Part 17 (1/2)
”You were right, Beck. There is a G.o.d ... and a heaven. I saw them, Beck. I was there.”
”Are you out of ICU?”
”It was so incredible, Beck.”
”Hold on ... I'll be right over.”
”It was so beautiful.”
”Hold on.”
”Wow!” Scott exclaimed as they entered Hubert's cluttered living room. He'd visited Darryl's cousin a couple of times before.
Once when they'd tried to track down their mysterious computer friend Z, and more recently when they'd pulled a trick on the Ascension Lady by reprogramming her computerized astrological charts.
By now he was used to the electronic parts piled in heaps and scattered over the floor like some Radio Shack after a 9.5 quake.
He was even used to the thousand and one empty pizza boxes that never quite made it to the garbage. What surprised him this time were the half dozen people gathered in a circle in front of computer screens. Some had laptops. Others had desktops with monitors. Whatever the setup, each person stared quietly and intently at his screen.
”What are they doing?” Scott whispered.
”Crypts and Wizards,” Darryl whispered back. He gave a loud sniff and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. Scott looked at his friend for a moment. He'd gotten used to Darryl's frequent sniffs, but he still couldn't quite appreciate his friend's version of a handkerchief. ”Crypts and Wizards? What's that?”
”It's a role-playing game.”
”A what?”
”You pretend to be somebody, like a sorcerer or zombie or witch or something. Then you use your powers to try and find the treasure buried deep inside the crypt.” Scott looked at the players. Their faces were glued to their screens, almost trancelike. ”They really get into it, don't they?”
”Oh yeah. Sometimes the games go on for hours, days, even weeks. It's like you really become the person. Come on. I asked Hubert to save a couple of places for us.” He gave another sniff and motioned for Scott to follow.
”Where is Hubert?” Scott asked. ”I don't see him.”
”He's upstairs. He's the Crypt Master. He's the guy who drew up the crypt map with all of its traps and monsters and stuff.”
”Yeah?”
Darryl nodded. ”He basically runs the game.” At last they arrived in front of two empty computer terminals. ”Here we go.” Scott checked out the screen in front of him. It wasn't too impressive. Just some graphs, the beginning of a maze, and some bizarre figures of people and creatures. ”Doesn't look like much,” he said as he took a seat behind the console.
Darryl threw him a grin. ”Just wait.”
”Are you sure it was your grandmother?” Ryan asked.
”Oh yeah.” Julie grinned. Her voice was weak and thin. Her hair was stringy in front and matted in the back, and she wore the lamest hospital gown they had ever seen - but inside, Julie bubbled with excitement. ”It wasn't just Grandma. My grandpa, my aunt ... people I know are dead were there. It was so incredible. They were, like, all standing in this park with these cool trees and this superclear stream - and the water, it was like diamonds it was so clear.”
Rebecca sat on Julie's bed listening to her friend chatter on. It was great having her back. But even as she listened, a tiny alarm started to sound in her head.
”Oh, Becka,” Julie beamed. ”It was so cool. There was, like, this glowing city, all made of crystal and jewels and stuff. And the light, everywhere there was light. But it didn't come from the sun or anything like that.”
”Where did it come from?”
Without blinking Julie answered her directly. ”It was G.o.d, Beck. The light came from G.o.d.”
The alarm grew louder. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something didn't fit.
”You saw G.o.d?” Ryan asked.
Julie shook her head. ”Not exactly. But I was so close I could have, I know it.” Becka searched Julie's eyes to see if she was teasing. There was nothing but sincerity in them. ”Beck ... he's so cool. I mean, everywhere I went I felt this incredible love, this total ... acceptance. He loves us so much, Becka. You can't even imagine it.”
Becka tried to hold Julie's gaze, but couldn't. Her eyes faltered, then looked away.
”Beck, what's wrong?”
Rebecca shook her head. ”I don't know ... It's just - I mean, are you sure it wasn't just a dream? Dreams can seem pretty real.”
Julie smiled. ”No, Beck, this was no dream.” Becka had her doubts. But this was her best friend. She'd almost been killed. This was not the time to argue. She looked away and spotted a chunk of crystalline rock on the nightstand.
It was about the size of her fist, and it was so clear it almost looked like ice. Grateful to change the subject, she turned back to Julie and asked, ”What's that?”
”Oh, the Ascension Lady came by earlier and dropped it off.” Julie reached over and scooped it into her hand. ”It's pretty neat.”
”Why'd she bring it over?” Ryan asked.
Julie chuckled. ”You know Priscilla. I talked to her on the phone earlier. I told her all about my angel guide and everything, and she got - ”
”Your ... angel?” Becka interrupted.
”Oh yeah, I had this angel with me the whole time. Anyway, Priscilla says my spirit has been 'awakened,' or something like that. She says that if I practice with this thing - ” she hefted the crystal in her hand and grinned mischievously - ”I'll be able to call up my guardian angel anytime I want. I'll be able to evolve to a 'higher level of consciousness.' ”
”Good ol' Priscilla,” Ryan chuckled. He threw a grin at Becka. ”Some things never change.”
Becka didn't smile back. The alarm in her head was much louder. She was sure Julie was wrong. That what she had seen couldn't be real. But why? What was wrong?
”Hey, Jules, nice hair.”
Everyone turned to see Krissi and Philip enter. Philip was holding an arrangement of red and white carnations they'd picked up from the gift shop downstairs.
”Oh, guys!” Julie exclaimed as she reached out to take the flowers. ”They're beautiful.” Her voice was getting weaker. She did her best to sound bright and cheery, but there was no missing the exhaustion setting in.
Being his usual sensitive self, Ryan was the first to notice.
”Look, Julie, maybe Beck and I should be going. Let you spend a little time with - ”
”No, please stay,” Julie insisted. She turned to Krissi and Philip. ”Ryan and Beck can fill you in on my adventures ... but somebody has to tell me what I've been missing at school. What's the latest?”