Greetings from the Author’s Chair.

Today, I bring you a short story that I wrote a few months ago. It will be part of a short story collection that I’m working on titled – Strange Tales

I hope you enjoy this cool little tale, called “Demon Chicanery.”

—

“Dr. Blakely, I’m sorry. I just can’t,” Katheryn Simonson sobbed.

“Oh, come now, Katheryn. You’re not going to let your demons win, are you?”

“I really do want to go to Alpha Centauri for vacation, but I keep having the same dream.  Night after night, it’s the same thing.” She wiped her tears with a tissue.

“The sleeping pills? Are they not helping you at all?” Dr. Blakely tapped the tip of his stylus on the edge of his data pad.

“No. No, they only make it worse.” Katheryn jumped at the laughing demon she heard behind her.

“Then I highly recommend you take the trip. If not all the way to Alpha Centauri, then at least to Jupiter Station. Cryo-sleep, even for three days will do wonders for you, Katheryn.”

“Noooo, don’t goooo, Katherrrryyyn” the invisible demons whispered in her head.

“There it is again!”

“There’s what, Katheryn?” Dr. Blakely scratched his stylus on his data pad taking notes, “You’re hearing them again, aren’t you, Katheryn?”

“No…I’m NOT!”

The demons echoed in Katheryn’s head once more, “You arrrre hearing meee…hearing meee…hearing meee. Katheryn, don’t gooo, don’t gooooo, don’t goooooo”

“Okay, Mrs. Simonson,” Dr. Blakely sent a prescription to his printer, “Here, Mrs. Simonson. These are orders, now.”

“What’s this?” Katheryn asked, the papers rustling in her fingers.

“That is your prescription. You want to get better, don’t you?” Dr. Blakely grinned.

“Why yes, I do…but this isn’t for medication.”

“I know it. It’s an all expenses trip to Jupiter Station. You are to enter the sleep chamber for three days.”

“Well, Dr. Blakely, that’s mighty kind of you, but I don’t know…”

“Doctor’s orders, Katheryn,” he smiled. “You’ll feel like a million bucks.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why, yes. There’s no dreaming in cryo-sleep. It’ll give your body the rest that it needs….and you deserve the time. Now, pack your bags, take John, and the two of you have a wonderful time. You can stay on Jupiter station three days until your return flight.”

“Doctor…” Katheryn sighed.

“Then you and your husband can talk about continuing on to Alpha Centauri, or not.”

“…and you say it’s only another eight days from Jupiter station?”

“Yes, only using the jump-gate takes eight days. It’s an entire month round trip, Katheryn. You really need this. You already said you wanted to get better, didn’t you?”

“Well, I-I do want to get better.”

“Good! Then trust me, you’ll thank me later.”

Katheryn was haunted by more whispers, “Heee’s lyyyying…don’t lisssstennn to himmm.”

“Okay!” Katheryn wiped her eyes once more, “I’ll go to Jupiter Station!”

“You’ll feel so much better, Katheryn.”

“Thank you again, Dr. Blakely.”

“Don’t thank me, Katheryn. You’re making this decision on your own, and I’m very pleased with your will power to ignore your inner demons. You’re doing great, Mrs. Simonson.”

The deamon whispers continued as Katheryn stood. She walked to the door and turned to address the doctor. With her eyes squeezed tight, she shook her head, “I still hear them, but I’m going to follow your advice and pay them no mind!”

“That’s my girl.”

* * *

A computer voice began speaking softly, “Katheryn…Katheryn, time to wake up, Katheryn. We’re arriving at Jupiter Station in one hour.”

“It’s been three days already?” Katheryn groggily mouthed.

“Yes, ma’am,” the robotic voice answered, “you’re vital signs have returned to normal. You didn’t stir once for the entire trip. Are you feeling better, Katheryn?”

Katheryn sat upright in her sleep chamber and yawned, “Yes. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do feel better.”

The computer answered once more, “That’s good, Katheryn. Showers are to your left. Your clothes will be ready for you when you’re done. Please, take your time. We have an hour before we dock with Jupiter Station.”

“Where’s my husband?”

“John is already awake and doing well. He’s waiting for you on the promenade.”

Katheryn smiled, “Okay. Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

“Very well, Katheryn…Message delivered. He’s responding…one moment…yes, he’s says he’s excited to see you too.”

Katheryn paused a moment, listening for any of those voices. Pleased that they had stopped, she got out of the sleep chamber, and headed to the showers

* * *

“Oh, John!” Katheryn said, nearly yelling across the transport’s promenade.

Her husband stood to greet her, and took her in his arms, “I’m so glad you’re feeling better, my dear.”

The two kissed and then he held her out at arm’s length, “Are you sure? No more voices, right?”

Katheryn listened and then returned a smile, “No. Not a single voice. They’re gone, John.”

“Well, I can see that Doctor Blakeley was right.”

“Oh, John. I’m so sorry I’ve put you through all this.”

“Never mind that, now. Those voices are gone. We’ll both be able to rest now.”

“It’s been months.”

“I know, I know. It’s not your fault.”

“But it is, John. You’ve been suffering as much as I over these…these voices of mine.”

Static was heard through the overhead speakers on the cruise ship, “Ladies and gentlemen of flight six-six-five, this is your captain speaking. We’ll be docking with Jupiter Station in ten minutes, please take your seats. Thank you for flying Jupiter Lines. If you are going on to Alpha Centauri, please proceed to section three, gate two. Centauri Cruising flight six-six-seven is scheduled to depart tomorrow morning. If you are returning to Earth, this flight departs in two hours. If you miss this flight, the next departure to Earth Station is in three days. Once again, I want to thank you for flying Jupiter Lines, may your hopes come true and your dreams be fulfilled. Flight attendants, prepare for docking.”

