Synchronicity (Novella part 2 of 2)

"..in my restless dreams...I shall await you... forever.."

1. LIGHTNING CRASHES.


Time can be a strange thing. It can appear to crawl, or it can appear to be quicker than the speed of Light. Yet, it is never ending, and it overcomes everything. Your very existence, your very being.. your very soul. And the worse part about time is, it never stops. Even if you have everything, it never stops. Even if you want to quit while your ahead, it never stops. It waits for no man(or woman for that matter), it has no master.
It is all consuming.
But it is quite logical as to why God has not given man the power to control time, for then, no life would move on. All would remain in the eternal state of bliss. Even if that state is only for a second.
Life would only be that one second.
Life would be happiness itself.

I didn’t wish that I could have stopped time when I woke up. I wished that sometime later... for when I woke up, all I knew was that I was in the black.
I remember clearly what I saw ... it was dark. The room, that is. I could barely see.
Forget seeing, I could barely feel myself.
Where was I?
I could hear the patter of rain (or was it something more sinister?) outside the room.
But inside was only silence, and darkness.
Lightning was crashing outside..
But where WAS I?
I was on a bed.. that much I could see as my eyes got themselves used to the darkness.
Suddenly I felt tired.
My head felt like it was being drilled.
My eyes had the weight of the universe upon them. I tried to think furiously about what had happened to me... but all I could think was to have bliss.. to close my eyes... to be free..
And soon I was.

It was the light which may have helped me regain consciousness. As my eyes opened, it seemed as if all that surrounded me was white. But soon, my eyes adjusted and I could clearly see where I was.
It was a room of some sort, with a closed window and drawn curtains, streaming in the brilliant daylight. I was on a bed, with machines and the like on and around me. The floor was linoleum.
Hospital? Linoleums and hospitals somehow seem to go together.
Nonetheless, why was I here?
What had happened?
I looked at the machines, ECG, Respirators et. all.
Must have been something serious.
I tried to feel my hands and legs, all were there. Then what had happened to me?
SIMONE....
Where was she? Why wasn’t she here? What had happened?
As on cue a couple of people wearing white coats walked in.
- What.. what happened?
- Mr. Henson, please .. you must try not to speak. You have been through quite a traumatic experience, we suggest you rest for now.
- No.. No... you don’t understand... WHY AM I HERE?
- Relax please...
- Where is Simone? I want her.. SIMONE.....
- I think he’s getting too hyperactive again. Its not good for his heart.. sedate him.
- No.... SIMONE.... HELP ME....
I realized I couldn’t move my hands.. they were rather nicely secured.
A needle poked me.. and I felt like floating again... on the lovely cloud on the sky.... Bliss.... but why...
- W-w-whyyy???
- Its for your own good Mr.Henson...You’ll understand soon enough. Rest for now.
Yes... rest... sleep...
And I must have passed out then.

Time passes swiftly when you don’t notice it. Its only when you are aware of it, when it seems to slow down to a snail’s pace. And when you are out cold, its the last thing you are aware of. So the next time when my eyes opened, I had no idea how long I had been out.
All that I knew was that it was dark again. And the lightning was crashing again. Rain.
Must be a thunderstorm of some kind I supposed.
And for the first time I could feel myself. I could feel a lot of things, most important among which was .. pain.
PAIN.
My head hurt. My chest hurt. My legs felt as if thousands of piranhas were slowly gnawing at them.
And the lightning was not helping. Every time it thundered, my head seemed to explode.
Where was some morphine when you needed it?
I looked around, the room was empty once more, but dimly lit with a small fluorescent light.
Typical.
The pain was unbearable. I looked around for a button, anything to call the attendants... surely there must be some?
I didn’t need to. Because once more as on cue, the door opened, and this time a nurse.. all in white.. came at me and jabbed me with the needle.
Ahh... but then she must have been an angel... for she softly wiped my brow and smiled at me... and I could feel pain no more.. and I could feel the sleep enveloping me once more.

It became a habit of sorts. Waking up and being jabbed back to sleep with the drug. The angel was always there to smile at me.. and I would be in bliss for a while.
Until one day, I awoke to find myself facing a middle aged well dressed man. With him stood a man in a white coat.
- He’s coming too. This is Michael Henson.
- Uh.. uhh.. who are you?
- In time Michael. Lets just say I’m taking care of you for now. You must get well.
It was the well dressed man who had spoken.
- What happened? Where is Simone?
- Who is Simone?
- SIMONE... my wife... where is she?
- Relax Mr. Henson, you will be all right real soon.
- Is he hallucinating?
- I don’t know. It appears he doesn’t remember what happened. Which is strange, he has no fever.
- Must be the trauma..
- What? What happened to me? Please...
- I must leave you now, Michael, the doctor will take good care of you.
- WHAT ABOUT MY WIFE?
- We’ll look into that Mr. Henson. We’ll contact her, ok? Please rest for now.
- Yes...
And they both left. The doctor saying something to the well dressed man about the dangers of giving the patient too much morphine.
I supposed he was talking about me. No wonder I hadn’t been jabbed with the needle this time.




















































