Aberrant: Children of Heaven - Going Places

[The Story Guide]

Zoey was late. The stupid storm last night had knocked out power to her house, and though it was already back on again, her clock was still blinking 12:00 at her. Needless to say, her alarm hadn't gone off. Her mom had knocked on the door once, shouting in, "Zoey! You're gonna miss the bus if you're not out in few minutes." She and Zoey's father had then left for work without bothering to see if they'd actually woken their daughter up. It was her education, after all.

So Zoey was late. She threw her clothes on in a whirlwind and grabbed a box of pop tarts from the cabinet on her mad dash out of the house, her backpack in one hand and a box proclaiming 'Real Fruit Filling!' in the other. She finally took the time to pull out her cell and see what time it was once she was at the bus stop. No one else was there and it she was twenty minutes too late.

She stormed back inside, dumping the backpack near the front door and pulling a pair of pop tarts out the box as she thought rather nasty things about the bus driver and most of his relatives. Grumbling, she went back upstairs to grab the homework she'd forgotten to pack and put on the rest of her makeup. Her parents may not pay much attention to her, but a truancy call from the school was a guaranteed grounding.

She finished her daily preparations and debated what to do. There was Becky. Becky lived across the street; she'd graduated last year and her parents were letting her have a year off before they booted her out of the house, either to college or a job, her pick. She'd charge Zoey to take her, mostly just for waking her up so goddamn early, but it wouldn't be near as much as a cab, and walking the 15 miles to the school was not an option. Not even if meant a legitimate excuse for skipping homeroom. She sighed. So much for her allowance this week.

She grabbed the rest of the pop tarts on her way back downstairs and slipped the now completely packed backpack on. Squaring her shoulders she prepared herself to beg the former senior for a favor and walked out the front door.

She was nearly halfway across the lawn before she realized it wasn't her lawn. There was no street in front of her, no Becky-the-bitch house on the other side. Instead this lawn was large and littered with concrete debris and the ruins of large building. She caught yellow police tape around the area out of the corner of her eye, and a sign that looked suspiciously like the remains of the marquee board in front of her high school.

A loud, rough voice broke into her thoughts, "Hey kid! You can't be over there! Dan, go get her away from there. Can't you see the tape?"

A fireman, probably 'Dan', was making his way over to her. He smiled down at her and firmly guided her back to the tape-line where several other students and neighbors with nothing else to do had gathered to stare at the wreckage. "Hey, it really is dangerous out here. We're not sure all the power lines have been turned off yet; besides, shouldn't you be at home enjoying the day off?"

[Zoey Black]

"Day off?" She had to be still dreaming... that was the only explanation. Her mother had yelled to get up and she had rolled over and gone back to sleep. She was having one of those vivid 'just before waking up' dreams. Only this one was pretty sweet. The school destroyed, that was a nice touch. She hadn't ever dreamed of the school destroyed before, but it made sense, she was about to graduate after all. It would be natural to dream of it destroyed. That made sense. She dreamed, and she analyzed her dreams and even enjoyed changing them to suit her sometimes when she became aware of what was happening in the dream.

The Dan person, came rushing toward her. She just smiled and asked "What happened to the school?", completely unconcerned.

"Look kid you are putting not only yourself in danger being there but me too, so move your butt. NOW!" Dan the fireman was getting grumpy it seemed. So Zoey allowed herself to be ushered back across the tape lines.

She smiled at the big man, "Hey no big deal right. So tell me what happened." People in dreams were usually more cooperative, but then again this was one of those especially vivid ones. Sometimes those could get out of control like that time she had woken up inside a dream, and realized she was still asleep and couldn't actually wake up for real. She had finally woken up only to realize that she had woken up from that dream into another fake wakeup. She had woken up like three times inside the dream before she'd really woken up for real. That had been really freaky. This dream seemed as real as that one.

"Freak tornado because of the storm." He said as he moved off to stop someone else from crossing the line of tape.

Zoey nodded, of course it was a tornado that destroyed the school, "bet the wicked witch was under the school when it came crashing down too." The Dan the grumpy fireman looked over his shoulder and gave her an angry scowl as if she were mocking him or something. Well if she were Dorthy she needed a pair of magic ruby slippers then. She looked down and was a little surprised to not see them on her feet. Not that she wanted ruby slippers after all. Now some nice magic black combat boots with some silver buckles, that would be sweet! A day off, the school destroyed, looking around she didn't see tinman or scarecrow, but perhaps Dan the grumpy fireman would count as a cowardly lion... "Screw the yellow brick road, I want some new boots!" She started walking toward the mall figuring she would suddenly find herself there. That's the way dreams worked, but after a couple blocks she realized it wasn't going to happen unless she made it happen. She tried willing herself there. That didn't work either. She stopped in the middle of the street frowning in thought. "Hmm... it's going to be one of those dreams where things don't quite work the way you want them to eh?"

