Jamie’s adventures in the Endless Nightmare were now over, but the fight to protect Earth was soon to take its place. Now that he reunited with his mortal body, Jamie slowly awoke from his slumber and took a good look at his surroundings. He was under the sheets on a hospital stretcher and wearing his pyjamas. The small room he was in had a sink in one corner which was next to a door leading to the toilet cubicle; a cupboard was beside that door, and on the wall directly in his eyesight there was a clock. The time was reading 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Christian had told Jamie that there were four hours left before The Shadow crossed the dimensional bridge; this meant that The Shadow was due to strike at approximately 6 o’clock that evening.
Jamie perked his head up to look at the time, and then laid back down.
“Welcome home Jamie.” He said quietly to himself.
One of the hospital doctors then passed by the window and briefly looked through at Jamie. He had short ginger hair, and wore a blue shirt, chino trousers, black shoes, and spectacles. Noticing that he was awake, the doctor came through the open door to see to Jamie.
“Good afternoon Jamie.” He said.
Jamie turned his head to look the doctor in the eyes.
“Good afternoon Doctor.” Jamie answered.
Jamie sat up against the backrest.
“How are you feeling?”
“Spectacular. Man I’ve had such a wild ride in my dreams.”
“A wild ride eh? Are you willing to tell me about this wild ride?”
“It felt so real. I was in a place called the Endless Nightmare; a secluded realm led by an evil mastermind known only as The Shadow of the Nightmare. His goal was to get revenge on the Lord God, something he had been planning for centuries. And I thought that I’d never be able to survive, until I was found by a friendly spirit.”
“Sounds like you had a fantastic time there.”
“I could sing it if I had to, but I won’t.”
“Don’t tell me, you’ve had the time of your life?”
Both Jamie and the doctor smiled.
“How long has my mortal body been here?” He asked.
The doctor became confused.
“What do you mean your mortal body?”
Jamie was disappointed by the doctor’s reaction.
“Never mind, just how long have I been in hospital please?”
“You’ve been here for two days Jamie. Your parents became concerned about you when you fell unconscious; they thought you were dead. We wanted to make sure that you hadn’t become seriously ill; Mr. and Mrs. Mandan thought it was the only way to keep you safe.”
“Then I thank you for what you’ve done, Doctor.”
“Not a problem, young man.”
Jamie shook the doctor’s hand.
“Well, as far as I can see I’m happy to give you the all clear; so I’d better go phone your parents to come and pick you up.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The doctor went out of the room and closed the door behind him.
All Jamie could do while he was waiting was to lie down again; it was then that he could hear Christian’s voice speaking into his mind.
“It’s great to see that you’ve made a full recovery Jamie.” Christian said.
Jamie answered Christian through telepathy; the same way that Christian spoke to him.
“I feel so much better to have returned to my physical body where I belong.”
“And you will always belong on Earth with your mortal body Jamie.”
“But I must still take down The Shadow of the Nightmare and save my dimension, mustn’t I?”
“Yes you must. I will return your clothes and pyjamas to your home, and The Sword of the Holy Heart. Anthony and I will be there for you in time for The Shadow’s crossing; but for now, just take it easy.”
“Thank you Christian.”
Jamie cut contact with Christian so that he could relax in hospital while he awaited the arrival of his parents.
~ ~ ~
Another hour passed that day. Jamie had now been picked up by his parents from the hospital and taken back home. Back in the Endless Nightmare however, Christian and Anthony were in the master bedroom of their house, getting themselves prepared to make their own tracks between dimensions.
Both of them were getting changed out of their robes, and into casual clothes. Christian was getting changed behind the screen, while Anthony got changed on the side of his bed. Anthony was dressed in a pair of dark blue denim jeans, and an orange & red striped t-shirt.
“Are you nervous, Anthony?”
“I’m terrified.”
Anthony rubbed his feet and put on a pair of grey skate trainers.
