Entry #0041: A Crack in the Earth

That weekend, I had the freakiest dream last night! I believe dreams are like portals to other dimensional realities, and I'm sure I've stepped into many of these before - and I believe in the possibility that numerous alternate or parallel realities might exist, and of course many radical theorists suggest as much too. But many times we put ourselves on created stages to play out a particular role in the dream, like in the Holodeck in Star Trek, the Next Generation TV show, especially a message dreams, and this was probably one of those dreams.

Alright, I dreamed that I was walking down a sidewalk, somewhere along Mulvern Avenue. Then the ground beneath me shook, a mild earthquake perhaps, and a crack began to form from one side of the sidewalk to the other, and it began widening, even beyond the sidewalk. The whole ground and street beyond was being separated by this widening crack in the earth! I tried to steady myself, arms outstretched and legs straddling the cement, but that didn't help as the earth shook. The crack widened to several feet across now, and I began seeing a long, dark column of smoke ascend from the depths of the chasm. Then I lost my footing and fell into the abyss, but then I found myself hanging on to the broken edge of the sidewalk, gripping it as tightly as possible, as the pillar of dark smoke continued to rise behind me.

Then I suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. I knew full well this dream was trying to tell me something. During the ordeal in the dream, I felt like I was at the dangerous precipice between two worlds.

I jotted down the freaky nightmare in my journal. I wanted to go back to sleep -- very hard to do, since my mind did nothing but dwell on that freaky dream. One thing was for sure, I felt that it meant I was getting too involved with something, perhaps this whole paranormal phenomenon, but I didn't feel like I should suddenly disconnect myself from it just yet. I wanted to understand the dream first. I had researched dream psychology before, so I would figure it out sooner or later. Plus a phone call to Monica would help.

One last thought. Was this dream synchronistic with all the other events occurring in my life right now? I definitely thought so.

Entry #0042: Monica's Interpretation of my Dream

That morning after a got out of bed, sitting at my computer in my station of operations with a mug of hot coffee, I reread the last Area 57 entry about the dream, which I had first jotted down in my journal the night before, while drinking hot coffee and munching on a Bavarian cream donut.

Then I called Monica. We chitchatted about how life apart from each other sucked, that she was still trying to avoid psychic-reading seekers, that this and other things were making her want to move sooner -- especially since she missed me a lot. Unfortunately, she informed me her mother was in the hospital; she was in a car accident a week before, so her move to the desert would have to be postponed. I understood, but I really missed her. Long distance relationships really sucked.

I told her about the dream in detail, and she said this was definitely significant. She said it indicated far more than the fact that I was getting very involved with the paranormal side of reality, which could become dangerous if I became too entangled with it. She knew some people that had done so, those messing with incantations and conjuring up unknown spirits, or toying with Ouija boards or séances, and so forth. They had opened psychic doors in their lives that ruined them. So she warned me to be very careful. But she said there was something else going on there with this dream. It had more to do with the dark rift we had talked about earlier. She said the crack becoming wider in the sidewalk and surrounding area indicated the rift was opening wider now.

Also that my individual path, as represented by the sidewalk, was receiving interference by dark forces, especially since I was getting too close to this dark rift, or perhaps getting too involved. I told her I didn't see how this was possible, except that I was just getting involved with paranormal activity in general. She said sometimes things happen more on a subconscious level, outside of a person's conscious awareness, that often we get sucked into such dark areas sooner than we suspect. Or perhaps some dark forces were influencing me unbeknownst to me -- or perhaps that explained the glimpses of shadow people now and then. She said I had to get focused and become more aware of what was going on around me now. She said something was causing this dark rift in the desert area, and perhaps the paranormal group should search it out and discover its source, which was obviously something sinister. I didn't like the sound of that. She said the veil between the earthly plane and the dark plane were growing thinner in this particular vicinity, and dark forces from there have been slipping through to here. She also said that the thinning of the veil would most likely account for the various reality shifts I was experiencing. Considering all the weird things that had been taking place, I knew all that she explained was a fact.

After we said our goodbyes and hung up, I immediately called Chad.

Entry #0043: Calling Chad

Before I got a chance to tell Chad anything about the dream or Monica's response, he told me he canceled the Fuller house job, because it didn't feel legit, But he did get another request for a large warehouse in Victorville, the West Coast Merchandise Outlet, where night shift employees were sensing or feeling something, and strange things like boxes of merchandise falling off pallets and counters and shelves, etc. Some individuals were seeing dark figures flashing by. One lady who was kind of psychic first saw these figures. I told him it sounded like shadow people, and he concurred. He said the crew would check it out on Dec 16th and around 8:00 clock in the evening.

Then I told him that we had to focus on searching for signs of the dark rift. I told him about my dream and what Monica said. He said he felt we were definitely on to something. He was getting very excited about it, but I told him it could be dangerous work. He didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, and if there were sinister motives at work, it meant somebody was behind it.

After the phone call, I decided I should talk to Jezz about this whole rift thing. Not that she could help, but she was a new friend and I valued her views on such matters.

If there definitely was some kind of dark rift opening up, as my dream indicated, how the hell were we going to find out what was causing it? I was simply perplexed about this.

