The Valley of Orbs

By Ted Lampron

While helping to clean up the grounds of an old estate once owned by a famous scientist, three young teenagers, Bonnie, Henry, and Freddie discover a mysterious underground tunnel. At the end of this dark, foreboding passageway they find a red door, and behind it, there is a scientific device that takes them through a portal to another dimension. The three unsuspecting youths are flung into a state of consciousness reality beyond anything they have ever known. Bonnie and her two sidekicks become lost in a world where the undead hunt the living. A place where wizards and witches rule with witchcraft and magic. Bonnie, Henry, and Freddie fall victims to an angry Ice Queen who wants to destroy them. Bonnie is a girl lost in a magical world and cannot find a way home. There is a threat of danger at every turn, and Bonnie needs help to survive. Coming to her rescue is a tiny faerie who conjures up a giant dragon. A knight in shining armor will guide the three youths on a path to the mythological gods. They also befriend a medieval musician who bears the burden of a ghostly secret, and a small black cat who follows Bonnie in her journey to find an eccentric hermit who might be able to help her and her friends get home. ​

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ted Lampron
• Release date: Mar 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370579853

Ted Lampron

Ted grew up in Westbrook, Maine where he attended the University of Maine, Portland Campus. He studied Journalism before embarking on a career in Business Management. He is now a fulltime author who enjoys reading books based on light fantasy, adventure, and other action genres. Ted is a fan of hidden clues and secret codes found in some action thrillers, like Dan Brown's, 'The Da Vinci Code', and James Rollins, 'Map of Bones". The Valley of Orbs, is Ted's first novel.

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The Valley of Orbs

TJ Lampron

The Valley of Orbs

Copyright © 2017 by Theodore Lampron

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons other than those of historical significance, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

The Valley of Orbs

CONTENTS

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-one

Twenty-two

Twenty-three

Twenty-four

Twenty-five

Twenty-six

Twenty-seven

Twenty-eight

Twenty-nine

Thirty

Chapter 1

Saturday, June 24

Shoreham, NY

Afternoon

Bonnie lay curled up on her bed trying to calm her anxious thoughts. She felt as though her mind was lost in a maze of painful memories from recent events. Thank God I’m home, she thought, safe in my bedroom free from that dreadful place. Bonnie closed her eyes, remembering how concerned she had been worrying about her parents not knowing when or where she had disappeared to, or if she would be back. Tears trickled down Bonnie’s face her emotions fragile as she tried to erase her horrible memories. But one haunting question would not go away…why did her mother not know she was missing for four days? There was no police call, no Amber Alert or anything else. It was as if nothing had changed, as though she had not been gone but a few hours. Her mother didn’t even blink when she walked through the front door ragged, tired and confused, except to say, What have you been doing this morning, you look like you’ve been dragged through the dirt. You should go take a shower and change your clothes; your father will be home soon.

How could her mother not know, Bonnie tried to make sense of it? She sat up and examined her bedroom. It was just as she had left it last Saturday morning. Her skirt was still hanging off the back of the desk chair, and her dirty clothes heaped on the closet floor, and her worn-out Keds lying next to them where she had tossed them.

According to her laptop, today is Saturday, yet her iPhone says it’s Tuesday. How can that be, she screamed in silence, her mind ready to explode. The date can’t be Saturday, June 24, the same day we all disappeared. Today has to be Tuesday, the twenty-seventh; we’ve been gone nearly four days. Am I going crazy or what? Confused by the perplexity of her situation, Bonnie continued to mull things over in her mind, retracing every hour, she had been gone, but still, it made no sense.

Bonnie needed answers. Her first impulse was to call Henry but wasn’t quite sure what to say; even though, her mind was brimming with questions. Was he okay? Did his parents know he had been gone, and what did his mother say when he returned home? For a moment, Bonnie reflected on how Henry felt about her and if his feelings were the same as hers, but quickly averted her fancy and focused on the events overshadowing the last several days. Can Henry explain what happened? Bonnie’s addled brain was unable to figure out any of it, her parents, the missing days, and most of all, the Island.

The only thing she was sure of was that she already missed Jack and Bot, two of the most unforgettable friends she had ever met. They had helped her survive the most harrowing crisis of her life. Jack and Bot had made her feel safe and protected, and in doing so, Bonnie had grown close to the both of them. And now she would never see either of them again.

She picked up her iPhone and tapped Henry's number while thinking back to Friday when Freddie believed he had experienced a sudden image or illusion on the way home from school. Both, Bonnie and Henry concluded that Freddie’s mind was playing tricks on him and that he had just imagined seeing something, but that was not to be the case and only the beginning of the woes to come.

Freddie’s visual omen occurred unexpectedly while the three of them were riding their bikes home from school, two weeks earlier.

