Silent Mountain: Chapter 1-E

Ian couldn't sleep. He wanted too. He knew he should, but he just couldn't. He kept running over the events of the day in his head. He looked at the clock on his bed. The numbers seemed too large. 3:23. They glared at him. He had never liked large numbers. They always seemed oddly unnatural to him. It was decided he would get rid of the clock . . . first thing tomorrow. 3:24. It occured to him it was tomorrow. He closed his eyes again.

The sun was warm on Ian's face. He squinted in it's brilliance. Rows and rows of orange trees spread out before him. The sky was a bright blue, like the first day of spring. The air felt crisp and cool on his skin. Dew surrounded him; it was morning. He approached a tree, reaching for the largest fruit he could see. Its plump, orange sphere was covered in dew as well. The sun illuminated the beads of water. Eden must have been like this, he thought.

The sight of the trees made him smile. It felt good to smile. He heard a sound. Was it wind? He looked up in the distance towards the south. Smoke filled the sky. An orange glow spread across the horizon. The smell of smoke filled his lungs. He looked back at the tree. The dew seemed to be evaporating. Steams filled in around him. He looked back to the south. The dull glow had become a blaze. The trees were on fire. Five rows back. Four rows. Three. He couldn't stop it. He ran as hard as he could. The flames were catching up to him. He felt unnaturally warm. Smoke flooded his lungs. He couldn't breath. A clearing broke out in front of him. He ran as hard as he could. Slam! He had hit something metal, a gate. He grasped the iron bars. The fog cleared. He could make out a single letter, 'S', wrought in iron.

3:26. Ian awoke with a start. He couldn't breathe. He leapt out of bed and groped for the wicker basket where he kept his keys and other sundries on his dresser. He found his keys and wallet and rushed out his door into the night.

**********

Perry awoke to a piercing scream. It took her a moment to collect her thoughts. Her mind was sluggish, still caught in the grip of a strange dream.

"Helen?" She called, groggily, dragging herself out of bed.

She caught steam as she moved out of the room across the short distance between her and Helen's rooms. As her head slammed into the door she let out a cry and fumbled for the doorknob. The door flew open, smacking against the back wall. It was empty. Perry's mind spun. The window was open.

A cool breeze blew through the open window and across Perry's face, which turned pale as she stuck her head out, looking down the three stories to the ground. There was no sign of Helen. Something was moving, in the sky. Perry looked up at the dark figure, wing extended, moving north. It couldn't be. She closed her eyes a moment. She knew. She had to follow.

**********

David heard knocking. It was loud. What time was it? He rolled over to look at Jennifer who was still sound asleep.

"Someone's at the door," he mumbled.

She didn't move. Silence. He closed his eyes. The knocking returned. He took one last look over at Jennifer to make sure she was asleep, and rolled out of bed. He shuffled out the bedroom door into the living room of thier small apartment, tripping over a small pile of clothes in the doorway. As he kicked the clothes to the side, the knocking started again, louder.

"Coming," he growled, and made his way to the door.

The opening door revealed Ian, still wearing the tattered khakis and white T-shirt he slept in.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" David asked.

"About 3:40," Ian replied.

"Good," David answered ironically, "I had no idea. Why are you here?"

"Can I come in? It's a little cold out here."

"Right," David said, stepping out of the doorway.

Ian stepped in the living room and the two stood for a moment in silence.

"You do have a reason for being here, right?" David prodded.

"I had a strange dream."

"Okay." David was getting more perturbed.

"No," Ian continued, "I . . . It might be important. I don't know."

"How so?"

"Have you noticed anything strange?"

"Like you showing up here in the middle of the night?"

Ian shook his head, trying to compose his thoughts. "No. No. Like . . . I can set fruits on fire with my mind. Like that?"

"That was strange," David conceded, "You're not really making alot of sense though."

"What's going on?" Jennifer chimed in from the doorway.

