Indigo Part 2

Indigo
Part 2

Whit practically held her breath as she and Aaron climbed the steps to her second floor apartment in the Overlook. Unlocking the door, Whit inhaled, flooding her deprived brain of much needed oxygen. Get it together, she thought to herself. Aaron followed her in; Whit closed the door, turned to him and smiled. “So, this is my place,” she stated simply. “Nothing fancy.” Aaron nodded and put his bag down on her sofa. “It’s nice,” he offered. Alistair appeared and raked his green eyes over Aaron for a minute then returned to his nap on Whit’s bed in the other room. “Would you like something to drink?” Whit suggested. Aaron declined. Whit could tell he wanted to get right to business on whatever matter he could not discuss at the Klatch.
Aaron took a deep breath. “Please do not think I am crazy,” he began. Whit felt her stomach tighten slightly at the sentence. She told herself to just listen and not interrupt. “Okay,” Whit replied. “We are here to do research but it is not for college. It is for an organization called the Crystalline group. We investigate anomalies in the development of children. We also have an interest in other areas of lucrative research such as the paranormal, unexplained occurrences and things of that nature. Recently, Crystalline has been gathering research on children whose intellectual abilities are far beyond their age group or whose abilities are completely unexplainable. Whit nodded and Aaron went on. “At the café you asked what all of this had to do with the Kirks. The group has been trying to get any sort of information on the Kirks since the father was a child. It seems that as a child, Alan Kirk had some extraordinary abilities. We did not find much when we visited his hometown in New England but we were able to dig up some old school records. He was constantly in trouble for throwing objects in class and somehow, in third grade, he managed to start a fire in a trashcan in class. The records contained no explanation. I assume the principal did not even bother asking Alan’s parents since odd things had been occurring around the boy since Kindergarten.” Aaron stopped talking to let Whit absorb everything.
After ten seconds of silence, Whit went to her purse and pulled out the documents that had started this whole conversation. “I found this stack of documents in Dolan’s basement today. I heard him tell you three that he had nothing regarding the Kirks. He may have forgotten or he may have deliberately misled you,” Whit stated. Aaron took the papers and began flipping through them. He paused at the police report that Whit had read earlier. “Just like their father,” he commented. “What will be the outcome of all of this research?” Whit asked. “Sometimes we try to approach the families and offer assistance, such as putting them in touch with other families in the same situation. You would be surprised at how many of these families feel completely isolated,” Aaron explained. “Crystalline offers education for the children and their parents. We can teach the kids how to use their abilities to help others and how to conceal them in the everyday world. Other groups have a more sinister idea of how to use these children. The most common is to use them as a weapon in warfare,” Aaron said this last bit of information in disgust. “How did you first find out about the Kirks?” Whit inquired. “We have people on the inside of schools, hospitals, daycare centers, pediatrician offices and other areas. If one of our field agents finds an Indigo, we start an investigation to determine the best approach for that individual case,” “Wait, a what?” Whit questioned. “An Indigo,” Aaron repeated. “Okay, I give up.” Whit admitted. “What is an Indigo?” Aaron smiled. Whit’s heart pitter-pattered. “Indigo Children” is a term that was first introduced by Nancy Anne Tappe. In the 1960’s Tappe began to notice that some children were being born with special abilities. These children could do amazing things. They could read by age one, move objects without touching them and express extreme empathy for others. Some have even remembered previous lives. The first big wave of the children was born in the 1970’s. Then another wave has been born during each subsequent decade.”Aaron revealed with excitement. “The Indigo children theory has stayed mostly in the New Age circles. Mainstream doctors and other individuals do not give the theory any credit at all.”
