Subject: Kenneth Johnson
Date: June 30th 1972
Time: 17:00
Normally, Kenneth took a bus home from the steel mill but today was special. Today was his daughter’s fifth birthday. He and Bernice had planned a day in the park, since it was rare for both of them to be at home, and they thought that Nicole would appreciate it.
Bernice had managed to ask for a day off at the laundromat, and he managed to find a ride with the old welder named Henry. Henry was an odd fellow, odd for a white man in Mississippi, he was oddly friendly, but Kenneth never let his guard down. The old man had agreed to drive him to the park, almost too happy.
“So why don’t you have a car? I see you take the bus at six in the afternoon.?”
“Bernice has more need of it than I do. I also don’t need another vehicle. That ol’ jalopy is good?” Kenneth replied, watching the various buildings and people pass by the window.
“How’s the family?”
“Good, Nicole turns five today, going to spend time with her.” He replied. “I just can’t wait to see her.”
He felt a smile crossing his face.
“Oh, you got the jitters.” Henry said, “You must be a great father, they are lucky to have you.”
“Nah sir, I’m lucky to have them.”
The old man smiled. “Thatta boy.”
Kenneth prickled at the ‘boy’ but didn’t say anything since it was meant as a complement. He smiled in anticipation for that afternoon.
After a twenty-minute delay due to traffic they arrived at the small park located north of the Gatewood community. The Gatewood community was a place where wealthy negroes lived, and it was one of the few places Kenneth felt safe enough to bring his family.
He stepped out of the old chevy, “Thank you Mr. Gallagher.”
“Have a good day, son.” The old man tipped his hat and left.
Kenneth found Bernice and Nicole sitting under a large magnolia, Bernice had set up a picnic cloth and basket and was playing with Nicole.
Nicole spotted him first when he got within a few meters of them.
“Daddy!” She screamed while she ran on her short legs, with her hands outstretched.
He picked her up under her arms and spun her around.
“How’s my girly doing?”
She was too busy laughing to answer.
He carried her over his shoulder and sat down next to Bernice.
“Glad to see you got here, didn’t think there was a bus this late.” Bernice whispered.
“Nah, got a ride with Henry, told me to tell you he says hi.” Kenneth replied, “Remind me to give him five bucks next time.”
She nodded.
Kenneth took out a small package he carried in his pocket.
“What’s that?” Bernice asked.
“A surprise,” He winked. He handed it to Nicole. She gripped it in her hands. She tore the package open. It revealed a carefully carved figurine.
She turned it in her hand and then handed it to Bernice, who placed it in her purse. She smiled and hugged Kenneth. She then returned to running around with the stick she had.
“When did you make that?” Bernice asked.
He shrugged, “I had some free time.”
“She has always liked your carving’s,” Bernice commented.
“I know, that’s why I made her one, “He smiled.
Bernice looked at him, “You alright?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“Kenneth…” She spoke in a tone that let him know she didn’t believe him.
“Really,” She continued to stare at him, tapping his shoulder.
“Alright, I haven’t really been sleepin’ good the past few days.” He said. “It’s just …I’ve been really feelin’ antsy for some reason.It’s like somethin’s bad going to happen. I haven’t felt like this since….I got out.”
His hand reflexively went to where he used to keep his dog tags in his pocket. Bernice had convinced him to leave them at home.
“It feels like I’m back in the jungle.” His breathing picked up but he relaxed when she put a hand to his back. “Like I never realy left.”
“Don’t think about it. Think about that girl right there.” She pointed at Nicole. “Think about being her daddy, not a soldier. Her father.”
“Okay, thank you.” He spoke. “Guess I needed that.”
“Are you sure you don’t want a therapist,” She asked.
“Don’t need no shrink telling me I’m broken.” He reflexively reacted.
She gave him a slightly disappointed look but didn’t press.
They sat there until Kenneth felt the humidity start to cool as it did when it was about to rain.
“Feels, like it’s about to pour.” He said, “Guess it’s time to go. Nicole it is time to go.”
The girl looked at him, “But I want to stay.”
“It’s time to go. Come on, we got a cake.” Bernice said.
The small girl beamed. “Okay,”
As he got up , he started to feel the dread creep up again, he outwardly sighed.
“Kenneth!” Bernice said, witnessing him stumble.
“I’m okay, “He said, the wind started to howl , the tree began to shake.
“We really need to get back,” He commented, but he got no response.
He looked back, to find Bernice and Nicole standing there frozen.
He could hear a soft chanting sound.
“What the fuck is happening?” He waved his hand in front of Bernice’s eyes. He walked towards Nicole and tapped her shoulders, with no response.
“Honey, come on please wake up.” He whispered. He looked around to see that almost every living thing was seemingly frozen.
Except the trees they were violently shaking in the wind.
Then the land started to disappear. He ran to Beatrice and tried to move her, her body wouldn’t move.
