Hello,
My name is Margosha, I am a sixteen-year-old girl, and I am convinced that I am going crazy. Normally, I'm a nervous, neurotic mess most of the time, but now I fear that I am really toeing the line (if I'm not stepping over it already). To put things more specifically, I am hallucinating. It actually began in my dreams. I usually have dreams of going on journeys thru cities or towns, but I never find what I am looking for. Recently, however, I think I found what I was looking for, and it wasn't what I expected. When I first saw her, I was startled. I saw her at a long distance, and she was wearing a very bright white gown. She had long, black hair, very similar to mine (except mine is dark brown).

As my dreams went on, I saw her closer and closer. I was suprised to see that she looked exactly like me, except her coloring was different. Apart from her darker hair, she had different-colored eyes (silvery-blue, as opposed to my light brown eyes), and her skin was much lighter than mine. Her whole body seemed to have a very slight silvery tint to it, in fact. She never spoke to me in my dreams. The first time she said anything was the first time I saw her in my waking life. I was in school, in math class to be precise, and I was dozing off. As I had my eyes closed, her face appeared in my head, and she spoke. She said, "The time has arrived for your departure." I was totally freaked, and I was jolted awake.

Since that time, which was about a month ago, I have been seeing and hearing her more frequently. She even warned me of danger once, when I was about to cross a crosswalk. The light was green, and a car to my left (on the street) had just started to go. I stepped off the curb, about to walk across the street, when I heard her voice. She yelled, "Margosha!" from about a block to my right. I stopped, looked over, and saw her standing on the sidewalk. Just then, someone ran the red light and t-boned the car to my left, and both cars went thru the crosswalk. If I hadn't stopped to look over at my "imaginary friend," then I would have been hit by the car. When I looked back over to see the girl, she was gone.

That car incident happened about a week ago, and this morning I saw her face when I looked in the mirror. I can't tell if this is good or bad, whether I'm being contacted for some reason or if I'm just going bonkers. Since you are such a wise and knowing person, I thought you could help me out, at least give me advice. I've read a couple of your books, and I am really touched by your philosophies, and your theories about spirits and energies. I consider myself a pretty metaphysical thinker, like you, so I'm trying to not be too judgemental of my hallucinations (if they are hallucinations). However, one thing I fear over everything (even more than death) is the total loss of touch with reality. So, I seek your help. I know it may sound bold and presumptuous, but I request a meeting with you. I know that only in person could you feel my energies and truly know the nature of my problem, or gift, as it might be. I leave it up to your discretion. I trust you, even tho I've never met you.

Kindly,
Margosha Volker

Dr. Jekt Brenner sat in his office, looking down at the letter he held in his hands with a cloud of curiosity brewing over his head. Included with the letter was a wallet-sized school portrait of the girl. She had a very ameable face, a sweet smile, and such a depth in her eyes. Jekt was intrigued. He could feel her energy just by holding her letter and gazing at her portrait. He felt a connection with her already, as if he knew her. There was a simple, quiet radiance about her that spoke greatly to him. He felt at once what he needed to do.

Setting down the letter, Jekt opened one of his desk drawers, retrieving a clean sheet of paper and a pen. Flattening the paper on his desk, he began writing as he looked into Margosha's photographed eyes.

"Dear Margosha," he wrote. "I have decided, upon reading your letter, to meet with you. I feel that a meeting between us is fated. I also feel that your visions are of great importance ... "

Margosha was nervous and excited as she rode the taxi to Dr. Brenner's office. A copy of "The Human Consciousness Grid", Margosha's favorite Brenner book, was held lovingly in her hands. She bought the book that morning before riding the train, using the ticket Dr. Brenner included with his letter. She wanted Dr. Brenner to sign it (and she hoped that he would write a little pearl of wisdom in it, too). Her heart was aflutter when the taxi pulled up to a very tall office building. She looked up in awe, wondering which window, if any, was Dr. Brenner's window. I bet he knows that I'm here! she thought with glee as she stepped out of the taxi, paying the driver.

After talking to the desk clerk, Margosha found her way up a number of floors, using the various directories in the building to find Dr. Brenner's office. Margosha's steps bounced as she approached her idol's office. She knocked on the door, unsure if it would proper to just walk in.

"Yes, come in," a woman's voice called from inside.

For a second, Margosha thought she'd reached the wrong office, but then she realized that the woman must be Dr. Brenner's personal assistant. Opening the door timidly, Margosha poked her head in.

"Hello," the woman said as she sat at her computer, typing and not looking at Margosha. "How can I help you?"