She spoke out loud not caring if anyone heard. No one was nearby anyway except a car that was coming down the street but it didn't hear her it just kept coming. She ignored it as just background scenery in the dream. she did that is until it honked and slammed on the breaks nearly running her over. At the last second she just dove out of the way. As she dove she reached out with her mind and ripped open the fabric of the dream itself and jumped through into hot topic. Her hole in reality closed the second she was through. She landed in a rather undignified position up against the side wall of the store underneath the a display of Happy Bunny t-shirts. The one she came face to face with said, "I'm cute. You should fetch me things."

As she stood up the clerk came around the corner and looked at her puzzled. "Uh, can I help you?" He didn't look too bright.

So she just said, "Boots, I require boots. Magic black ones, with silver buckles." She pointed to the t-shirt. "I'm cute. Fetch!" She grinned enjoying this dream even it she had just nearly gotten run over.

The clerk rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever, boots are over there." He gestured in the direction of the shoes. She knew where they were of course, she shopped here pretty often. After examining the selection she picked a pair of thick soled black leather boots that were pretty functional. They were almost real army boots, but the did have some cool silver studs and buckles on the outside tops to tighten them around her calves. They were expensive though, but what did she care it was just a dream. She almost didn't pay but the annoying clerk got in her way on the way out. She grumbled but paid and even took her old shoes with her since the clerk put them in the box and handed it to her. The new boots were freakin awesome!

What to do next? This dream couldn't keep going much longer, usually she would have woken up by now. Heck even the thought of waking up was enough to rob her of the end of the dream, but not this morning. So what should she do next to enjoy the dream?

[Zoey Black]

Hunger. She looked up at the clock in the mall near the food court and realized that it was nearly lunch time in the dream. Sebastian and Valentine would be expecting her at Arby's. They had met for lunch for the last two days. She wondered if they would be there in the dream. She stepped into one of the side hallways between stores, the ones for employees only. She didn't know why she bothered, it was a dream and what did it matter if anyone saw her tearing holes in reality to move to other places. But then again this dream was starting to feel more real. Some of the reactions people were having were just too real for a dream...

She shrugged and tried to reach out with her mind and do what she had done before when the car had nearly hit her. It was harder this time. Probably because she was more awake in the dream and about to wake up in bed late for school. It took three tries but she finally remembered exactly the way it had felt and did it. In stead of diving through she looked at the hole in space and it was hard to accept. It really was like a doorway from here to there. She walked around it and looked at it from all sides and wasn't surprised to noticed that when viewed directly from the edge you couldn't see the doorway at all. It had no depth. Man that was freakin-a cool. Moving back to 'front' of the opening she finally stepped through and into the ladies room at Arbys. Luckily there wasn't anyone there or they would have freaked.

Zoey laughed at herself, but it felt a little uncomfortable. This dream was starting to freak her out, it was just too real. She let the opening disappear and walked out to the front of the restaurant. She was hungry and she'd never been hungry before in a dream. She looked up at the menu and decided to order a roast beef sandwhich. She quickly read the entire menu then went back and read it a second and a third time. That was the final straw. In here lucid dreaming books they always said to try and read something in the dream because writing in dreams was random and you could never read the same thing twice, that was the way to tell absolutely for sure that you were dreaming. The menu didn't change. It was a real menu. She wasn't dreaming!?! But the hole... How could she have done that if she wasn't dreaming. Was she tripping? She'd never done drugs. Maybe she was losing her mind? She quickly headed back to the bathroom and locked the door. She leaned against the door and reached out tentatively with her mind to try opening another hole in reality. It didn't happen. She almost wept with relief and frustration. What if she was losing her mind? What if someone had slipped something to her and she really was tripping?

She closed her eyes for a few minutes and took several deep breaths to regain her calm. Would it be so bad if it were real? That thought took her down a whole new line of thinking. The things she could do if it were real? It would be like winning the lottery. All her life she wanted to get away from here and go places and see things. With that ability she could go anywhere, anytime. That almost made her cry. If this wasn't real it would hurt worse than anything else in her life ever had.

