Chapter 5

 

Kevin’s point of view

 

Anubis was a good teacher. Annoying, but effective. He had a habit of being persistent for me to try again if I failed to do a task or exercise after the first few tries, but it meant I eventually managed each task. I lost track of time, as my training seemed to go on non-stop. It was a strange cycle to get into; I could last for what seemed like days without rest. Another odd thing was told to me too: I never needed to eat or drink. Anubis had taught me from where I now had to draw energy. It was my first lesson. I remember his words: “This is essential, Kevin……

Now, how had that lesson gone again…….:

 

Past events:

 

“Anubis,” I raised my voice questioningly. “It’s been ….….a long time since I’ve actually eaten or slept. How long have I been sitting here listening to you?”

Anubis’ face frowned in thought, as he clearly made a quick calculation. “Approximately 8 earth hours, Kevin.”

My eyes widened. “8 Hours! How the hell have I managed to keep my concentration for that long?”

“You are not hungry either are you?” Anubis queried knowingly.

“Actually I’m not!” I replied in wonder. “Why’s that?”

“You are changed, Kevin.” He answered wisely. “The one thing that will inhibit your learning is the fact you still consider yourself physically alive. Yet, you must not. You see yourself as human, but only because you want to. To truly master your new power, you must consider yourself only your mind, your essence, your soul.”

“That sounds difficult,” I commented without enthusiasm.

“Maybe you will discover how along the way. Yet, you must learn how to gain energy, now that eating or drinking will no longer provide you with the energy you need.”

I looked at him questioningly.

“Meditation, Kevin. You must use your mind for this.” Anubis claimed.

“I don’t think I’m read to try that. I’ve never really been into all that spiritual stuff.” I replied unsurely.

“This is essential, Kevin.” Anubis told me firmly. “Like a living physical being, without nutrition, you will die, or to put it correctly, your soul will die.”

I contemplated his words, knowing he wouldn’t lie to me.

“OK, Anubis.”

He nodded in approval. “Sit how you feel comfortable.”

I obeyed, sitting on the stone floor, crossing my legs and resting my elbows on my knees.

“Close your eyes and clear your mind.” Anubis instructed.

I tried several times, but I found it hard to drive all thoughts from my mind. I was used to being responsible for many things, ever having an unfinished task on my mind constantly.

After the fifth try, I sighed in frustration, “Look, this isn’t working!”

“Try again.”

“It won’t work!”

“Try again, Kevin!”

“No, it’s hopeless! I can’t clear my head!”

“Try!!!” Anubis insisted.

Glaring up at him, I obeyed, but the attempt was vain, as I had predicted.

“You see?” I stated. “I’m not ready…for…” I trailed off as I felt a sudden weakness come over me.

Anubis appeared worried. “You have reached Bodai’ran: the Frontier!”

 

Leighanne’s point of view

 

I was thankful Brian had finally managed to sleep again after so long. I could hear his soft breathing beside me. His arm was wrapped around my shoulders. I still worried about him; he refused to eat as much as he really should and he had gradually got thinner. But at least he was peaceful enough in his sleep. His face was not etched with sorrow like it was when he was awake, but softened and free of pain.

“…..nnn….nnnoo….howw…” I heard my husband mumble quietly. At first I thought he was having another flashback or nightmare, but his face was still peaceful. I didn’t understand how he was different tonight from all other nights, but I was glad he wasn’t suffering.

I stroked his hair gently.

“Shhh, honey. Quiet.” I whispered to him and he drifted to silence again.

 

Kevin’s point of view

 

“The Frontier?” I repeated.

“When you reach the frontier, you MUST get energy, or you will continue to weaken until you finally fade to the afterlife again!” Anubis warned anxiously.

“But how can I avoid this if I can’t clear my mind?” I asked, puzzled.

“Perhaps something to dwell on?” he thought out loud. “Kevin, when a tree falls in the woods but there’s no one around, what sound does it make?”

“Easy!” I declared, proceeding to imitate the creaking and crashing of a tree as it falls to the ground.

Anubis looked at me, with a look that said ‘you’re missing the important point’. “Yet, how can sound exist if there is no one there to hear it?”

I blinked thoughtfully. “Erm….”

“It is an unanswerable question, Kevin. To clear the mind.”

“Well, it worked,” I stated. “I’m ready.”

“Close your eyes, listen only to my voice.”

I obeyed, and was amazed at how peaceful things now seemed.

“Kevin, let your mind travel back to a time when you were happy, calm and peaceful. A time free of worry, pain or sorrow.”