2. ABANDON.


They wouldn’t talk to me. They wouldn’t tell me where Simone was. They wouldn’t tell me what had happened. All they would say was to get well and not to worry.
And that Simone would be looked into.
I had to make do with conjecture. Clearly, or rather un-clearly, I didn’t remember a lot. I had caught bits and pieces of information when they had talked about me, and they believed I was suffering from trauma induced amnesia of some kind. Interesting.
But trauma from what? What had happened?
I figured it must have been an accident of some kind, after all I had sustained rather nice injuries. I remembered my car. My car... had Simone been with me?
Was she all right?
I felt panic take over me. I had to find her somehow.
But then logic returned. I had after all been here for some time now. And clearly they were beginning to think that I was recovering well, bar the inconvenient amnesia.
They would have told me about her if she was not well.
The strange thing was that they had behaved as if they didn’t know what I was talking about. Maybe they were just humoring a sick patient?
Maybe I WAS mental..
Maybe I HAD been babbling.
In either way, the important thing for me was to find out what had occurred and where Simone was.
I also had no idea of the time or the date. Maybe I should ask them for the latest newspaper. Seemed like a plan.
A nurse had walked in meanwhile. Wheeling in my food.
I did feel hungry.
- Excuse me? Have you contacted Simone yet?
- We are working on that Mr. Henson. Please relax and eat your food..
- Can I have today’s newspaper?
- I’m sorry Mr. Henson. The Director will have to OK that. But I’ll see what I can get for you. Meanwhile you eat and don’t worry.
- Please. Thank you.
She had smiled and left.
I tried to place that smile... was she the one who had been jabbing me with the needle?
Didn’t appear to be important.
I ate.
But it wasn’t the nurse who entered my room when I rang for her.
It was a thick set man in shirt and slacks who entered. He must have been in his early thirties I supposed.
- Hello Mike.
- Uhh... hello.
- How are you feeling now?
- Better I guess.
- Remember anything?
- No. Not really. Was it the car? Was I in an accident? Is Simone all right? Does she know? She wasn’t with me was she?
- Take it easy Mike. You don’t remember anything?
- No God damn it. I don’t. Now quit stalling and tell me. And who the hell are you anyway? You don’t look like any doctor I know.
- Mike? You don’t remember me?
He laughed incredulously.
- That is really funny Mike. Is this some kind of game?
I was tired of him. And really irritated to boot. I turned my head and stared into the window. The sunlight was clearly streaming in. No more lightning. The storm was past.
I could make out trees and hedges below. A garden perhaps.
A garden?
Something hit me then. There was something at the back of my mind, which I couldn’t quite recall.
And then I did.
- The Botanical Gardens!
- What?
- Is that where the accident happened?
- I don’t know Mike. You tell me. What is the significance of the botanical gardens?
- I .. I ... I got it. Its the DA isn’t it. You are from the DA, right?
- No Mike.
- Where is Simone? Tell me... NOW....
- Mike...
- Bloody HELL...tell me now...
- Mike.. Simone is dead.
My anger seemed to melt away. My world seemed to be breaking off at the seams.
- No.. She can’t be..
- I don’t understand how you don’t remember Mike. She’s been dead for a some time.
- No...
- Must be a side affect of your trauma, this memory loss of yours, at least that’s what the doctors say.
- How did it happen?
- Simone?
I nodded..
- I don’t know the details, Mike. She was with you.
- Who are you?
- You know me Mike. I’m Barker.
It didn’t ring any bells. And I wasn’t the least bit interested in him. I collapsed on to my bed.
Simone was gone. And she was all that mattered.
The storm had just begun.



























3 . RESTLESS DREAMS.

Two negatives make a positive. So, by inference, if one shock can take away your memory, albeit some of it, another shock can help jog it.
I was about to find out. This was shock therapy for me.
Simone was gone. And she WAS, all that mattered.
My mind was an amazing jumble of memories and faces. I could see her, as clear as day, smiling, laughing... being alive. Being with me.
I could see her being mad at me... I could even see her crying.
And none of it mattered. It was all inside me. In my head.
And it was dark there.
Time seemed to take on a whole new meaning. It would pass on the outside of the shell that was my being, but on the inside it remained stagnant.
I had stopped time, in my head at least. And I could see her.
I knew I had to cry, but I couldn’t remember how it was quite done.
And anyway, I didn’t feel there were any tears in the world that could even remotely do justice to how I felt for her.
I could hear voices on the outside, Barker, nurses, doctors, it may even have been the entire humanity. But I had her in my head, and I wasn’t about to let her go.
And suddenly I was walking, and it was completely utterly dark and desolate. I didn’t know where ’it’ was, but I couldn’t see anything.
I would walk and walk, but nothing.
And then there she was, in my line of sight, standing ...beckoning to me... crying out.. and I’d run to her, but would never be able to reach her. It wasn’t black anymore, this place, it was red.
Blood red.
I had to find her....
- Mike... help me...Mike..
But I couldn’t see her...
Where was she? Tears of abject frustration were staining my face, and they felt like blood too...
and for some reason they felt good.
- Michael.....
There... I had a glimpse.... but my legs were simply stuck to the ground, the red ground... and I couldn’t move... God... I had to find her....
And then it was Black again.
And it was all in my head.

They must have injected me with more drugs, for I passed out. When I came too, there was a thumping ache around my head, and my mouth was as dry as a desert.
Some sense had finally returned, so I refrained from crying out again. Better to think alone.
Simone was dead. I was in a hospital, somewhere, supposedly aware of her death, but unable to remember it. And that was because of some trauma. And there was this Barker I was supposed to know. Who was he?
But what had happened? To me, to her? To our life?
My head seemed to spin once more, a defense mechanism perhaps, against her memory?
But no, for I could see her standing again...

