The Venemous Crusade

Collegiate Melee

The following fall, we find Oasis enrolled at the University of Southeastern Louisiana. Which is in the heart of Hammond, Louisiana. Louisiana of course, is best known by the wild and crazy city of New Orleans. Home of Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Saints, (an American football team) and the amazing, delicious food. Hammond is approximately sixty miles (95 km) from New Orleans and 46 miles (74km) from the states’ capital, Baton Rouge.

Hammond is a beautiful, quaint little town. It’s beauty however, is in no way compared to its wonderful residents that reside in the small town. Some of the most cheerful, God fearing people you will ever meet. The people of Hammond has this way of making a person feel at home with their cook-outs and festivals. They have no problems greeting you with a smile on their face and embracing you in a giant bear hug.

On Oasis first day of class, he enters a class room that looks more like an auditorium. He looks upon his classmates and thinks to himself, this is a bad idea. There are over fifty people in this classroom. Shaking his head, he sits down at the first available seat. Moments later another man bursts into the room, comes right to Oasis and asks, “is this the Study of Genetics class?” Oasis then gives the guy a nod of yes.

When the guy sits down next to Oasis, he holds out his hand for Oasis to shake and then states his name, “hi, I’m Brad.” Oasis grabbed Brad’s hand, shook it and said, “I’m Oasis.” Confused, by the name he was given, Brad asked him to repeat his name. Oasis looked up at Brad again and said, “Oasis.” With a smile upon his face, Brad told him, “well that’s a strange name. What exactly are you a relief from?”

“Pardon,” said Oasis.

Brad then sat in the desk next to Oasis and said, “something serving as a refuge, relief or pleasant change from what is usual.” Oasis then turned to face Brad. As he did so, he told brad, “yes, I am aware of what the definition of Oasis is. However, I still don’t understand what you are asking; for, wouldn’t we all be an oasis for our parents by that definition?” Brad then chuckles and said, “yeah, I guess we would be.

Brad then expressed how nice it was meet him. Oasis responded in kind and told him it was nice to meet him as well. Then they both turned to the front of the class and waited for the professor to begin class. By time the professor came in, the class was at its full capacity. She made a terrible joke and then proceeded to educate them on genetics.

After his genetics class, Oasis walked to his basic English class. Then after his English class, he went to basic math class. After his Math class, he had a two-hour break. On his break, Oasis took that opportunity to visit the Library. When Oasis walked into the Library, he immediately fell in love with the millions of books he has never read.

Oasis’s first inclination was to run and read every single book. Although, he knew he did not have time for that. He knew he had his Physiology class in two hours. Therefore, he quickly went to the librarian and asked where he can find all the books about gene mutation. She politely directed him in the right direction and Oasis was off to find them.

After collecting all the books, he deemed worthy to read, he proceeded to his Physiology class. After his Physiology class, he went to apply for a research assistants job in the Science Lab. When he arrived at the lab, Brad was coming up the hall. Oasis did not notice him, so Brad shouted from the top of his lungs, “yo bro, whatcha know?”

Oasis startled by Brads shouting, stopped in his tracks and turned to face Brad. When he turned toward Brad, he raised his left hand to his ear and inserted a finger. He then rubbed his ear vigorously. After a moment of this, he then says to Brad, “well for starters, I am not deaf.” Brad, who turned a bit red in the face, looked at Oasis and said, “sorry, I thought you didn’t see me.”

Taking the finger out his ear and dropping his arm to his side, he looks at Oasis and tells him, “so exactly why would screaming help me to see you?” Brad then said to him, “to get your attention of course. So, where are you going?” Oasis then looked at the door he was standing in front of and said to Brad, “to apply for this Lab Assistant’s job.” Brad then shook his head and said, “oh okay, well good luck man.”

Putting his hand on the doorknob, Oasis turned to Brad and said, “thank you.” With a wave goodbye, Oasis walks through the door and enters the lab. When was in the lab, he was immediately greeted by a woman. This woman stood about 5’3 with straight black hair. She wasn’t real skinny like those model types. She had a body like a Goddess. She had a smooth, tanned complexion, with juicy full lips and the greenest eyes.

As Oasis walked up to this woman who was wearing a white lab coat over a tan colored skirt and pink blouse, he presented his hand in greetings. She then shook his hand and said, “hello, may I help you?” Oasis then replied with, “I hope so, I was looking to apply for the Lab Assistance job.”  She than asked, “what is you Major?” He then answered with, “Biological Science.”

Looking at Oasis wearing stone-washed black jeans and a green tee shirt, she said, “have you ever worked in a lab before?” Oasis then looked down at her feet and saw she was wearing pink one-inch hills. He then raised his head back up and looked her in her bright green-greyish eyes and said to her, ‘no, but I am real eager to learn.” Then he gave a huge smile.

The woman then gave a sigh and said to Oasis, “alright, I will talk to the Professor on your behalf. However, I can’t promise you anything. My name is Sarah. What is your name?  “My name is Oasis, answered Oasis. Squinting her eyes and tilting her head slightly to the left she asked, “I’m sorry, is that supposed to be a pick-up line or something?”

Oasis then laughed and told her, “no, that’s my name. Oasis. A bit embarrassed she looks at him and says, “oh, sorry.” Smiling at Sarah, Oasis tells her that it was no big deal. Oasis then turned and walked to the door. He then opened the door and exited the room.

