nomicon saga extremis no. 5 - eleven eleven

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1No m ic o n S a g a Extremis

EGSA PRESSw w w . e g s a p r e s s . c o m

Extremis

Companion toThe Short Works

No. 5 - “Eleven Eleven”



2 Companion to the Collected Short Works

Copyright © 2012 by Egsa Corp. All rights

reserved. Egsa Press is a wholly ownedimprint of Egsa Corp.

No part of this publication may bereproduced or retransmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopy, recording, scanning

or any information storage and retrievalsystem without permission in writingfrom the publisher.

Requests for permission to make copiesof any part of this work should be mailedto the following address: PermissionsClearance, Egsa Corp, Post Office 490212Chicago, Illinois 60649-0212

www.egsa.com

FIRST EDITION

Published in July 2012

Printed in the U.S.A.




vE l E v e ne l e v e n

Monica Grayce has a problem. She has

been exposed to a world beyond theboundaries of daily existence.

It was exactly 11:11 AM. A wild-eyedMonica Grayce tried not to stare but she

could not hide her growing discomfort asshe sat in the bland waiting room. Thedigital display was unrelenting; therewas no second hand or indicator of thegranular passage of time. It would be 11:11until it said otherwise. The knuckles of herslender hands bulged as she clawed intothe armrest of her chair fearful of what themoment might bring. The mounting terrorinside her was inescapable.

“She will see you now.” A cautiousfemale attendant remarked as she returned

from the restroom. The amber light on herdesk was indicating that the doctor wasfree. She had seen a lot as the receptionist

Sequence (0x05



4 V: Eleven Eleven

for psychiatrist Dr. Olivia Teitell, but the

frazzled look on the face of Monica Graycewas disturbing. This one was different fromthe ordinary court appointed patients; thisone was supposedly once semi-famous.Only twenty-seven, she had come todiscover that patients often had good daysand bad ones. She sat at her windowed

desk with the receiver to her ear and herhand on the speed dial button dedicated tosecurity.

Today would not be a good day.




Act I

“Now Monica, I scheduledyour appointment todayso that we can explore

some of your concerns,” Dr. Olivia Teitellbegan. She was a middle-aged woman withgraying sandy brown hair that flowed into

a chin length bob. Her face was nurturingand kind with makeup that made her lookas though she had no makeup. The lines ofher eyes crinkled gently as she spoke.

There were times that Monica foundDr. Teitell’s deep blue eyes unnerving.

“Concerns?” Monica answered as shetried to find something to do with herhands.

Dr. Teitell just looked at her, her thingraying brows rose slightly. From her desk

she pulled a worn brown folder filled withnotes.

“Let’s skip ‘the lady in green’ for the dayand go right to the numbers; particularlythe number eleven. Let’s talk about thenumber eleven,” Dr. Teitell smiled.



6 V: Eleven Eleven

“It’s after ten and before twelve.” Monica

remarked. Loose strands of straightenedhair framed her face. The strands werelong enough that they shook when Monicaemphasized a word. Dr. Teitell’s eyeswould not let her end with just that note.Rubbing her nose she continued. Monica’sstrange gunmetal grey eyes darted as she

spoke.

“Eleven eleven. It’s when the onescome. When things happen,” Monica said.

Monica fidgeted with the palm lengthlilac sleeves of her turtleneck as she spoke.She felt that she must have soundedquite insane again. In her mind and heartshe knew it was true, but the truth wassomething no one wanted to hear. If shelied, she was lying just to not be labeledinsane on a tiny sheet of paper even thougheveryone would still remember that shehad said and done such insane things. Thefrustration of the situation made her wantto cry.




Act II

Dr. Teitell was far too absorbedin the analysis of the youngwoman before her to see her

tears. Her eyes stored every variabledispassionately. There was no place foremotion. Monica Grayce was almost the

same age and build as her receptionist,Amy Tanner. Looking at her charts sheseemed physically rather healthy and fit,there were no overt pointers to a sourcefor organic mental disorders but lab workalone rarely provided a complete picture.It was more than likely a diathesis–stress

model applied. From their previoussessions, Ms. Grayce was clearly exhibitingmajor depression and anxiety disorders.As her mind flowed across the DSM shedid not even notice the conference light onher phone.

Monica Grayce had piqued AmyTanner’s interest and now she was campingon the line.

“When the ones come?” Dr. Teitell asked.She tried to sound understanding andempathetic without catering to the obviousdelusionary thoughts.



