The Guardian of Threshold (7 page)

“Astral projection? What exactly is astral projection?” I asked.

“Everything you need to know is in there, but in a nutshell, astral projection is when your body falls asleep and your soul, or spirit if you will, separates from your body to explore other realms, primarily the world beyond,” Mrs. Barnes said in the most serious tone. “It’s simpler than it sounds, really. You see, every being is made of two basic elements, two different building blocks if you will. The material body that we all know and understand, and the spiritual body which is ignored by most, including doctors and scientists.”

“When we sleep, the physical body rests, and the astral body gets its exercise. So you see, we all live dual lives so to speak, one while awake and another while we sleep at night,” explained Mrs. Barnes. “We do this every single night. You do it as well. Somehow when you had your astral experience, you were able to trick your consciousness into remaining aware—” She was interrupted by the sound of heels walking toward us.

“Boys? Come on, I need to close, where are you guys?” asked the other librarian.

“We’re here!” I said loud enough so she could hear me.

“How did you know about my dream?” I asked Mrs. Barnes. I didn’t remember telling her about it.

“I have to go now, come back and see me when you have read that book, there’s much more that I need to tell you,” she said, before she disappeared among the bookshelves.

“Oh… there you are! Have you found the book you needed?” asked the other librarian.

I couldn’t help but notice that she was dressed differently from Mrs. Barnes, and even more puzzling was the fact that her badge was also different. It read “Jane Olstein—Librarian—Middlesex County Public Library.”

“Yes, we have, thank you,” I said, dumbfounded.

“Follow me, and I’ll check that out for you,” said Ms. Jane as she turned heading toward the front of the library. As we walked behind her, I looked at Jonas. He looked astonished, and for the first time since I’d met him, he was at a loss for words.

“Astral projection? Huh, interesting,” said Ms. Jane, flipping through pages randomly. “I wouldn’t have imagined this was what you were looking for.”

“Yes, I didn’t know it either, the other librarian helped us find it,” I said while she scanned my library card.

“What other librarian?” asked Ms. Jane, surprised.

“The older lady, white curly hair in a bun with an old style dress. I believe her name was… Mrs. Barnes,” I said.

“I’m… the only one… here,” stuttered Ms. Jane. “I’ve been working here for over twenty years. I’ve been the only librarian… for a long time,” said Ms. Jane as chills ran down my spine and goose bumps spread over my body.

“But we just talked to her,” said Jonas.

“I’m afraid that’s… impossible,” objected Ms. Jane. “You see, Mrs. Barnes passed away in 1987, back when I first started working here, and how do you even know what she looked like?”

Ms. Jane looked all around as if she was the one who had just seen a ghost—she got so pale she looked more like one than Mrs. Barnes ever did.

“Would you be a dear and wait for me while I shut off the lights and lock the doors?” said Ms. Jane. Her hand shook as she nervously handed me back the book.

“Sure, no problem,” I said, feeling a bit guilty for having caused such a strong reaction in her.

“Okay, I just need to shut off the computers. One second, please,” said Ms. Jane, still looking distressed.

We waited for her to shut down the computers and the last of the remaining lights, and then we followed her outside, where she insisted we wait for her to lock the doors.

During our time at the library, the weather outside had grown even colder, something I’d thought impossible.

Ms. Jane opened her rather large red purse and searched desperately for her library keys. Her cheeks were now rosy, having recovered some color due to the cold weather.

A few seconds passed before I heard the clinking sounds of keys as she pulled them from the bottom of her purse.

“Okay, have a good night,” said Ms. Jane as we all made our way down the stairs to the sidewalk.

She hopped in her yellow Volkswagen Beetle and left Jonas and me there, looking puzzled.

We walked the next two blocks in complete silence. I was concentrating on skimming my newly acquired book while Jonas just walked beside me silently, which was a rarity.

“Let me ask you something,” said Jonas, not sounding like his usual self. “You’re not having a thing with my sister? Are you, mate?”

“Ah? No! I’m not having a thing with your sister. Why do you ask?” I said.

“You two have been acting strange lately,” said Jonas, matter-of-factly.