Whit went to the fridge to get some pink lemonade. She offered Aaron a glass. He took it with a smile and drank half of the glass. Whit could feel his brown eyes searching her face as if he was waiting for her to kick him out and call the sheriff to run the crazy strangers out of town. “Whit,” he began. “We could really use some local help with this case. We have never made any contact with the Kirks and have no idea on how to approach them. Alan Kirk was taken out of public school and we have no idea how he received the rest of his education. We had no idea that he had even had children until one of our field agents contacted us from the school district.” Whit, taken back a bit by the pleading in Aaron’s voice, took a deep breath to settle the butterflies in her stomach. “What happens if you fail to make contact with the family?” Whit asked. A dark look crossed his face. “The risk of some other group who wants to use the children for destruction could approach the families and promise the world.” Aaron answered. “Has that happened before?” Whit wanted to know what the risk here was. “Yes, Crystalline can usually make initial contact before the other groups get wind of an Indigo, but we have failed in the past. School shootings are a common sign that the wrong party has contacted an Indigo child.” Whit nodded, her mind made up. “What can I do?” she asked.
Whit stood on Ragged Rock Road staring up at the Kirks front door. What have I gotten myself into; she thought. Aaron had asked her to make the initial contact with the Kirks. He felt that since she was a local, the Kirks might be more receptive to her. Well, here it goes. Whit walked up the driveway, climbed the two stone steps and knocked on the door. There was no sound at first. They probably will not come to the door, she thought. Whit had her story all planned out. They were looking for volunteers to work the raffle booth at the Geranium Festival. She would ask the Kirks if they wanted to volunteer. The answer would most definitely be no, but it was a cover at least. Whit, raising her hand to knock again, was startled by a noise behind her. Whit turned to see a little blonde girl, no more than six or seven, standing in the yard. “Hi,” Whit said, using her best little kid voice. “My name is Whitney, what’s your name?” The little girl stated at her with the lightest blue eyes Whit had ever seen. The girl did not offer her name. Instead, the girl began to look frustrated. “Why won’t you answer me?” the girl asked. Whit was baffled. Had the girl asked her anything? “What did you ask me?” Whit questioned. “I asked you what you wanted and you did not answer,” the girl said. “I am sorry, I did not hear you,” Whit smiled. “You must be a mouth talker like my mommy.” This answer puzzled Whit but she thought it better not to inquire anymore. “Is your mommy home?” Whit asked. Before the girl could answer, a woman came around the corner of the house from the backyard. She appeared to be around thirty, maybe a few years older. She had wavy red hair that reached her mid-back. Her eyes, an emerald color, were enhanced by the denim sundress she was wearing. “Rayna,” the woman said. “Please go back to the patio with your brother.” Rayna looked like she might challenge her mother on this command, but something in the woman’s face changed the little girl’s mind and she stomped off back around the house. “I am sorry,” the woman began, “they are not used to visitors.” Whit smiled, “Oh,that is fine. My name is Whitney Jasper. It is nice to meet you.” The woman stared at Whit for a second, as if trying to divine Whit’s reason for coming here. “I am Harper Kirk,” she said. “What brings you out to Ragged Rock?” Harper asked. “Well, we are trying to find volunteers for the raffle booth for the festival coming up.” Whit explained. Harper nodded her head, showing that she knew of the festival. Before Whit could go any further, a Ford Explorer came down the road slowing as it came to the Kirks driveway. Whit heard Harper suck in her breath. “Please go,” she said suddenly. Whit turned to see panic in the other woman’s eyes. “Should I come back another time?” Whit asked, trying to stall. “No!! Please do not come back, my husband does not like visitors.” Harper pleaded. Whit started towards her Saturn. As the Explorer turned into the driveway, Whit saw a blonde man staring at her. Luckily, Whit was in her vehicle before he could bring his to a stop. Whit started her car and began to drive off. Looking in her rearview mirror, Whit saw the man grab Harper’s arm roughly, steering her inside the house.
