DeniseZen Read online

  “Thank you.”

  691869.

  “Just fucking great. Am I going to have to keep my money in my mattress or something?” she said to herself while loading the bags in the trunk.

  We don’t need your money, but we have a lucrative offer for YOU.

  Not interested, she thought, her hand shaking a bit when she put the key in the ignition. I think.

  She did not hear another voice in her head for the rest of the day which she attributed the success of her lasagna to. Every couple of hours she would log onto her online banking to see if the account had been drained of funds.

  “This is absolutely amazing,” Layla said after tasting the lasagna. “Where did you learn how to cook like this?”

  “I am not sure, it may have been Leonardo da Vinci who taught me,” Denise giggled.

  “That sounds sinister.”

  She went on to tell Layla about where she actually got the recipe from, and the mysterious communications that took place in her head while shopping.

  “And you haven’t heard any voices since this morning?” Layla asked.

  “Nope.”

  Let me try. Anything? Layla thought, squinting like she was trying really hard when she did.

  “You were thinking that you want to have the desert in the nude out on the front lawn?” Denise asked.

  “Haaa. Not even close, but it sounds nice.”

  “Yeah, but what about the prying thoughts that almost certainly have prying eyes?”

  “Oh baby, today really got to you huh?”

  “Today, this week. Layla it’s like having a little person in your head, or a couple, and they can touch your brain. Hopefully it’s just some one or some thing trying to communicate and nothing sinister.”

  Layla got up and took Denise in her arms. “Honey, nothing is going to happen to you if I can help it.” She lifted her head to kiss her deeply.

  “Thanks lover.”

  Saturday passed in mental silence. She mowed her own grass that afforded her a discount on the rent. She did not mind since her landlords were so old, and she loved the smell of fresh cut grass. Even through the barbecue at Layla’s and the movie that evening, no further voices popped into her head.

  Sunday it rained lightly all day so they spent most of it in bed at Denise’s trailer, refusing to get dressed and eating whatever there was around the place.

  Monday morning they awoke to a sunny day with a forecast for clear skies, which meant it promised to be a perfect 4th of July.

  “I am NOT going to miss the city today, that’s for sure,” Denise said starting the pot of coffee.

  “And why is that?” Layla asked.

  “My neighborhood, the entire weekend, has been building up to the war zone it will become tonight at, oh, about seven p.m.”

  “That bad huh?”

  “Oh yeah, and get this, fireworks are illegal in Chicago, but you won’t see a single cop the entire battle.”

  “Not like that down here. If they don’t like you for some reason, they will arrest you.”

  “I won’t light anything heavier than sparklers,” Denise laughed, pouring each of them a cup of coffee.

  “And snakes,” Layla laughed.

  “Love the snakes.”

  “I’ll take her as far as Chester than she’s yours okay?” Denise said getting into the car, throwing towels on the seats before she got in because they would undoubtedly already be very hot and she and Layla were wearing short shorts.

  “For sure. Driving will help me take my mind off the heat since you do not have air conditioning in this baby.”

  “Yeah. Wonder if they were invented yet?” Denise laughed.

  “They were. I did a paper on air conditioning once. The first air conditioners were in cars in the thirties.”

  “I knew you would know,” Denise giggled as she turned out of the driveway and headed north on Highway 51.

  When they finally arrived at the Popeye statue in Chester Illinois, Denise pulled over, posed for a picture as if she was pulling her hair out, and hopped in the shotgun seat. Layla pointed the Mustang west, down what was left of the road in Illinois, across the bridge, and into Missouri.

  “It’s about ninety miles so pump up the volume on those tunes, sit back and enjoy the scenery,” Layla said.

  “Make it so.”

  After passing patches of rich farmland that stretched to the horizon, the forest and hilly winding roads filled the landscape the rest of the way to Meramec Caverns.

  “You know, the first time I thought it was cool to read minds is when I read one of my mom’s books that she had read for the first time in college. It was titled Stranger in a Strange Land. I thought Michael Valentine Smith was beyond cool in that book,” Denise said.

