The Conspiracy - Chapter 1 & 2 - more to come soon!

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The Conspiracy

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"The Black Sheep Squadron Strikes Back"

Abducted

I woke up. I was surrounded by darkness. Pitch-black. I was thirsty, so thirsty, my tongue felt like a dried out old sock, too big for my mouth, about to choke me. Fortunately I always keep water next to my bed, I wanted some. That would help, a sip of water would do…but I was too weak to reach for it.

I was wondering, who was hammering something. That fool, he woke me up.

I turned to reach for my water bottle, fumbling for it in the dark, that's when I realized that the hammering was inside of my head…

The short movement had caused all the pain to centre in my head, with a painful sigh I sank back and was out instantly.

When I woke up again, it was still night. The pain was still there, too, as was the thirst.

I fumbled for the light switch and could not find it; neither could I find the water bottle, or my sheets. I was down right miserable.

I decided to wake up my husband, so he could take care of me. As I reached over to the left to shake his shoulder, I felt a cold wall. He was not there.

There was not supposed to be a wall. I always sleep on the right side of the bed, close to the door; Kevin sleeps on the left side. Next to him were lots of empty space and then the closet. But now, instead of Kevin, a wall was next to me. I felt utterly confused. For so many years, ever since we had been married, Kevin was on my left. This was odd.

I was too tired and my head hurt too bad for me to figure it out, maybe, I was not even awake, maybe I was just dreaming…I went back to sleep, or into another bad dream.

Chapter 1

"Hi Daddy, do you know where mommy is? She does not answer the phone." Timmy was angry. She knew that he always called after school, why could she not simply answer her darn phone!

"I don't know, little man, maybe she's in a meeting. She didn't answer my calls either." Kevin answered. He had not been surprised, when his calls had went unanswered, they had argued earlier and lately his wife had made it a habit not to answer his calls after an argument. But Timmy, she always answered his phone calls she was crazy about the little guy, as was he. He looked at his son's lovely face with the freckled nose, the hazel eyes and the full lips, now in a frown, the full dark curly hair, he remembered his wife commenting on these curls when Timmy was a baby ..You know, my Grandma always said curly head kids are very creative and every curl will stand for a different fury. We'll have our hands full with this boy, just wait and see!

"I tell you what," he said, " we'll have some Mc Donald's and if she doesn't call by the time we are done, we'll go and do something else, like bowling or miniature golfing, what do you say?"

"Alright, but it still sucks, I have something important to tell her." Timmy answered.

"Can't you tell me? I think that being your Daddy entitles me to be told important news!" he challenged his son, his brown eyes shining with pride.

"Yeah, but it's not the same." It was obvious that the boy wanted to be begged to share his important information.

"Come on, get in the car" Kevin smiled, "and then, please, tell me the important news. I think that I really should know. And, it would feel so good to know something important about you before your Mom does."

"I won the spelling test in school today! I was the only one who could spell the last four words!" Timmy's face was flushed with excitement and pride. He was twelve years old and had spent most of his life in Germany, visiting a German school. He was in fifth grade and had still problems with some German Grammar, but his English was coming along well.

His Mom was German, but most of the time they were talking and writing English at home, because to this day Kevin never had picked up how to speak or write German fluently.

They had come to Germany a few years ago, as civilians, working for the US military. There intentions had been to stay about three years and then return to the states. Somehow, every year something else had come up and prolonged their stay.

Considering Timmy's heritage and his problems with German grammar, his success in the spelling test was really great. Kevin was proud of his son.

"That must have been some awfully hard words, if you were the only one who could spell them!" Kevin said with pride.

"Well, it was in English class." Timmy answered, hoping to impress his father even more.

"Wow, you are absolutely the greatest! Put it here little man!" Kevin held out his big, brown fist and Timmy's small fist connected with his Dad's.

"So, can the best English- word-speller-ever have a twenty piece chicken nuggets and a milk shake?" the boy asked with a grin.

"Sure son, what ever you want" Kevin grinned back.

It was a warm summer evening and they chose a place on the outside of the crowded McDonalds restaurant. Timmy was happily dipping his chicken nuggets in sweet and sour sauce and sipping on his milk shake.

Kevin was munching on his Big Mac and sipping his soda.

"You know," he said between bites, "I was thinking, maybe we should drive out to the lake and rent a boat for an hour."

"Yeah, and then we will play a round of miniature golf, that will be fun! I bet you five bucks that I can beat you!" Tim replied.