The following week, Oasis was fully immersed as a student at the University of Southeastern Louisiana. He was enjoying every aspect of his collegiate career. He felt he was learning so much in his classes. Not to mention his extra-curricular activities in the library. He was spending so much time there, he decided to also get a job there. Oasis spent approximately seventeen hours a day at school.

Four months have passed since Oasis has been in school. His knowledge has increased quite copiously. His relationships with Dr. Brandon, (whom he only sees on Saturdays now) and Dr. Washington has dwindled in his pursuit for knowledge. However, he has made a few connections at the University. Oasis has new found friends in Brad Jennings and Sarah Nichols.

Of course, Sarah is more of a work associate. The two don’t hang out too much outside of the lab. And when Oasis is in the lab, he doesn’t really like to be disturbed, but he always made exceptions for her. Oasis found her knowledge of all materials fascinating and wanted to learn as much as he could from her. He admired Sarah immensely.

It was the week of the Southeastern University Lions’ Homecoming and the University was in an uproar. Everywhere Oasis heard conversation about who was taking whom to the dance. What color dress will they be wearing. What color suit they are going to wear. All the chaos drove Oasis a little bonkers. He kept questioning what happened to everyone’s thirst for knowledge.

Oasis was in the library on break reading his Physics text book when he heard loud talking coming from behind one of the book shelves beside him. When he turned to look and see who was making the noise, he saw Sarah emerging from behind the bookshelf accompanied by a rather large fellow. What he heard was her telling this large fellow that she was not interested. Evidently, this large fellow, who looked as if he was six feet two with muscles that rivals those of Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, was not taking no for an answer.

The large fellow just kept pestering Sarah and would not just take no for an answer. When Sarah kept denying his advances the guy got a little bit aggravated and grabbed her arm. When he grabbed her arm, he swung her around to where Sarah was looking directly at him. He the then looked her in the eye and said, “c’mon, you know you wanna go with me, right?”

Sarah freeing her arm away from the guy, looks him in his eye and said with a strong voice, “actually, no, I don’t.” The guy’s face then contorted to anger and begged by saying, “c’mon baby, I know you want to.” Sarah who was trying to get her arms free from the guy cried out, “can you please just leave me alone?” Oasis, who was getting a little annoyed by what was transpiring in front of him, gave a soft cough. After getting their attention with the soft cough, he raised one finger to his mouth giving them the be quiet gesture.

When Sarah saw that it was Oasis, she turned to the large fellow and said to him, “I already have plans for that night.” The large fellow responded with a confused look upon his face and asked her, “doing what?” She looked at him and told him, “I already have a date.” Squeezing her arms tighter, he asks her, “with who? Before Sarah can reply, Oasis interjected and said, “I believe you mean, with whom.”

The large fellow then turned to Oasis, after Oasis corrected his grammar and said to Oasis, “what?” Oasis then suggested, “If you wish to say that sentence correctly, the proper way to said it is as follows, “with whom?” Taking one hand off Sarah, he turns and points a finger at Oasis and yells, “no one asked you, you freak!” Sarah in anger then interrupts and said, “hey, don’t call him that,” With shock in his muscled facial features, he looks at Sarah and then back at Oasis and says, “what, this guy? Are you serious?”

Sarah freeing her other arm by yanking it away from the guy holding her tells him, “yes. Isn’t that right Oasis?” Sarah then turned to see Oasis with a quizzical look upon on his face. Oasis then seeing her looking toward him, he pipes up,” I’m sorry, I lost you both in translation. Is what right?” She then walked over to the other side of the table and stood right beside Oasis.

She then looks back at the large guy and then back at Oasis. When she looked back at Oasis, she bends down and kisses Oasis on the lips. She then says to Oasis, “hey baby, about homecoming, can we stop and at the Cocoa Bean for a slice of wedding cake before going to the dance?” Oasis, who was still shocked by the kiss that transpired, shook his head and cleared his throat. He then looked at Sarah and asked, “cake, homecoming?”

She then looked at the other guy and the looked back at Oasis and said, “yes, did you forget honey?” Oasis then closes his Physics book and says, “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about. Therefore, if you two don’t mind, can you two please continue your conversation outside? People are trying to study here.” Oasis then stacked the books in front of him to the left side of the table.

Sarah then turned to Oasis with a horrified help me look upon her face. She was pointing suggestively at the big guy standing on the other side of the table. Oasis finally comprehending what is transpiring in front of him, cleared his throat and stood up from his chair. He then looks at Sarah and tells her, “I think I know what is going on here now. He then walks from behind the table.

Oasis then walks up to the guy and says, “sir, it seems as if this young lady doesn’t wish to be propositioned by you. It would also appear that you are unaware of her dislike for you. Therefore, she has tried to get me to agree that she and I are to go on a date. In the hope, that you would leave her alone. However, I am not a person that deceives or lie. Therefore, I am asking you to be a gentleman and respect the wishes of this lady not to go out with you.”

The guy then walks up to Oasis and leans over to look Oasis in his eyes and says, “or what?” Oasis who did not backdown as he replied, “I’m sorry?” The guy then repeated, “or what? He then said, “if I don’t leave her alone, what are you gonna do about it?” Oasis then answered, “well you would leave me no choice but to call campus security.”

The guy then responded by saying, “and how exactly are you gonna do that with my foot in your mouth?” Oasis stood tall and said, “Sir, are you threatening me?” Sarah was getting nervous as she witnessed this conversation was unfolding before her very eyes. To try and defuse the situation, she ran to the other side of the table and stood between the two of them. She stood there between the two of them with her arms extended in a spread-eagle formation with one hand on Oasis and the other on the big guy.

