Blackstone

The Red Door

The lake was cold but Mary, the stern lady who came to me in my dreams almost every night, said I had to swim in it every day. I liked coming to this place because it was better than the preschool that Uncle Paul made me go to. Mary, the stern lady with the funny pointed ears, always had a sweet root that tasted like candy and the hot drink she served tasted like hot cocoa but it always made me feel happy and safe. I liked coming here. I swam further out away from the dock.

            "Be careful little one. Don't swim too far away from the dock."

            I turned around and swam back. I didn't want to upset, Mary. She could look at you sometimes and many times I wanted to cry. The first few times I came here it was a little scary even though the sun was always shining and the lake was so pretty because Mary could be so strict. She told me that a Keeper of the Wend, which is what I was going to be, didn't cry. "A Keeper has no time for tears," she said.

            I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry and my body felt like a cinder block had been dropped on it. Through my blurry vision, I made out three figures hovering over me. Slowly, they came into focus. It was David, Nicole, and a silver haired woman dressed in a blue air force uniform with a colonel's insignia. David smiled at me, "You had us worried there, Eliza."

            "What happened? To those ships?" I said weakly.

            "It's all right, you saved us. We're safe now," David answered.

            I tried to get up and fell back. Above me, clouds moved through a perfect blue sky and bright morning sunshine warmed my face. It felt so right. I just wanted to sleep.

            "Agent Heidegger, how are her life signs?" the silver haired woman said.

            Nicole waved for her phone. It flew up and she directed it over my body. A blue light passed over me. Nicole frowned and studied the readings.

            "She shouldn't be alive, Ma'am. Somehow her body is holding dark matter in place, but her vital readouts are improving rapidly. It's like she has some kind of healing factor," Nicole said.

            The silver haired woman shook her head, "Amazing, it's everything we've hoped for. Well done, Agent Ross. This asset could very well turn the tide in this war."

            David turned to the silver haired woman, "Her name is Eliza, Ma'am. My report will clearly state that she risked her life to save us."

            The silver haired woman frowned, "Yes, of course. I expect your report on my desk by 1100 hours. Agent Heidegger, please come with me." the silver haired woman said. She and Nicole walked off.

            I slowly sat up and winced. My temples throbbed and I fought the urge to vomit. 

            "Whoa, take it easy. Not so fast. Here drink this. It should help," said David and he handed me a plastic container.

            I gratefully accepted the container, drank from it, and almost spat the lukewarm, bitter, drink out. It tasted like drinking sewage water.

            "I know it tastes terrible, but trust me. It will help accelerate your healing," David said.

            I braced myself and swallowed the foul tasting liquid as quickly as possible. Instantly, I felt better and could feel the strength returning to my body. My vision cleared and the terrible ache in my bones vanished. I sat up and looked around at my surroundings.