And just when I'm so far in, it's as though I'm right there, I hear Drina gasp. "What the hell?"
And I open my eyes to see the shock on her face, her eyes sweeping over me, her mouth hanging open. Then I gaze down at a gown that's no longer torn, feet that are no longer bloody, knees that are no longer scraped, and when I run my tongue around a full set of teeth and bring my hand to my nose, I know that my face is healed too. And even though I've no idea what it means, I know I need to act fast, before it's too late.
And as Drina steps back, her eyes wide, full of questions, I move toward her, not sure what the next step will bring, or the one after that. All I know is that I'm running out of time, as I rush forward and say, "Hey Drina, trick or treat'?"
At first she just stares, green eyes wide and unbelieving, then she lifts her chin and bares her teeth. But before she can attack, I lunge toward her. Determined to get to her first, to take her down while I can. But just as I spring forward, I see this shimmering veil of soft golden light, a luminous circle just off to the side, glowing and beckoning, like the one in my dream. And even though Drina planted those dreams, even though it's probably a trap, I can't help but veer toward it.
I tumble through a brilliant haze, a shower of light so loving, so warm, so intense, it calms my nerves and soothes all my fears. And when I land in a field of vibrant green grass, the blades hold me, support me, and cushion my fall.
I gaze at the meadow around me, its flowers blooming with petals that seem lit from within, surrounded by trees that reach far into the sky, their branches sagging with ripe juicy fruit. And as I lie there quietly, taking it all in, I can't help but feel like I've been here before.
"Ever."
I spring to my feet, poised and ready to fight. And when I see that it's Damen, I take a step back, having no idea whose side he's really on.
"Ever, relax. It's okay." He nods, smiling as he offers his hand. But I refuse to take it, refuse to fall for his bait. So I take another step back as my eyes search for Drina.
"She's not here." He nods, his eyes fixed on mine. "You're safe, it's just me."
I hesitate, debating whether or not to believe him, doubting he could ever be thought of as safe. Staring at him, while weighing my options (which are admittedly few), until I finally ask, "Where are we?" In place of my actual question: Am I dead?
"I assure you, you're not dead." He laughs, reading my thoughts. "You're in Summerland."
I look at him, without even a hint of understanding.
"It's a sort of—place between places. Like a waiting room. Or a rest stop. A dimension between the dimensions, if you will."
"Dimensions?" I squint, the word sounding foreign, unfamiliar, at least in the way that he uses it. And when he reaches for my hand, I quickly pull away, knowing it's impossible to see anything clearly whenever he touches me.
He gazes at me, then shrugs, motioning for me to follow him through a meadow where every flower, every tree, every single blade of grass bends and sways and twists and curves like partners in an infinite dance.
"Close your eyes," he whispers. And when I don't he adds, "Please?"
I close them. Halfway.
"Trust me." He sighs. "Just this once." So I do. "Now what?"
"Now imagine something."
"What do you mean?" I ask, immediately picturing a giant elephant.
"Imagine something else," he says, "quickly."
I open my eyes, startled to see a ginormous elephant charging right at us, then I gasp in amazement when I transform him into a butterfly—a beautiful Monarch butterfly that lands right on the tip of my finger.
"How—?" I glance between Damen and the butterfly, its black antennae twitching at me.
Damen laughs. "Want to try again?"
I press my lips and look at him, trying to think of something good, something better than an elephant or a butterfly.
"Go ahead," he urges. "It's so much fun. It never gets old."
I close my eyes and imagine the butterfly turning into a bird, and when I open them again a colorful majestic macaw is perched on my finger. But when a messy trail of bird poop drips down my arm, Damen hands me a towel and says, "How about something with a little less—cleanup?"
I set the bird down and watch it flyaway, then I close my eyes, fervently wishing, and when I open them again, Orlando Bloom has taken his place.
Damen groans and shakes his head.
"Is he real?" I whisper, gaping in amazement as Orlando Bloom smiles and winks at me.
Damen shakes his head. "You can't manifest actual people, only their likeness. Luckily, it won't be long before he fades."
And when he does, I can't help but feel a little sad.
"What's going on?" I ask, looking at Damen. "Where are we? And how is this even possible?"
