Ascending the Veil (12 page)

“Is this a recording or is this live?”

Balthazar is standing next to me watching the screen. “It has been looping for the past few hours, but it did happen earlier today. See the date?”

I nod and notice the date at the bottom of the screen now. Earlier today? What time was it? One thing about being in a facility, you never know what time of day or night it is.

Balthazar pulls a chair from under the nearby desk with the computer and motions me to sit back down. I slowly lower back down into the chair and moved over next to Balthazar. He pulls up a national news site.

“How are you able to get internet access?”

I look at the television screen behind us once more and see citizens walking in and out of stores and walking their children to school. The streets seem normal with only a few uniformed soldiers and officers visible here and there. “And, why the hell is everything so normal out there?”

Balthazar clicks on a tab, then another. He points to the screen for me to look. “This was two days ago, hours after the intersection.”

The same newscaster fills the computer screen, except this time his face is filled with panic and horror. I don’t listen to the words, I just see the images; people breaking into stores, then running from them carrying everything their arms can hold. Fires in the streets, abandoned cars in the streets, police trying to direct and contain the chaos, SWAT teams, soldiers, and paramedics hauling off yelling, crying, bleeding men, women, and children all over the world.

The newscaster’s voice bellows,
“Where ever you are, find shelter. Get indoors and do not leave until further notice. We do not know what effect this intersection will have on us. For your safety and the safety of your children, please seek shelter and remain there until further notice.”

The screen switches to another feed; London. The British newscaster is panicked just as the newscaster before her. More images of chaos fill the screen. The screen switches again to another feed; Baghdad. The newscaster is speaking quickly in Arabic.

Balthazar stopped the feed and clicked on another link. “This is twenty four hours after the intersection in the U.S.”

The screen filled with the same newscaster, but less disheveled now. “Once ag
ain, the President of the United States has directed the nation to be in lock down until further notice. Associate reporters from around the world have reported leaders’ enforcing the same for their countries. Sources say the president, vice president, and close staff are meeting with a particular group of scientists in regards to the effect of this galactic intersection. All we know as of now is that this intersection itself has caused no harm to us. There have been reports, sightings of beings that don’t appear human in the Panama City, Florida and Seattle, Washington areas.

Investigation teams have been deployed and are scouring the area surrounding those sightings. We will keep you informed of any updates in regards to these sightings. This further solidifies the need for everyone to remain in their homes until further notice.”

Balthazar stops the feed, and then clicks on another link. “The wormhole we were trying to close was only one of many that night. The beings that passed through ours, easily passed through others around the world. When the veil was parted, it opened up every access to our world. This was last night in our country.”

The newscaster appears on the screen. “We have breaking news in regards to the sightings of the strange beings in both Panama City, Florida and Seattle, Washington. It has been confirmed that both the Florida and Washington sightings were both indeed hoaxes.”

A handcuffed man shielding his face from the heavy lighting of the camera is being escorted by two police officers. The newscaster continues, “This man, Adam Claiborne, was arrested this evening after a tip was made to the local police department in Seattle, Washington. He is also associated with the Panama City, Florida hoax.”

My mouth is hanging open. “They have Adam!”

Balthazar pauses the feed. “Yes, and six more of the most valuable scientists in our fellowship.”

“They set them up!”

Balthazar sits back in the chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “Gabriel Griffin and his team of scientists needed them out of the way if they were going to gain the President’s trust.”

Balthazar turns his chair to face the television and gestures to the scene on the screen. “He has gained the trust and we will now be known as the resistance.”

I listen to the newscaster declare that we are safe once more. I renounce his words. “We are not safe. How can they believe them so easily?”

Balthazar uncrosses his arms. “Because reality is an illusion
, Jesca. It is all about perception. They have created an illusion that is being perceived as their only means of salvation. The beings that have come into our world through the wormholes have camouflaged themselves among us. They are hiding until the changes in our world begin to take hold. Then, they will take over.”

The giants, the shape shifters, the occupiers, as Daniel called them, they passed through the wormhole in the Aokigahara forest two days ago; I saw them. Xander said that when the battle had ended and he was carrying me out of the forest, the beings were scattering and going into hiding. I mumble, “They are going to keep coming, through wormholes aren’t they?

Balthazar breathes out hard through his nose. “As long as the veil is left open, they will come into our world freely. They will wait until we have begun dying out. Gabriel and his team have no intention of helping the population. They have made them all believe that they will be safe, buying time while more beings enter and hide among us in our world. By the time the elemental changes in the atmosphere of our world take hold, the lie will no longer matter. The dead can’t speak and the Sondian fellowship’s influence reaches deep.”

I look at the television screen again. Images of children exiting a school bus and filtering into their schools and grown men and women walking across traffic filled streets. “They are going to blame the deaths on everything accept the changes in the atmosphere. They will find a way to place the blame on us.”

Balthazar stands up turns off the television. “We are being viewed as the enemy. Our influence in the government, our interior contacts, they are being picked off one by one as radicals, charlottes, terrorists, and spies. We are the resistance that is trying to uncover the illusions the Sondians have seeded as reality in the minds of the masses.”

I stand up and start to pace. “How are we supposed to save all of these people if they think we are the enemy?”

Balthazar stands in front of me. “There are those that do not believe that we will ever be safe. They challenge and do not trust what they are being told. Those are the people that we need to contact, gain alliance with. We will offer them a solution when the elemental changes begin; implantation. All we will want in return is their help to influence others and save as many people as we can.”

“What if we are discovered? What if one of us approaches a mole? We will be caught.”

Balthazar nods. “Sometimes to catch, we have to be caught. Our moles are watching theirs.”