"Do you have five bucks?" Kevin asked.

"I don't need them, because I'm going to beat you." The boy giggled.

"Ah, I see. Then eat up and let's see what you've got." Kevin challenged him.

They drove out to a little park with a lake, a miniature golf course, ponies, ball courts and a beautiful playground.

They went to the little golf course first.

After Timmy beat his Dad by eight points, they walked over to the lake and rented one of the white and blue paddleboats.

"She still has not called" Tim complained.

"Probably a bad reception out here" Kevin replied, paddling the little boat to the middle of the lake.

They took turns paddling and talked about Championship wrestling, basketball and the latest movies. Before they knew it, the hour was over and they had to turn in the boat.

On the way back to the car Tim pulled his cell phone out and tried to call his Mom again. She still did not answer the phone. He left a message on her answer machine.

Kevin could not help, but to wonder if something had happened to her. It was after 9pm. She should be home by now and wondering, where her guys were. He pulled out his cell phone and called his oldest stepson, Frank.

"Hey Frank, have you heard from your Mom?" he asked

"Nope, I have not been home all day. It's going to be a few more hours ..till I get there." The boy answered. He was twenty years old and more out on the run than anywhere else. If he was not at work he was meeting with his friends.

"Alright, later." Kevin hung up the phone and put it back on his belt.

"Maybe she went out with friends or to the gym" he offered.

He knew that she would not really go anywhere, without checking with Timmy and letting him know where she was. Actually, he was pretty sure, she would let him know as well if she had some plans. It was not like she had been all that mad in the morning. And even if, she definitely would let Timmy know, where to reach her.

When they got home, her car was not there. They went upstairs to their apartment; no sign of her, no message on the answer machine, no indication that she had been home since she had left for work in the morning.

"Do you have any home work to do for school tomorrow?" he asked his son.

"No, all done." He answered.

"Then how about, if you put on your PJ's and we watch a movie, your choice." Kevin suggested.

"O.K., let's watch a Jackie Chan movie" those were Tim's favourites.

While the boy changed and brushed his teeth, Kevin put in the movie and got two sodas out of the refrigerator. Then he sat down on the couch. Timmy sat right next to him, bringing his pillow and his blanket with him.

Through the first half of the movie he stayed awake, checking his phone frequently to make sure, it was turned on and he didn't miss his Mom's call. Then he finally fell asleep.

It was almost midnight when Frank came home.

Kevin still had not heard from his wife and had not been able to reach her.

"Hi, where's Mom, sleeping already?" Frank greeted his stepfather. He was very tall, over six feet, with short blond hair and dark blue eyes, the same eyes as his Mom.

"No, she did not come home. And she did not call either. I need you to do me a favour and call all the German hospitals in the area and maybe the police. I already checked with the MPs and the military hospitals." Kevin replied.

"Shit!" was Frank's only comment as he picked up the phone and started calling around.

An hour later they still had no clue about what had happened and where she was. But they at least had reason to believe that for right now she was not involved in some accident.

"That's weird, man" Frank said, shaking his head, "I think, I'll jump in the car and go looking for her."

"Where do you want to look?" Kevin wanted to know.

The only place he could think of was the air base where she worked as a detective for a civilian company. He doubted that she would be there; she didn't like to hang out there after work.

"I don't know, I thought I'll check the air base, the two gas stations where she likes to stop and maybe Eddie's place."

"I already called Eddie, they haven't seen her all day. I called Sonja and Marla too. They have not heard from her either." Kevin felt beat. This was the first time ever in eighteen years that he didn't know where his wife was. He was worried.

"Well, I will go and check all the other places then. If she shows up, give me a call, and don't worry, she'll be fine." With this Frank turned around and left.

Kevin stayed, hoping that his wife would show up any minute now, safe and unharmed.

Somehow it did not feel like she would.

Chapter 2

I woke up again, still surrounded by darkness, still thirsty and still suffering from a splitting headache.

This time I managed to sit up. At least now my head was clear enough to realize that I was not at home in my bed.

I still was wearing my clothes and I was lying on the ground.

I reached in my pants pocket and fumbled for my lighter. I found it and flicked it on.

The weak light revealed a small dirty room with shelves on one side and a heavy door across the room.

I crawled to the shelves and found a bunch of dirty, dusty wine bottles. I opened one of them and smelled on it. Is seemed to still be all right. I took a long swallow.

