Shining among Darkness

By
WingzemonX

Chapter 26
Action plan

"I'm a failure as a psychiatrist," Matilda mumbled like a lament on the phone, running her fingers nervously through her hair. Eleven listened intently on the line. "I may have the intelligence, memory, and knowledge... but I don't have that emotional coldness that is needed to not take each case personally. I tell myself that I shouldn't do it, but just..."

Matilda breathed slowly, trying to calm down. She wasn't the type of people who frequently lost their composure, and that violent act in the cafeteria had already been enough towards that terrain.

After a short stretch of silence, she heard Eleven's voice again echo through her phone's speaker. She sounded much calmer and more serene. She was always so unalterable, at least from her point of view.

"When you first told me that you wanted to actively help at the Foundation, I didn't wish to a psychiatrist. I wanted you, Matilda. That lack of emotional coldness that you describe is just why you will always be the best to reach out to these children. You have done nothing wrong, neither with Carrie, nor with Samara, nor with anyone else. Things sometimes just don't go our way, and it's not our fault."

Matilda sighed heavily. She sat up straight on the bench, running the fingers of her free hand over the corners of her eyes. There were no tangible traces of tears, even though she had felt them at one point.

"Thanks for that," she muttered slowly. "And thanks also for saving my life in the hospital. It was you, right?"

The question was a simple formality since she was sure it had been her. Even amid all that confusion and fear, she could feel it.

"I don't want you to think I was spying on you," Jane replied in a relaxed tone.

"Even if you would have been... thank you," Matilda whispered slowly, feeling really honest, especially in that little thank you at the end.

Miles away, Eleven was also making her own effort to stay calm at the reminder of her successful "rescue." Only Mike and she knew that it had not been in fact so successful.

"I don't like we're fighting, Pretty Matilda," Eleven whispered, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Especially because of a simple misunderstanding."

"I'm not fighting with you, just..." Matilda pondered what to answer for a moment, but she wasn't able to string the sentences coherently. She took a moment to contemplate the sky above her, which was already darker than reddish. Even the brightest stars were already visible. "People say that genius will inevitably always come with its dose of self-centeredness and self-pride. I always thought I was the exception to it until it slowly came true, without me even realizing it." A small wry chuckle escaped her lips. "Starting with the fact that I just called myself a genius, right?"

Eleven also laughed a little, though she quickly regained her more serious posture.

"It was never my intention to attack your pride, if that's what you mean," she indicated solemnly. "As I said a moment ago, sometimes things don't happen as we wish, or they simply exceed us. And when those times come, there's nothing wrong with getting help from someone else."

"Yes, my mother said something similar to me once," Matilda pointed out thoughtfully, remembering what they were talking about that afternoon, just before she saw Carrie White for the first time.

No, she couldn't keep allowing her mind to wander in that direction and lose herself in it again. Carrie White was part of the past, what was important was the place and situation she was in at that precise moment.

"I understand, and I apologize for my childish attitude, Eleven," she stated firmly. "I understand that you want to make sure you do what's best for Samara, just like me. But... seriously?" The skepticism in Matilda's voice became quite marked for a few moments. "Demons and ghosts? Do you really believe in all that? Or do you think any of that really has to do with what happens to Samara?"

Matilda could hear Eleven sigh deeply on the other end of the line. In her last video call, she had told her that it was not an appropriate topic to speak for that type of media. However, obviously, she had no other choice, given the circumstances.

"Listen," Eleven said in a soft, calm, if a little cold voice, "you know my story, about how I was born and how I was raised and trained as a child to use my powers, right?"

"Yes," Matilda replied, somewhat unsure.

"Well, there's a part of that story that you don't know or not entirely. Cole calls these beings like demons and ghosts because of his belief and upbringing, thus caused him to identify them. If you don't feel comfortable with those terms, you don't have to use them. But there is something that I can assure you with complete conviction and knowledge. And that is that there are other worlds; different, and at the same time very similar, to the one in which we live. Tens, maybe hundreds. And these worlds inhabit creatures very different from any other person, plant or animal you have ever met. Most of the time, they are very, very far from us, and have no interaction with our world. But in others, they are capable of entering and creating disasters like you cannot imagine. And the influence and damage they can cause to people, are impossible to measure."