  “I helped cater a psychic fest once. Thought many of the people that came to it looked sickly, like they needed to exercise and get some fresh air.”

  “We’re getting plenty of fresh air at least today.”

  “Well we did get some exercise most of the night,” Layla laughed.

  “Oh yeah.”

  They spent hours exploring the magnificent Meramec caves before finally making it to Jesse James’ Hideout.

  “What a magnificent cave. I was just wondering, do you think JJ as they call him down here really hid out here?” Denise asked.

  “Yes I do,” Layla giggled.

  “Think he ever shot anyone in here, ever fired his six gun in here?”

  “Yes I do.”

  “Should I get a six gun just in case? I am pretty good with one you know. My brother used to have one when we were little I used to spin it around on my fingers and into the holster. I was a real Annie Oakley,” Denise laughed.

  “I bet you were. Getting hungry yet?”

  “I think you read my mind,” Denise said looking at her with wary eyes.

  “Oh behave,” Layla said. “I know what you’re thinking and it will have to wait until we’re alone. It’s kind of bible belt down here.”

  “Ha. C’mon, let’s go get some grub. Think any of those smorgasbords are open today?”

  “I checked before we left and yes they are.”

  “Let’s git.”

  Layla piloted the Mustang back to Pioneers Cabin in Percy where they feasted on home cooked fried chicken and all the trimmings.

  “Déjà vu,” Denise said exiting the restaurant.

  “I know. What would you like to do now?”

  “Stay on our déjà vu course and head over to the Mobil pump for gas before visiting the Fort.”

  “The déjà vu course it is.”

  There was a young woman working the pumps at the Mobil station when they arrived.

  “So happy you are open,” Denise said.

  “We do it as a favor to the tourists coming in today. If they are getting low on gas they would need to travel back Chester way to gas up.”

  “Tourists?” Layla asked.

  “Well they moved the ringing of the bell that happens every 4th to the site of Fort Kaskaskia. That, and the funeral procession visitors.”

  “Oh yes, that is tonight huh? No full moon today though,” Denise said.

  “Yeah, but they are going to come anyway.”

  “Here you are,” Denise said, handing her a twenty-dollar bill.

  “Happy Fourth,” the woman said.

  “Thanks, you too.” Denise said.

  “Perfect timing,” Layla smiled as dusk was rapidly setting in. She pulled the Mustang into the Fort de Chartres parking lot and parked next to a van with a bumper sticker that read Pseudo Psychics.

  “Well, I had a feeling it was not going to be a private night here like last time,” Layla said.

  They noticed a few tents set up. “Come on,” Denise said.

  “Hello ladies,” a woman sitting outside the tent said. She was smoking a long pipe.

  “Hello,” Denise and Layla chimed.

  “Come for the procession?” the woman asked.

  “Not reall
y. We were in the neighborhood and heard about it for the first time last weekend,” Denise said.

  “Out at Merramec Caverns today huh? Really nice out that way,” the woman said.

  “Is it that obvious we were there today?” Denise asked.

  “No. You just told me what you did today.”

  Layla gave the woman a hard look. “But she did not say anything about what we did today.”

  She did not have to SAY anything, the woman’s voice softly chimed in both of their heads.

  “So, does my brain have a built in telepathy loud speaker or something?” Denise asked.

  “No darling, not at all. I am Miriam, and it is a pleasure to meet you Denise, and a pleasure to meet you as well Layla. That’s a beautiful name.”

  “I’m intrigued,” Layla said.

  “Pull up a chair. Would you like something to drink?”

  “Scotch on the rocks?” Denise sighed.

  “How about a nice cold Rolling Rock instead? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Layla looked at Denise and smiled. “Can you make that two please?”

  “Help yourselves, they are in that large green cooler.”

