4-01-2024 11:26pm

Chapter 55: The Visitor... "Deception in the Air"

Beth Callahan Editor

Cover by Peter Poast Publications with Photo by Junior Cruz

Similar to what newspapers in the 19th Century did the www.warrencountypost.com. will publish a chapter a day from the book Deceptions in the Air. This fictional book is a blend of reality and conspiracy with a mix of Biblical Prophecy. My hope is that you enjoy the story, while it puts a desire in your heart to seek Truth.

Chapter 55: The Visitor

Okay, I got the plywood on. It’s not quite as attractive as the bay window, but it should keep the unwanted out,” Russ said.

Bri walked up behind Russ to take a look.

“Hey,” she said, gently placing her hand on his back to give him a gentle touch of compassion. “We almost have everything moved downstairs. Jack is carrying the copier down…”

Bri was interrupted by a crashing sound from the basement. She and Russ froze for a moment waiting to hear something… anything. Both looking somewhat worried, they headed for the stairs.

“I’m okay,” came a voice from the basement.

“How about the copier?” Russ asked smiling at Brianna.

“Ah. That one I’m not sure of, but once I get it off me, we might want to plug it in and give it whirl.”

“We better go down and check,” Bri suggested, but before Bri’s foot hit the first step, the doorbell rang.

“You go to get the door, and I’ll go check on Jack?” Russ motioned.

Before heading to the door Bri smiled at Russ and yelled down the steps to Jack. “You better have not broken the copier.”

“Ah, thanks for carrying about me Bri!” Jack yelled back.

Not too concerned about who would be ringing Russ’s door bell, Bri opened the door freely. But once the door opened and her eyes were able to focus on who was standing in front of her, her whole demeanor changed.

“Bri,” said a slurring southern voice.

“He says you people would help him,” said the taxi cab driver as he held onto Alex. “I don’t know if he’s delusional or if he is plain drunk… But he does need help, look at the cut on his finger.”

“Oh my God,” Bri said taking Alex by the arm from the taxi cab driver.

"He's already paid me," the driver said as he shut the door for Bri as she lead Alex over to the couch.

“What happened to you? We need to get you to the hospital.”

“No, no. Oh, my beautiful Bri. Why? Why did you set me up? I thought you loved me?” slurred from Alex’s lips.

“What are you talking about Alex? Oh... my gosh, your burning up with fever,” she said touching his forehead and his cheeks.

“I thought you loved me. Why would you do this to me?” he pleaded.

Becoming agitated, Alex demanded Bri tell him why she used him and set him up like this. “It’s because you love him!” he yelled, pointing to Russ who had just come back up he steps to see what all the commotion was about upstairs.

Both Bri and Russ looked at Alex with complete shock and surprise.

“What’s he talking about Bri?” asked Russ.

Leaving Alex on the couch Bri walked over to Russ.

“I think he thinks we set him up for this story and that I’m in love with you,” she quietly explained to Russ.

Alex began shivering uncontrollably.

“Alex, Bri and I are not a couple. She loves you. She wasn’t working for me to get a story. She had no idea that you were a part of the Blue Beam Project, until I told her my suspicions. But her love for you wouldn’t let her accept anything I said... until she saw it with her own eyes... Which was after she married you. She loves you!” Russ stressed.

“Then why?” Alex asked as he fought to gain control of his thoughts… his mind… his body.

By then Jack had reached the top of the stairs shocked to see Bri holding Alex up.

“Oh, look who decided to drop by; Satan’s little helper, Weirdo the Science Guy!”

Both Bri and Russ looked scornfully at Jack.

“Why would you say that?” Bri demanded from Jack.

“Aren’t you the one who has spent the last 24-hours telling me he is working for the devil?” Jack answered looking rather puzzled on why she was so upset with him.

“Can’t you see there is something wrong with him?” Bri snapped.

“Yea, it looks like he’s morphing into Satan!” Jack snorled back.

“Okay. I have a request,” Russ interrupted. “Is there any way that the four of us can start acting like adults rather than junior high students?”

With that request, Alex heaved on the floor... then dropped to his knees.

“What’s wrong with you?” Bri begged Alex to tell her as she too fell to the ground next to him.

Russ ran to the kitchen to get some water and towels.

After taking a sip of water and getting his thoughts together Alex tried explaining what he had done.

“I had to remove the chip from my finger so they can’t locate me... and see, I was trying to dismantle the project. To cut it out myself…,” Alex was unable to finish his sentence as he began to get queasy again.

But this time, Russ had a trash can for him to relief himself.

“You got yourself intoxicated,” Russ finished the sentence for Alex who echoed “yes” from the trash can.

“I think you need an antibiotic. It looks like you’re getting some kind of infection from either doing the surgery on yourself or... I’m not sure, but don’t those chips have poison in them if broke open?” Russ questioned.

“Is he going to be okay?” Bri looked up at Russ with terror in her eyes.

“You know you weren’t this concerned about me when I was lying at the bottom of the steps with a copier on top of me,” Jack jumped in.

“Jack, it’s not about you right now. It’s about Alex. Can’t you see how sick he is?” she said, looking at Jack, perturbed but with fear in her eyes.

Jack looked at the pathetic man lying on the ground shaking uncontrollably. It was then, he realized Alex wasn’t fighting for Bri’s love, he was fighting for his life.

“Okay, I’m bad. What do I need to do to help?”

“I have some left over penicillin up stairs. Let’s start him on that, while I try to get hold of my doctor friend,” Russ suggested.

“Why can’t we take him to the hospital?” Bri asked innocently.

“No!” Alex yelled. “They will kill you... if they find you.”

Bri stood there not saying anything, just looking at Alex, then Russ.

“He’s right, Bri. Right now, out there is not safe for either one of you… or probably any of us. But, especially you two,” Russ said.

Jack returned from Russ’s medicine cabinet with the drug bottle in hand and handed a pill to Alex. Bri held cold cloths on Alex’s head. Within the hour, Alex’s fever began to break and his dry heaves had ended.