I traced back to my honeymoon with Kristin. I remember sitting on a balcony, looking at the midnight blue sky and the bright stars. Kristin sat beside me, asleep in my arms. No tour, no work….. no intrusions.

“Have you found that place, Kevin?” Anubis asked.

I nodded, not wanting to speak and dissolve this memory.

“Now, just stay there. Live in that moment for as long as you need to. You will come out of this meditation when you have regained sufficient energy.”

I didn’t understand then why I had to do this, but I didn’t question purely due to the fact I didn’t want to leave that moment.

Time ceased to exist in that trance. I felt myself becoming stronger. I knew what I wanted to do to my killer if I ever got back. This strength gave me determination. If I ever came across him again……….?! I clenched my fists and emitted a growling, angry sigh, and I started to come back to reality.

“Kevin!” Anubis’ firm voice shouted. “Do not dwell on negative emotions! Return to that moment, and stay with the emotions of light.”

“Sorry,” I muttered.

Pushing the thought of revenge away, I found the guys were on my mind. Where were they? How were they coping? Brian’s despairing face at my moment of death didn’t make the outlook for them seem good at all. I desperately longed to talk to one of them. With my returning strength, I mentally reached out to one of them, any of them.

A figure seemed to fade into my mental vision.

“Brian, is that you, bro?”

“Kevin?” I heard his shocked voice as the blurred figure shimmered into view.

“Hey, little cuz! How you doin’?” I asked cheerfully.

He laughed in happiness, and hugged me tightly. I patted his head and tried to make him loosen his grip on my shoulders.

“Steady on, Bri!” I chided, smiling.

“Kev….. you died, Kev!” he wept. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“I’m in your heart, Bri!” I reassured. “Calm down, buddy.”

“But….n..no… how are you here? You’re dead! I saw them bury you! I saw them lower your coffin into your grave!”

He let go and stepped back. “I saw you die in front of me!”

“Brian, chill, man! I can’t explain. I don’t fully understand it myself, but in a way…... I’m dead and alive.” I told him softly. “I’ve got a bit of a situation. I’m weak right now. Can I borrow some of your strength, bro?”

My cousin looked unsure for a moment, but nodded.

“Anything for a brother, Kev!”

I smiled at him. “Thank you, Brian. Now hold still!”

Driven by some instinctive force, I grabbed his shoulders tightly, but tried as best I could not to harm my younger cousin. Concentrating hard, I drew energy from Brian, stopping when I thought I would harm him by taking more.

“Thanks again, cuz.”

“You’re coming back, like you promised….aren’t you?” he asked in a small, worried voice.

“If you heard it, I’ll keep it!” I declared, and walked away from him as my mind rushed back to reality.

Anubis was standing there.

“That was quick, Kevin. Only an hour. It’s usually two.”

“An hour?!” I exclaimed. “That felt like five minutes!”

“Kevin, you will come to realise that time has little meaning here. In meditation, you lose all sense of it, so you must also lose any dependence on knowing how long you have rested, as you probably will never know by yourself.”

I winced. I was always paranoid about time and being punctual, as well as berating Nick for NOT being on time.

“Another thing. You can only rest and gain energy while living in memories that are tied with positive emotions. Always remember, positive emotions create while negative emotions destroy!”

 

Leighanne’s point of view

 

I opened my eyes and blinked at the bright light coming from behind the curtains. Another morning of a stubborn Brian. He’d refuse to eat any breakfast, as usual. Yawning, I nudged my sleeping husband. He moaned at me groggily.

“Brian, get up!” I told him sleepily but firmly.

“Too tired….” He complained.

“Brian, I know you miss him, but moping around in bed all day won’t help anyone.” I stated. “Do you want any breakfast?”

“Too weak…to eat…”

“Maybe if you ate something, you’d have the strength to eat something else?”

He let out a sigh that seemed to mean ‘true, why not?’. He rolled over and stood up out of bed wearily.

“If you want something, I’ll make it since you look like you could-“

THUD!

I spun around. Brian had collapsed.

“Brian!” I cried, running over to him. He had broken into a huge, cold sweat and was pale and unconscious.

I tried to wake him, but when I couldn’t, I called an ambulance. At the hospital, I called the other guys, who came promptly.

We sat around his bed as he slept, IV’s in his arm to give him nutrients.

And his problem was a lack of energy, according to the doctors.

Yet, they noticed, but couldn’t explain, the strange appearance of raw red areas on his shoulders……..

End of Past Events

 

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