The Druid

Chapter 3

Alan's dreams were of enhanced and distorted memories. Mostly he dreamed of his time spent at the Strip, singing songs to the animals and wading in the lake beneath the orange sun. That was normal; Alan was a vivid dreamer.

What wasn't normal was the fog that rolled in over the lake. That had never happened in his dreams. The fog was unusual. It moved with intent, as if it were a living being. Sparks of lightning flashed inside and, it was hard to be sure, but Alan thought the fog was intertwined with hues of purple.

The fog threatened him. The closer it got, the realer the dream became. Eventually, it swallowed the jutted cliff and, right as it came within arm's reach of Alan, a silver flash would erupt. The dream repeated itself many times, before the pain of his  throbbing hand woke him up.

It was six-thirty in the morning and he had seventeen notifications between his grandma in the upper peninsula and Aunt Flora. She was calling him now.

He attempted to say "Hello" into the phone, but it came out more as an incomprehensible mutter.

"ALAN!" she yelled so loudly that Alan jerked his head backwards. Now he was awake. "You were supposed to call me right away if anything happened. Are you okay? Mrs. Bethros said you were fine and unharmed, but are you sure? Did the paramedics inspect you for anything?"

"I'm fine," Alan said. "It wasn't that big of a deal, really. I don't think we were ever in danger." Alan's blatant lie caused the guilt he felt yesterday wash over him. Savannah and Alan gave a false story to the police, as well as Mrs. Bethros, one in which there was no man in a black cloak. Alan heard her Georgia scratching at his door from his room. He went down to investigate, saw the arm and Georgia, and called Savannah. The police chided Alan for not calling them immediately. Mrs. Bethros appeared to be more distraught over her dog being the one responsible for finding the decayed human arm than the fact that it even in existed, in their backyard to boot.

"You're staying at the Clark's until I get back. I've already called Brian." She sounded guilty--very unusual for his auntie. She once scolded a bagger at the grocery store, on a busy Monday night, for swearing in front of an elderly woman.

"Aunt Flora?" Alan knew something was off.

She didn't answer right away and when she did, sadness was plastered on her voice. "I can't come home right now, Alan. They've shut down all means of transportation over any large body of water. Stupidest thing I've ever seen in my entire life! It's not just Michigan either. It's happening everywhere because of the portal sightings. You hear that's what they're calling it now? I don't know how long I'll be stuck here." She paused. "I'm sorry, Alan, I should have called you yesterday when I saw the news. Are you going to be okay without me?"

"I'll be fine," Alan said reassuringly. "I'll head over to Callum's as soon as I eat breakfast and pack."

Callum was Alan's cousin, the son of Brian Clark. Aunt Flora and Brian were siblings, with different moms. Aunt Flora and Alan's mom were full-blooded siblings, however. Callum was eleven months older than Alan, but they were in the same grade. The two had been best friends since as long as the other could remember.

Aunt Flora tripped over her words, before she abruptly stopped herself from speaking. She paused, knowing her, Alan thought to control her frustration.

"Keep me updated, okay? Text me every few hours letting me know you're okay. Alan, do not go out at night." Slight pause. "Got it?"

"Yes, Aunt Flora," Alan said. "When have I ever gone out at night anyway?"

"I know, but we have to take this matter seriously, Alan. Do not go out at night. Period." She took on a happier tone. "Hey, I just got off the phone with Tam." Tam was Mr. Aalberts. "He called me asking if it were okay if he paid you twenty dollars to feed Galley for the week. He's in the exact same predicament as I am."