COLD SUNRISE
Chapter 6: In between

It was dawn when I awoke, cool morning breeze on my skin, sounds of tidal waves on shore lane, the sun already risen above the horizon. I was someplace outside clearly not in my room I realized, a beach. My body easily relaxed wearing a short with my old basketball jersey lying on a bench.

“Looks like you’re finally awake kiddo, how are you feeling?” a tall dark-haired man approached putting on the exact type of costume but on barefoot he’s leg soaked wet, in his right hand was a basket with a few fishes tied together and on the other a fishing rod, I couldn’t make his face immediately cause the sunray shinning on him from behind till he came closer, bloody hell! He had an uncanny resemblance to the man I have known my life only through pictures but have never actually met him before, he looked like Aaron bale my own father.

“Who are you?”

“I think we both know the answer to that question,” he replied proudly.

“Oh, God! It’s finally happened, hasn’t it? I have lost my mind,” I grimaced running my fingers wildly through my hair.

“Hey, hey, calm down there’s nothing wrong with you,” he squats placing his hands on my shoulder to reassure me, I quickly shoved it off.

“Stay the hell away, don’t touch me.” I stood up backing away from him, I saw the hurt look in his eyes when I did that but I didn’t care his presence was messing with my sanity.

“Nathan, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re not crazy.”

“ then how do you freaking explain how it’s possible you’re standing right in front of me when you should be spending rest of remains of your life in a coma, and this place how did I even get here?” I yelled.

“Hey, calm down, calm down, you’re right. None of this is real, this is a dream and it’s the only way I could get to you.”

“Get to me, what does that even mean?”

“Look, back wherever you are, your body is still asleep but your subconscious is being tethered between worlds, same with mine the only difference is that you can snap out of yours and I cant.”

“So what you’re actually saying is that this is a dream and I can wake up whenever I want?” I asked confirming.

“ yes, but this is more than an ordinary dream, our minds are both at sync making it possible to share information across our unconscious state like a wire string between two cans or perhaps two wireless computers if you prefer,” He tried explaining.

“Wait, is that supposed to make me feel better, by explaining the science to me?”I scoffed.

“Alright, how about this, I’ll very much like to wake up right now.” I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, I just shut my eyes very hard to see if I would wake up. I mean sometimes that’s how it actually works right?

“ it doesn’t work like that, you try to push it you might just end up hurting yourself, how about you try listening to what I have to say first,” crap! It doesn’t work I can still very much hear him.

“I know your involved with the Lansdale’s,” he stated, it caught my attention.

“You’ve got yourself mixed up in a situation you can barely understand and it’s changing everything around you,”

“The Lansdale’s, what do you know about them?” I asked curiously

“I know what they are, you got placed right in the middle of their problem and now you’re a problem.”

“So what happened that night, you know about it?” I asked curiously.

“Yes and believe me there are more things in play than you can even understand.” That’s almost the exact thing lock said on the last conversation we had together.

“Walk with me Nathan, there’s a lot you need to know,” he said calmly.

“No offense! I’m not going anywhere with you I mean I barely even know you.” I quickly declined.

“Look kiddo, what I know can help you save your life, I know I can’t get you to trust me but that’s a leap of faith you’ll have to take on own.”

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere more comfortable, I can tell you don’t like the place cause it’s too quiet.” Indeed it was, I followed him because, from the looks of it’s possible he knows more than I do, I might learn something useful, the last thing I expected is getting to meet my dad for the first time in some kind of dream, besides none of this really for real so what I have I got to lose.

we walked along the shoreline together my eyes kept wandering around surveying the environment for anything strange or out of place, it looked exactly like a normal beach, the native green trees shadowing the downward region of tall city building structures, in front hectares of dry land. The only thing seemed quite unusual there was no one anywhere except us and the constant rumbling sound of waves the beach made aside that it was dead quiet, I hope by any chance I don’t get stuck here in wonderland in this state unable to wake up back in actual reality, then that would be actual nightmare.

“Don’t worry you won’t, your being here is only temporary,” he replied abruptly.

“What?”

“I can hear your thought too you know,” what the hell!

“And why is that, don’t tell me you’ve got some kind super ability too,”

He chuckled, “No, like I said before our minds are synced, whatever your thinking I’m listening whether I want to or not.”

“Great! It’s good knowing my thought are no longer private anymore.” I muttered sarcastically.

“ this connection we’re having whatever it is that is making all of this possible, hope you don’t mind me asking what caused it, what happened.” I asked.

