The Mind Traveler's Daughter: A Short Story

By J.L. Shojosh

Rolana and her father escape a higher dimension in order to free themselves from an oppressive regime. However, no sooner would their new life come to a start would the pair be separated. The telepathic teen is instantly flung into the deep end, as all alone she now has to figure out how to live and blend amongst humans. Will Rolana be reunited with her father, or will she take his word, honor his sacrifice, and thus live her life as freely as he’d intended for her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Shojosh
• Release date: Sep 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005473228

J.L. Shojosh

I hope to show the universal humanity inherent in all of us. There's more that we as humans have in common with one another than the differences that sometimes pit us against each other. Through stories, I hope to highlight a few of those commonalities. Love conquers all.

Book preview

Prologue

*

Hey…I thought I’d find you here. Strutting across the room, a clipboard in hand, a red haired woman would approach a hunched figure. The brooding figure stood over a protruding well in the centre of the room.

Aye, I’m not ready to go home. An elderly man coarsely retorted, as he continued to gaze down the hole.

Oh, no...? –Rudo. That’s not what I expected to hear. How would your daughter feel if she knew that you’re avoiding her? The woman placed the clipboard onto the well’s circular edge.

Faced with such poignant accusations, the elder, Rudo, didn’t even bother to look up.

The woman finally peered down to also see the screenings of another world.

I run away from this world, not my daughter. Rudo would finally spout, only then pointing down at the motion picture being displayed across the dark waters’ surface. In a couple of centuries, he continued, my daughter will be expected to slave away for millennia, and perform a job that she would’ve had no say in choosing to begin with. Tell me, Daje, where is the glory in losing your individuality? –And what for? We toil for a collective that we do not even believe in? Rudo glanced up to study the expression on Daje’s face.

Daje looked around, fearfully.

You could get deactivated for even thinking such thoughts, Rudo. Her eyes darted left and right, as though trying to decipher a Euclidian geometric patterns on his face.

Bah! Maybe I want to get caught. Rudo hissed. Ever thought about that? Rudo’s lips bitterly quivered in conclusion, before apologetically gesturing to Daje. I’m sorry, he continued, sighing, as he stressfully slid his hands down his face. I shouldn’t have put you in such a tough spot.

Don’t worry. Daje patted Rudo on the shoulder. Both now stared down at the rippling pool of somber well water. Your secret is safe with me…just…be careful. I’m Rolana’s godmother, and not that I don’t adore the little creature, but I just don’t expect to be called to task anytime soon –and all because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut while at work. Daje concluded, like a mother, delicately scolding her adolescent son, though Rudo was old enough to be her father, and old enough to be Rolana’s grandfather.

My secret… Rudo scoffed. Well, I’ve been thinking-

Careful there, old timer –Let’s not get ourselves worked up with too much thinking again, okay? So, how long do you think you’ll be able to hide these thoughts for? It takes one slip up on one of the quarterly mind-scans…and you’re locked up for eternity, which is a long time for an immortal being –you do get that, right?

Aah, that’s why I love you, Daje… Rudo scuffed up her red hair, before turning pensive, and then asking her if she’s ever put any thought into the legend of Bronko?

Now, I’m really worried. Daje exclaimed, having barely allowed the old fellow to conclude his phrase.

I know, I know. Escaping this realm is almost impossible-

Almost? Daje protested. It’s more like a surety, Rudo. Stop talking like this. She had then tried to grip his wrist to check that it wasn’t leaking gamma radiation, the first stages of dementia for the Kutari race of immortals.

Hear me out. He’d sidestepped her attempted grip, and walked back to check to see that no one eavesdropped on their sensitive conversation. It’s not like anyone’s listening…

No. Daje protested. "I won’t be able to suppress anything illegal you tell me from their scans. I’ll crack –I’m not built like you, Rudo. And you know that I’d also be putting myself on the line, and then,