It had been beside the lake, it had been her birthday...
- No.. I don’t agree with you.
- It doesn’t matter, I’m happy because I’m with you, and that’s the only reason why.
- No, Mikey, you are happy because you want to be happy, and because of the choices you made. If it were up to me, I would want you to be happy forever, but that can’t be without you choosing to be happy.
- Where do you pick up your philosophies?
- Zen!
I had laughed.
- Be with me forever, and I will be happy.
- I’m not going anywhere.
And she had laughed..
But now it was all changed, for where the lake was, now there was only red.
- Forever.
She wasn’t anywhere. Somewhere inside I knew this wasn’t real, not even a memory, but nonetheless my heart had picked up its pace.
- In my restless dreams.... I shall await you....forever...
Something was making its way towards me.
I could see me. It was hard to miss, me, after all as I was standing face to face with myself.
And he had laughed, a violent wheezing laugh, a scream even... in fact he wasn’t laughing as much as he was screaming...
and I was screaming...
for I had woken up again.

And suddenly it was as clear as crystal, what had happened.
And I still couldn’t understand how, or why it had happened.
But importantly, Simone couldn’t be dead.... at least... I hoped she was all right.
I could remember it all now. The phone call about the evidence, the Botanical Gardens, my image rushing at me.... and then this.
He had been identical to me.
Who was he?
Had these people (or some other people) created a perfect double of me?
And were these people involved?
I had been body snatched, but by who?
In fact it could have been the DA’s people. With me replaced with one of their own, they could try to manipulate my firm into losing the case.
It didn’t matter, the case or the DA, I just prayed she was all right.
But if this was so, who was this Barker? And why did he think that I knew him?
And most importantly, why did they want me to believe that Simone was dead?
Perhaps BRAINWASHING me was their plan.
It seemed strange, being a lawyer I had mastered the art of reading people, and it seemed to me that these people really believed what they told me. Must be damned good actors I supposed.
But nevertheless the questions had to be answered, even though I could remember everything now.
A thought crossed my mind, maybe my memory of what had happened had been a dream? Was I remembering a dream?
Was I?
The pain in my temple told me otherwise. It was still there, even though I supposed I had been recovering for quite sometime.
I hadn’t been dreaming.
I HAD seen my double.
The best course of action would be to play along with them. See what they tell me. It would only help. And if they are from the DA, then if they think I’m brainwashed, it could help me spring a surprise.
Play along Mike, play along.

****
My first chance to put my acting skills to use came the next day, when Barker visited me once more. It was to be a monumental meeting.
- Mike, how are you?
- Better I guess.
- The staff are happy, you are beginning to put your loss behind you, at least you are eating.
- I can never put her behind me. If you knew me, you would know that.
- Yes. Have you remembered anything?
- Bits and pieces. I do recall you... and her death is a blur of sorts.
- Its funny, you are actually in better shape than we imagined you would be when and if you came back. And even though we were expecting all sorts of affects, we never thought that it would cause you to forget..
What? Where? What was he on about?
- You sent me somewhere? Abroad? What do I do?
- The doctors have advised me against it, but I guess we need what’s inside that head of yours Mike. So I won’t hide anything from you. The Project is most important.
- The project?
- You work for Universal Exports. Which is basically a front, for The Project. A clandestine operation investigating the affects of time and space. Parallel universes, Mike, does it mean anything to you?
- Something out of a Jules Verne book I expect.
- No Mike. This is reality. Discoveries in the quantum theory have suggested the existence of other worlds, parallel to ours. We believe that space and time can be manipulated via certain parameters to make it possible to access these other realities. You were the subject of our first foray into the Gateway, a machine via which we think we can bend time and space. But we were still trying to understand it. That was where you came in. You were supposed to provide living proof as to its capabilities.
- You don’t know how it works?
- We didn’t build it. We inherited the designs... from a separate venture.
- Jules Verne would be proud.
- Try to remember Mike, it all depends on what happened, and where you went. The future of the Project depends on you recovering.
- Let me get this straight, I went through the machine, and I let you use me as a test subject? What was the catch Barker, what did you have against me?
- Nothing Mike. You had nothing to lose. You signed the contract. The only thing in it for you was the money you were supposed to get .. if you made it back.
- Which is?
He told me how much it was.
- I think I need to rest Barker. Can I have the latest paper?
- Yeah Mike. I’ll arrange it. I’ll return tomorrow Michael, and don’t for one second thing that I or the Project are doing this out of the kindness of our hearts, we need your brain Mike. We can get it by other means as well if you don’t remember or co-operate.
Chilling words indeed... and with that he had left.























4. LET ME LIVE.

Here it was. I was in the Gateway. Any minute now, I would be transported.... and I had been praying that it would be to where I wanted to go. The calculations had been painstaking and efficient, but not infallible. My future, and Simone’s rested on the parameters being identical to when the Mike of this world had jumped universes. I imagined what he must have felt like when he was standing here, waiting to be transported.. aware of the risk, of the possibility of death... could he have known where he was going? Could he have?
The countdown had started.... 20 seconds ... I thought back to the two weeks that were now past. I had learned all I could about this Mike I was pretending to be, about the project, and how I was to return myself.
It hadn’t been easy.