“ I don’t exactly know, one thing I say for sure is that for a very long time I have been wanting to meet you, few humans have connection to one another that runs really deep across the mundane into the supernatural, I’ll like to believe we have that, this thing we’re currently doing is similar to what people usually call astral projection, the out of body experience, I prefer calling it The visit. but I think in other for it to work it has to be a two-way street you must have been wanting to me too.” I didn’t say anything, Maybe who knows that might be it, for a long time I had actually wished for something like this to happen for real, and last night I talked a bit about him to raven… I don’t know maybe it is, maybe not.

While we walked, there was this sudden shift in weather temperature it became warmer, the sun blazed its light almost like it was being directed at us, I watched the sandy ground underneath my feet transform into well mown cultivated grass spreading across the entire area and in seconds I was someplace else. The both of us standing in a park with our clothes also changed into informal wears facing a very huge ten thousand ton metal tower.

“Welcome kiddo, to park champ de Mars in the city of lights,” he smirked. You’ve got to be kidding me, I mean I couldn’t believe it we are in Paris in right in front of the Eiffel tower.

“We’re in Paris?” I said astoundingly gawking at the huge metal.

“Yeah, I thought you’d like it here,”

“This is from a memory of when your Mom and I came here on our honeymoon,” he added.

“So technically we’re inside your head and you can just revisit anywhere you want as long you can remember.”

“That’s one of the perks limbo gives you the ability to alter your reality at will.” He nodded.

“Limbo, and that is?” I asked, I could n’t help looking around there were people around everywhere, we crossed a couple having a picnic with their little kids, others either sitting and chatting and taking pictures, kids running around and stuff.

“that’s the actual place we’re in, an abstract universe. Religion describes as different things, a place that exists between the real world and the other side, or purgatory, what people don’t really understand is that are all the same thing.”

“ then isn’t this place meant to be for dead people trying to cross over or something,”I’m guessing he saw the confused terrified expression on my face, cause last I remember he was in a coma and not dead, is he dead?

“No, I’m not dead not yet anyway, but naturally this shouldn’t be where I’m supposed to be, I’m trapped here,” he said, Well no surprise there.

“Based on your medical report you sustained severe brain damage by the accident, I mean you shouldn’t expect to be waking up any time soon,” I replied. That’s a possible explanation for him being trapped here like he said.

“I didn’t mean medically Nathan, there are some forces keeping me here, The watchers “he began glancing around cautiously when he muttered.

“ wait, you mean the man on a hat and a dark trench coat, I swear to God all this keeps getting confusing, “that was the second time that term was being mentioned, when the Lansdale’s talked I never totally understood what they were talking about… nor bothered me enough to asked.

He nodded, “it’s not just one Man, there are a lot of them and they are everywhere.”

“Who are these people, what did they want from you?” The only thing I can as well say about from what I know is that they have the tendency to drive you insane or make you look it and also turn your life to shit as a bonus, from the looks of it I might not be the only one.

“I don’t really have a very good explanation but they are described forces who make sure things go according to plan, things like destiny, fate and other crap like that revolves around them, they put things in place, their goal no one knows,”

“they’re majorly part of the reason I got myself in this situation with the Lansdale’s and it’s not just the Lansdale’s anymore, there’s some kind organization out for my blood, they want to kill me cause I saw something I shouldn’t have seen in the first place, I got attacked at your lake house today by them, I wouldn’t have made it out i hadn’t had help, my life as of right now is all messed up, I barely sleep well.” I said.

“ DOMUS DUO DECIM, The houses of twelve that’s what the council is called” he replied.

“They follow their old tradition, they’ve been after the Lansdale’s for a while and your involvement that night must have put you under their radar as a witness. “

“Involvement? I didn’t get involved in anything, I was hiding the entire time till that scary telepathic freak Adam spotted me out, I ran through the woods into the highway and got hit by a speeding truck that put me in a coma for three weeks.” I said defensively

“I see, Michael’s son must have inherited part of his gifts from his father,” so the famous Michael Lansdale is also a telepath I didn’t know that.

“I’m guessing you know Mr. Lansdale pretty well,”

“Unfortunately yes, the walking blind man, I don’t know how he manages to fool people with that.”

Judging from his tone, I’m guessing they both have a history. ” so you’re saying the rumors aren’t true, he’s not really blind.” He chuckled faintly,

“Depending on your definition of blind, his eyes are dead that’s For sure but he sees better than most people on the planet, our sight compared to his is like peeking through a keyhole.”

“What happened after the accident, how did you survive?” He asked.

“I thought you knew everything already,”

“No, I haven’t seen much about you since then?” That means he’s been watching from here and for God knows how long.

