My Year Abroad

Chapter 21

Cameron was barely thirteen when returning home from a typical school day. He was in the kitchen discussing behavioral improvements at school. While helping his mother cook a rustle was heard at the door. A man broke into their home with a rifle in his hand, and a crazed look on his face.

Cameron recognized the man from his mother's practice. The gunman was unhappy with the results he was getting in therapy, and wanted the session tapes destroyed. With a gun in the vicinity, Cameron was shielded by his mother as she tried to calm the man.

"They're upstairs, and I'll take you to them. Just please put the gun down." Yura pleaded.

The man began to lower the rifle as the oven timer went off. Startled the man pulled the trigger as a shot was fired into Yura's shoulder. Realizing what he did the gunman began to panic and fled from the house.

Cameron rushed to her side desperately placing his hand against the wound as seen on tv, but the blood wouldn't quit. Outside there was light drizzle, but a sudden blizzard erupted that obscured the streets. At that same moment, an aurora filled the kitchen as everything went flying from the selves.

A clutter of objects began to swirl around the room with Cameron as the epicenter. Yura began to levitate from the ground as their hair flowed wildly. When the lights began to settle Cameron noticed the bleeding had stopped, but his mother had yet to wake.

After thirty minutes of rocking on the floor, Yura regained consciousness and noticed Cameron looking down at her. She caressed Cameron's cheek admiring the eyes that resembled his father's. Noticing the blood, and mess scattered around them she began cleaning casually.

Outside their home, the sound of a storm raging could be heard, and there was no end in sight. For a week everything seemed like it would be alright, but once the wood was exhausted things began to turn. Winter was still a month away, and the preparations were still being made.

Having an early winter was nothing new, but this was a record-breaking storm. No one in the village could spare the resources to help one another for they barely made it on their own. Perishing in a storm was only one of Yura's concerns.

Yura knew in her absence Cameron would have nowhere to go, and another episode wasn't something he could explain. She was also well aware of the dangers for someone like Cameron. Yura racked her mind for solutions, but could only think of one thing to help her son.

Yura specialized in hypnotherapy and believe it could fix their problem. Her late husband was capable of turning it on, and off. Because of this Yura believed she could block out Cameron's second nature. Altering someone's memories was risky, but compared to the syndicate discovering him it was nothing.

"Your father wasn't from this world." Yura shivered.

"Th-that's crazy," Cameron argued.

"I know how it sounds, but please let me finish...We don't have a lot of time." She rubbed her hands together to stay warm.

Cameron knew at this moment his body was unusual. His mother's complexion went from bronzed to pale, and it was only getting worse. Regardless of the weather, and how much time has passed Cameron was unaffected.

"This was before my practice, and when I was still dedicated to traveling. I was visiting a location our ancestors once settled, and was taking pictures for the others. When nighttime rolled around I was admiring the northern lights when something caught my eye."

Yura revealed the video from the past as Cameron watched closely. Due to the phenomena, there was some static on the screen but one could see a bright light falling. Cameron could hear her running to investigate, but suddenly the video cut.

"Why did you turn it off?" Cameron asked.

"I didn't. You did the same thing remember," Yura replied.

Cameron recalled none of the radios working correctly the first few days. They only began working when his powers began to settle. He looked at his hand with confusion.

"When the crash site was in view I saw a bright light. I was attracted to it, and couldn't help but approach the unusual sight. As I got closer the light shrank, and a man gradually formed. His skin was as white as the snow, and it seemed to illuminate. By the time we stood face to face, he resembled a regular human. He didn't talk at first, but I could still hear his voice." Yura explained.

Cameron listened to the unfathomable story of a man from the sky. It sounded like nonsense, and he was too young to remember his father clearly. With no reason to doubt his mother now, he simply listened.

After they figured out communication Yura began to spend all her time in the wilderness. Yura discovered that he was an entity that visited the earth on several occasions. The dimensions overlapping may have been a coincidence, but staying was his choice.

Their time together led to Cameron's conception, and with the news, they began to build a home. They raised Cameron together as long as possible, but maintaining an organic form was no easy task. Cameron's father was a primordial force in the universe, but he still needed to return home.

The body was incapable of sustaining his power and grew unstable. This left him with a difficult decision. Leave his family, and return to the other dimension or risk hurting innocents. Bidding them farewell wasn't easy, but he knew returning one day would be possible.

Left to raise Cameron on her own Yura returned to her hometown. There she built her practice and specialized in people who experienced close encounters. Being a sensitive subject Yura's work was done in secret.

"When will he come back?" Cameron asked.

"I don't know. For years I tried to reach him, but there was nothing. Lately, I've been seeing him in dreams, but it's hard to hear him. He left something for us in case we ever got in trouble." Yura tried to reach a picture but collapsed.

"I'll get help!" Cameron turned for the door.

Yura grabbed Cameron's hand and explained it was futile. She told him there was only one way to ensure his survival. Cameron had doubts about what they were doing, but not about trusting his mother.

When the memory ended Cameron was being shown an unknown part of Alaska. There he saw a familiar cabin. The vision began drifting outwards to help pinpoint the location, but it abruptly stopped as a strong sense of panic ensued. The environment faded, and Cameron could see strangers dragging him down a hall.

What Cameron was experiencing wasn't a memory. The interrogation was starting as a sharp pain shot through his body. Cameron's friend quickly broke the link to prevent further damage. Before the connection ended they relayed their location and offered advice on his abilities.

"Meditation is the key."