I felt a little better. More light headed, but not all that thirsty anymore. The lighter in my hand got hot and I dropped it.

Carefully I put the bottle down and felt the dirty floor, hoping to find my lighter. There, that was it. I flicked it back on and looked for my purse.

Finally I found it. I looked for my cell phone. It was not there. The lighter burned my hand and I dropped it again. Ouch! I crawled on the floor fumbling for the lighter. There, finally.

I sat on the floor in the dark, wondering, how I got here and what I wanted here.

I could not remember. The thinking made my head hurt worse. I flicked the lighter back on and got my purse. I found my pain pills and grabbed the wine bottle.

Great, I had to let the lighter go in order to get the pills out of the container. In the dark I wrestled with the top of the pill bottle. I poured some of the pills into the palm of my hand. Four. Good, could not come much worse, if I took four of them with wine. I dropped them into my mouth and swallowed with two big sips of the wine. Then I put my lighter back into my pants pocket.

I decided not to think about where I was and why I was here any more. It was too much trouble to figure it out. I would leave it up to Kevin. As a matter of fact, he could just figure it all out, while I was sleeping.

"Let me know, what you come up with, hun'." I said and laid back down. "Give me back my pillow," I said and then I was asleep again.

Stay tuned for chapter 3 and 4! You know you don't want to stop now.

The Conspiracy: The Black Sheep Squadron Strikes Back
R&B Pratcher
$13.95

June Bear Adventures: The Missing Pies
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher
$11.95

Matt and Spencer in Their Great Adventure
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher
$19.95

One Family's Adventure: The Cheating Landlords
Roger Pratcher, Brigit Pratcher
$16.95

Beckoning the Paranormal

Beckoning the Paranormal 

In our world we live our lives day by day, most of us blissfully unaware of the many portals, dimensions and creatures that share this plain with all of us, others, spooked easily by stories, new or old, about strange event and beings and very few of us haunted by special occurrences or entities, but only a handful, so to say, acutely aware of what others call the paranormal and actively interacting. Only very few of the handful without the slightest fear, accepting the unexplained, scientifically unimaginable and embracing it for what it mostly is, dear friends of different existence.

Whenever we find friends it is not hard to also find our foes, the difficulty is in the detail to see and recognize those who do mean harm.
Our horror stories are based on just that.

©RB Pratcher 2008

 

For reading in other categories, check out our other novels:

 

The Conspiracy: The Black Sheep Squadron Strikes Back
R&B Pratcher

 

June Bear Adventures: The Missing Pies
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher

 

One Family's Adventure: The Cheating Landlords
Roger Pratcher, Brigit Pratcher

 

Matt and Spencer in Their Great Adventure
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher

The History Behind Valentines Day

The History Behind Valentine's Day
By Birgit and Roger Pratcher

 

A few historical facts on Saint Valentine's Day

 

On 14 February we celebrate Saint Valentine's Day, usually by the way of exchanging cards, sweets, lingerie, flowers or jewelry.

But, what exactly are we celebrating, is it just a holiday the retail stores invented to get our money? One could think so, but no, we are actually celebrating a Christian Holiday, Saint Valentine's.

We are following a Christian and ancient Roman tradition. By now the Catholic Church recognizes three Saints by the name of Valentine, or Valentinus.

The first legend to the background of the celebration of Valentine's Day is this:

During the 3^rd century a priest by the name of Valentine, under Claudius II in Rome, secretly disobeyed the law.

Claudius had come to believe that a single soldier was a better soldier than a married young man and so decided to outlaw marriage in order to have plenty young strong men with no wives at his disposal.

Valentine, the priest, did not obey this law and continued to celebrate the holy bond of marriage for young couples in secrecy.

Of course, the way it always works with secret clauses, he was caught and sent to his death.

The second legend believes that Valentine was a prisoner who fell in love with a young woman, who came to see him often. It is believed that she was his jailors daughter. Before his untimely death he wrote her a love letter, signed with 'Your Valentine'. There fore the phrase 'Be my Valentine'.

Some believe he was beheaded, others thought that he died of sickness.

No one is even sure if 14 February was the day of his birth or his death or if it had indeed anything to do with Saint Valentine at all. The only thing that is for sure, is that the Romans had a tradition in the middle of February, which would mark the 14^th, called the Love Lottery. It was believed that spring and with it the renewal of life came along in the middle of February, therefore the love lottery was held, coupling young men and women for one year, often leading to marriage.