“You know, she’ll date someone, sometime,” I said, trying to gauge his reaction.

“I feel bad for the poor lard-ass already,” said Jonas, cracking his knuckles as if he was trying to convince me of his determination and strength.

It was definitely not the answer that I’d hoped for.

After that, we continued walking toward La Luna’s in awkward silence.

***

Before long, we arrived at La Luna’s.

“Carla isn’t going to be happy,” said Jonas, looking around at the usual places we sat. “There she is!” he said, pointing frantically.

As we walked toward the table, Carla looked at us, seemingly upset. She seemed anxious, but maybe she was just embarrassed to be sitting alone.

“Where have you guys been?” she asked impatiently when she saw us. “I’ve been sitting here for over half an hour, looking as though I was stood up, just waiting—”

“Mark had to make a quick stop at the library and I had to go with him,” said Jonas, as if I had forced him.

“Nice try, but the library closes at six, and it’s now 6:25,” said Carla, looking at her watch. “For all I know, you guys stopped at the video game store. Again.”

“It’s true! We went to the library and saw a spirit,” said Jonas, taking Carla and me by surprise.

“Right,” said Carla, opening the menu.

“He’s not lying,” I said as I sat in the empty seat next to Carla and proceeded to open my menu. I felt like pizza, but I didn’t think it sounded appealing enough, so I ordered some cannelloni instead.

As we sat in the solarium of the restaurant, the weather took another turn for the worse. I looked outside and noticed that small, delicate snowflakes had started to fall, accumulating slowly on the glass pane.

“What do you mean, you saw a ghost?” asked Carla.

“I didn’t say that I saw a ghost. What I said was that we saw a spirit, which is very different,” said Jonas.

“That’s the same thing,” said Carla, rolling her delightful eyes.

“No, it’s not,” said Jonas. “A ghost is scary while a spirit is not.”

“Ah… are you sure it was a spirit?” asked Carla, still not believing him. I was trying to decide if I should intervene and back him up or just stay out of it.

“I’m sure. I’m not making this up, I swear,” said Jonas, sounding very confident. “Mark saw it too! We both did.”

“It’s true, I was there,” I said.

We explained what had happened in great detail over our meal.

Carla didn’t seem to believe us at first; I didn’t blame her, I hardly believed it myself, and I was holding the book Mrs. Barnes had given me.

“She found us this book. She wanted me to read it.”

“May I see it?” asked Carla.

“Sure, here. From what I understand, it has to do with leaving your own physical body behind while the spirit wanders freely.”

Carla took the book and started to flip through it. She then opened her purse, took out a notepad and a pen, and wrote down the author’s name and the title of the book.

“I’m reading it next, so you will have to wait, sis,” said Jonas.

“All I need to read any book is a computer with Internet connection. In fact, I could read that book tonight when I get home if I wanted to,” teased Carla.

The restaurant was packed. Everyone from my school seemed present. You had the jock table, the nerd table, and the nobody-cares table, which was our table.

There were lots of couples as well, but they usually spent more time making out than actually eating.

Normally Wendy would have taken forever to take our orders, but not that night.

“What would you like?” said Wendy, chewing bubblegum.

Jonas just sat there, lost for words and looking at Wendy, mesmerized.

“I’ll have the cannelloni,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t notice Jonas’s puppy-dog face.

“And for an appetizer?” said Wendy, doodling on her pad.

“I’ll have the bruschetta and a Coke,” I said.

“I… I will… have the stuffed mushrooms—” Jonas stuttered.

“I don’t think you should have those,” Carla said. “Do I need to remind you the effect they have on you?”

“Shut up…” Jonas said under his breath.

“I’ll have the fried calamari instead,” said Jonas, changing his mind, most likely to upset Carla because she was averse to it, hating even the smell of it.

“And for dinner?” asked Wendy, still doodling and blowing bubbles.

“A large margherita pizza and a Sprite, please,” said Jonas, still looking like he was ready to obey Wendy’s every command.

“I’ll have the minestrone soup and a glass of lemon water, then for dinner the chicken masala and a Coke,” said Carla quickly, probably just to see Wendy struggle as she tried to keep up.

