The Ladder

The Ladder By TheInfernoEnigma

An ancient Hawaiian chant speaks of a mystical wind that blows down off the slopes of Haleakala. It has survived from the very creation of the world. It has the power to bring change and adventure to all who feel its gentle touch. It is called ulalena. *** He stood on the beach, wind floating in off the ocean and causing his hair to stand on end. The gentle breeze rustled the palm fronds on the trees behind him, and they scraped together in a not-unpleasant way. The smell of salt was everywhere, mingled with the scent of sun block and the shouting of happy children. A wave broke, sending water swirling around his feet. He smiled. "Aloha! Chris!" called a voice behind him. He turned, feet sinking into the wet sand. His older sister stood a short distance up the beach, hands on her hips. He waved, but she scowled. "Let's go! Mom and Dad want me to bring you back to the condo as soon as possible." Chris sighed and walked toward his sister, feet coming free with a sucking sound. "Why can't we stay here a little longer?" "I don't know!" his older sister Clarissa said. "Besides, I would think at sixteen you're old enough to not want to play in the sand any more." "I wasn't playing in the sand!" he protested. "I was watching the sunset..." Clarissa threw up her hands, exasperated. "Just follow me." She made her way across the sand slowly, trying unsuccessfully to keep her sandals clean. They walked to the beach parking lot in silence. Chris glanced over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the setting sun, but palm trees were blocking the view. He turned to Clarissa. "Why are you back so early? You said you'd go check into the condo and pick me up when it got dark." Clarissa gestured to the sky in the distance, from which the sun had been gone for quite some time. "It is dark, isn't it?" "Well, not really, but I guess if you wanted to-" "We did," she said, implying the matter was closed. They were now standing in front of the rental car, to which Clarissa had apparently been given the keys. "Can I drive?" Chris asked.

"Of course not," snapped his older sister. "I have my permit, you know," Chris grumbled, climbing into the passenger's seat. Clarissa shrugged. "So?" They had arrived in Hawaii earlier in the day. Chris had been excited for the vacation, but he had not been looking forward to spending time with his older sister. Clarissa had left for college two years earlier, and when she had come to visit she had apparently decided she was the most important person in the family. Of course, it didn't help that Mom and Dad had decided she could do no wrong... When they heard Clarissa was coming to visit, Mom and Dad had decided, since the family was back together again, they should go on one last vacation. They were staying at a condo in Wailea, on the island of Maui. Chris hoped he would have some freedom to go where he pleased, because he couldn't imagine being cooped up in the condo (or the rental car) with Clarissa. Apparently there was a beach within walking distance of the condo, so he planned to spend most of his time there. Clarissa started the car and they pulled out of the parking lot. "What are we doing tonight?" Chris asked, hoping she would say they were just going to sleep. The time change was really catching up to him, and he wanted nothing more than to lie down and drift off to dreamland. "Well, Mom and Dad said they don't want to eat out for every meal, so once we check in with them you and I are going to a supermarket to get something to eat for breakfast and lunch." "Great," he said before he could stop himself. Clarissa just shook her head. Ten minutes later, they pulled up to the condominium. It was definitely going to be big enough for the four people in the family, but Chris wasn't sure he would be able to be alone when he was inside it. Clarissa parked the car and they got out. As they walked up the sidewalk to the door, a gecko scampered out in front of them. Clarissa shrieked and jumped backwards, which caused the small lizard to stand still. "I think you killed it," Chris laughed, bending down. He picked up the gecko, enjoying the feel of its pebbly skin on the palm of his hand. He set it in the grass next to the sidewalk, where it ran off into the darkness. Standing up and looking at his sister, he saw she was glaring at him. "I'm not letting you back in my car until you wash your hands," she said with a shudder.

