Posted on: June 15, 2008

FC: It's been a while yes? I made it extra long to apologize. I blame Finals, because this was mostly written for weeks…
Kylan: stop making excuses and let them read!
FC: Right…

Side note: GEIST rhymes with Heist (as in bank heist)

GEIST
In the Dark

Over the next few weeks, Vlad and I searched deeply into the Nazi GEIST Project. There was limited information on the web... due to the fact it was kept tightly under wraps.

Vlad concluded that GEIST had nothing to do with me, yet I was reluctant to let the subject go. There were just too many things that linked me to it. Maybe I was a descent of the original super soldier… which may explain why no one claimed me back in Europe. It could potentially explain that bizarre glowing.

"Vlad? Who was GEIST?" I asked casually one night in mid-November. I hadn't brought GEIST up in a week or so… I thought maybe I could coax more information out of him.

He sighed, "Daniel, I thought we weren't going to pursue this anymore." He sounded somewhat annoyed.

"Why not? What are you afraid of?" I persisted.

"There are too many things at stake Daniel. More than you understand."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't-" Vlad muttered to himself; I almost didn't hear him.

"Don't what? Want to lose me? Like you lost your wife?" I snapped. I felt my eyes flash from my soft blue to that horrid, unnatural green.

"How did you-" Vlad stuttered clearly not sure what to say.

"Does it matter? You're afraid that I might figure out who I am and you'll lose me too!" I felt hot salty tears form at the corners on my eyes.

"Daniel, calm down and listen-" Vlad tried to coax me out of my ever swelling rage.

"NO Vlad, You listen! You know deep down, no matter how much you wish it weren't true, that I don't belong here. Something's trying to tell me where I belong and maybe what I am…" I looked at my hands, "I'm not normal Vlad! I'm not like other people… and you know it."

Vlad stared at me. I couldn't take his hard gaze, so I fled. I tore up the stairs and into my room. I slammed and bolted the door. I slumped against it in a heap, tears flowing down my face. I looked up across my room briefly, into the mirror that hung across on the opposite wall. My eyes were still vivid green and glowing brightly.

I glared at my reflection. "Who am I?" I whispered.

'You are GEIST…'

I jumped as a voice whispered; it was the same one from the library.

I wiped the tear stains from my face. "I am Geist?" I repeated uncertainly.

'Remember GEIST…'

I shivered as the temperature dropped. "R-Remember what?" My teeth chattered as I spoke.

'Who you are…'

"I-I c-can't-" I stammered. I shivered more now. I could see my breath as I trembled.

REMEMBER!

The voice grew louder and became more commanding. I pressed myself against the door as dark energy swirled around in the middle of my room. I whimpered as the energy started to form into a tall, stark figure. Thankfully, Vlad chose this moment to force the door open. He wrapped his arms tightly around me in a protective manner. The dark energy dissipated once Vlad entered. The room began to return to the normal temperature.

I shivered violently and buried my head into Vlad's protective embrace.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I sobbed repeatedly into his chest. I had never felt so weak, defenseless, scared, take your pick. Vlad held me for awhile as I tried to calm down.

"Daniel it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. It's okay." Vlad spoke soothingly, which allowed me to calm down.

"Perhaps… It's best… We find out more about your visions…."

I had a terrible memory. It was a given fact. My 'visions' as Vlad called them, were getting progressively darker. I was becoming more and more fearful of their hidden meaning. I knew that there was one. The answer to why my hands and eyes glowed that brilliant green. The reason why my past is so muddled. It's who I am versus who I want to be. It's all very confusing.

Sam had finally dropped looking into GEIST more. I never told her what I found out that one Saturday. If I had I'd never hear the end of her constant findings and frustrations. On the other hand I think our friendship has grown very strained and distant. We didn't talk as much as we had before, and she seemed to dislike my company.

We kept to ourselves during the school hours. There was a gap, widening between us every moment. I thought we might have just needed space, but something was telling me to confront the issue head on. And that's what I did.

"Sam!" I called after her on a chilly Friday after school. She was about to board the bus.

"What?" She sounded tired.

"I… I just wanted to make sure things are okay between us. It's been…uh…"

"Difficult?" she supplied, "Yeah. I'm sorry for being so distant… it's just, I'm worried about it, you know?"

I nodded, "Yeah, 'it's' confusing and I haven't gotten many answers but once I do know… You'll be the second to know, after Vlad 'cause he's nosey." I said with a grin.

Sam smiled and boarded the bus. I sighed with relief as I headed towards the pickup/drop off area. Vlad was already there waiting.

"Daniel! We're going to Rutherford, Pennsylvania for the weekend!" Vlad said happily as he pulled up to the school. He handed me my travel bag which was already packed.

"Why?" I asked as I got into the small, silver-black, car.

Vlad pulled the car away from school, "We're going to visit an older friend of mine. She's a World War Two historian…Well ex-Historian, but it's nothing short of some answers!"

I grimaced; Vlad was overly eccentric and enthusiastic about this trip. "Why so suddenly?" I asked trying to cover my pause.

Vlad missed my falter, "Because she's available this weekend! You had better be on your best behavior young man."

I nodded, "You know I will!"

The trip was nothing short of long and boring. Apparently Rutherford was just inside Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh I believe.

It was around 8:30 when we arrived and it was getting dark already. It was November after all. Vlad pulled up to this beautiful old farm house. The siding was white and there was a small shed in the back. A neat little vegetable garden lay beside the shed.

We walked up the old wooden steps on to the porch. Vlad rang the doorbell. An elderly woman answered the door, she smiled at Vlad and they embraced briefly.

"It's so good to see you Vladimir!" She exclaimed. She had a nice authentic German accent. I liked her already.

"Please, it's Vlad," He tried to correct her, "And this is Daniel!"

I smiled. "Hello," I said politely.

"Daniel, this is Jasmine Stokes." Vlad said introducing me.

"Oh Vladimir, it's Fenton since I kept my maiden name." She scolded him lightly.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Fenton," I said with a smile.

FC: WHO saw that coming? Come on? Who did?
Kylan: You talk too much
Fc: I know I do...