Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 93) Sitting
With Carl now on his way home through the tunnel, Nadja feels better about his hour-long walk. At least half of it will be in the secure underground passage. In addition, she is hopeful he placed enough fear in Aaron to keep him from attempting another trip up the mountain. However, she knows how determined Aaron can be at times and that the possibility of him knocking on her door is probable. It may not be tonight or even tomorrow, but when he feels the time is right he will make an attempt. After all, he had to travel many hours to get to the village in the first place and Aaron is not the type to leave empty-handed.
“I hate myself so much for getting involved with him in the first place.” Nadja says to herself as she walks from her aunts’ room to the living room.
She turns a lamp on next to the sofa and proceeds to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. She no sooner gets to the refrigerator when she hears a loud pop on the window of the living room. It reminds her of the sounds she heard her first night here and at that time she deduced this was merely due to the temperature changes affecting the glass. Besides her thoughts on this, she decides to look out the window for no other reason but to ease her own mind. Walking up to the glass, she cups her hands around her eyes and looks out at the flower garden that is now draped in darkness.
“I can’t see a thing.” She says to herself as she backs away from the window and switches the light off.
Nadja walks to her bedroom and turns on the small lamp next to her bed. She tucks her laptop under her arm and now with the front of the house mostly dark, she walks back to the living room and looks out once more. However, just like before, she does not see anything that should concern her.
“I’m starving, I need to eat.” She mumbles as she heads to the kitchen and sets her laptop on the table.
While in town earlier, Nadja purchased a package of shaved turkey and fresh bread along with a few other items of necessity. Everything is still neatly packed in the bag she carries for trips into town and luckily, with the cool weather of the season, the items are still fresh and ready to eat. Quickly she makes a couple of small sandwiches and opens a bag of potato chips. Sitting at the kitchen table, she decides to visit the dream blog to see what everyone is discussing tonight. Mostly, she would like to see if VikT1000 has experienced any recent dreams for he has not blogged for the past few days.
“Oh my gosh! Sam. I just noticed you signed in!” Viktor writes as soon as he realizes Nadja’s web identifier popped onto the blog. “Are you okay?” He questions and before he realizes how this might frighten her, he hits send. “No you idiot!” Viktor says to himself.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 92) Observing
Viktor has made it to the curve and as he looks back, there is no longer a glowing light from the man’s cell phone, which means he must be back on track and is now following. Instantly, Viktor begins the fastest run he has every made and being that he can control some of the circumstances in this dream state, his run is easy and incredibly swift. Nearly out of breath though, he makes it around a final bend on the trail and can see the glow of lights from inside the cottage up ahead. He wants to run right up to the door and begin knocking but knows how odd this would be. Then he stops and almost laughs.
“This is not real.” He says to himself. “It’s a damn dream! I can do whatever I want.”
Just as he realizes this revelation and ducks behind the shrubs in the garden, the man steps into the glowing streaks of light coming from the main room of the cabin. He walks directly up to the glass and peers inside. Seemingly frustrated that no one is in sight, he begins to walk around to the back of the building. Moving in closer and ducking behind a flowering shrub, Viktor picks up a pebble and tosses it at the window hoping this will attract the woman inside so he can warn her of this possible intruder. Sure enough, the girl walks up to the glass, cups her hands around her eyes, and peers out into the night. Viktor is about to stand up when he hears the man coming back his way.
“Damn it.” He murmurs as he ducks back down out of sight.
Oddly, the man stands just off to the side and watches the woman as she peers out the window again. He is not attempting to hide himself and it appears to Viktor that he actually wants her to see him observing her. However, the woman merely backs away from the glass, turns out the light and a dimmer glow appears in the room Viktor knows to be the woman’s bedroom. The large man begins to move in the direction of the door when Viktor comes rushing out of the dream and finds himself face down on the floor of his apartment.
“Oh my neck hurts.” He mumbles as he rolls over and realizes he rolled off the sofa. “That guy is going to break in.” He says as he looks up at the ceiling still trying to recover from this mysterious twist in his dream. “I wonder if the site is finally back up.” He says as he quickly stands up and goes over to his laptop.
He clicks on the tab for the dream site and sure enough, it is up and running correctly. Signing in, he immediately scrolls through the list of active bloggers looking to see if Soapsuds1920s is online, but it does not appear that she is. Without losing the memories of his latest dream experience, Viktor starts drafting a note lining out all of the details.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 91) Coincidence
Viktor looks around at the dark woods and then remembers what the older woman said. “Keep your eyes open, remember the way, and no matter what, do not stop for anything. Do you understand?”
“I do remember the way.” Viktor says in his mind. “If I recall the twists and turns of the path correctly, I should have no problem finding my way back, but how do I get ahead of this goon?”
At that moment, the sound of a cell phone ringing echoes eerily out into the night. After three rings, the man on the path answers his phone and begins conversing with the person on the line. The stress and rage from this man seems to be intensifying as he paces back and forth across the path.
“I don’t care what your opinion is about Nadja, I am going to find her, bring her home, and straighten everything out.” He hears the man say. “No! I am certain she is here and I will not be leaving alone, you can count on that!” He yells. “She is mine and I will not stop until this childish incident of hers is put to rest, one way or the other!” He is practically screaming at this point. “No one gets the upper hand on me and I don’t care what I have to do, or who I have to take out to clear this ridiculous blemish she has imposed on me!”
