Kim had never considered going back to a camp. She went to one as a child, but the heartache of missing the friends she met caused her to never go back.
Maybe it would be good to return. Everyone always felt like family there. There’s no way Mom would let me though, she’s too scared to let me out of her sight.
Kim threw her towel on the bed and watched it slowly slide to the floor. She picked it up and noticed a photograph that had blown from under the bed when her towel dropped. There she stood in all her plainness with the boy who—at least to her—was the most handsome boy she’d ever met.
If it wasn’t for YOU all this would have never happened. I’d still be in school, I wouldn’t have to visit that goofy doctor every week, and my mom would let me live my life.
Kim and her ex-boyfriend had been on many adventures together in their two year relationship. She thought he was the love of her life until his family moved to Texas. She loved his family like it was her own. She felt more a part of them than with her own family. But all that disappeared because of his father’s ridiculous new job. She didn’t understand why it couldn’t still work out between them.
Her depression from the break-up caused her to have problems during her first semester in college. Eventually she had to quit school and her parents decided she needed professional help. But maybe, just maybe they would let her try out this camp thing. Besides, her mother seemed just as sick of watching after her daughter as Kim was of being stuck at the house.
Kim quickly got dressed, ran down the steps, and into the kitchen. She had a sudden enthusiasm she hadn’t felt in months.
“Mom, what do you think of me getting a job this summer?” Kim asked.
“There is no way that is going to happen!” her mother quickly refuted. “It’s hard enough dealing with all your issues here at home. I can’t be worrying about getting you to a job too. This is your problem Kim, not mine, and I don’t want to deal with it any more than I have to!”
Before Kim could rebut the doorbell rang rapidly.
“Who in the world would be at our house this early in the morning,” Kim’s mother said as she walked angrily to the door.
She opened the door and she and Kim both stared face to face with a blond girl with olive eyes.
“Hi Mrs. King, I’m Keah. I’m here for Kim.”
Kim couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Was she still dreaming? The girl from all those dreams is actually here standing in her doorway.
“Kim doesn’t take visitors right now. You’ll have to come back in a few weeks.”
“But I’m from Dr. Gustafson’s office. I need to take Kim away immediately for a summer long study. Dr. Gustafson thinks it’s just what she needs. I need to take her right away.”
“Well gracious, if the doctor says she needs it then go ahead. You heard her Kim, get your stuff ready, you’re leaving.”
“Actually she doesn’t need anything; we will provide all the necessities as part of the study. We just really need to leave right now.”
Kim was shocked. She didn’t know this girl at all. She for sure hadn’t ever seen her at Dr. Gustafson’s office. She was a little reluctant to leave as her mother pushed her out the door. The only place she had seen this girl was in her dreams and now she was going to who-knows-where with her. Surely it’ll be better than being at home all day, but she couldn’t help but be a little frightened as she seemingly floated to Keah’s car and got in.
“Where did you say I’m going?” Kim thought words came out of her mouth, but she was in so much shock she didn’t know if they actually did or not.
“We’re going to Texas. And we’re running really late.”
“I have to go all the way to Texas for some stupid study? Why?”
Keah chuckled at this, but Kim was now more confused than ever.
“You want to go back to camp right? I’m making it happen. Don’t worry about your family or your sessions for now, we have bigger things to take care of. And we only have an hour so you better buckle up, this is going to be a fast trip.”
“An hour?!! It’s impossible to get to Texas in an hour!”
“Oh Kim you have a lot to learn. But first, let me get us to a better means of transportation.”
Kim tensed up as she watched Keah drive furiously through Boston traffic. She was sure they were going to die as Keah swerved in and out of traffic without considering either the danger or the legality of her driving. Kim was too distracted to notice their surroundings until she saw the exit sign for Salem.
“Umm, Keah, if we’re going to Texas shouldn’t we be driving the other way?”
“You might think so, but we have to park our transporter in Salem. It’s the safest and the most uh strategic place.”
Kim was beyond confused and figured Keah must have realized it.
“You’ll learn everything you need to in time Kim, just trust me now because we’ll all have to trust the two of you later.”
“The two of us?” Kim asked. Apparently Keah didn’t hear her because she just kept her eyes focused on the road.
They pulled into the parking lot at the Salem Witch Museum. Keah quickly turned the car off and hustled to the street. She waved to Kim to catch up to her as they crossed Washington Square and reached the park, Salem Common.
Kim had been at this park before with her ex-boyfriend. It was exactly one year ago. They had a wonderful date planned to visit the Witch Museum, but got distracted by what they thought what an alien spacecraft landing in the park. There was no explosion, but after staring in awe for what seemed like hours and reporting it to the police, they were told it was only a weather balloon. Kim had never believed this explanation, but no one ever really believed there story. Oh if she could only go back to those days. Her life was so much better when they were together on all their adventures.
While Kim was in her daydream, Keah was busy pulling keys out of her pocket. She was head straight for the basketball court on the southwest corner of the park. She pushed a button on the keychain, and to Kim’s amazement the closest basketball goal moved. If her shrink could hear this story now, she was certain to see him the rest of her life.
The goal slowly rose up out of the ground with the concrete still attached. Even though they were still a fair distance off, Kim could tell there was a gaping hole left in the ground. She was about to asked Keah if she saw what was happening when a vehicle rolled out of the whole. This was no normal vehicle though. This was the exact same vehicle Kim had seen a year ago!
“I’ve seen one of those before,” Kim exclaimed. “Is this yours?”
“Sort of. A group of us own it. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re not crazy Kim. You are a very special person, and it is no coincidence that you have seen one of these before. We sent one here last year because we wanted you guys to meet us. I guess the subtlety didn’t work since you turned it in to the cops! It would have saved us a lot of time had you guys come then, but we’ve been working hard to get you back together and get on with that which needs to be done. I’ve been rambling too long, let’s go!”
Kim walked up to the door still in amazement. The aircraft looked a lot like a fat pencil. Through the doorway she could see it only had two seats but there was a sliding panel to the back of the aircraft that may have had more room. The outside was a dull black color that would probably never be seen at night. Kim thought she could be living a science fiction movie no one had written yet. She climbed inside and saw hundreds of buttons and lights around the seats. She couldn’t imagine learning what all they did. Kim also noticed a clock right in the middle of all the lights.
“With all this talk about time Keah, I noticed that we only have about 30 minutes to get to Texas.”
“Just climb on in and buckle up. This baby has a cruise speed of about mach 5. Silly airlines should use this technology all the time.”
Kim tried to sit back into the seat, but all she could do was stare out the window in amazement as the entire nation flew by. She was still so confused about the journey she was on, but at least she was out of the house. Hopefully she would start to get some answers soon.
“Oh by the way Kim, have you talked to Shane recently?”
Kim’s heart skipped and she felt her stomach drop.
Is he what this is really all about?
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