The most difficult had been to convince Barker that I wasn’t hiding anything from him, and that I really didn’t remember. I had talked to him again the next day after that first fate full conversation. He had brought for me magazines and news-papers. He had also returned to me the papers I had been carrying with me. Michael Henson, that’s what they said, but they weren’t mine.
But I wasn’t about to let him know that.
I had scanned through the magazines and the news papers, and all that they contained were surprises. Surprises that couldn’t possibly be true. John F. Kennedy, the senior had apparently been assassinated quite some time ago. His son wasn’t anywhere near the political framework. Mandela, the UN General Secretary I remembered, was simply retired.
The DA, I discovered wasn’t the DA that had been killed, nor was he the interim DA currently in office (as I recalled). Victor Varelli, had a restaurant, and seemed to have no connections with organized crime.
It was strange to say the least. And it made me think more and more deeply about what was being told to me. Were these people trying to make me believe what I remembered was untrue? Was this a ploy to make me think that I was losing my mind? Were they brain washing me?
All the signs I could find pointed to these possibilities being un-true. For all they knew, I didn’t remember a lot, so it seemed to be pointless to deceive me.
So I had believed them. My instincts told me they were telling the truth.
There must have been a gateway. Parallel worlds. And by this rather cruel twist of fate, I had been brought here. A place, where *my* life was a little better than hell. Simone was lost here. But had she meant as much to the Michael of this world as she meant to me?
This Michael had accepted a mission into the unknown. Where death had been a greater possibility, a more likely occurrence. Why? Had he been tired of living? Had this Barker forced him somehow? Or had he done it for the money?
I believed the answers lay with Simone. Or rather the Simone of this world. How had she died? I had to know.
But at least by this time I was more assured of my situation, and was better prepared in handling Barker. And it wasn’t just him who needed convincing. A certain Mr. Bachman had also been visiting me. He would seldom say anything, but I was to learn that he had backed the entire Gateway Project.
First I had to know about Simone.
It was a strange coincidence which made me understand what had come to befall her.
A Dr. Niklaus Mair had visited me. He, it had seemed, knew *me* rather well. Too well...

- Mike. Hello.
- Who are you?
- Mike... this Barker called me. He told me you had traumatic amnesia of sorts. You don’t remember me?
- No.
- Mike.. what have they done to you? You should never have contacted Barker. He’s ...
- You mean you are not from the Project?
- No Mike. I’m not. The Project? No.. say no more Mike. I don’t need to know.
He had appeared genuinely scared, this Dr. Mair...
- Mike... you were my patient. I’m a psychiatrist, Mike. Barker has called me to try to help you recall your memory.
- You? I was your patient? Why? Was I sick?
- Mike.. you came to me once.. and that was it. And you left quite an impression on me. You disappeared after that. I was certain that you had killed yourself.
- Why?
- Do you remember Simone, Mike?
He had my undivided attention after that particular statement...
- Yes. My wife..
- No Mike. She wasn’t your wife. Why are you deluding yourself Michael?
- I ..
- You came to me three days after she died. You were in a bad way... and it must have been the last ruminants of sense which brought you to me.
- Did I know you?
- Mike, Simone worked for me. You and I had met some time before....
- Oh...
- You were hell bent on blaming yourself for her death. You seemed convinced it was you who were to blame. So full of guilt... and I’m afraid it was a bad time for me too. I don’t think I tried to convince you as best as I could that it wasn’t as you thought. Her passing had me angry too Mike, and I needed someone to blame too. It wasn’t your fault Mike... I’m sorry. I guess I helped push you further into your darkness. When you disappeared I never quite forgave myself. I felt responsible... and that is why I have come to you. Forgive me Mike.
- Tell me what happened to her...
- You seem calm Mike. That is good. I’m here for you.. we’ll get through this together, you and I.
- Just tell me.
- She was in an accident. You were the last person to see her... apparently from what I could understand from your babblings, she had an argument with you, and she had stormed out. You never made it clear as to what it was about. It wasn’t your fault Mike.
- I.. I’m sorry doctor. But I need time for it all to sink in. I need to be alone right now..
- Yes. You are right. But at least I’m glad that you are more rational now... but please don’t delude yourself. She loved you, you know...
- Yes. I know.
He had left after that. And he had managed to answer quite a few of my questions. I could understand why this Mike had accepted this suicidal leap into the unknown. He was perhaps maniacal.
Understandably so.
And he was with my Simone.

After that it had been much easier being ’him’. I could feel his emotions... and they felt strangely natural. He was after all, me.

I looked at the device in my hand. It was to bring me back. I hoped that I would live through my leap, and that I would never again return to this Godforsaken world. My life, and Simone’s depended on it. Ten seconds to go.

I had known what had to be done. I had to return. The Gateway would have to transport me back to my reality. But for that I would have to convince Barker. That in the end, wasn’t t too difficult...

- You want to go back? You don’t remember a thing.. and you want to waste more of our time?
- Just think. In truth, I’m no good to you ... and you would need to experiment with someone again... why not me? I am ready to go though again. I am your best bet, Barker. I’m expendable. You would have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
He had bought that. I also would convince him that the parameters would have to be identical to the first jump. That way, more accurate results would be obtained, for the Gateway was known to have worked with those parameters.
All Barker wanted was for the Gateway’s potential to be unlocked.

