Fighting Darkness, Book 3 of The Ariana Series

CHAPTER 1

"Code Red Room 2, Code Red," blared the speakers in the Emergency Room. Instantly, ER doctors and nurses surged toward Room 2. There was controlled chaos everywhere. Ariana and her group of friends knew what Code Red meant; someone was dying. Matthew collapsed in the nearest chair holding his head and moaning, tears falling down his cheeks. Maria, Tara’s abuela, panicked. She knew her beloved grandchild was in this place, but she didn’t yet know where. Ariana rushed to Maria’s side. She helped Tara’s frightened grandmother to the seat next to Matthew, hoping to calm her. Everything was so confusing. Ariana had to force herself to look at her friends, to see how they were responding. By the looks on their faces it was obvious they were conflicted; none of them wanted anything bad to happen to anyone else, but thinking that Tara could be dying was too much. Everyone but Zach and Matthew huddled together in the middle of the waiting room. Zach struggled with Matthew, trying to get him to talk.

What do I do now? How do I help my friends? Ariana wondered. She felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and responsible. They trusted me and I let them down. I was warned Tara might be in danger and I let her down. What kind of leader am I? Ariana tortured herself with the thought that her failure had been the cause of whatever happened to Tara.

The feeling of a hand on her shoulder relieved Ariana from her anguished thoughts. She looked up to find Zach standing next to her. She had been so distracted she hadn’t heard him approach or even felt his energy. This was very disturbing. Ariana had to remain alert in case there was some sort of danger out there, a possible threat to all of them.

Ariana, do you think we should try to do some healing or something? Matthew asked.

Yeah, exclaimed Teja, I can’t just stand here feeling helpless. Let’s do something!

Leesie reached for Teja’s hand and said, It will be alright. Tara’s strong and young; that always helps people get well.

Teja pulled her hand away. She did not want to be soothed.

How the hell do you know that she’ll be okay? Teja screamed. We can’t see her. We don’t even know what happened to her. I hate this shit!

Getting mad at each other will only bring negative energy, Ariana responded. We have to be strong and positive. We all know what happens with thoughts, they produce an effect. Negative thoughts do not produce solutions, they only cause fear. Negative thoughts can also bring the Darkness. I don’t think any of us wants Tara to have to fight that, too.

Maria, do you know what happened to Tara? Zach asked.

Maria shook her head and said, I only know that a man in her condominium complex found her in the garage unconscious.

Let’s send some energy and healing to Tara, Andrew suggested. It helped Matthew even when he was traveling to a different state. Won’t it help Tara, too?

That’s a wonderful idea, Ariana said, grateful that someone had suggested a positive action for the group to undertake. Matthew, are you up for this? When he stood up and walked to the group Ariana said, Let’s form a circle, holding hands, and begin to build positive energy and healing.

I cannot join with you, Maria said. I must go to the chapel and pray to the Virgin for her help. With both our prayers to God, he will answer. Getting up from her chair, Maria patted Ariana’s hand, smiled to the group and headed down the hallway to the nurse’s station to ask for directions to the chapel.

Boy, is that some strong lady, said Teja.

Her faith makes her strong. We must be as strong in ours, Matthew declared.

The friends formed a circle, each person holding the hand of their neighbor. They began their deep breathing and relaxation rituals.

When Ariana could see the fully-formed bubble of protection the group had visualized, she began, "See Tara as she was when we saw her earlier this evening: vibrant, healthy and smiling. Hold that vision of her while you add to it a vision of intense blue energy. See Tara absorbing this wonderful healing energy. See her breathing in the energy and see her aura began to glow with vitality and strength. Allow yourself to fully accept that Tara is well, happy, and whole. Keep sending this energy, maintaining the positive vision of her. Do not allow any doubt to enter your minds. She is perfectly healed and healthy, and this is already true!"

For fifteen minutes, the group stood together, sending the energy Ariana described. The waiting room grew warm and appeared to glow as the energy grew. Ariana sent some of it throughout the hospital, hoping to help anyone else that needed it. She knew that the seven friends were sending enough energy to heal everyone in the vicinity.

