back up my collection award certificates from my other job, and I hung up some wrestling posters and some of my Wooden Box Theater flyers, even a copy of the one I gave you the night we met.
After about 6 Underoath songs and a couple more by a couple of other bands I looked at my clean room with amazement. Wow, I thought. It's clean. All I have to do is the laundry. The shower I took never felt so good. It never felt so good.
My scalp, which is usually so dry you can see flakes fall off of it, was hydrated and not so easily peeled off. I know I should take better care of myself, but for what? Huh? For you? For what reason? I guess I just let myself go after you left. I didn't want to be around or see anyone. I can pass it off at work, because theyd on't know any better. But in my real life it hurts like Hell. I tried to have a good time on my date, but I couldn't. I appeared unkept and I froze running from the car in a short sleeve shirt in the middle of winter. Truth is, she didn't turn out to be so well anyway, so no big loss, but still, what if it was someone decent and special? Am I so wounded by you that I wouldn't know my own soul mate if she sat right next to me in the library where I type up my novels? Would I? Okay, deep breaths Dan.
Of course I wouldn't know her, I'm still stuck on believing she's you. Damn you! It's your fault I'm not happy and unkept and shabby and poor and so filthy poor that I'm not even sure that I'm going to get all of my check when I finally get the direct deposit in a few short hours. They might take it all away and leave me crying tears down my face and onto whatever tissue I decide to use. You know what, I'm done with tissue, I want you to see me crying for you to listen for a change. Hell with tissues wiping tears off my face, a lot of good it did me! I covered your hurt toward me so good that even I was fooled. In picking my room back up I pitched a few soda cans. Root Beer tears up my stomach. So do college noodles. You know the ones you can get for a few nickels on sale. When you're poor there's not much else to eat with fucking pennies in the ashtray in your car! God I don't even want to do this any more. I lost my true love. God! Why? Why did she run? Why did she turn her back on me? Just tell me the answer and I swear I might feel better, but for how long? Long enough for my car to break down again? Long enough for the world to come crashing down on me again? How long, God, am I going to feel this way, I don't want to screw up another novel mourning the loss of my heart to an ungrateful heartbreaker! There must be a way out? Hell with 'Alia and the Boy,' to Hell with my life, my car, my job, my broke financial state, Hell with all of it.
Honey, just listen, please. I'm sorry if that sounded like I was going to do something stupid like take too many pills and lay down with the sounds of talk radio and the up to the minute news station, but I'm not. I didn't do that last night. I watched some television, I went upstairs and I layed down, alone and I fell asleep. I did it smiling. I'm free from your tearing apart of my heart. I'm happy. The ghost of you has been lifted from my shoulder. Will I miss you forever? Yes, and no. This time I'm putting a 'For Rent' sign on my heart. You fooled me into loving you, and I got tricked into caring about you. I'm done, honey. Good night, my love. Wherever you are. I'm sure I'll hear songs by Keith Urban or Underoath that make me think about you, but that's going to be about it. I'm not calling, or emailing or anything. I'm not showing up at church to make things right, or showing up on 'East Kaesa' we're finished.
I have a few things to say to you, though, in this last letter to you. I'd just like to say that you were the most recent woman I asked to marry. I love you, Mythaq Osterly.
I'd like you to know that maybe someday I'll look you up and maybe someday we'll be fine. We're not fine now, honey. We're not fine at all. I'm a mess. I don't feel right in any church except writing about God in my novels. Not since Christmas Eve. I keep telling people I'll go back, but I can't bring myself to it. It'll just make me think of you more and I'm trying to write you an eviction notice to get your stuff and get out of my heart, but the Christian in me wants so bad to call you and say that we need to start over from scratch, only for you that means pretending that I don't exist and trying to write me off every four and a half seconds!
I love you, but I have to say goodbye and get back to my novel, and the rest of my life.
True love waits,
Dan Sherrill
Someone has been monitoring Dan's typing and has also been reloading the writing page as more of the novel is being written.
Once 2am hits the main library clock, he makes his way downstairs by way of the elevator and notices that it has been snowing. Snow is one thing he's terrified to drive in. With a car that won't start and nothing to live for he wanders several blocks home, freezing cold.
He stops by one of the decoration water fountains by the college student center and stands there and tries to figure out a way that he can keep his car running, when a presence is felt beside him.
Joseph S.-Why'd you stop writing?
Dan-The library closed. I'm sorry.
Joseph S.-Wanna go for a walk, maybe you can explain to me how you're so moody all of the time now?
Dan-Oh, yeah, I guess you don't know.
Joseph S.-Well, I'm confused. First you have me meet Karolina in the story, then we get caught in a burning building and then suddenly you're thinking about that Sunday school teacher again. I don't get it.
Dan-I guess I'm trying to get over her.
Joseph S.-Dan, you met her last March. I helped out with her, remember the 'Championship' story? That's been ages. You haven't talked to me since you were leaving the sports arena.
Dan-I'm writing this one about you. What do you think so far?
Joseph S.-It's neat, but that's not the point. For Heaven's sake lift your head up, my friend! Don't let her get to you!
Dan-I guess you're right.
Joseph S.-I'll help you any way I can, you're a friend.
Dan-Hey, listen I want to say thanks again.
Joseph S.-For what?
Dan-A bunch of your people have been flooding my email with offers to help me with my next two novels. The minute I put word out about them response has been amazing.