The man is so engrossed in the phone conversation that he even passes back by where Viktor is hiding, heading in the wrong direction on the path. It is at this tense moment that Viktor decides to try to start moving toward the cottage. Slowly and with precise steps, he inches out of the grove of trees.
The light from the man’s cell phone is an excellent guide, for Viktor can tell he is still walking back down the path in the opposite direction. Staying just off to the side of the gravel trail, Viktor’s steps are soft and almost undetectable and just as the older woman told him, he remembers almost every inch of the path to come. Just a few feet away will be a curve and he plans to start sprinting as soon as he gets there.
“So who is Nadja?” Viktor thinks to himself. “I know this is the name of the girl in the cottage for the older man kept calling her Nadja. So, if this guy is after Sam, then he is definitely heading to the wrong house.” He thinks to himself as he tries to piece all of the details together. “Maybe it is not Sam I am seeing in the dream after all. Maybe my description of this place is pure coincidence.”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 90) Force
Viktor continues to watch through the gap between the door and wall and can hear their voices, but in no way can he make out exactly what they are saying. He hears the word passageway and sees them open a portion of the bookshelf and step inside, as if going under the building. After several seconds of quietness from the other room, Viktor begins to think of how he is going to leave the house without being noticed, but he also wonders if he should simply step out and say hello.
“No, that would scare the living daylights out of her.” He mumbles as he looks toward the wall. “Oh you have got to be kidding me.” He says happily after noticing what has appeared next to him.
There, on the wall, with the living room on the other side, is a door. Just like the other mystery doors that have appeared and it too does not match up with the decor of this little place. Besides that, if it was just a regular entrance, it would simply open up to the living room. He can hear the young woman coming back across the room so he gently pops the mystery door open and steps inside. Instantly, as soon as the door pulls shut, he finds himself outside and on the path where this entire dream started, except now it is incredibly dark outside.
“What the? Why?” Viktor questions with disappointment as he turns to see if he can simply step back through the opening.
Standing here on this long dark path, Viktor sees no other option available but to walk the length of it all over again. The doorway from the cottage that he just stepped through is nowhere to be found and all around him is darkness full of nocturnal nature. To his left is a small structure with a dim light on it and he does not recall seeing this before.
“I was preoccupied with the older woman on my first go.” He explains to himself.
Just as Viktor begins to take his first step in the direction of the little rangers hut, he hears footsteps behind him and they are coming his way.
The air around him has changed and he feels very nervous and somewhat intimidated by the figure he sees down the path. Quietly slipping into the small grove of trees, he kneels down to allow the person to pass without them noticing him. Anger is encroaching on Viktor and it is not because of himself. No, this feeling is like a force field around the man on the path and with it, he emits a fierce determination.
“Oh no, I think that is the man I saw when I was behind the mirror of the cabinet.” Viktor says in his mind. “He is the guy who was standing at the window, pounding on the glass. The same guy who was at the front door, breaking it down and causing that poor girl to scream like I’ve never heard in my life.” He thinks to himself as he watches this tall man pass by. “I have to get to the little cabin before him, but how?”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 89) Real Life
“So I’ve made it here,” Viktor says to himself in his dream. “It definitely took me longer this time, that path was gruesome!” He laughs. “Not sure what that was all about but I bet I’ll find out soon enough.”
As he steps up to the door of the cottage, he slowly reaches out to turn the handle to enter when there is a loud rustling in the woods to his left. As he stops and turns to see what or who is making all the noise, he sees a man who is very large in size, swiftly walking toward him. The only logical thing to do is enter the dwelling as quickly as possible and lock the door, which is exactly what Viktor does.
Once inside, Viktor continues to back up until he nearly falls over several logs that have been neatly stacked on the floor near the fireplace. One is loose and topples onto the hardwood flooring but he does not attempt to fix it. He is very unsure about what is happening and is trying to think of what he will do if the man comes crashing in. He stands frozen in place but nothing happens. All is quiet until he hears voices reverberating from the kitchen.
Peering around the corner, he sees the young woman he continues to run into during his nighttime travels. He truly believes this to be the girl named Sam from the dream blog yet this big older man keeps calling her Nadja. The conversation between she and the man is very cordial and she allows this visitor to come inside the cottage.
Viktor runs to the bedroom that is to the left of the front entrance to the cabin. As he slips around the corner of the door, he pulls it away from the wall just enough for him to hide behind and view this interaction. Peeking out through the space between the door hinges, he watches as the two individuals walk across the main room, only pausing as the older man takes a chair from the fireplace and places the back of it under the doorknob of the front door.
“Lucky they didn’t do that before I forced my way in.” Viktor thinks to himself.
After a few words, they proceed to the bedroom on the other side of the cottage. Oddly, the young woman stops at the stack of logs and picks up the one Viktor disturbed on his frantic arrival.