“She seemed afraid of him?” Aaron asked again for clarification. Whit nodded. “Maybe I should have gone.” Edyn stated. The four of them were gathered in Whit’s little apartment. She had located Aaron at the Klatch just as they agreed after her visit to the Kirks. “She may not even have spoken to you,” Whit reminded. “She has at least seen me once or twice around Midnight.” Whit could tell that Edyn was irritated that her twin had involved Whit without consulting her first. Aaron did not seem to notice. Patrick had not offered anything; he sat on Whit’s couch taking in the whole conversation. “So the girl said that you must be a mouth talker, like her mother?” Aaron asked. “Yes.” Whit answered. “Telepathy?” Edyn offered. “It’s possible,” Patrick’s voice surprised Whit. “The girl said, “like my mommy”, then that means that daddy must be able to communicate with the kids telepathically.” Aaron nodded at the theory. “Telepathy is rare even among Indigos but it does exist.” Edyn sighed. “I should have gone. I may have been able to get an idea of what was in the girl’s head.” Whit looked at Aaron’s twin in confusion. “Edyn has a special gift,”” Aaron began. “She can pick up what a person is thinking, but it is very abstract. For instance, if Rayna was thinking about her mother not being telepathic, then Edyn may have seen pictures of the two kids communicating through their minds, with pictures coming from their heads. Then again, she may have seen nothing at all. It all depends on the strength of the thought and the emotion behind the thought.” Whit suddenly felt very untalented.
The next morning revealed a cobalt blue sky and temperatures in the high seventies. The walk to the newspaper office was a pleasant one for Whit. Dolan greeted her as she entered. “Good morning, Whitney,” he exclaimed. “Morning, Dolan,” Whit replied with a smile. Dolan stood up and grabbed his car keys. “I am heading out to Ragged Rock Road; there was apparently a car wreck out there last night. I am going to do a short piece on it this week.” Whit nodded. Dolan exited, got in his car and drove off. Whit turned to head towards the basement. Before she reached the stairs, she heard the door open. Rushing back towards the front, Whit scolded herself for not locking the door. Seeing who was in the front changed her mind about wishing she had locked the door. Aaron, by himself, stood with his hands in his pockets. “I saw Dolan drive off and I thought maybe I could help you out today downstairs,” he suggested. Whit had to fight to keep herself from grinning ear to ear. “Sure,” she said.
The basement was dusty from the recent work Whit had done. After explaining to Aaron the basic idea of what she was doing, he began lining up boxes in a row. “We can line them up and sort through them one after the other without having to stop and lug them out each time,” he explained. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Aaron asked as they worked. “No, it’s just me.” Whit responded. “That must be lonely,” he observed, a hint of sadness in his voice. Whit did not answer. It was lonely but the last thing she wanted was for Aaron to feel sorry for her. Relocating the boxes revealed on old metal office desk in the corner of the basement. Whit and Aaron wasted no time opening the drawers. Inside they found old receipts from delivery accounts, some stray notes from an unknown reporter and miscellaneous office supplies. In the back of the bottom drawer, Aaron found an old brochure. “The Dusaunt Academy?” Whit questioned. Aaron did not respond at first. “It is a school for gifted children.” Aaron answered, finally. “How do you know about it?” Whit asked. “Monroe Dusaunt is the founder of one of the other groups I told you about. He finds Indigos and invites them to his school so that they can learn to use their gifts for his agendas. Although, when the children are learning these things, they are not aware of why they are learning them. All they know is that they are among others like them and fit in for the first time in their lives,” Aaron explained. “The question is,” he continued, “What is this brochure doing here?” Whit shook her head indicating that she had no idea. Aaron pocketed the brochure and they continued to work in silence for the rest of the afternoon.
Aaron left before Dolan returned from Ragged Rock Road. Whit heard his footsteps on the stairs leading down the basement. “Looks like I am getting my money’s worth,” he exclaimed as he entered the room. Whit smiled. “Say,” Dolan began, “I hear that you were up on Ragged Rock Road the other day.” Whit hid her surprise. Dolan could only know that if he talked to the Kirks. The surrounding houses were not close enough to the Kirks to have a clear view of their house. “Oh, yeah,” Whit said nonchalantly, “The festival committee wants me to round up volunteers for the festival,” she lied. “I thought I would take a chance and see if the Kirks might want to help,” she explained. Dolan nodded. “I did not know that you knew the Kirks,” Whit stated. Dolan paused in his the step he was taking. I caught him off guard, Whit thought. “Oh, I don’t really know them; I stopped by the Klatch on the way back and heard some old timers talking about it.” “Oh, I see,” Whit, answered. Without further discussion, Dolan went upstairs.