"I knew you were awake," David shouted gleefully.

"What?" Jennifer answered, "Ian, what are you doing here?"

"He's strange," David answered.

"No," Ian interjected, "I think . . . we have to go . . ."

"Silent Mountain," Jennifer completed.

"Yes," Ian shouted, "That's it."

"Why . . ." David's voice trailed off, as he struggled to remember something, "I did have a dream."

"We have to go," Jennifer insisted.

"I'll drive," Ian offered.

After a quick change of clothes they were headed on thier way.

Silent Mountain: Chapter 1-D

Ian still stood in the doorway, timidly looking at David and Jennifer, who were both in an apparent state of disarray. Finally, David broke the silence moving out of the doorway.

“No, no, it’s fine. Come on in.”

“You seem happy,” Jennifer noted mischievously, as Ian entered the home, “You meet a girl?”

“No, no,” Ian replied rapidly, returning to his previous exuberance, “This is amazing.”

“And falling in love isn’t?” David replied quizzically.

“I have to show you something,” Ian said, completely ignoring David's comment.

With that he headed towards the kitchen. David and Jennifer exchanged concerned glances as they followed him. Before they could reach the room they heard him exclaim.

“You guys have a fight with the pickles or something?”

David entered the room, non-chalantly retorting, “At least we won.”

Ian shrugged, conceding the point and then went back to his previous excitement.

“Now, watch this,” he said, smiling mischievously.

As he continued smiling, David and Jennifer looked at him and around the room, unsure what Ian was trying to show them. David was about to ask something of this nature, when one of the pickles on the floor burst into flames. They were quite taken aback at the sight, not to mention rather concerned about the effect this was having on their floor.

“Um . . . Ian?” Jennifer began, cautiously.

Soon, the worries about the floor were over as the pickle slowly began floating off the floor. Ian was quite surprised at this himself and not quite in control of it. Soon the flaming object was raising itself higher and higher until it was eye-level with Ian.

“Okay, Ian, that’s impressive, now put the pickle down,” Jennifer implored.

It was too late. By the time she had finished saying it, the pickle was careening out to the dining room, where it crashed through the window and landed in the yard. Ian rushed out after it, followed closely by Jennifer and David.

“Oh, man!” Ian exclaimed as he rushed toward the door.

He burst out the front door into the small yard, and soon thereafter was joined by David and Jennifer. They looked out and saw the pickle, which now looked like a piece of charcoal, lying in a burnt ring of grass.

“I’m so sorry,” Ian burst out, “I had no idea I could . . . Look I’ll pay for the window. Dude, I’m really sorry.”

He turned around and saw David and Jennifer looking at him in a complete state of awe.

“How did you do that?” David asked.

**********

Perry sat in the back corner of the waiting room. The doctor had ordered a number of test for Helen, and so she was left to wait. She had wandered down to the cafeteria where she tried to eat, found she didn’t have much of an appetite. A walk through the garden had similarly failed to distract her from her worries, so she had ended up here.

At this point she was attempting to read a magazine, but somehow the travails and celebrations of the rich and famous didn’t seem to matter so much. She was confused, and she just wanted to forget everything that was going on around her. She set down the magazine, closed her eyes, and tried to push it all away.

There it was again, the pushing sensation. She stopped and opened her eyes, curious about her newfound talent. She looked across the room, where a young child was running and screaming, as young, untamed children often do. She focused all of her mind on the child, pushing again. Sure enough, the child slowed down, stopped running and sat on the floor.

She quickly stopped pushing and the child returned to his mischief. This was absolutely amazing. Next her gaze fell on a fidgety middle-aged man. Like clockwork he stopped his fidgeting and slouched in his chair. After that it was the elderly woman with the magazine. The magazine dropped to her lap and she closed her eyes, nodding off. Perry then looked out the window where a bird was flying across. The bird perched itself on the windowsill and stayed, she began to wonder if it was even breathing.