"Hi," Margosha said, giving a little wave from the doorway. "I'm Margosha Volker. I wrote a letter to Dr. Jekt Brenner, and he wrote me back, and ... "

"Oh yes, Margosha," Dr. Brenner's assistant said as she typed. "I saw your picture. You're quite a pretty girl."

"Thank you," Margosha said, blushing.

"Dr. Brenner is waiting in his office," the assistant said. "And it's pronounced 'Yekt', with a 'Y' sound, not a 'J' sound."

"Oh, sorry," Margosha said as she left the doorway and proceeded into the assistant's office.

"That's alright," the assistant said. "It's a common mistake. I haven't met a person who has pronounced it right the first time. Not Yekt, at least." She laughed at her own pun.

Margosha giggled nervously, and proceeded to Dr. Brenner's office. On the door she saw the words, 'Dr. Jekt Brenner, metaphysician.' Shivers ran up her spine, and she held her book close to her heart. This is it! she thought. She could already feel the intense energy eminating from the next room. Holding her breath, she reached out for the doorknob and opened it.

"Katherine is that you?" Dr. Brenner said, not looking up from his desk. "I've just finished my manuscript, 'Revival of the Macroverse', and I'd like for you to look it over, see what you think."

"Uhhh, hi," Margosha said.

Dr. Brenner looked up, seeing Margosha, and he smiled.

"Hello, Miss Volker," Dr. Brenner said, standing up from his chair. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Margosha's body trembled with nerves as Dr. Brenner walked over to her, extending his hand. She reached out a shaking hand and shook his. When their hands touched, Margosha felt an enormous buzz of electricity shoot up and down her body. The man before her seemed to glow with wisdom.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, too, Dr. Brenner," Margosha said. "I never thought I would, but now I did." She giggled nervously at her own obvious statement. Her cheeks were as red as apples.

"Call me Jekt," Dr. Brenner said. "I prefer the use of first names. It's far more personal. I abhor formality, really. Besides, the 'Dr.' they place before my name is an unofficial title. Doctor of metaphysics?" He laughed. "Anyway, let's sit. I'd like to talk about your visions."

Letting go of Margosha's hand, Jekt walked over to his desk, sitting in the chair which is traditionally used for visitors. Margosha was puzzled.

"You can sit in my chair," Jekt said, answering Margosha's unasked question. "It's nice and comfy, and I've been sitting in it all day. I wouldn't like it if you came all the way here just to sit in this little, uncomfortable thing. The only thing I abhor more than formality is convention. I like to switch things around, create a little unorthodoxy. Go ahead, sit."

Margosha let out a little chuckle at the queer situation, but gladly walked over to the big, leather swivel chair that Jekt had been sitting in. She sat in it, feeling a very warm, welcoming energy in the chair. She felt immediately at home.

"See?" Jekt said, smiling at Margosha. "It's nice, huh? Takes the edge off a little. So, how are feeling you today?"

"Excited," Margosha said. "I brought this." She held out her book. "I thought maybe you could sign it, if you don't mind."

"Of course not," Jekt said, reaching over and taking the book. "Oh. This one is my favorite!"

"Mine too!" Margosha said. "It was the first book of yours that I picked up. I was hooked immediately. I actually started reading it from the middle, then when I finished it, I read the first part."

"Which page did you start at?" Jekt asked.

Margosha leaned over the desk, opening the book with her hands to a dog-eared page.

"Right there," she said, pointing to the third paragraph.

Jekt scanned the paragraph, and his eyes widened.

"Really, that's where you started reading?" he asked.

"Uh-huh," Margosha said.

"That's funny," Jekt said. "That's where I started writing it. I actually wrote the second half before I wrote the first. Kind of a strange way of writing a book, but that's how I did it."

"Really?" Margosha said. "Wow ... "

"The Human mind is made up of not one consciousness," Jekt began reading the third paragraph. "But, conversely, it contains many seperate, individual consciousnesses. The two most recognized, tho falsely unified, are the 'conscious', which is ruled by the Sun, and the 'subconscious', which is ruled by the Moon. These two are the lead players ... "

" ... But there are many who back them up," Margosha continued the verse from memory. "Usually numbering around a dozen, these support consciousnesses serve different functions, and usually have distinct personalities. Some are more subtle, and some more noticeable, but all are present ... "

" ... In times of necessity, they can take control of the body," Jekt read. "These 'automatic' actions are what have been recognized as 'reflexes' or 'instincts'. In very extreme situations, the consciousnesses can fragment from eachother, causing a struggle between ego and id that is called by Psychoanalysts as ... "

" ... Multiple Personality Disorder. Altho these 'personalities' are not created. They, in fact, were always there, behind the scenes, watching and guiding." Margosha stopped speaking, and looked down for a second. "Jekt, do you think that Schizophrenia is the same way? Do you think that, maybe, the girl I have been seeing is one of my support consciousnesses? You wrote in that book that they can communicate to us on the Dreamscape."

