The Hunter, The Dragon And The Smokey Mountain Angel
Chapter 6

The door creaked as it slammed shut with a bang! Blake looked at Julia and started the engine.

“That was a little louder than I expected,” Julia said.

“It’s okay, it’s an old truck,” Blake replied as he waved with his newly healed hand to the people outside.

Julia turned away from him and saw the small crowd of people who had followed them out of the clinic. They were starting to gather around the truck. She bobbed inches above the passenger–seat waving goodbye while keeping her hand in front of her face.

Blake said, “You’re gonna be famous! The doctor only had to fix my stubborn arm but you–you couldn’t even walk… You looked like you were in a lot of pain but after the treatment; you flew right off that table. I bet you’d really fly if you tried.”

“You have a big imagination,” Julia replied even as she was thinking the very same thing he had said. She might be able to fly but that’s not what she wanted. Being an even bigger freak than she already felt like was not what she had in mind.

Blake placed the truck in gear, steered around the waving people and then turned onto the main road heading for Lost Mountain. He motioned with his hand, as if she was the next big attraction and said, “The flying girl from Pigeon Forge.”

Julia’s eyes widened!

She didn’t need this kind of attention right now and she didn’t like that title. Then she realized that no one knew her name, the doctor had whispered it in her ear. The law protected her medical information, so she doubted that the doctor would tell the public who she was. One other person had recognized her but he didn’t know who she was and she made sure that none of the pictures they were taking captured her face. They only showed her floating at odd angles...

Right now, she needed a job.

It was going to be hard enough to sell herself as–is and without transportation.

To her, “The Flying Freak from the Smokey Mountains,” qualified for only one type of job.

No one needs to know about this. I need to keep this as secret as I can until I have a secure job, a driver’s license and my son back.

“We’re going to Mining Inc.’s main office, right. I haven’t been up his way since I was a teenager.” Blake glanced over at her and added, “You look pale. Are you alright?”

Julia nodded, still imagining herself as an attraction flying around some building next to the giant King Kong. She said, “I’m just feeling very grateful but Blake, I don’t want to be famous; yet. I only want to... I have some things I need to take care of that are very important.”

Blake’s smile vanished. He said, “I understand difficult times... I can keep your identity vague but something like this is going to be all over the social media. I’ve already seen pictures of you floating above the table on twitter but the paper–wall divider blocked you from view. Everyone wants to see your pretty face.”

Julia’s eyebrows raised and she let her breath out. She hadn’t felt pretty in a very long time, even before the accident she had kept her appearance strictly Air Force regulation. She said, “Thank you Blake. And yes, I’m hoping to get a job at the mining company. I’m–good with computers, so my disabilities shouldn’t be an issue.”

However, she thought,

Having my driver’s license suspended by Child Protective Services might be a problem. Then she laughed to herself as she thought, I wonder, if the state revoked my pilot’s license too could they stop me from... floating to work?

Then her smile disappeared as she said to herself,

None of this is funny.

Blake turned onto Lost Mt. Road and he shifted his truck into 4x4 mode. The road had a steep incline with several sharp drop offs. After a short distance, the asphalt gave way to gravel and the sound of grinding rocks under heavy tires rumbled in the back of Julia’s mind.

The grinding rocks vibrated throughout the truck’s cab but she noticed a deeper growl growing in her chest. Blake remained quiet as the truck switched–back climbing up the worn–down road.

The garbled–growling sound grew inside her. She glanced at Blake but he just kept driving as if nothing was happening. The disconnected–rumbling she felt from within was scary but with her mind clear of pain medication, she realized that the sound felt real.

The past few days, hell the whole year until now had felt like a haze of events and hearing and feeling odd things seemed almost normal but it wasn’t. This wasn’t normal but it was real. The energy and emotion behind the expanding sensation in her chest also felt comforting. The choice to fear this or release her fear battled for her mind’s permission to act or relax. The sounds from within rumbled and barked as it stretched her ability to comprehend.

As if breaking free from the static of her mind she heard a deep voice say clearly,

“ROU–ELA”

Julia arched her back in response to the sound and her body pressed against the seat. Every little twist or adjustment of her body had a new kind of motion associated with it that she hadn’t mastered yet.

“ROULEA”

Then she saw a clear image of herself standing tall and strong. The image felt like a projection shining on the canvas of her mind…

Julia looked at Blake but he acted as if he hadn’t heard or seen anything. The growling voice was coming from within her. The voice felt like it was bubbling up through hot lava and it was trying to tell her something important. She could feel and see images with each word and the message grew clearer as they drove up the road.

“SUR–HUN TR”

The blurred image of a woman frozen in action poises came and then passed.

The presence’s accent sounded noble yet still gruff. Like an aristocrat speaking to a tiny friend in a foreign language and through enormous lungs. The picture in her mind of the Jolly Green Giant made her chuckle and Blake glanced at her then back at the road. The image of the Jolly Green Giant had come from her imagination, she could tell by the lack of any sensation. It was separate from the presence that was speaking to her…

Then, she felt the presence take hold of her mind and the world around her disappeared replaced by a void. She looked into the blackness and as her vision adjusted, the void filled with stars. Her lungs filled with cool air as she inhaled sharply. Her mind started working again,

This is a vision, and I’m still inside the truck.