“What? It’s as if I’m really here interacting with them, but it’s a dream right?” Viktor murmurs to himself. “So are we sharing the same dream or am I actually interacting with real life?”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 88) Bright
Nadja steps down into the concrete room with its bright white painted walls. From here, there is a tunnel large enough to stand up in and wide enough for two people to walk side by side through. The floor is dirt but the walls are part stone and dirt with wood and metal posts supporting the top and sides.
“I do need to warn you though, with the heavy rains these past few years, veins of tunnels from the underground cave system have opened up, so you have to be careful not to find yourself going the wrong way or falling.” Carl says with sincerity. “Just keep the lights on and you should not have any problems.”
“If you only told me about this, I would have never believed you.” She smiles as she flips the next switch, which lights the next long section of the tunnel.
“I still find it odd that Aunt Josephine went through so much trouble in order to have a secret way out of the cottage.” Nadja looks at Carl in a questioning manner.
“Josie was a unique woman.” Carl starts and then pauses to collect his emotions. “If the woman had a flaw, and I don’t think she did, it would be a strong desire for safety. She had dreams about something happening in the cottage, an attack or break-in of some sort. She said it was never really clear to her.” He states as he looks toward the first section of the tunnel. “As you go through, she even has mirrors placed to allow a view of what might be behind the next turn. In the dim light you can darn well scare yourself to death seeing your own reflection!” Carl laughs loudly as he holds his hand over his heart. “Damn well gave myself a heart attack the first time I walked through!”
“I will try to remember that.” Nadja laughs but then backs the conversation up. “I never knew she had dreams about being attacked in the cottage.” Nadja says in a worried tone.
“No no, don’t you worry about it. Nothing like that ever came to be, thankfully. I just think when you live alone and you’re not a big burly man,” Carl points to himself and grins, “you cannot help but think of the what-ifs.”
“Yes, that is definitely true.” Nadja agrees softly and then she smiles. “This will make for an interesting side note as I write in my journal tonight.”
“Ha! Yes indeed it will!” Carl laughs.
“Alright young lady, I am taking the tunnel home, it’s getting too darn cold out there and the sun has set.” Carl says as he looks around the room one last time. “I’ll hit the switches as I pass through the sections so you won’t have a huge electric bill.” He grins. “That aunt of yours, she was something else wasn’t she?”
“Yes, Carl. That she was.” Nadja says as she gives him a hug. “You be careful.”
“You do the same and you know you can call me anytime, in case you need me. Okay?” He says firmly as he looks her directly in the eyes as she nods yes. “Alright then, I’m off. Just swing the cabinet back and latch that hook and you’ll be safe and sound. Oh, do not hesitate to use this tunnel if needed. It will at least get you to the halfway point of my cabin and the train station. Goodnight Nadja, sleep well.”
“Goodnight Carl and thank you again.” Nadja grins.
She can hear Carl whistling happily as he begins his walk home and she climbs back up the ladder. Latching the secret door shut, Nadja shivers. The farther Carl gets from the cottage, the more abnormal the echoing tune becomes.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 87) Snug
This intrigues Nadja for she never knew, even after all these years, that some underground tunnel was here. It almost bothers her a bit that aunt Josephine never shared this secret with her, but then again there was no reason to. Following Carl around the corner of the kitchen to cross through the living room, he stops and takes a wooden chair from its place next to the fireplace and jams the back of it under the handle of the front door.
“There, now we have both the front and the back locked up snug.” He grins.
Nadja notices the stack of wood that she brought in for the fireplace has been disturbed which she finds odd. It causes her to give it a second glance but she just assumes the logs shifted and fell. She picks up the rogue log and places it back on the top of the stack, then continues to follow Carl into her aunt’s bedroom.
It is funny to her how this big man dwarfs the tiny rooms of the cottage, yet he fits in so perfectly as well. Nadja observes him as he goes over to the right side of her aunt’s bedroom to the wall that backs up against the kitchen. The many bookshelves and inset units of cabinets in this quaint dwelling are a bit deceiving for Carl unhooks what looks like a simple lock on a cabinet door and the bottom half quietly swings open. He steps down onto a ladder and pushes a switch on the wall, which brightens the room below.
“No way, you have got to be kidding me.” Nadja says as she steps closer to the opening and looks down at Carl.
“Come on down here Nadja. You should see it for what it is, never know when you may want to use it.” He laughs. “It is definitely a great way to travel when there is a deep snowfall on the ground up above.” Carl says happily. “In fact, I’ve used it for that very reason many times. It stays rather cozy too with an average year round temperature, much like a cave.”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 86) Comforting
“Alright, let’s give this place a thorough check so I won’t be up all night worried sick about you.” Carl says as he opens the door and steps inside the cottage.
Turning all of the lights on, everything appears to be in its proper place and all doors and windows are sealed tight. Carl heads toward the back of the house to the door that leads outside from the kitchen.
“Before it starts to get completely dark, I want to check the outside perimeter. I’ll be back in a minute or two.” He says just before he pulls the door shut behind him.
With the chilly air moving in from the north, the cottage feels cool and damp so Nadja works on getting a fire started in the fireplace. By the time Carl comes back inside, the little house feels toasty and comforting. He stands near the fireplace holding his hands out to warm them.