"Hmmm ... " Jekt said, pondering Margosha's question. "I'm not sure. I've talked to many people who have interacted with their support consciousnesses in dreams. I've done this myself. But I've never heard of anyone's support consciousness having an appearance nearly identical to them. Support consciousnesses, when expressed in dreams, always look like strangers who you know, someone who you recognize even tho you've never seen them in your waking life. I get a different feeling with you. I get an ancient feeling with you."

"Ancient?" Margosha said. "You mean, she's someone's ghost?"

"Something like that," Jekt said. "Definately an exterior entity. You wrote that you were startled when you first saw her. That's common when someone sees the spirit of another. It's your nervous system reacting to a foreign energy. I can sense her presence now."

Margosha's body went warm and tingly, and she felt pricklies on the back of her neck. She opened her eyes wide, fearing to close them. Tho she should be used to her by now, the unknown girl still frightened Margosha a bit. And hearing Jekt use the word 'ancient' just gave Margosha the creeps.

"Don't worry," Jekt said, reaching over and taking Margosha's hand in his. Margosha felt a very soothing, calming energy flow into her, and her nerves settled a bit.

"Can you see her anywhere?" Margosha asked. "Is she behind me."

"She's not showing herself to me," Jekt said. "She's very shy. She's gotten comfortable around you, tho. She likes you. Maybe we should talk to her."

"What?!" Margosha exclaimed, pulling her hand away from Jekt. "Are you kidding?!"

"There's one thing I don't tell the public," Jekt said. "I'm a psychic."

"I know that," Margosha said. "You talk about it in your books."

"I mean, that's not what I meant," Jekt said. "I don't explain my psychic talents at full length in my books. I only write about what I feel would be ... publically acceptable. The American public is still very superstitious, so I refrain from expressing my more powerful psychic talents, specifically my gift of channelling spirits."

"Channelling!?" Margosha shreiked, sinking back into Jekt's chair. "Oh no. You're not going to actually summon her are you?"

"No, no!" Jekt said. "I can tell you have a lot of anxiety about spirits. Quick! Open the top right drawer. There should be some sheets of paper and a few pens. Grab me a sheet of paper and a pen. She wants to write something."

"Ooooh no! Ooooh no!" Margosha said. "This is getting too freaky!"

"There are freakier ways of channelling, trust me," Jekt said. "She chose this way because she didn't want to scare you. She really wants to talk to you, but writing will suffice for now."

Opening the desk drawer, Margosha reached in with a shakey hand, pulling out two sheets of paper and a blue pen. She placed them on the desk and went to close the drawer. Before closing it, she saw a little, leather-bound book with a pentagram (a five-pointed star within a circle) on the cover. She got frightened at the sight of the book. Oh no! she thought. Whose office am I in?

"Don't worry about the book," Jekt said. "I'm not a Satanist. If you noticed, the pentagram is upright, with one point at top and two points on the bottom. That's the symbol for humanity; the star represents our head, two arms, and two legs; the circle around it represents our spiritual sphere. Satanic pentagrams are upside-down, with two points at top and one point at bottom. This symbolizes the oppression of humanity, which is Satanism's goal. Anyway, it's just an old book of magick. Positive magick. You see? I have a lot of hobbies that I don't tell anybody about, because, as you just experienced in yourself, there is still a lot of superstition in the American unconscious. The Salem Witch Hunts haven't ended. Sure, they have books on 'magic' at bookstores and libraries, but those are just published to give people a false sense of freedom, freedom that we once had as a race."

"Ummmm ... " Margosha said. "Okay, this is getting weird really quick."

"Sorry," Jekt said. "I'm not very good at ... censoring myself. I just want to tell everybody what I've learned."

Margosha looked down at Jekt's hands and noticed that he had been writing the whole time while he talked to her. The page before him was almost filled.

"You see, there's a very great darkness over this world," Jekt said. "It's a darkness that has plagued humanity for centuries. I wrote about it a bit in this book," he patted Margosha's copy of 'The Human Consciousness Grid'. "Do you remember the part about a 'spiritual disease' that humanity is suffering right now?"

"Yes ... " Margosha said quietly.

"How did you feel when you read that?" Jekt asked. His hands filled up one page and put it aside, beginning to write on the second page.