She then began pleading to the both, “now come on guys, let’s all remain calm please?”

Oasis did not budge or back down. Sarah however, could not keep the big guy at bay. He kept swatting her hand away from his chest as he tried getting closer to Oasis. Oasis who was getting tired of the big guy’s persistence, asked him to leave the premises. The big guy stared at Oasis with malice in his eyes as he responded with a simple, “no!” Oasis then said, “Well then, you leave me no choice. I am calling campus security.”

Everything happened extremely fast. He grabbed the table beside him and flipped it over. He then pushed Sarah to the side as he stepped toward Oasis. He then grabbed Oasis by the throat and lifted him in the air. Sarah grabbed the big guy’s arm, desperately trying to pry at least one hand from Oasis throat with no success.

Oasis, who was gasping for air, started drifting in and out of consciousness. Then the chair next to them starting rattling on the floor. Books started falling off the shelves. The chandeliers started shaking quite vigorously. The windows of the library began to rattle. Then the whole building began to shake. With confusion in the big guys eyes, he dropped Oasis and ran under the table while screaming, “earthquake!”

Oasis was now on his hand and knees was breathing quite heavily. After a few seconds go by, he gathered himself, rose to his feet and bolted out of the library. Once Oasis was out of the library, the building stop shaking. Sarah who was lying on the floor in the fetal position, peeked to see that everything had stopped shaking. She ascended to her feet and proceeded to the window. As she peered out the window she saw Oasis running across the court yard.

Roughly thirty minutes later, an out of breath Oasis burst through the front door of his home. Closing the door behind him, he plopped his back to the door, closing his eyes he took deep breaths. He then raised his head to see Dr. Washington standing in the foyer with a glass of water in his hand, witnessing all that was transpiring. After a few moments of staring at each other, Oasis with a smile and Dr. Washington peering out from the top of his glasses, Dr. Washington asked if everything was alright. “Yeah sure, and why are you just standing there? Do you always just stand in the middle of a room drinking water,” was Oasis reply.

Dr. Washington, who for some reason was finding this to be very amusing, stood there for a second and then took a sip of water. When he finished, he then responded with a sarcastic, “ah, good water. And to answer your question Ace, yes, I love standing in the middle of a room drinking water. Now, would you like to tell me what’s going on?” Oasis, who was looking at the ground, raised his head to Dr. Washington and said, “what do you mean Doc?”

After taking another drink of water, he said, “well, you are acting like you just ran away from the po-pos or something.” Oasis then chuckles sarcastically and says, “don’t be ridiculous, That’s just, well, just absurd.” With a big yawn, Oasis got up of the floor and walked toward his room. Dr. Washington then asked him if he was sure that he was alright. Oasis told him that he was sure and then he continued walking to his room.

The following day Oasis was walking from his car to the campus library when Brad came running up to him. “Man, I can’t believe you got into it with Martin yesterday,” Brad exclaimed.  Stopping in his tracks, Oasis looked at Brad and asked, “who?” “Martin, the guy who nearly strangled the life out of you,” Brad divulged. Oasis shrugged and said, “oh him.” Brad then tells him, “thank goodness for that earthquake huh, otherwise I would be having this convo with your corpse.”

Turning his head, Oasis notices Sarah coming up behind them. With a half-hearted smile, he waved hello to her. “Hi. Are you okay Oasis? How is your neck,” she sung as she approached? “I’m feeling much better, thanks for asking,” he answered. She then looked back and forth between Brad and Oasis and said, “where did that earthquake come from? We aren’t even on any fault lines.” Taken back a bit by the sudden inquisition, Oasis shrugged and told them both, “well, I need to get going or I’m going to be late.” And with a wave of his hand, he turned and walked away.

Looking at Oasis walk away, Brad turned to Sarah confused and asked, “late for what? Classes doesn’t even start for another forty-five minutes.” With a big smile on her face, Sarah responded by saying, “he is a strange one, is he not?” They both stood there shaking their heads up and down and a yes manner. Brad then looks Sarah up and down and say, “how you doin?” Sarah then rolls her eyes, shakes her head and turns away. Brad just watched her as she walked away.

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The Venomous Crusade

Sketch for The Venomous Crusade

The Venomous Crusade

The Venomous Crusade

The Venomous Crusade

OASIS

BOOK IS DONE, THE JOURNEY BEGINS

COMPLETED

A Torturous Undertaking

It was a dark rainy night when a light brown van came to a screeching halt in front a twenty-story cemented building. The windows of the van back doors were covered up on the inside. The sides of the van didn’t have windows. When the front passenger side door opens, the man that was sitting in the passenger seat exited the vehicle and immediately slides the side door to the van open. Dressed in black cargo pants, a dark grey sweatshirt and a black ski mask, he grabs a body out of the van.

With a heave and a big grunt, he lifts the body over his shoulder. He then turns and starts walking toward the building. Once he enters the building, the smell of the place causes him to cringe a bit. The building has been abandoned since the flooding caused by hurricane Katrina two years prior. Therefore, the mold and probably the smell of dead rats (among other things) unfurled a cascade of pungency. The smell was so bad it almost caused him to vomit, but he held it in.

After getting over the sudden rush of stench, he continued onward toward the stairs with a flash light in hand and a lifeless body over his shoulder. Walking behind was another man escorting a woman whom was desperately trying to get free. He was wearing brown cargo pants with a navy-blue sweatshirt and black ski mask with red, orange and yellow flames. Ascending the stairs, they stop on the fourth floor.

