The Visitation

CHAPTER 2

A cool breeze blew in from only God knows where, the windows and blinds were all shut, then I saw this shadow appear on the wall, it was like the light dimmed all of a sudden. All those stories of monster appearing to children in the middle of the night was the first thought that crossed my mind when I clearly saw it, those stories don’t do it justice.

I didn’t know what it was at first but then it all came back, the memories of wherever I used to go to whenever I’m out, evidently, I see this a lot. The shadow moved in a very creepy way and that frightened me a little bit but after a while it talked.

Describe the shadow? Hmn, it looked like my shadow, same curly hair and same size of head those were the only thing I could distinguish in its features.  

“Don’t be scared” The shadow said to me. I couldn’t place the voice but I could have sworn that I’ve heard it before.

“Why do you think I am scared?” I asked shifting in my bed 

“The moments you’ve been having is not a gift, that is your weakness” he replied not answering my initial question. 

“Then what is my gift? I asked, at least I would have powers before weakness” I said forgetting that I was supposed to be scared.  

“Most of your powers have not yet formed and you would need to manifest it before you can know more about it, I guess this is also one of your power, conjuring your own shadow” He told me and then smiled. It was like I could see its teeth; it’s been a long time I checked out my teeth but it sure looks like my own.  

“Wow, what bullshit, I said to myself still denying the fact that I’m a freak, who are you and why can't you show me your face” I asked it. 

“You know who I am, I am you”. It said dancing on the wall even when there was no burning fire in the room. 

The first thought that popped into my head was wow I have another me “How is that possible, you cannot be me, I am right here.” was what I said out loud 

“If you notice anytime you come back from your journey, you’re always the same way you left” he pointed out. 

“Hmm, that’s true I said to myself I am always the same way, as if I died or something.” But I wasn’t satisfied yet “So? I asked it. Tell me something about myself” I said looking at the wall it was dancing on sternly. 

“You knew… we knew you wouldn’t believe me if it ever came to this that’s why you gave me this, he said as he brought out a very tiny globe that was emitting some king of light. Let me see if I can still remember what it was, it was emitting a dull sky-blue color. Then he said “This was part of what normal human being are not supposed to touch but your mother didn’t know, if you could touch it you would remember but I can't disobey the laws of planes.”

“Still waiting for you to tell me something about myself” I said to it trying to decide if I can actually trust this shadow that says it is me from another plane.  

 You’ve never fallen sick, not until when you started seeing figures, you then decided to take a nap that landed you into an hospital, he said while the shadow was dancing on the wall, while in the hospital, you woke up from your coma and then decided to close your eyes again, when you woke up it was in a coffin….

“Alright, that’s enough, I don’t need you to recount my painful memories… 

“Or should I tell you about the time your mum saw that strange ring on your finger?” He asked cutting me off. 

That threw me off-guard, I heard a noise just outside my room, I stretched to look outside but there was nothing there, when I turned my face back the shadow was gone. 

“Good, now I have no way of asking my questions” I berated myself. 

“I am still here, and I will always be by your side, remember, I am your shadow, and I am sorry about the ring, it was my fault it was still there” 

“What do you mean?” I asked it.

“It was a totem that helps you navigate the other realm without getting hurt since you have no powers yet.” He paused for a while to let it sink in.

“And I forgot to take it off your fingers when you got back here.” 

“What exactly was I doing there?” I asked my shadow self. 

“It is what were we doing there not I, he corrected me, if you don’t agree to our being together you would not be able to get to your full potential.” 

That got me to think a little bit. “I still don’t understand a word you’re saying and how do you expect me to believe you when I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“It’s your choice, if you don’t believe me the elders will be able to separate us and then nobody would be able to save the world.” 

 “….. The world? What does my dying and waking got to do with the world?” 

“There’s a battle brewing up in the dream world, well more of a coup than a battle.” It says. “And everyone knows that the savior will win, he will then surely direct his anger on this realm. We both need to be strong if we want to have a chance to fight this war or better still don’t let it get here.” 