"I felt that it was true," Margosha said. "I mean, I've felt my whole life that something inside me isn't quite right, that something is off, that some part is missing. I thought I just had mental problems, but when I read that it made sense. I started feeling it in other people, too. He's right, I thought. There's some mass problem here, it's not just me."

"That's right!" Jekt said, his face brightening. "But you see, the virus didn't just show up out of nowhere. It was placed there."

"Placed there?" Margosha said.

"Nevermind," Jekt said. "That might be too much information for you right now."

Margosha looked down at the pages Jekt had filled, his right hand writing automatically. He finished the second page, then set the pen down. He took a deep breath, and looked down at the pages.

"Wow," he said. "I wrote two pages? She must have a lot to say to you."

Jekt put the two pages together and passed them to Margosha.

"Those are for you," he said. "I think you should get going if you want to catch your train. Oh, I forgot to sign your book."

Margosha looked over the written pages. The handwriting looked suprisingly like her own. Looking up at Jekt as he signed her book, she noticed that he was now writing with his left hand (he had been writing with his right hand during his 'channelled' writing). Finishing his signing, Jekt closed the book and placed the pen on top, passing it to Margosha.

"You can keep the pen," Jekt said. "It's always nice to have a pen handy, just in case."

"Thank you!" Margosha said, her shoulders popping up in a feminine gesture. She held the book close to her, hugging it.

"Now, what I signed," Jekt said. "Never read it out loud. Only when you must."

"Okay ... " Margosha said.

"Well ... " Jekt said, standing up. "It's been quite a pleasure meeting you!"

"The feeling is mutual," Margosha said, standing. "I'll be sure to buy more of your books now!"

Jekt laughed. "Alright," he said. "Just remember that you shouldn't try to find yourself in a book. Not in mine, or in anyone else's. Books can act as guides, but there is no book that has all the answers. Also remember that words are very powerful. We humans have a voice for a reason."

Jekt extended his hand to shake, and Margosha shook it. A wave of electricity surged into Margosha's hand, and she flew back against the wall. Ha ha, just kidding.

Margosha read the 'channelled' writing, which turned out to be a letter, while she rode in the taxi to the train station.

"Dearest Margosha," it began.

"I am writing to you from across the veil, using Mr Brenner as my medium of contact. I lead you to him. I guided you to his book. I inspired him to accept a meeting with you. I set it all up, because it is part of your destiny. Today is the beginning of the fulfillment of your destiny. You were born when you were for a reason. When you were born, the stars and planets were in a certain alignment. This unique alignment has occurred before, thousands of years ago, when I was born."

Margosha was shocked by the last sentence. It struck her like lightning. She continued reading.

"This world is in an age that is very similar to the age I knew when I lived. The shadows have overpowered the light. Many people walk in darkness at mid-day. This horrible unbalance did not occur accidentally or by chance, but by design. There are those who seek to control humanity, and have effectively enslaved us. I speak not of dictators, military leaders, or corporations; I speak of the diabolical entities that control all of these powerful people. I speak of demons. Ancient demons. The same demons that I faced in my life. I defeated them and restored the balance, but they have since regained their strength."

Margosha was suspicious of the letter, but the words struck her solidly. She knew that any intellectualized justification she could create couldn't alter the truth she saw in them.

"The darkness has gathered like a cloud over the earth. They have devised weapons of mass destruction. They have created technologies to control mankind more efficiently. They are beginning to unify the world with globalized commerce and communication. Now is the time of their greatest triumph. Or their greatest fall. At this time, they are ripe to be destroyed. Enough energy has built up in humanity to explode and banish them from the earth forever. You are the culmination of this energy."

Margosha's eyes widened. Never did any written line strike her so sharply. The sentence penetrated her to the core. She was at the end of the first page, and she proceeded to the second page.

"Margosha, you are like a dagger from Heaven, and you will strike the darkness with very great force. The reason you were born, your purpose here on the earth, is beginning to be fulfilled. You are walking on a path that will soon end, and at the end of that path will be a choice. In one hand, you will hold light. In your other hand, you will hold darkness."

Margosha pondered the words she saw. They were heavy, and she sunk in the taxi seat.

"You will not be alone on this final journey. I have chosen a companion for you, to accompany you and also to protect you. You will meet this person very soon. You will also help this person fulfill her destiny."

"Her?" Margosha said. She continued reading.

"Margosha, you are my sister. You have not known me, but I have watched you from the day you were born. I have only revealed myself to you recently, as it has been planned. Your entire life has built up to this moment. Do not fear your journey, my dear sister. I will always be beside you. I am beside you right now, tho you cannot see me."

Margosha looked to her side and saw nothing. She continued reading.

"The time has arrived for your departure. Fear not. Remember your own Divinity, and remember that I love you.