Joseph S.-Well, at first I didn't know what to think. I thought about it a lot. I like it so far. You've been to all of two services of mine, so something must've triggered this interest in me.
Dan-Maybe my poor experience at the recent Lutheran church made me identify with you a little more. I remember reading about how you couldn't decide on a church either. It's hard. It's so hard to find a good one. Don't be offended, but I'm not at all sure about your people, yet, anyway. The jury is still out. Please just know that I'm your friend, I'm just a little wounded from my last experience in a church.
Joseph S.-You're right. Just know if you ever do come and hang out at one of the services the people will be nice to you. That's all that should matter anyway, not so much you carrying around a membership card.
Dan-There is something I've been wanting to ask?
Joseph S.-Sure. Let's start walking back to your apartment, I'm getting cold.
Dan-Don't worry, it's not far.
Joseph S.-What is it that you wanted to ask me?
Dan-Do you have a cut on one of your ears?
They both freeze, while walking to Dan's apartment.
Dan-You do, don't you?
Joseph S.-Don't tell anyone. I fell one day. I don't know what made me fall. I was knocked out pretty bad. I didn't really want to tell anyone, but something came over me. I was in a hurry to tell dad about the visions I'd had that I must've gotten carried away and I was laid out on the ground for a long time.
Once they reach Dan's apartment, they both realize that somehow Dan's key doesn't seem to want to turn the lock. He decides to ring the four unmarked doorbells, hoping for an answer.
A strange woman answers.
Gretta Ceque-Can I help you?
Dan-Can you just let me in, I live here. In #4. Are you new?
Gretta-No. I'm not new. Someone else lives in #4. Molly Vega.
Dan-No!
Joseph S.-There must be some misunderstanding, my friend here has lived in this building since April of 1999. Check the room. There's wrestling pictures and all kinds of 8 track tapes in his dresser drawers. He's got 7 Bibles, including a blue softcover Book of Mormon from some of the missionaries around here.
Gretta-Hold on!
She locks the door tight and returns several minutes later with Molly Vega.
Molly Vega-I don't know these people, Gretta.
Dan reaches for his comlink to contact The Father. It doesn't work.
Joseph S.-Sorry for the trouble ladies. I'm sure there's an explaination for all of this.
Dan-Wait, Molly!
Molly-Yes?
Dan-He's your father, isn't he?
Molly smiles.
Dan-We're going to find a way out of here!
Molly-Actually, no, you're not!
Dan-Tell your dad, Oscar, that the Ileys and the people from Heaven are going to be here any minute.
Molly-They can't get here. This is 'Universe 6.' I brought you here!
Dan-Why?
Molly-To show you that we've won!
Dan-Won? Won what?
A presence is felt which startles Joseph.
She walks carrying an ax. There's a determined look on her face. She's going to find out how she got to this awful place.
Karolina-Joseph!!
Joseph S.-Karolina! How did you get here?
Karolina-Listen to me. I'm so confused right now. You left me!
Joseph S.-I did? We're on 'Universe 6' whatever that is. We've been transported here, with Dan. Someone named Oscar Vega is trying to take out The Father. I believe we're his bait.
Molly-How can you believe yourselves to be bait? The Father is already 'taken out.' This is 'Universe 6' no one here cares who the Hell He even is, much less about His Kid.
The front door to Dan's former apartment building is slammed shut as the three are left to find their way around this mysterious location.
Karolina-I'm keeping this ax by my side in case anything or anyone decides to start trouble with me or the two of you.
Joseph S.-There must be a way to contact The Father.
Dan-Maybe not. She did seem pretty insistant that they did away with Him.
Karolina-So now what? How do we get back to the house in Heaven?
Joseph S.-That's right.
Dan-Joseph, you never fully answered me. How did you get that thing in your ear?
Joseph S.-When I fell. I woke up and the same spirit who told me about the plates was the first thing I heard. I can't believe you know about that. What do you think it is?
Dan-A communicator. How deep in your ear is it?
Joseph S.-I feel it in there when it's cold outside. I didn't dare tell anyone.
Dan-The 'Inventors' are at it again. That's why we're here. Just calm down, you too. I brought something that they don't want to see.
Karolina-What is it?
He pulls out his North Iley Commander badge and places it on his long sleeve shirt.
This, in return, makes him visible as Commander Aaron Deschanel, of the North Iley Starfleet.
Aaron Deschanel-They can't do anything with me here. You two are safe.
Karolina-A badge isn't going to get us out of here, though, my friend.
Joseph S.-Wait, Dan, or Aaron as I guess I'm supposed to call you now, we don't have a way to contact The Father. That's the part that worries me.
She turns to Joseph and surprises him with a kiss.
Joseph S.-What was that for?
Karolina-I have to tell you something.
Joseph S.-Wait, here's a coffee shop. Aaron, do you have any money?
Aaron-Just a few dollars. I'm not sure if it'll work here, though, wait. Since this is North Iley on 'Universe 6' it might.
Once they enter and are seated they are surprised that no one recognizes them, or Joseph for that matter.
Aaron-Will this money work here?
The waitress takes one look at his $10.00 bill and smiles.
Bee Sting-Yeah. Your buddy looks familiar.
Aaron-This is Joseph S. I don't know how you'd know him.
Bee Sting-Wait a second. I have seen you before.
His eyebrows raise.
Joseph S.-Where?
Bee Sting-Not sure. Hey, turn your head to the side. I want to see your profile to make sure.
He does.
Bee Sting-Exactly! That's what I thought. I'll be right back.