Damen smiles and makes a beautiful white stallion appear. After getting me mounted and settled, he makes a black one for him. "Let's go for a ride," he says, leading me down a trail.
We ride side by side, down a beautiful, manicured path, cutting right through the valley of flowers and trees and a sparkling stream the color of rainbows. And when I see my parrot perched next to a cat I veer from the trail, ready to shoo him away, but Damen grabs the reins and says, "No worries. There are no enemies. All is at peace here."
We ride in silence as I gape at the surrounding beauty, struggling to take it all in, though it's not long before my mind starts reeling with all sorts of questions and no clue where to begin.
"The veil you saw? The one you were drawn to?" He looks at me. "I put it there."
"In the canyon?"
He nods. "And in your dream."
"But Drina says she created the dream." I look at him, seeing how he rides with such confidence, so sure in the saddle. But then I remember the painting on his wall, the one of him mounted on the white stallion, sword by his side, and I figure he's been at it for a while.
"Drina showed you the location, I showed you the exit."
"Exit?" I say, my heart pounding again.
He shakes his head and smiles. "Not that kind of exit. I already told you, you're not dead. In fact, you're more alive than ever. Able to manipulate matter and manifest anything you want. The ultimate in instant gratification." He laughs.
"But don't come here too often. Because I'm warning you, it's addictive."
"So you both created my dreams?" I ask, squinting at him, trying to get a handle on all these bizarre events. "Like—like a collaboration?"
He nods.
"So I don't even control my own dreams?" I say, my voice rising, not liking the sound of any of this.
"Not that particular dream, no." I scowl at him, shaking my head when I say, "Well, excuse me, but don't you think that's just a little invasive? I mean, jeez! And why didn't you try to stop it, if you knew it was coming?"
He looks at me, his eyes tired and sad. "I didn't know it was Drina. I was just observing your dreams, you were frightened by something, so I showed you the way here. This is always a safe place to come to."
"So why didn't Drina follow me?" I say, looking around for her again.
He reaches for my hand and squeezes my fingers. "Because Drina can't see it, only you could see it."
I squint at him. Everything's so weird, so strange, and none of it makes any sense.
"Don't worry, you'll get it. But for now, why not just try to enjoy it?"
"Why does it seem so familiar?" I say, feeling the tug of recognition, but unable to place it.
"Because this is where I found you." I look at him.
"I found your body outside the car, true. But your soul had already moved on and was lingering here."
He stops both our horses, and helps me dismount, then he leads me to a warm patch of grass, so brilliant and sparkling in the warm golden light that doesn't seem to emanate from anyone place, and the next thing I know he's manifested a big cushy couch and a matching ottoman for our feet.
"Care to add anything?" He smiles.
I close my eyes and imagine a coffee table, some lamps, a few knickknacks, and a nice Persian rug, and when I open them again we're in a fully furnished outdoor living room.
"What happens when it rains?" I ask
"Don't..." but it's too late, we're already soaked.
"Thoughts create," he says, making a giant umbrella, the rain sloping steadily off the sides and onto the rug. "It's the same on Earth, it just takes a lot longer. But here in Summerland, it's instant."
"That reminds me of what my mom used to say—'Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! I' ' I laugh.
He nods. "Now you know where that originates. Care to make this rain stop, so we can dry off?" He shakes his wet hair at me.
"How—"
"Just think of some place warm and dry." He smiles.
And the next thing I know we're lying on a beautiful pink sand beach.
"Let's leave it at this? Shall we?" He laughs as I make us a plushy blue towel and a turquoise ocean to match. And when I lie back and close my eyes against the warmth, he confirms it. Not that I didn't already start to figure it out for myself, but still not having it stated in a complete sentence. One that begins with:
"I'm an immortal." And ends with: "And you are too."
Is not something you hear every day.
"So, we're both immortals?" I say, opening one eye to peer at him, wondering how I could have such a bizarre conversation in such a normal tone of voice. But then again, I'm in Summerland, and it doesn't get more bizarre than that.
He nods.
"And you made me an immortal when I died in the crash?" He nods again.
"But how? Does it have something to do with that weird red drink?"
He takes a deep breath before answering. "Yes."
