CLOSER TO THE EDGE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-BLANK SPACE
Jo had turned on the faucet and began washing some of the dishes. She turned around and felt a smile forming on her face. Lassiter was sitting next to Emily, his head inclined and he was talking to her in a low voice about something. She was giggling and beaming from ear to ear.
For a while Jo felt normal. That things were finally in line and she could lead a normal life. Everything seemed right in that moment.
Until Lassiter’s phone rang. Lassiter answered it and Jo wiped her hands on the dish towel. Today she was wearing a pair of jeans and a red plaid button up shirt with short sleeves. On her head was a gray saggy crochet hat. Her blond hair with black streaks hung down around her shoulders in soft waves. She watched Lassiter anxiously. He hung up and looked up at her.
Jo could tell by the look on his face that it wasn’t good. She braced herself.
“That was O’Hara,” he said slowly standing up. “A large barn appeared on a rancher’s farm about 4 miles from here out of nowhere.”
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Upon arriving, Jo’s heart rate sped up. They had left Emily with Henry. Sure enough, as they pulled onto the muddy dirt path that led onto the farm, a large slate gray building was standing in the center of the field. There was a strange mist around it that made it seem almost eerie and mystical at the same time. Lassiter, O’Hara, Shawn and Gus and Jo climbed out of the cars and stood next to the ranch owner.
“Did this just appear out of nowhere?” Lassiter grunted at the old man who was at least in his 60’s with gray hair and a goatee.
“Yis sir,” he responded nodding. “Never thought I’d see anything in my life like it.”
Jo stuffed her hands into the pockets of her parka and just stared at the barn. Suddenly, there was a loud ringing in her ears and something was pulling her toward the barn. She began slowly walking toward it, completely unaware of the voices around her. She had just reached the entrance when she was aware of someone behind her. She turned around. Lassiter was standing there talking to her but eventually the ringing in her ears subsided and she could hear him.
“Miss Matthews, what are you doing?” he asked both looking alarmed and concerned.
“I have to go in remember?” Jo answered bluntly.
“No,” Lassiter said shaking his head forcefully. “You don’t. We don’t know what is going on or anything Miss Matthews.”
Jo turned her eyes back onto the barn and at that moment the barn doors slid open. There was a blinding white light and that familiar tug Jo felt in her gut and she took a step forward disappearing into the light and into the barn.
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Lassiter shouted and went to grab her but she vanished into the light. Lassiter glanced back at the others. They had frightened expressions on their faces and without so much as a blink of an eye, Lassiter followed right after Ingrid.
Inside the barn was nothing but blank white walls that seemed to stretch on for miles. It was almost like a maze in here. Lassiter walked forward, unsure of what was about to happen. He seemed to be walking for almost a mile when he saw Ingrid. Thin wisps of smoke and fog coiled around his ankles. He gently grabbed Ingrid’s shoulder and turned her around to face him. He froze. Her eyes were milky white and she was staring blankly at him.
“Ingrid?” he asked in a sullen quiet voice.
“She can’t hear you,” a voice called from in front of them. “She has no memories at this point.”
Lassiter looked up and spied an older man, dressed in a white suit and tie. He had gray hair and a beard. He wore glasses also and used a cane.
“Who are you?” Lassiter demanded. “What is this place? What is wrong with Miss Matthews?”
“My name is Sal,” the old man said lumbering closer. “I’m the ‘care taker’ of this barn if you will. She is not Ingrid Matthews anymore.” He said to Lassiter leaning on his cane. “You see, every 50 years or so, there is something called the Lux Meteor storm. Every time the meteor storm hit, this barn would appear. Each time there would be a woman who would appear and have her memories, new personalities and new identities that would come from it. Ingrid, as you know her, was also known as Stella, Caitlin, and several other names which I’m sure you’re familiar with. Each time she died, the new personalities tried to take over, but for some reason she always managed to fight them back. Though I’m sure there were those when she was a complete stranger to you am I right?”
Lassiter was silent as Sal continued.