One more time she reached out with her mind, but this time it wasn't tentative, she focused on how it had felt the other times and decided she wanted a doorway to her room at home. She pushed with her mind and pulled at the same time kinda like ripping a piece of fabric with invisible hands that were in her mind. It happened. The doorway opened again and she wasn't dreaming. She was awake and this was REAL!!! She squeeled in delight and tossed her back with her old shoes through into her room and stepped through long enough to touch her desk and feel the dings in the surface of the antique wood. Smiling she stepped back through into the Arbys bathroom. Boy would Sebastian and Valentine be surprised when they arrived.

She unlocked the door and strode back out to the counter in her cool new boots and ordered with a smile and confidence she'd never had before in her life.

[Valentine Cormack]

Going to Arby’s was something he was looking forward to, although he tried hard not to get too excited about it. It was just a question of time before this short but very enjoyable meeting would end. At least he’d have a summer to remember fondly when his grandchildren asked him about his youth.

Valentine felt his excitement about his newfound abilities merge with his anticipation of meeting Zoey. He was hot and cold at the same time and his palms were already wet with sweat. Gosh he hated that reaction from his body and he knew how icky Goths were about bodily fluids. Anything that could blemish their perfect attire and make up was loathed upon. Sweat to them was like garlic for Vampires.

He tried to force himself to breath calm and steady but his heart refused to slow down. If not he got even more excited as the bus reached his destination. Valentine got out and dashed to the restaurant unable to keep his cool and just walk. Opening the doors his eyes scanned for their table finding Zoey sitting there and waving at him with a huge grin on her face. Was she so glad that he’d made it? He wasn’t even sure if she’d be there in the first place and half expected to be left alone because school was off today. What an odd day.

Valentine smiled at her like never before. She couldn’t recall seeing him happier than this. Never in the years she knew him at school did she see him smile like that. The next track on his MP3-Player started playing and he had to laugh when he heard the first notes of the song.

Venus as a boy

Click to reveal..

His wicked sense of humour

Suggests exciting sex

His fingers focus on her

Touches, he's venus as a boy.

He believes in beauty

He's venus as a boy

He believes in beauty

He believes in beauty

He's venus as a boy

He believes in beauty

He's exploring

The taste of her

Arousal

So accurate

He sets off

The beauty in her

He's venus as a boy

He believes in beauty

He's venus as a boy

He believes in beauty

He believes in beauty

He's venus as a boy

He believes in beauty

[Zoey Black]

Zoey was enjoying her day off from school even more so now that she knew this wasn't some bizarre dream. For the last half hour she'd been sitting here eating and thinking about how she could use her new ability. She was going to travel all over the world for starters. She was also going to use it to get rich. She just hadn't figured that part out yet. Banks all had security cams in the vaults these days and opening a big ass nine foot hole in reality was likely to get noticed. Still, she'd figure something out. Maybe she could find some drug lord or criminal to steal the money from that way she wouldn't feel bad at least. Not that she'd feel too bad stealing from a bank anyway, the were practically criminals, just legalized robbery. Anyway, she wanted the money because she wanted her own place independent from her parents. A high rise condo with a great view of a city. She'd find the perfect place in her travels she was sure.

Then Valentine walked in and she her own smile froze on her face. Seeing him beaming with delight was like being caught like a dear in the headlights. In all their years at school she'd never seen him really smile and it was gorgeous! Holy crap he was good looking. She had always thought he was hot, but until this moment she'd never really realized he was super model hot. Damn!

Regaining her composure she waved him over to join her. She said, "You won't believe what has happened..." At the same time he spoke, "I have something soo cool to show you..." They both grinned and she reached over and took his hand and squeezed, "Ok, you first. What has you grinning like you won the lottery?" She let go of his hand a bit reluctantly, it wouldn't do to have Sebastian walk in and see them holding hands. Not that he had any claim on her or anything, but she knew he was hurting and didn't want to add another nail to his coffin. In truth Zoey was a bit confused about her own feelings. He heart went out to Sebastian and over the last couple days she had gotten to know him better and knew he was really a nice guy and not a typical jock at all. On the other hand she had though Valentine was hot for a while now and now that she was getting to know him better she realized he actually had some depth to go with those good looks. What was a girl to do!?!

She just grinned and waited to hear what had Val so happy.

[Valentine Cormack]

Valentine’s eyes lingered on Zoey’s hands savouring the memory of how their hands touched. He was not used to physical contact and it caught him off guard. His smile lost a bit of its joyous beam but was still pretty dashing.