Entry #0044: Glimpsing Another Shadow Person

I tried to reach Jezz but got her voicemail. So that afternoon, I took one of my long desert walks, enjoying the cool autumn breeze as it blew through the Joshua trees, smelling the pleasing scent of desert sage, listening to the droning cicadas. Then I felt as if I was being watched, perhaps from a distance. I stopped, looked all around, seeing nothing. Somebody was out there, who the hell was it? Then I moved very slowly as I looked all around, suddenly I saw a dark figure flash by the corner of my eye, then darting behind me. I turned to follow it, but it was gone. Damn! A shadow person, obviously.

That infuriating incident spoiled my walk, so I headed back to the cabin. I tried Jezz's number again, and got through this time. I told her the whole spiel, the dream, what Monica had said, and my immediate encounter with one of those shadow people. And I told her I was seeing these beings once in a while. She was impressed and excited. First she said that she had occasional premonitory dreams, warning her about things that would take place, and she felt I had one of those type of dreams, although it was on a symbolic level. I knew it was definitely a message dream.

But we discussed why all these things were rearing their ugly heads now, the shadow people, the reality shifts, this mysterious rift, weird things in general, and so forth. Something was transpiring here, but nether of us really knew what to make of it.

Regarding the rift, Jezz told me that when she was involved with the Wicca coven several years ago, the high priestess had talked about a rupture in the planes. The adept lady had described to the members of the coven that every once a while a group of individuals might create such a rupture, usually a Satanic cult or some such, but that it was usually a temporary opening that either closed soon, or that had to be quickly sealed with certain banishing rituals as performed by various covens with adept knowledge in such matters. She said sometimes a group of curious people would open a psychic door using an Ouija board or a séance, or perhaps drawing an inverted pentagram on the floor, or sometimes using mirrors, and that all such methods could very likely open a doorway and bring dark spirits through it. But if some person or even a group of individuals were intentionally opening a doorway for some diabolical purpose, this was serious. She doubted it could be caused arbitrarily by curious clueless people, but more likely by people versed in the dark arts. She explained that although sometimes the frequencies between this side and the Other Side draw very close, if there is such a frequency shift between our plane and the dark plane, or Dark Side, that could be dangerous. Basically this was the same thing that Sheila and Monica had talked about when they discussed the thinning of the veil.

Jezz even told me that something weird happened at work the other day, that she felt she was being watched at the radio station where she worked. At one point she felt something or someone was standing behind her as she sat in her chair at her desk, working on her computer, but when she turned, nobody was there. This had happened a couple times actually, she said. But the last time this happened, she could swear she saw some dark figure flashing by at the corner of her eye. I verified that she must have definitely witnessed a shadow person, and that obviously there was a connection between her experiences and mine. I told her our paranormal group was going to check out a warehouse where the employees were sensing something weird happening there, and that some of them were seeing dark figures.

There was definitely something strange going on in the high desert.

Entry #0045: Discussing Tarot Cards and other Matters

Around the first week of December, I got a call one morning, from Garret Creely. He wanted to hang out. Said he had few friends here, and really wanted to show me his Tarot cards. I figured this was just an excuse - to hang out most likely, if not some ulterior motive I couldn't perceive - or was that my paranoia acting up? Maybe he was just a lonely guy. Reluctantly, I suggested we meet at the Kountry Kitchen at noon. I felt I had to be cautious around him, or was I just paranoid?

An odd thing happened. Close to noon, I headed out down the slope toward Mulvern. I turned off Highland and right onto Mulvern Ave, driving slowly by Fanny's Thrift Shop, half-expecting it to be that alternate reality bookstore, which it wasn't, but I noticed something rather strange. A splotch of dirt or mud or something covered some of the letters. The TH in THRIFT was covered, and left it reading RIFT. That was odd. A weird coincidence -- or an instance of synchronicity? Perhaps we see what we want to see sometimes. But I couldn't help wondering. That location was definitely a strange anomaly amidst normal space-time. So . . . Fanny's Rift Shop, eh? Weird!

So I met Garrett at the Country Kitchen. I ordered meatloaf with mashed potatoes and coffee, and Garret ordered a greasy cheeseburger with fries, and a Coke. So we talked while we ate.

First he started talking about working on motorcycles, which was exciting to him, not to me. Then he informed me there was going to be a motorcycle rally in Victorville, next month, during the third week of January. None of this really interested me, so I asked him about his Tarot cards. This was supposedly the reason we were supposed to meet.

Garret smiled and pulled a boxed deck out of his jacket pocket. He slid the deck of cards out of the little box and splayed them out across the table for me to see. They were very vivid and colorful, and there were a lot of dragons in the pictures. He said this was called the Dragon Tarot. He asked me if I knew how to do tarot readings, and he was always looking for somebody that knew how. I said I didn't. He said he knew a lady who did his readings at least once a week, which he felt helped him in life. Then she began refusing to meet with him, and eventually moved away.

I told him that many Tarot cards these days were created for artistic purposes, although the more original decks that were based on genuine symbolism were better for divination and meditation. I suggested that the Rider-Waite Tarot deck was the best.

