10/04/2024
The Flathead
Flats were a poor choice. Her feet were completely soaked. Every moment in the rain spawned pools of mud that caked and harbored inside the space between her toes. Running a race with time stressed the failure point of her soles. She raced into a nearby structure desperate to escape the rain.
A gentleman perched outside made an attempt to interrupt her approach, “Excuse me..! Miss!”
Before entering the building she gave a response without thinking. “No. Thank you!”
After a few moments the young woman emerged – a dejected look on her face. Still waiting outside the curious gentleman asked, “Your meeting was cancelled, wasn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“The meeting you raced to get here for. It was cancelled. You still managed to get here early – despite running through the rain on foot - I’m impressed.“
“I’m sorry… Do I know you?”
“Oh… Right! No. You don’t know me… yet. My friend here says she knows you quite well, though.” He gestured to a cat squatting nearby. “She said you would be here. She’s been waiting a long time for you.”
Completely bewildered the young woman turned to the gentlemen - the cat - then back to the stranger. Desperate to fabricate an escape she muttered a hasty response, “Look, Mr…?”
“Doc! Everyone calls me Doc now. No one cares to recall my real name anymore. You’re Detective Singh, from the Agency. You came to meet the Affairs Council about your investigation. They’re afraid you’ll disturb the status quo so they’re stringing you along – hoping you’ll give up your search.”
“Okay…! Look, Doc… I’ve got people waiting for me, so -- ”
“-- No you don’t. Your electric car ran out of battery on the highway. We walked passed you on our way here. Truth is, even if you were able to find a serviceman to meet you out here your battery wouldn’t charge completely until tomorrow. Plus, service is spotty inside Flathead Reserve. Which means you probably can’t reach anyone on your cell phone to come help you.” Doc raised a concealed umbrella stashed away inside his coat. “I don’t mean to come off as a creep. It’s just we’ve been waiting out here in the cold for some time now. Your friend insisted you’re always early, and that it was important we arrive on time.” Huddled underneath a nearby bench the cat mewed and licked the pads of her feet. “I would appreciate getting out of the cold and rain sooner than later. I live nearby. You can use the phone at my place to call for assistance. It would be a short drive from here, but your friend insisted we walk. I’m honestly surprised she made it here considering her condition.”
As she hastily fumbled to raise the umbrella over her soaked head Singh couldn’t help but feel empathy for the drenched feline. She took a breath to consider her own circumstance as she glanced around the desolate mountainous terrain. “I would appreciate any assistance you can offer, Doc. I’ve got to reschedule a meeting with the council. Theirs crucial evidence at the University I know will help crack this case open.”
“It may interest you to know - I’ve been a silent beneficiary to the council for some time now. I know all about the scared little boy you’re looking for. Some truths take time to reveal themselves completely to us. Take time to fully appreciate what’s being presented to you, detective.” Doc took the moment to open his arms and present what seemed to be nothing, “The solar eclipse is today. Two out of five council members are in a sister reservation, in Eerie - commemorating the event. They won’t be back until some time later, after the eclipse. If we hurry home we can partake in some local festivities, and I can help you find what you’re looking for.”
Though visibly suspicious Sing allowed her curiosity to best her, “Any information you have on the missing person would be invaluable. Although I am grateful it would be mutually beneficial to warn you not to try anything funny, Doc. I’m armed with a lethal weapon.”
“I would hope so. You can never be missed if no one is looking for you. Like your friend, Mits, here has been looking for you. By the way, she seems eager to move on.“ Quietly the aged feline began to slowly saunter down a nearby path.
A long, tedious walk later the motley crew limped into a neighboring compound. A gate with a sign atop it reading: Polson Mountain Resort funneled them into the property. Stoically Doc led them into a nearby cabin secluded in the woods. A warm fire greeted them as they entered the abode. Detective Singh instinctually collapsed upon a pillow lying on the floor near the hearth. Exhausted by the events of the day Singh let her guard down, allowing her muscles to relax. The soaked feline took on a similar sentiment – nesting inside a nearby pillow she seemed quite familiar with.
“So, Doc, is veterinarian your field of focus or do you have an intimate relationship with this cat?”
From an adjoining room Doc replied, “Oh, I’m not a medical doctor. People call me 'Doc' since most come to me for a quick fix to their problems. Like Mits over there: she showed up about seven years ago - a complete wreck. Fixed her up, as well as I could, and she’s stuck around ever since. She naps there most the time. Barely eats – if at all. She finally sat up the other day. Said you were coming, and to be ready.”
“Are you saying you speak to cats?”
“Hah! That would be weird, wouldn’t it? No, cats talk at me. They mostly speak to themselves, really.”