  Miriam explained to them how she had gotten hooked into coming to Southern Illinois every 4th of July. “Sally is from New Orleans, and needless to say, New Orleans is the American capital for ghosts, voodoo, psychics, and so much more.”

  Denise and Layla listened attentively to Miriam who it turned out was an authority on all things paranormal.

  “Most parapsychologists agree on several different forms of telepathy. Latent telepathy is seen as the transfer of information through Psi with an observable time lag between delivery and receipt.”

  “That’s not what you did. You knew immediately,” Denise said.

  “Retro cognitive, precognitive and intuitive telepathy is the transfer of information through Psi about the past, future or present state of an individual’s mind to another individual.”

  “That’s getting warmer hey?” Layla said.

  “Emotive telepathy is the process of transferring kinesthetic sensations through altered states.”

  “Like after say, six more beers?” Denise laughed.

  “Not beer. Super conscious telepathy is tapping into the super conscious to access the collective wisdom of the human species for knowledge.”

  “Hmmm.” Denise said.

  “What about pets and plants?” Layla asked.

  “Every living thing communicates telepathically, at least that is my take on it,” Miriam smiled.

  “Be nice if I could at least figure out how to turn my LOUDSPEAKER on and off,” Denise laughed.

  But you can.

  “Is there like a handbook or something?”

  No, unfortunately

  My baby looks so hot in this light. I can’t wait to get her home, Denise heard in her mind. It was Layla’s thought.

  Oh my, Denise thought.

  You’ve just read your first thought Denise, Miriam whispered.

  “Ha. Well, as you well know, we’d better get going what with school tomorrow. I’m sure YOU understand Miriam,” Denise giggled.

  “Yes, it is getting late and you have a little drive ahead of you to get home.”

  “It’s been an absolute pleasure talking to you Miriam,” Layla said, handing her a card with their phone numbers and email addresses on it. Miriam handed each of them one of her cards with contact information.

  “Call me if you have any questions. I can see that you both have untapped psychic abilities that will manifest themselves one day.” Especially you Denise Zen.

  “Thanks for everything,” Denise said, giving Miriam a big hug.

  They headed out to and down Route 3, Denise now at the wheel. I wonder which of those four types of telepathy I might some day be able to tap into? she thought.

  There are more than four and you Denise Zen have them all within you. It was the voice of Nola.

  Really? That’s easy for you to say.

  I’m not SAYING anything.

  Do you mean I am reading your mind?

  No.

  Then how?

  Can you meet me in Makanda tomorrow morning.

  I know it. Say 10 a.m.

  The timing is perfect.

  “I don’t feel like sleeping yet. What say we stop for a caffeine nightcap?” Layla asked.

  “Absolutely. I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep tonight anyway.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep, and neither are you.”

  Chapter 6

  Makanda

  It was just getting light outside when Denise finally slipped out of bed. She’d been up for an hour trying to stop all the thoughts racing through her head, trying to get to that place she could usually find, that thoughtless void, nothing but the rhythm and sound of her breathing, to lull her back to sleep. Today it seemed impossible.

  She put on a pot of coffee and hopped in the shower, donning a loose fitting t-shirt when finished. She poured herself a twenty-ounce cup of coffee, woke up her Macbook, and started searching for information on telepathy and other forms of the paranormal.

  Ghost and spirits, unknown, she thought.

  Extraterrestrials and UFO’s, unknown, but.

  ESP? Not yet.

  She put her headphones on and tuned to the local radio station to help distract from all the mental noise in her brain and continued her query.

  Demonic possession? Unlikely.

  Telepathy. Oh yeah.

  Witches? Why not? I think I’m one.

  The weather report that came on was preceded by the news. “Well, 4th of July revelers got more than the usual fireworks displays to view through three counties here in Southern Illinois last night. Police in Jackson, Randolph and Perry counties took more than three hundred reports of lights traveling mysteriously across the night sky. A Randolph county police officer followed the mysterious lights to the Mississippi River where they had to give up their pursuit. In other news, the Big Muddy Music Festival has added three new bands to the lineup.” Denise turned the radio off.