“The group here which I am sure you’re aware of, the Autonox’s? They were trying to set things right because the more time she spends out of the barn, the more time and space will become corrupt. She isn’t meant to stay here.” Sal said glancing from Lassiter to Ingrid who was still stone rigid. “She’s meant to stay here and 50 years in the future, return with a whole new personality and ID. I’m sure you’ve met the three werewolves?”
Lassiter only swallowed hard and nodded once.
“I thought so,” Sal said pacing slowly back and forth. “These werewolves are what you might call the ‘gate keepers’. They are set here to hunt and kill those that do not return to the barn in the slotted amount of time. Its to keep things in balance. If you've read the bit about her remaining the world, there will be chaos right?" (Lassiter nodded at this) "That is not true. She was destined for this barn. Disregard what you might've read. However she IS bonded with you though I can see that clearly. Now have you encountered anything else?”
“We encountered some sort of invisible feline,” Lassiter said his voice cracking and dry.
“Mm,” Sal said nodding. “Felis. They are just here to track and report to us but sometimes you get a rogue one that will kill for fun. They tend to resort to their primal instincts. Hard to control them.”
“Please,” Lassiter said thickly keeping his hand on Ingrids’ shoulder. “There must be a way for her to remain here.”
Sal pulled out a pocket watch on a chain and flipped it open.
“I’m sorry,” he said shaking his head. “It is her time. She must remain here but you, you may leave.”
“What about her daughter?” Lassiter challenged. “Emily…she is going to wonder where her mother is.”
Sal looked shocked.
“Daughter?” he mused. “That is highly unusual. Most do not form attachments.”
He sauntered forward and stood in front of Ingrid. He placed his index fingers on her temples and closed his eyes.
“Hmm this is most unusual,” he said. “It seems all of her past memories and personalities have all taken such a strong bond to you.” He said turning to look at Lassiter.
Sal removed his fingers from Ingrid’s temples and her eyes returned to their normal color. She turned to him.
“Lassiter? What are you doing here!” she cried shocked.
“I came in for you,” he grunted . “I am not about to let you stay here.”
Ingrid seemed speechless at this point as she just gazed at him.
“Please,” Lassiter pleaded again. “There must be a way for her to remain here. She has people that care about her greatly.” He said avoiding eye contact with Ingrid, who had grabbed his arm.
Sal was silent.
“Very well,” he said exhaling at last. “She may remain behind…however, someone has to come into the barn. It cannot be empty.”
Lassiter glanced at Ingrid finally. She had the utmost look of shock and then a understanding flashed across her face. She shook her head violently.
“I will remain,” Lassiter said flatly.
“No,” Ingrid protested violently. “No.”
“Miss Matthews,” Lassiter said standing in front of her now as she looked up at him. “There is no other way. You need to stay here and look after Emily.” He said swallowing so that his Adams apple bobbed. “It’s fine. Trust me. Tell O’Hara, Spencer and Guster what is going on.”
“O’Hara needs you!” Ingrid said wide-eyed. “She’s your partner! You can’t just abandon her. I’m not worth it.”
Lassiter was torn. His heart was aching like someone had slipped a knife into it. She had a point dammit. He slowly raised a hand to the side of her face, sweeping some of her hair behind her ear. At that moment, gun fire rang out. He saw the front of Sal’s chest spreading a ruby liquid across it before he collapsed dead. Lassiter grabbed Ingrid and instinctively pushed her behind him.
It was the leader of the Autonox’s. Alexander Cross. He was holding a rifle aimed at Lassiter and Ingrid.
“Cross,” Lassiter growled angrily.
Lassiter felt Ingrid behind him clutching the back of his suit jacket.
“Well well,” Cross said smirking. “What do we have here?”
He began slowly circling them like a predator, but Lassiter followed his pacing in the circle keeping Ingrid behind him the entire time.
“I see you’ve entered the barn,” Cross said cocking the hammer back on the rifle and raising it again. “You won’t escape this time, Ingrid, if that is your real name. You’re gonna stay here.” He said smirking as he lowered the rifle and aimed it at Ingrid’s knee. He pulled the trigger.