She tried several more of these experiments, but it was clear to her that this was no coincidence. She wondered if she should be given some tests herself, but decided that this would be her secret. No one else had to know. She had just reached this conclusion, when she saw Helen entering the room. She look a bit dazed, worry etched across her face.

"Hey," Perry said standing to approach her.

Helen attempted to force a smile as she replied, "The doctor took some blood samples. He, uh, also wants me to go in for some other tests tomorrow. I have an appointment."

"Okay," Perry said, barely hiding her concern, "Does he . . . Is it serious?"

Helen just shrugged her shoulders and moved to the receptionist in the front. She paid without a word and as he headed for the door, without turning to Perry, said, "We need to stop on the way home. He prescribed something for the pain."

Perry nodded her agreement and the two women headed out.

Silent Mountain: Chapter 1-C

Jennifer and David had settled well into married life. They shared a small home in Silver Springs that they rented from a generally good landlord. Granted, marriage hadn’t come without its snags, but for the most part everything was going along smoothly.

David had gotten off work early and was home by 2:30. His job at a local train station wasn’t always easy, but it paid the bills and the hours were reasonable. He walked in the door and saw Jennifer in the kitchen from the large opening leading in from the foyer.

“Hey, honey, I’m home!” he called to her.

“That’s nice,” Jennifer replied, her voice strained by some great effort.

David enter the kitchen, curious what all of the ruckus was. As he entered, Jennifer let out a frustrated sigh, as she set a jar of pickles on the counter. She turned around looking at David, annoyed.

“Do you have to put the cap on so tight?” She asked him.

“Sorry,” David replied innocently, “I’ll get it.”

He grabbed up the jar and began trying vainly to force it open.

“Wow, this is tight,” he exclaimed.

“Let me get it,” Jennifer said, reaching for the jar.

“No, no, I’ve got it,” David insisted.

Jennifer dropped her hands and sighed. David continued to struggle with the jar, clearly growing annoyed. Jennifer noticed his face growing red and his veins beginning to protrude from his face and neck. She was concerned and frustrated.

“I can do it,” she said, sounding quite stressed.
“No!” David snapped back.

Jennifer was taken aback by this response. She had never known David to be easily angered.

“Dear?” she timidly inquired.

Just then, David let out a primal yell, a thing Jennifer had never thought him capable of. As he did the jar shattered into pieces, which showered onto the floor in a sudden fury. Both stood for a moment, stunned at this new development. They were pulled out of their shock, by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

The two avoided eye contact as they shuffled to the door, hearing the bell twice before they got there. They opened the door and there, on their doorstep was Ian. He looked as if he was on cloud nine, beaming with the type of pride and excitement a child has when presenting a report card with straight A’s to his parents.

“Hey,” David greeted timidly.

“Is this a bad time?” Ian asked.

**********

The silence was deafening, in the tiny hospital exam room, where Helen sat on a hard hospital bed with Perry by her side. The cold, grey walls seemed to tower over Helen, unmoving, unconcerned with her dilemma. She was silent, her thoughts a whirl of pain and fear.

The obtrusions in her back grew more painful by the moment. Since Perry had first noticed them, the pain had increased to nearly unbearable proportions. She clenched her fists tightly and closed her eyes, trying to keep from losing it. All Perry could do was watch her friend, unable to ease her pain.

The strain of this watching grew on Perry as she waited for the doctor. She clenched her fists tightly and closed her eyes, trying to force away the thoughts of Helen’s suffering. As she closed her eyes she felt an odd sensation. To her it seemed like a motion, which helped to release her stress, much like hitting a punching bag or screaming out loud.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, still forcing the odd motion. She let out a gasp a she looked over at Helen, who was now lying on the cold bed. She jumped up and rushed to here side.

“Helen? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Helen mumbled, “I just needed to lay down.”