“This is the first time ever that I’ve gone to Earth with you, Christian.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Christian came from behind the dressing screen, dressed in a red t-shirt, chino trousers, white socks and white trainers.
He walked towards Anthony and stood at the side of the bed next to him.
“How’s Jamie getting on?” Anthony asked.
“He’s fine. He’s just been released from hospital and his parents have taken him home.”
When he was fully dressed, Anthony stood up and tapped his toes on the floor.
“OK, I’m ready Christian.”
“Have you got our swords?”
“Right here.”
Anthony picked up the swords from the bed, passing the larger one to Christian. Both of them put their swords into the carriers on their backs.
Anthony carried Jamie’s clothes under his arm, Christian held The Spiritual Sword in his right hand.
“Let’s go Anthony.”
Anthony and Christian joined hand in hand. The two of them then vanished together in a cloud of smoke.
~ ~ ~
In a few short seconds, Anthony and Christian reappeared in the street just outside the Mandan residence.
Unlike the previous day, police officers were nowhere to be seen.
Anthony was amazed to see the beauty of Jamie’s dimension.
“This is Planet Earth?” Anthony asked.
“Yes it is.” Christian answered.
“It’s beautiful, just like a paradise. But what am I talking about, I’ve never left the Endless Nightmare.”
“Most dimensions are like a paradise compared to the darkness of the Endless Nightmare. Belinda Carlisle once said that heaven is a place on Earth.”
“Who is Belinda Carlisle, a singer?”
“Got it in one Anthony. Anyway, can you remember why we’ve come here before the Shadow?”
“We have to give Jamie back his clothes and The Spiritual Sword, then what happens?”
“Then we await the arrival of The Shadow.”
“Let’s do it.”
Christian and Anthony entered the front garden via the open gate.
Jamie was in the back garden, laying back in a reclining garden chair. He was now dressed in a white short sleeved t-shirt, denim jeans, and had a pale yellow sheet covering him from shoulder to toe. Grey slippers were next to the chair. Jamie had his eyes closed, and was taking in the warm September sun.
Jamie’s Mum Debbie came outside with two glasses of lemonade in her hands.
Jamie heard her Mum’s footsteps and awoke from his rest.
“Hi Mum.”
“Enjoying the sun Jamie?”
“Yes.”
Debbie put one of the lemonades on a small table next to Jamie’s chair.
“I’m hoping Christian and Anthony will be around soon.” Jamie said to himself. “They promised me they’d be here in time for The Shadow’s crossing.”
“If they’re already here on Earth, I’m sure they’re close.”
Christian and Anthony waited around the corner where Jamie and Debbie couldn’t see them. Before they met Jamie again, Christian and Anthony decided to listen in on the conversation between him and his mother.
“I’ve missed being here with you for the last two days Mum. I know you and Dad were worried sick about me when my spirit was taken.”
“We got over it Jamie, thanks to your newly found friend Christian Halo who came over and gave us all the reassurance we wanted; albeit stopping the police at the same time.”
“That’s a point, what exactly happened with the police? Why did they think you murdered me?”
“Your father and I want to know exactly the same answer. Christian suspected that they were under the control of the man you called ‘The Shadow of the Nightmare’.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if that was so. And somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still after you, me and Christian. Goodness knows how much power The Shadow has over them now.”
At that moment, Christian and Anthony came through from the front garden to see Jamie. They approached the table.
“Hello Jamie.” Christian greeted.
Jamie and Debbie looked up at Christian.
“Hello Christian.” Debbie greeted. “I didn’t expect you to be here so soon.”
“I promised Jamie before I brought him back to Earth that Anthony and I would cross the dimensions well before The Shadow did.”
Anthony stepped forward.
“So you’re Anthony, right? You’re Christian’s younger brother?”
“Yes Ma’am.” He answered.
Anthony and Debbie shook hands.
“Can I offer either of you lemonade?”
“Not for me thank you.”
“What about you Christian?”