Your namesake,
Margosha."

Margosha did a double-take.

"She has my name?" she said. "Or do I have her name?"

She noticed that there was another sentence at the bottom of the letter.

"Throw your ticket away and don't get on your train. You will see her on the platform."

Margosha was struck oddly by the last sentence.

"Here you are, miss," the cab driver said. "We're at the train station."

"Oh," Margosha said, looking up from the letter. "How much do I owe you?"

After paying the cab driver, Margosha went to the platform and sat on one of the benches. The words of the letter swam around in her head, and she vacillated between believing in them and sticking to reality. What is reality, after all? she thought. The post-script of the letter stuck out in her mind. She held her ticket in her hand. Maybe Jekt came up with the whole thing, and was just sending her on some sort of wild goose chase.

"How could he write all that while he was talking to me?" she said quietly to herself.

She eyed her ticket, then remembered that she hadn't read what Jekt signed in her book. Opening the book, she read what had been written.

Below Jekt's signature were the words, "Veritha Deio."

Margosha furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at the queer 'message' written by Jekt. Maybe it's an incantation, she thought. Maybe that's why he told me not to read it out loud. Maybe they're magic words. Then she noticed something written in small letters at the bottom of the page.

'Emiko Emily Justice,' it read.

"It's a name," Margosha said.

Margosha looked up as she saw her train arrive. Again, she thought of the words that her "sister Margosha" had written with Jekt's hand.

"The time has arrived for my departure," she said. "Maybe that's what she meant."

She looked down at the ticket in her hand.

"All aboard!" the conductor cried after exitting the train.

People who were sitting on the platform stood up, taking their luggage in hand, and boarded the train. Margosha took her gaze off of her ticket, and looked at the trash can that was a few yards away from her. She looked back at her ticket.

"You will see her on the platform," Margosha said.

She looked around the platform. She saw a couple old women as they boarded the train. She saw a little girl who was tugging at her sleeping father. She saw a teenager who was talking on her cell phone. Then she looked back at her ticket. Just then, a strong gust of wind blew across her, tearing the ticket out of her grip. The ticket flew thru the air and landed on the ground, a foot away from the trash can.

"Hmmm ... " Margosha said.

She stood up from the bench and walked over to her ticket. When she picked it up, she saw a quarter under it. She picked the quarter up and put it in her pocket. Looking at the trash can, she finally decided to surrender to fate. Dropping the ticket in the trash can, she walked back over to her bench and sat down.

"Well, here's trusting a specter," Margosha said.

She watched as the little girl boarded the train with her now-awakened father, followed by the teenager, who was no longer talking on her cell phone.

"Last call!" the conductor called before boarding the train and closing the door.

Margosha watched as her train took off. When it was out of sight, she wondered if she was going to regret throwing her ticket away. She took one last look at the platform, which was now empty. Opening her book, she began reading.

"What we call fate," she read. "Is actually the complex accumulation of the multi-conscious decisions of every human being on the planet. It is the contradicting equation of all the hopes, wishes, desires, and dreams of every individual. The wishes and desires which are held by the highest percentage of consciousnesses create the reality of our fate. Therefor, when humanity learns to wish in unison, we will be able to mold our fates at will."

"Motherfucking piece of shit!"

Margosha looked up from her book to see who shouted the vaguely obsene exclamation. Standing about thirty yards away was a young woman, probably 18 or 19 by the looks of her. She was wearing a red leather jacket, dark red cargo pants, and black boots. Her hair was short and blonde, tied into various spikey ponytails. She looked like she was part asian, part white. She was standing by a pay-phone, obviously frustrated.

"Why do you have to pay fifty cents for a fucking phonecall?" the white-asian girl said loudly to herself. "This is bullshit! I remember when payphones only cost a quarter! I have a quarter! But now I need two! Motherfucker!"

The young woman took a step back and spun around, round-house kicking payphone. The reciever flew off the hook.

Margosha was impressed by the young woman's martial artistry. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the quarter she found on the ground.

"You will see her on the platform," Margosha whispered to herself. "Is this a coincidence, or fate?"

Margosha looked over at the young woman, who was angrily pacing back and forth in front of the phone. She looked back down at the quarter in her hand, and noticed that the year on the quarter was her birth year. 'No way,' Margosha thought. 'This is all too weird.' She looked back over at the young woman, and something clicked in her head.

"Emiko," Margosha whispered, remembering the name that Jekt had written in her book. "It's a Japanese name. Justice is an American last name. I wonder if she is half Japanese, half American. Alright. If this peice fits, then I'll go along with this whole crazy thing."