Searing, volcanic hot pain shot through Ingrid’s body as she dropped to her good knee. She screamed and sobbed in absolute agony. Lassiter growled as his shoulders rolled. The wolf was starting to come through at this point. Within moments, Lassiter felt the change coming on. The jacket ripped in half down his spine as did his shirt. He dropped to all fours as he felt his body contorting and stretching into the wolf. Before long, his human form was gone and the salt and pepper colored wolf with ice blue eyes remained behind. He shook the torn halves of his clothing from his new body and pinned back his ears at Cross.
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Jo watched as Lassiter transformed before her eyes into the gray wolf. She was sitting on the ground with her good leg tucked beneath her other one. Blood stained her knee. The pain was so unbearable she was slowly drifting in and out of consciousness. She placed a hand over her knee as blood flowed through her fingers. She whimpered as she watched the massive wolf that was Lassiter slowly start some sort of ‘dance’ with Cross. Lassiter was growling loudly, his ears pinned back against his skull, hackles raised. Cross got off a round at him, but it simply grazed his face by inches. Lassiter circled Ross this time like prey. His massive paws were about twice the size of Ingrid’s hands, palm down. He looked about the size of a dire wolf now that Ingrid realized. His tail swung back and forth with rage. His lips were pulled back, exposing white canines and incisors. Ingrid whimpered again and crawled over to the wall area, pressing her back against it and letting her knee stretch out. She cried out in pain and breathed heavily. She was rendered at this point crippled. Lassiter finally lunged at Cross and began attacking him. In the struggle, the rifle was knocked free and skidded across the floor toward her. She reached for it but with her fingers bloody, they slipped, causing the gun so slide away from her several more inches. She sobbed.
At that moment, three more large wolves burst into the barn through a blast of bright light. They too, lunged at Cross. Cross was yelling and shouting as all four wolves attacked him. One wolf clamped its jaws around his throat and tugged. Cross let out a dying gurgle and fell silent as blood pooled around his neck and shoulders.
The three wolves sat on their haunches now and faced Jo. Lassiter loped over to her and sat down next to her. He pushed his muzzle under her throat before raising his head to the three wolves.
They suddenly disappeared and three women dressed in white robes appeared. One had long black hair that was wound around her head in an elegant bun. The other had blond hair in a long braid, and the third had red hair that was curly.
“I see you have formed a strong bond with this person,” The red haired woman said motioning to Lassiter who was panting as Ingrid ran her fingers through his salt and pepper fur. “While the rules state you are to remain here in the barn,” she continued tilting her head. “We have found someone to take your place and remain here to do Sal’s job. We are the Gate Keepers of this barn. We are sort of like the ‘fates’ if you will. We determine what happens and who goes and stays..”
She waved her hand over Cross’ remains. He soon returned to life as though nothing had happened to him.
“He will take your place here,” The black haired woman said to Ingrid. “Please understand we do not normally do this. But we have seen the truth in this man’s heart and we have made an exception. You will have no memories of the past lives that have happened or events. You will remember nothing.”
“Will I know him?” Jo asked in a strained voice as Lassiter’s head whipped around to look at her.
“Yes,” The blond woman said. “Your friendships will remain intact. You will just not remember this barn, or anything that led up to it. If you do remember, there will be consequences.”
With that, they vanished.
“Lassiter I can’t walk,” Jo whimpered.
Lassiter took the initiative and grabbed her arm gently with his jaws and began pulling her out of the barn just as it vanished into thin air again with a flash of light.
Startled cries were met when they were finally out of the barn. O’Hara, Shawn and Gus rushed over to Jo.
O’Hara called 911. Shawn and Gus were kneeling by Jo, with worried and concerned expressions on their faces. Lassiter was standing next to Shawn, his shoulder barely reaching the top of Shawn’s head. With a grunt, Lassiter pushed his nose against Jo’s shoulder before turning and bolting into the wooded area disappearing. A soft blackness enveloped Jo and she slipped into unconsciousness.
