OUR FABULOUS TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR LORRAINE CAREY, SHARES AN EXCERPT FROM HER TIME-TRAVEL NOVEL, 'BETWEEN THE REALMS'

Chapter 11

(Jennifer wakes up in the year 1976)

Jennifer 2023-1976

I take a deep breath and close the large purple suitcase, the one I plan to check. My carry-on is all ready to go. I just need to throw in some last-minute makeup items along with my laptop, which I’ll do in the morning after I get dressed. I think about how much I’ll miss Laney on this trip. It won’t be the same without her. My boarding pass is already printed and I have secured my Uber driver to arrive at 8 a.m. I figure I should be in Virginia Beach around 11:30 tomorrow morning—it’s only a two-hour flight into Norfolk

Airport.

I’m a bit antsy about my trip and decide to relax with a glass of wine. While I wait, I stare at the CD and card Dylan sent. I’m not sure if I can listen to it now. I read the words “Play Me” and wonder what might be recorded on it. When I can no longer ignore my curiosity, I head over to my office to retrieve my old computer, the one with the CD player installed, and bring it into the living room. Just what is this man up to?

There is some static at first, but then I hear that song playing; the same song that made me fall in love with Dylan, “Dark Wicked Woman.” I listen, swaying back and forth as I do, getting lost in the lyrics. The music seems to get louder and louder as the song plays on, though I haven’t touched the volume.

My wine still sits on the coffee table, but I’ve lost interest in it. All I want is to dance, hard and wild.

When the music stops, a voice comes on—it’s Dylan! I stop dancing and listen to the words he speaks to me.

I start to feel a bit lightheaded, so I take a seat on the sofa. Dylan continues to recite the same short poem again and again. I’m glad I’m sitting because the lightheadedness has turned into full-blown vertigo. I faintly hear the wall clock strike midnight before my ears start to ring so loud it drowns out the sound of Dylan’s voice.

I lie back down on the sofa, and everything goes black. My head is pounding when I come to. I steady myself and try to pull myself from the floor.

I look down, and it’s not my floor!

What the hell?

I’m lying on an old black and white tiled floor in a large restroom stall. I try to stand, but I am still woozy. I hold onto the side wall for support.

The words on the stall door, which are fuzzy and black, come slowly into focus: “For a good time, call Babs.”

This has to be a dream! What was in that wine? Wait a minute...I didn’t drink the wine. The last I remember, I was dancing to a song. Must’ve gotten dizzy and passed out.

I manage to regain my stance, and when I’m steady enough, I open the stall door. The restroom is dimly lit, but it looks vaguely familiar, with the shiny black sinks and oval mirrors, with decorative ivy plants painted around the rims.

What. The. Fuck? I know this place. I’m in the restroom of the old Regal Room Club! It can’t be!

I glance in the mirror to see that I look the same as I did some forty-five years ago. I look closer to examine my fair skin dotted with freckles and my silky, long strawberry-blonde hair. And my top! I remember this top! Mom made the yellow lace halter top for me.

I run my hand over my stomach—it’s flat. Flat! What kind of magic is this? I turn to stare at the door, waiting for someone to come in and rescue me from this nightmare.

Was I drugged?

I hear many voices outside the door, so I splash cold water on my face and decide to venture out.

What I see stuns me. Yup, I’m in the Regal Room, and it’s just as I remember it back in the day. I freeze, taking it all in.

The bar is hopping, the tables are packed with people, and someone is calling my name.

No! No way! No. Fucking. Way.

I see Tracey Blaznick standing up and waving me over to a table by the front of the stage. I make my way over to the table and take a seat, still lightheaded.

Tracey grabs my hand and helps me to a chair.

“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

I search for words, trying not to look her in the eye. I’m too busy checking out the stage, where a band has set up their equipment...and there it is, that familiar logo on the drums: Ablaze!

I’m lightheaded again. I feel as though I’m about to vomit.

Tracey orders me a drink, a rum and Coke. It was my go-to drink every time we went out. I gulp half of it down, slam the glass on the tabletop, look her in the eye, and prepare to ask her a stupid question. It’s one I should have thought more about before opening my mouth.

“How did I get here?”

She looks at me quizzically.

“Now I’m really worried about you. Did you fall and hit your head in there?”

I try to factor all of this out.

Maybe I fell while dancing? Maybe I died, and this is heaven, and if so, heaven is a nightclub. Uggh!

I shake my head, finish my drink, and order another.

Tracey hugs me tightly and tells me the band is about to play their second session. She whispers in my ear that she knows I’ve had the hots for the lead guitarist and when the music starts we are going to go out on the floor and bust our best moves.

The colored lights flash over the stage, and the band members come out and head for their instruments. Dale settles out front, wearing a blue glitter shirt, his long blond hair hanging halfway over his face, and I realize I’m staring at a dead man. Gregg takes a seat at the drums. Then, I see Dylan pick up his guitar and play around, tuning it up. God, he’s so hot! His jeans are so tight, and his usual black T-shirt is molded to his strong, muscular body.

The band starts to play. Tracey tugs on my arm and leads me to the dance floor. I’m still numb. I figure I must be caught in some kind of time warp or parallel universe.

Their first number is Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” I remember that one so well. I go along with Tracey, figuring I might as well enjoy it. What have I got to lose? I might as well enjoy this dream.

I don’t want to look at Dylan, but I know I will—it’s destiny. It’s already happened in the past.

I catch him staring at me, and I play it to the hilt, giving him just what he wants—to watch my body as I move wildly to the music.

He winks at me, and I turn to see Tracey smile back at me.

Oh, this is too damn freaky!

I wonder if this will play out just as it did some forty-five years ago.

Between the Realms:

bit.ly/3RJoA8z

COMING SOON: On Monday 5th May, our amazing team member, Dawn Treacher, takes on the Flash Fiction challenge.