Looking over at the young woman, Margosha swallowed. She took a deep breath, then shouted, "Emiko!"

The young woman looked over at Margosha.

"Yeah?" Emiko said.

Margosha's body thrilled. She couldn't believe it.

"What is it?" Emiko said, walking closer to Margosha.

As Emiko got closer, Margosha noticed how pretty she was. She had sort of a stern, angry prettiness to her. Emiko wasn't wearing any make-up, but Margosha had a feeling that she probably looked better without it.

"Do I know you?" Emiko said when she was a couple feet away from Margosha. "You seem sort of familiar. You're pretty young. Are you in high school? What do you want?"

Margosha opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"What is it?" Emiko said impatiently. "I have to catch a train in five minutes."

"I, uh, ummm," Margosha said. "I have a quarter!"

Margosha held out her open hand, the quarter gleaming in her palm. Emiko looked down at the quarter suspiciously, then snatched it up. She walked back over to the payphone and grabbed the reciever (which was hanging helplessly by its cord). She inserted her two quarters and dialed.

"Hey Mike, this is Emiko," Emiko said to the person she was calling. "Where the hell are you? The train is going to get here in like four and a half minutes! What? What the fuck ever! Did you forget that we have a job today? Whatever! Fine, then I'll just take care of business on my own! You never do shit anyway! Fine! Talk to you later, ASSHOLE!!!"

Emiko slammed the reciever down on the hook and spat on the phone. Margosha watched Emiko in awe, stunned by the immense energy that eminated from her. She could almost see the flames coming out of the top of Emiko's head.

"Well, I guess this ticket is useless," Emiko said, taking two train tickets out of her pocket.

Emiko walked over to the trash can and held one of the tickets over it. She stopped and looked over at Margosha.

"Unless you want to go with me?" Emiko said jokingly. "My partner just pussied out on me."

Margosha was quiet. She didn't know whether or not to respond. She just looked at Emiko.

"Stupid question, huh?" Emiko said. "How do you know I'm not going to murder you or something? Maybe I'm a serial killer who uses this ploy to trick people into taking trips with me. It works a lot better on men, tho. They're drawn to my "badass bitch" image. It's not all an image, tho. I am a badass, but I'm only a bitch to those who deserve it."

Margosha was still quiet. She was trying to think of something to say.

"Where are you going anyway?" Emiko asked. "You know, small talk."

"Ummm ... " Margosha said. "I was going home. But I'm not anymore."

"Running away?" Emiko said. "I've done that more than a few times. My dad is the biggest dick ever, and my mom's a basketcase. So why are you running away?"

"I'm not really running away," Margosha said. "I'm not sure what I'm doing. I'm just sort of ... going. I'm going on a journey, I guess."

"A journey, huh?" Emiko said, sitting next to Margosha on the bench. "What kind of journey? A journey of self-discovery? Or are you looking for lost treasure?"

"A little of both," Margosha said. "I'm ... sort of ... no, it sounds stupid."

"Oh, come on!" Emiko said. "I'm open. I'm not gonna make fun of you. I know my presence can be sort of ... "

"Overwhelming," Margosha said.

"Exactly," Emiko said. "But at heart, I'm a softy. I won't make fun of you. Tell me."

Margosha was touched by Emiko's words. She felt a very kind and loving energy under Emiko's firey, spiked exterior. She noticed that Emiko's eyes were green.

"Alright," Margosha said. "Well, lately I've been seeing things and hearing voices. Well, I've only seen one person, and I've only heard her voice, but she told me that the time has come for my destiny to be fulfilled. I'm going on a journey, but I don't know where it will take me, or what will happen. I had a ticket to get home, but I threw it away. So, now I don't know where to go."

"Well, that's easy," Emiko said, nudging Margosha. "I have an extra ticket because my dillhole partner dicked me. Come on! Let's go on an adventure!"

Margosha laughed.

"Come on, the train is here," Emiko said, standing up and grabbing Margosha's hand.

Emiko led Margosha over to the train as it slowed to a stop. Margosha was suprised by how soft Emiko's hand was. They stood by the train's entrance, waiting for it open, their hands still clasped. Emiko realized that they were still holding hands, and she let go.

"Sorry," Emiko said.

"That's alright," Margosha said, blushing.

Emiko found a nice seat and let Margosha have the window seat. After the train took off, Emiko asked about Margosha's book.

"Oh," Margosha said, proudly holding her pride and joy. "This is my favorite book of all time!"

"Do you carry it everywhere you go?" Emiko said. "Well, I guess if your destiny is about to be fulfilled, you'll want a couple of your favorite things."

"Actually, I just met the author," Margosha said. "He signed it and everything!"