  Mmm, something smells good. Coffee. she heard Layla’s voice whisper in her head.

  Would you like a cup? Denise thought.

  No response.

  Would you like a cup? Denise thought again.

  “I heard you the first time sweetie,” Layla smiled upon entering the living room.

  “I’m going to make some breakfast, hungry?” Denise asked.

  “I would LOVE some breakfast. I’m going to hop in the shower real quick.”

  After breakfast, Denise left the dishes soaking in the water and headed out first. She drove down to campus, parking at the Student Center before running over to see her drawing professor. He was out of town one more day and a student teacher fill-in would be taking the class into a two-hour session of nothing more than drawing. She told the teacher she needed to miss class and would be back on Wednesday.

  “Starbucks first,” she said to herself on the way back to the Student Center.

  The puffy clouds beginning to fill the bright blue sky this early told her that they were in for a thunderstorm later in the day. The temps were to climb into the lower nineties and that always meant the risk if storms. Denise had butterflies in her stomach like she usually felt when she had to go to the dentist or fly on a plane. She did not have a fear of flying, just a great disdain for what they put you through at the airport just to fly on one.

  She turned left just before the Smiley Face Tower and slowly twisted and turned her way into Makanda. There was nothing but a pale blue pickup truck parked outside the infamous Boardwalk when she pulled up in front of it and parked. Damn, she didn’t say where in Makanda, Denise thought.

  She took out her iPhone and was surprised that she had a good signal.

  IN MAKANDA, WAITING, FEELING LIKE AN IDIOT, she texted to Layla.

  “Hey now baby, get into my big black car,” she sang, taking a sip of her latte between
lyrics. “Hey now baby, get into my big black car. I wanna just show you what my politics are.”

  AW, DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP BABY. DID YOU PUT THE BAT IN THE TRUNK AND THE TIRE IRON IN THE BACK SEAT LIKE I TOLD YOU? Layla texted.

  OOPS. IT’S TOO LATE NOW SINCE THE BIG BLACK OLDS JUST PULLED UP BEHIND ME.

  Hello Denise.

  Hello.

  Can you follow me?

  Sure, lead the way.

  SHOULD I BE JEALOUS? Layla texted.

  NOPE, BUT YOU’RE COMING WITH ME NEXT TIME.

  The Oldsmobile pulled up in an area used for group picnics and concerts, under the cliffs formed by glaciers so long ago. A large field of grass separated them from the tree-covered crown swaying atop the cliffs. Nola exited the vehicle from the driver’s door before closing it and turning to smile at Denise who had just turned her engine off. A small formation of tiny green insects whirled by as she returned the smile, Nola gesturing for Denise to join her at a picnic table.

  “I understand you love lattes,” Nola smiled.

  “You understand correctly.”

  “I want to apologize for the mystery, and the distance since you arrived here in Southern Illinois,” Nola said. “I can assure you there is a perfectly good reason for it, one that is in no way sinister, at least not from us.”

  “Us?”

  “Yes. You’ve seen us and wondered about us since It Came From The Chicago Subway as you put it.”

  Denise snickered. “It has been all of you dressed in black creating that scent has it not?”

  “Yes, but it is physical rather than a mental manifestation.”

  “Physical?”

  “It is OUR bodies expelling toxins from your atmosphere, from your environment. I am pleased that it takes you back to a pleasant memory when sensed.”

  “Our atmosphere? Let me guess. You are from another world?” Denise said, eyeing her latte she had not yet taken a drink from.

  “Yes we are, and I can assure you it would be a waste of a perfectly good and delicious latte if you did not drink it.”

  “Why me?” Denise asked, removing the lid of the latte and taking a gulp.

  “You Denise are not only one of the infinitesimally small number of your species with the powers needed to help us, you are here, now,” Nola said, removing the top of her cup before taking a sip of her latte.