Then he tried Nicole, her small body was seemingly glued to the ground.
He sank in front of her, as the darkness approached, “Come on please move, please I can’t lose you.”
Then the darkness overtook him.
………………………………
He was in darkness for what seemed like an eternity. He couldn’t see anything, couldn’t feel the ground underneath his feet. He wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
He could hear a faint chanting sound. It was a dull noise that drowned out his thoughts.
Then he suddenly felt as if he was lying on cobblestones.
The chanting had stopped and he felt cool air.
He opened his eyes to find himself in what appeared to be a round…. stage made of stone and surrounded by hooded men.
He stared at them, his head hurt. Hooded men were always bad news no matter were. Especially in Mississippi.
“Where’ is my daughter, where’s Bernice,” He slurred his words.
One of the figures approached him as he stood up, “I greet you….”
Kenneth grabbed the man by his neck and lifted him.
“What have you done to my family?” He yelled.
“I don’t know what you are talking about?” The figure said.
“Really, kidnapping me, what have I done to deserve this? Now tell me where my family is.” He repeated himself.
He heard voices coming from a hall, and men carrying…..spears came rushing in.
Kenneth threw the hooded figure at them and used the distraction to bolt for it.
I got to find them. I don’t know where a building like this would be in Mississippi but it can’t be far. It can only be three hours from home based on the moon.
He thought as he ran out of the amphitheater.
Another group of men armed with spears saw him and started to pursue him.
Shouts started to follow him. A guard managed to get in front of him, he brushed him off. Then he felt a force knock him off his feet.
He felt the air leave his lungs , and he rolled in the dirt.
Guards surrounded him, their spear tips pointed at him.
He stood up with his hands, standing up.
“Calm, Friends.” A voice came out from behind the guards, “I imagine this is some misunderstanding.”
The guards took a step aside, revealing an older man wearing a hoodless robe. It was dark, so Kenneth couldn’t tell if the older man
“Good, Evening, my name is Pope Anicletus.” The bearded man said, “Sorry about the breeze.”
“Breeze?” Kenneth said as he carefully stood up, refusing the hand Anicletus offered. Then he remembered the force that hit him. “You call that a breeze?”
Anicletus smiled, “I used to be a combat mage when I was younger, I was rather skilled in wind and fire, I was surprised that I would have to use it on a most important ally”
“Ally? If you were my ally, you would tell me where you took my family,” He ignored the phrase ‘magic’.
“Family?” The pope frowned, “You came alone, we do not know anything about your family.”
“You know they were in the park; they were with me in the park!” He yelled, “Didn’t you see, them they must have come here.”
He was panicking, his breath.
The old man put his hand on his shoulder; a feeling of calm passed through him.
“I see what happened, “The old man said, “Look again at the sky, what do you see, is it the sky you grew up under?”
“What the hell are you on about?” He said, but he looked again at the sky. There was a moon, but there was something wrong. He couldn’t see the red dot of mars, the stars somehow seemed misaligned. The moon itself looked wrong.
“What the hell, that ain’t right.” He whispered, a sense of dread started to cloud his mind.
He took a step back.
“I apologize for this , but we had to.” The old man said, “We need heroes to save the Empire, “
“No, No” He saw images of his daughter, of Beatrice.”
“We took you from your world. Welcome to the continent of Wesfalia.” The Pope bowed to him. “Please forgive us for the inconvenience.”
Kenneth was silent. He didn’t know what to think. The Popes words were almost too gracious as if they hid something.
“I just want to see my family,” He replied, simultaneously stating a truth and testing the elderly man.
“With the Mother’s grace, we can make that happen, in turn, save my country.” The old man said in the same gracious manner. But for some strange reason, Kenneth wanted to believe him, despite how suspicious the situation was, no matter what instincts told him. He wanted to believe this old man, who had disabled him with an invisible hand, who commanded the hooded men, who took him.
“So can you take me back home?” Kenneth said.
“I am not sure.” The elderly man began, but seeing Kenneth flinch he continued, “But I promise you after you serve as our hero, we will spare no expense in returning you home. It is a fair trade.”
Fair trade, he fucking kidnapped me. His anger flared, but he held back the words, remembering the men with spears surrounding him. He couldn’t fight back, just yet.
“So, all I have to do is fight your battles,” Kenneth said.
The Pope smiled. “Amongst other things. Do we have an accord?”
The old man stuck his hand out.
Kenneth stared at the hand, wanting to spit on it, and tell the man to stick it in his ass. But then images of Bernice and Nicole flashed across his mind.
How are you going to go home? You are in a foreign world, with different rules? How do you know if you will be able to go back? This man has all the power?
“Fuck,” He whispered and shook the man’s hand. He knew this was a rancid deal. The Pope was holding all the cards.
Deep down, he felt like he was being drafted all over again.
The Pope led him back to the amphitheater.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.