Whit had to prevent herself from breaking into a run to get to the Koffee Klatch. Ria would tell her if Dolan had been in there or not. The bell rang as Whit entered the door. This late in the afternoon the place was nearly vacant. Ria was wiping down the coffee counter from behind. “Hey girl!” she called when she saw Whit. “Hey.” Whit answered. Taking a seat at the bar, Whit asked for a Diet Coke. Less than two minutes later, Ria set it in front of her. “So what is new kiddo?” Ria asked. “Was Dolan in here earlier, he was supposed to bring me a Diet Coke but he forgot.” Whit asked. “He forgot because he did not come in here at all. I have been here since opening and have not seen Mr. Dolan.” Ria revealed. Whit hid her surprise. Why Dolan would lie to her?
The next morning, Whit was finishing the basement when she heard Dolan coming down the stairs. Her heart jumped a little. Just act natural, she told herself. “Hey, Whitney,” said Dolan casually. “I think it would be a good thing if you learned how to cover a story just in case I need you, so I thought it would be interesting for you to accompany me on a story today.” Whit hid her apprehension. “Okay,” she said trying to throw in some enthusiasm. “Great,” Dolan answered. Whit completed her work in the basement and met Dolan in the front office. He did not tell her where they were going.
In Dolan’s car, it was silent. “I hear from Ria that you’ve made some new friends,” Dolan stated, breaking the quiet. Whit hid her surprise. “Yeah, I did.” She answered. “What brings them to town?” he asked. “Just some research for school.” Whit answered, using Aaron’s cover. “What kind of research?” Dolan pressed. Whit hid her impatience with the line of questioning. “I am not really sure, I did not ask.” She replied. Dolan did not ask any further questions. He turned on talk radio to break the silence. Whit’s stomach lurched when Dolan turned onto Ragged Rock Road. “Are we going back to the accident scene?” she asked. Dolan shook his head. “No, not the scene, we are going to ask the residents if they saw anything.” Whit’s heart skipped a beat as they pulled into the Kirk’s driveway, Whit saw the Explorer parked near the front door. As they approached the door, Alan Kirk stepped out onto the stone steps. “Dolan, what brings you out here?” he asked. “Just came to ask some questions about that accident the other day.” Dolan said. Alan Kirk nodded but did not make a move to invite them inside the house. If he recognized Whit as the person at his house the other day, Alan Kirk did not show it. Dolan asked few mundane questions about the accident and jotted down some notes in his pad. While Dolan wrote, Alan appraised Whit with his pale blue eyes. Whit did her best to look comfortable under his stare. Whit saw the curtain flutter in the front window to her right. She looked in the direction of the movement and saw a young boy’s head appear between the curtains. Alan Kirk, slightly turned his head in the direction of the window. He did not make eye contact with the boy at all but the boy disappeared from the window immediately. Had he told the boy through telepathy to get out of the window or was the boy just accustomed to the slight turn of the head that Whitney saw? Dolan finished his questioning. As they were returning to the car, Dolan said that he had forgotten an appointment he had at the police station so they would be heading back to the office instead of questioning more residents.