Valentine's Day is celebrated in the USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The oldest known Valentine's card can be viewed in the British museum.

Valentine's day became an official Catholic Holiday in the year 496 or 498 AD. Pope Gelasius declared the 14 February to be Saint Valentine's Day.

The oldest known and remembered Valentine's poem is from Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife, in 1415, while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It is part of a manuscript collection of the British Library in London.

Years later King Henry V is supposed to have hired the writer John Lydgate to compose a Valentine's letter to Catherine of Kalois.

In Great Britain it was around the 17^th century that Valentine's Day became a celebrated Holiday. By the middle of the 18^th century it was common for all social classes to exchange small gifts or handwritten notes with lovers, loved ones and friends.

By the end of the 18^th century printed Valentine's cards were available.

In the United States people started celebrating Valentine's Day in the early 1700's by exchanging Valentine's notes.

The Greeting Card Association announced that Valentine's Day is the second best selling card-sending day with one billion cards sold per year. The leader in the card industry is with 2.6 billion, Christmas.

In the year 1835 Pope Gregory XVI was so impressed by the Irish Priest Father John Spratt that he gave him the black and golden casket, which is believed to house the remains of Saint Valentine. This gift from Rome, the black and golden casket, can actually be viewed on Valentine's Day every year at Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Ireland.

We hope that you did enjoy this little background on Valentine's Day and we wish you a very happy Valentine's Day, with lots of lasting love and Friendship!

 

By Birgit and Roger Pratcher
Copyright © February 2008

                                                          

Happy Valentines Day  

 A special day to bond as one

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

Sweethearts and Darlings

One for all and all for one

I really hope you have a blast

For the one that you love I hope it will last

Thinking positive in every way

Don't let your loved one go a-stray

Let them know just how you feel

Give them a kiss, let them know that it's for real

Happy valentines' day everyone

I hope each and everyone of you

will have some fun things to do!

We too...

 

By Roger and Birgit Pratcher

Copyright © February 2008

An Ancient Love Tale

 

An Ancient Love Tale

Aphrodite was her name,

Men and love were her favorite game

Gave birth to many children of love

Received by lovers many

Could not recall them all, if any

One of the children was her favorite one

Cupid was his name; he was the most handsome son

Aphrodite was a Goddess with many emotions

Which she seldom controlled in all her motions

When a King's daughter was worshipped and loved

For her beauty so fair,

Aphrodite decided with a snare

To punish the child so innocent and humble

By having her married to the land's worst dumble

Psyche was the name of the child, so beautiful and humble indeed,

Never understood for all the attention the need.

The goddess sent out her son Cupid with the task

He knew better than for her motives to ask

When he laid his eyes on the beautiful girl

His conscious stirred, his heart began to swirl

He could not punish the beauty he saw there

He decided to keep her to himself forever

As his secretly devoted wife in a hideout

Deep in the woods, no one knew about,

He built her a palace and only visited after dark

Making her think that he was ugly as an old tree's bark

For years they lived happy in the dark and by night

Never one of them started a quarrel or fight

Until one day psyche the beauty was sick and longing for

Her sisters and family and friends and more

So Cupid allowed for her sisters to come and see

That she loved this life on her own will, free

His beloved while he was gone out

Jealous they were and therefore did shout

He is a danger, you need to get out!

The next night they met, she waited for him to sleep

So undisturbed, happy and deep

And turned on the light to see

What kind of ugly danger he could be

But then she could tell by his gentle face

Full of beauty and grace

That he was a god, the king of her heart

But the word was out, she had not been smart

Aphrodite had her abducted and the very next day

Held her a prisoner, like a slave I dare say

While Cupid was searching high and low and under

The shrub, trees and blunder

For his beloved wife who he missed

The one who so dearly he always had kissed

In the end he asked the Godfather Zeus to help out

Which he did because the young God was so distraught

Aphrodite gave in and decided at last

She should just love young Psyche and cast

A spell of everlasting love for her son

And his beautiful bride, whose happiness now begun

Forgiven the sin of her beauty and the attention it will draw

A devoted wife and daughter in law

Psyche became and lived happy without shame

As a God's wife, like a Goddess the same.