Matilda listened to everything very, very carefully. The calm and confident way in which she said all that, had her more than intrigued. There was nothing in her tone or words that opened up the possibility that she was joking, or that she was trying to say something other than literal.

"Are they ghosts or demons? Who knows," Eleven continued. "I only know them with one name: monsters, quite real monsters. And I have faced them since I was a child. I have a special sensitivity to these types of creatures, and my ability to see and feel what happens in other places, can also sometimes cross to these other worlds without my wanting to, and create a link between the two realities. There are others with the same sensitivity as mine... but Cole's is exceptional," the latter had been pointed out firmly. "How he could connect, perceive, and even control these energies and planes is incredible. He is the best help you can have for this type of phenomenon, even better than mine."

Matilda's head was spinning. However, she managed to accommodate each piece of information like books on a shelf, identifying which of all this was the most important thing to place just at the height of her face and thus be able to better read its title. But what was most important about that conversation? What should she focus on? On the other worlds, their monsters or that Cole Sear apparently is an expert certified in all this by Eleven herself? She wasn't even able to fully accept that it was real.

"Why had I never heard about it before?" Matilda questioned, a little defensively.

"I think Cole told you a while ago, right?" Eleven pointed out. "They are not subjects that anyone can handle. Knowing that there are people with abilities that can be misused and cause significant damage is already quite scary. Knowing that there are also creatures without the slightest bit of morality or scruples that can do the same things, or even worse... Well, it is a subject that I prefer to handle more discreetly. I hope you understand me."

Of course, the classic tactic of hiding information from people who are unable to understand it, to avoid panic and confusion. Matilda was confused, but not yet panicked.

"I can't say I understand or even believe in everything you tell me," Matilda declared flatly. "But suppose for a moment that it is so... What did you see in this case that made you think that there might be something like that involved? Samara's ability is strange, but not enough to consider her demonic. What did you see that I didn't?"

"I told you before, remember? It is not what I saw, but what I didn't see." That enigmatic phrase again didn't do much to ease the brunette's mood. "There is something about this girl that she lacks, Matilda. Something she lost, or perhaps never had. I can't tell you for sure what it is, but it makes me feel quite uncomfortable, which I can only compare to what I have felt when facing one of these creatures that I'm talking about."

"Do you think she's possessed by one of those monsters or something?" Matilda ironed.

"It wouldn't be so strange; I've seen it before. Even a very good friend of ours suffered from it when we were children."

"Are you serious?" Matilda asked incredulously.

"Of course. But I don't know if it's about that. So I want you to let Cole go over it to better determine what is going on. If you agree to work with him now."

Matilda was silent, a small reflective silence.

"I guess my previous apology would be pointless if I refused," she replied after those few seconds of musing. However, she didn't sound exactly convinced. "What shall we do next, then?"

"We'll discuss that in a second when Cole and Cody are there with you."

Matilda had an unconscious urge to question what she meant, but a few seconds later, she would realize how foolish that would be. The doors leading to the patio opened, and the footsteps of two people were noted among all the calm. Matilda turned on her shoulder, and there she saw them both approaching: Cody on the right side, Cole on the left, and the latter holding another glass of coffee in it.

The psychiatrist remained gentle on the bench as they approached her.

"I'm coming in peace," Cole declared fervently, holding up his hands in surrender in a somewhat comical way. "Coffee?"

At that moment, he extended the coffee he had in his hand. Matilda only looked at him for a few seconds with a neutral expression.

"No, thanks."

"Come on, you're the only one of the three who can drink this thing," the detective pointed out mockingly. Not entirely convinced, but resigned, she reached out and took the cup with her free hand; just to keep it close.

"Eleven called us and said to come to pick you up here," Cody said next.

"Yes, I guessed," she answered, not entirely animated.