Perry found herself beginning to panic. This couldn’t be a good sign, she thought. She turned to run for a doctor, but as the door came into view, she saw one entering. He was holding a clipboard lazily in his hands, and didn’t look very interested in being there.

He shuffled over to a counter across from the women and leaned up against it, speaking slowly, like a man to tired or disinterested to care for speed.

“What’s wrong?” he said blandly.

“She’s sick,” said Perry, appalled as the doctor’s seeming lack of interest.

“Obviously,” he retorted, sighing deeply, “How so?”

“She has two lumps in her back.”

“Yeah?” the doctor said, not moving, “That’s not so good.”Perry was outraged by now. She tried to hold back from screaming at the doctor in a fit of rage.

“Well, are you gonna check it out?”

The doctor threw Perry a sideways glance and sighed once again as he, with great effort, lifted himself from the counter to shuffle over to the bed. Perry had had enough.

“I’m gonna find a real doctor.” She shot back at him, as she stormed out the door.

Once Perry left the room, Helen felt a second wind. She sat up in the bed and looked at the doctor, who seemed to have a similar reaction.

“I’m so sorry,” He said to Helen with the utmost sincerity, “I don’t know what got into me.”

“It’s okay,” Helen replied.

“I’m Dr. Harden,” he said shaking her hand.

“Helen Belleview,” she responded.

With that the doctor approached her bed, facing her back.

“Where, exactly are these lumps?”

“Between my shoulders,” Helen said, motioning to her back, “Right here.”

The doctor slowly pulled down her shirt so he could see the lumps. He immediately felt a wave of weariness rush over him. It was as if suddenly nothing mattered to him any more. He didn’t care about Helen, his job, his life; he just wanted to stop.

“What is this, Apathy General Hospital?” came Perry’s voice from the doorway.

“What do you mean?” Helen replied flatly. She too had been overcome with apathy.

“Everyone I run into here seems too lazy to help anyone.”

“Maybe, it’s not them,” Helen replied.

Perry looked at Helen oddly, trying to gauge what she meant. She thought for a moment, before remembering the strange sensation. She was still pushing, as she had come to think of it. Releasing it seemed just as natural as grabbing it, and she immediately stopped the pushing.

As soon as Perry did this, the wave of apathy passed over both Helen and Dr. Harden. They once again cared about what was happening around them and strength rushing back into them. Perry stood in awe at the realization of what she had done, and the look in Helen’s eyes seemed to confirm, that she too knew what had transpired.

Silent Mountain: Chapter 1-B

The memory had faded, it never left, but it did grow dimmer. Three years later, Ian was far to occupied with life to worry about incidents long past. In the intervening time, Ian had found work at the only news station in the Silver Springs area.

He was out on a simple assignment today, shooting some footage for a story on a local bank. It was drizzling outside, which got on his nerves a bit as he unloaded his equipment from the company van. He shook himself off and headed inside the bank, introducing himself to the teller as he entered.

“Hey, Ian Elliot, Channel 4 News,” he said enthusiastically, offering a handshake.

“You need to check in with boss,” the bored looking teller droned, with out looking up, “Through that door.”

Ian looked in the direction she pointed, nodding. He was rather annoyed with her rudeness, on top of everything else, but headed towards the door. Upon entering he saw a small desk with an elderly secretary behind it. Secretly he wondered how old she could be, and how she still functioned. He often had such thoughts, much to his chagrin, so he pushed aside and before he had a chance to introduce himself, she struck up conversation.

“Oh! You must be that news man who’s going to film us. It’s such a pleasure to meet you!”

She excitedly shook his hand as she stood up from her desk.

“Yes. Ian Elliot . . .”
Before he had a chance to finish she was chattering away again.

“I don’t know if Mr. Morey is in, just one second, sweetie.”

With that she hobbled into the office behind her desk. Ian stood for a moment, but as one second turned into several, he decided to sit down.

