PART SEVEN: One Who Hasn't Heard

THE CITY WAS VERY UNUSUAL TONIGHT. Julian found it strange that his whole world could morph so much in one night. But he realized that something very traumatic could do that. Maybe this was all in his mind. But he was fairly sure it wasn't. Something greater was happening here.

Julian wasn't sure how big of a part his father's murder was. The man who had called him said it was an accident, that he thought his father had been someone else. So was it really an accident? Julian personally believed that there were no accidents in life. So, accidental or on purpose, his father's murder was a great part of what was taking place this night.

"Hello?" Julian called out, meaning to find the girl who had disappeared. No reply.

Julian made his way out of the close mall. What he found when he reached the plaza just outside the mall was shocking. Countless people, still as can be, staring up into the sky. This made julian himself look up into the sky, it was beautiful. An endless panorama of dark colors and bright white stars. Julian almost found himself memorized. He shook out of it. He turned to a woman next to him.

"What exactly are you staring at?" he asked the lady.
"The stars," she said, and her mouth fell open.
"What about..."
"They're changing shape," she said, cutting him off.

Julian continued walking through the crowd of staring faces. He was very uncomfortable. Just as he thought his father's murder was part of something much greater. But what was it?

Julian continued walking, right past a theater. Another person came running out and almost bumbed into him.

"Hey watch out man," Julian said. He looked at the other teenager. Something rang a bell in his head. This person was important. But why?

"I'm sorry," the teenager said.
"I'm Julian," julian said without really realizing it. He was just happy to find someone who wasn't a zombie.
"I'm John," the other said.
"What were you doing in there?" Julian asked, pointing to the theater.
"Talking to my sister and father. There they are over there."

Julian looked inside the theater door. The man on the stage and the girl in the audience looked familiar. But why?

A newspaper.

He had seen them in the newspaper once. But what did it say about them?

"Were they in the newspaper before?" Julian asked.
"Not that I know of."

Now Julian was just confused.

"Well," he said. "I'll see you later, I guess."
"Shouldn't be hard to find you amongst all these," John said and pointed at the people staring into the stars.

Julian started walking off, more confused than ever.

John, went the other way. He gazed off, into the distance, at the factory that stood just outside the city. A thorn amongst a group of beautiful flowers. Something must be done.

The music started playing, earlier than usual.

Julian was at his house, asleep when the music started playing and it had stopped by the time he woke.

Julian woke to find that it was still night. Perhaps he had only been asleep for half an hour. Something like that. How he could sleep when his mind had just taken such a blow he had no idea. He tried to return to sleep but instead:

He found himself falling, or at least feeling as if he was falling. His eyes snapped open. His nose was touching the ceiling.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked but his mouth didn't move.

He flipped over and looked down to find his body still sound asleep in his bed. Strangely enough, he didn't worry, he didn't panic. He knew that doing so would send him back into his body.


Julian flew over the city. He saw strange things. The teenager he had met was walking to the outskirts of town, the towers were glowing like never before, music was playing but he could see the notes floating over the town.

Julian flew higher, to the top of the towers (which were now hidden in the clouds.)

He flew through the walls of the tower and stepped inside, only to come face to face with a strange being.

"How did you get here?" the being asked.
"You... You can see me?" Julian asked, stunned.
"Of course I can and from the looks of it you're either dead or having an out of body experience."
"A what?"
"You're mind is awake but your body is asleep."

Julian still couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"It often happens to people at a time of great shock, or when they're unbalanced. Most people do it every night when they're asleep but they don't remember. This is called astral projecting."

Julian had never heard of it.

"You're the trolls in the towers?" Julian asked.
"We're not trolls," the being said.

And a name, or more a letter, appeared in Julians mind.

"Your name is X?" Julian asked.
"Yes."
"How did you do that?"
"We can communicate telepathically."
"Do you know what's happening in this city?" Julian asked.
"Vaguely," X replied.
"Something evil isn't it?"
"Just because your father was killed because of it doesn't make it evil."
"I knew it!" Julian exclaimed.

X looked at him but seemed to stare right through his head.

"If it's not evil what is it?" Julian asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," X said. "We will meet again soon, but not on this plane, in the real world and we will stop this."

"I don't want to go back yet," Julian said.
"You have no choice."

Julian looked down. He began floating again. He tried to hold on as hard as he could. He didn't think of his body though.

"One last thing," Julian said. "I'm sure you saw that teenager I met today since you guys see everything."

"I did."
"He showed me his father and sister. Where have I seen them before?"

The minute he asked that he felt something pry into his mind, quickly. It ransacked his memories and when it came back out of his head it was the greatest relief ever.

"Was that you?" Julian asked.
"I thought you would feel that. I hope it didn't hurt."
"Not at all. So where did I see them?"

X looked at him again.

"The Obituary."

Juilian, truly shocked once again, returned to his body quickly. When his eyes open, it felt like he he had been punched in the face. He had one goal in his mind now, and he didn't even know why.

Go to the factory.


to be continued...