The conversation went on about Tarot symbolism and other forms of symbolism, then symbolism in dreams, then dreams in general. Then he said he used to have dreams based on certain Tarot cards, as if they were trying to tell him something. Was this synchronicity happing in his life? Or was this something he just made up to sound cool? Then he told me he purchased the cards at Fanny's Rift Shop - I mean Thrift Shop. Anyway, I found that interesting. Why, I don't know. Did Garret frequent that place often? And if so, did he notice anything strange there, just like I did?

He told me he got a hold of Chad, to join their group, but Chad told him they had enough members now. He told me I had to go to bat for him, to convince Chad that he had to accept Garret. I didn't like that idea, but I just told him I would talk to Chad, but couldn't promise anything. That was about it. Except that right before we parted, he said goodbye and put his hand on my shoulder for a few seconds, then walked away. I suddenly felt fatigued after that, like my energy level had suddenly dropped.

He took off on his motorcycle, and I took off in my Blazer. I still felt that drained feeling, all the way on my drive home. What the hell was the deal with this guy anyway? I didn't usually feel that way when I interacted with people. How did other people react to him? He had explained how a particular lady that did Tarot card readings for him suddenly ducked out of his life. Small wonder.

I began to have definite doubts about letting Garret be my friend.

Entry # 0046: Verifying Garret's Credibility - or lack thereof

That afternoon, I did call Chad, just to be cordial to Garret, offered his plea, told him what I thought about the odd guy, and Chad said Garret sounded untrustworthy at the least, and that he was not accepting new members. Good to know.

Next I decided to call Shawn Williams, leader of the Spectrum Paranormal Group. I still had his card in my wallet. When I got a hold of him, I asked him what he knew about Garret Creely, that he claimed he had been a member of their group some years ago. Shawn laughed and said he was never a member, that he interviewed him once for potential membership, but told him he would get back to him. Garret had somehow found out when their next paranormal event was, and showed up uninvited. After much arguing, they finally sent him on his way. The man has serious problems, Shawn said, that he was stubborn and aggressive when he didn't get his way. I asked Shawn if he ever felt fatigued or drained after meeting with him. He said, yes. Both times. Considering he aggravated the whole crew at the event, everyone felt out of sorts and the whole event was totally botched, so they had to leave early. That was all I needed to know.

Something was really off with Garret. As much as I decided I didn't want to see him again, I had a bad feeling I would have a hard time getting rid of him.

Entry #0047: Inadvertently Meeting Garret at the Market

A few days later, I ran into Garret at the Mulvern Market. I was pushing my shopping cart, getting the usual groceries, and turning down an aisle, I saw him there carrying a plastic basket of odds and ends. He grinned and said how fortunate it was that we met like that, some kind of weird coincidence, he said. I doubt it.

He asked if I talk to Chad, to get me into their group. I said yes, but he told me the same thing, he didn't want any more members. Suddenly Garret acted angry and swore heatedly that Chad was an idiot to not include him, because he had a lot of knowledge to offer the team. When I told him we can't always get what we want, he fumed that we should be able to get whatever we wanted in life, no matter what.

Before he got too riled up, I quickly changed the subject and asked him about getting the Tarot cards at Fanny's and if he went there often, or noticed anything unusual about the place. He shrugged, and just said he got his cool leather jacket there a few years ago, and did browse there now and then. And he acted clueless about my thinking anything was unusual about the little shop, but I didn't tell him why I thought that - and he didn't ask either.

Then he said we should get together sometime soon. I cringed. I told him I would be busy for a while, that I'd let him know. Then he was distracted, spotting some sexy female that he knew from somewhere. He called her name and approached her as she forced a very weak smile on her face. I saw irritation in her eyes though, and I felt her pain. I immediately went to the checkout line, bought my grub and got the hell out of there!

Entry: #0048: Discussing Garret with Jezz

Leo called me that weekend, and I relayed to him the ongoing weird events so far. He had his doubts, and found what I said hard to believe. I said if he ever came out here, he'd see for himself. On that note, he announced his good news, that he was heading out to visit me! Cool! Finally! He had to get his vehicle road-ready and then pack. So in a couple weeks he would arrive on my desolate desert doorstep. I was excited! I hadn't seen my old pal for about seven years since the time I lived in Sioux Falls and visited him down in St. Louis.

But my thoughts returned to the disturbing nature of Garret Creely. So I called Jezz and gave her an update about the strange fellow, that we had another chat at the Kountry Kitchen, that we had a discussion about his Tarot cards, among other things. Also that I met him again at the market. I told her about his disturbing and belligerent attitude, that he tended to lie about things, and so forth, that he was aggressive about getting his way in life. She said he sounded very creepy and probably has serious psychological problems. But if he's always aggressively forcing himself into situations or people's lives, intimidating them and such, that didn't sound good. I said, no shit. She jokingly said that he was probably an example of counter-synchronicity. I wondered if such a phenomenon actually existed. She replied that she had never heard of something like that, until she heard about Garret.

Garrett was definitely an anomaly in our lives, and an enigma. Nothing good could come from him.