Invisible Door

INVISIBLE ENTRY

Laura bolted upright in her sleeping bag. Deathly silence surrounded her in the eerie purply twilight. There were no cricket chirps, no goose honks, no early morning birds’ songs, just an almost inaudible, pulsating hum overhead. Beside her, Jon was already sitting upright, intently listening to their surroundings.

“Jon, what is it?” she whispered.

"I don’t know. I’m just listening for noise, something.” He held his finger to his lips.

“Nothing’s moving. Do you suppose it’s a bear?”

Jon was not one to scare easily. His behavior was different. He crept out of his bag and stealthily peered out the top slit of each window. Nothing moved or breathed.

"Get dressed Laura. I’ll go investigate.” Sidearm tucked safely, hidden on his hip, he slowly unzipped the door to slip out and not spook whatever wait outside.

Laura wasted no time dressing. She noticed it was already heating up for an early July morning. The fiery sky was violent orange as the sun dared to peek over the horizon in an effort to not startle whatever was milling around outside their tent.

Minutes, seemed like hours, as Jon secured the perimeter of the campsite. They heard a boisterous click above them, similar to a light switch turning off. The humming stopped and the noise of nature resumed shortly after.

“Jon, what was that?”

“I wish I knew. I’ve hiked the woods my entire life and I have never heard something like that.”

The silence was unnerving. Jon was hyperaware, scanning the surroundings constantly. Both secretly wished they had done a drive-in site this trip.

“Hey Laura, how about that special ‘Campers Breakfast’ you’ve been promising.” Distraction would help ease the tension and prickly skin awareness.

Breakfast was warm and cheesy. Laura like to pack protein in the breakfast for the next leg of the journey. While she cooked, Jon prepped his camera for the day. They had an article due in a week related to the wonders of the trail they were hiking.

Laura smiled as she remembered how management suggested that she and Jon would team up. She would write the articles and he would do the photography. Neither liked it at first but eventually love won. Now, a year later, they decided it was time it became a permanent union. Their wedding was scheduled in three weeks. All the plans were in place for their return.

After breakfast, they teamed up and tore down camp. Throwing backpacks on their backs, they headed into the woods for the last leg of the hike. Urgency hung in the air like a wet blanket.

“Laura, look at the trail of pink fireweed.” Camera clicks came quickly. Laura found a nearby rock and journaled all the things around them, including this morning’s oddity. She was so uneasy in the woods today.

“Jon, I don’t like this area. Can we just go. Maybe we should go back to the clearing and set up camp? We could radio in a location.”

“I already radioed this morning while you were fixing breakfast. A very good meal at that.”

“Jon, why didn’t you tell me you did that?”

“I had an extra minute, so I called.”

His smile always eased her fears, at least momentarily. But then, unease wrapped around her. Jon was worried. He never made two calls from one location.

“The lake is up ahead, Laura. We’ll have lunch there and decide. We are halfway to tonight’s campsite. Besides, I’m not sure I want to camp another night in that strange place.”

“That’s fine and I guess I really don’t want to be there either.”

The lake soon appeared like a mirror, reflecting a near cloudless turquoise sky. Geese put down their wide-spread, webbed feet and landed on the lake, leaving a perfect set of v’s in the water. Thunderous claps filled the air as large swans took flight. Rainbow colored fish and some with bright yellow or yellow and black circles near their eyes, tipped sideways revealing a blueish tint to their scales. It was the perfect place to stay and rest. Jon, of course, couldn’t as he was catching every scene that played out before him in his camera’s eye. So, Laura settled onto a small blanket, and began writing the scenes before her.

“I hate to say so Laura, but we need to be on our way to make base camp in time to set up.”

“I really don’t want to leave this peaceful place, but I’d rather be at a campsite.” There was one more mile to camp and a mile hike out in the morning.

They were a half mile from camp when they rounded a bend in the trail and an apprehension blew over them.

“Jon?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Do you feel that?”

“Feel what, Laura?”

She had watched him stiffen and his eyes searched the area more thoroughly again. He felt it, but was trying to divert her attention. They were a half mile from camp and it didn’t feel right.

“Jon?” The hair on her arms stood at attention. It was happening again. Creation was silent. They were in heavy woods and no sounds. Alarm bells were blaring in her brain.

“Laura, I don’t know what’s happening. Let me grab a quick picture of this large mound of Indian Pipe and we’ll hurry out to the campsite. I’ll call out for a location update as soon as we’re there.”

The humming began quietly, slowly increasing in decibels. The pulsating was increasing also. Laura nervously paced in sync with the pulsating.

“Ok, Laura, let’s go. I’m not comfortable in this place either.” He turned to load up his equipment. “Hey, Laura, look at this!”

There was a small, flickering light slightly off the place where Jon stood, just a little between them. Just above it, a mist drifted over some nearby trees. Jon pointed his camera toward the light. Laura didn’t remember seeing it when Jon first went back to the Indian Pipe.

