Chapter 6
Rolling hills of green grass and wide-open blue skies are all around him. Standing in a field of flowers, he pauses to take in the fresh air. Ahead of him lies a grove of trees, which lead to a forest. As he gets closer he sees that the forest almost looks enchanted. Two trees with their branches intertwined guard the entrance and produce a sparkling and glistening display. Walking towards the opening he almost expects a mystical unicorn to step out of the clearing. Instead a young girl appears between the two trees. She wears a crown of flowers on her head and her long red hair appears to sparkle in the light. With her hand she beckons him to come closer. Almost as if in a trance, he walks into the clearing. Looking to the right, he sees the young girl holding out her hand to him. Walking towards her, he takes her hand. Smiling, she leads him to a tree next to a clearing. Looking deep into his eyes, she reaches her arms up around his neck. Pulling him closer, her lips gently brush his. He can feel her breath close to his face and is intoxicated by her scent. Pressing her lips to his she begins to slowly kiss him, each kiss increasing in intensity. He reaches his hand up to caress her hair. Pressing his mouth harder on hers he begins to kiss her faster and faster. She begins to moan as his lips wander from her mouth to her neck. He feels her tremble as he kisses her passionately up and down her neck. His hand wanders down to the lace on her bodice and he fumbles to untie it. His other hand reaches under her long skirt and begins to stroke her thigh. Her heart rate increases and her breathing becomes more intense as he pushes his hand further and further up her leg. As she takes in a quick gasp he looks at her and notices that she no longer has long red hair but short red hair in a bob style.
Mulder's Apartment5:00 p.m.
Mulder awoke with a start. He sat up holding his head and trying to catch his breath. The dream he had just experienced had seemed so real. He could almost feel her lips on his and feel her breath on his skin. One minute she had been this young girl with long red hair and the next she had been... "Scully?" he whispered. He looked around the room and saw that he was alone. He then remembered that she had left to go back to the X-Files office. He was just as glad that she was not here as he would have had a hard time explaining to her about what had just happened. A smile came across his face as he went back to the dream. It was one of the most realistic ones he had ever had and he had not wanted to wake from it. "All right, Mulder. Just forget about it," He said to himself as he rubbed his eyes. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was after 5 p.m. Stretching, he slowly raised himself from the futon. He definitely felt refreshed after resting and taking Scully's medicine that she had given him. He smiled as he thought of Scully and how she always seemed to look out for him. He walked over to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Finding the remnants of a sandwich he pulled it out and placed it on a plate. Taking a bottle of pop from the fridge he picked up the plate and walked back to the living room. He picked up the remote and turned on the television before settling back on the futon. He was taking a bite of his sandwich when he nearly choked as he saw the news story on the Pendleton murder come across the screen. Seeing him and Scully on the camera and their names mentioned was the last thing he needed to see. "Wait a minute. I don't remember Scully or me telling the media anything about us being on this case?" he thought to himself. "Oh boy! If Scully did go back to the office then Skinner is going to want to talk to her about this no doubt!" He said as he let out a sigh. He knew what it was like when Skinner got on them about things and it was anything but pleasant. Mulder felt though that he did it to protect them rather than to hurt them. He recalled how many times Skinner had put himself on the line to protect him and Scully. How he had even testified how he had seen Mulder abducted even though he knew how ridiculous it sounded. It still bothered him that he had acquired amnesia after he had returned and knew nothing about what had happened to him. As usual, Scully had taken care of him and nursed him back to health. There was nothing he liked more than opening his eyes and seeing her beautiful face and warm smile. After working with her for 8 years, he could not think of a time in his life now without her.
His eating and thinking was interrupted by a knock at his door. "It must be Scully stopping by to check on me," he thought smiling. Even though he had given her a key, she always chose to politely knock first. He put his sandwich down and went to answer the door. As he opened the door he did not see Scully standing before him but rather a tall lanky man dressed in black.
"Can I help you?" said Mulder a little annoyed that it was not Scully.
"Fox Mulder? My name is Mendrick Manlow and I must speak to you on a matter of vital importance."