“Something is happening to me, Zoey.”, he said trying to remain as calm as possible. She could tell that something indeed had changed. His voice most of all of which she had grown fond of listening to because he spoke so rarely had a melodic undertone to it but it was hard to point out what was different.

“It’s hard to explain – do you have a favourite song?”, he asked her innocently. He never dared ask something from her before. What was going on?

[Zoey Black]

Had something happened to Valentine too? His voice certainly sounded different and he was acting different too, more confident, at least a little. Or maybe that was because Sebastian wasn't here, he'd been around all the other times that they'd had lunch together. She thought for a minute about a her favorite music, but it just struck her wrong to have Valentine sing Type O Negative or any of that. If he were going to sing to her and she assumed that's what he had in mind, she wanted to hear something pretty.

She smiled at him, "I'd rather you picked. Something pretty. I'm in too good of a mood for dark music right now." She laughed a little, "Who'd have thought I'd ever say that right?"

[Wa'ne]

Sebastian walked in just as Zoey laughed, still in work clothes and looking like death warmed over.

He made her laugh?

Regardless of being knocked down a notch or two in the hope he had of Zoey becoming more than just Zoey, the issue pressing on his mind was worse, and he approached the table eagerly, glad that they were here on a day of freedom.

"Hey guys, what's so funny?"

[Valentine Cormack]

“Hey Sebastian…”, his voice trailed off at the end.

Sebastian’s sudden appearance did the last to put Valentine back into his introvert mode. His posture got more slouched and he slumped back on his chair literally deflating like a pierced balloon. He smiled briefly at Sebastian while his eyes flashed back to Zoey. Something was going on that was obvious but Valentine didn’t dare say anything. Even with the cool thing that happened earlier at home it paled in comparison to being here with Zoey.

He wanted to say something but the words died in his throat. Instead he swallowed hard and took the menu shuffling through the pages as if he was considering what to order for lunch.

[Zoey Black]

Zoey was glad Sebastian had arrived, but wished the timing had been a little better. She had started to see a different side of Valentine, but he'd just shut down like a light switch being flipped. She would have to make a point of getting some alone time with him and see if he could be brought out of his shell. Not that quiet Valentine was bad, but the new Val seemed fun.

"Hey Sebastian. Valentine was just telling me something strange happened with him last night. I think he was about to serenade me." She grinned at both boys. "He's not the only one though. I discovered something amazing this morning myself." Her stomach which should be full after having just consumed a roast beef sandwich growled loudly enough to be heard and she blushed.

"I don't know what's going on but I'm really hungry today... sorry about that. Tell you what, lets order some food then I think we should take a little field trip if you guys are up for it. I know this really cool little shop downtown that might have some answers to what has happened. I hang out there sometimes."

[Wa'ne]

Serenade...really?

"Hey Val...uh ok Zoey, what would you like, I'll get it...Val, you want anything." Sebastian said, patting him on the back.

Sebastian pulled out his wallet as he waited for an answer, glancing at Zoey, then the now-reserved Val.

They're better off together anyway, what the Hell was I thinking, I'd just get her killed in some storm.

It was typical of the last few days for Sebastian to offer to pay for the food, he always offered, even going so far as to make sure he was first in line and telling the counter person to hold his change for the next orders.

Wait...answers...answers to what?

He turned back to Zoey quickly, "Answers? What happened that you're gonna get answers at a shop in downtown Vancouver?"

[Zoey Black]

"Oh, well not downtown Vancouver, downtown Portland. There is this awesome cool little shop and the lady that runs it is the real deal when it comes to things 'out of the ordinary'. But don't worry, I can have us there and back in the blink of an eye." She grinned. "My mother does a lot of shopping in Portland and I go with her every chance I get in order to go and hang out with Moira. That's the lady I mentioned. Plus, you know, I just like to get out of town every chance I can. See new places and stuff."

Her stomach growled again and she blushed. "Jeez, maybe I should pay today, I think I could eat two sandwiches I'm so hungry." Seeing Sebastian's protest she relented, "Fine, I'll take two big roast beef sandwiches. And thanks for getting lunch again. You are going to have to let me pay tomorrow, I insist." She smiled again, but suspected he'd find some way to pay despite her insistence.

[Valentine Cormack]

Whatever had affected Zoey it must've been something as cool as what happened to him. Her enthusiasm was infectious even for him and given his general better mood than average Valentine couldn't help but smile which almost made it to a grin.

As Sebastian went to place their orders Valentine leaned forward carefully watching Sebastian with his eyes and whispered to Zoey, "I think that's an awesome idea, Zoey. I can't show you what happened to me her anyway but I'm sure you'll like it.", he was close enough to smell her perfume and it only did enhance the image he had from her. Zoey was really special in his mind. Still smiling he reclined on his chair and waited for their orders to be served.