Whit, relieved to be back at the office after the excursion to the Kirk house, told Dolan that she was going over to the Koffee Klutch for a soda. Ria greeted her has she sat down at her usual spot. “Where’s Romeo?” Ria asked. Whit blushed, “He is doing some research,” she replied. “Hey, Ria,” Whit continued. “Did you tell Dolan about me having a drink here with Aaron?” Ria looked thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t think so, hon.” she said. “Oh, well he knew somehow, he mentioned it when we went to Ragged Rock Road today to get more information about the car accident that happened out there.” Whit replied. “What accident?” Ria asked. “I am not sure, it happened the other day,” Whit answered. “Dolan is doing a story on it.” Ria walked away for a moment to speak to another patron. Whit recognized the woman as Marla Petrie. She was a lifelong resident of Midnight. Whit remembered suddenly that Marla lived out on Ragged Rock Road. Five minutes later, Ria returned to Whit. “Marla says that there ain’t been an accident out on Ragged Rock,” she revealed. Whit did not know what to say. “Is she sure?” Whit questioned. “Sure she is,” Ria responded. “Marla has lived on Ragged Rock forever, if there was an accident on that one-horse road Marla would know about it.” A little flustered, Whit finished her drink and left the Klatch. Why was Dolan lying to her? How did he know that she had a drink with Aaron if Ria had not told him. Had someone else there that day told him? Why had they only stopped at the Kirk place? It would have made more sense to start with the more sociable residents. The more Whit thought about it the more upset she became. She had no one to tell about this and it was times such as this when she missed her parents the most. Thinking about her parents made her even more upset. Whit ran back to her apartment building to retrieve her car. She knew where she wanted to be at this moment.
Dusk was falling by the time Whit steered her Saturn through the gates of Midnight cemetery. She parked and cut the ignition. She only came here when she was upset. Overwhelmed by the thought of not having a single soul in this world to turn to in times of crisis, Whit felt a lump begin to form in her throat. Here in the cemetery, in the Jasper family crypt, her mother, father and grandmother were together. Whit took her usual seat on the bench outside the crypt. It was a warm spring night and the moon was full so there was a lot of light. As she sat reflecting on memories of her family, an owl began hooting somewhere in the cemetery. Fatigue began to creep through her body, Whit leaned her head against the stone pillar on the bench. She was seeing images of her family in her head, dreaming really. Birthdays, Christmases, family picnics, vacations and other scenes danced through her mind. The laughter they had shared on these occasions rang in her ears. Whit’s heart ached to be able to touch the people in her dreams. Whit felt a warm touch on her arm; she opened her eyes, jumping in surprise. Brown eyes stared back at her, his eyes. “Do you always sleep in cemeteries?” Aaron asked. Whit looked around, confused for a moment, realizing finally that she must have fallen asleep. She wondered how long she had been there. “I, uh, I guess I must have drifted off,” she finally admitted. Aaron smiled. “Why are you here?” she asked, regaining her senses. “I am doing some research on something,” he answered, using his staple response. Whit nodded. Part of her wished that he had left her alone to her dreams of her family. The thought brought tears to her eyes. She tried to hide it by looking away, but the moonlight betrayed her. “What’s the matter?” Aaron asked concern in his voice. Whit shook her head, unable to speak. The tears were flowing freely down her face now. Aaron sat beside her in silence. “Sometimes I just feel so alone,” Whit began, trying to offer some reason for her behavior. “I should be used to it; my parents have been dead for ten years. I am twenty-three years old, I should be able to handle things without breaking down,” she stammered. “But after today, I could not face going home and being alone so I …” she did not finish, sobs racking her body. Aaron took her hand in his. Whit felt the warmth of his skin against hers. “What happened today?” he asked. Whit poured out the entire day’s events in one ragged breath. Aaron sat silently for a moment and then he scooted closer to Whit, putting his arm around her he pulled her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder. They sat like this, the two of them, not talking, for a long while.
Whit allowed Aaron to drive her back to her apartment. It was well after midnight when they arrived. Aaron made sure that Whit was safely in her apartment before he set out on foot back to his hotel across the square. Whit watched him from her window. She was falling for him, that much she knew. As Aaron passed under a streetlight, Whit noticed a movement in the darkness. Shock passed through her as she watched Dolan appear after Aaron has passed, he watched Aaron enter the hotel. Dolan was watching them! How long had he been watching? Whit watched as Dolan walked to the paper’s office and unlocked the door, entering without turning on any lights. He is being covert for a reason, Whit thought. Just a she was turning away from the window, Whit saw a black Explorer enter the square. She reached to turn out her light so that she could not be seen from the street. The Explorer parked in the square across from the paper office. Whit gasped as Alan Kirk got out of the vehicle and quickly walked to the office door. He knocked and Dolan let him in the office. Now Whit was sure that Dolan was lying. She had to talk to Aaron as soon as possible.