“It was Raven, Mr. Lansdale’s daughter she saved my life and again today, I wouldn’t be here if not her.”

" Amanda ’s little girl, I’m guessing she’s all grown up like you now,” he smiled.

“And by Amanda you mean Mrs. Lansdale, I found a picture her in your journal when I was going through your stuff.”

“we used to be very close when we were young.” That explains it, from the warm look on his face I’m guessing they must dated or something, which he’s means he’s been aware of the Lansdale’s for a very long time

" she died a few a years ago you know,”

” yeah, I know.” I watched the grin slowly face from his face. For some minutes we walked around before finding a bench to sit.

“Look Nate, I’m sorry I couldn’t watch you grow up or be there for you as a father one of many regrets, “he said glumly.

“Come on, we’re not doing this right now,” I murmured, I didn’t want to hear it. He continued

“I would have avoided you from this life Nathan, God knows I would have.”

“Life is already tough as it is and then mixing with complexities of the supernatural that’s something else entirely, “he muttered inwardly rubbing his palms against each other. We sat in silence for seconds.. I saw him stretch a half sided smile like wanted to stir up something.

" So you and I’m Amanda ’s daughter are you two like close or something,” he asked. I knew he meant, whether I had a thing for her something like that.

I chuckled, “no, we’re not. I haven’t known her for long and I barely even understand her,

" But you like her don’t you? I can see it all over your face you’ve got the tell.”

“No, I do not.” I replied quickly in denial. that was a very terrible lie, I’m usually better than that, the way I answered and scoffed sounded more like a laugh making it obvious.

" Come on, just admit it, it won’t kill you,” he pressed humouredly.

“we’re so not having this conversation about my personal life,” I tried evading.”

" is she hot, do you think she’s hot, I bet she is because her mom was?”

“yes, she is and that’s it, I’m not answering anymore your prodding questions?”

“Teenage crush burns bright most fades fast enjoy it while you still can,”

“It’s funny, half dead you giving me advice, is that what happened between you and her Mom,“I replied inquisitively.

" back then with I’m Amanda, I was crazy about her and when she told me what she was, I was just more in awe of her not scared not even a little bit, she was the most incredible person I had ever met. We stayed together for years.” The way he spoke it very reflective like he really in love with her.

“Then what happened?”

“I don’t know, I guess something’s aren’t meant to be, we were two different people from Different Worlds. And your Mom came along.” Diane must have been his rebound girl.

“Don’t get me wrong, I loved your Mother too Nathan, “he added, but It’s not the same way he loved raven’s Mom, I’m sure he heard this, well who cares.

“None of that matters now, Mom’s married to this young rich guy, Har…”

“Harvey, I know.” He finished for me,

“He’s a co-operate lawyer, they’ve been together for five years now, “he avoided my face when he said it.

“Wow, seems like you know everything, then you haven’t missed much in this place.” it must be hard being stuck here all these years watching your family move on without you, that sucks.

“You know, I tried asking Raven about the reason the council was after her family, to begin with, she said it wasn’t my problem. I even suggested I leave town not to get Judy and frank involved, she told me it was a bad idea, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do just sit and await the inevitable.”

“She’s right, the safest place for all of you is Franklinton, the Nephilims are very territorial when it comes to their area of residence, they may not associate with humans very much but they do their damn best to protect the town from outside forces when foreign supernatural threats are being posed.”

“They’re just five of them, how does five match an entire organization,” i asked in doubt.

“They wouldn’t need five, you must have heard about the one named Lock,”

“Yeah the weirdest of them all,”

Based on what raven described to is three thousand years old.

“ i think he’s part of he reasons the council is after their family and I don’t know what for, that one and Michael are extremely powerful and exceptionally capable of very horrible things, i can vouch for that.” He said with certainty.

“There’s no need to worry, live your life and they will handle their mess.” Sounds like he’s talking from experience, who knows the things he must have seen himself.

“What happened to you at the hospital was it them, were they in any way related to it.” I wanted to be sure.

“No, not them. But I was warned though that something was coming I just didn’t know what,” he answered.

“before all this began Frank and Judy, they told me to avoid the Lansdale’s and now with everything that’s happened I can’t shake this feeling they must have known something..” I said.

" for a while that part was a mystery to me too,” he chuckled..

“Frank and I we didn’t always share much, but it was the same kind of reaction he had about Amanda ’s original family The Blackwell’s back in my day when they still resided in Franklinton, then the Lansdale’s were only a family of three, renowned, famous and respected but they were all ghosts hardly seen within society..”