Ariana thought hard for Matthew to open his eyes and look in her direction. Did Tara accept the energy? Ariana thought. Matthew shook his head no. Ariana closed her eyes. She felt pain, desperation. Why can’t we reach her?

I’d like to say a prayer to Great Spirit if it’s okay with everyone, Matthew said. When the group all agreed, he began. Great Spirit, please walk beside me through this day. Clear the heavy air with the Lightness of Your Presence. Guide my hands and steady my heart that I may give comfort when I cannot give hope, that I may give relief when I do not have a cure, and that I may radiate Your healing peace when the limits of science, time, and the human body are overwhelmed. Guide Your healing to Tara and help her accept your love and healing grace.

Teja still looking dejected said, I know that’s all we can do, but it feels like nothing. I feel completely helpless. This sucks!

I understand how you feel, Teja, Matthew interjected. It would be easy to get depressed, frustrated or angry, but remember, thoughts are alive and create an effect. We must keep thinking that what we are doing is working. We don’t want to increase the negativity and bring the Darkness to us. Instead, we need to raise the Light.

That’s really easy to say, but a lot harder to do, Wendy said, holding tight to Andrew. I’m really scared. What do we do without Tara?

Tara isn’t gone, Ariana said forcefully, and I don’t want to give that thought any power. We absolutely must deal only with those things that we know to be true, not what we fear. Remember, we are all working to become the Light and I believe the first step is to constantly remind ourselves that God holds all the power and that whatever happens today is happening because it is what needs to happen.

Tara was always the strong, positive one. It’s hard to think of her hurt, Leesie replied.

She’s still the strong, powerful one, Zach said. Nothing’s changed that. When you’re sick or hurt your basic self doesn’t get sick or hurt. Tara’s basic self is a survivor. That’s what we need to focus on.

You’re right, Leesie admitted, but it’s hard when you don’t know what’s happening or even what happened.

Does anyone know what happened to her? Andrew asked. Was she hit by a car, or what?

You heard what Maria said. I don’t think anyone knows, Ariana responded.

I wonder if anyone called the police, Leesie said.

If they did, wouldn’t they be here? asked Andrew.

Maybe there’s an officer in with her. I’m going to walk down the hall and see if I can find her room. The rest of you stay here and wait for Maria to come back, suggested Matthew as he started walking down the hallway, trying to look like he knew where he was going.

The remaining friends all waited quietly, sitting in the uncomfortable plastic chairs that were the only seats available in the waiting room. The walls were painted a pale green and there was industrial green carpet on the floor. The room looked as though it hadn’t been remodeled since the 1960’s. This wasn’t surprising. The hospital itself was very small and not often used. The larger, newer hospitals drew most of the top doctors and also most of the patients. Ariana was surprised this hospital was still open, but she also knew it was the closet one. Tara must have been found in a critical state otherwise she would have been taken somewhere else.

Everyone was so nervous; it seemed like Matthew was gone for hours. Finally, he reappeared.

Did you see her? Leesie asked.

Sort of, Matthew replied. She is covered with bandages, tubes, and wires.

Did you find anything out? inquired Ariana.

Matthew stood before his friends, looking for the right words to tell them what he had learned. Finally, he said, There is an officer in Tara’s room. They want to talk to her as soon as she wakes up. The police think she was beaten by someone in the condo garage. I guess that’s the door she usually enters by. Aside from that, they know nothing.

Why would anyone want to hurt her? Wendy exclaimed.

You don’t think the Darkness did it, do you? Teja wondered.

Ariana answered before Matthew, I doubt it was the Darkness itself setting out to attack her, but the world is filled with darkness and people who are letting it affect them. Watch the news; there are terrible things happening everywhere. We can’t get paranoid and think that there’s something waiting around every corner to get us. That’s giving the Darkness power over us and we don’t want that.

I am so confused, admitted Wendy. Is the Darkness after us or is it just the way the world is right now?