The voice roared on... five seconds... I looked at the giant computer consoles... I had spent hours on it along with the technicians making sure that the parameters were exact.
All the data about the gateway was on them. I had spent a lot of time on them, alone as well, away from the watch full gaze of their security. I had another agenda as well.
Had it been enough? Had I missed anything? I had to make it... Simone ...
It was time. The device on my wrists clicked... and I seemed to glow... my eyes closed and a roar seemed to engulf me.











































5. HOME.

I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by green vegetation and the sunlight filtering through the cracks in the green canopy. I looked around.. all I could see was trees and bushes.
The sudden movement brought with it a reminder that my head was still aching.
Fortunately as I started to get my bearings, the ache dulled appreciably.
Was this the Botanical Gardens? More importantly, was I back in my world? Or did more idiotic surprises await me? I supposed I would soon find out.
I made my way towards a clearing and emerged onto a path. A sign post directed my attention towards the particular species of trees that I had just visited. Interesting.
This had to be the Gardens.
I followed the path and soon was on my way out of the so called ’Nature Emporium’. So many clichés.
I made my way out of the building, and emerged onto the streets. The Bachman Building looked at me imposingly from the opposite side of the road. It would be interesting to find out if the Project existed in my timeline as well, and if it did weather it resided in the huge building opposite to me. For all that I was worth, I could never recall having heard about a Universal Exports when all had been well.
I supposed that I would have more time for my musings later on. The important thing for now was to find out if this really was my timeline or not.
I got myself the first paper that I could find. The Times... and the date was today’s. Three months after I had found myself lying in that sickening hospital room. Not knowing... not remembering... I wouldn’t have wanted to have to go through that again. But for now I had to look at the news..
Kennedy Jr. was beginning to seemingly lose ground in the election race, even though his father had been consistently backing him.
Dear me. JFK was alive and rather well.
I looked on trying to find the coverage of the Varelli trial.
Apparently the public (or the media) had lost interest in it, for all that I could discover was a small piece of news suggesting that trial was likely to be postponed by the court.
Strange. I wondered why that was.
This did appear to be my world. I discovered more evidence of that as I further scoured the newspaper.
So I was home. Sort of.
I would be with her again.. soon... but first I had to talk to her. Tell her who she was with, who I was.. and so on.. but more importantly I had to hear that sweet voice which had enchanted me for so long.
I found myself a phone booth, and dialed *my* number.
No answer.
Strange.. she should be home by now.
I decided to call her cell phone, and again all that I could get was an automated message informing me that the number was out of use.
What was wrong? Where was she? Was I really home?
For the first time since that day when I had awoken in the strange hospital, I felt the pangs of panic hit me. My heart seemed to sink. Where was she?
If this was indeed my world, and if I had been correct in my understanding of Michael Henson, he loved her as well, and hence he would not dare harm her. She should be with him.
I hoped.
I prayed in fact.
Please.. let her be all right.
I knew I had to find out about her somehow, about *myself*... about my doppelganger. But where to turn to? Surely no one would believe my far fetched story. Yet I had to find a way ..
Maybe visiting the law firm? *My* law firm?
I decided against it.. too many unknown questions and answers.
Then I had it. Albert Becket, lovingly known as Al. One of my better friends. I had met him when I had first joined the law firm, he was an up and coming lawyer, and we had got along famously. But as I grew in the firm, he seemed to be facing more and more problems both in the business and at home. He had left the firm, left his wife(although in all truth his wife had left him) and was about to destroy his life. I had talked to him. Convinced him it was not worth it. He had surprisingly listened, and eventually put his life back together again. He was now a respected private detective, and he did work for me whenever I or the firm needed investigations.
I called his number.
- Yes?
It was his efficient and quite attractive secretary.
- Hello Lyla. Can I talk to Al?
- Mr. Henson? Sure.. can you hold on for a second?
- Of course.
It took him three seconds to come to the phone.
- Mike? Is that really you?
- Yes Al, you seem surprised.. is everything ok?
- I’m not sure Mike. You tell me.. where the hell have you been?
- What do you mean?
- This is the first time you have called in over four months or so. And you didn’t even have the bloody courtesy to call me back when I called you up. Had you forgotten about me or something?
I sighed.. same old Al, too sensitive.
- I’m sorry Al. But stuff had been going on.
- Actually Mike, I figured that out a bit. I supposed that it was part of the act considering the other strange stuff you seemed to be up to.
- I was?
- Yeah.. I mean you suddenly take a six month leave from the firm, after disappearing for a week on account of some client. Simone was worried sick, you know, even though apparently you were in touch while you were gone. It was totally out of character Mike, big case, and you just drifting off. What was the plan? Making them think that the firm was pre-occupied with their own dirty laundry to really care about Varelli?!
- Well I..
- Well let me tell you Mike, it was a stroke of genius. It worked. The press lost interest, and thanks to the new evidence which they have no clue about, you managed to postpone the hearing, indefinitely!
- Hmm. I guess we were lucky more than anything else.
- I know. We got a lucky break .. how’s the vacation going with Simone? I hope the difficulties you two seemed to be having are a thing of the past..
- Difficulties?
- Mike... do you think that I wouldn’t know? So what if you are not in touch, you and her are two of my best friends, I would know. And I had spoken to Simone before you guys left for your vacation.
- Vacation? You seem to know everything, Al..
- Of course. How is Simone?
- When did you last speak to her?
- Right before you guys left for the lake. She seemed worried about you. She said you were not yourself.
- Yes. I suppose it was bothering me. She’s great Al, and she sends you her regards.
- Great! Take care of her, Mike, she loves you. You two are such a wonderful couple.
- Don’t I know it.
- So tell me, why did you call? And what have you been up to? What was all the ’being out of touch’ thing about?
- Well.. its a long story Al, I’ll explain when I have time. I just called to tell you I haven’t forgotten you. Thanks for all the help.
- Sure Mike, anytime old friend.