One second, turned out to be quite the exaggeration. Ian began wondering what they could possibly be doing in there. He had never been very good at waiting and soon began fidgeting and studying the room in detail.

Before long, his eyes fell upon a small basket of fruit sitting on a small table by the wall across from him. For some reason he felt strangely drawn to the basket, focusing intently on it. Soon he felt the whole room fade away, then the basket, then one by one each fruit until all he noticed was one solitary kiwi. His entire mind seemed to be focused on that one fruit. It was a rather curious sensation, he felt, like a rush of energy, almost a muse you might say. Then he did it.

He was quite sure how he had done it, but there was no doubt in his mind that he had. As he focused on the fruit, suddenly it burst into flames. He was well aware that he should be frightened by this, but he wasn’t. In fact he actually found it quite exhilarating. The feeling of pure flame, under his control, the power of the untamed fire, was pure adrenaline. He soon found that he could make the flame bigger or smaller, hotter or colder. It was his flame.

He wasn’t quite sure how long this had gone on, before he heard the scream. Time lost all meaning to him, once he discovered what he could do. The blood-curdling sound he heard when Morey’s secretary re-entered the room quickly pulled him from his trancelike fixation and the room suddenly reappeared. He watched as the last burning embers of the fire died down in the now incinerated kiwifruit. The secretary stood horrified, but Ian didn’t even notice. All he could do was stare in awe at the burnt remains he had made.

**********

It was a slow morning for Helen. She managed to sleep in until noon, before Perry burst into her room.

“Hey, you gonna sleep all day?” She yelled piercingly.

“Yes!” Helen yelled grumpily, rolling over and pulling her blankets up above her head.

“Come on! It’s almost twelve!”

“I don’t feel well,” Helen mumbled, “Let me sleep.”

Perry furrowed her brow trying to determine if this was just a ploy to get more sleep. She waited a moment before Helen popped up from the bed looking haggard.

“Have I ever told you, you are the most annoying roommate in the world?” She grumbled.

“You just did. Do you really feel sick?”

“It’s my back,” Helen said rubbing just below her shoulder bone, “It feels like I . . .”

Helen stopped, suddenly, and a horrified expression crossed her face.

“Helen? What’s wrong?” Perry questioned, concerned for her friend’s well-being.

Helen did answer but jumped up and ran into the bathroom off her room. She looked in the mirror as she reached her hand down the back of her shirt feeling around between her shoulders. Perry rushed in behind her and reached for the back of her shirt.

Helen pulled her hand away and a cold, pale look crossed Perry’s face as she gently moved the shirt to see the place Helen had been rubbing. There she saw two rather sizeable bumps protruding from the back.

“What is it?” Helen asked, her voice quavering.

Perry didn’t want to reply. She couldn’t find her voice. Letting go of the shirt, she backed slowly away.

“We need to get you to a doctor.”

**********

Silent Mountain: Chapter 1-A

Elegance. If one word could describe Silent Mountain, that would be it. And, this night, more so than usual. If there was one thing Chester Winfield knew, it was how to throw a party. Droves of people filled the large hall that stood as the entrance to the luxurious main building of the secluded mountain complex. The guest list was nothing spectacular, friends, relatives, and other assorted acquaintances filled out the spacious room, mingling between the two large staircases that seemed to grow up from the ground to meet, forming a mezzanine in the center.

At the bottom of the stairs the lavish decorations melded seamlessly with the finest foods and drinks you could imagine. All things being known, this was the main reason Ian Elliot attended these events, and he was proving it here. On his third trip to the open buffet he had yet to slow down. As he filled his plate with the last couple of morsels, he took one last look around the room full of faces. He always came with the intention of meeting new people, but the simple truth was, that was never his strong point.

As Ian looked around the crowded room full of unfamiliar faces, he was overwhelmed. In each of the faces he saw the possibility of a new and wondrous relationship that he had no idea how to start. So, he fell back on his old stand-by, slipping away in to the long hall behind the double doors. He walked a short distance to another door, which he entered, balancing his plate of food as he opened the door.