She races to the back of the coffee shop, as another waitress takes their order.
Joseph S.-I'll just have toast and grape jam.
Aaron-I'll have grapefuit juice and chicken with rice soup.
Karolina-Sorry about my ax being in the way, I'm not letting it out of my site. I'll have a bowl of hot cereal and milk.
The second waitress walks back with their orders as Joseph sees the first one walk back with a woman behind her, staying out of view.
Bee Sting-Does this woman look familiar to you, buddy? She talks about you all the time.
Once their eyes meet for the first time, Joseph feels a shiver flow through his entire body.
Karolina-What's your name, miss?
Helen Mar-Helen. It's Helen. And you are?
Karolina-I'm Karolina. Hey, Joseph what's with the look on your face?
Helen-Lady, can I talk to him. Alone.
He gets up to walk away from the table, but is stopped by Aaron.
Aaron-Be careful. This is 'Universe 6' anything is possible. She could not even be real for all you know. I know about the others. Part of my research. I knew it was going to be just a matter of time before we ran into someone that recognized us.
Joseph S.-I'm just going to be a few feet away.
He walks and sits with his former wife. For the first time in many years.
Helen Mar-Why are you here?
Joseph S.-I think I was trasported somehow.
Helen-This is 'Universe 6'.
Joseph S.-Then how do you know me?
Helen-Some people weren't reprogrammed. I never got the injection.
Joseph S.-Do you have a way to reach The Father?
Helen-Can't your North Iley Commander over there call Him?
Joseph S.-Our communications are being blocked.
Helen-Who's the pretty gal?
Joseph S.-Her name is Karolina. She lives across the street from me in Heaven. She's had a tough life. She's just my friend.
Helen-Hey, you can do what you want. We're still sealed together though. So technically we're still married. But I've moved on.
Joseph S.-I understand. Will you help me, though?
Helen-How can I? I barely know you. You died when I was 15. I barely know you.
Joseph S.-You haven't been affected by this place. This sixth universe. I'm sorry for dying and leaving you to mourn your much older husband who'd just been shot to death. I'm sorry. I wish I could've changed the outcome of the shootout a few times. I can't complain about my house and friends in Heaven, but still. Seeing you now after all these years is hard.
A few teardrops fall from Joseph's left eye.
She takes his hand in hers.
Helen-It's alright. You don't owe me.
After a few minutes of crying, he asks her for a tissue to dry his eyes.
Helen-Do you think Karolina will mind if you and I spend some time together? There's a country and western bar that has slow dancing close to here. I'll let your friends stay with me for the time being, on the condition that I really get to know you. Not romatically, just so you know, but you're a part of my teenage years and I feel kind of cheated that it all happened so fast that I never got to know the man thatw ould end up being my husband only to be shot dead a year later.
The two of them walk back to the table where Aaron and Karolina are sitting.
Helen-You two are going to stay with me until I have a way to get you back home to Heaven. My shift is over now so let me drive you back to my place. It's not much, but I wasn't expecting visitors.
Aaron-Thank you. I'm Aaron Deschanel. I'm a commanding officer on the North Iley Starfleet.
Helen-Nice to meet you. I can tell by your badge, but thanks for clearning it up. Just means you didn't steal your clothes from a guard.
The car is started and driven to her house.
Helen-Didn't you guys bring anything? Changes of clothes? I hope to get you home tonight, but I can't say it with all that must knowledge.
Joseph S. is sitting in the front seat with a confused Karolina and Aaron sitting behind them, wondering how all this is possible.
Once there, Helen unlocks the front door of the modest house. They walk in and the first thing Joseph notices is a painted picture of him on her kitchen table.
He looks at it for a long time, thinking about its significance on her table.
Several huge teardrops fall from his eyes. Again.
Helen-You guys I have an extra bedroom. I don't know why, but I just do. Joseph? Joseph?
She looks over and sees him still focused on her photo of him, while Karolina and Aaron examine the one guestroom that they might have to share.
Aaron-Something's not right here.
Karolina-What is it?
Aaron-How could she have not been affected by the change in universes? This doesn't make any sense. She seems way too attached to him.
Karolina-I don't get her intentions, but at least we have someplace to plan out what we're going to do.
Aaron-What's that?
Karolina-What?
Dan-There's a notecard stuck to the wall with electric tape.
Karolina-Helen!!!
Hearing her name, she races to the guest room.
Helen-Yes?
Aaron-What's that on the wall?
Helen-Oh, that. Turn it over.
Aaron-No, you turn it over. What's it say?
Helen-I'm not sure.
Aaron-Tell us what it says!!
Joseph S.-Aaron, calm down!
Aaron-Right now!! Tell me what it says!!
Joseph S.-Aaron, what is it?
Aaron-I know this pattern.
She doesn't see it at first, but Aaron has revealed to the others a weapon to ensure his safety when this notecard is read.
Helen-You're going to use that one me?
Aaron-Read!!!
Helen-Alright. But I knew nothing about this. It was dropped off here this morning by a man.
Aaron-Did you get his name?
Helen-Matches Zaw.
Aaron takes a deep breath and removes his badge while the card is read, making him once again, Dan Sherrill.
She turns the card over and begins to read.
Dan,
Don't be too sure that it's all been just a matter of real estate. I got my eviction papers this morning. So now I'm out of your heart, am I not? Gee thanks. After everything I did for you. You seem ready to move on. Fine, go. Don't think about me. Don't email me. Don't send me Ecards. Quit! You want me out of your heart and your memory, then fine! I'm gone. I saw the article about you in the paper. A friend forwarded it to me. You want to know what? I miss you.