“Well Nadja dear, I do not see anything that would tell me someone has been snooping around. There are no tracks, footprints, or broken twigs that would indicate you have a peeping tom.” Carl laughs. “I’m wondering if maybe you were so upset that possibly you saw Aaron walk past and then he turned around and walked by again to respond to me.”
“Well, maybe.” Nadja replies, but she does not fully believe this to be the case. “I have been very tired lately. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.”
As if reading her like a book, Carl looks at her with squinting eyes knowing good and well she is not being completely honest. It is obvious to him she is worried.
“The offer still stands, if I need to take you into town or if you’d rather stay at my place, I can fix up a pretty comfortable sofa for you.” Carl says as he turns to warm his hands a bit longer.
“No, I think I will be okay, you have made me feel much better.” She replies.
“Just to be safe, let’s prop chairs under the door handles to create another lock of sorts. It will just be another barrier to break down if anyone does try to get inside.” Carl takes one of the chairs from the kitchen table and props it under the back door of the cottage. “Before you go to bed tonight, put the other chair under the handle of the front door.” Carl pauses with a scowl as if he is confused. “Oh! I almost forgot.” He says with urgency. “The passageway! I need to show you where it is!”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 85) Agreed
“Your aunt had it dug out many years ago. With her wealth and all, she wanted to know she could escape unharmed if anyone ever broke into her home.” Carl continues to speak as they walk along the path. “I told her she was nuts, which she agreed to.” Carl laughs at the humor they shared. “She had it done, contracted out, the thing is long as hell but well-lit and comes out right back there at the forest rangers hut, which as you know is halfway to my cabin.” He laughs but then looks around once again in a paranoid fashion. “I’m sorry young lady, but I don’t feel right about leaving you up here alone.”
“Carl, I have to learn to be brave and take care of myself, I have to follow in my aunts shoes.” Nadja states as she tucks loose strands of hair behind her right ear. “But then I called you at the first thought of being followed.” She looks down.
“You don’t have to prove anything to me.” Carl replies.
“No, but I have to prove it to myself.” Nadja says as she fiddles in her pocket for the key. “I know I saw a man walk up the path before Aaron, I’m hoping he is not connected somehow and has continued to move on.”
“Well, if he was ahead of Aaron he was way up there because I never saw him.” Carl says as they round the last bend in the path, enter the fenced in garden, and approach the front door of the cottage.
All of this confuses Nadja for the other man walked past the hut just seconds before Aaron. It was almost as if they were traveling together. How could he have been on the path unnoticed? In her mind, she is telling herself that he was simply looking around or hiking, but the path ends here at the cottage. So where did he go? He would have had to double back which meant they would have run into him at some point, or he is following animal paths that branch out into the woods in all directions.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 84) Check
Carl stands on the path in view of the rangers hut for several minutes until he sees Aaron follow the curve of the trail and walk out of sight. Only now does he acknowledge Nadja as she stands up behind the woodpiles to greet him. Placing his finger to his lips, Carl motions for her to be quiet and to stay put. Several more minutes pass before he walks in her direction.
“Oh thank you so much, I knew something was wrong and it is the worst thing possible.” Nadja says softly as she walks around the woodpile and gives Carl a hug.
“So he is the jerk you are trying to stay away from.” Carl says as fact while they walk toward the opening to the path. “I could see right through his ploy to be nice. I need to contact the authorities so we can keep an eye on him.”
“Who was the other man though, the one who walked down the path before him?” Nadja questions as she leans out around the thick plant growth and looks in the direction of the cottage.
“What other man? I didn’t see anyone but him.” Carl states a bit puzzled. “Would you feel more comfortable staying in town? You are more than welcomed at my place as well but it’s a man’s house, not all neat and tidy like Josie’s.” Carl looks down at his hands to avoid eye contact.
Nadja knows how difficult it must be to have the memories of her aunt flooding back into Carl’s mind every time he walks the path. No matter the time of day, there is going to be something that will trigger his thoughts. He works in the factory they both delved their lives into. He rides the train into town alone, eats alone, and watches the sunset alone. Nadja can see the tears in his tired eyes as the sun begins to settle deeper and the night sky approaches.
“I will walk you to the cottage if that is what you wish to do. We can check things out and make sure you are barricaded inside.” Carl looks around to make sure they are alone. “I need to show you the passageway as well.” He grins as they start walking up the path.
“Passageway, what passageway? Nadja questions as she rattles her own thoughts for knowledge of this.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 83) Directing
Both men are of the same height. Carl may actually be a slight bit taller than Aaron and in no manner does Carl seem intimidated by Aaron’s equally strong and much younger presence.
“Is it such a crime for a man to walk along this path? What do you have hidden up there, gold?” Aaron asks in a charming way as he follows this question with a laugh. “I just want to take a few pictures of this amazing view, maybe pitch a tent and spend one night in this peaceful place.”
Nadja knows Aaron is plotting his moves to befriend Carl so he can continue up the mountain to the cottage. She has witnessed it time and time again where he manages to sweeten his demeanor until the individual he is talking to gives in. She knows this first hand, for he would do this with her, in one form or another, almost every single day.