"Let me see!" Emiko said.

"No!" Margosha said, fearing that Emiko would read it out loud (she was also afraid of what Emiko would think if she saw her own name written in the book).

"Okay, no biggie," Emiko said. "What's the book about?"

"Ummm, a lot of things," Margosha said. "It's mainly about the human consciousness, how we're all connected. Basically, there are three main levels of mental operation in the human mind: the conscious, the subconscious, and the unconscious. The conscious is our willful mind, the mind that makes active decisions. The subconscious acts as kind of a custodian for our memories, and also a guide and a guardian for the conscious mind. Then there is the unconscious, which is actually the accumulation of all human minds, the point where we all connect. There is actually only one unconscious, the collective human unconscious, and the subconscious and conscious are offshoots of it. The subconscious acts as a mediator between the conscious and the unconscious."

Margosha noticed that Emiko wasn't paying attention anymore. She was watching the passing landscape out the window. Margosha decided to change the subject quickly.

"So, what's your job?" Margosha asked.

Emiko's attention was regained, and she looked at Margosha with a smile.

"I'm a mercenary!" Emiko whispered. "You know, a hired soldier."

"I know what a mercenary is," Margosha said. "But I've never met one before. Seriously? You're a mercenary?"

Emiko reached in her inside jacket pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Margosha.

"Emiko Justice, Soldier for Hire," Margosha read aloud. " 'Bodyguarding, security, bounty hunting. Three years MARINES experience'. You were in the MARINES?"

"Yeah," Emiko said. "I joined when I turned 18 so that I could get out of the house. I never finished high school."

"So you're what, 21, 22?" Margosha asked.

"No, I actually only have one year MARINES experience," Emiko said. "I'm almost 20. I was kicked out of the MARINES because I was always picking fights with officers. I was this close to kicking my drill seargent's ass in boot camp. I hate authority. That's what I like about being a mercenary, you are your own boss."

"So, do you ... kill people?" Margosha asked.

"Occasionally," Emiko said. "I do mostly bodyguard work, and bodyguarding is mostly about looking intimidating in order to prevent hostility. I don't do whack jobs, tho."

"Whack jobs?" Margosha said.

"Assassination," Emiko said. "I only kill someone if they are endangering me or the person I'm guarding. I never kill innocent people."

"That's good!" Margosha said. "Well, I feel safe with you!"

"You'd better!" Emiko said with a wink. "I could kick anyone's ass on this train. Any day. Any time. Any ... what the fuck?"

"What is it?" Margosha said, pulling her gaze from Emiko's vibrant face.

"I saw some dude walk past," Emiko said, leaning over into the aisle and looking down the length of the car toward the car in front of them. "I caught a really bad vibe from him. I think he's armed."

"Really?" Margosha said, sinking into her seat as she reflected Emiko's sudden burst of nervous energy.

"That's what battle teaches you," Emiko said in a low voice. "It's The Warrior's Instinct. When you find yourself in enough life or death situations, your sixth sense sharpens up real fast."

Margosha's body began to shudder, and she tightly gripped the blue pen that Jekt gave to her. A man in a black trench coat passed in the aisle, startling Margosha and making her jump. Without thinking, Margosha clung tight to Emiko.

"What's going on?" Margosha asked.

"Yup ... " Emiko said. "Some shit is going down. Highjacking or something."

"Highjacking?" Margosha replied. "Oh god!"

Emiko reached inside of her jacket and pulled out two silver pistols. Margosha's eyes went wide when she saw the gleaming guns.

"You've got guns?" Margosha said, trying to keep her voice quiet.

"Shhh!" Emiko said. "Did you think I was lying about being a mercenary? This is why I always travel by train. Minimun security."

The entire car jumped when the violent sounds of gunfire burst from the car in front. Some people screamed, and everyone began murmuring to eachother.

"It's go time!" Emiko said, clicking off the safeties on her pistols.

"Don't!" Margosha said, grabbing Emiko's arm. "What if you get shot?"

"They don't know I have guns," Emiko said. "I've been in more fucked-up situations than this, and lived. Besides, they look like deathmetal-loving, NRA malitia fucks. I can kill them in ways they never knew about."

"Be careful!" Margosha said, letting go of Emiko's arm.

"Don't worry about me," Emiko said, taking one last look at Margosha. "Hey, I didn't notice that you have brown eyes. They're pretty."

"Thanks," Margosha said, smiling coyly.

Emiko looked up and down the car quickly before standing up.

"Sit down!" an old lady said.

"Shut the fuck up!" Emiko said to the old lady, and walked down the aisle.