The man carrying the male body, whom was completely out of breath now, places the body down on the stairs and opens the door. It was pitched dark in the room, so he pointed the flash light to peruse the room. The light from the flash light shines upon what looks like a nurse’s station for there was an L-shaped table with phones, computer monitors, sample cups and needles. The person then pointed his flashlight down the hall. When the person shined the light down the hall the person saw hospital equipment all around.

There light illuminated upon wheelchairs, beds and IV stands that overwhelmed the hall. The captor then grabs the body by the arm and starts dragging it down the long corridor. After a while of lugging the body down the corridor, the man ceased for a second to catch his breath. The person then turns to the body and says, “you’re so freakin’ heavy. What do you eat, buffalos?”

After stating that, the person cracks his neck and rotates his right shoulder. He then grabs the body by the arm again and pressed forward. After a few feet, they come up to two big doors at the end of the hall. Once they were through the double doors, they immediately turn to the left and enter a room. Behind them struggled the other kidnapper with his prisoner.

Upon entering the room, he dragged the body to the middle of the room. In the center of the room stood two chairs with arm rests and orange padded head restraints at the top. The chairs were facing each other. The room at one point must have been the waiting room for there were chairs and coffee tables all along the walls and magazines all over the floor. The windows where all boarded up and the only light came from a few candles previously lit here and there.

Upon reaching the middle of the room, the man placed the body it was hauling around into the chair facing the boarded-up windows. While placing the body into the chair, the other man came stammering in pushing the woman into the room. He then placed her in the chair opposite of the other person. The woman who was not unconscious like the other person was, started crying and begging for them to please let her go. However, the person that escorted her in started strapping her to the chair.

First, he strapped down her arms, then her legs and finally her head. As he was doing this, his accomplice was doing the same to the body across from him. Once the captors were finished strapping them down, they both walked over to the woman and started to force feed a small tube into her mouth. Once they were finished with that, the person that carried the woman in went over to the wall and grabbed a bucket. The person then walked over to the body opposite of the woman and tossed the contents of the bucket on to the man sitting there.

With the cold water hitting the body, the body awoke from its slumber. After getting over the shock of the cold water, the person looked around and noticed a woman sitting across from him scared out of her mind. The person then turns his head to see their captors and asked them what they wanted. The captor that brought him in walked over to him and placed a black Velcro belt around his waist. “Please. What are you doing? We didn’t do anything. Please let us go,” he pleaded to the person strapping on the belt.

After the captor was finished placing the belt on, he pointed toward the door to his partner. The partner then scurried out of the room. Once the partner left the room, the captor then turned to him and said, “you know I have always been a fan of torture to ascertain the answers I seek. However, thanks to fascists, it is now deemed in-humane in my line of work to do so. Now, I was never a fan of the genital mutilation techniques once used; but, one cannot dispute its results. And let’s not forget about water-boarding.”

The captor then walks over to the female prisoner and circles her. While circling her, the person goes on this long-winded monologue about some woman’s prison and the prison warden he thought was brilliant. Once the person was done with his monologue the male captive asked the captor what they wanted from them. The captor replied with, “I only require the truth from you Dr. Washington.” The person then walks over to Dr. Washington and leans over to where they are looking in each other’s eyes.

He then looks down and points to the belt they placed on Dr. Washington and says with glee, “and while she is over there getting fed, we are going to have a little fun with you. When I turn this belt on, it will release fifty thousand volts of electricity coursing through your body. Oh yeah, it will be quite unpleasant indeed.” Dr. Washington with fear in his eyes, pleaded with the man that he didn’t know anything and to please at least let the woman go.

The man then stepped back and walked to a machine sitting beside the woman and turned it on. As he did so, a green substance started running through the clear plastic tube that was submerged into her mouth. Dr. Washington screamed at the man to stop. The man then walked over to Dr. Washington and asked him, “Where is Oasis?” Dr. Washington then shook his head in a no manner and expressed a confused look on his face.

Dr. Washington’s face suddenly contorted into pain as the man pressed the switch in his hand. Dr. Washington then belted out a scream as fifty thousand volts of electricity went coursing through his body. It only lasted ten seconds, but for Dr. Washington, it felt like minutes. Once the shock stopped, he pleaded to the man that he really didn’t know where Oasis was. The man then asked Dr. Washington where he think Oasis might be or where he might be going.

Before Dr. Washington even answered, he was hit with another shot of fifty thousand volts of electricity. Once the electric shock stopped, Dr. Washington sat there breathing heavily. “I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said. Then fifty thousand more volts went coursing through his body. Dr. Washington screamed in pain, but he remained strong despite the vigorous torture.

The electric shock treatment went on for about twenty minutes before the man got impatient and decided to try a new tactic. He then walked over to the woman and yanked the tube out of her mouth. She immediately started gasping for air while pleading for him to stop. The man then took the restraints from her head. He then grabbed her by her hair and told Dr. Washington that if he doesn’t start talking he is going to beat the woman to death.

“Honestly, I don’t know where he is or where he is going,” said Dr. Washington. The man then stood in front of the woman and started punching her in the face. The woman started crying for the man to stop, but the man just kept hitting her. “Where is he,” screamed the man!  Dr. Washington kept saying I don’t know.

The man then started punching the woman. About two minutes later when he stopped. When the captor stepped away from the woman to wipe the sweat from his forehead, Dr. Washington saw that the woman’s face was full of blood. He then closed his eyes, for he couldn’t stand to look at her like that. When the captor caught his second wind, he didn’t return to the woman. Instead he walked over and stood in front of Dr. Washington.