“I have to agree with you, the view is magnificent, but it belongs to me.” Carl states firmly. “Plus, I cannot buy into a story about pitching a tent to a man dressed in suit pants, a wool overcoat, and is not carrying a backpack or even a bottle of water with him.” Carl replies as he steps to the side and holds his hand out directing Aaron to return in the direction in which he came from.
Silently, Nadja grins for she has never witnessed someone actually getting the upper hand on Aaron in such a way. Carl has noticed everything wrong with this situation and pointed it out quite clearly. No wonder Aunt Josephine was so smitten by him. He is very kind yet handles business and confrontations in a sharp and controlled manner. It is with amazement that she watches Aaron nod his head in understanding. Yet, he grins with the typical arrogance she has come to recognize so well.
“I can’t pull the wool over your eyes now can I?” Aaron states as he holds out his hand for a handshake.
“I’ve been around a long time and I’ve seen just about all there is to see so no, it takes a lot to get past me.” Carl replies as he quickly shakes Aaron’s hand and again gestures for Aaron to leave.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 82) Property
Nadja has been watching the time on her silenced cell phone as she waits for Carl to arrive. The wind has become much colder than it was when she first took shelter from the path. She has been peeking through the stacks of logs this entire time and has yet to see Aaron or Carl pass by. She just knew it had to be Aaron she heard on the path behind her but if that were true, she wonders where he could be now. Does he know she is hiding? Did he see her step off the path?
“I hear something.” She whispers to herself as she peers through the neatly stacked wood.
Looking down at her phone she realizes whomever is making the sound cannot be Carl, it will be another ten minutes before he will have had time to get here. Clear and distinct steps are getting closer and closer as her heart begins to beat faster. The sound of shoes hitting the gravel echoes off the silence in the air and then he appears. It is a brief two seconds as she watches the man pass from right to left.
“That is not Aaron.” Nadja says with much relief.
She smiles as she relaxes and leans her back up against the wall of the hut. Closing her eyes for several, seconds she gathers her emotions and calms herself down with full deep breaths.
“Maybe the man who walked past is just a hiker.” She deduces as she stands up and brushes dirt and leaves from her pants. “I hope Carl will not be too angry with me for calling him, I feel silly now.” She mumbles to herself as she begins to step around the woodpile.
At this moment, she hears Carl yell something as he comes up the trail and then her worst fear appears as Aaron steps into view. She rushes back behind the stacks of wood just as Aaron turns his back to the little hut and her in order to respond to Carl’s request.
“What can I help you with?” Aaron questions as if Carl is the one in the wrong.
“This is private property, my property, and I want to know what you are up to.” Carl states as he now enters the clearing where Aaron is standing.
“I was just going for a little hike, sorry but I did not see any signs posted that said I could not enter this beautiful area.” Aaron states in a calm tone as he tugs at the plaid scarf wrapped around his neck.
“Well I will be sure to get more signs out immediately so there will not be another misunderstanding.” Replies Carl. “In the meantime I will have to ask you to leave.” He states firmly.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 81) Wisdom
“Hello, young man.” The older woman says as Viktor approaches.
Here in the daylight her features are more defined and even though he somehow knows she is beyond the age of fifty or sixty years, she looks as if she is only forty. Her skin is smooth and her eyes all-knowing and full of wisdom.
“Hello again.” Viktor replies as he stops in front of her.
“I like the way you hold yourself young man, very confident yet compassionate.” She says to him as she smiles.
“Well thank you.” Viktor replies.
He has worked very hard to become the confident person she recognizes in him. The fact that she picked up on this part of his demeanor makes him feel proud of who he is, but it also embarrasses him for some reason.
“Am I heading the right way? To the cabin I mean.” He questions.
“To me, it is a cottage.” She corrects him. “And yes, you are heading the right direction.” She tips her head slightly as she glances at the long path behind her. “Keep your eyes open, remember the way, and no matter what, do not stop for anything. Do you understand?”
A bit suspicious of her directions, Viktor looks up and down the path expecting something to happen. Another cold blast of air circles around them causing him to shiver yet the woman does not seem to notice and oddly, not one hair on her head moves with the wind. He knows this is a dream but it is very strange to see the trees and dust responding to the elements yet this woman seems to be immune to it all.
“Why didn’t. . .” Viktor starts to say but the woman places her cold hand over his lips as she looks behind him.
“You need to go, right now.” She whispers to Viktor as she looks him in the eyes.
“Okay, but. . .” He starts to say and again is put in his place by this woman.
“Do not hesitate and do not stop.” She says again. “And no matter what, remember the way.”
The woman then walks toward the side of the path and steps into the woods, disappearing before his eyes. He looks back at the place he walked from but does not see anyone or anything that would be cause for him to hurry. However, he feels it is necessary to follow the command of this mysterious woman. He turns and continues to walk the twisting path and as directed, begins moving at a rather quick pace.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 80) Steadfast
The cold rain and stormy weather that eased Viktor into a nap has transferred itself into his dream as he steps out onto the cobblestone street. The stones look shiny and slick with rain and as he begins walking, he can see his breath on the wind.
“Damn it’s cold.” He states to himself in his dream world. “Well at least I’m back!” He grins as he recognizes this village as his home away from home. “Why am I asleep?” He ponders.