Jo blinked a few times and realized she was lying on a bed. Her vision cleared and she slowly sat up. She was at Lassiter’s condo. She suddenly remembered her knee, and consciously moved her hand there. There was no pain. She slowly tentatively bent it; nothing. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly stood up, preparing for her knee to go out from under her. But again, nothing seemed wrong. She walked into the living room and found Lassiter and Emily asleep on the couch. Emily had been curled up against him under his arm. She was out cold. Lassiter’s chin was resting against his chest and he was breathing softly. She felt a smile forming on her face.
She walked over to Lassiter and gently shook him awake. He quickly opened his eyes and he blinked a few times to shake off the sleep.
“Miss Matthews,” he grunted quietly not wanting to wake Emily. “What are you doing up?”
“Just woke up,” she said slowly sitting down next to Lassiter. “Do you remember anything?”
She watched him carefully.
Lassiter frowned for a moment then shook his head.
“No,” he admitted. “I just remember running through the woods. The others brought you here so you can mend that knee but nothing else. You?”
Jo frowned and shook her head.
“No,” she said quietly. She was silent for a moment before she leaned in and kissed Lassiter on the cheek. “Thank you for saving me.” She said quietly chewing on her bottom lip.
He grunted in response but watched her. He carefully maneuvered so that he didn’t disturb Emily and raised a hand, placing it on the side of Jo’s face. He slowly moved in and Jo closed her eyes. He planted a soft kiss on her lips. Jo responded back, kissing him just as softly and gently.
After a few moments they pulled back and Jo felt her cheeks flushing with color.
“I’m generally not good with this mushy stuff,” Lassiter grunted at her. “But I do want you to know that I do…” his voice trailed off. “Love you.” He finished finally.
Jo smiled.
“I feel the same,” she admitted softly throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him against her. She hugged him tightly, her chin resting on his shoulder. She felt his arms slowly encircling her. One around her waist the other around her shoulders. She felt so warm and secure. He let out a soft huff against her hair.
She finally felt the happiness filling in her chest. Things finally seemed like it was normal.
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That evening at dinner time, Henry had invited them all over for a barbecue. They sat around the large picnic table laughing and having a good time. Henry had made some delicious hamburgers and steaks. Jo was happily talking and laughing with Shawn and Gus. Shawn was making the hamburger talk so that Emily was laughing hysterically. Jo felt so happy at this point.
The strange occurrences in Santa Barbara seemed to have stopped. The snow had melted and things were back to normal. The weather was sunny and cool.
Suddenly a loud explosion in the street caused Lassiter to grab Jo and Emily and push them under the table protectively. Shawn, Gus, Henry and O’Hara dove under as well as they heard debris from something hitting the top of the picnic table….and a tire happened to thunk and then roll off the picnic table and onto Henry’s lawn.
Once everything settled, Lassiter let Jo and Emily get up from underneath the table. Shawn and Gus climbed out and stood looking shocked. O’Hara got up too and Henry.
“What in the name of all that’s good and holy was that?” Lassiter grunted. “A car bomb?”
At that moment, O’Hara’s cell phone rang. After several moments, she got off the phone and nudged Lassiter.
“That was the chief,” she said to him. “there was a car explosion for sure. But,” O’Hara’s voice trailed off uncertainly as the others watched her carefully.
“But what O’Hara, spit it out,” Lassiter grunted impatiently.
“But when the shell was checked, there was no bomb, nothing that would cause the car to explode. Witnesses said there was a young man that walked by it and it exploded seconds after he passed,”
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Henry had dismissed them helping them clean up his yard, but Shawn was made to help him. Gus volunteered and Emily was left with Henry. She sat on the porch eating some ice cream while the adults cleaned up. Jo offered to stay with Henry and help too. Which he seemed grateful for.
Lassiter promised to let them know what was going on.
Within about an hour, the yard was cleaned up back to normal and the tire was properly disposed. Jo felt better but she was still worried about what was happening now with the bombs. Could one person really control fire? Like a pyrokinetic?
“Do you guys believe in pyrokinesis?” Jo offered them curiously sitting on the porch as they sipped some iced tea. Shawn was sitting next to her, Gus was leaning against the railing and Emily and Henry were sitting on the porch playing a game of cards.
“Why not?” Gus volunteered. “There have been some reported documents of telekinesis…so why not someone who can manipulate fire?”