“so there was once another family of the same kind like the Lansdale’s that lived in town.”

“yes and an older one in fact, but they moved.” he nodded.

“After you were born, your mother and I we planned on moving over to Europe, leave this town behind, I wanted to get you away from stuff like this, give you a normal life.”

“a month before we were about travel after all preparations had been made, the earthquake at the hospital happened and the building came down on me. It was until I found myself here that I was told by a watcher that what happened had to happen for me to be out of the picture, that I was going to interfere with the natural course of events,” he said looking up at me.

“Events in line with your fate,”

“ I do n’t believe in stuff like that” In fact I very much detested the idea, it’s like being a pawn in a game you don’t even realize is being played. The choice you’re about to make is already preordained, an outcome already in place before one’s choice is being made and good or bad it gets affects you for life. It undermines the true belief of freewill. “Fate,” that’s one of the problems I have with mysticism and religion, my life isn’t anyone’s chessboard.

“Believe me neither did I but here we are. Now from what we’ve seen you and we can both admit that the world is a much vast place than we imagined, the unexplainable and impossible at our door step, one thing you and I can actually boast about is that we’ve become more aware of what is than

Billions of people on the planet that go about living their lives without real knowledge what is actually out there.”Well it’s easy for him to say, it’s not his life on the hook. Recently I wish I was one of those people.

“look Nate, you’ve got two choices either you decide to see what you’re going through as a curse or take life as it comes and savor every moment of it, because good or not regardless it’s still a life.”

“ you sound so positive about this stuff like it’s normal, How did you do it, how did you manage to compartmentalize and not let what you’ve seen and know scare the living shit out of you or drive you crazy,” I asked,

“ by learning to accept the fact that something’s are just bigger than you, Normal is overrated. But from what I can see I think you’re doing fine even better than I did back in my day, I mean look at it like this, on your first month in Franklinton after getting yourself mixed with the supernatural you’ve already cheated death once as a human, that’s an achievement.” He said humouredly.

“You’ve got a funny way of looking at things, besides it’s not like i pulled it off on my own.” I murmured.

“it’s an Achievement nonetheless, i want you to understand that you and i plus every other person, we’re just part of the glory of creation going through time that’s all.”

There was this sudden whistling noise that sounded like a train whistling in my ear.

“ Do you hear that?” I asked Aaron.

“hear what, Nate!”

“That noise, is there a subway station around here,”

In next in a split second, we were standing at the center platform of a subway with two tunnels, we were alone again just me and him, the approaching train on my left blew past.

“ I think this is it Nate, your ride home, our connection is about to be severed” he announced.

“why?”

“ your mind has reached it’s limit on the time it can stray from your body, that’s why the transport showed up as a signal” he answered.

“ so this train takes me back and I wake up?”

“yes, the transport show up in different forms. Another train will be coming You have to get on it,”

“ what happens if I miss it?” I asked curiously.

“ your body dies and you get stuck here with me,” that definitely not good.

“Okay, how do I get on it, do I have to purchase a ticket or something.” He laughed.

“No, it’s way much easier and for free, all you have to do is step on the tracks and let the upcoming train run you over,”

“ ha-ha, hilarious, now for real tell me how it’s done.” I mocked. But Aaron face looked pretty serious, not smiling.

“really Nathan that’s how it’s done, the rules of the universe after death comes awakening.” He replied sternly.

“ what! Your kidding right because that’s actually suicide and crazy there’s no way I’m doing that.” I heard the whistle of the second train coming from the right.

“Look, you have to do it, the only way you can get transported back to your world is if you die on this one,”

“Hell No,” there has to be another way.

“Do you trust me Nathan?” he said.

“few seconds ago maybe, but right now not so much, look at what you’re doing seriously urging me to kill myself, in fact why don’t you step on the tracks yourself and show me how’s done,” I could feel the tunnels vibrating, the train approaching fast

“it won’t work on me, my transport and yours cannot be the same, we’re two different personalities, in fact you know what! I’m sorry, asking you do that is scary as hell I know,” he admitted.

“I want you to know I love you and I’m sorry.” Aaron gave an easy smile.

“ sorry for what?” I hope what I was thinking he was thinking wasn’t actually what he was thinking… I cautiously began backing away from him. Suddenly I couldn’t see him anymore he vanished right before my face. As the head of the train darted its way out I felt this presence behind me like someone was standing there.

“Nathan I’m sorry,” I heard Aarons voice again. The second I turned to look he grabbed my shoulder firmly and shoved me into tracks, i got slammed by a penetrating force before I hit the ground and The pain, the pain was…

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