“Jon, let’s get out of here. It doesn’t feel right.”

“One, last, picture.” His face shot skyward. “Laura, you should see this!”

Jon took a step forward and disappeared as if he walked through a door. A blinding bright light flashed and an energy wave hit Laura, knocking her to the ground. Scrambling to her feet, Jon was nowhere to be found. Click. The humming was gone and the animals were moving again.

“Jon! Jon!” Realizing that this was no joke, she tied a ribbon around two trees and ran the rest of the way to the campsite.

“KB654328. This is Laura, can you read me? KB654328, can you read me!”

“KB654330. Laura, it’s dad. What’s wrong, honey!”

“Dad, I need you now. Something’s terribly wrong! Jon…Dad, Jon vanished right in front of me.” Sobs cut the feed for a second. “He’s gone dad! Gone!” Her voice tightened.

“Laura, breathe deep. Are you walking out? We are at the entrance.”

“I can’t dad. I can’t walk through the woods alone. I can’t move.”

Sobs came through the radio until she let go of the transmit button. Laura’s dad felt a deep fear. Kevin, Laura’s brother, was already out of the car, strapping on equipment.

“Come on, dad. Hurry! We need to get to Laura right away.”

“I just have to lace my boots, son.”

A mile hike into the woods on any other day would be relaxing, but not today. Kevin stayed ten steps ahead of his dad. Busting into the clearing, they found Laura sitting like a cocoon in the middle of the open space, arms wrapped around her legs, holding them to her chest. Her body was quivering in fear.

“Laura! Are you ok? Where did Jon disappear?” Kevin started for the trail where she and Jon were separated.

"Kevin!” Laura came to awareness. “Don’t go in there, please.”

“KG654330. I need a search party for a missing person. “

“KR913542. We read. Will dispatch to your coordinates. ETA, one hour, thirty minutes.”

“Please hurry. My daughter needs medical also.”

“Will do.”

“Laura, let’s get up and go to the car.”

“I can’t daddy. I can’t go into the woods. I can’t.”

The meltdown with tears and violent shaking was more that Carl could handle. So, he sat beside his devasted daughter, his arm around her in comfort to wait for help to arrive.

“The humming and silence, it isn’t good dad. Don’t let Kevin go into the woods. Something’s in there. I felt it.”

Laura told the same story over and over to different agencies. She noticed two of the park officers looking at each other with an odd expression.

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t you. I saw the look. You do, don’t you.”

Both officers dropped their faces. “Ma’am, there have been a…a couple of similar instances recently. People wandered off the trail, got lost.”

“Were they ever found?” The hesitation was blaring.

"My daughter asked a question. She deserves an answer.”

“Sir, well, no sir. They have not been found.”

“Did they hear the humming or notice total silence in the woods? Did they see a flash of light?” Laura began to shake again.

"Yes, ma’am. But we have no evidence, other than word of mouth, that it actually happened.”

“Laura, is it?” Laura nodded. “I’m Officer Johnson. I would like you to show us where this disappearance happened.”

“I can’t. I can’t go back into the woods. I marked it with two ribbons where I was standing after being blown over. He was maybe two hundred feet due North from the middle of the markers.”

Darkness was slithering over the horizon. The search brought no evidence of Jon even existing. They advised Laura be taken in for an evaluation and then wait at home for any information.

At the edge of the woods, Laura started to flail and scream to avoid going into the woods. Carl and Kevin walked her out, one on each side of her. She could barely bear weight on her rubber legs. Once in the parking area, they were able to send her by ambulance to a waiting ER.

Weeks passed with no word. The wedding was canceled and gifts returned due to no groom. Everyone tried to move forward. It was difficult as Laura was filled with such fear, every noise met with dread and cowering. It was six months before she could stay in her own room. She slept, fetal position, in the hall far from any window. The hum of the furnace jolted her awake every night. She would then huddle in the hall, eyes darting, looking for a light, or listening for the stillness of the night. Finally, after a year and a half of counseling, medications, and a distancing from the news, Laura was beginning to join in living again.

On the two-year anniversary of Jon’s disappearance, a news break interrupted Laura’s favorite program.

“This is a TV12 Newsbreak,” a picture of Jon flashed on the TV screen, “a man was found walking out of the woods and wandering around a soybean field in Minnesota today. He is approximately 5”9”, dark brown hair, brown eyes, medium build. He has no memory of who he is or where he’s from. If anyone knows the identity of this man, please contact the Fairview Police Department. We appreciate any information.”

Laura stared at the screen, unsure if she actually saw Jon on TV. The phone began ringing.

“Laura, this is dad. Is mom home?”

“No dad, she’s not. Did you see…”

“Oh, honey, I am on my way. I did see it. I’m almost home.”

Within minutes, the house was buzzing. Kevin pulled the Newsbreak photo up on his computer.

"Dad, do you think his parents saw it?”

