A Bright Darkness

By J.C. Kavanagh

The dream world hides something deeper
The terrifying adventures continue in this final chapter of The Twisted Climb series. Georgia has been saved, and Dick, too. Or so they thought. Jayden, Connor and Max are once again summoned to the dream world – only to discover there is another world below it. A world that un-does all the rules of the dream world. A world where climbing gets you nowhere and thousand-year-old legends dwell. A world with secrets to be uncovered and unimaginable terrors to confront. There, the legends of the Ojibwe tribe of the Great Lakes region battle for dominance. That is, until an Elder unites the book's main characters for one final task: to release the lost souls trapped in the danademo nde' passage – the place where the heart weeps.
Can Jayden, Connor and Max overcome the bizarre challenges in the dark, new world, and save the lost souls? Their courage is relentlessly tested in this epic journey, because, in the final battle, only one of them holds the key.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Nov 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228624028

J.C. Kavanagh

Writing has always been a favourite activity for J.C. Kavanagh. Early career days revolved around the newspaper business as journalist and photographer and J.C. worked her way up to the role of Editor. She was instrumental in launching a small newspaper, reporting local news and photographing people, events, sports games and the occasional crotchety politician. Her focus later shifted to the private sector, where, for 20 years, she worked in communications and marketing. In 2014, an unexpected business restructuring put a halt to her career and J.C., with the support of her partner, Ian, jumped full-time into creative writing - what she calls her word movies. Since that time, she has written 10 books, though The Twisted Climb is her first foray into the young adult genre. J.C. lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and finds copious writing ideas from the wooded areas and wildlife surrounding her property, and even while harnessing the winds on Georgian Bay’s pristine waters. You can reach J.C. at www.facebook.com/j.c.kavanagh or via e-mail at [e-mail].

Book preview

A Bright Darkness

The Twisted Climb – Book 3

by J.C. Kavanagh

Digital ISBNs

EPUB 9780228624028

Kindle 9780228624035

PDF 9780228624042

Print ISBNs

BWL Print 9780228624059

LSI Print 9780228624066

Amazon Print 9780228624075

Copyright 2022 by J.C. Kavanagh

Cover art by Pandora Designs

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Dedication

To my partner, Ian, whose love and support enabled Book 1, Book 2

and now Book 3 of The Twisted Climb series.

Miigwech (Ojibwe, meaning thank you) and Aanii (I see your light).

Acknowledgements

To the real-life Ojibwe Elder, J.C. Beeforth, who greatly assisted my research of the

Ojibwe language, and who graciously allowed me to use her name in this novel.

Thanks also to The Ojibwe Peoples Dictionary (https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/).

Chapter 1

Fools

Patty pressed her body against the dream world’s cold rock wall, her hands searching for outcroppings and niches. She was close to the top. The ghostly rays from the moon illuminated more footholds on the rock wall above her and she climbed higher. Though the cliff wall was about 40 metres tall, the many ledges and footholds made it an easy climb. Within moments, Patty’s fingers touched the smooth, flat surface at the top and she peered cautiously over the edge. It has to be a surprise attack.

There they were — her teenaged daughter, Jayden; the handsome dark-haired fellow; the carrot-haired guy, and a young girl with a headful of curls. They were at the opposite edge but close — just a stone’s throw away. The flat rock surface at the top of the cliff spanned a mere five metres across to the other side. Beyond that, a yawning blackness dropped into a steam-filled volcano vent.

Ah, and there ... there was the boy she followed so relentlessly. Dick they called him. The boy with the thick red scar etched across the top of his sickly, bald head. She was going to get rid of Dick once and for all. She lowered her head slowly, remaining out of sight.

It was almost time.

She waited, panting with excitement, hands and feet braced, heart racing.

Now. Patty slowly raised her head and then gasped in astonishment. The carrot-haired boy and the young girl were gone. Had they jumped into the volcano? Dick was standing at the edge, his long, scarecrow-like arms dangling by his sides. At his feet lay the cable cutters that he carried as his personal weapon. Maybe he pushed the kids into the abyss?

Her gaze shot over to Jayden and the handsome guy. Jayden was whispering and emphatically gesturing toward Dick. Before Patty could pull herself over the top, her daughter and the young man clasped hands. She watched as they sprinted forward and picked up the scarred boy in an arm-tackle manoeuvre, much like the ‘red-rover’ game she used to play as a child. Dick struggled but he was helpless to untangle himself from their grasp. The duo leapt off the cliff, taking Dick with them.

Patty scrambled onto the rock surface. All was quiet. White wisps of steam floated up from the hot volcano vent. She was alone.

Fools!

Walking to where the kids had jumped, she picked up the long-handled cable cutters. Holding the tool up to the light of the full moon, she shook it angrily. A primal howl erupted from deep within her, the high pitch gaining intensity until she could hold it no more. Before she could take another breath, a pack of wolves began a matching chorus of howls. Their voices echoed eerily across the valley.