Doc entered with a stack of blankets and a steaming hot tea set, “I had everything prepared before we left. I knew time would be an issue.” He covered her with a warm thick blanket, handed her a teacup, and filled it with an aromatic tea before pouring a cup for himself. The scent of the leaf filled the room.
While patiently waiting for Doc to finish his sip of tea first Singh took time to inhale the aroma. She sensed the room fill with the v***r. “This smells wonderful!” She took her time to ingest the warm liquid – letting it warm the insides of her body. “That’s delicious she exclaimed!” Noticing movement Sing turned her attention to the cat. Slowly it sat up, locked its glowing eyes onto Singh’s - refusing to look away. After what felt like an eternity Singh looked to the cup to see the tea stirring inside. Soon the room began to stir in the same counter clockwise motion. Without taking a beat to notice, Sing turned to the cat’s direction and exclaimed, “I DO know you...!”
The lights entering the cabin slowly began to dim. Eventually the fireplace solely illuminated the entirety of the room. Before the light could escape Doc explained, “The eclipse – it’s starting! We made it just in time.” Singh turned to the fireplace. The contrasting brightness caused her to wince and instinctually blink.
When she opened her eyes she found the room completely blacked out – devoid of any light. She quickly turned to search for her companions. Panic sunk in as she realized her head was completely covered, and her hands were bound behind her back. She could hear someone rummaging through something behind her.
“Hello!? Who’s there?!”
Without notice the cowl covering her face was abruptly removed. She found herself in the n**e, hogtied to the frame of an unfamiliar bed. A mirror stationed on the dresser opposite to her fully revealed her current circumstance. She found her own reflection to not be her own. A young native girl – her innocence still embracing her natural beauty – echoed her curious glances in the mirror. Frantically she looked around desperate to figure out where she was. In the corner of the mirror she clocked the gold leaf of a bible’s pages reflecting light - from atop a bedside tabletop. Placed just next to it sat a coffee mug. Having stayed their the night previous, she instantly recognized the ‘America’s Best Inn’ logo wrapping around it. She momentarily quieted herself to clearly hear the airplanes overhead – flying to and from the airport. Suddenly a dark figure moved into frame from the other side of the mirror. As the figure stepped into the light their identity instantly registered to her. Her missing person, Richard E. Bitz, Senator Tester’s missing nephew in-law. The revelation was brief. The horror of the situation sunk in quickly. The sound of a belt clumsily being unbound came from the blind spot behind her. Her heart sank as she heard Richard’s zipper become undone.
“No! Stop! Don’t do this!”
“Shut up! I want to see your face. What I don’t want is to hear your dirty mouth.”
A sharp blow to the back of her head knocked her out cold.
The sound of running water caused her to stir. She felt, what seemed like sandpaper, lick her face. She managed to crack one eye open to see Mitts licking her cheek. Rising water soon ran down her nostril startling her into an upright position. She stood to her feet, and began coughing up violently. Turning to find Mits revealed a much younger Mits licking the cheek of a co**se – laying in the space she awoke from. In the middle of a river’s bed the young girl - whose face she saw in the mirror - lay splayed out in front of her. Like a discarded ragdoll her limbs splayed out into an inhuman display. A murder of crows circling overhead began to cackle and caw. Hauntingly, a wolf’s howl rung out from the depths of the forest.
From the other side of the river a voice cried out to her, “Agent Singh! Over here – quickly!”
Fervently waving her down from the bank of the river was Doc. A crow streaked pass Sing’s face – interrupting her acknowledgement. She turned to look down the mouth of the river to see the entire murder of crows now swarming towards her. She scooped up a nonplus Mitts and sprinted towards the riverbank Doc occupied. She made it just in time to avoid the oncoming flock of crows. Doc reached out to help her up out the river.
“I found you. Thank goodness!”
“Where are we? What is going on?”
Doc took quick stock of their surroundings, “This looks like the mouth of the Flathead River.” Doc pointed to a property across the river and explained, “That’s the Kerr property of there. I helped fund the development of their fence in exchange for eggs from the Ostriches they have penned up.” He looked back at the co**se laying in the riverbed. “That looks like Myra Rose. She went missing seven years ago, after the last eclipse. Guess we know where she ended up now.”
“That doesn’t explain how we got here.”
“We’re dream walking. I assumed you’d done this before… You took off so quickly.”
Before Agent Singh could further interrogate her host an earthshaking roar emitted from further up the length of the river. She turned to investigate just in time to witness a torrent of water rush towards them.
“Looks like they’re releasing water from the Kerr dam –“
Before Doc could finish a cry rang out from up the river.
“HELP! HELP ME! HELP!”
Approaching the pair at an increasing rate was a young boy – flailing uncontrollably in the river. Unsuccessfully the young man desperately made attempts to grab trees, branches, and shrubbery that extended into the river from the bank.. Without hesitating Doc jumped into action. With ease he scaled a tree leaning in and over the river. As the young man swam by Doc quickly reached out his hand and snagged the wayward soul. As the two locked out a moment of recognition crossed both their faces.