Both, Matthew answered. When we are working with the Light attempting to dispel the Darkness, it will use what is already within us to fight. It will use our fear, self-doubt, anger, and whatever other negative energy we contain to drive us apart. What it won’t do is beat us up. We can draw people who have filled themselves with darkness to us, and they can hurt us, but that is not the Dark itself. That could happen whether we are working in the Light or not.

Leesie interjected, Yeah, I remember reading an article about serial killers and serial rapists. The FBI sent profilers to interview every serial killer and rapist they had in prison so that they would be better able to understand them. One of the things they asked was how they picked their victims. Many said that they just knew; the victim seemed to put out an energy that drew them. Maybe their aura appeared punishing or fearful and that was what they were reacting to without realizing it.

Teja was appalled, That’s not Tara. She is stronger and prouder than anyone.

Just saying, Leesie said, hurt by Teja’s tone. It’s what I read, not what I am accusing Tara of or anything.

We don’t know what happened to her, so it’s impossible to come up with why it happened, Ariana reminded them. We’ll have to wait until she tells us, just like the police are waiting.

Okay, but what do we do now? Andrew asked.

We wait and think positive thoughts, Matthew replied, unless someone has a better suggestion.

Turning and speaking almost under her breath, Teja mumbled, Bullshit!

Ariana spoke, Teja, I know you’re feeling helpless, all of us are, but being negative only makes us all worse off. Tara needs us to remain positive and hopeful. I know it’s really, really hard, but it’s also necessary. I realize that this is probably harder for you because of how you lost your Dad. Death isn’t easy to understand, especially violent death, but we don’t need to understand something in order to find a way through it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Tara’s going to die; you know as much as I do about that. But I am saying that how you are acting will pull us apart. That’s not what any of us wants or needs right now. We must find strength from each other. Remember, that’s where our power lies.

I’m sorry, Teja mumbled. I’m used to taking action, not sitting around.

Yeah, me too, admitted Andrew. I’m a fighter, but there’s nothing here to fight. Gets kinda hard just standing around.

A bustle of activity and voices brought their attention to the hallway where several people, including Tara’s Abuela, stood arguing.

We cannot stand out in the hall disturbing the whole hospital, Maria stated. Let’s go into the waiting room to discuss this.

There’s nothing to discuss, a loud female voice declared, We are taking him home as soon as he can be moved. It was Tara’s mother, Elicia.

But this is her home, Maria argued.

Stop calling him her, an irate male voice screamed. Tomas is my son. He needs to be home with his family. If he had remained with us, none of this would have happened.

Maria lost her temper and stated powerfully, This is where Tara felt at home. This is where she found acceptance, friends, and love. Not with you. We don’t know what happened. How could you possibly know it would not have happened in California?

I’ve heard enough Mother, Tara’s father, Ricardo, said menacingly. You have no say in this matter. Tomas is seventeen and we are his legal guardians, not you. He comes home as soon as we can take him.

Doctor Verma interjected, Let’s go into the waiting room to discuss the options.

Can’t we see her? Tara’s mother asked.

We would prefer if you wait until after surgery, Dr. Verma answered, maneuvering them into the waiting room. Tomas has bleeding into his brain and several broken bones, including his jaw and orbital bone. These need to be repaired immediately. We may have already waited too long. Please sign the surgery permission papers so that we can begin.

The family looked shocked. Immediately their anger was replaced with fear.

Ricardo spoke, We had no idea it was that serious. Maria only told us that Tomas had been in an accident. What happened to him? Mr. Herrera asked.

We are not sure, the Doctor said. What I am sure of, however, is that we must get him into surgery now.

Of course, of course. Where is your paperwork? Ricardo asked.

Follow me, answered Doctor Verma.

Turning to the group, Maria said, Elicia and Conchita, these are Tomas’ friends. Elicia is Tera’s mother and Conchita, her sister.

Ariana walked forward and extended her hand to the oldest woman, I am happy to meet you both. My name is Ariana.

Do you know what happened to my son? Elicia asked.