I miss you so much. I feel cheated our relationship ended so soon. You want to know how you got to 'Universe 6' don't you? You want to know how to get back to The Father and Jesus and the rest of the gang in Heaven, don't you? That should teach you to try to forget about me. Part of me is now empty.
Part of me is now wishing we could redo a few things. Another part of me is glad to be rid of you. I saved your buddy from the fire. I planted you guys on 'Universe 6' to save him for you. I did that for you! And you still are trying to give up on me. Why? Why Daniel, why?
Mythaq Osterly
Dan-I can't take this anymore!
He races out the front door of the house, only to see a car drive down the street to Helen's house.
A shiny new car.
Katelyn Socoroa-Dan, me and Cay'q were able to pick up your signal a couple minutes ago. We thought we'd lost you.
One look at Cay'q and Dan instantly feels better.
Cay'q Stem-Just because you wrote me to somehow be Annie in disguise a couple of stories ago, doesn't mean you're not in my heart. I know we go long periods of time without talking and that when we do it's unexpected and sometimes too short, but don't write me off just yet, as just being a friend. I care about you a lot. I read all of your blogs, too. I knew how to find you.
Dan-It's not nearly as assuring to me as the times I am at the library writing and I see your name flash on my caller ID. I guess I should really evict Mythaq from my lift and worry about the people who do love me for who I am and leave it at that. Don't run around different universes looking for someone and letting someone mess with my emotions who's just going to hurt me in the end.
Katelyn-My Husband is anxious to see you and know that you and your two friends are in one piece.
Dan-It's good to see you, Kate.
Joseph, Karolina and Helen remain in the guest room examining the strange notecard, along with Karolina.
Karolina-How did Matches get here?
Helen-He drove up in a car like your friends outside.
Karolina-Did he seem out of the ordinary?
Helen-No, he just handed me the notecard and told me to hang it in my guest room.
Joseph S.-And you did?
Helen-I'm a poet! I guess it alarmed me, but I didn't want any trouble so I hung it up. I guess it must've meant something to your friend outside.
Joseph S.-I think we might be able to trace how we got here, but no where does it say how we get back.
Karolina-Wait a second! Joseph, your hand!
Helen-Do you smell something?
Karolina-Joseph!! Your hand, its turning red and burning!
Helen-Lady, can you help him?
Karolina-I feel it, too!
Helen-Joseph, no!!
The image of Helen fades, as the two soul mates realize that their brief journey has come to an abrupt end.
They are back on the second floor of his house, in Heaven.
Joseph S.-Don't you worry, I'll find a way. What happened to Dan?
Karolina-I'm not sure.
The Father makes an unexpected phone call to Critchen, Heaven.
A mechanic answers the request of his client and walks inside their house to answer the urgent call.
Clar'Bella-It's The Father.
Hyrum S.-He never calls. Not like this.
The Father-Listen, your brother is in trouble. The flames you might be looking at in the air. Someone has set fire to his home here in Heaven. We can't seem to find him inside the building though. Do you know who would do this?
Hyrum S.-Where are the plates?
The Father-Lost. I'm sorry. It might be the same person.
Hyrum S.-Do Mon and Mor know? They'd be the only two I could think of that would know if they were missing or not.
The Father-I hate to call you like this.
Hyrum S.-No problem, buddy. Let me take off my grease stained outfit and put something more presentable on and I'll be there.
The Father-Don't worry about how you look, your bother needs you.
Racing in his car he arrives at the location of the fire rather quickly, but is stopped dead in his tracks by something he can't quite explain. Something not fully human.
Nine Xan-Going somewhere?
Hyrum S.-Get away from the car, my brother is in trouble!!
As much as he floors the gas, the car doesn't move an inch, being held by whatever is preventing him from joining the rescue mission.
Hyrum leaps from the car, choosing instead to finish the trip on foot.
Again he is stopped by this same being.
Hyrum reaches for something that startles the being into moving out of the way.
Nine Xan-You're too late, anyway. Joseph and Karolina will never survive.
Hyrum-Who's Karolina?
Nine Xan-His soul mate!
A call comes into Hyrum's cell phone.
Dan-Hyrum, do you know about Joseph?
Hyrum-Yeah, if I wasn't warding off this 'thing' in front of me, I'd be there by now.
The fire races at record pace up the stairs of his house.
She is becoming less and less able to breathe.
Joseph S.-Whoever is doing this, listen up! I'm not jumping out of the window! Your not going to pin me into doing that!
In a faint voice, she calls to him.
Karolina(crying)-Joseph!
Joseph S.-Yes, dear.
Karolina-It's getting so hard to breathe.
Joseph bows his head.