Friday, June 16

Two weeks earlier

Afternoon

We’re the Three Musketeers! At least that's what Freddie Weaver likes to call us. It’s his favorite quote from the novel, by Alexandre Dumas. It was Freddie’s way of challenging us to follow him whenever he was about to do something stupid. "All for one and one for all!" he would shout, as though he was the young, foolhardy, D'Artagnan, himself. But that's just Freddie, Bonnie thought. She has been a best friend and sidekick to both him and Henry Tucker since the third grade. The three of them lived, close by, in the same neighborhood. Always hanging out together whether going to school, to the mall, or a movie, they were inseparable. Bonnie thought of Henry and Freddie as her two big brothers, filling the shoes of the siblings she never had.

Today was Friday and Bonnie was anxious for the final bell, which rang precisely at 1:55 p.m. ending the school day. She met up with the two boys in the hallway, and after visiting their lockers, the Three Musketeers followed the other eighth-graders out through the front doors of Prodell Middle School into the scented bloom of spring’s fresh air and the warm sun lingering over Long Island Sound. It was a glorious day, and better yet, tomorrow was Saturday.

On their way to the bicycle racks, Bonnie began to tease Freddie about racing their bikes. Let's not race to Henry's house today, I don’t wanna beat you again, it's too embarrassing, she joked, showing off her dimples with an impish smile. I don’t think you could handle losing again, she giggled.

The only reason you beat me the last time, was because you had a head start on me, Freddie sneered, shaking his head, and that's only because I let you.

After exiting the school grounds, they headed straight for Henry's house where they held their Friday study group. Which, Bonnie referred to as their weekly gabfest and bull session about social media and schoolyard gossip. As always, Freddie made a point of staying up front as they rode their bikes along the side of the road, pointing his index finger toward the sky as if to say, I’m number one.

As they turned onto Harding Street, heading for their neighborhood, Henry began to think Freddie was attempting to challenge him and Bonnie to a race when he started speeding up in front of them. So Henry and Bonnie leaned into their handlebars and pumped as hard as they could, trying to catch up. As Henry closed in, trailing inches behind Freddie's rear tire, something suddenly and unexpected happened. Freddie braked his bike so hard that he nearly lost control, skidding sideways and barely holding himself upright as his bicycle careened to a screeching stop. Bonnie swerved to the right, trying to avoid a collision with Henry, and ran her bike up on Mrs. Perkins’ front lawn nearly demolishing a freshly planted bed of flowers. Henry, who was tailgating Freddie, was able to stop just before crashing into the back of Freddie's bike, avoiding a bad spill.

What are you doing Freddie, are you trying to get us all killed or something! Henry yelled, thinking Freddie was just pulling off one of his stupid stunts.

Bonnie took a deep breath and exhaled, relieved that no one was coming out of the house to chew her out. So she dismounted her bike and wheeled it off the lawn and back on the street, feeling a little embarrassed and somewhat guilty, even though she knew it wasn’t her fault. That is until she got to Freddie, and then she exploded.

Are you crazy Fredrick! I almost ran over Mrs. Perkins’ flowers back there, she barked, her face turning red as she pointed toward the flowerbed. I’m just lucky there wasn’t anyone home.

Freddie looked at Henry, without saying a word. He just stood there, his face pale and his eyes glazed. He seemed to be in a stupor, unable to speak.

What’s wrong with you, snap out of it! You act like you’ve seen a ghost or something? Henry fumed, but then realized that something else was going on with Freddie?

Are you okay, you don’t look right? Bonnie asked, pulling her bike up close to Freddie.

Freddie shook his head looking at Bonnie and then over to Henry and then back to Bonnie again. What…you guys didn’t see that? He looked at Bonnie as if she were blind or something.

See what? They asked in unison.

ME! exclaimed Freddie, almost shouting, holding his hands up, and hunching his shoulders in total bewilderment. I was standing right there on the side of the road holding up something with words written on it. I almost ran over myself for cripes’ sake! He looked back at Henry, confused. You didn’t see it either?

What are you talking about, I didn’t see anything. Henry wasn’t sure if Freddie was joking or not.

I’m telling you that I saw myself standing right there on the side of the street. I was just standing there waving a sign, but the whole thing was sort of blurry, like fading in and out. Freddie paused for a moment to catch his breath. And then, when I was about to run over myself, it disappeared. It was like a hologram or something. I don’t know any other way to explain it. He stared at Henry and Bonnie, looking as though he expected an explanation from them.

You’re not taking any kind of drugs, or medication are you? Bonnie glared into Freddie’s eyes with uncertainty.

Of course not, don't be stupid! Freddie was losing patience.

Then what the heck are you talking about? It sounds to me like you saw something that wasn't there, Henry probed, not sure of what to make of the situation.

Maybe it was a mirage or something, Bonnie added. You know, like when the road looks watery on the horizon? You don’t see anything now do you?

No.

Okay then, it was probably just your imagination playing tricks on you, don’t you think?

I don’t know about that. Freddie bowed his head and rubbed his forehead, wondering if he was going nuts or what. I don’t know, maybe? But it was still scary. Freddie was beginning to feel alienated from his friends, realizing how weird he must sound, but he didn't know what else to say.

You’ll feel better when we get to my place, and we get some food and something to drink, Henry assured him, trying to calm Freddie down.

