Soul Survivor

By James M. DeHaven

Joshua awoke in an unfamiliar place. A hotel he guessed. But at the moment he could not recall a thing. This must be what amnesia feels like, he thought. Michael, a stranger appeared at his door and was assisting him to remember. Yet what he is now remembering and what additional information Michael is revealing to him is disconcerting. Why did he survive? What is expected of him? What Joshua receives from Michael may be more than he can comprehend, and more than either his partners or family will want to understand or accept.
It is up to Joshua now. How will he handle the information that has been reveled to him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387883356

Book preview

Soul Survivor

SOUL

SURVIVOR

Soul

Survivor

A Novel by

JAMES M DEHAVEN

© 2018 by James M DeHaven

All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2018 by JMD Productions™

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by The 1976 Copyright Act or in writing by the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

JMD Productions™

Requests for such permission should be addressed to:

JMD Productions™ @ [e-mail]

James M DeHaven, Author

SOUL SURVIVOR

Layout:    James M DeHaven

Cover:     Modified free image by James M DeHaven

Fonts:     Garamond

Author: James M DeHaven

ISBN:   978-1-387-88335-8

Second Edition: May 2018

Dedication

To my wonderful Godmother,

Kresna, who has remained

supportive of me throughout my entire life.

Your encouragement and personal interest in me,

as well as demonstrating how to

live a good life by your examples,

has always been

a Gift to me and to others.

With much love and appreciation.

Love ya more

Other books by James M DeHaven

Ghost Coach

Terragon Stardate 2050

The 7 Gifts of Paradise

A.I.D.E.N.N. The Android Robot

How Does God Communicate To Us?

Peter and the Farmhouse Treasure

Jeremy and the Christmas Shoes

Danielle’s Christmas Wish

Walter and Flash

Snow Angel

Visit the Author’s Website for:

Sample content, covers, and purchase opportunities.

www.jmdprods.com

"When you bring what is within

out into the world, miracles happen."

- Henry David Thoreau

Preface

FROM THE AUTHOR

There are many fictional stories based on facts. Most probably all are to some extent. And this work is no different. For many years, I researched some scientific facts about the universe, the Earth, and other scientific ideas such as Einstein’s space and time theories for other books I have written.  I have chosen to weave some of that information into this story.

I find that using facts and current theories to support a story gives it plausibility and opens the reader’s mind to thoughts that possibly they may not have entertained otherwise. Thus, I encourage you to look up the full references as listed in the back. Reading them will allow you to enjoy the full meaning of this story.

As mind stretching as a story or even facts and theories can be, it gives all of us a chance to consider things that may be unknown to us. Reading a book allows us to transport ourselves and our minds to places and ideas that we would most likely never indulge ourselves with on a normal basis.

I hope this book and the information woven in it will, at the very least, be thought provoking and at best be educational, and at the optimum, be a spiritual experience that strengthens your faith.

It is my belief that we are all Spiritual beings, living in a mortal body. Not bodies having a spiritual experience.

Thus, if you can appreciate the mix of scientific facts in creation that blend with the spiritual experience we are going through called life, I think you will find this story an enjoyable read.

1 WHERE AM I?

I awoke suddenly. But it did not feel like I had been sleeping. My first thought was, Wow…do I ever feel great! And then I looked around, very slowly in order to acclimate myself to the surroundings I now found myself in. It seemed very difficult to sort my thoughts for some reason. It was like information bits were swirling about in my mind, but I could not seem to capture just one thought to focus on. I was on sensory overload yet still with an overall feeling of euphoria.

Slowly my eyes began to look toward the window of the room I was sitting in. It was sunny outside. The sky was a gorgeous blue and I noticed there wasn’t a cloud in the sky either. Yet I had to force myself to direct my attention on the place where I was now sitting. It dawned on me, finally, that I was in a hotel room, reclined in a chair, fully dressed. The first thought that my brain locked onto was why is the bed still made up?

I tried to focus on what seemed imperceptible moments of time that contained scattered thoughts swirling in my mind in what felt like slow motion.

I had more questions for myself than I could sort through in my consciousness with any sort of a timeline. I wasn’t scared, and I still had this overwhelming feeling of contentment and health

So I decided to remain seated and sift through the thoughts as best I could to put them in some order and with a vain attempt to try and sort them one at a time.