As the man was standing there in front of Dr. Washington, he cracked his knuckles and then his neck. After doing so, he then said to Dr. Washington, “your turn.” The man then started whaling on Dr. Washington so ferociously that by time the man was done, Dr. Washington could no longer feel the pain inflicted to his face. The man stepped back and admired his handy work. The man then inquired again where was Oasis.

Dr. Washington was so tired he couldn’t even move his head. So, the man face contorted from being pleased to pure rage and pulled out his gun and pointed it at the woman. “Tell me where he is or I am going to shoot her,” the man said. He then walks over to the woman and put the gun to her head. The woman started crying and pleading for her life.

Threw squinted eyes, because they were so swollen from the beating he just took, he looked to see thee man holding the gun to Dr. Brandon’s left temple. He then lowered shook his head as he lowered it. In a whisper, because he could barely talk, Dr. Washington uttered, “I don’t know. Wouldn’t tell you if I did.” When Dr. Washington was finished stating this, the piercing cry of a gunshot echoed throughout the room.

OASIS

Helpful Opportunities

             Two months has passed since Doctor Angelica Brandon discovery. Yet, we find her still working for Dr. Washington and helping Oasis. Within those two months Dr. Brandon has taken it upon herself to help Oasis find a path in life. She has been giving Oasis a comic book periodically. Comic books such as Superman, Batman, Siderman, X-Men and so on. She even gave him a comic about a strange Cop that can eat anything and tell you where it came from, how it was prepared, what ingredients was used, and everything about the person who cooked it. It was a comic book named Chew.

              Dr. Brandon tried all kind of ways to get Oasis to embrace the idea of developing his gifts. She even discussed it with him in their sessions, which were held three times a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s were the days the two met. It was a Friday session that Dr. Brandon decided she was going to bring up the idea of him using his gifts to help those who needed it.

              Dr. Brandon took her familiar walk from her room to the hallway, down the stairs, through the foyer, through the kitchen, then down the stairs leading to the basement. Stopping at the end of the stairs to gaze upon this big blowfish swimming in the wall fish tank. She then proceeded to walk in to Oasis room, greeting Oasis with a, “Good afternoon Ace.” Oasis replied with a, “Hi, I take it you slept well?”

              “Thank you, I most certainly did.  I take it that you attempted with no success,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “You are so completely correct with that assumption Doctor,” said Oasis.

              “How did you like the comic Chew I gave you?”

              “It was extremely entertaining. I mean, a story that is truly unconventional. A person that can get psychic impressions from the things he eats. However, I must ask why have you been giving me these comics? If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are trying to influence me to, perhaps follow in the path of the Heroes in these comics.”

              Dr. Brandon, with an enormous smile on her face, illuminating admiration with a resounding clap of her hands, responded to Oasis question and statement. “Yes, wouldn’t that be an amazing adventure for you to partake.  Don’t you agree?”  asked Dr. Brandon

               “Well, actually, I think the idea of me becoming a super hero is, no offense, absurd,” replied Oasis.

              “Why do you say that,” asked Dr. Brandon

              “First, they are made up stories, to entertain. Second, the way and how they ascertain these powers, or abilities, as I like to call them, is completely and utterly ridiculous. The only one that made sense was Batman and that was because he had no special abilities.

              “What about Magneto’s power from the X-Men? He even has a similar ability to the one you possess.

              “Yes; however, he supposedly received his ability through mutation. Gene mutation to be precise. Which when you study genetics, you will find that gene mutation can only affect a

person’s appearance.  It can’t give a person special abilities from the rest of civilization. It can’t give you the ability to fly or cause a card to burst in to flames. It can’t help you break down your molecular structure so that you can transport yourself from one place to another.”

              “Then how do you explain your ability?”

              “I can’t.  But, I will keep trying to figure it out.”

              “Do you think it came from God maybe?”

              “That’s hysterical.  That’s a good one doctor,” said Oasis with a laugh and a smile.

              “Why?”

              “For instance, let us take what all the terrorist are saying. That God singled them out to spread a message. That they did what they did in God’s honor, In God’s name. Now, no matter what religion you practice, you are taught that whatever God you believe in is this all-powerful being that can destroy us with a blink of an eye. Yet, he is going to ask us to destroy our souls by asking us to kill people and ourselves. Allowing our soul to go to Hell, to save the many, when he cherishes all souls. I don’t think so. Why I have this ability, I don’t know. But, I don’t think God singled me out amongst everyone on this planet to give me an ability. I may never find the answer to why I am this way, but I won’t stop trying to find out.”

              “Have you considered you might not be from this planet, like Superman,” asked Dr. Brandon?

              “It has crossed my mind. However every test the Doc and I took doesn’t have any alien markers.  I am completely human,” Oasis responded.

              “Well, let me ask you this Ace.  How are you going to find the answers you seek if you’re always cooped up in this room all the time?”

              “What do you mean Doctor?”

              “You see, there is this place where you can learn all about Genetics, Biology, and even learn how to separate and breakdown genes. A place where you can maybe get a better understanding of why you have this ability.”

              Oasis gives a deep sigh as he looks at his shelf of books.  Dr.  Brandon notices the confusion with in Oasis face and addresses Oasis. “Not to mention, a library that has millions of books to help you along the way.  It’s called, a University.”

              “I’m afraid I can’t do that Doctor. Too many lives would be at risk.”

              “Look Ace, you can’t constantly live in fear of hurting people. People are in danger everyday just by waking up. You just have to learn how to calm yourself when things start getting out of hand.”