He then remembers his need to reach out to his friend Sam. He wants to get in touch with her to discuss how strange it is for him to be visiting her, apparently in his sleep.
“The site was down. Now I remember.” He says as he walks directly to the building where the first odd door appeared. “I’m coming in!” He yells as he pushes the door all the way open to a dark and empty room.
Sure enough, as soon as he swings the door shut, the other door is exposed. Without any hesitation or doubt, he turns the knob and enters the darkness within. Viktor loves the fact that he can manipulate this world. He knows now, without a doubt that stepping through the newly exposed doorway will take him to the right place. He no longer fears falling or being hurt for he has been through this process enough to know better. Walking through the empty darkness he only thinks of one thing.
“Take me to the cabin.” He says aloud.
Without any pause between the words leaving his lips, he finds himself on a thin gravel path that curves along the side of a mountain. The position of the sun indicates to him it is late afternoon and there is tension in the air. It seems to encompass Viktor, causing him to feel slightly agitated.
“I recognize the landscape but wow, I would rather not have this creepy feeling biting at the back of my neck.” Viktor says with a shiver as he stops to look both ways on the path. “I guess I’m going in the right direction,” he pauses, “it feels like I’m moving uphill anyway.”
The air is cool and it is nipping at his fingers, which causes him to utilize the pockets of his jacket. The warmth of the thick lining feels soft and cozy against his hands allowing him to shift his focus back to the path he is walking on.
“Okay, I have to remember this part when I wake up. To my right I am catching a glimpse of a large lake, which matches up to my first visit here.” Viktor says to himself. “So, I am not too far off, just walking in from another direction than the first two times.”
A cool blast of wind rushes at him from around the corner and he tucks his chin down to keep it from blowing into his jacket. Suddenly, the older woman from his last trip to this mysterious place appears up ahead. Standing firm as if she may not let him pass, her eyes are steadfast and fixed upon him.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 79) Hurry
Nadja’s steps become faster and more deliberate as her mind contemplates the worries that surround her. The path along the ridge is dark for the hour of the day due to the shadowing of the sun by the tall mountain, but she does not seem to notice. With her mind so busy, she is walking without realizing the beauty around her.
“I’m very smart and have worked very hard to be respected. So how is it that he took all of that away? Why did I betray my own feelings and beliefs about myself by becoming something I never wanted to be?” She mumbles with regret.
Suddenly there is a loud sound in the woods just off the path to her right and it stops Nadja in her tracks. She cannot tell if it was a rock thrown on purpose or if a branch fell from a tree. Startled and with a deep sense of fear, she stares into the thick growth waiting for any movement to draw her eyes to the culprit. Her heart is beating so heavily that she can feel her pulse in the tips of her fingers.
Turning to look behind her on the path, she watches for anyone who may be following but the curve and low tree branches are blocking most of her view. She fully expects Aaron to show up at the cottage tonight, he is probably following her now, and she feels the need to run.
At a very fast pace, she begins walking as quickly as possible but the feeling of someone closing in pushes her anxiety to an increased level. With constant glances all around, she thinks of a possible way to lose Aaron if he is indeed trailing along behind her.
To her left is a small hut for use by the forest rangers for various supplies they may need when on patrol. It is the halfway point of her walk to the cottage, or if turning back, to Carl’s cabin. Quickly, Nadja darts off the trail and runs as fast as she can to the north side of the tiny building where there are several stacks of firewood covered by tarps.
Ducking behind the neatly stacked logs, she kneels down and watches the trail through a small division in the wood. Silencing her phone, she sends a text to Carl explaining she fears someone is following her. He immediately replies by saying he is on his way and she tries to slow her breathing.
“It will take him half an hour to get here and that is if he is already at his cabin. Oh please hurry Carl.” She thinks to herself.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 78) Nothing
Lying back on the sofa, Viktor puts his feet up and stuffs a pillow behind him to support his head. Sipping his drink, he is quiet as he stares out at the rain clouds and the cold air that is drifting in through the screen of the sliding door. Reaching over, he tries to enter the dream website once again but the result remains the same. Out of frustration, he finishes his beer and leans back in a more relaxed position as he closes his eyes.
“My vacation starts now and I’m stuck in a hole.” He whispers before drifting off to sleep.
After arriving at her stop on the ridge of the mountain, Nadja begins her hour-long walk up the path to the cottage. She glances over and through the trees and can see lights on in Carl’s cabin but is certain he is still down in the valley at the factory.
“Hum, he must have left them on by accident.” She says to herself as she glances behind her to make sure she is not being followed. “It is getting dark earlier, maybe he does not like to come home to a bleak house, I can definitely understand that line of thinking.” She says just under her breath as she continues on her way.
It is early evening and the fall breeze rushing along the side of the mountain has a definite bite to it. Nadja buttons up the jacket she is wearing and begins to think about winter and the heavy snow that will be falling within a month or two. The quiet peaceful silence that comes with a deep snow sounds so appealing to her now for she craves it, silence that is.
She wishes her mind would stop waffling back and forth between thoughts of Aaron. At one moment, she is thankful to be away from him and within seconds, she wishes he would at least be missing her. Then at the next turn, she tears up thinking about the humiliating ways he degraded her. The memories come flooding into her mind and each time this cycle repeats, it pushes her into a negative state where she begins to hate herself.