“Gus,” Shawn chimed in. “Don’t be a celery in a broccoli bunch buddy. It’s nearly impossible.”
“Why Shawn?” Jo asked looking at him. “Why is it impossible? You do realize that most humans only use, what is it again? 10 percent of their brains? Who knows what the brain is really capable of doing if someone is using 100 percent of it.”
“In Shawn’s case, that 10 percent is actually stretching it a bit,” Henry added frowning at his son.
Jo giggled and so did Emily. Shawn just stuck his tongue out at his father. Jo shook her head and silently laughed.
At that moment Shawn’s cell phone rang. The ringtone caused a few snickers to go around and a groan from Gus as it was called “Rump Shaker”. Gus made some disappointing clicks with his mouth at him but Shawn ignored him and answered it.
“Hey Lassie what’s up?” Shawn asked. There was a brief moment of silence before, “Okay we’ll be right there.”
When Shawn hung up, he turned to Jo and Gus.
“Lassie wants us down there. He says we need to see something,”
Henry promised to keep an eye on Emily as the two of them were still having fun with the card game. Jo hopped into the back of the blueberry and they headed to the precinct.
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Once at the precinct, Jo, Shawn and Gus jogged into the bullpen. O’Hara met them.
“You guys need to see this,” she said ushering them to follow her toward what looked like one of the interrogation rooms. She led them into the viewing room behind the one-way mirror. Jo stood in between Gus and Shawn. There was a man about 28 sitting at the table. Lassiter was sitting in front of him with the strangest expression on his face. It was a cross between one of his well-known ‘death’ glares and something along the lines of shock, surprise, awe and fear. The young man’s palm was face up and a ball of fire was flickering there just a few inches above the skin, but the skin was un-touched by the flame. The young man had a calm expression on his face.
“Wow,” Gus breathed out slowly.
“This is incredible,” Shawn volunteered next.
“Yeah,” O’Hara said with a touch of dryness. “He threatened to burn Lassiter alive if he didn’t let him go.”
Jo narrowed her eyes and exited the viewing room. She was angry at this guy. How dare he threaten her friend? Something was drawing her, she knew she had to go in there.
She sensed the others were probably startled and fearful but she grabbed the doorknob to the interrogation room and turned it. The door opened and she stepped in. Lassiter looked up in shock and had an expression on his face of ‘what in the sam hell are you doing here?’ but Jo ignored him and calmly walked over to the table. She stood next to Lassiter.
“Why are you threatening my friend?” she demanded.
The young man smirked at her.
“This your girlfriend, old man? Got a girl doing your battles now?” the young man mocked.
“Don’t even think about playing head games,” Lassiter growled through his teeth.
The young man just simply smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. Suddenly, his hand shot out and grabbed Jo’s arm. She felt his fingers tighten around her forearm, before the searing pain of the fire hit her. She screamed in agony as her hand and forearm were now on fire. She took several steps backwards as Lassiter, in a blink of an eye, had ripped off his jacket and quickly threw it over her arm, dousing the flames.
The young man simply got up and walked out. Jo was whimpering at this point as Lassiter’s hands were gently keeping the jacket around her hand and arm. She was shaking violently.
“Is she alright?”
“I’m calling 911,”
That was Shawn and O’Hara at this point as they all milled into the room. Shawn had come up on Jo’s left side and put his arm around her to offer support. She leaned into him, whimpering as tears formed in her eyes.
“I’m gonna get that son-of-a-bitch,” Lassiter growled angrily still keeping his grip gentle around her arm. His eyes were focused on Jo. She knew he could see her pain and suffering and that he would never tolerate seeing one of his friends in pain.
Within not even 3 minutes, the EMT’s arrived and helped Jo into the back of the ambulance. Sitting in the back, she looked up and spied Shawn, gently elbowing Lassiter in the ribs. She saw him say something but couldn’t hear over the hiss of oxygen as they had put an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Lassiter soon joined her in the back. She looked surprised, but also relieved as the pain began causing bits of darkness to creep into the peripherals of her vision and she soon blacked out.
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