"Don't you have something to say, Matilda?" She heard at that moment that Eleven was mumbling on the phone, still pressed against her ear.

Matilda breathed slowly and closed her eyes for a second, trying to mentalize herself. She pushed the phone away from her ear a little and looked at Cole, though not directly.

"I'm sorry," she muttered with great effort as if she were ripping something painful embedded in the skin. "My reaction was exaggerated and childish."

"Don't worry, Doctor," Cole replied with a casual smile, apparently not giving much importance to the almost forced tone of his apology. "Mine was not far behind. And, to be honest, many times, the best way to start a good friendship is with a good blow, even if it is psychic." He held out his hand to her again in greeting, similar to how he had done a few hours ago in that Portland cafeteria. "Friends?"

Matilda stared at his hand in silence for a while, and for a second Cody, and Cole himself thought she would again refuse to take it. To their surprise, after a few moments, Matilda passed her phone from her right hand to her left and shook the hand he offered, although not very effusively.

"Colleagues, rather," she clarified in a cloudy voice. Cole, for his part, shrugged his agreement.

"It's progress."

"Same thing," Cody added with relief.

"Well done, Matilda," Eleven's voice on the phone congratulated, a second after they released their hands. "Now, put me on speaker."

Matilda obeyed and immediately turned on the phone's speaker and placed it lying in front of her. Cody and Cole walked around the bench and stood in front of it so they could hear better, and so that Eleven could listen to them too.

"You've had a hard day, boys," her mentor's voice began on the phone, "and what I least want is to entertain you and don't let you rest what you deserve."

"Don't worry, Eleven," Cody commented enthusiastically in his voice, possibly from listening to Eleven again after a long time. "And thanks for getting us out of that problem with the police."

"It was the least that could be done. And I must thank you for all your support, Cody, even though none of this would have been a case that the Foundation directly requested you."

Cody laughed a little, and his cheeks flushed, although it was hardly appreciable by the low light that illuminated them at those moments.

"I am always ready to help in whatever way I can," the professor declared in a firm tone.

"I know that, boy. Ok, it's time to set our action plan." Eleven's tone drastically changed from jovial and carefree to a much more serious one. "We have several points to discuss, and the first is Lily Sullivan."

Matilda reflexively closed her eyes and grimaced as if a small stomach ache had suddenly come to her. She could see immediately that the moment of hugs, kisses, and "we all love each other" had passed, and it was the turn of scolding. In fact, that tone in Eleven's voice was clearly her scolding voice, because indeed she had one... and quite terrifying.

Eleven continued.

"If Lucy hadn't informed me of your sudden request for information, Matilda, I would never have heard about this new case, which was not asked for prior evaluation to determine whether or not we should intervene in it."

"It was a sudden, last-minute thing, and I decided to act fast," the psychiatrist tried to justify herself, slightly defensively. "Furthermore, I had no intention of making this a case dealt with by the Foundation..."

Eleven interrupted her abruptly with authority:

"Well, it became one at the moment you involved Cody and Lucy, and the time you introduce yourselves to those people as part of the Foundation."

Matilda and Cody looked at each other as if they had been complicit in a prank, and had just been surprised on the spot.

"I was the one who decided to do that, Eleven," Cody said quickly. "Matilda wasn't involved..."

"No, don't defend me, Cody," Matilda said solemnly. "Eleven is right. I'm sorry again; I let my hurt pride did not allow me to react correctly."

"Was that for me, too, then?" Cole commented wryly, earning himself an unpleasant look from the brunette.

"Your intention was correct, Matilda," Eleven pointed out. "Given the information that Lucy got for you, there is enough to suppose that this girl not only has the Shining but has misused it from an early age."

"But we couldn't verify it for sure, because we couldn't even see the girl before what happened," Cody concluded, shrugging.

"Which brings me to my second point. The kidnapping of this girl and our presence in that place were events that occurred by mere coincidence. However, what is least convenient for us is that they continue to link us directly to this event. For better or for worse, this will get quite a bit of attention and, most likely, not what we would like." There was a small, but deep, reflective pause on the other end of the line. "Besides, it is evident that her kidnapper had a... quite dangerous ally looking after her."