[Zoey Black]

Valentine's private smile for her nearly left Zoey in a puddle on the floor. How did this guy not realize he had the looks of a supermodel? Zoey was a girl and had learned over the last couple years that she was decent looking, certainly above average, but Val was more than just above average, it just didn't show through because of the attitude and body language. That smile though, and the confident way he'd been acting before Sebastian arrived... tasty!

After Sebastian came back with the bags of food, "So, you look like you've had a rough day. Mine started out pretty bad, but it got very cool. So now that we are together yours will be better too. I know it will."

She grinned, "You wanna eat here or take it to Moira's shop? I'm serious when I say I can get us there before the food gets cold." Seeing their disbelief she said, "Tell you what, I will bet you dinner tonight that the food will still be hot, and by that I mean you have to let me buy dinner tonight." Grinning wickedly, "What do you say, you guys up for it?"

[Wa'ne]

"So you know Moira too then?" He said, picking at his curly fries, (the only thing he ordered for himself.) "Did you get a new car or something? That why you're so jazzed?"

He shoved his own feelings of remorse and guilt down, these two were riding a high for some reason and he wasn't going to spoil it, let alone burden them with his nutjob theories.

"I'm okay with going, but I gotta get back home soon to catch up on work."

[Valentine Cormack]

Valentine smiled at Zoey because there was simply no other way for him to look at her. Her bright mood and overall enthusiasm made him feel just fine even with Sebastian's presence. Actually he liked Sebastian but the situation with Zoey made it difficult for him to open up more. He was terrified by the idea to be left out again and just watch as they found happiness. Maybe his perception got skewed but it definitely was a problem for him even if it was selfmade.

He looked up from his dish and nodded in agreement. He already told Zoey it was a good idea to go and instead of saying anything he simply stood up and grabbed his sandwich. He was obviously ready to go.

[Zoey Black]

Zoey grinned broadly as she got up from the table as well. "Ok guys let's go. Trust me on this ok, you won't believe it." She lead the way bag of food in one hand and backpack in the other. She headed outside and looked around for a decently secluded spot without security cam coverage. Finally she settled on a spot across the street with some tall bushes and lead the skeptical boys around behind them. "Ok here goes..."

She tried to quiet her mind and focus but it was difficult with the two cute boys watching, but after a few seconds she thought she was ready and reached out with her will to rip open a hole in reality between here and the little room at the back of Moira's shop where she usually did private readings for customers. That was the safest place she was comfortably familiar with. She had no idea what would happen if she opened a doorway right on top of someone, but the image that brought to mind was not pleasant, so until she had time to experiment, it would be safest to try and avoid populated places.

It was hard to open the doorway, it felt kind of slippery, but not as much as that one into the restroom at Arby's had earlier. She thought that might have to do with how familiar she was with the place. The less familiar the destination the harder it would be to travel there. Have to remember to try someplace I've never been before and see if that's even possible...

The rip in reality happened with it's disturbing tattered edges. Before the trio was a roughly nine foot by nine foot opening from this spot into a dim room somewhere else. Zoey's grin got even large seeing the shock on the faces of the two boys. "Told you I could get you there before the food got hot. Now you both have to let me buy your dinner tonight! Ha ha!" She stepped through into the room and gestured for them to follow. "Hurry up, I don't want anyone seeing my doorway."

After a couple moments reluctance both boys came through. Beyond was Moira's back room. It had a table suitable for doing readings or just sitting and reading along with a couple of comfortable chairs that she was well familiar with. Zoey frowned a little, the lights in the store were half off like the store was closed, but it was just past lunch. At the very least Maria should have been around watching the shop. "Damn, I hope Moira isn't closed for the day and gone somewhere. If anyone will have answers about this ability it's got to be her. She's not one of those New Age hacks that are all about crystals and incense and don't have a clue what they believe in. She's the real deal. Let's go find her."

She nodded to the boy's words of astonishment and telling her how cool her ability was and basked in the attention, but she did so with only part of her focus as moved out into the shop looking for Moira. The shop was indeed closed, or at least the sign was turned around and the door locked. Moved to the closed door at the stairs and knocked loudly, "Moira! Are you here? It's Zoey and I've brought two friends." She tried the door and found that it wasn't locked so she opened it and headed upstairs with the boys in tow. "Moira, it's Zoey."

[The Story Guide]

(continued in All Together Now)