              “And how exactly do I achieve this control?”

              Deep in thought with Dr. Brandon wiping a string of hair behind her ear, she again looks at the wall tank.  With a chuckle and a smile, she suggests to Oasis that maybe he can try looking at people as fish.

              Oasis looks at the wall, which is a big fish tank, and locates his favorite clown-fish.  As he watches it swim in a circle, he ponders on the idea of viewing people as fish.  Then a big smile came upon his face as he thought of Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars, Episode VI, Return of the Jedi. He couldn’t help himself from laughing. Thinking to himself, yeah I can do this.

              The following morning Dr. Washington walked from his bedroom, down the stairs and in to the foyer and proceeded to the kitchen. When he entered the kitchen, he was startled to see Oasis sitting at the kitchen table.  Grabbing his chest with one hand and straightening his glasses with the other, he struggled to speak.  After composing himself, he addressed Oasis, “What are you doing? You scared the beezeebies out of me.” “I’m sorry Doctor; that was not my intention,” said Oasis.

              “Just not use to seeing another man in here in the morning that’s all. Why are you up here,” asked Dr. Washington.

              “I believe it’s what people call, growth Doctor,” replied Oasis.

              “I see.”

              “Yeah, Dr.  Brandon intrigued me with a place I would love to experience.”

              “Oh yeah, and where would that be?”

              “She called it a University.”

              “What intrigued you about that?”

              “One-word Doctor.”

              “And that is?”

              “Access.”

 

              Doctor Washington, whom was a little amused by this response, couldn’t help but smile.  After a moment of he gathered himself and started pacing from the counter to the table.  He starts mumbling words of such” “Okay, we are going to have to get you the GED test.  You are going to have to take a placement exam.”

              Oasis confused about what the Doctor was talking about he couldn’t help but to interrupt Doctor Washington’s train of thought. Therefore, Oasis erected himself in his chair and piped up, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you babbling about Doctor?  What is all that?” Dr.  Washington then stopped his pacing and looked at Oasis. Seeing that Oasis was truly lost by what he was uttering, he then addressed Oasis by saying, “Oh, these will be the things you need to be admitted.”

              “Admitted?” asked Oasis.

              “You do want to take classes, don’t you?”

              “Classes?”  No, no.  I just want to use their books and maybe use their lab equipment.”

              “Ah, it doesn’t work quite that way Oasis. You have to be a student at the University to have access to their libraries and labs.”

              “So that means going there every day?” I’m not sure that’s a good idea Doc.

 “Well, it is up to you Oasis.  However, I think this would be beneficial for you.”

              After stating that, he leaving Oasis to his thoughts. Dr. Washington started to walk to the counter where the coffee maker was and then stopped. Spent around and looked at Oasis with a puzzling look upon his face and asked, “How did you get out of your room?”  “Seriously Doc?  Hello, have we met?  Can manipulate things with my mind,” was Oasis reply.

              “Oh, right,” chuckled Dr. Washington.

The Harvest

              The next day after Oasis’s birthday, during a thunderstorm, a car came to a stop in front of a house in the middle of the woods in Hammond, Louisiana. A person exited the car with a white lab coat over his or her head, sprinting to the house. It was a very awkward looking house. It was a white Plantation style house.  The house was oval shaped with a dome roof and a wrap-around porch with round white columns.

              As the person ran up the stairs and onto the porch, the front door opened. A tall, skinny man with short hair wearing blue slacks and a yellow buttoned down shirt greeted the person that was standing in the doorway. “Ah, you must be Doctor Brandon,” he asked? Shaking her lab coat of the water and brushing back her beautiful, dirty blond, wavy hair, she extended her hand to the guy standing in the door way and states, “Yes, Doctor Angelica Brandon.” He took her hand and shook it. He then said, “Welcome Doctor Brandon, please come in.”

              As she enters and stands in the light. A beauty beyond comparison illuminated the room more than the sixty-wattage light bulb shining above them. Doctor Brandon looked about five-foot seven, but with the three inch heels she was wearing, she stood at more like five-foot teen. She had an oval, yet skinny face with exquisite cheek bones and full lips. She also had the most electrifying green eyes. Dr. Brandon was wearing a grey pant suit. With a black V-neck blouse.

              While standing there drying herself off, the man who welcomed her, cleared his throat and continued conversing by saying, “My name is Doctor Byron Washington. First, I would like to welcome you to my home and thank you for coming as swiftly as you did. I thank you for accepting the position you will be residing in with us. You come well recommended as one of the most highly qualified therapist in the country.” “Thank you Doctor for the opportunity. You were very generous with the salary. I would have been crazy to turn this job down. However, I don’t understand why you needed me here? This is not a hospital, it’s a house,” she replies.

              “Well, Doctor Brandon, yes this is a house. But, I do have a patient for you residing in the house,” he said.

              “A patient,” she asked with confusion?

              “Yes, just the one,” Dr. Washington responded.

              “What’s wrong with her,” inquired Dr. Brandon.

              “Well, She, is a He.  And, I believe that is for you two to discuss. Now please let me show you to your room,” insisted Dr. Washington.

              Dr. Brandon nodded and let Dr. Washington lead the way. As Dr. Washington escorted Dr. Brandon to her room she noticed that they were no pictures anywhere. The house had a split stairwell in the foyer that met on the second floor. When they reached the second-floor Dr. Brandon noticed that the top floor split into two ways. Dr. Brandon directed her immediately to her right and said, “You are down here.” Dr. Brandon pointed to her left and asked, “What’s that way?” Dr. Washington reply was, “That is where I retire.” 