Then she focused. She was looking into the void of space but she didn’t recognize the star pattern.

“TS COOM N MOON.”

Then the blurred image of the Hunter appeared even as her awareness returned to the truck. The thought of the Hunter coming to get her made her rise an inch above her seat and Blake looked at her again. This time he seemed concerned but whatever he was thinking, he kept it to himself.

She glanced at him and then back outside the window. The sound of the road mixing with the feeling of this presence made her thoughts melt into one.

She focused on her breathing as the world outside passed by.

The idea that the hypnotic state of mind she was in could be what’s triggering the connection rose into her mind.

Outside the truck, the trees opened and then blocked her vision of the mountain range beyond the road’s edges. Even as the forest masked her sight, she could see the landscape in her mind. The details remained hidden until the trees passed again.

This is like the connection with the presence, she thought

She had felt this feeling and the presence before and she had heard these thoughts several times before but the meaning was clearer now, the gaps between the mental trees were wider.

The words weren’t perfect but combined with the images she understood the wording,

“The Hunter is coming soon.”

Julia looked at Blake and asked, “Have you ever heard of The Hunter?”

His lips pursed and he said, “Like Orion the Hunter?”

Julia shook her head; it was something like that. Something about the stars but this wasn’t about Orion. She said, “No, never mind.”

The truck stopped at a makeshift parking lot next to a wide construction trailer that jutted out of the mountainside. There were two cars parked next to the office. The road continued around the back of the mountain but she was sure that this was the place to start. Above the front door read, “Mining Corporation Ink.”

“This looks like the place. I’ll wait here,” Blake said.

Julia smiled. She said, “I just need to make sure that this is the place where I’m supposed to go for an interview. After I find out what’s up inside I’ll wave and you can go.”

“I don’t mind waiting Miss.”

“Blake, my name is Julia. And, I really appreciate you driving me up this mountain but when I’m done I want to walk down. I think I need the practice.”

Blake nodded and smiled and said, “Julia, it was a real pleasure to meet you. And don’t you worry; your secret is safe with me.”

Julia opened the door and went through the motions that made her body slide out of her seat and then settle to the ground. Her feet pressed a little too hard and she arched her foot, raised her knees slightly and her body lifted. She imagined that to everyone who could see her, she must look like a clumsy ice skater.

Blake had watched her with a smile. When she seemed to gain control he said, “You’re a fast learner.”

Julia nodded, “Thanks again Blake.” Then she shut the door and began float–walking up the steps toward the front door. She knew Blake was watching, and probably laughing but she hoped the people inside the office didn’t see how odd she was moving. Her body wobbled as she twisted and curved her arms, legs and torso in such a way for it to appear as if she were climbing the office steps under her own power.

When she reached the door, she wondered if she should knock but decided to walk in and pretend that she was exactly the person they were looking for to fill any needed positions. She opened the door and was surprised by its sturdy construction. It was made of reinforced, thick steel. The kind of door she had used in secure bases located in underground bunkers hidden around the world. However, she guessed that this was a mining company and perhaps they liked to set a good impression from the start.

The space inside the office looked a little cramped. There were no windows. The walls had inlayed wood paneling and several paintings of the mountains and other wildlife hung in wide frames spread throughout the office. To her right, two women sat behind separate desk facing the door.

The closest woman stood up and smiled. “Welcome to Mining Company Ink. How may I help you?”

Julia let her weight settle too much and she stumbled, caught herself as her body contorted and then stood up straight. The closest lady had rushed around her desk to catch her fall but stopped a few feet away when Julia seemed to gain control of herself.

“Please excuse me,” Julia said as she straightened her hair and clothes, “I’m here to apply for a job.”

The lady glanced back at the other woman still sitting at her desk and then returned her eyes to Julia. She asked, “What position are you looking to fill?”

“I can operate spread sheet programs. I was a computer specialist in the Air Force. They trained me to use many kinds of communications systems and I’m very reliable. Do you think any of those skills would fit your needs?”

The lady smiled and shook Julia’s hand. Then she pointed to a wall full of boxes. “We have a need for data entry. We literally have a ton of papers that need to be scanned and all the information input into our data base.”

Julia smiled as she shook the lady’s hand. She said, “I can type 90 words per minute. Just let me at that stack of papers.”

“First things first, we’ll need you to fill out the standard application forms, take a few test and show us your ID,” She glanced back at the woman still sitting behind her and she nodded. The lady continued, “After that we will need you to return tomorrow to meet the manager for a second interview.”

Julia opened the door and waved to Blake. He waved back, gave her thumbs up, and then drove off. When she came back in, the secretary led her to a desk and then a laptop was set before her. She filled out the application forms and then took a typing test. She quickly realized that her injuries had slowed her typing speed but she still had it. She could type over 60 words per minute. Then she took a math, reading and a long psychological test. She was exhausted when she finally pressed the enter key for the last time.

The lady asked, “Do you have any questions for us?”

Julia said, “When will I start?”