"Excuse me, Mr. Manlow but would you mind telling me what could be that important?"
"Yes, I would like to speak to you regarding the Pendleton murder."
Now Mulder knew where this was going. "I'm sorry but I can not disclose any information about this case. I also wish to add that I don't appreciate being hounded at my apartment for a lousy news story!" He began to close the door but Mendrick's hand stopped it.
"I assure you Mr. Mulder that I am not a reporter. However, I do have some information about this case which you might find interesting."
Mulder stared at the man intently. "Don't I know you?" Mulder's mind flashed back to the man he had seen at Avondale Park. "You're..you're the man I saw at the crime scene!"
Mendrick nodded. "Yes, I am he that you speak of. I am sure you have many questions running through your head right now and I would be most happy to answer them. Only, may we do so away from prying eyes?"
Mulder looked at the man a moment before answering. "Yes, of course. If you would just wait here for a minute. You see I did not plan on company and I would like to pick up a few things."
Mendrick nodded. "Of course, I understand."
"Good. I will just be a minute." Mulder said closing the door. He walked into the living room and picked up his 9mm. Checking the clip, he placed it in its holster and put it around his shoulder. Picking up a light pull over fleece he concealed the holster. If there was one thing he had learned in his years working on the X-Files it was to "trust no one". He couldn't count how many times a conversation had started out this way and he had ended up with a gun pressed to his head. Adjusting his clothes, he walked back to the door and opened it.
"Please, come in." Mulder waited while Mendrick stepped through the door. Brushing past Mulder he walked into the living room. Mulder closed the door and stepped back to the living room. "Please excuse that I don't have that much furniture but I do not have company over here that much."
"That is quite all right. I prefer to stand anyway."
"Suit yourself," said Mulder taking a seat on the futon. "So, what vital information do you have for about the Pendleton murder?"
"I have come here to tell you that none of your scientific investigation will uncover the cause of this man's death."
"Scientific? What do you mean?"
"The individual responsible for this can not be explained by science. He is not even a part of the mortal world."
Mulder gave him a look. "Uh-huh. I see..."
"I know what your line of work consists of Agent Mulder. I know that you deal with the paranormal and I know that you have an open mind."
"I don't know where you obtained this information about my job, Mr. Manlow but yes I do have an open mind. However, do you know how many people try to contact me on a daily basis? Telling me stories just to get attention and making me a laughing stock? Unless you have substantial evidence to back up your story, I am afraid that you are wasting my time."
Mendrick turned to Mulder. "Christopher Pendleton was found completely drained of blood. His throat was torn out and on the left side of his neck were two tiny puncture marks. Am I right?"
To Mulder's knowledge and from what he had seen on the news, none of the details concerning the puncture marks and where they were located had been released. He looked at Mendrick. "All right Mr. Manlow. You have somehow procured this information but that still doesn't mean anything." Mulder rose up from the futon and began to walk towards the door.
"I know the images you saw Mr. Mulder or should I say.... Anthony" said Mendrick talking towards Mulder. Mulder stopped and turned back around. "The farm, the young girl with the long red hair and even the supposed "dream" you had."
Mulder walked back towards Mendrick. "How do you know about that?"
"I know many things Mr. Mulder. I know about you and I know about whom is responsible for this murder. I also know that your partner and friend is in grave danger as well."
Mulder's stomach hit the floor. "Scully? How is her life threatened by this?"
"Well Mr. Mulder if you would be so kind as to have a seat I will explain all that I know to you. I must warn you though the information you are about to hear may cause you to doubt many things but if you want to save her and you as well you must heed what I say."
Mulder sat down on the futon never taking his eyes off Mendrick. There was no way anyone else could know that he had seen and if Scully was in danger somehow then he had to know. "You called me Anthony," said Mulder leaning forward on the futon. "Why?"
"To answer that I will have to take you back to the past. A time many centuries before this one. Many lifetimes before the one you are in now." He pulled out a single solid gold ring. "This ring holds many answers to the past. Some answers that you have been asking yourself about your life and why things are the way they are." He turned to Mulder who was almost hypnotized by the ring. "So, shall we begin?"