Emiko heard some screaming coming from the car ahead, and she tried to get a look thru the slightly ajar door. She heard a woman screaming violently, and one of the highjackers yelling at her to shut up. Then there was a gunshot, and the woman stopped screaming.

"You fuck-head!" one of the highjackers said. "You were supposed to shoot the conductor first!"

"My gun went off!" another highjacker said. "I forgot to put the safety on!"

"You fucking idiot!" the first highjacker said. "Now they know what we're doing! They're gonna radio for a police helicoptor or something!"

Emiko kissed both of her guns (Carrol and Sharryl), and kicked open the door. She only had to see the highjackers for a small fraction of a second before she sent a couple of bullets into each of their heads. One of the highjackers fell into the aisle, and the other highjacker fell onto one of the passengers. Emiko flattened herself against the wall, pointing one gun down to the front of the car, and her other gun ready to shoot anything that could come at her from behind.

"Get him off of me!" the male passenger screamed, who was underneath the dead highjacker. "His brains are getting on my new sweater!"

Emiko couldn't see anymore highjackers in the car, but she knew there were more on the train.

"If that guy was supposed to kill the conductor ... " Emiko said silently to herself. "Then these two must be the forewards. The others are probably back a couple cars. And they probably have at least one up top. If they're smart. I'm not too sure of that now, tho."

"Are you a cop?" a little boy said, who was a couple feet away from Emiko.

"No, I'm a mercenary," Emiko said.

"You remind me of the Punisher, except a girl!" the little boy said.

"Be quiet, Thomas!" the boy's mother said.

"Well," Emiko said. "I'm gonna punish some bad motherfuckers today."

"Hey, you said the F word!" Thomas said, excited.

"Damn straight, I did!" Emiko said. Then she hollared to the whole car, "Everyone stay down and don't panic! There is a highjacking in progress!"

Everyone started panicking, and a couple people got up.

"I'm not a highjacker!" Emiko said. "As you can see, I killed the highjackers! I'm a freelance mercenary! I have business cards for anyone who is interested in my services! But for now, I'm gonna make sure there are no more highjackers on the train! At least no living highjackers."

"Mom, can I shoot a highjacker?" Thomas asked.

"No, Thomas," Thomas's mother said. "That's what the nice young lady is gonna go do! Just sit down and play with your action figures!"

Emiko checked back in her car, where Margosha was. She looked over at Margosha to make sure she was alright. Besides a lot of nervous faces and whispering, the car's passengers seemed calm. Of course, they didn't just see Emiko blow a couple of guys away.

"Did you kill them?"

Emiko heard Margosha's voice, and she looked over at Margosha again.

"Yeah!" Emiko called at Margosha.

"What?" Margosha said.

"Yeah, I killed them," Emiko said.

The passangers began whispering more loudly.

"Oh," Margosha said, confused. "Okay."

Emiko passed thru the car, to the door at the back. Cracking the door, Emiko peeked thru. She saw another man in a black trench coat, walking hastily down the aisle. He still had his gun in his coat, but his hand was on it, ready to fire. He was almost to the door.

Emiko got on the hinge side of the door, so she would be behind it when it opens. When the door began to open, Emiko kicked it, knocking the highjacker back. Positioning herself in front of the door, Emiko fired a few shots from each gun thru the thin door. She heard the highjacker's gun go off, and she fell onto her back, firing more bullets from a laying position while holding the door closed with her feet. She heard a thump on the door, and waited. Blood trickled thru three of the holes. Emiko pulled her feet back and rolled to the side as the weight of the dead highjacker pushed the door open, and his body landed next to Emiko. A few drops of blood splattered on her face, and she got on her feet.

"Is anyone hurt?" Emiko called to the passangers as she reloaded her guns.

Margosha felt a warm drop of blood trickle down her cheek. She put her fingers on her cheek and felt a cut, made by a nearly-missing bullet. Then she noticed that something was written on the bottom of her forearm, in blue ink. Funny. She didn't remember writing anything.

"Get Down," it read.

Margosha slid down her seat, so her knees were on the floor, and she was hidden behind her seat. She noticed that the blue pen was still in her hand, and the cap was off. She didn't remember taking the cap off, either. Just then, a burst of gunfire sprayed from the back of the car.

Emiko flattened herself against the wall as the air in front of her was cut by bullets. A couple passangers were hit, and they began screaming. A general ruccus developed, and Emiko waited for the bullets to stop. Once the gunfire stopped, Emiko peeked around the doorway, firing off a couple rounds. She saw for a split-second as the highjacker dodged her gunfire.

"Shit!" Emiko said silently, after she hid herself from the highjacker's gunfire. "He's not stupid like the others."