“If the last interview goes well, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t, then you can start as soon as you’re ready.” The woman who had first greeted her said.

Julia stood up and walked to the door. Before she exited, the lady who had remained silent the whole time said, “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you become injured; an accident... a stroke?”

Julia had hoped that her new abilities would have masked all that. She didn’t think these women would know about the treatment their company had just given her but the thought had crossed her mind.

The woman bit her lower lip and Julia realized that her pause might be giving the false impression that she was offended. She said, “I was hurt while on duty in the Air Force a year ago.”

“Wow, you’re a hero too.” the lady said in response, “Julia, I hope we see you tomorrow. You’ve passed all the test and you’re a really good typist. We both like you, so hopefully after the last interview you can start.”

Julia’s smile was so broad that her face started to hurt. She said, “Thank you so much. I really need this job. I won’t let you down.”

“Okay, bye for now,” said the first woman who had greeted her.

Julia waved as she exited the door. It was going to be a long walk home and she was excited. This was the time to train her body to move exactly as she wanted.

When she was out of view of the mining office, she began experimenting with her body.

How does this work?

This was beyond high school physics. She could feel her body lifting but there wasn’t any physical sensation associated with it as she felt when stopping or going in a car.

It’s like warp drive for my body but how does it know my will?

She had to both move her body and imagine the direction she wanted to go. When she only thought, over there, her motions became sluggish. She had to imagine a glowing sphere, about three feet in front of her for her bodily motions to respond smoothly and as one. It took even more practice to walk forward, turn her head and then move her arms in all different directions without spinning out of control. Her will prioritized the desired motions and allowed her to envision movements in multiple vectors. In a way it was like flying a plane but she wondered,

Where is the propulsion coming from?

She imagined the ball of energy in front of her and as she willed herself to move faster, the imaginary sphere began to elongate and she moved so fast that she had to stop.

Okay Jules, this is float–walking 101 not Advanced Theory. Slow down girl.

Then she continued practicing the combination of little movements she knew. Some of the more subtle motions worked best to make her float–walking pass for normal bi–petal movements. However, as she concentrated, she felt distracted by the growing desire to fly...

Her skin tingled. The temperature started dropping but even as it did, she felt warmer. She could take off all her clothes and she’d still feel perfectly fine. And, she was acutely aware of the pressure changes as she descended the mountain.

She still wanted to test her abilities but on second thought, she just wanted to be normal. This gift would help her do the things she couldn’t do before,

Besides what other purpose would I have for this?

She was so caught up in practicing the intricate little movements that it took no time to float–walk the long way down the mountain. The pull of gravity added to her downward speed and it was tricky to navigate some bumps and small hills. She had a few more stumbles and her trip down the mountain almost ended with a face plant into the broad side of a pine tree. She quickly learned that if she ever flew, gravity could still help her go faster.

By the time she walked past her mailbox and down the long driveway, she had mastered the tiny twist and bends that were necessary to make her legs, torso and arms move– some–what– naturally. She imagined that the casual observer would never suspect that her weight never settled with each step.

As she walked down the driveway, her mind raced with all the possibilities. She might even be able to rejoin her team in the Air Force, but that thought passed as she thought of her missing son. She had been away for so long. Rand was wrong about so many things but he was right about this, her boy needed his mother, especially while he is so young.

Nevertheless, she thought, he also needs food, clothing, shelter and a future.

Then, as she approached her home, she stopped and hovered in place. A fresh set of tires had left prints. It was dark now, so it had been hard to see but someone had come by her house today.

She followed the tracks to the front door. The moon light showed four sets of footprints, two leading to the front door and two that circled to the back of the house. The back door was still ajar, damaged from when she had first entered it using a crow bar for a key.

She was tired but instantly her mind began racing. Who had come here? What did they want and did they take anything? Her body rose an inch above the floor and silently she entered the back door, checked the whole house, and then she returned to where the tire tracks had stopped. No one was here. Whoever had come hadn’t disturbed any of her things.

After going over all the information in her mind, she rechecked that the house was truly empty and she decided to buy a latch and padlock tomorrow. It was something she should have done already but hadn’t.

She floated back into the house but before going to bed, she pumped some water for a bath in the morning and gathered more wood for the fire. After starting a fire and cooking dinner in a can and tin cup, she bathed, brushed her teeth and lay down.

As the excitement began to wear off about being able to move again without pain and the possibility for a new job, sadness began to sink in. She missed her son so much it was a physical pain she could feel coming from inside her chest. The treatment the doctor had given her couldn’t sooth this kind of hurting. She needed help with this. Someone had to know something about what happened to her ex–husband and her little boy.

And, as she watched the fire, she felt the humming coming again from deep inside her. The memory of the voice telling her that the Hunter is coming returned but she was so tired the feeling didn’t alarm her, instead it felt soothing and she matched her breathing with the rhythm she felt inside her chest. The connection was clearer than before but not as defined as it had been when she was on the mountain. It felt like a huge cat was sitting on her chest– purring but there were no words this time. In her mind, she envisioned a loving hand resting on her, protecting her, letting her know it was going to be all right...

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