              Dr. Brandon gave Dr. Washington a nod of understanding and then they pressed on down the right corridor. The hall led to a beautiful stained Oak door with a stained glass at the top of the door. The picture was that of dolphins intertwined in an embrace with waves crashing behind them. As Dr. Washington opened the door, he led her into a country style bedroom. The bed was a black iron country style queen size bed. The headboard of the bed was against the wall. On the opposite side of the bed, as they faced straight ahead, was a bay window. There was a bench at the foot of the bed that was also made of black iron and had white fabric on the pillows that where lying on top of the bench.

“These will be your accommodations while you are with us.  I hope you will be comfortable?” Dr.        

Washington said after showing her the room.

              “It looks very accommodating. Thank you,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “You’re welcome,” he said. Then Dr. Washington turned to exit the room. Dr. Washington then exited the room, closing the door behind him as he did so.

              “Morning Dr. Brandon. I take it you slept well? Was the greeting Dr. Brandon was welcomed with the next morning as she was sitting at the kitchen table helping herself to a cup of coffee. Dr. Brandon, giving a huge yawn replied with, “not really, you know, first night and all sleeping in a strange house.” Dr. Washington then sat down at the table with his cup of coffee. Before he can put his cup to his lips, Dr. Brandon hit him with a cornucopia of questions.

              “Doctor.? I was wondering if you can tell me a little more about my patient,” she asked?

              “Such as,” relied Dr. Washington?

              “His name?”

              “Ah, yes, his name is Oasis.”

              “Oasis?”

              “Yes.”

              “Well that’s different.”

              “Anything else?”

              “His age?

              “He is 18.”

              “Is he a relative of yours?”

              “Sort of.”

              “What does that mean?”

              “He is like a son to me.”

              “I don’t und….”

              “Doctor, doctor, please, you will have plenty of time to ask your questions. But for now, let’s eat some breakfast.  When we are done with that, I will check to see if he is ready to receive you.”

              “Very well.”

              After they were finished eating breakfast, Dr. Washington got up from his seat and addressed Dr. Brandon with, “As you get cleaned up, I will go see if he is ready for you.” Dr. Washington then disappeared thru a door that was directly adjacent to the kitchen pantry. Dr. Brandon then went to the sink and washed her hands and threw a little water on her face.

Moments later Dr. Washington reappeared in front that same door he disappeared behind earlier.  He stood there for a moment as Dr. Brandon was drying her hands and face.  He then asked her if she was ready.  She shook her head and then followed Dr. Washington through the door.

              The door led to some stairs going down to the basement of the house. As they were walking down the stairs she noticed that the ceiling was covered with a flame resisted material.  The wall on the left was also covered with the same material. Now the wall on the right was amazingly beautiful she thought. The wall on the right was an aquarium. It was a giant fish tank, the entire wall, even the door that separated the wall.

              As they walked to the door, she stood in awe of the atmosphere that was presented to Oasis.  Then notice through the blur in front of her, the silhouette of a person sitting in the room

She then turns to Dr. Washington and asks, “this is his room?”

              “Yes, it is,” replied Dr. Washington.

              “Wow, I’m a little jealous.”

              “Yeah, I try to give him a peaceful surrounding.  It’s actually more beneficial to us really.”

              What do you mean Doctor?”

              “I just mean how children are more relaxed when things are more serene.”

              Dr. Washington then knocks on the door. Oasis was listening to music and throwing a little Nerf football in the air and then catching it. Acknowledging them at the door, he gave them a head nod and waved his hand to gesture them to come in. Then Dr. Washington reached to the left side of him where there was a key pad. He then proceeded to press in a code. When he was finished, the door swung open.

A bit confused by this, Dr. Brandon asked Dr. Washington why there was a code to enter Oasis room. Dr. Washington responded with, “It’s what he requested.” Dr.  Brandon shook her head and disbelief at everything she was witnessing thus far.

              As Dr. Brandon and Dr. Washington enters the room, Oasis gets out of his bead and walks over to them where Dr. Washington proceeds to introduce Dr. Brandon. “This is Dr. Brandon Oasis; she is a friend who is here to listen to your problems and try and help you through them.” Oasis then held out his hand and waited for Dr. Brandon to reciprocate. She saw this gesture and grabbed his hand and then shook it.

              As Dr. Washington witness this transpire, he gave a huge grin and then stated, “Alright, I guess I’ll leave you two to it then.” Dr. Washington then gives a nod to the two of them and then departed. As he did so, Dr. Brandon stared at the door for a while and then diverted her attention to Oasis. Oasis, who just plopped himself down on his bean bag, stared at her with a blank expression on his face. He wiped his eyes and gave a huge yawn and proceeded into a spread-out stretch.

              After this he gazed upon Dr. Brandon and asks her, “So?”  “Oh. Yes, sorry,” was her reply.  After a moment of trying to figure out how to start. She then looked at the fish tank and stretched her arm toward it.

              “Why the fish,” she asked?

              “What do you mean,” inquired Oasis?

              “I just want to know why you requested to have a tank full of fish?”

              “Honestly, I know I wouldn’t want to hurt them.”

              “Hurt them? Are there people you want to hurt?”

              “No.”

              “Then what do you mean by not wanting to hurt them?”

              Oasis folded his arm and started staring at the floor. Oasis went quiet for a while. Dr. Brandon thought maybe she was pushing the issue a bit; so, she pressed on with a different topic.