Joseph S.-Dear Lord, I don't know how she was brought into my life, but please, please, please don't take her away. I've learned a few things tonight. I'm scared of the situation I'm in, but it's nice to know that I'm not alone in it right now. I wish I could get her to breathe easier. I'm sure that there's a way out of here, Lord. I just pray nothing happens to Karolina, I'd never be able to sleep at night. She's beautiful and even though she doesn't know fully about me and my life on Earth, now that we're in Heaven I'm sure she's the one from you. Lord please help Dan with his poor eating habits and his financial state and care trouble. He's become somewhat of a friend over the last few months. He doesn't deserve having to pull over to tend to an overheating car every few days. Change his fortune a little. Meanwhile, I am scared. I've only been scared in this way one other time and I'm starting to think that this time may be no different than that. I don't want to see this beautiful woman be dragged into whatever problem someone has with me. I've come to like her a lot. Strange coming from me, but I do. She's only a couple years older than me, but hey what's age? Just a number. I swear to you I'll fix the house up nice and put on some slow country songs and dance with her in the living room and I'll try really, really hard to make something of whats left of my heart. We'll find the plates and everything will be fine. I'm putting this in your hands. Either you had us meet to be friends or more. I'm not in any positiion right now to argue with you or try to predict how your going to handle this. All I ask is that you find it in Your heart to rescue us. In Your name, Amen.
Once he opens his eyes from the thoughtful prayer, he realizes that some of the smoke has left the upstairs bedroom.
Someone has managed to break down the front door of the house. He races up the stairs, not caring about how hot the place has become.
Hyrum S.-Joseph!! Can you hear me?
Joseph S.-Honey, help is here! My brother has come for me!
Karolina(In a faint voice)-Joseph. It's so hard to breathe.
Her heart is beginning to beat slower and slower.
Joseph S.-No!!
Hyrum has physically kicked what's left of the bedroom door down and found his saddened brother.
Joseph S.-My brother!
Hyrum S.-Is that her?
Joseph S.-She's dying.
Hryum manages to carry her out of the room, as Joseph looks on, in absolute tears.
Hyrum S.-Watch the fire. It's hot on the way downstairs.
He can see her eyes focus on him, as she's being carried to safety by his brother.
Suddenly, though, the flames at the foot of the stairs seem to grow, preventing the three of them from reaching the front door, and The Father.
Karolina-Don't leave my side Joseph.
Joseph S.-We've come this far, why let a silly thing like fire come inbetween us.
Karolina-I know about you. I heard you pray.
Joseph S.-Don't leave me. I let things slip to The Father. Things I wasn't sure you'd be comfortable hearing about me. I've been married before. Several times. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
Karolina-We'll have words when we finally get out of here. I'm sure there was some explaination as to why you had all those wives. I've put two and two together. Don't leave me. Remember how I got to Heaven in the first place. You've been nothing but nice to me since we met. You've cared for me and kept me close. Even during that meeting with your ex-wife in the coffee shop. You didn't let me out of your site. Weather it was real or not, it was a real feeling of love that I felt from you, honey. I don't doubt you'd make me happy for a long, long time.
Joseph S.-That's the best news I've heard all day. I almost want to cry.
Hyrum S.-My brother's a good guy, once you get to know him, trust me.
He shows Joseph a genuine smile.
In an instant the flames die out. Something must've gotten what it needed from The Father.
The three of them can easily walk the rest of the way down the stairs, but the damage has been done to Karolina's lungs and she's holding on to dear life with only a slim chance of making it out Joseph's house alive.
The Father walks closer to Hyrum, who is still carrying her.
Hyrum S.-Can you fix her?
The Father-Lay her down. Since the fire has vanished, it should be okay to lay her on the floor here.
Joseph S. is openly crying, and trying to wipe his eyes while more tears fall.
She reaches up and is just able enough to touch his cheek with her fingertips, before gasping for breath a few more times.
Hyrum S.-She doesn't look good.
The Father-I know.
Hyrum S.-Are you causing this?
The Father-No.
Joseph S.-We were transported to 'Universe 6' while we were inside the upstairs bedroom. I saw one of my ex wifes even. It was so strange.
The Father-'Universe 6'? Now I know who's behind this.
He stands up looking at the sky.
He suddenly hears Jesus run at record speed down the street and shout to Him.
Jesus-Dad!! Emma has escaped and left a note. She does know Oscar Vega. The plates are still missing. The fire was an illusion. They're controlling Karolina's spirit now!
When Jesus finally catches up to His Father, He finishes His thought.
Jesus-Emma took the plates.
The Father-I knew that.
Jesus-How would she even know him?
The Father-It wasn't Emma at all.
Jesus-What?
The Father-There are no swimming pools even close to where she lives.
Joseph S.-What does a swimming pool have to do with anything?
The Father-I smelled chlorine on her when she was in my office earlier. There's only one woman who would fit that description.
Joseph S.-Dan's exgirlfriend. We saw her. Well, a note from her. Why would she run off with my plates?
The Father-To get back at me.
Not knowing how to reply or respond Joseph positions himself in order to give Karolina mouth to mouth to revive her, fully.
Joseph S.-Breathe! Breathe, Karolina!
Karolina-Joseph, I'm not going to make it.
He tries again, giving her more air from his mouth, and his heart.
Hyrum S.-We're losing her! We must do something.
The Father-Wait!!
Hyrum S.-What?
The Father-It's an illusion, too. Mythaq Osterly, or Zisha or whatever your name is, listen up!! I did it!! I changed the name of Dan's soulmate from you to somebody else. You messed with my files back in March and I let it slide, but no more sliding. It's me you have a problem. Leave my 'other sheep' friends alone! I'll meet with you in my office. And don't pretend to be my friend's ex wife!
Suddenly Karolina's heart stops altogether.
Her hand falls limp, and tears fall from her eyes.
Hyrum S.-We've lost her.
Jesus-I hope you're wrong.
He kneels down and checks her pupils and her pulse. Nothing.
The Father looks at Joseph, who is a mess with tears and emotions.
Joseph S.-Help me.