He entered to a small study with a table and few scattered chairs. In the middle of the table stood a chess board, game in progress. On either end were two of the few faces Ian could truly connect with, his sister Jennifer, and her fiancé, David Primrose. Both sat transfixed, completely focused on the battle of wits before them. Ian sat himself down in one of the extra chairs and put the plate on the table.

“So, who’s winning?” He asked, glad to be with his companions again. Ian threw him an annoyed looking, displeased at having his concentration broken.

“I am,” Jennifer replied non-chalantly.

David rather took offense at this. “I’m just getting ready to make my big comeback.”

“Right,” Jennifer retorted sarcastically.

David furrowed his brow and smiled as he took Jennifer’s knight with his bishop. Jennifer chuckled, seeing the poor choice of moved. She quickly moved her queen to take his bishop.

**********

Back in the room, Helen Belleview, a beautiful, young woman, stood against the back wall, watching the crowds mingling. She found the staircase a good covering to keep her from being bothered. The honest truth was she wanted to join them, but the wall was always safer. From the wall she could watch and listen without taking the risk of standing out or making a fool of herself. For her, it was like being a part of the crowd without joining them. For the most part people didn’t notice her in her hiding place, but on occasion she would be disturbed.

“You’re loitering again,” came a voice from behind her. She spun around to see Perry Slack, one of her few close friends, standing right behind her. “You should mingle, get to know some people.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I don’t know. I like it here.”

“I don’t. Let go.”

At that, Perry grabbed her arm pulling her towards the center of the room. Just as they got in to the crowd, panic seemed to strike. People were whirling around pointing down towards the ground. Helen looked down, and saw her feet, now surrounded by a mist-like vapor. The room was quickly filling with it. She held close to Perry attempting to brace them against the now panicked crowd racing for the exits.

**********

Jennifer and David’s game had ended quickly, and David was still annoyed with the loss. He insisted on scrutinizing the board from every angle, convinced that, with enough effort, he could figure a way out of checkmate. Jennifer was now slouched in her chair waiting for him to finally admit defeat. Meanwhile Ian munched happily on his food, taking time out every once in a while to point out the futility of David’s situation.

“What if I . . .” began David.

“Nope,” Ian butted in, “She’s got you.”

David threw another glare Ian’s direction. They were however distracted from their jesting by the noise of a loud ruckus out in the main room. Ian and Dave’s expressions both turned to curiosity and then concern. The two of them, along with Jennifer, leapt up and ran through the hall back to the main room.

**********

Helen and Perry stood motionless, as the sea of people continued churning around them. The gas had reached their nostrils now, causing them to cough.

“We’ve gotta get out of here,” Perry yelled over the commotion.

“There’s too many people.”

“We’re gonna suffocate!”

Helen looked around again. The door burst open and Ian was hit with a face full of gas as he entered the room, coughing violently. He regathered himself and ran through the door followed by David and Jennifer. David held Jennifer’s hand pulling her along with him. Helen looked back to the door. The room was largely clear now, allowing her and Perry to head outside. They burst out the front door, breathing in the fresh mountain air. The rest soon followed. Fire truck and ambulances crowded the breath-taking mountain vista. Ian surveyed the scene searing it into his memory.

**********

Silent Mountain: Teaser

The night was dark, and seared forever in Ian Elliot's mind. What had started as a beautiful evening with friends erupted into chaos and tragedy, as men, women and children rushed to escape Silent Mountain, the lavish estate of Chester Winfield.

Three years later, life has returned to normal . . . or has it? Strange new abilities and recurring visions slowly draw these same people back to Silent Mountain, in search of answers. But, the place that once brought them together threatens to divide them again as fear and paranoia set it in. Will life ever be the same for those changed by Silent Mountain?