Patty smiled — a cold, soul-less, unholy display of emotion. She manifested neither joy nor love, not even sadness for the fate that must have befallen her daughter and the others. Instead, her green eyes were dark and malignant, their gaze emitting a menacing hatred. She slapped the cutters across the palm of one hand and stepped toward the volcano’s edge. Steam and an orange glow came from below. She peered into the depths and the pupils of her eyes reflected the hellish glow swirling beneath.

Fools! she repeated. Dick was mine to destroy.

Chapter 2

Safe and sound?

The moon cast its bright rays through the bedroom window and Jayden Nanjee woke with a start. One hand clutched the bed covers as though her life depended on it. She jerked into a sitting position and then realized she was in her own bedroom at her dad’s place. We made it! Relaxing her grip on the blanket, she glanced at the clock radio. 4 a.m. Did we all make it out alive? Should I text the others?

* * *

Her small hands pushed against his shoulder, over and over again.

Wake up, she whispered.

His dark, curly hair hung over his forehead and his eyelids fluttered in response. He was seated in the chair beside her hospital bed, but his upper body and head were resting on the pillow beside her.

Connor… Connor... CONNOR!

Like a deep-sea diver gradually coming to the surface, Connor raised his head. His vision was blurred but he eventually focused on the curly ringlets of his six-year-old sister. His first thought was, she’s awake, leading to his second thought, she’s out of her coma. Filled with elation that Max successfully brought her out of the dream world, Connor jumped to her side. Georgia! You’re back! He bent over the hospital bed and cradled her in his arms. "Oh Georgia, we’re back."

She was wearing Max’s General Jaxxon t-shirt, and Foleydota — the baby pangolin stuffie — was still strapped to her back. Connor kissed the top of her head. Finally, they were back in the real world. I hope we never again see the moonlight of that awful dream world.

* * *

What is that annoying noise? Max rolled over. There it was again. So annoying. It was an intermittent rumble that Max semi-recognized but was too sleepy to identify. He rolled over again and then opened his eyes. Awareness of his surroundings caught him off guard. I’m home in my bedroom. The moon was low in the sky and its ghostly rays shone through the window, casting long shadows in the corners of his room. A deep fog-horn sound bellowed from across the hall and Max realized what the annoying sound was: his dad’s open-mouthed snore. He breathed a sigh of relief. I really am home. I made it! He sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. The dark shadows in his room immediately retreated. Max pulled down the zipper of his hoodie and was momentarily surprised at his naked chest. His favourite t-shirt, depicting his all-time favourite, super-human action hero, General Jaxxon, was gone. Ah yes, I remember now. I put it on Georgia in the dream world — so she could pretend she was invincible. He threw back the covers, hands searching for the backpack he had strapped to his body along with his sister’s beloved baby pangolin stuffie. They were missing too. Let me think ... I gave Georgia the stuffie, and the backpack I strapped to the zip line. Therefore, Georgia must have the stuffie, and my backpack must now be part of the dream world’s zip line. It seemed that only minutes had passed since Max jumped from the top of the cliff and into the dream world’s final destination — the Town of Sleepmore. He sighed. Are the adventures really over? The dream world was a bizarre and inexplicable place — a world where you had to ‘climb’ in order to ‘fall’ asleep. A world where a bright, ghost-like figure invaded your sleep and invited you to ‘cross over’ to the peculiar dream world. Once you’re there, you had to climb through wolf-filled forests, run from hand-sized spiders or jump into a snake-filled canoe before plunging over a waterfall. And also de-activate invisible electric shields. Oh and don’t forget, avoid that wild, irrational kid with the head-scar and razor sharp cable cutters. The guy who stalked us and terrorized us at every turn. Such craziness! Max peered at the clock radio on his desk. The LED figures read 4:15. Did Connor and Jayden make it out of the dream world? Is Georgia okay? Is her dream world body back with her physical body in the hospital?

Perplexed, Max ran his fingers through his thick, ginger-coloured hair. His inquisitive mind wouldn’t stop working and he wondered again, how can your physical body be in two places at once — in the ‘real’ world and yet also in the dream world? He knew it happened to little Georgia, and also to Dick. It’s why he and Jayden and Connor responded to the ghost-like figure that Max called ‘Protector.’ It was the Protector who summoned them to ‘cross over’ to the dream world to save little Georgia. I could write an autobiography about the wild and strange adventures we had in that moon-filled dream world. And in writing it, I wouldn’t stutter. Not once.

* * *

The beeping was constant and rhythmic, bringing him to a state of wakefulness. His head pounded in tidal waves of pain so deep, he was certain his skull would split in two. A whispered conversation forced him to open his eyes and he slowly focused on two people. They were nurses, each with a stethoscope around their neck, and each peering anxiously at him. One had her hand on his outstretched arm and the other kept glancing from his face to the beeping monitors beside him.

I’m in the hospital? he asked groggily.

The nurses nodded.

Why? He had a vague impression that he had been somewhere else, a dark place; a place where he belonged. Was that home? The brightness of the hospital room offended his eyes and he shut them tightly.

Why? he asked again, attempting to sit up.