*****
So now I knew. Albeit rather luckily, but none the less I knew where she was. And she HAD realized that something was wrong with *me*. She was one heck of an intelligent woman, after all.
And she was at the Lake.
With *me*.
Only one thing remained to be done, I had to get there.

















































6. FULL CIRCLE.

The lake. How I had loved that place. The lovely quaint cottage by the lake; cozy, beautiful, almost dream like. It had not really been mine, but had been given to us by her parents’. It had seemed apt, a lovely cottage, for a lovely butterfly.
And now that butterfly was trapped in a spider’s web.

It wouldn’t be easy getting there, it would be morning before I would get near the country side, and I didn’t have a lot of time. My device indicated that I had but twenty hours to go.
My plan depended upon my getting there in time.
I rented a car, which wasn’t difficult, considering I had been given a substantial amount of money( I could even have bought a reasonably priced car!) and was soon on my way to the lake.
I had spent so much time with her by the lake. It was as if it was our real home. My head seemed to start aching more as it reminisced the bygone age...

- Mike, I’m so glad I met you..
- Not as glad as I am.
She had smiled.
- I hope we can be happy, together.
- Be with me, and we will be, Simone.
- Is that all that happiness is Mike? Just being with someone?
- I don’t know what happiness is, I suppose you would be better at knowing, with your philosophies and all, but all I know is that the one thing in the world that makes life worth my while is being with you. All the rest are simply props...
- That’s sweet Mike, but don’t you realize that happiness is just a state of mind? Its being contented with what you have which is important. Happiness is an after affect of being contented.
- I’m sure it is. But what about the strength of love, isn’t that enough to keep you happy?
- It is. Its what makes me contented... happy. But Mike, its so unpredictable, life, what if something ever happens? What if we can’t be happy anymore?
- I suppose you can read your Zen then!
- I’m serious Mike.
- I won’t let anything ever happen, Simone, I promise. We’ll always be happy, as long as we have each other.

A loud screeching horn from the vehicle behind me snapped me out of my thoughts. Apparently I had been blocking him from overtaking. I corrected the car and looked at the time. Still a long way to go.
I had promised her that I would never let anything happen. I was going to keep that promise, no matter what the consequences.

***

The early morning sun peaked from the few clouds in the sky, as I pulled my car into the all purpose shopping store and diner barely ten minutes drive from my cottage.
It had been a long journey, and I had never even once thought about stopping and resting. I didn’t have the time for luxuries.
But now I needed gas, and something to eat wouldn’t have gone amiss either.
I had also been trying to come up with a proper plan for tackling the situation. I had to talk to her first, somehow, and I didn’t know how. I couldn’t have called, the cottage had no phone. Her cell was off. And if I were to knock on the door, there was no guarantee that Michael wouldn’t open the door. It seemed as if there was no solution.
That is, until I ventured inside the Store. The proprietor looked up at the jingling sound of the chains hanging by the door.
- You? Mister? How come you back so early, eh?
He was probably a sixty year old man, but seemed quite sharp for his age.
- Well, actually I think I forgot something.
- I don’t think you left anything back here, son. And you’ve changed your clothes as well... what was the matter, the other gear wasn’t fashionable enough for the fish?!
Typically, he thought he had made a rather clever remark, and as such burst out laughing.
- Yes.. quite.. can I have some bait?
- What’s the matter son? Sun got you in the head?!
And he was laughing again.
- I have no bait.
- You just bought it mister! The fish finished it off already?! In only half hour? Boy, you must be some fisherman!
- I just need some more please.
- Sure son, sure... we all have our bad days.. its ok really...
I took the bait, paid the man who still couldn’t stop laughing, and made my way out of the shop. Surely an attitude like that would be bad for customers? Good on him.
But still, he had helped me. And with the knowledge that Michael was out fishing(he was quick, this Michael, he had again managed to figure out another of my favorite places to be)I had lost all of my appetite.
She was alone.
She was home.
My stomach churned in anticipation and tension seemed to grip me.
This was the chance I wanted, with him at the fishing hole, I would have Simone to myself for at least another couple of hours. Unless, he was as bad at catching fish as I was... still, this was my chance.

Soon I was standing outside the cottage door. There was an amazing view of the lake from where I stood on the gallery just before the door. I sighed... no time for the view.
I knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again.
- Who’s there?
The unmistakable sound of Simone’s voice.
- Mike.
The door opened, and she stood there, gaping at me as if I were a ghost.
She looked beautiful, but she had changed a lot since the last time I had seen her. The eyes were still beautiful and intelligent, but beneath them there was evidence of insomnia. She seemed tired.. but there was no denying how lovely she was.