Ok, I thought. I feel great. I am in no danger, I’m not hurt and this seems to be a secure place: All good for the moment.

I tried to concentrate on the most common question at the moment which was where am I? And of course the logical next question which was how did I get here? So far I figured that I was in a hotel, but which one and what city still remained a mystery to me.

No answers were immediately forthcoming. I closed my eyes again leaning my head back on the chairs top cushion to cradle my neck and support my head and tried to recall the last thing I remembered. It seemed difficult to do for some reason, like it almost hurt. Finally out of the depths of my sub consciousness I had a flash memory of being on a plane.

I could not remember where I was going or why, but sitting in a plane…yes…that I remember, but why?

It all started to slowly come back to me in small flashes of memory. I was on a plane. I think it was a trip for work.

I had a seat in the rear near the back exit door. I was sitting by myself and looking out the window. For some reason I always liked sitting back here.

It was a normal flight and the pilot had just announced we would be landing soon.

As I gazed out my window I could see the water and the many islands that made up the chain that formed The Keys.

All of a sudden there was a loud bang and then I remembered an acrid smell and seeing the black smoke and flames coming out from under the right wind’s engines aluminum covering as I turned to my right to look out my window.

I remember thinking that I had never experienced anything like this before. But I notice that the plane was flying fine and nothing of an emergency nature seemed to be happening.

The pilot finally came on over the intercom after a few minutes and announced the engine failure and that we were to remain calm and in our seats with our seat belts on. He ordered the stewards to their seats to secure themselves in as well. Then the plane sank suddenly, nothing so great as to alarm us though. I noticed that the plane veered to the left a little then started a much steeper descent which then leveled off fairly soon.

So far the pilot and crew seemed to have everything under control, except for the flames glowing out from under the aluminum panels of the right engine.

I could hear the other engine running, and I contemplated that we could land with just the other engine. So, we should be ok. However, I felt the plane’s decent become slightly steeper again, and try as I might, I could not see the airport from my window seat in the back.

The angle was wrong for me to see anything towards the front of the plane, but I assumed we were headed straight to the runway since we were flying so low.

The water was getting increasingly closer and it seemed eerily quiet except for the ooh’s and ahh’s and random screams from a few of the passengers.

Everyone was straining to look out their windows until the flight crew made the brace for impact announcement. That got some of the passengers screaming. But then it got really quiet.

I looked out the window again and saw the water and then the sand getting closer and closer and then…nothing. That’s where my memory stops.

All I know now is that I am sitting in a chair in this hotel room with no knowledge of how I got from the plane to this hotel room.

This is good though I thought. What I can remember so far and the fact that I am sitting here uninjured is a good sign. The plane must have landed ok and I made it out. I just can’t remember how I got here. I started my internal thinking again.

Why does my head hurt from thinking about this and why do I feel so good otherwise? I raised my head from the cushion. Well, that was a good start. Try to sit up, I said to myself. I slowly sat straight up in the chair. That worked. Now I’ll try to stand up.

Easy now, there, let me stand here for a moment… catch my bearings…see how my head feels. Hmmm...not bad.

I looked at my feet. C’mon left foot, move. It did! I looked up and turned to look out the window again. No dizziness. I feel great! This feels pretty good in fact.

Then I thought you know I’m feeling kind of hungry. Well if the feet work then I’ll just walk over to the phone on the night stand and call the front desk. Yea, good idea.

I stopped in mid stride realizing that I wasn’t sure who I was. What a strange feeling. I felt a bulge in my right front pants pocket, so I reached into the pocket to see if there was a wallet. There was! I pulled it out, opened up the cash compartment, and luckily noticed that there was some cash!

I pulled out a credit card and looked at the name stamped on it. Joshua Wright. Guess that’s me. It sounds familiar.

I guess this is what they must refer to as temporary amnesia. It’s coming back to me, but very slowly, I thought.

I continued to walk to the phone on the night stand to the left of the bed and picked up the receiver and pressed the 0 key for the front desk.

Hello, Mr. Wright, how may we be of assistance to you? a voice said before I could even say hello.

Yes, hello there. I wonder if you have meal services? I asked.

We certainly do sir. What would you like?