Matilda's breath hitched a little, but this time her reaction was a little more diluted than before. Evidently, her mind began to digest what happened little by little

"So," Eleven concluded, "if anyone is thinking about actively get involved in that search, I would ask you to give it up and leave it to the authorities."

"With all due respect," Cole said suddenly, stepping forward, "the mainstream police might be able to track down Leena Klammer. However, that other guy you are talking about, I think it will be another story."

"If we get a picture of Lily Sullivan, one of the trackers might know where she is," Cody suggested next, "and we could pass the data to the police..."

"I don't recommend that," Matilda said coldly, a second before Eleven herself did it. "I touched a photo of her last night, and... it was something I would not recommend doing to anyone, especially someone with a greater sensitivity to mine like Lucy or the other trackers. Not to mention that other guy..."

It was a concern shared by both Matilda and Eleven. It became very obvious at the time that no mental protection would suffice to protect themselves from that man, whoever he was. If any of the members of the Foundation made an attempt to track him down by that means, it could only end in a disastrous result.

When you look at the abyss, it looks at you back. Never had that phrase made so much sense, even almost literal, as it did at the time.

"But we can't just leave this as it is," Matilda commented more confidently. "If there's someone so powerful out there kidnapping shining children, we can't hide ourselves under the table."

"It isn't your case, Matilda," Eleven said in a dry voice. "You're there in Oregon for the Morgan girl, do you forget?"

Matilda was silent because she really had nothing to object to. It was true, Samara was the one who had brought her to that place. Not Lily Sullivan, not Doug Ames, and definitely not Leena Klammer. That day, because she had left and ignored her obligations to Samara, something horrible had happened, something she would have to deal with starting the next day.

"I'll take care of trying to find this guy's identity," Eleven reported, "without deliberately exposing anyone else to him, obviously. But you must be careful. Especially you Matilda, because he saw you and probably already knows who you are. Is there anything you can tell me about him that makes it easier for us to find out?"

Matilda leaned forward, still holding her phone on speaker, and looked thoughtfully at the floor as she tried to figure out how to answer that question.

"I don't know if what I saw was even real... but I thought it was a boy, young, seventeen or eighteen, with blue eyes and black hair. He was handsome, but... overwhelmingly terrifying. Couldn't you see anything else about him?"

Again, a silence... short, but quite dense.

"No, I'm afraid not," she replied after a while in a neutral voice. "He mentioned a name to me: Abra. It seemed to me that he believed that I was that person, so perhaps she is someone who also shines. Does any of you know that name?"

The three looked at each other, none with any ideas to propose.

"No, I don't think so," Cole replied, externalizing the thoughts of the other two.

"No matter. I'll see what we can do about it, but for now, it's better not to get more involved with all of that. Matilda and Cole must put aside their initial differences and focus on Samara Morgan's case."

"I'm more than willing to do it," Cole pointed out mockingly, glancing at Matilda then, "if Dr. Honey accepts my help."

Matilda looked at him askance, expressionless.

"It'll be something interesting to watch," the psychiatrist murmured, not exactly excited by the idea.

"I also wish to speak to Samara one day as we had arranged," Cody interjected into the conversation. "I want to know a little more about what she can do."

And that was true, especially after what he had seen in that room. And after what Cole had told them about ghosts and demons, a whole new world about the shining had opened to him. That girl was a mystery, no doubt a mystery that terrified him, but at the same time, fascinated a little.

"But I already missed one day of school, so it would have to be until Saturday."

"I'll fix it," Matilda agreed. "Thanks, Cody."

"Well, I like it when everyone gets along," Eleven said a little cheerfully on the phone. "With that said, I think it would be all on my side. But before we say goodbye... Cole, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

Matilda and Cody's eyes instinctively locked on Cole, who seemed just as confused as they were about that sudden request.

"Don't worry," said the police officer, "surely she only wants to scold me for what happened a moment ago. Would you let me?"

