Iris Johansen - Quicksand

"It's over, Megan," Phillip said gently. "And all that's left is a nightmare. We can get through those together."

He was right. Of course he was right.

No, he wasn't.

Dear God.

"You don't understand," she whispered. "Even though I was unconscious I was upset. I was fighting. I was struggling for my life and sanity."

"What are you saying?"

"Pandora. Facilitation. I was probably more emotioncharged while I was unconscious than I am sometimes when I'm awake. You know emotion is always the key. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit." She jumped out of bed and grabbed her cell phone from the bedside table. "I've got to call Eve Duncan."

"She's safe, Megan. Nothing happened to her all the time she was with you at the hospital. No sign of a release of latent talent."

"We don't know that for certain. All the rules are screwy, since I was in an emotional state while I was in shock. That's not supposed to happen. How do I know how much of this facilitation crap I was radiating while I was unconscious? It could have been less but steady. Would that cause an extended delay in any latent talent to show itself?"

"Or dilute it completely."

"I'm not that lucky." She found Eve's number in her cell phone. "I've got to warn her."

"It's the middle of the night."

"Then she can stay up and worry along with me."

Hear. See. Open.

"I still think that you have nothing to worry about. Calm down. You'll scare her."

"Yes, I will." She pushed Eve's number. "But she has to know. It's my fault. I should have figured it out before. I can't let her face it blind. Maybe she can help…"

THE CLOCK ON JOE'S NIGHT STANDread 5:20 A.M.

Eve and Jane should be coming home anytime now with donuts in hand. He might as well have coffee ready for them. He wasn't sleeping anyway. He got out of bed and slipped into his robe. The morning was cool, although by noon it would be stifling hot even here on the lake.

The dawn was just starting to break and the hall was dim. He started the coffee and set out cups and creamer.

See.

Hear.

Open.

Joe froze. What the hell? The words had come into his mind out of the blue. No sense. No connection. Lord, he must really be tired.

He went out on the porch to wait for Eve and Jane. He strolled over to the railing and looked out at the lake. Sunset and sunrise were always the most beautiful here. How many hundreds of times over the years had he and Eve come out here to watch the dawn unfurl its brilliance? It was a memory that was so poignant that it-

See.

Hear.

Open.

What on earth was happening to-?

"Hello, Joe."

He whirled toward the porch swing.

A little girl was curled up on the swing. "I've wanted to come to see you so many times, but I couldn't do it. I'm so happy I can do it now."

In the dimness of the porch she was only a blur, but she couldn't be over seven or eight. The nearest house was miles away. How had she gotten here? "Who are you?" he asked. "You shouldn't be here. Where's your family?"

"Coming. But I hope you're my family too, Joe. You closed me out for so long, but something… happened. You're open to me now."

Hear. See. Open.

"Yes, that's right, Joe."

"No, it's not right. None of this is right. You should go home. Your parents must be worrying."

She shook her head. "You know that won't happen. You know who I am."

"The hell I do." The dawn rays were gradually banishing the pool of darkness surrounding the swing, touching the little girl's curly red hair and small face with light. He couldn't take his eyes off her. This was crazy. Yet he didn't feel crazy. He felt a weird sense of… peace. "Who are you?"

"It's going to be all right, Joe. I promise you."

"Who are you?"

The sunlight was now surrounding her as had the darkness before, revealing the Bugs Bunny T-shirt she was wearing.

"Why, Joe." Her luminous smile lit her face and reached out to touch him, embrace him, enfold him in love. "I'm Bonnie."