“How could I have been so stupid?” She says while gritting her teeth and clinching her fists. “How dumb does a person have to be to allow someone to abuse them like I let him treat me? Why is my self-worth no concern to him, why is it nothing to me?”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 77) Down
As she boards the train, Nadja is pleased to see only a small handful of travelers aboard as she takes a seat near the window. It is not until she stops moving, and her mind begins to settle, that the images VikT1000 shared about his dreams begin to creep into her thoughts. The woman in the cabin, the large angry man at the window, the screams. . . she takes in a quick breath that even sounds loud to her own ears. Two of the other passengers glance in her direction but then go on about their business.
As the train pulls away from the station, questions begin to build and Nadja feels she must reach out to Viktor tonight for more answers. She is convinced that he has connections to other worlds, much like her aunt had, and the intense dream he had is a premonition of things to come. In any way possible, Nadja wishes to avoid the final scene that he described and she knows, without a doubt, this mysterious blogger on the web can help her. One thing that puzzles her is the fact that this perfect stranger is somehow connecting with her. What is it that has become a common thread between them that they are interlinked? Why is she appearing in his dreams and has she simply not noticed him in her own?
As soon as Viktor enters his apartment, he heads straight for his laptop. The normal routine of changing clothes and grabbing a beer is out of sync for he is focused on reaching out to Soapsuds1920s who he now calls Sam.
“Damn it!” He says loudly as he thrusts his fists down on his thighs. “The site is down! Why is the site down? It has never had a problem before!”
He stands up and walks over to the large sliding glass door that leads out to his balcony. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he tries to log in but receives the same statement. Site is currently under maintenance. As he takes a few steps back, he tosses his phone down on the sofa and turns to look out the balcony doorway. After staring at the gloomy gray sky, he runs his hands through his hair in an irritated manner as the clouds darken even more and it begins to rain. Leaving his sliding door open, Viktor steps back into the apartment, loosens his tie from his neck, and his shirt from his pants. He then walks over to the kitchen and takes a beer out of the refrigerator.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 76) Months
“Oh dear girl, don’t worry. I didn’t say a word. Even though I know he is probably your boyfriend or something, I never give out personal information.” The woman grins. “However, he said he wanted to stay in town for a bit, as a type of vacation or something.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you, Minerva. If you don’t mind, I really do not want company, you know, so close to Aunt Josephine’s passing and I am not expecting any visitors. I have a lot to take care of so I truly appreciate you not sharing my whereabouts.” Nadja states in a quiet tone. “If he comes back, please do the same.
“Oh, alright dear.” Minerva replies with a questioning glance. “So he is not your better half? I thought for sure you would know who he is.” She says a bit shocked but mostly nosy and with Nadja staying silent, she decides to end the conversation. “Well absolutely, I will tell him we have not seen you for months. Okay?”
“Thank you, yes. That sounds very good to me.” Nadja says as she gives the woman a hug.
Nadja does not know Minerva very well and to completely trust her is not an option. For all she knows, the woman could be the town gossip seeking something new to start spreading. Quickly stepping over to the shadowed portion of the sidewalk, Nadja swiftly makes her way to the train station for her trip back up the mountain. The panic in her is immense and her heart is nearly pounding out of her chest.
In no way does she want an encounter with Aaron for she knows how he plays games. He will tempt her, hold her and be a gentle lover just to trick her back into the submissive and timed person she was only a few days prior. She actually feels stronger now, more awake and alive than she ever has. Yet now, after this short conversation she is hiding again, and praying she can flee the open streets of this little village before being spotted by the man she fears so much.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 75) Asking
Nadja spent the day at her aunt’s factory with Carl. The majority of their time was filled with discussions and working up plans for the future of the company, as well as new products she and her aunt had prepared in the spring. For many years, Carl has been instrumental in running the factory, and Nadja does not see this changing. She, much like her aunt, prefers testing and creating new fragrances, so with Carl at the helm she is free to do so. The small group of workers are like family and everyone ended the day in both tears of joy mixed with sadness. The happiness comes from the love they had for Nadja’s aunt and the jobs they will be able to keep. Yet, sorrow for the loss of a dear woman and role model fills their hearts as well.
Wiping the tears from her eyes as she exits the building, Nadja stands on the road to the quaint village she now calls home. This used to be her vacation spot, her sanctuary away from the busy world, and now it is her place of residence. Looking up the long cobblestone road as it curves and rolls up the hills toward the mountain, she takes in a deep breath of the fresh clean air.
“I’m so thankful to be here.” She says just under her breath.
“Hi Nadja!” A woman yells from a few buildings down.
The woman starts walking toward her and they meet in the middle of the street. This is mostly a walking town, rarely are cars passing along the stone road and at this moment in time, the thoroughfare is empty except for the two women.
“So you are in town, I am so glad I saw you!” States the woman with excitement as she wipes her hands on the apron she is wearing. “There was a man here asking about you, nice looking guy too. Anyhow, I told him you rarely come into town but if I saw you I would let him know.”