 

By Birgit and Roger Pratcher

Copyright © February 2006

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

The Conspiracy: The Black Sheep Squadron Strikes Back
R&B Pratcher

 

June Bear Adventures: The Missing Pies
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher

 

One Family's Adventure: The Cheating Landlords
Roger Pratcher, Brigit Pratcher

 

Matt and Spencer in Their Great Adventure
Birgit Pratcher, Roger Pratcher

More Ways to Support our Fellow Writers

We have been thinking about how to offer even more support for our fellow authors and came up with a blog of Special Offers and Contests.
We will try to keep you updated on this blog about all the great stuff and the great deals going on about twice a month and we do hope that you will enjoy this new feature on our support site here.
Like always, if you are a writer or publisher, feel free to let us know if you have something special going on or would like some support, we will continue to do our best to help you out.
Just like the Featured Author, we will also post these blogs on our website, www.wonderfulstories.net and Birgit

Our books are found at Amazon.com, uk, etc and other great bookstores.
Have a great weekend!
Birgit and Roger

Featured Author, Young Adult Fiction

We would like for you to meet Featured Author Matthew Peterson and his fast paced, fun and action loaded science fiction novel Paraworld Zero, fun to read not only for young adults!

Visit Matthew on MySpace: www.myspace.com/pworlds

Visit Matthew's website: Parallel Worlds

Buy now at Amazon! $16.99
paperback, 251 pages

Buy now at Barnes and Noble! $13.49
paperback, 251 pages

Matthew Peterson is an award-winning short story writer, second degree black belt in karate, Eagle scout, computer programmer, and former missionary. He lives in Arizona with his wife, five boys and their giant African tortoise and the great imagination that brought him to write the most compelling adventure of Paraworld Zero:

Twelve-year-old earthling, Simon Kent, stumbles upon a secret that thrusts him into a bizarre adventure filled with magic, technology and deadly out-of-this-world creatures. He discovers a true friend, confronts his inner demons and becomes the savior to a peculiar race of people, when all he truly wants is to find his way back home.


See what other readers had to say about Paraworld Zero:

"...a must read for anyone who loves fantasy and for anyone who loves a good adventure/coming-of-age novel."
– Flamingnet TOP CHOICE Award

"...an exciting page-turner..."
– FantasyBookSpot.com

"Its rollicking adventure style reminds this reader of a cross between Harry Potter's adventures and those of Artemis Fowl. Colorful characters, fast-paced adventure, and clever humor make this an interesting read."
– TeensReadToo.com

"The exciting action of Star Wars with the humor of Napoleon Dynamite."
– Diana Pharaoh Francis, author of the Path and Crosspointe series

"Flame throwing pigeons and demonic dumpsters. Funny and imaginative."
– Maria V. Snyder, award-winning author of Poison Study


"Truly original... Read it. Trust me, you’ll have a terrific time."
– Douglas Hill, bestselling author of nearly 70 books

"Fantasy lovers will devour Paraworld Zero... incredibly unique and captivating."
– ThePageFlipper.blogspot.com

"Enticing and very entertaining... funny, unique, and imaginative series."
– TheCompulsiveReader.blogspot.com

"Peterson deftly blends elements of fantasy and science fiction in this action packed romp."
– The Faerie Drink Review

"ParaWorld Zero is one of those rare young adult novels that all ages will enjoy... Don't miss this one!"
– SpecFicWorld.com

"The characters are lively and the storyline is fast paced and exciting to read. It's got everything a kid would enjoy reading so you guys should definitely pick this book up..."
– TheBookBinge.blogspot.com

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YO65t44aeM

Enjoy an Excerpt right now:

Excerpt of Paraworld Zero (Prologue: The Storm):
Audio version at: http://paraworlds.com/audio_presentaion.html

The woman was dying, and no one on Earth would mourn for her when she was gone. Not a soul would know of the secrets she possessed or of the ultimate power that emanated from within her limp body. The hope of the universe was about to be lost–that is, unless she arrived at the hospital in time.

A torrent of watery darts hit the windshield as the ambulance squealed around another corner. The hospital was not much farther. A spark of lightning erupted in the night sky, as if to point the way the ambulance should go. Rumbling sounds resonated from the darkness above, accompanied by a faint groan of atmospheric indigestion echoing in the distance. The storm, like the mighty hand of a demon, buffeted the vehicle with its cold fist, but the driver remained steadfast.

“We’re losing her,” a paramedic cried.

“Come on, lady. You can make it,” another said.

The vehicle skidded to a complete stop, and the back doors flung open. Interns rushed to help with the gurney, but in the process, one of them slipped on the wet concrete and lost his grip, causing the stretcher to jolt. The poor woman, her skin infested with blistered lesions, lifted her head and moaned. One of the students gasped.