Yeah sure, okay, but let’s get out of here before I’m totally freaked out. Freddie knew what he saw, but he also knew how crazy it sounded and decided not to talk about it for the time being. He just wanted to get to Henry’s house where he could unwind and think.

Moments later

Bonnie and Henry may have found the whole incident somewhat peculiar, but had they remained at the scene a few moments longer, they would have all flipped out. Within seconds after getting back on their bikes and heading down the road, another occurrence took place. It happened in the very same spot as before, but no one saw it as they peddled away, down the street, heading for Henry’s house.

At first, it was only a flash, and then it fluttered in and out, just as Freddie had described…like a hologram. It was an image of Henry holding the same sign. On it were the letters, B____ __E _E_, with wide spaces between them. The picture didn't last long; only a couple of second or so, and then it was gone. But within a minute, another image flickered in and out. This time it was Bonnie, and she too was holding a sign. The image stayed for just a moment longer only this time there were just three letters spaced apart, _____ TH_ K__, and then the hologram disappeared.

Chapter 2

The minute they arrived at Henry's house, they made a beeline for the kitchen, where they began their weekly ritual of breaking out soft drinks and snacks before kicking back and quenching their thirst with school gossip and whatever meme was floating around on social media.

As they were demolishing a bag of chocolate chip cookies, Henry thought it might be a good time to query Freddie about the image he claimed to have seen back on the street. That was a close call on our bikes today, don't ya think?

Bonnie looked at Freddie, but he just kept gobbling down what cookies he had in front of him.

Henry didn’t get a response, so he tried being more direct. So what happened back there on Harding Street when you hit your brakes, did you really see something?

At first, Freddie just frowned and then his face turned sullen for a moment, before trying to explain, for the second time, what he saw. I know it sounds crazy, but I saw myself standing on the street, and that’s why I hit the brakes so hard. The image was there for only a few seconds before it disappeared, just long enough for me to see that it… Freddie paused and took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing, that it was actually me, and I was carrying a sign with words written on it.

What kind of sign, I mean what was on it, what did it say? Bonnie asked, stealing a quick glance at Henry to see his reaction.

The only letters that I could make out were R, I, N, G, and Y?

RINGY, whaddya think that means? Henry looked at Bonnie to see if she had any idea of what it meant?

She just stared at Henry for a second, hunching her shoulders, feeling a little dumbfounded, before an idea popped up. Maybe it means some kind of ring or a phone, like the sound when it rings? She squeezed her face as though grunting, and raised her hands in doubt.

Henry ran a hand through his dark wavy hair. Did you see anything else, you know, like a background or something? He was trying hard to make sense of what Freddie was telling them, but it all seemed so unreal, ghostly, to be exact.

Freddie’s expression hardened. No! All I saw was the image of the sign and myself. That’s all I can tell you. Whether or not you believe me, is up to you, but I know what I saw.

Henry could see that Freddie was starting to get edgy, so he let up. Hey, it’s okay, I believe you, but we’re here if you want to talk about it?

Freddie just nodded, looking doubtful and didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to think anymore and just wanted to forget about the whole thing. Besides, no one’s ever going to believe me, so what’s the use in trying to explain, he thought.

Bonnie could see that Freddie was uncomfortable, so she changed the subject by reminding the boys that they still had homework to do for final exams next week.

Henry's mother made a brief appearance in the kitchen while they were discussing their homework. She was there only long enough to get a bottle of water from the fridge and then she disappeared again. Mrs. Tucker had a desk in the den where she worked from home as a part-time realtor. She avoided making appointments on Fridays unless she had to, which meant the client was ready to sign a sales contract. Henry’s mother seldom looked in on the study group unless Henry wanted something that he couldn’t find in the refrigerator or food cabinets, or if it sounded like the kids were having too much fun and not focusing enough on school work.

After going over their homework assignments and finishing off the cookies, Bonnie asked Henry if they were still going over to the old Wardenclyffe property with his father tomorrow to help with the volunteer clean-up crew.

Henry’s eyebrows shot up as he remembered. Oh yeah, I was going to tell you at school today, but I forgot. We'll probably leave around eight o'clock, and―

Henry started to say something else, but Bonnie interrupted. What kind of work will we be doing over there, should I wear old clothes or what?

You actually own old clothes? Freddie said, bouncing back from his brief state of glumness.

Shut up Freddie! Just because I don't wear sweaty clothes like you, doesn't mean I don't have old stuff. She rolled her eyes while brushing back a strand of blond hair from her face.

I think we'll just be picking up litter, you know, old bottles and stuff like that, nothing really dirty, Henry replied.

Freddie just couldn't help himself; he hooked his thumbs into the front of his shirt and stretched it out in front of him while looking at Bonnie. What d’ya mean sweaty, my shirt doesn't stink. You wanna smell?

U-g-h! You're so gross!

Smells good to me, said Freddie taking a sniff of his shirt and leaning back to eat the rest of his cookies, as though he were as normal as anyone else.

Bonnie