8 V: Eleven Eleven

Monica’s eyes where puffy from the

tears, but she stared into Dr. Teitell’s as ifDr. Teitell was insane. She had heard toomuch mock empathy and could detect it inan instant.

“Y-Y-You don’t believe me anyway”Monica sniffled.

“Tell me. Help me believe.”

Monica shook her head “no” and folderher arms. Her heavily lined eyes shuttightly but tears still inexplicably flowed.Handing her a tissue, Dr. Teitell pleadedto her.

“Help me, Monica.”

Like a child, Monica opened just oneeye at the doctor to gauge her honesty.

“And if they come, I will take fullresponsibility,” Dr. Teitell offered.

Monica turned in her chair, lookingout the seventh story office window atthe mirrored skyline. The mirrors always

troubled her but she knew that they were




too far away to catch her reflection.

***

In Monica’s mind she saw nothing butshards of glass. The broken glass fell inall shapes and sizes. As she stood in theshattered mirrors she could see the terrified

reflections of those around her. She couldsee the frenzied reflection of her face.

She hadn’t wanted to become amonster, a creature— a thing. But like somany things in life, it just happened.

There were mothers clutching theirchildren and panicked store securityeverywhere.

As she looked again she saw her lifewas in that broken silvered glass.

***

“They don’t come all at once” Monicasaid in an almost barely audible whisper.“I don’t really remember when they firstcame. I think they first came to me when Iworked at the Inter-Ocean…”



10 V: Eleven Eleven

“That would be after you left the

network.”

“ After I was pushed out of the network andtwo or three nationals. Yes, that was aftermy days at the network,” Monica repliedangrily.

“I’m sorry, continue.”

“Maybe, I saw them earlier. Maybe thatnight in the car,” Monica started. “I can’treally remember anymore when I wantto—maybe all that Chlorpromazine,” Shesneered.

“Monica, we are in this together. Youalready know that I don’t control themedicines they used in the assessmentward. Please, I need your help, Monica.Help me believe. ”

If her eyes could have emitted a laserbeam, Monica Grayce’s stare would haveincinerated Dr. Teitell. Monica stood andwalked to the window and was lost in thebright outside world. There was a starkcontrast between the cool dim tones of the

office and the brightness of the world.




“I guess I should be grateful for thirty

days without them. I wonder if this is howthey feel, hiding in the shadows, lookingout on our world.”

“They who?”

“The ones. You’re not really listening,

but it’s okay” She said sadly. “No one everlistens. I uh guess it really started sometimeafter the network. It started simply enough.I kept—I kept my fiancée’s cell phone as atime piece—after you know.”

Dr. Teitell tried not to interrupt. Sheknew how edgy the tragedy made herpatient feel.

“It’s old now but it was his pride. Thestrangest thing was that I would only lookat it when the time was on certain numbers.Never before, never after. You know like,12:21 or 6:56.”

“Eleven Eleven”

“Yes. That one in particular. I don’tknow why. I tried to look it up—I was a

researcher for quite a while for the seriesbefore going on camera. Did you know?



12 V: Eleven Eleven

Did you know the Mayan calendar ends12/21 at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time? It’snot the end of the world, you know—likeeverybody thinks. Just like the game—No,it’s not a game. No, it’s more than that.Definitely more than that. Many more daysbefore the end for some.”

“Help me believe, Monica. Tell mewhat is going to happen.”

“You’ll have to wait to find out,”Monica smiled in a strange twisted smile.Her trembling fingers briefly covered her

mouth and wiped away the smile as moretears flowed. “See, I already know and lookwhat good it’s done me. You don’t want toknow.”

“I want to know Monica. I want you totell me, to help me,” The doctor said as she

leaned forward. Her navy jacket fell openslightly.

“First you wanted to know about ones.Y-y-you asked, you asked me to tell youabout the ones.” Monica said frantically.“Now I am going to tell you about the

ones—whether you want to really hear ornot.”




Act III

“It’s like the game, people thinkthey watch but don’t. They domore. They first came to me

through the cracks in between the worlds.Did you know they use to fill the crackswith solid metals making the image saferbut darker? Then, once they began usingquicksilver, it sealed the crack but let yousee to the other side? Then came the silvers.That’s how the ones come.”

Dr. Teitell shook her head to indicatethat she didn’t understand.

“If you let them, sometimes they cancome through. When you look too deeplyinto a mirror, sometimes when you’re notlooking you can see them out of the corner

of your eyes.”

“The ones?”

“Yes.”

“The ones come through the mirrors?

Any mirrors?”

