The Book Of Secrets Long Begotten

II

All through class and everything, all Jake could think about was two things: Madison and that voice. Who was the voice speaking to him? It sounded female but not like someone he knew. What was this quest this 'lady' had for him? So many questions ran through his mind. So many without answers.

When Mr. Erling called on him to answer a question, Jake was completely zoned out in his own mind. His own world.

"Mr. Collins?" Mr. Erling called out. "Mr. Collins!" Finally, Jake snapped out of it and focused on Mr. Erling.

"Yessir?" Jake asked.

"I asked you what was something big that was happening during Jack London's book The Call Of The Wild?" Mr. Erling asked. Jake thought about it. "Remember we went over it yesterday. It starts with a K." Finally Jake remembered.

"Klondike Gold Rush!" Jake said happily and excitedly. Mr. Erling nodded and smiled.

"Correct, Mr. Collins. It was the Klondike Gold Rush." Mr. Erling said and started to teach the class again.

Ryan looked over at Jake and whispered to him to keep his head in the game. Jake nodded. Mr. Erling looked over and saw the two talking.

"Mr. Collins and Mr. Houston, are we paying attention or are we talking about something else? Like lightsabers and yo-yos?" Mr. Erling asked. The entire class chuckled at that.

"We'll pay attention." Jake and Ryan said together. Mr. Erling nodded.

"That's what I thought." Mr. Erling said and class went on. 

When class was over, everyone was walking to their next class. Mr. Erling pulled Jake aside to talk to him.

"Jake, what's wrong man? You're usually very active in this class." Mr. Erling said in a very friendly gesture. Mr. Erling was, as mentioned, Jake's favorite teacher.

"Something happened to me last night. It has been happening to me a lot. But not as clear and loud as today. Well, this morning, I mean." Jake said.

"Well, what is it? Family problems? Depression? You can share with me, you know. Or you can share it with the counselor. It's all up to you. No hard feelings." Mr. Erling said calmly. "Just know that I am here for you academically and as a person. All of you, I am here for."

"A voice. I heard a voice speak in my head. It was a female voice." Jake said. Mr. Erling nodded slowly, trying to understand everything.

"What did this voice say?" Mr. Erling asked. "Do you remember?" Jake nodded.

"She says:

WAAAAAAKE UP JAAAKE, I HAAAVE A QUEST FOR YOUUUUU." Jake mimicked the voice. Mr. Erling smiled.

"And it wasn't any of your family members?" Mr. Erling asked. Jake shook his head.

"Well, is your house haunted?" Mr. Erling asked. Jake shrugged. Mr. Erling rode his train of thought for a little bit longer and then pulled open a drawer. He got out a piece of paper and handed it to him.

"Have you ever heard of lucid dreaming?" Mr. Erling asked. Jake tilted his hand back and forth.

"Very little?" Mr. Erling asked. Jake nodded. "Ok well, this is a type of lucid dreaming. It was practiced by monks in abbeys for awhile. Some still practice it. It is called shadowdreaming. It follows the same key things that lucid dreaming does but not as extreme. However it does take lucid dreaming a step further." Mr. Erling said. Jake nodded.

"Lucid dreaming is a form of sleep in which you know you are sleeping. Shadowdreaming is a meditative excercise that some use as a form of sleep. Some csn practice it lying down or sitting criss cross. No ither way except those. You follow the steps on this paper and you're good to go." Mr. Erling said and handed Jake the paper. "Don't worry about giving me the paper back, I have all the knowledge up here in my noggin. This will help you figure out who spoke to you."