The Father-I will. Don't worry. No matter about the past. This is as real as it gets. I'm sorry to bring you into this and I'm sorry you're hurting right now. This can't be happening to your lady.
Joseph S.-I don't know who else to pray to, if You can't help save her.
The Father-Calm down!
Joseph S.-No!! That's my soulmate who just died. I don't know how to handle this.
He grabs onto The Father for a hug, which is accepted.
His shoulder becomes damp with tears falling from Joseph's eyes.
Joseph S.-I can't handle losing her.
The Father-Even though you've only known her for a day? You still care.
Joseph S.-I still care. More than anyone else I've ever met. She lit me right up. I mean even back before the fire. I was so dedicated to her for some reason. It was something I've never felt before. Something I can't explain. Please make at least her ears still work. There's things I want her to know if she really does die.
The Father-That will depend on the person who's holding her captive.
He kneels by her lifeless body and takes her hand in his.
Joseph S.-Karolina, I just want you to know that the last day has been so important to me. Trying to get out of the house alive, being on 'Universe 6,' all of it. I wouldn't trade it in for anything or anyone. I don't know who's causing this to happen to you, but all I know right now is that I...I love you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I do. I love you so much. I just pray and hope that we can save your life tonight. I know it's getting dark outside, but to Hell with daylight. I can still love your precious heart even in the darkness of night. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met in my whole life. I wish I had met you first before all of my ex's. I know it's not the most happy thing to say to someone new that I just happened to have been married 33 other times to 33 other women, but please. Please listen to me now. This is me 'now' not then.
He sees her lips form a set of words.
Karolina-I know. I know this is 'you' now. Remember I took history class in high school. I'm not dumb. I know who you are. I just didn't let it get to me.
Joseph S.-You're alive?
Karolina-I am. I don't know who or what restarted my heart, but I'm here, my love.
Joseph S.-Did you hear all of my speech to you?
Karolina-That you've fallen in love with me? I heard that. Maybe that's what restarted my heart.
He's again seen crying. Tears of joy this time.
Hyrum and The Father help her to her feet.
He looks directly into The Father's eyes.
Joseph S.-Did you do this? Did you save her?
The Father doesn't respond.
Joseph S.-I know, faith. I shouldn't ask things I already know the answer to.
He makes his way back to His office. The same office where he had met with Emma, or Mythaq as He is now certain. A phone call is placed.
Mythaq Osterly-Yes?
The Father-Don't you ever do anything like that again!
Mythaq-We got what we wanted. Your buddy's girlfriend is alright.
The Father-That's not the point.
Mythaq-Who had Dan send that Ecard to me? He knows I'm not going to read it. He knows this.
The Father-I guess he's just hopeful that you might.
Mythaq-I doused his heart with gasoline and let it burn out of his chest. And yet still he loves me and can't write me off. I can't write him off either.
The Father-Where are the plates that belong to Joseph?
Mythaq-You really do want to help him, too, don't you?
The Father-Why would you quesiton me on this, of course. He's here for a reason.
Mythaq-Check Karolina's ear. Now they both have transmitters.
The Father-Why?
Mythaq-Just in case you get out of line.
The Father-That's not fair. They didn't do anything to you! Take me! Take me, just leave Joseph and Karolina alone!
Mythaq-As you wish.
He races down the hallway as he has overheard the conversation.
Jesus-Dad, no!!
Once the office door is kicked in Jesus finds the office...empty.
She can't believe what she is seeing. Before her eyes, Joseph's house is completely back to normal.
Karolina-Honey, what's going on?
Joseph S.-I'm not sure.
He grabs his comlink and tried to contact The Father. Jesus answers instead.
Jesus-Dad's gone.
Joseph S.-Gone?
Jesus-He made a deal to save your life.
There is a long pause.
Jesus-Yeah, you had better thank Him once we locate His signal.
Joseph S.-I'll help anyway I can.
Karolina-Me too, Jesus.
Jesus-Karolina, let me ask you something?
Joseph hands the phone to her as he examines the total restoration of his home in heaven.
Jesus-Do you have a cut on your ear now?
She feels her left ear and then her right. She does seem to notice a small cut. The size of a sliver.
Karolina-I have it. I have the transmitter inside me now.
Jesus-Don't move!
Too late. She collapses on the floor of Joseph's house. Lifeless again. And then her image begins to fade, until she is comepletely transparent.
Her eyes open and her ears open. She hears what sounds like an engine being started.
The driver of whatever it is turns to the backseat and sees her with a questioning look on her face.
Oscar Vega-I'm sorry to have to tear you away from your soulmate but I have a lot invested in the real estate of the place we are now orbiting.
She is fully able to look out the window of the strange craft to see Heaven down below.
Karolina-Where are we going?
Oscar-Someplace where your Joseph can't rescue you, much less your other friends down there.
Karolina-Where are we going!!!
Oscar-Try to escape and you'll do nothing but fall. Lots and lots of falling.
Karolina-What have you done to me?
Oscar-Oh, The Father didn't tell you about me, I imagine.
Karolina-You're not human, are you?
Oscar-About 6 percent. Not any more than that.
Another man walks down the corridor on the ship.
Mr. Corda'lie-Well if it isn't the soulmate of Joseph S. How's it feel to know him and know you can't be with him.
She responds, while crying huge tears.
Another craft is seen by her taking off from Heaven. She half smiles, not wanting to warn the two men that someone might be on their way to rescue her.