“No. Not any mirrors. I don’t know



14 V: Eleven Eleven

why. They have to be whole, uncoveredand they have to be certain size and shape,I think. Ask della Porta or Borges or Carrollor a hundred others. The only thing I knowfor sure and without even a shadow of adoubt is that they come freely into ourworld at 11:11. Some people are attuned toit, they feel it and look at the clock to mark

the time.”

“Can people like you and I crossover?”

“I don’t know. I think so. I found a lotof traditions, rituals really; about covering

a mirror when a loved one leaves so theydon’t become stuck.”

“Did you perform these rituals, Monica?Is that what happened to you?” Dr. Teitellwhispered. As she leaned in Monica tookanother measure of her eyes.

“You don’t have to believe me. That’sok. But please don’t patronize me. I guessI’ve talked enough for one day.”

Dr. Teitell took a step back. She hadpushed too far in trying to connect the

delusions to the death of her fiancée.She was so close to seeing some sort ofbreakthrough in this case. It was a shame.




“I guess we have,” Dr. Teitell smiled.

“We have covered a lot of ground and Iwant to thank you for trusting me enoughto tell me the truth.”

Her reaction caught Monica off guard.Her mood brightened considerably that shehad actually heard her. Dr. Teitell busilycompleted her notes as Monica folded herhands and wiped her face. A smile wascreeping across her face. Her posture hadchanged and a confidence had returned.

Dr. Teitell glanced up and returned

her smile. She scribbled in her notes:“Schizoaffective disorder?”

“Now, Monica, I am going to changeyour medication. I am going to give youa few new items; these items will help youmanage your emotional level and some

will help you regulate your sleep cycle.”

She could see the signs of happinesson Monica’s face melt into her originaldemeanor.

“Now, I don’t have to remind you



16 V: Eleven Eleven

Monica, but you have to take all of the

medication that I prescribe for you. We’restill in a good place and you don’t need anyadditional supervision at the moment. Therest is up to you. If you can’t keep up withyour medication there are certain powersthat I have been granted by the court, butI am sure that they won’t be necessary.

Together, we are going to build a newMonica. Okay?”

Monica simply nodded her head. Therewere no mirrors, no special times, no grandgame. There maybe even wasn’t a MonicaGrayce or a Darren Carrahan. None of itever happened if she wanted to keep whatlittle remained of her mind.

“Good,” Dr. Teitell said with a chippersmile.

Epilogue




Monica Grayce clutched herpurse closer to her as she left.She tried to shrink herself so

that she would not be noticed by the otherpeople in the hallway leading to the front.She tried as best as she could to shape andgroom the body of her updo hairstyle sothat she appeared to look like everyoneelse. Only she would know what label Dr.Teitell would give her. If she tried veryhard to act like everyone else, maybe noone would know and even if they did,maybe no one would make fun of her.

Dr. Teitell rushed past her to drop offher notes to the assistant at the windoweddesk.

When Monica came to the front windowshe politely asked the attendant for her

next appointment. She could see a smallmirrored compact on her desk. She triednot to notice and fumbled with her bangsnervously.

That mirror was much too small to let

anything out and more importantly it was



18 V: Eleven Eleven

facing away from Monica’s reflection.

Amy Tanner took her time as shecorrelated the doctor’s notes with theavailable schedule. There was a faint butmischievous smile on her ruby red lips asshe worked. Monica tried to look awayto be polite. Her own eyes scanned the

waiting room, desperately hoping not tobe noticed by anyone. Amy Tanner turned towards Monica.

Amy’s eyes made sure no one else couldsee or hear her.

“You know, you looked a little on edgewhen I saw you earlier today. I think thesessions are working for you.” She smiled.“Have faith, you know in Revelations it says‘And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stoodupon their feet; and great fear fell upon them

which saw them.’”

Monica felt a chill as she heard thosewords. The woman only smiled strangelywhen she saw an unsettling fear creep intoMonica’s eyes.

“Hope I see you next time,” Amy said

as she pressed the reminder card into




Monica’s hand. Amy turned her attention

to her desk as if she had not said a word.Monica cautiously said thank you,trembling as she spoke.

As Monica slipped away with a strangefear in her heart, the Amy Tanner at thedesk peered into the mirror. Her reflection

in the mirror wasn’t moving with her.The reflection in the glass was screaming,begging to be set free.

The Amy Tanner at the desk checkedthe other Amy’s makeup, folded thecompact away and took lunch.

It hadn’t been such a bad day after all.

+Y+



20 V: Eleven Eleven

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world by ordering Nomicon Saga AnthologyVolume 1

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nomicon saga extremis no. 5 - eleven eleven

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