It seemed like I was gone for hours.”
Kathy smiled and helped Mitchell remove his feet from the bucket. He stood slowly, walked around the meditation room for a moment, and knelt in front of the altar. Kathy joined him and they both prayed silently.
“We have to get in touch with Mrs. Morton.”
“Why?”
“I will explain later. She holds the key to many questions.”
“The Creator told you something?”
“Yes, and it would appear that I have a new charge to train.”
Chapter Eight
Into the World
Melvina awoke on the bed that Salva had made for her in the back of the hut. Her eyes hurt with a deep pain that penetrated to the core of her being. Her vision was fuzzy and when she tried to focus, she became nauseated. Salva held a hot cup of broth next to Melvina’s lips and asked her to drink.
“What happened?” Melvina asked.
“You fainted.”
Melvina drank the warm broth slowly. The taste was rich and delicious, unlike anything she had ever tasted. The more she drank, the stronger she became. Soon, she felt her old strength return and she sat up easily. She stared at Salva for several long moments, took a deep breath, and sank slowly back onto the bed.
“We have to leave this place, sister,” Melvina said.
“Why? Where would we go? We died, remember?”
“I remember. But this place makes me uneasy. There is something wrong about the old man. We have to leave here.”
“But if we leave, where would we go? He has been kind to us.”
“Listen to me, sister. Today, I saw something...something that I can’t explain right now. I want you to trust me on this. He is not as he appears...there is something—”
Before Melvina could complete her statement, the old man walked into the room. Two of the dogs from the pack stood passively by his side.
“I am happy to see you are well. I was worried. If you are up to it, please walk with me.”
The old man extended his hand and motioned for Melvina to come with him.
“Shall I come as well?” Salva asked.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to speak with your sister alone.”
Melvina rose quietly from the bed and took the old man’s hand. They walked through the back door of the hut and slowly approached the dirt trail that ran adjacent to the stream.
Salva ran to the door to watch the two of them walk away. The two dogs lagged a few feet behind, pacing silently.
The old man did not speak until they had lost sight of the hut.
“She will not believe you, and she will ignore your fears. She feels safe here with me.”
“My sister is young and impressionable. I know better. You are not as you appear.”
“You would do well to remember who I am. I have given you certain freedoms upon your return in exchange for the service that you have provided. Your sister will make a fine addition to my collection. Perhaps I shall even keep her as my slave.”
Melvina looked at the old man and violently wrenched her hand from his.
“You do not own me. I am not your servant. My sister is not your plaything.”
“Perhaps I should remind you of the true nature of things, my dear.”
The old man stopped and picked up a smooth gray pebble from the path. He spit on the rock and spoke softly over the stone as he rubbed the spittle onto its surface. He then set the rock gently upon the path once again.
In a few moments, the rock began to glow and sparkle. Red and orange smoke rose from its surface and clouded the entire stone. As the smoke cleared, Melvina saw a small rabbit arise from the stone. Amazingly, the rabbit grew to full, robust, adult size in seconds.
The old man picked the rabbit up, stroked its ears gingerly, and kissed it on the nose. He looked at Melvina, smiled, and threw the rabbit to the dogs. The rabbit tried to hop away, but the dogs were upon it in seconds. They tore the animal in half almost immediately, spewing blood and tissue over a wide circle. Even torn in half, the rabbit managed to breathe an unearthly scream.
Melvina watched in horror. She was speechless.
“You see, you are one of my creations. You have a special purpose, unlike the rabbit that you saw. Would you like to know what you were before I gave you this form?”
Melvina felt the broth begin to broil within her stomach. A few seconds later, she bent over near a large boulder and threw up.
“Yes, I believe you understand now.”
“"Wh-whyyyy...are you...doinggggg...this to me?” Melvina stammered as she struggled to wipe her mouth.
“You gather souls for me, my dear. That is what you have always done.”
“What do you mean ‘gather souls’?”
“I collect the souls of humans for a very special purpose. For reasons that I cannot explain to you, I am unable to do this myself. However, you, my creation, are able to circumvent certain rules. You have been rather useful in that regard.”
Melvina felt her stomach begin to boil and rumble once again. She grabbed her sides and bent over. This time, she could only manage dry heaves.
“How long have I been doing this for you?”
“Not quite long enough, I’m afraid. Which brings me to the reason for our chat. It is time for you to return to Earth.”
“I’m not going anywhere without my sister!”
“I am afraid you have no choice in the matter.”
“I won’t do it. I’ll run away, and I’ll take my sister with me.”
“And go where?”
“Away from you!”
“That will be rather difficult, considering that in a very short while you will be reborn.”
“What do you mean?”
“The broth you drank...the vomiting...the dizziness you are about to feel...all part of my plan for your rebirth.”
Melvina began to feel her mind spin and reel again. Her senses refused to focus on the path or on the old man’s grinning form. She barely managed to force herself to speak.
“Rebirth plan?”
“That