“No thank you Mrs. Mandan.”
Anthony placed Jamie’s clothes and pyjamas on the garden table.
“We needed to return Jamie’s clothes to him.” He said.
“I’ll take charge of those Anthony.” Debbie answered, picking up the clothes from the table. “I’ll need to put them in the laundry pile.”
“And he’ll need this as well.” Christian added.
Christian put The Spiritual Sword down by the garden table. Debbie became concerned when she saw the blade.
“What’s with the sword Christian?”
“That is not just any sword Mrs. Mandan; THAT is The Sword of the Holy Heart. It is the only weapon capable of doing any damage to The Shadow of the Nightmare when he crosses the dimensional bridge.”
Debbie reached her hand over to touch the sword, but Christian stopped her.
“I wouldn’t if I were you Mrs. Mandan. If anyone other than Jamie, Anthony or I were to touch it you’d pay the price. The penalty for preventing the use of the sword can be fatal if necessary. And the sword can’t harm Jamie, so he can’t strike himself by accident.”
“You realize that the police will do anything to confiscate the sword. Nobody is allowed to carry weapons in this country; I trust you know that Mr. Halo.”
“Whether your government likes it or not, Jamie MUST use this sword to finish the job; it is the only way.”
Debbie pondered in thought for a moment.
“As long Jamie only uses the sword against The Shadow; and not for anything else.”
“That’s all the sword was made for Mrs. Mandan. It will not be used for anything else, will it Jamie?”
“No.”
“Good lad.”
Christian ruffled Jamie’s hair.
“So, I can see you enjoy getting the rays of sunshine in your soul.”
“You bet. And believe me, I deserve to get some sunshine in my soul after what I’ve been through.”
“No questions no excuses about it.”
Jamie smiled. Christian turned back to Debbie.
“Anthony and I had better get going for now.”
“So soon Mr. Halo?”
“I’d like to stay Ma’am, but Anthony and I need to keep an eye out for when The Shadow comes, and more importantly where. He could land anywhere, and we need to know the location so that we can guide Jamie to him.”
Christian turned to Jamie.
“Jamie listen to me, I’m expecting The Shadow to come across at exactly six on the dot. As soon as you see suspicious signs, wait for us in the front garden.”
“OK.”
Christian and Anthony began to walk out of the garden together.
Jamie sat up straight in the recliner and took a sip from his glass of lemonade.
“I really don’t know how you’ve got yourself into this Jamie.”
“It has to be destiny Mum, there’s no other solution. I know that Christian and Anthony will help me in the final battle. But what’s important is that someday, there’ll come a time when I no longer suffer from such frequent nightmares.”
“How true. If you bring justice to The Shadow of the Nightmare, chances are you won’t ever suffer from another nightmare in your life.”
“I don’t know about my whole life, but I’m sure it will significantly reduce the nightmares I visualize.”
Debbie smiled.
“I’ll let you get back to your sunbathing.”
Debbie stood up straight and headed indoors to see to her husband; Jamie laid back down in the recliner chair and closed his eyes again.
Christian and Anthony had just walked out of the front garden, and began to cross the road.
“Well, that went well.” Christian said. “Why don’t we take a stroll around the area Anthony, get to know our surroundings a little better?”
“Sounds good.”
Christian and Anthony headed towards the trees at the end of the street, not too far away from where they crossed the road. But little were they aware, an undercover police officer dressed in plain clothes was watching their every move from outside a neighbouring house. As soon as the boys went around the corner of the street, he reached for his radio which was concealed beneath his hoodie.
“I’ve just seen the man who’s taken the lives of many of our other officers, he’s just turned the corner of the street with another young boy.”
“Keep your eyes on them; we’ll strike when the time is right.”
“Roger that.”
With the Police under the control of The Shadow of the Nightmare, Jamie having returned home to his parents, and Christian and Anthony on Earth ready to help in the final battle, things were changing at a rapid rate for many people. But the war was far from over.