"But how come I don't have to drink it all the time, like you?"
He averts his gaze and looks out toward the sea. "Eventually you will."
I sit up picking at a loose string on my towel, still unable to fully wrap my mind around this. Remembering a time in the not so distant past when I thought just being psychic was a curse, and now look.
"It's not as bad as you think," he says, placing his hand over mine. "Look around, it doesn't get any better than this."
"But why? I mean, did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't want to be an immortal? That maybe you should've just let me go?"
I watch as he cringes, averting his gaze, looking all around, focusing on everything but me. Then he turns to me and says, "First of all, you're right. I was selfish. Because the truth is, I saved you more for myself than for you. I couldn't bear to lose you again, not after..." He stops and shakes his head. "But still, I wasn't sure if it worked."
"Obviously I knew I'd brought you back, but I wasn't sure for how long. I wasn't sure I'd actually turned you until I saw you in the canyon just now—"
"You were watching me in the canyon?" I stare at him incredulously.
He nods.
"You mean you were there?"
"No, I was watching you remotely." He rubs his jaw. "It's a lot to explain."
"So let me get this straight. You were watching me, remotely, but still, you could see everything going on, and yet you didn't try to save me" And when I say it out loud I'm so mad I can barely breathe.
He shakes his head. "Not until you wanted to be saved. That's when I made the veil appear, and urged you to move toward it."
"You mean you were going to let me die?" I scoot away from him, not wanting to be anywhere near him.
He looks at me, his face completely serious when he says,
"If that's what you wanted, then yes." He shakes his head.
"Ever, the last time we spoke, in the parking lot, you said you hated me for what I had done, for being selfish, for separating you from your family, for bringing you back. And even though your words really stung, I knew you were right. I had no business interfering. But then, in the canyon, when you filled yourself with such love, well, that love is what saved you, restored you, and it's then that I knew."
But what about the hospital? Why couldn't I restore myself then? Why did I have to suffer through all of the casts, and cuts, and contusions? Why couldn't I just—regenerate, like I did in the canyon? I think, folding my arms across my chest, not fully buying it.
"Only love heals. Anger, guilt, and fear can only destroy and separate you from your true capabilities." He nods, his eyes grazing over me.
"And that's another thing." I glare at him. "Your ability to read my mind, when I can't read yours. It's not fair."
He laughs. "Do you really want to read my mind? I thought my air of mystery was one of the things you liked about me?"
I gaze down at my knees, my cheeks burning as I think of all the embarrassing thoughts he's been privy to.
"There are ways to shield yourself, you know maybe you should go see Ava."
"You know Ava?" I gape, feeling suddenly ganged up on.
He shakes his head. "My only connection to Ava is through you, your thoughts about Ava."
I look away, watching a family of bunnies hop by, then back at him. "So the racetrack?"
"Premonition, you did it too." "What about the race you lost?"
He laughs. "I have to lose a few, otherwise people tend to get suspicious. But I certainly made up for it, don't you think?"
"And the tulips?"
He smiles. "Manifesting. Same way you made the elephant, and this beach. It's simple quantum physics. Consciousness brings matter into being where there was once merely energy. Not nearly as difficult as people choose to think."
I squint, not really getting it. No mater how simple he thinks it is. "We create our own reality. And yes you can do it at home," he says, anticipating my next question, the one that just formed in my head. "In fact, you already do, you're just not aware of it because it takes so much longer."
"It doesn't take longer for you."
He laughs. "I've been around awhile, plenty of time to learn a few tricks."
''How long?" I ask, gazing at him, remembering that room in his house and wondering exactly what I'm dealing with.
He sighs and looks away. "Very long."
"And now I'll live forever too?"
"That's up to you." He shrugs. "You don't have to do any of this. You can simply put the whole thing out of your mind and go on with your life. Choosing to let go when the time is right. I only provided the ability, but the choice is still yours."
I stare out at the ocean, its sparkling waters so brilliant, so beautiful, I can hardly believe it exists because of me. And even though it's fun to play with such powerful magic, my thoughts soon turn to darker things.
"I need to know what happened with Haven. That day I caught you..." I grimace at the memory. "And what about Drina? She's immortal too, right? Did you make her that way? And how did this even begin?