it started, it wasn’t near any of the light fixtures or any of the outlets over the counters where the appliances are.”
“When it started?”
“When it first appeared, it was small, hardly noticeable, but it grew larger and then it split open into this large black hole. It looked as if someone had torn a hole into the middle of the room. After that, it got really very strange, which is why I didn’t want my sister to stay while we talked. She’d definitely think I was nuts.”
Mara interjected, “Don’t worry. We’ve encountered all kinds of strange occurrences during our interactions with passengers from the flight. It’s unlikely anything you say could be any stranger than what we’ve already heard.”
Stella turned to look at Mara. “So, are you from a different—what did you call it?—realm? Were you switched out with another version of yourself?”
Mara shook her head. “Actually I was the only original passenger who wasn’t switched. My counterpart was killed during the accident instead of me, but, whatever you say, we aren’t going to think you’re crazy. After the things we’ve seen, we won’t be questioning your sanity.”
Stella eyes narrowed, and she looked like she was considering something.
“What?” Mara asked.
“These other people you’ve encountered from the flight, the other passengers who have crossed over, do any of them have any characteristics that you would regard as strange?”
Mara glanced at Bohannon and then back to Stella. “What do you mean by strange?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe they can do things that seem normal to them but strange to the people in this realm.”
Mara arched an eyebrow at her. “I guess it would be fair to say that some of the passengers crossed over with unique abilities that would seem almost supernatural to those of us from here. A few of them have what you might consider interesting hereditary traits as well.”
“Really? Like what?”
“I know a man who explodes into a cloud of dust when he gets threatened. Another man can heal with a touch, and his wife can read people’s souls. One man turned into a lizard and another into an insect.” Mara paused for effect and then asked, “Does that sound crazy enough for you?”
Stella looked at Bohannon, wide-eyed. He nodded to her.
Mara leaned forward. “Stella, why do you ask?”
“There’s this thing I can do, that’s no big deal where I come from. It’s how people share information and experiences, but it seems completely foreign to people here. I almost gave my husband a coronary shortly after the jet crash doing this thing.”
“I’m not following you. What exactly is this ability you have?” Mara said, wanting to cut to the chase.
“People from my realm can exchange memories. I can show you exactly what happened in the kitchen the other night, if you like,” Stella said.
CHAPTER 44
Mara felt her pulse quicken as the haiku popped into her head: Forget all the fears preventing you from learning. Exchange memories. She also remembered Melanie Proctor reading her psyche and, disconcerting as that was, how she had felt as if her deepest, darkest secrets were laid bare for the world to pick at. Already shaking her head without realizing it, Stella interrupted Mara’s train of thought.
“There is nothing to be afraid of,” Stella said. “All you have to do is hold a stone in the palm of your hand and close your eyes. My memory will come to you. You’ll be able to recall it, as if it were your own experience.”
Mara held up her hands, as if she were warding off an attacker. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Reese. I’m a little skittish subjecting myself to these abilities from other realms. The thought of sharing memories with a complete stranger is something that I find very disconcerting. I hope you understand it is nothing personal.”
“It’s customary to exchange memories, but it’s not required. I can share an experience with you, and you can simply keep the stone. I promise not to touch it, and your memories will remain your own,” Stella said.
Grimacing, Mara looked over to Bohannon, who shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I would prefer not to do it myself.” He looked to Stella and said, “Can’t you just tell us what happened without this mind-thing?”
“Of course. I just thought it would be more helpful if you could actually see the whole thing, especially when the blonde girl emerged from the black hole and made me evaporate.”
Mara tensed and straightened on the couch. “Blonde girl? What blonde girl? No one mentioned