Matilda, a little reluctantly, extended her phone towards him, resigned.

"I don't know how much life it really has left."

Cole took the phone in his fingers, removed the speaker, and took a few steps away from them with the phone in his ear. Can I talk to you alone for a minute? That was definitely a friendly way of saying that she wanted to tell him something that the others either didn't need or shouldn't listen to. That didn't do many wonders in easing that sense of exclusion that so overwhelmed Matilda, but that she had promised to handle better.

"Are you feeling better?" Cody asked, taking advantage of the fact that they were a little more alone.

Matilda sighed.

"Calmer, yes. Better? That's relative."

They both looked silently at Cole, speaking far enough away that neither of them could hear him clearly. At least none of them could read minds, so they really could have privacy in such a situation.

"You're not really going to scold me, are you?" Cole joked once he was in the correct position.

"I should do that," Eleven replied icily. "Did you know what you would cause if you mentioned Carrie White?"

"Not at all. I just thought that if she had things inside, it'd better get them all out at once."

"Are you the psychiatrist now?" Her tone was clearly reproachful, although a small mocking laugh followed almost immediately. "I told you, didn't I? You have never met someone like her before."

"Definitely." He turned slightly to see his two companions over his shoulder, though more specifically, the woman sitting on the bench. "She's even more impressive than what you and the others told me. And also more beautiful..."

"I don't suggest you go down that path," Eleven said somewhat harshly.

"Hey, I'm not hinting at anything, I'm just commenting on a self-evident truth. Also, we are not compatible at all, right?"

Eleven only answered her question with a long sigh that left the interpretation open.

"But that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about," she clarified. "It's about the guy who attacked Matilda. I didn't want to say it with her listening, because she's still affected. But... he wasn't an ordinary person, even by the standards of those who are like us." She was silent for a few moments, a cold silence. "I'll be honest with you: he terrified me..."

"Really?" Cole muttered, surprised to hear such a statement. "That is quite unusual coming from you. So powerful he was?"

"I don't know if that's the right word. But it took every ounce of my force to repel him, and I'm not sure if I can do it again if the situation repeats."

If Cole wasn't intrigued before, now he really was. From all he had heard, he assumed that guy was someone of great power. But, even so much to worry Eleven? Cole understood why she did not want Matilda and Cody to listen to her. But now, he wondered if he would have preferred to have remained in the same ignorance as them.

Eleven continued.

"My common sense tells me that trying to discover who he is and what he wants with that girl is playing with fire, and we should leave things as they are."

"I get it," Cole murmured slowly. "It's an unusual situation; usually, everyone always sees you as someone invincible. But is that really what you don't want the doctor to hear? Or is it something else?" Eleven fell silent. "Did you also feel something else unusual about him? Something like with this girl?"

Again, a few moments of silence that caused some anxiety in the detective.

"I don't know..." Mrs. Wheeler murmured after a moment. "Just be careful, ok? And protect Matilda at any cost."

"I'll do it." Then he gave a little giggle that he didn't know if it was funny or nervous. "She really is your favorite, right?"

"I have no favorites," Eleven replied immediately, almost offended by the suggestion. "We'll keep in touch, ok?"

"Very well. I'll inform you of anything I see."

Once Eleven hung up, Cole took a few moments before heading back to the other two. He held the cell phone between his fingers and looked thoughtfully for the rest of the courtyard. From the day he received that fortuitous call from Eleven, until that moment, with that little conversation they had just had, things seemed to get more and more complicated. A murderer with the face and body of a girl; another one that could be possessed by a demon; and an individual with abilities so incomprehensible that could rival Eleven... or even overcome her...

What had he gotten himself into? Would it be too late to return to Philadelphia?

He ran his hand through his short blond hair and tried to regain his composure as best he could. He did not have to see his own face to know that he was evidently terrified. He could even feel his hand shaking a little, but he couldn't let that feeling dominate him. He turned back to his new friends, a broad, gleaming smile full of confidence. He walked towards them with a safe step and stopped in front of Matilda to extend his phone again.