Oh, just a cheeseburger and fries…sweet potato fries, with ketchup and yellow mustard and the burger on a whole wheat bun with a slice of onion, tomato and a dill pickle on the side, if you could, I said.

Absolutely sir. And would you like anything to drink with that?

Ah, yes, I forgot. A cup of strong coffee with two creams would really hit the spot too, I replied.

I wonder what made me order that combination of food? I thought to myself.

It will take about twenty minutes and we will have it brought up to your room, sir. Will there be anything else? he asked.

I thought for a moment and then asked… Do you recall what time I arrived at the hotel last night and if I appeared to be ok?

Let me look it up Mr. Wright, please hold.  In less than a minute he came back on the line.

The computer indicates you checked in at 11:07pm last evening, sir. I asked the person from the late shift if they remembered your arrival. Other than a normal check in, they did not notice anything unusual. I hope that helps you sir? came the questioned reply.

Ah, yes it does, and thank you very much, I said.

Will that be all then, sir? he asked. If there is, just ask for Marty. I would be happy to assist you."

Yes, thank you very much Marty I said. No, I guess that’s all for now, and then I hung up.

I sat there and stared at the credit card. Then I decided to take everything out of my wallet to see if it would help me to remember more details. I dragged an ottoman over to the reclining chair

I had been sitting in and proceeded to take out each credit card and to search all compartments in the wallet.

I placed everything face up on the surface of the ottoman. I noticed the wallet had the initials JW embossed on the front lower right side.

So far things were matching up. I found the drivers license. Yep, that was me staring back at me. The address read, 2230 N. Weston Ave. Chicago IL. Hmmmm? Hey! I forgot to ask the desk what city I was in.

I walked over to the phone and the dial sticker read - Hampton Inn, 777 Kristy Lane, Islamorada Island, FL.  Ok. Now I better sit down again and try to think this out a bit. What was I doing in Florida?

Apparently I had not slept in the bed for some reason. As I noticed before, it was still made up.

How long I have been here?  I wondered.

I decided I would sit back down in the recliner, and laying my head on the cushion again. I closed my eyes and tried to process some more memories. This seemed to be the most comfortable position to think.

There was a dull ache in the back bottom of my head and thinking was like trying to swim through murky water with only pulses of occasional light. But it worked. I next remembered boarding the plane. I couldn’t remember what the business trip was for though. Am I married? Do I have kids? Man this is hard!

Suddenly I was brought back to reality by the muffled weird bell of the hotel door emitting a strangled ring or clang from the front hallway. I thought it strange that a hotel would still have this old type bell still on the door. But it definitely always got my attention. I got up to answer it as I figured that my food had arrived. It did! And as the steward rolled the cart in, I noticed that it really, really smelled good.

I tipped the steward and thanked him. At least I had some cash in the (my) wallet. Thanks goodness for that.

All of a sudden I was ravenous. The burger and fries tasted fantastic! This must be my favorite meal, I thought because it was sure going down fast.

And the coffee was absolutely luxurious. I’m glad they sent a pot of it with extra half and half.

The first two cups went down quickly.

Ok, back to this wallet. Let’s see, Master Card, Discover, Visa, and a Cook County Library card. Huh, let’s see what else; Highmark health insurance card and an Illinois driver’s license. Not much here to go on, except about two hundred in cash in various denominations. Ok. Now what? None of this explains how I got here.  No family pictures. No notes. Nothing from a wife or a child, I must be single. I opened my eyes for s second and glanced down at my left hand; no ring, not even a faded mark that a ring had existed. Ok, how about work?

Based on this information I decided to sit back in the chair, assume my position, and see if I could remember any more again, whether it hurt or not.

Nothing really came to mind immediately. I kept thinking of buildings though. Then I saw blueprints and building shapes, so I guessed, before the thought reinforced it, that I must be an architect or an engineer of some sort.  I had a pretty good feeling that that is what I was doing; probably going somewhere for work which had something to do with buildings.

This was hard work trying to force my mind to think about the past. The food really helped though. I had no idea how hungry I was until I started to eat.

I thought again that it had to be one of my favorite meals because it was so satisfying. After I ate I was comfortable enough that I began to drift off into sleep. I felt myself slipping, but I couldn’t stop it from happening.

I searched for the clock on the nightstand as soon as my eyes opened.