“Your order should be out soon,” said Wendy.

As we waited for our orders to arrive, the snow started to accumulate on the solarium roof like an intricate puzzle in the sky.

“I tried to astral project once before,” said Carla, almost whispering.

“I’d never even heard of it until today,” I said casually.

“You guys are officially crazy,” said Jonas.

“And you’re not, mister ‘I saw a spirit’?” replied Carla. We all laughed.

“That was different, she was… actually quite nice,” said Jonas, looking like he was in a daydream.

“Listen, astral projection is quite simple really. Humans have believed that our bodies are made out of matter and spirit for quite some time now, at least a few thousand years, give or take,” said Carla.

“So, Mark, you don’t think it was a dream?” said Jonas.

“I don’t think so. I felt more aware when it happened than I feel now sitting here with you guys. Everything felt more real, as if I belonged there. It was like my real home was over there,” I said. “I know it sounds crazy, but if this stuff is for real, then the possibilities are endless. I could…” The emotion swept over me. “I could see… my mom,” I said, finally able to express myself.

“Mark, let’s not jump to conclusions here,” said Carla. “Besides, didn’t you say that something threatened you when you left your body?”

“Yes, but there is no way I’ll let anything stand in my way when it comes to seeing my mother again,” I said.

“Anyone having dessert?” said Jonas, flipping open the sweets menu.

“No. Jonas. We’re going to be late for the movie,” said Carla, frowning.

“Are you coming, Mark?” asked Jonas.

We had been going out for dinner and a movie on Fridays for as long as I could remember. The fact that Stoneham didn’t have a movie theater didn’t stop us—Jonas and Carla’s mother usually drove us to the neighboring town of Woburn to Carla’s favorite movie theater.

“I can’t tonight, I need to finish the rest of my homework.”

I was tempted to go, but I really needed to finish my assignments, and I wanted to read the book about astral projection so I could try to understand what was happening to me and, more importantly, see if I could use astral projection to see my mother again.

“All right then, if you’re sure,” said Carla. I could hear a bit of disappointment in her sweet voice, and it broke my heart.

“I’ll see you later, mate,” said Jonas, taking one last bite of his pizza.

“The bill is on me today,” I said so they wouldn’t be late for the movie. Besides, it was my turn anyway. They paid last time.

“Mom’s here, we better hurry,” said Jonas, taking yet another bite of his pizza. Every time I heard Jonas say that, I couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

“Thanks, Mark. I’ll see you later,” said Carla as she put her coat on.

I looked outside and saw Carla’s mom waiting in her Volvo, parked in her usual spot. When she saw me, she smiled and waved, and I did the same.

After they left, I had a slice of Jonas’s leftover pizza, and then my head started to throb.

I couldn’t believe that a whole week had passed since my emergency landing on I-95, yet my forehead still ached at the worst times.

On the way home, I took the side streets because it was quieter and I wanted some time to think. It had been an eventful day, a day that had brought hope back into my life.

Within a week, I had almost died a horrible death, met a unknown creature while astral projecting—something I had never heard of before—and met a seemingly friendly spirit, not to mention all the stuff that happened in school and my invisible stalker. As soon as I thought about the stalker, I sensed its presence; it followed me as I walked alone in the cold and dark side streets.

I realized that I had never felt his presence when I was near Carla.

I was still a few blocks from my house when the snow started to pick up, and the delicate flakes suddenly turned into blobs of heavy snow. My feet started to leave imprints in the snowy road.

I placed the book inside my jacket to protect it. That book held all the answers I needed, and I was going to guard it with my life if I had to.

I should have walked down Main Street, also known as Route 38, but it was too noisy, being the only major road in town. Instead I preferred the quiet side streets, where I could walk down the middle of the road if I so wished.

I picked up my pace as the sense of someone following me increased. But the truth was that I rather enjoyed the sense of danger. I had been searching for thrills, excitement, and most of all answers ever since my mother’s death—so far in vain. That is, until today. It was a mere glimmer of hope, but at this point I took anything I could get.

CHAPTER FIVE

ASTRAL SECRET

I
arrived at my house much earlier than usual and caught my dad by surprise.