And then Mythaq Osterly, herself, walks toward her.
Mythaq-This really is just a matter of real estate.
They don't realize it, yet, but aboard the recently lifted off craft is just the set of twins that would scare these evil being out of orbit. Starter and Tyrone Fluid, along with their sister, Tryna. And Katelyn Socoroa.
Starter Fluid-That's the ship, isn't it? It's a good thing I can track her. Being her attorney for a few days gave me unlimited power to attach a tracking device on her hip. Lucky for me it works like a charm. We'll be alright. I promise.
Katelyn, who is acting as co-pilot, gives him a positive smile.
Tyrone Fluid-Where do you think they're heading?
Tryna Fluid-Someplace evil, I'm sure. We do have communication lines open to Noah, right?
Katelyn-Yes.
To double check, she places a call to him.
Noah sits in one of His strategy rooms with Empress Alia and Cay'q Stem, going over Katelyn and the others' trailing of the craft which carries Karolina. Joseph and his brother are present, too, holding onto hope.
Noah-Kate?
Katelyn-Yes?
Noah-Please be careful.
Katelyn-I promise to be careful, and I promise you my husband will be found tonight.
Dan walks into the strategy room with a sad look on his face.
Empress Alia-What is it?
Dan-I miss her a lot, empress.
Alia-Who? Mythaq?
Dan-I'm afraid so.
Alia-Afraid?
Dan-I'm afraid my love for her has caused an uproar in Heaven. I'm sorry my friends.
Hyrum walks closer to the conversation with an assuring look on his face.
Dan-I'm sorry Hyrum.
Hyrum S.-I think this ordeal has brought me and my brother closer together. Don't you worry yourself and get all worked up. This was part of some bigger plot, I think. Something that's above all of our heads.
Once Joseph and Dan's eyes meet for the first time in several hours, he makes his way over to give Dan a hug and a handshake.
Joseph S.-Hey, at least I met Karolina. I hope I don't lose her. I really do. Even if she is 'one of them' in disguise, she's taught me a few lessons today. I'm sorry Mythaq, the real one, didn't read the Ecard you sent her for Valentine's Day. I wish I could help you forget her. I wish I could. I know how it feels to be lonely. I think I've been lonely my whole life, until I met Karolina. She's got the cut on her ear now.
Dan-Damn. I'm so sorry. I heard the Fluid twins and their sister were trailing the ship she's on?
Joseph S.-Yeah. They'll find her, right?
Dan-Oh, don't worry. They don't like Mythaq, either. She owes Starter money. Lots of money.
His cell phone begins to flash her number.
A familiar 'East Kaesa' number.
Hyrum S.-Sure you want to answer that?
Dan-No.
He hands the phone to Joseph.
Joseph S.-Hello?
Mythaq-Put Dan on the phone.
Joseph S.-Dan doesn't want to talk to you, but he's standing right next to me.
Mythaq-I know that.
Joseph S.-How?
Mythaq-Don't worry about that. Just put him on the phone.
Joseph S.-She won't take no for an answer.
He agrees to talk.
Mythaq-Listen to me. I have Karolina. Ask The Father, when you see him again, to change the name of your soulmate back to me.
Dan-I can't do that.
Mythaq-Why?
Dan-Because...I don't love you anymore.
Mythaq-What?
Dan-I got through a few minutes just now without thinking about you. I plan to finish evicting you from my heart once you turn over my friends' soulmate. I thought I'd found myself a soul mate, too. Until you ruined my heart for good. I'm happy for Joseph, at least he doesn't have to live much longer in heaven not knowing who holds the key to his heart. I know somewhere deep down you read my novels online and know how I write your character to be an alien and whatever because I can't let go of you. I am letting go of you right now. You can do whatever you want, God will win over you. You can haunt me for life, but I will just pray harder to block your intrusion into my heart. I wish I'd never walked up to you at the club and danced with you. All you did was love me at first and then leave me hurt and crying. I saw a lot of my own hurt in Joseph tonight. He'd be so hurt if anything happened to Karolina. I mean for God's sake, they just met today. I knew you were something and someone special when I met you. I knew it. Why do you think I kissed you the night we met? Give her back to him. You can mess with me and my heart, but don't involve my new friends. Don't involve Hyrum or Joseph or anyone else!
All he hears on the other end of the phone is her crying.
Dan-I'm not going to be fed this any longer.
She continues to cry.
He hits the 'End Call' button on the phone.
Her phone and receiver fly across her living room and hit the wall hard enough to leave a mark.
She speed dials the number again.
He doesn't answer.
He stands by her forcing her to pick the phone back up and try again.
Mythaq-No!! He's not listening anymore!
Mr. Corda'lie-Then make him listen!
A shoving match begins between her and her husband.
Mr. Corda'lie-Call him back!!
Mythaq-No!!
Mr. Corda'lie-You ever want to see him again and you'll call him!
He walks over to her filing cabinet and pulls out the printed copy she keeps of 'Alia and the Boy: Title of Fury.'
Mr. Corda'lie-Burn this!
Mythaq-No! There must be some other way of taking over Heaven without hurting Dan any more. We've done enough!
He takes a lighter from his pocket and lights one of the pages of Dan's novel on fire.
She tackles him to the floor of her house, which puts out the fire, but loses the page to ashes on the floor.
Mr. Corda'lie-Call him! Make him love you again!
The noise from inside the house startles a neighbor who makes an unexpected call to Heaven.