The nurse patted his arm. The doctor’s been called, and he’ll be the one to answer your questions.

But first, chimed in the other nurse, we called your parents, and they should be here shortly. Won’t it be great to see them, Richard? And to see your sister, too?

The hammer-like sensation in Richard’s head intensified. No-o-o, he whispered, Not them. He fell back against the cold, white pillow and welcomed the blackness of unconsciousness.

Chapter 3

Spitting Mad

Sitting on Georgia’s hospital bed, Connor auto-dialed home. His mom answered on the first ring.

What’s happening? Is Georgia okay?

Connor rotated the phone in Georgia’s direction and pressed the speaker option. Say something, Georgia.

Mommy... Daddy!

There was a surprised gasp on the other end. Oh my baby girl, sputtered Kathleen Fitzpatrick. Are you okay? How do you feel? Before Georgia could respond, Mom said, Connor, keep Georgia awake! Your dad and I will be there as soon as we can.

I will, replied Connor. I’ll let the nurses know Georgia’s no longer comatose.

Connor turned toward his sister. Let me loosen Foleydota from your back. He gently pulled her forward and untied the baby pangolin stuffie. Max had brought it to the dream world in the hope it would provide some comfort. Georgia cradled the stuffie in her arms, murmuring loving words of affection. We’re okay now, Foleydota, she whispered in her lisping voice. Connor thaved uth from the Thtompy Monthter.

Surprised at her comment, Connor pulled up close. Tell me what you remember about the Stompy Monster.

Georgia licked her lips, exposing the top double gap of her missing baby teeth. The Thtompy Monthter ith in a dark place where the bushes and trees talk, and the wolves make a bad noise and ith a place I don’t want to be. She shook her head. I don’t like it and I don’t want to ever go back.

Well, you’re safe now and you won’t ever have to go back.

Promith? Georgia lisped.

I promise, replied Connor.

Georgia gave him a wide, toothless smile. She continued to kiss and snuggle little Foleydota. Connor reached behind her pillow and handed her another baby pangolin stuffie. This Foleydota is yours, from home, he said.

My Foleydota! Georgia cried. I have two! She proceeded to press wet kisses on the second stuffie.

Uh, Georgia, Connor said hesitantly, The one on your back was from Max... do you remember that?

A loud commotion down the hall interrupted Georgia’s sweet murmurings.

You said my son was awake! came a woman’s shriek. Why is he still in a coma?

Connor walked to the doorway.

Don’t leave me, whimpered Georgia.

I’ll stay here, Connor responded. I’m just looking down the hall. He peered toward the commotion and watched as two night nurses rushed toward the distraught woman. I think they’re heading to Dick’s room. Dick, also known as Richard, was comatose in the real world, yet somehow also dwelling in the moonlit dream world. There he acted like a sadistic prison warden. Except the dream world was his own sanctuary. He loved it there.

It seemed like days, not months, when Connor first stood beside Dick’s hospital bed. Back then, he felt helpless at the boy’s horrific appearance. A thick, jagged red scar ran from the top of one ear, across the top of Dick’s shaved head, and ended at the top of the other ear. Tufts of dark hair jutted out from the back of his head and behind his ears. Scrawny arms lay flat on the hospital linens and multiple I.V. lines and tubes snaked over his body. Connor’s moment of pity for the boy didn’t last long that day. Compassion for the boy quickly turned to anger — anger that Dick was frightening his little sister while she was somehow stuck in his twisted dream world, and anger that there was no apparent reason for his malicious and heartless actions.

That was then, Connor reflected. Today, we brought Dick back to the real world. Hopefully, the paranormal events in the dream world are no longer part of his reality. Or mine. Family, hockey, and college are enough for me.

Still out of Connor’s sight, the woman’s shrill voice continued, interspersed with ‘shushes’ from the nurses.

He is NOT awake! Why did you raise my hopes that he’s well? Shame on you for waking me up for nothing! Oh, I’m so mad I could just spit! I’ll be reporting this to your managers and the hospital administrator and believe me when I say they’ll know just how angry I am!

The tap-tap of high-heeled shoes faded in the distance and the nurses returned to their station.

Is everything okay? Georgia asked.

I’m not sure, Connor replied. He was thinking back to the angry woman’s initial question, Why is he still in a coma? Was that Richard’s mom? If it is, then why is he still in a coma? Me and Jayden brought him back from the dream world.

Connor shuffled back to Georgia’s bed and sat down heavily beside her. He depressed the emergency ‘call’ button and within moments, a nurse was at Georgia’s side. Soon after, their parents arrived and, following many hugs and kisses, Georgia settled into a normal sleep.

Motioning for the parents to step into the hallway, the night nurse gave them a bright smile. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, your daughter has miraculously climbed out of her coma and, as you can see, she appears unharmed, both physically and mentally. Mrs. Fitzpatrick nodded, tears welling in her deep blue eyes. She turned to Connor and offered him a hug. I’m so grateful you were here when she woke up.

The nurse smiled again. "I’ll be at my station if you