“They did Laura. I talked to them. They called and gave information to the police. They will be going to identify him. Do you want to go also.”

“I do. I’ll get some things ready. Mom, can you help me?”

“Of course.”

“Mom, why doesn’t he remember? Do you think he will remember me?”

“There’s no way to know honey. But your being there, may spark a memory.”

The drive there was hard to describe. Four hours of travel brought nails chewed to the quick. Questions rolling around in everyone’s mind, wondering how he got to Minnesota two years later. Where had he been for two years?

“Mom, dad, Kevin, I’m so thankful to have you all here with me.”

Walking through the hospital doors, left a sense of sterility. The smell of rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer overwhelmed the senses. The police escorted them to where his family and officers waited. Rounding the corner to his special room, Laura saw his parents in the corner. His dad was comforting his mother through a torrent of tears. As soon as they saw Laura, they ran to her and held her close.

“Laura, you must be prepared. He is very thin, sickly. He doesn’t know who he is and he doesn’t know …” Pauline broke down.

“He doesn’t know us. We are hoping maybe, just maybe, he’ll recognize you.” Jon Sr. choked on the words.

Laura stood outside the door, looking through the window at Jon, steeling herself for the possibility that he wouldn’t know her either. The doctor advised to only discuss what happened under supervision. He had been hallucinating and they may need to sedate. For now, only introductions and how she was involved in his life.

“Jon.”

“That’s who they say I am.” Negativity was not like Jon.

“May I come in to talk with you?”

“Sure, why not. I don’t care.” He still was gazing out of the window.

“My name is Laura.” No response or even a turn of his head. “I was your fiancée. We were set to be married three weeks after our hiking trip.”

“Wonderful. Now I have a fiancée. Great!” heavy sarcasm filled the air. He snapped his face toward her and she froze. His eyes were vacant, cheeks sunken, and his skin was yellow-gray. “Well, at least you’re pretty. I got that much going for me.”

Reaching out, she touched his arm. He immediately pulled it away. “You can leave now. I have no clue who you are, even if you ‘claim’ to be my fiancée. I just want to be alone.” Laura bolted out of the room into the arms of her family.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Zieke, one of the psychiatrists on staff her. I would like you, Laura, to come back tomorrow for his therapy session. It’s time to talk about what happened. Can you do that?”

“Yes, of course.”

The night was long and anxious. She had not thought of that day in the woods in a long time. Now, she would be reliving it. Morning dawned dismal.

“Jon, Dr. Zieke here. I would like our session today, to be about what happened two years ago. I have asked Laura to remind you of that day.”

“Why?”

“Sometimes, it may spark a memory. Laura, please proceed to tell the story.”

“Jon, we were on a camping-work trip for a travel magazine. It was our last trip before our wedding. We were a half mile from the last campsite and a mile and a half from our end destination. You went into the woods to take photos of Indian Pipe. There was vague humming that got louder. There were no cricket, bird, or animal sounds, just like that morning. I wanted to leave, it didn’t feel right. A small light appeared between us. When you started to come back, you looked up and said I should see something. You looked at me, took a step forward, and… disappeared into thin air. There was a flash of light and a surge of energy that threw me off my feet. You were gone. We couldn’t find you. “

“Get out of my room, both of you. It was not me. Now leave me alone!”

Laura barely cleared the room and a volcano of emotions erupted.

“Why would you do this to me? To him?”

“It may well have broached the edge of his memory. We will wait and see.”

Two o’clock in the morning the phone rang.

“Laura, this is Providence Hospital. We need to have you come in right away. Jon is calling for you. “

“I’m on my way.”

Laura’s father got up and drove her into Providence. It felt like an eternity to get there.

Racing to the room, the nurses stopped her.

“You need to gown up. He’s developed a fever and we can’t identify what is wrong with him. It’s for your safety. Dr. Zieke is in there already. “

The hall was now covered in plastic like something out a science fiction movie. Entering his room, she screeched to a halt. Jon was contorting in strange positions shouting out her name. Slowly, she moved forward.

“Jon, it’s Laura.”

“Laura, you’re ok? I’m so sorry…” His face skewered in a strange way for a moment. “I was afraid they would get you too.”

“I’m ok. You’re safe now Jon. “Laura reached out to take his hand. This time he held it.

“I should have listened to you Laura and left the woods. You are the best thing I’ve ever had.”

“Jon, you couldn’t know what would happen. Neither of us saw that invisible door. You couldn’t have known. I love you Jon.”

“I love you, Laura. I had to know they didn’t get you too, that you were safe.”

“Who would get me Jon?”

His parents forced their way past the guards. He acknowledged their presence and shared love with them.

Suddenly, he gripped Laura’s hand, color draining from his face. His body contorted like a pretzel, screaming out in a tortured voice. Releasing his breath one last time, he looked at her with clear eyes of love. Closing them, he took with him any knowledge he had of his missing days.

*