A car drives to the house at record speed. Someone walks out of the car. With a focused and determined look on his face.
Mor rings the doorbell.
When she tries to get up to answer the door, she is unable to. He has taken to holding her down on the floor.
The doorbell rings again.
Mon walks to the side of the house and punches a hole in the window to gain access to the inside of the house, not caring that his hand hurts from the glass he has just shattered.
The doorbell rings one more time before Mor is easily able to kick it open. Almost superhuman-like.
Mor-Where are the plates? Where are my plates?
Mr. Corda'lie and Mythaq both rise to their feet in awe of the strange visitors.
Mr. Corda'lie-You don't scare me, half the people that study you don't even believe you exist, buddy.
Mythaq's couch is slung across the living room, without being touched. This scares Mr. Corda'lie.
Mor-Where are my plates!!
Mythaq-They're on 'Universe 6,' I hid them.
Mor-Where?
Before she can answer him, Mr. Corda'lie puts his hands over her mouth, preventing her from answering the glowing figures who are standing before them. He also notices that their feet aren't touching the floor.
Mor-Want more stuff to break? You better show me where my stuff that you stole went.
No one realizes that Katelyn and the Fluid siblings are waiting just outside her house, ready to free Karolina from their capture.
She's upstairs in the bathroom, as the door has been bolted shut from the outside.
Another glowing figure walks through whats left of Mythaq's front door and looks calmly at all involved, then looks at Mon and Mor with a quesitoning tone to his eyeballs.
Ammaron-What is going on here? Why was I called?
Mor-These people ran off with your plates, sir.
Ammaron-Did you ask for them back?
Mor-They're not too friendly.
Ammaron-Well, you two, where are my ancient records?
Mythaq-I can't tell you. My husband will kill me.
Ammaron-I'll take Dan. I will. Tell me where the plates are. Or you'll never see Dan again.
Mythaq-Ever?
Ammaron-Yes, ever. Do you know how long it took me to compile and write all that stuff. No way are you going to get away from me. I'll take everything from you. Everything.
Mythaq-'Universe 6,' they're there. Can you do something for me?
Ammaron-What?
Mythaq-Please tell Dan not to give up on me.
Ammaron-What if I do?
She walks to her kitchen, and opens a cabinet. In doing so she reveals something to her three visitors.
Mythaq-Recognize this?
Ammaron-Yeah. It's one of the 'Plates of Nephi.'
Mythaq-Take it.
She hands it back to him with tears flowing from her eyes.
Ammaron-Thank you.
Mythaq-Tell him, please.
Ammaron-Dan is his name?
Mythaq-Dan Sherrill. He's a writer.
Ammaron-So am I.
Mythaq-What is it with you authors, do you always have to be so emotional about everything?
Someone walks by the Hill Shim and sees something they didn't expect to this morning. Eight gold plates with writing on them. Laid out in broad daylight.
He runs back to his parents and directs them back to the location of the plates.
Roger Tallon-Interesting, son. Let me make a few phone calls. Maybe someone can identify these things. I can't read what they say.
Martin Tallon-It looks like some sort of reformed Egyptian. I can't place its date. I'm sure they're pretty old, but then again why are they so shiny and gold. Looks like someone took good care of them. Now all we have to do is find out who left them here.
The End.
Special thanks to all the people who lent support, knowledge and their help with getting the many characters 'just right.' Special thanks to all my new friends in Nauvoo and everyone who lent themselves for questions and research for this novel. I promise the second part of this 2 part miniseries will be amazing. I'm really proud of this one.
Thanks also to Dane from the band And Then I Turned Seven, Bed Light for Blue Eyes, Atreyu, Underoath, Far Less, Sigur Ros, All the Mormons who helped me with research on this one, it definitly was a big help, Wikipedia for some of the answers on continuity issues, the local missionaries for dropping off that soft cover blue book all those months ago, The Felix Culpa for making amazing music to write novels to.
Thanks to Loren and the band Lydia, Zack Hamingson, Brad Benson, Patrick, Matt Carlson, Ted McCaron, Rick and Terri Johnson, Bob Sanger, Janice Canning, Heather and KJ Dan, Kandice and Carolyn, The Forecast, Heather Waters, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Glory Nights, all my awesome Myspace friends! Also the bands Marillion, Halifax, Gray Lines of Perfection, Mechina, and Anberlin!
Thanks to all the people who wrote emails and comments on Myspace during my vehicle crisis late last month. It was amazing to get such a loving and positive response.
Extra special thanks to Lorel and Mary. My two amazing roommates who helped me out a very emotional time. I probably wouldn't have finished this novel had it not been for both of them.
To my new Mormon friends, I hope I did a good job with this novel. I know that I had fun researching it and making it. While you guys know I already have a set church and a set group of church friends, I've truly enjoyed researching this novel, and I hope to have just as much fun doing it all over again for part 2. I am a lot more aware of the church you guys go to now. Much more than I was before I started this, I feel like I have a much greater perception of Smith and his people. But like they say, no matter what church you belong to, what matters at the end of the day is friendship. Keep in touch, guys.
I'd like to thank Rachel Verona and the Villains of Verona for being such awesome friends. Thanks also to Jeana, my dear friend for bringing one of my favorite 'Alia and the Boy' characters to life. And new friends Danny Vaughn and Adam Cohen. And Jeff from the Awesomes. The band Sullivan, and The Bleeding Alarm.
Thanks to Elder Maw and Spencer from the Sycamore LDS church.