I realize that even though the influential Dobrian guardians were being picked off one at a time, the average joe guardians were the ones that were going to save the masses. Balthazar continues, “Once the death toll begins to rise from the evolution our world will undergo, those that believed the leaders will panic as they watch those all around them die. With no where left to turn, they will turn to the ones that hold the chance for survival; us.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. I can’t believe we are being labeled the enemy. “So many will die before they are given a chance to be saved.”

Balthazar, “Many will die after they are given the chance as well. If their bodies reject the Copula implantation, they will die. Each human must adapt to the changes the Copula will introduce to their body. If the body doesn’t adapt, then they will inevitably die.”

“Yeah, but they will at least have had a chance.”

Balthazar nods and we stand in silence for a moment.

“You said that as long as the veil is open, the beings will come through.”

Balthazar nods his head.

“Does anyone know how to seal it?”

Balthazar
replies, “No, not yet.”

I cross my arms over my chest and shift my stance. “And all of these beings pouring into our world, what do we do about them? Some are not malevolent, right? The Nephilim.”

Balthazar reaches over and turns off the computer screen. “The Nephilim are the only benevolent beings that have invaded so far, unfortunately. As Daniel said, the shape shifters and occupiers are invading to take over.”

“So, we hunt them and kill them? Is that what you are going to tell me?”

Balthazar nods, “Yes, but for every one we kill, one will enter our world until we find a way to seal the veil.”

I lower my head and rub my hands over my eyes. I thought I felt hopeless before. This takes it to a whole new level.

Balthazar puts his hand on my shoulder. “We need to head back.”

*
* *

Balthazar pushes the large, red button on the wall and the double doors open. I stalk in ready to ask Sebastian and anyone else present what we are going to do to seal the veil. Instead, I stop and stare at Sebastian, Daniel and Xander as they talk with a woman and man I do not recognize. The woman and man turn toward me and I notice the she is holding an infant in her lap. The child looks like she is not much older than Marcus. Balthazar and I walk toward the table they are occupying. Xander pulls over a chair for Balthazar and I from one of the other tables and gestures for us to sit with them. The way Xander watches me now, I can tell he is worried about something; maybe my reaction to them.

Sebastian, “Jesca, this is my other son, Caleb, and his family.”

Balthazar pats Caleb’s shoulder. “This is the back-up we have been expecting.”

Caleb stands and reaches across Balthazar and offers his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jesca. Or should I say cousin.”

Nice to finally meet me? The back-up? Hell, from Ezra’s description of the Onoch family and the estranged relationship between Sebastian and his sons, I figured Caleb would have steered clear of the adventures of his kin.

His wife rises and offers her hand. I take it and she warmly cups her other hand over mine. “I’m Caleb’s wife, Eve. It is so nice to meet you, Jesca.”

I look from Eve, to Caleb, then to the child. My stare spurs a response from Eve.

“This is our little girl, Emelie.”

She is sleeping in Caleb’s arms. Not wanting to appear rude, I look up at Eve and smile. “She is beautiful.”

Eve glows and nods. “Thank you.”

I look back at Caleb.
“So, you are the backup?”

Caleb’s and Eve’s smiles weaken a little, their eyes divert to Daniel briefly, then back to me. Caleb responds, “Yes, I am.”

Something is up. I look at Sebastian, then Balthazar. Both are looking at Daniel.

Daniel clears his throat and leans his elbows on the table, “Jesca, this is the couple that bought your parents’ house in Marietta, Georgia.”

I look at Daniel, then back at Caleb, Eve, and their child. I remember Delilah, my adoptive mother, saying that the house sold to a young couple. Had this been planned? Set up?

I look up at Daniel ready to attack just as he starts explaining. “You and your parents were being tracked
, Jesca. Marietta wasn’t safe for you any longer, not without any training. Ezra needed to get you away from the trackers and help you train. Your parents knew how detrimental it was for you to be there and needed to get out of Marietta for all of your family’s safety, Bethany wasn’t easy. She finally agreed to stay at a fellow guardians home to finish her last year of high school.”

I remember my parents telling me she was staying with a friend and I thought that so out of character for them to allow. I think of my bull-headed si
ster and mumble under my breath, “Typical Bethany.”

Daniel smiles at my sarcasm. Caleb shifts in his chair, looks at Eve, then back at me with sincerity. “You and Ezra leaving, your parents leaving pulled the Sondian’s attention away from Marietta so Daniel, Eve, and I could make preparations for...”

I interrupt, “Wait, preparations? What kind of preparations?

Daniel says matter-of-factly, “The facility.”

I lean back in my chair, not believing what I am hearing. A facility? Where the hell would a facility be in Marietta? I visualize aerial images of places I remembered in Marietta, trying to decipher where a facility might have been hidden.

Daniel, “North of Marietta
, near Kennesaw Battlefield National Park.”

“The only thing north is the Etowah Indian Mounds.”

I remember visiting the ancient Native American civilization dating back well before 1300 AD with Roan and Delilah as a teen. “I have been there. It is a historical landmark. How could you possibly have a facility…” I stop myself before finishing that statement. I already knew the answer, remembering the influence and reach both fellowships have.

Daniel crosses his arms over his chest and nods. “Per Sebastian’s request in the early 1980 Roan, Delilah, Ezra, Elisha’s parents, myself, and many others had our sights on the mounds as a location of interest. In early 2000, we influenced the state of Georgia to safeguard it from any further excavation and began our push to support the historical aspect of the site. Still pushing, in 2005
, a wise archeologist took Ezra’s advice and provided the government with documentation supporting that there was nothing subterranean to be found beyond the superficial mounds and the few artifacts that had been unearthed years prior. Remote sensing and geophysical tests justified not pursuing excavation any further.”