Nadja’s heart sinks. Aaron, there is no other person who would be here, looking for her, and not know where to start the search. Glancing all around her eyes seek out anything that looks out of the ordinary.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 74) Connection
After slipping his hands into the warm black leather gloves, Viktor steps out into the cold once again and starts the meticulous task of scrapping the ice from his windshield and side windows. He shakes his head for he knows this is just the beginning of several months of cold icy weather. Other tenants are now emerging from their apartments and Viktor cannot help but laugh at the rude comments they are making now that they see their ice-covered cars.
“It’s just frost guys.” Viktor says to one of his acquaintances. “Wait another month and this stuff will be an inch or two thick!”
“Oh yeah, thanks! I can’t wait to mess with that at five-thirty in the morning.” One of the men yells as he unlocks his car door.
Finally done with his task, Viktor enters his car, which is now toasty warm. Waving at the men still working on their cars on the parking lot, he pulls out onto the road and makes his way to the office. His mind is stuck, in a loop, in a trance with the image of the young woman from his dreams and the events taking place at the cabin.
“Sam said it looks just like her place, so where is it? I know she is a few hours behind me in time, so how can I find out without sounding like a pervert?” He thinks to himself as he nearly runs a red light.
Screeching to a halt, Viktor glances around to see if anyone noticed his inadequate ability to focus on his driving. A police officer pulls up next to him in his car and nods in acknowledgment, which Viktor takes rather seriously as he grins slightly and nods in return. Once the light changes to green, he lets the patrol car pull away first and then he proceeds on his way to work.
The hours at the office seem to drag on as Viktor completes several tasks that he wants off his desk before he leaves for the day. The images of his dreams are haunting him today and he cannot seem to escape them. More bothersome is the fact that his dreams of the village, doors and mirrors have ceased. Why? He cannot fathom any reason for the change for his life is exactly as it was. The only difference is that he and Sam spoke with each other on the blog. She seems very secretive but he wishes to get to know her better. Without a doubt though, he feels he cannot push too hard or she will simply stop talking to him.
“I’m going to send her a personal message when I get home.” He says to himself as he finalizes a document and saves it to the proper file. “There is a connection here; I’m just not sure what it is.”
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 73) Cold
Two days have passed with no nighttime dream explorations to the village Viktor has visited nearly every night. His dreams have taken him here so many times that he has memorized the street and building grid of this quaint yet historic looking place. Not only does this frustrate him because of his love of this strange place, but because he wishes to look in on the young woman who appears to him through the mirror.
When he last saw her, she was frightened, being taunted and played with by an angry man, and he cannot get the sound of her screams out of his head. The odd correlation of his visions resembling the place where his new friend lives is disturbing. If he can describe her home in such detail, then has something happened to her causing what he saw while sleeping to come true? He has signed into the dream blog five times and found no notes or leads with Soapsuds1920s as the name.
“I hope Sam is alright.” Viktor says about Nadja. “It’s weird but, that name just does not fit her. Oh well, what do I know?” He pauses and then laughs. “I know one thing I am focused on at the moment. It’s Friday and my vacation starts at the end of the day, that’s what!”
With the comment he just stated to himself, he smiles as he slips his work shoes on and grabs his cell phone. Even though he checked, only fifteen minutes ago for any messages from the blog, he opens the application and scrolls through his list of friends and followers. Disappointed that there is nothing waiting for him, he shoves his phone into the pocket of his jacket and goes out the door of his apartment. The air is very chilly in this early morning hour and he shivers as he quickly walks to his car.
“Wow, a cold front must have come through or something.” He mumbles as he starts the vehicle. “Why am I so worried about Sam?”
Viktor blows on his fingers that are tingling from exposure to the cold as he waits for the heat from his car to kick in. Frost has gathered on his windows and he leans over the passenger seat to check the glove box for his ice scraper.
“Ah sweet, my gloves are in here too.” He grins.
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Doors To Mirrors (Excerpt 72) Quiet
“Hello Viktor, it is nice to meet you too, for a second time. My friends call me Sam.” Nadja types and Viktor immediately replies.
“I assume Sam is short for Samantha, which is a lovely name. So I’m holding out for the day when I will be allowed to call you Sam as well.” He adds a happy face to the end of his note.
This simple gesture of using her name, that is the fake one Nadja supplied, makes her grin. Viktor seems to be very kind and unassuming in his manners and actions and she cannot help but believe he is being honest with her.
“You can call me Sam now, if you like.” She replies.
“Outstanding!” Viktor replies while smiling that she has accepted him as a friend.
After this quick exchange, the two say goodnight and Nadja finally signs off the blog. With her laptop closed, she is sitting in darkness except for the small lantern style lamp next to her bed. She turns and looks out at the dark adjoining room.
“Aunt Josephine, are you hear protecting me?” She says in a low almost whisper type tone. “Are you visiting Viktor in his dreams?” She looks toward her bedroom window, almost expecting to see Aaron standing there. “Please don’t let me go through this alone.”
She stands silent for a moment and then walks over to her bed, slips out of her clothes and slides in between the sheets. Pulling the blanket up for warmth she can tell the wind outside has died down, and aside from the random hoot from a nearby owl, all is quiet and serene.
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