As strange as it sounded, I completely understood and I felt a thrill run down my spine, that was the moment I accepted that I was born for a bigger reason. I wasn’t ready to throw my life away just yet because of some crazy theories, so I knew I had to find out if whatever the shadow was telling me was the truth. “When you’re done you can use the door.” I told my shadow. 

                                             

                                                  ………………………………………………………………

The sound of my sister’s voice woke me up the next day. “Hey, see who’s awake, she said smiling, you’re looking very fresh.” She looked majestic in her outfit. I can still picture her in that dress till today, ………………………..

“Aaah, I was still snoring” I said sleepily. 

“You’ve had the past year to sleep and now you’re telling me this? She asked jokingly. you must be kidding, come on get up and let’s go home.” She said tugging me up. “My husband is around and I’ve told him about you, he can't wait to meet you” She said with sheer excitement. 

I stood up to pack what was left of my clothes, at least the one she brought for me. “How come the light are very bright in the morning?” I asked her trailing after her in the hallway. 

She looked me up like I was out of my mind. “You came back to life after how many years and what you want to know is why bulbs are brighter?”

“Just tell me the reason” I pressed on. 

“Ok, she said giving in. I guess it…. I have to take this, it’s very important” she said when some weird music started coming out of her phone. 

“Hello, no… everything is fine…. Yes, we are coming home… don’t worry nothing is going to happen.” She said just before ending the call. “That was my husband, he was asking about your health.” 

“My health? Or he doesn’t want the weird brother near his children.” 

“That’s not true.” She said with empathy. 

“You can’t be sure, just wait and see.”  

The air was different when we got outside of the hospital, it felt like something was choking me. Or maybe I was just panicky, the sight of tall building brought up memories I had no idea was there. We swerved into an untarred road and was on it for few minutes before we stopped in front of a house. “Why are we stopping here?” I asked her. 

“We’re here, she replied keeping busy with the supplies in a brown envelope she was carrying out of the car, come help me” She said grinning. 

The building was like those I see in my journey, it was so small yet beautiful. “I like your taste” I commented. 

“It’s actually my husband’s idea, it’s not as if we don’t have enough to build a bigger house but he just loves small houses.” She said defending her husband. 

“You’ve not told me his name” I said to my sister. But he wouldn’t be silly enough to use the same name here. I said to myself. 

“Haven’t I? she asked surprised. Mike, my husband name is Mike.” She said as she walked us into the house. Since it was rural enough, they had lots of options on what they wanted the house to look like and they went for a brownish red color for the exterior, till today I still ponder what made them do that. Oh yeah, they had the flag of The United State on their wall. The living room we entered was exquisite. The painting, table clothe and even the Tv was gigantic. 

Her children burst into the living room while I was standing admiring the paintings on the wall, they strode in like they were royalties on a mission. 

“Is this our uncle?” One of her children asked her with the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard before. 

“Yes, Alice this is your uncle, my brother, and he is going to be staying with us for some while.” My sister replied. 

“Why does he look like a fifteen-year-old boy Mom?” The eldest of her children asked, apparently, we were the same height. 

“Hi, Alice said to me smiling, what’s your name?” 

“Umm, my name is…” I didn’t even remember my own name; it was as if I’ve never had a name before so I gave myself one on the spot “My name is Joseph” I said with a big fake smile to cover the fact that I was shaking. During my elapse time I saw children as a big problem, I don’t know why but I just dislike those little monsters. I bent down as if I wasn’t short enough “So what are our names?” I asked both of them.

“As you already know, my name is Alice and I am the last born, and of course I’m also the second child so I have more titles than you” she said and looked up to her brother. 

“I’m the first born and I’m older than you, with all your title I still get to choose the cartoon we watch” He replied with a face “Oh, and I’m Spence by the way.” They had obviously been arguing about this a long time. 

“Okay, I said breaking up the silence amongst family, let’s go inside and meet your dad” 

Alice took my hand and said “Let me warn you, my dad doesn’t like tight hugs, he says it takes all his dreamy breath away” 

“Trust me I dislike them too” I said a little bit too fast as I wrench my hand away, at least I’m learning a few things about this man even if it’s not from a source I like.