John lovingly gazed into Katheryn’s eyes, “It’s not too late to purchase tickets.”

“Really? You still want to go?” Katheryn asked, returning a smile.

“Doctor Blakely says it’s the best way to overcome your demons.”

Katheryn took in a deep breath, and then sighed, “Okay, okay. Let’s do it!”

“You’re sure now?”

“John, I’m sure. I’m feeling so energized. I’m ready to go.”

“Excuse me, Ma’am, Sir?” one of the flight attendants began, tapping Katheryn on the shoulder, “I need you to return to your seats and buckle in. We’re docking with Jupiter Station in a few minutes.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” John took Katheryn by the arm and led her forward to their seats, “Oh, and Miss?”

The attendant turned to John, “Yes?”

“My wife and I have decided to take the cruise to Alpha Centauri. There’s still room, right?”

Katheryn swatted John’s shoulder, “You don’t even know if there’s still tickets?”

The attendant took out her data pad and typed in a couple commands before answering, “Yes, we have two seats left. Do you want to reserve them?”

“Yes!” Katheryn answered for John.

“My, my, Honey. You really do want to go now, don’t you?”

“I told you, John. No more voices. I’m ready!”

* * *

Katheryn and John’s voices where drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the busy Jupiter Station.

“Come on! We’re going to miss our flight,” John insisted.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, already!” Katheryn answered, packing the rest of her suitcase.

“I trust you slept well?”

“You tell me?” Katheryn said, struggling with the suitcase zipper.

“Well, you didn’t wake me if that’s what you mean.”

“I slept wonderfully. No more voices, John. I think the doctor really did cure me this time.”

John smiled, picked up the suitcase and turned to their exit, “Come on then. Let’s go.”

They made their way to the departure gate, nearly running when they heard over the loudspeaker, “Flight six-six-seven for Alpha Centauri, last call for boarding at gate two. Flight six-six-seven for Alpha Centaury departing at gate two in fifteen minutes.”

They arrived at the gate just before the attendant closed the boarding door, “Wait! Wait! Hold that door!” John yelled.

“Of course. You’re just in time,” the flight attendant smiled, “I’ll take your bag and stow it. Hurry up and take your seats now.”

The two settled into their seats and gazed into each other’s eyes.

“This is going to be so much fun, John.”

“I’d like to think so too, Katheryn.”

* * *

Katheryn and John retired to their state room on the cruise liner, which had departed from Alpha Centauri a few hours earlier in the day.

“What a wonderful day,” Katheryn said, removing her clothing, “I’m so ready for bed.”

“You should sleep well, my love. I’m just as tired as you.”

The two fell asleep out as soon as their heads landed on their pillows.

Demons began to whisper in her head, and Katheryn tossed in her sleep, trying to fight off her dreams, “Katheryn, Katheryn…can you hear me, Katheryn?”

Katheryn found herself within her nightmare once more. She was floating in the blackness of space. A bright light was before her. She turned and saw wisps of fog coming from the darkness behind her. She fought to get away, but the wisps wrapped around her arms and legs, pulling her backward toward the darkness.

The demon voices got louder, “Katheryn, listen to me. Can you hear me? Don’t let them win.”

“Who are you?” she screamed within her dream, “Why are you tormenting me!?”

“I tried to warn you, Katheryn. Doctor Blakely is lying. You should have listened to me. Resist, don’t go to the lights…don’t go to the lights…”

“Stop! I won’t let my demons win. I won’t! I must go to the lights!”

“You have made your own choice, Katheryn,” the demon voice echoed. “It’s too late, there is no turning back now…I tried to save you…but you refused to listen to me.”

“Who are you!? Why don’t you leave me alone?!” Katheryn began sobbing in her dream. The wisps of fog untangled and let her drift freely.

Her screams woke John. He shook Katheryn, “Honey! Honey! Wake up! You’re having a bad dream!”

Katheryn shot upright. She let John hold her as she sobbed in his shoulder, “The dream! It returned again! I want to go back, John! Can’t we just go home?”

“I’m so sorry, Katheryn. Once we crossed the jump gate, there’s no turning back, sweetie.”

“Then put me back in cryo-sleep! I can’t take this anymore! I don’t want to dream anymore…please John…please!”

“Okay, darling. Have it your way.”

Katheryn fell into cyro-sleep, the demons laughing and tormenting her as she lost consciousness.

* * *

The room was still, the only sound that could be heard was the constant swoosh noises of a hospital ventilator.

“I’m sorry, John,” Dr. Blakely said, “She started to come out it, but she slipped back into a coma.”

“What happened? Why won’t she wake up?” John pleaded.

“Her head injuries are too severe. It’s going to take time, John. You need to have patience. People that suffer major head trauma during the kind of accident she was in, well, I’m surprised that she made it at all.”

“Will she ever wake up?” John asked, holding Katheryn’s hand.

“That depends on how much she wants to wake up.”

A tear fell from John’s eye and trickled down his cheek. It fell on her hand as he spoke to her, “Come on, Katheryn. You hear me? You can wake up, I know you can. Are you hearing me? Katheryn, don’t go. Don’t go.”

“She can’t hear you, John. I’m sorry, you’re wasting your time.”

“He’s lying to you. Don’t listen to him, Katheryn,” John sobbed, “I know you can hear me…don’t go, don’t go…don’t go…”

John sobbed over his wife, left for dead in a car accident, and now lying in a coma in a hospital bed. He continued to beg Katheryn to come back to him.