Ariana shook her head and replied, I’m sorry, but I don’t think anyone knows. Tara was found in her garage injured and was brought here. Let me introduce the others to you both. Pointing at each person in turn, Ariana said, This is Zach, Wendy, Andrew, Teja, Matthew, and Leesie. We have all gotten very close to Tara - um I mean Tomas - and love her very much.

But you do not know my son. You know the creature he pretends to be, Elicia replied.

The person we know is wonderful and so much more than a gender, Matthew said softly.

Conchita glared at him. You don’t know what this ‘wonderful person’ has put my family through! You couldn’t possibly understand the embarrassment he has caused all of us.

Teja rose to her feet, seething with anger, but before she could speak, Ariana took her hand and squeezed. Turning to the family Ariana said, You are right, we could never know how Tara made her family feel. We can only know how she makes us feel and how we see her. She makes each of us feel special and loved and we see her as one of the strongest, most beautiful women we know. Turning back to the group Ariana said, It is time for us to go. Maria, please let us know if anything changes or if there is anything we can do.

The group gave Maria a hug and walked out of the hospital.

Why did you stop me from telling those skanky bitches what for? Teja asked, sounding very annoyed.

Because we might want to see Tara again, and if we seriously piss them off, that won’t happen, Ariana answered.

What would have been the point anyway? Zach asked. It wouldn’t have changed their mind about her and only made them hostile toward us.

Anyways, Leesie said, there was nothing more we could do there and maybe we can come up with something tomorrow. It’s already after midnight. Let’s go home.

Chapter 2

Teja was quiet, but inside, she was steaming mad. She knew the others expected her to take this lying down, but that just wasn’t her way. She was going to find out what the hell happened to Tara and kick some ass. Let the others step back from their responsibilities. This is really messed up! It’s time for action, not talking! Teja thought as she felt her anger increase.

So what the heck do I do? Teja began to pace every inch of her dorm room, her nervous energy building as she contemplated her options. I could try to retrace Tara’s steps and see if anyone knows anything, but then what? Her feelings of helplessness grew. When her dad died, Teja was too young to do anything. Throughout the years that followed, she suffered because of it. Now that Teja knew what really happened to her father, she still could do nothing; too much time had passed. Her anger grew stronger as she thought about how often she had allowed herself to be helpless. She had some totally awesome abilities now, but what good were they if she couldn’t use them for payback?

Teja wished Wendy was home so that they could do some brain storming, but Wendy was with Andrew again. I guess it’s up to me, she thought bitterly.

Pacing only made her feel trapped so she finally sat down. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself so that she could think more clearly. After calming her mind, an idea came to her almost immediately. If time didn’t exist, and the astral body could go from realm to realm, why couldn’t it go into the past? Isn’t that what Zach had done when he went into a past life? She didn’t need to go back that far, she only needed to go back to last night, to Tara’s condo.

Closing her eyes, Teja let her mind wander to Tara’s condo. She saw the outside of the condo clearly. Focusing all of her energy, she willed her consciousness to stay in this place, but to go backward in time until Tara approached her home. There she is! Teja could see Tara, packages in her hands, walking toward the condo. Tara didn’t go to the front door as Teja expected, but instead, she entered the parking garage. Teja noticed two men appear out of the shadows. They were following Tara. Teja didn’t like the look of them. Running to follow Tara, Teja found her standing at what must be her condo’s back door. Tara was fumbling in her purse.

No! Teja screamed. Run!

But of course Tara couldn’t hear her. She tried to grab Tara and turn her around as the men drew within arm’s reach, her hand shot right through Tara as another hand, a physical one, grabbed Tara from behind, ramming her head against the door. You mother, Teja screamed in her mind as she tried to pull the man off her friend. Having no physical form meant that everything Teja tried, failed. Teja had to watch what the men did to her friend. Teja thought she felt helpless before, but watching this was almost unbearable.

Fight dammit! she screamed at Tara, but Tara never once resisted the onslaught of blows and kicks. Hearing the noise of someone approaching, the men stopped their vicious assault and ran. Teja saw a stranger run to Tara and ask her if she was alright. Tara was so damaged all she could do was gurgle. The man dialed 911 and stayed with Tara, holding her hand and talking softly to her until the paramedics arrived. He even cleaned up after they left.