- Hello Simone.
- W-w- who are you?
- Simone, its me. Mike.
- No..
- Trust me Simone, its me.. please let me in.. I need to talk to you. It will only take five minutes...
- No..
And she made to shut the door, but I was not about to let her go and do that. So I pushed my foot in between the doorway, and forced myself inside the cottage.
She was scared, no doubt, and I couldn’t blame her. It seemed as if the color had drained out of her face, she seemed un-naturally pale.
- No..
- Simone.. please.. its ok..
She made a move for the old hunting rifle hanging above the fire place, but suddenly her eyes closed, and she seemed to lose consciousness. I grabbed her before she could fall.. and helped her onto the large sofa.

When she came to, she saw me sitting next to her sprinkling her with droplets of water. She seemed to recoil... in fear I supposed.
- Simone.. its ok. Please.. try to listen to what I’m saying. I know how this must seem to you, but please, you have to trust me. I’m Michael, your Mike.. the man who’s been with you for the past three months is not the real Michael.
Her eyes were wide with fear..
- No. This is a trick. You are from the DA, right? You think you can trick me? Get the hell out of my house...
And all of a sudden the fear had changed into pure blind hatred and rage.. typical Simone.
- You won’t get away with this you murdering bastards.. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE..
She made to get up..
- Simone. Please.. you will have to trust me. We don’t have a lot of time, give me five minutes, I will prove to you that I’m really who I say I am. If you still think I’m not, I will leave. I promise.
- GET OUT.
- Five minutes, Simone ... please... ask me anything.. anything only Mike would know.. before the last three months...
- I won’t play along with your stupid tricks ..
- Simone, listen to your heart, look at me.. please.. its important.. haven’t you noticed anything different about Mike lately? Hasn’t he changed?
There was a visible change in her appearance.. as if she was suddenly unsure.
- I’m sure you must have, so please.. let me prove to you who I am.
- What was the name of the little puppy we used to have?
- Aaron.
- That doesn’t prove anything.
- So ask me something that does Simone, you are more smart then this..
And for the next five minutes she kept asking, and I kept answering. But she still wasn’t satisfied.
- C’mon Simone.. ask me something which no one knows..
- All right.. tell me about Becky.. my cousin... where does she live and how did you meet her?
I looked at her stunned..
- What? I.. I’ve never met her Simone..
- That’s not true.
- There IS NO cousin Becky, Simone.
- Hmm.. it still doesn’t prove anything.
- Damn it Simone, just because he looks like me doesn’t mean that he IS me.. can’t you see that? Or has your happiness simply become being with someone? What happened to your being contented with our love? Have you forgotten everything ? You are not blind Simone... he can’t love you like I love you..
- I..
- C’mon .. what is happiness to you Simone? What does your heart say? Listen to it Simone.. trust it... and maybe you ought to give up reading your Zen if you can not trust your heart.
- I.. Mike.. its really you?
- Remember, I promised I would never let anything happen to you? I’m not about to forego that promise.
- M-M-Mike..
It seemed as if all the frustration, anger and sadness had been pent up inside of her, and it chose that moment to be released. She cried, and I had never seen her like that.
- W-w-where were you, Mike? I..
- Its a long story .. but are you ok? He didn’t hurt you did he?
- No.. he was strange and sweet.. but he was so different from you.. I knew there was something wrong.. b-b-but he looked just like you. I even talked to Al about him, and we thought it was the case bothering you. We hoped the change would pass..Mike....
- Its ok. You couldn’t have known. He is me after all. But not quite me.
And as she calmed down I told her all that had happened to me since that fateful phone call I had received.
- Mike.. its unbelievable.. you have been through so much..
- As have you. But you know what made it worth while for me to keep on living? Not to give up?
She knew..
- It was you Simone. The thought that I’d see you again.. that I’d return to you.
She tried to smile... but she was too overcome to be any where near it. It was a moment which seemed to be frozen in time.. as we sat there in each others arms, blissful in the thought that it was over.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t over.. yet.
My device beeped.. seven hours to go.

















