"Here it is, Doctor," he pointed out normally. Matilda picked up the phone back, and before she thought to ask what they were talking about, the detective rushed to clap his palms together, creating a loud sound and then stepped forward to speak first. "So I think it's been a lot of hustle for a day already. We must better go rest, don't you think?"

Matilda stared at him suspiciously, but Cole did not mutate.

"Yes, both of you had better go to rest," the brunette commented, apparently ready to put it down like that, which brought relief to Cole.

"I'll ask for a ride to Seattle before it's done later," said Cody, who immediately pulled out his own phone.

Matilda gave a little groan just then and hit her right palm against her forehead.

"Cody, I'm so sorry," she exclaimed with concern, standing up quickly. "I should take you back... but I promised Samara that I would spend the night here in case she needed me."

"Hey, don't worry," Cody said quickly, smiling nonchalantly at him. "I can ask for a car. It will be a little expensive, but..."

"No, no," the psychiatrist muttered quickly. "Nothing of that, I'll take you, and then I'll come back."

"Until Seattle?" Cole snapped, skeptical. "You would come back at dawn, doctor. I can't let you do that. Why don't you stay tonight in Salem, Cody?"

Cody looked at Cole for a few moments, then dropped his thoughtful gaze. They both noticed how his slender fingers circled his phone with a little force.

"I can't..." he whispered slowly, almost as if something hurt. "I need certain things to be able to sleep well, which I didn't bring with me. And I can't sleep in a hotel; too many people nearby. I need to go back to my house, sorry."

Cole looked at him blankly, but Matilda understood, or at least she could get an idea of ​​what he meant. Cody was in complete control of his ability while awake. However, this was not the case when he slept, as he tended to get out of control, especially when he had a bad nightmare. She had never directly seen what happen in those moments. Still, some people said that it could affect the space around him in unimaginable ways, and dangerous for anyone who was nearby. Eleven had taught him how to control it most of the time, but it was not a guarantee of success. So he lived alone, in a house a little apart from any neighbor, and, when is necessary, he took certain sleeping medications that inhibited his dreams. He was careful not to take them as these drugs could have unpleasant side effects on him. But that had been a hectic day... or at least more hectic than most of his days, for sure.

Cody noticed Matilda looking at him with concern, so he hurried to smile and speak nonchalantly

"But don't worry, I'm not a child," he exclaimed. "I'll see you on Saturday, ok?"

"Thank you, Cody," Matilda murmured and dared to give him a little goodbye hug. "And sorry for getting you into all of this."

"I do it with pleasure," the professor replied slowly, returning the hug.

After separating, Cody went inside the building to make his call.

"I can stay here if you need me, too," Cole said as he watched Cody walk away. "I have a reservation in Salem, but I can call to say they must wait for me tomorrow."

"Would you seriously do that?" She murmured apprehensively, turning to him with her arms crossed. Before saying something more hurtful, like perhaps: do you seriously think I might need you for something?, she took a deep breath through her nose and thought better of things. It was better to keep the party going from there, at least as much as possible. "No, don't worry. It had a long flight, and you have not stopped for a second since landing. Go to Salem, take advantage of the vehicle that Cody is going to ask to let you go. Let's talk tomorrow."

"As you order, boss," Cole replied, making a mocking military signal that Matilda was not amused. "Rest, doctor."

Matilda smirked at him and dismissed him with a nod of her head. Cole walked away to the building to catch up with Cody, and when she was finally alone, she allowed herself to sit on the bench for a second again.

She huffed wearily. She also used to rest, but a waiting room did not sound like the ideal place. But that was the job. She would have to sleep, and tomorrow deal with demons, ghosts, and maybe some goblins if she was lucky.

She picked up her phone again and tried to turn it on. To her surprise, once again, it did not work. It did not respond in any way, as it was before the call. Incredulous, she remembered that she had joked that Eleven was now repairing telephones remotely. Still, perhaps it wasn't so much a joke, after all.

Perhaps it was correct; there were things from the shining, and from Eleven herself, that even she didn't know about yet.

END OF CHAPTER 26