“Is that you, Mars!?”
“Poison!? You saved me!”
“Yeah..! I guess I did.”
Before she could offer assistance Singh took notice of Mitts absence. She turned to find Mitts sauntering into the depths of the forest.
Before she could escape out of view Singh cried out to her, “Wait!” and quickly followed after her – into the thicket of trees.
As she crossed over into the forest the tree canopy gradually blocked out the sun until the light dimmed to a dull hue. Further ahead Mitts crossed over the threshold of a nearby cave opening. The mouth of the cave was just big enough to allow her to fit. She crawled through on her knees - being careful not to bang her head on the cave roof. Just enough light peaked through to allow her to discern Mitts cowering in a corner just ahead of her. As she approached the light gradually faded to black. Squatting next to the trembling ball of fir Singh slowly stroked Mitts back to console her. From over her shoulder a low growl audibly began to get louder as something began to draw near her from out the void of the cave. She turned just in time to see a large wolf towering over her, arching their back, preparing to strike. Instinctually she lunged atop Mitts to protect her. She recoiled, turned around – arms raised to protect herself – just in time to see the wolf’s teeth inches from her face. Time slowed to an almost complete standstill. Their snarling, snapping, teeth bared themselves around her exposed arm. Mere moments before clamping down the floor beneath them crumbled. Moments after they began tumbling into the depths below the wolf dematerialized. Singh turned her body to avoid crushing Mitts. After what seemed an eternity the two crashed into the ground below. Singh fell unconscious from the shock her body meeting the earth.
Singh slowly came to. Coming in and out of consciousness she could just make out Mitts sitting in front of an open doorway, conversing with someone on the other side of it. Amidst attempts to gather herself she made out the presence of a person on the other side of the door. Inside a blue glowing tank a male body floated inside the liquid filled vassal. Although their view focused somewhere else - on someone or something else - the levitating gentleman was seemingly speaking to Mitts:
“So, I see you finally found your way. I commend your effort and tenacity.” To better interpret her surroundings Singh sat up. A blue glow breached the portal, perfectly framing the area Mitts sat in. Looking past the doorway she could just make out the silhouette of a tall, glowing man, floating inside a large cylindrical vassel. In an attempt to make out features of his face the man’s glowing eyes blinded her - concealing his identity.
She interrupted their discourse to ask, “Who are you..?“
"It’s rude to interrupt, young lady.” The corporal form turned their direction, finally acknowledging her presence. “Although you’ve come a long way you still have work to do.” Mitts sat up and sashayed her way through the door, across the threshold, and into the adjacent room. Once she made her way the portal quickly closed behind her – leaving Singh alone in the dark.
In a panic Singh leaped up and yelled out, “Hey! Wait! Don’t leave me!”.
With no response heard Singh stood still, alone in the dark. She made one last desperate plea, “Hello?! Is anyone there?” She took time to will herself to breath, took a deep breath in , then out. After getting used to the pounding of her heart in her ears she could the faint sound of footsteps.
Far in the distance a voice echoed her question, “Hello?! Are you there?"
Before Singh could respond a robust mew cried out from the void. She turned to see a small cat, resembling Mittens, vigorously emoting from behind her. An iridescent hue emitted from the feline, illuminating the space around her. Before she could gather a proper interpretation of their surroundings a shadow streaked passed her. She just managed to capture the young mans face before he raced passed her in pursuit of the feline specter. As she quickly pursued the pair it dawned on her that she was pursuing the same young man that Doc rescued from the river earlier. The light dimmed to nothing as the two raced into the labyrinth beyond her purview. Gradually she began to slow her gallop to a trot. Before she could catch her breath a warm glow of light shun from behind her. She turned to find an adorable kitten methodically licking their paw, then thoughtfully wiping their face. Slowly, so as not to alarm them, she approached. In a crouched position she reached out her open palm as she neared. As the kitten turned to acknowledge the attention given to them detective Singh couldn’t help but notice their iridescent, cyan colored eyes. Like a deer caught in headlights she found herself frozen in place. From out the darkness a loud bellowing call woke her from her trance.
“Hey! Stay right there! Don’t move!”
Without hesitation the cute ball of fur scuttled off into the darkness. Giving her zero regard the young man zipped past her - once again. She stood up to pursue, but noticed something in her peripheral. A breath before the light completely faded away she notice a door next to her. Painted on the door was an insignia of a crown. Below it read the letters ‘I-M-P’ with the remaining letters being either faded or smudged out completely. It only took a few churns for her brain to recognize the Imperial Sugar logo. She turned the doorknob - to open the portal – then crossed the threshold.