How can some people be so mean while others are so kind? Teja thought. I guess that’s what this world amounts to - those people who care about others and those who care only about themselves.

Teja heard a voice in her mind say, Now you understand. When people live in fear, many become selfish and the Darkness convinces them that their narcissistic desires are more important than the wants or the needs of the whole. These people begin to categorize others into groups: those they hate and those they blame for what is wrong with their lives and their world. This hatred grows and often becomes an ideology. Through rationalization, this ideology becomes a truth and a mandate to purify all those that don’t fit in or are different from the ‘group wisdom.’ Many of these groups justify these violent tenets as religious mandates. Most of these people destroy due to a fear masked as rage. They are bullies who are too afraid to look at their lives and take responsibility for their personal failures. Instead, they band together into twos or threes or thousands and take their misplaced fears and turn them into rage that now gives them the illusion of power. To continue to feel powerful, they become destructive. Unfortunately, with this new power also come new fears. So once started, this cycle is never ending.

Another distinctly different voice spoke to Teja, Does not your Holy Book speak of ‘an eye for an eye’? If you lie down and allow this atrocity, then you are no better than the beasts that hurt your sister. You have abandoned her and told her she had no worth to you. Do you want to continue the behaviors from your past, moving on, and accepting what has been done to those you say you love instead of fighting for them? Or will you become like your mother, blaming the person that was wronged instead of showing love? Do you love your friend and your father? You have powers now; use them.

How? Teja thought.

Think of the creatures that have done this to Tara. Order your consciousness to their residences and enter their sleep. Torture their dreams. Convince them that they are being punished by God and that the only way they can be purged of this wrong is to kill the other. Convince each the fault was that of the other and that they are blameless. Pit one against his partner until their violence and fear escalates and they destroy themselves.

No Teja, do not listen! the other voice pleaded, but Teja was beyond listening. Now she had a plan. She would cause the two to hurt each other as badly as they had hurt Tara. Teja felt power surge within her. She no longer felt helpless. Now she was drunk on the new feeling of righteousness and power. She was the dominant one. The men who hurt Tara would learn what it is like to anger this goddess!

Teja focused all her attention on the man that had first grabbed Tara. She saw him, smelled him, felt her hand on his skin. Suddenly she found herself in a small, dirty apartment in South Phoenix. The man was sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. Shit, Teja thought, I just wanted to influence his dreams. Now what?

She stood in the small apartment surveying this stranger’s domain, a studio apartment with a tiny kitchenette. A bed, a big-screen TV, two torn, fake leather chairs, and a small table that held a game console were the only contents. Empty beer bottles and food cartons were scattered throughout the room. Yuck, Teja thought.

Turning back to the man on the bed, Teja contemplated her options. First, she stood right in front of him, wiggled her arms and screamed. Nothing happened. Next, she tried reaching out to touch him. She was not physical so nothing happened. What do I do now? Teja thought again.

Try going into his mind and planting thoughts, she heard plainly in her own mind.

Yeah, if I can hear the Elders talk to me in my mind, why couldn’t I do the same thing? Breathing deeply, Teja opened her consciousness and her shields as she focused on being this person before her. She willed herself to become this man. Momentarily she thought nothing had happened, but then she was overwhelmed with such grief, regret, remorse, and sadness that she involuntarily retreated. WTF!

Scared but still determined, Teja tried again. This time she expected to feel harsh feelings. She did not pull back; she listened and felt. The man was going over in his mind what had happened that night. He had seen Tara coming out of the grocery. He thought she was amazingly beautiful and graceful. He liked the more boyish type of girl, not those big-assed ones with those mucho grande chi chis either. His friend, Frank, suggested that they try to catch up with her and talk to her. When she went into a store, they followed her, watching her awhile. Seeing Tara through his eyes was really weird for Teja, but she kept watching the memory. He finally got