A paramedic took hold of the gurney and entered the emergency room. He tried to keep his eyes away from the grotesque figure in his care, tried not to even breathe the same air that spewed from her deformed lips and nostrils. Visions of horrible diseases filled his mind, but he dispelled them with the thought of a quick dispatch to labor and delivery.

A consternated expression etched itself across the gynecologist’s face. Word of the woman’s arrival had spread quickly. The doctor peered at the sores on her face and arms. “What happened to her?”

“I dunno,” the paramedic said. “She’s all tripped out and won’t say noth’n.”

“I see.”

“Someone found her in a park and called it in,” he added. “She’s not contagious, is she?”

The gynecologist winced but remained silent. He looked closer at the gruesome sores on her body, then pulled up her sleeve and discovered more pustules on her arm. He checked her legs and found that they too were infected.

“I have no idea what this is. Almost looks like she’s been exposed to something.” He turned to a young nurse. “Do an ultrasound and get blood and tissue samples. Keep me posted.”

“Aren’t ya gonna set up a quarantine or something?” the paramedic asked.

“I want to know what we’re dealing with before we put the whole city in a panic. It could just be an allergic reaction.”

The woman on the gurney jerked upright, as if waking up from a nightmare. “My son!”

“Calm down, ma’am. We’re here to help.”

“My son . . . Simon . . . His name is Simon,” she mumbled. “And his . . . And. . . .” Her eyes glazed over.

Just then, the doctor noticed the blood and discharge on the sheets. “Nurse, delay that order. We're not going to have time for tests.” The patient arched her back and screamed. “Her baby wants to come right now. Let’s get ready.”

The paramedic left, and the nurses took charge. They moved the pregnant woman directly to a birthing room. The windows streamed with rushing water, and the howling wind fought against the thick glass. Ferocious thunder hammered the building, making the surgical instruments vibrate. One nurse held up a sterile gown for the doctor to put his arms through while another nurse doused the woman’s belly with clear gel.

The doctor held her hand gently. “What’s your name?”

The monitor picked up a huge contraction, which surged throughout the woman’s body like a tidal wave. She clenched his fingers in a vice-like grip.

“Forget the ultrasound,” the doctor said, releasing his hand and stumbling past the nurse. “I can already see the head. That was fast. Ma’am, I need you to push.”

The woman held her breath and pushed. Her face turned red. She let out a loud sigh and pushed again. Beads of sweat collected on her forehead.

“Almost there . . .” the doctor said mechanically. “Almost there. . . .” A twinge of nervousness crept into his voice as three pustules on the woman’s skin burst. He adjusted his hands, avoiding the thick liquid that oozed from the open sores. “Just one more push.”

Within moments, a baby’s cry filled the room. The doctor picked up a plastic syringe and suctioned the amniotic fluid out of the newborn’s small mouth. A nurse handed him a pair of surgical scissors.

“Congratulations! You have a boy.” He snipped the umbilical cord.

Suddenly, an explosion of bright blue light sprang from the baby and shattered the glass in the doors and windows. The medical personnel dropped to the floor. A whirlwind of pastel light filled the once-bland room, and a strange mist arose from somewhere below. The wisps of sparkling color danced upon the plumes of thick smoke and vapor, making it hard for anyone to focus his or her eyes. The doctor looked up, squinting to see through the chaos, and gasped as he witnessed the infant emerge from the translucent smoke.

Simon was floating in the air.

“Oh, my . . .” cried a nurse from beneath a table. Breathing hard, almost to the point of hyperventilation, she made the motions of a cross on her chest.

Simon looked in her general direction, his brown eyes wide open and his arms flailing about. He drifted towards the bed, the smoke parting on both sides of his frail body as he moved, and came to rest in the arms of his mother.

Smiling, she brought out a necklace she’d been wearing beneath her blouse. Attached to the gold chain was a medallion–about the size of a silver dollar, ebony in color, and beautiful in workmanship. The colorful lights reflected off the metallic pendant as she placed it on her son’s bare chest.

She looked at the doctor and whispered, “Give him this.” Then she closed her eyes and died.

The smoke and colorful lights soon dissipated, leaving the small room cold and lifeless as before. Everyone remained silent. Not even the wind outside dared to make a sound. The storm had finally ended.

Like always you can view previous Featured Authors on our websites:

Wonderful Stories and Birgit