              “Tell me Oasis, why are you unable to sleep,” asked Dr. Brandon?

              “How did you know that,” responded Oasis with a puzzling look on his face.

              “Let’s see. There is the blank expression on your face. The redness of your eyes.”

As Dr. Brandon was explaining this, Oasis belts out an enormous yawn.

              “And oh yeah, your constant yawning,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “Just a bad re-occurring dream Doc,” answered Oasis.

              “Would you like to tell me about this dream?”

              Oasis gives a deep sigh. After a couple seconds, he begins telling her all about his dream. Told her everything about his parents in what occurred to them in his dreams. When he was finished telling her his dream, Dr. Brandon just sat there in silence. After pondering on what she was just told, she looked at Oasis with a look of befuddlement and then asked him how long he has been having this dream. He replied with, “Every night for the past nine years.”

              “Nine years,” shouted Dr. Brandon.

              “Yes.”

              After a moment of silence with Dr. Brandon in a trance of thought, she breaks the silence with a boisterous, “Oh My God!”  “What,” asked Oasis?  “I’m sorry Oasis; but, I need to talk Dr. Washington.” “Okay, is everything alright Doc,” asked Oasis? Dr. Brandon stands up from her seat and proceeds to exit the room. When she gets to the door, she looks back at Oasis with a confused, dumbfounded look upon her face. She then stormed up the stairs and raced to the foyer. As she enters the foyer, Dr. Washington was coming out of his office. When they realize each other in the foyer, Dr. Brandon addresses Dr. Washington.

              “I don’t believe it.  It just can’t be,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “I’m sorry Doctor, what was that,” asked Dr. Washington?

              “You, you took him, didn’t you?”

              “What?”

              “Oasis, he’s the, he’s that kid. The one from that earthquake, the one in New York that went missing.

              “Please calm down Dr. Brandon and please come into my office.

              As the two of them walked into the office, Doctor Washington directed Dr. Brandon to a sofa that was in front of his bookshelf. As she went to sit down, she noticed Dr. Washington sitting down on a dark brown leather recliner. She also noticed that he has a Mahogany Antique desk directly to her left. The desk sat in front of a huge window. The window was about eight feet high and about 12 feet wide. When she turned to face Dr. Washington, she saw him gesture to a table that was sitting between them. Looking at the table she saw he was pointing at the pitcher of water on the table.  She then looked up at the Doctor and replied to his question, “No, no, I’m fine.”

              “So, I am assuming here that Oasis divulged his dream to you then,” asked Dr. Washington?

              “Yeah he did,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “Wow, that was fast.  Look Doctor, I’m not going to lie to you.  Yes, it is the same boy; and yes, It’s all true. His entire dream. However, it wasn’t an Earthquake. He wasn’t outside witnessing this event. I believe he was the cause of this incident.”

              “What?  That is impossible.  How can one person be responsible for an entire block to be destroyed?  Seriously?

              “Well, you see, Oasis is a bit different from anybody else. Oasis, it seems, has an ability where he can manipulate things with his mind.”

              “Preposterous! That is not even humanly possible?”

              “That Doctor is the mystery he has been trying to figure for the past nine years.”

              “He?”

              “Yes.  Well for the longest time, he wouldn’t let anyone near him. Especially, with needles or scapulars. He does ask questions from time to time; but, he mostly does the research on his own.”

              “So, is a FREAK then?”

              “Now Doctor, you should know better than to call the things we can’t comprehend as weird or freakish. The unexplained is just a puzzle to be solved and understood.”

              “I need a minute to think.”

              Dr. Brandon then stands up from the sofa and begins to pace around the couch.  On her second pass around the couch, Dr. Washington interjects her train of thought with a plea.

              “Doctor, please hear me out for a moment?  I am not going to be around forever and Oasis can’t spend the rest of his life living in fear of the outside world. If anything was to ever happen to me, Oasis would be alone. He must get control of himself, so that he can control this power he has.  I don’t think he understands that magnitude of his situation. You see, nine years ago in that moment of sadness and anger Oasis leveled an entire block. I’m afraid Doctor, if he was ever forced to, he could destroy entire cities or worst.”

              Dr. Brandon, with a moment to process what was just told to her, sat back down on the couch with her head down. She then looks up at Dr.  Washington with fear in her eyes addressed him with a question, “The man in his dream, the one that hit his Dad with the car?”

“Yes, what about him, asked Dr. Washington?

              “Is it true?  I mean can he really?  He said the guy broke into a billion pieces and then turned into dust,” inquired Dr. Brandon.

              “I honestly don’t know Doctor. I guess it could be a possibility. The driver was never found.

The room went silent after that statement. Dr. Washington just looked at Dr. Brandon as she sat on the couch with her head in her hands. After a few moments Dr. Washington then addressed Dr. Brandon and pleaded with her to stay and help Oasis. He then reiterated the severity of their predicament and the torturous future that would await Oasis if he doesn’t get a hold of his emotions. Dr. Washington then said to Dr. Brandon, “please will you help us Doctor?”

              “I am going to need some time to think about this,” said Dr. Brandon.

              “But of course doctor, take all the time you need,” said Dr. Washington.

              And with that Dr. Brandon got up from the couch and went upstairs to her room. Dr. Washington sat back in his chair and gave a deep sigh and said to himself, “what have I done. Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea after all. He then got up from the chair and walked over to his desk. When he got to the desk he sat down behind it and opened his laptop. As he began to type he looked up to the ceiling and said to himself, “I guess we could always move to the sandy beaches of Indonesia. Hmm, that would be nice.