7. EXIT.

I moved out of the cottage. I knew what had to be done, to end this ordeal once and for all. I had to find him, and send him back. Unfortunately for me, I was running out of time. Simone stood behind me in the doorway..
- He should be getting back any moment, Mike. What are you going to do? Maybe we should call the police..
- No. This is my fight. And either way, it would be ridiculous trying to explain it all to the police. We would turn into a circus.
- He could hurt you, Mike, I don’t want to lose you now.
- He won’t.
I left her standing as I made my way towards the car.
There was another car next to mine.
The BMW.
He was already here. For how long?
I was suddenly tense, aware of the danger... he had caught me unawares once, but I wouldn’t let him do it again.
- I thought you were dead.
I turned around, to find him standing across from me, blocking the path to the cottage.
- If I am alive, it wasn’t due to your lack of trying.
- I.. I didn’t want to hurt you.
- Sure didn’t look that way. You wanted me dead.
- No. I never ..
- It doesn’t matter Michael, you are going back.
Strangely enough, he smiled. And then started laughing.
- Why Michael? So you can have everything back again? So you can be *happy* again? I’m afraid I can’t allow that Michael. I am Michael Henson, and this is my world. YOU.. don’t belong here.
- Have you gone insane?
- No... but I suppose you have. Considering how much fat you must have let your brain absorb with the luxuries you have had in your life. You are nothing.. NOTHING. Do you hear me? NOTHING. And now you want to take it away from me again? After I have got it all ... after I have got .. her...
- She does not belong with you, Michael. Your Simone died a long time ago. Have you forgotten?
- No. Don’t lie to me.. Simone was never gone... she was waiting for me all along ... all along.. I thought she was gone... and she was right here... YOU TOOK HER FROM ME.. but now I have her back. And you can’t get past me again..
- You have gone mad Michael.
- Who the bloody hell are you to judge me? What have you ever gone through to have the right to pass your opinion on me? You .. but no. Its not important now.. she has me.. and she loves me. You are nothing. You WERE nothing. I love her, more than you can ever be capable of loving her.
- Then why have I returned from the dead, Michael? Why have I come to send you back?
- You.. want your power... she means nothing to you... she’s just a pawn for you in your games ... she’s happy with me.. she doesn’t need you! You mean nothing to her...
- Its not her, its YOU, who believes he’s happy. Is this your happiness Michael? This madness? Being somewhere you don’t belong? Trying to kill me? Deceiving her? How can you claim to love her, Michael? Look at yourself Michael.. how can you be happy. She knows its not you.. you know that too.. how long will you fool yourself?
- I never deceived her. I didn’t want to hurt you Michael, but you were in my place. And I had to rescue her from you. She was never happy with you Michael, she knows its me.. she knows ..
- Are you trying to convince yourself, or me Michael? But its over. You are going back.
- No. I WILL NEVER GO BACK... but you are right.. it IS over...
And with that he launched himself at me, but I had seen him coming.. I had moved by the time he landed where I had been standing.
But he was quick to recover.. and quick to give me a hard punch in the stomach.
Even though I had been conditioned well by the training regime before entering the gateway, it had hurt. And when he followed that with a left hook to my cheek bone, my eyes seemed to be swimming in black. I was down...
A scream behind us kept me from passing out.
Simone... she must have followed me.
- No...
- Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this phony for you, love. You won’t need to run any more.
This Michael seemed really to be bordering on the fringes of insanity... did he really believe all that he was saying?
I didn’t need to worry anymore, for a huge fist landed on my back completely flooring me. The pain was unbearable. He was quite adapt at this... or was it that even with my training, I was no match for him?
She screamed again. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if he were allowed to beat me...
- MIKEY...
- I’m ok, love... I’ll kick him to the hell he came from...
Good Lord.
With the last ounces of energy I could muster up, I rolled away from him, and stood. At least I tried to stand...
He was having none of it.
- IT ENDS NOW ...
He had a gun.
How could he have a gun?!
But he did.. and he had it pointed towards me... if only I had taken my own revolver from the cottage... damn... but how could I have? He had it...
- You die now.. and leave me with my love... you may have come back once but this time...
The gunshot could probably have been heard from miles away. But I didn’t feel any pain, and when I looked at him, it was his shirt that was being stained red.
Simone.
She stood behind him with the old hunting rifle... the one her father had given her...
Michael buckled and was soon on the floor. The expression on his face was that of incredulity as to what had transpired.
- S-s-ssimone??? But whyy? I lov-ve.. you....
She had dropped the gun and had ran to me, crying. I comforted her as best as I could in my arms... she had saved me.. again.
- M-mikey... are you all right?
I didn’t get to answer that question, for a guttural scream had erupted behind us.
- No.. Simone.. how could you? All I have ever wanted was to be with you.. how can you...
And the worst thing wasn’t his scream... it was the gun he still had, which was pointed at us. I moved to stand in front of Simone... was this how it was to end? After all that had happened... were I to lose her again?
- Mike... with you here..I can never have her... there is only one way I can be with my Simone... forever...
He sobbed...
I closed my eyes... at least I would die to give her another chance... maybe if she ran away to the car.. I whispered to her to run away as soon as he fires..
- He won’t be able to shoot again quickly.. and wounded as he is, he won’t be able to give chase.
I could tell all of her color had drained out..
- Goodbye...
And the shot was fired. My eyes remained closed... and I could hear Simone screaming... and screaming... as if there was no tomorrow... but I could still feel myself... I hadn’t been shot.. I opened my eyes.
Michael lay there... his brains blown out. He had shot himself. It was all over... except the screaming.




EPILOGUE.

I hurled the device into the lake. It still had two hours to go.. but it would be off no use now. I entered the cottage. Simone sat there... casting a tiny terrified figure.. but she had calmed down considerably now.
- Mike.
- Its done.
- You won’t send him back?
- It was his hell, Simone, it doesn’t matter now where he ends up.
- And the device?
- With him.. in the lake. I’m sorry Simone... that you had to go through all of this... are you ok?
- It wasn’t your fault Mike....... but Mike, what if they come back? Looking for him? If no one goes back won’t they think something isn’t right?
- Yes. They should. But they won’t be able to use the Gateway. Not for a long time at least. I input a virus into their consoles and database when I was working out the parameters for this trip. All of their data and interfaces with the Gateway should be lost in three hours.
She seemed relieved..
- Mike.. I don’t know what I would have done...
- Its not important .. what’s important is that we are together now..
I looked at that face, the beautiful face that had compelled me to live to see it again... the face that had driven him to the brink of madness... that face.... which was trying to smile now... but in vain. It would be a while before both of us would recover from this... but at least it was really over, and we had forever to recover.. together.



END.