"It's not your car!" retorted Chris. Clarissa stormed past him and up to the door of the condo, where she knocked. It opened from the inside, and Chris saw his father's face in the doorway. "Oh, it's you," he said, opening the door wider. Clarissa smiled warmly. "Of course it is, Daddy! I just wanted to show you I picked up Chris, and we're off to the supermarket! Ok?" "Yeah," Dad grunted. "D'you want to come in before you leave?" "Ok," Chris said, pushing past his sister. "I have to wash my hands, or Clarissa won't let me back in the car." "I have no idea what he's talking about," Clarissa said in a singsong voice. Dad shot Chris a warning look, who just shrugged and went into the condo. Looking around, he took in the beige rug, the beige walls, and the beige couches at once. He could see into the master bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room from where he stood. Everything was spotless, and modern art hung from every available wall. "This is nice!" he said. "Quiet!" shouted a voice from the master bedroom. He walked in and saw his mother on a bed. "I have a headache," she said, holding her head in her hands. "Sorry," Chris whispered, opening the door to the adjoining bathroom. The window was open, and the calls of a hundred exotic birds drifted into the room. He turned on the sink and hurriedly washed his hands. He dried them on the towels that hung next to the sink and walked back through the master bedroom to the front door. His father was still standing there, talking to Clarissa. "-milk, and maybe some cheese and meats and bread for lunch," Clarissa said. "Ok?" Dad nodded and turned to Chris. "Go with your sister, and no arguing!" Chris said nothing; walking past his father and sister, he got in the car and waited. Clarissa came several minutes later and started the car without a word. When they were out on the main road, Chris asked, "Which grocery store are we going to?" "Dad said he saw a place by your beach called Grocery World or something. I figured we'd try that... if that's ok with you?" Chris knew she wasn't asking for his approval; she was merely trying to start an argument.

He grunted a reply and sat in silence until they pulled into a shopping plaza several minutes later. He saw a Japanese restaurant, a nail salon, a police station, some tourist shops, and an Italian restaurant, in addition to the supermarket. Gigantic green letters proclaimed the name of the store, which was not Grocery World but The Food Universe. Close enough, Chris thought. Clarissa parked as close to the store as she could, and they got out. "Get us a shopping cart," Clarissa said. "I'm going to go try and find some of the food we need." Chris went with her as far as the front of the store, where he saw there were no shopping carts left. He sighed for what must have been the hundredth time that night. Turning, he walked back toward their rental car, which was next to a cart return. He looked up at the sky, which was unusually clear. A shooting star raced across the heavens before glittering to a halt seconds later. Chris only looked away from the constellations and galaxies when he walked into a car. The alarm blared, so Chris took hold of a cart and quickly steered it back toward The Food Universe. He heard shouting behind him, but didn't turn to look until he was safely behind the automatic doors of the supermarket. People were running around the car, trying to find some way to shut off the obnoxious alarm while at the same time trying to discover what had set it off. Chris made his way across the front of the store, looking up each aisle for his sister. He saw an old man in a wheelchair down in the vegetable aisle, and a woman wearing a neon-blue visor down the candy aisle, but no Clarissa. He was about to give up and go back to the rental car when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Clarissa standing behind him, clutching a lime green card in her right hand. "The prices in this store are atrocious unless you have a membership card, so we are now members of the Food Universe Family," she said. Did you start to look for food?" "No, I was trying to find you!" Chris said, relieved that he had found her but almost wishing he hadn't. "Give me that," Clarissa said, taking the cart from him. She shoved the Food Universe membership card in her pocket and steered the cart to the cereal aisle. Chris followed grudgingly. He wished he were walking, alone, on a beach. He could almost feel the water caressing his ankles... the sand slipping between his toes... he could smell the salt... "Hey! Chris!"

"Yeah?" he grunted, realizing he had been standing still with his eyes focused on the ceiling. He looked at Clarissa impatiently. "Watch out!" He turned and saw the lady with the neon-blue visor standing behind him, smiling weakly. "Aloha... Excuse me," she said in a quiet voice. "Oh, I'm sorry," he exclaimed quickly, moving to the side so she could pass. Chris rubbed the two freckles on the back of his neck, as he always did when he was nervous. The edges of her lips twitched upward, as if she were trying to smile but could not manage it. She walked down to the edge of the aisle and turned left. "What were you doing?" Clarissa asked angrily, as if embarrassed to be with him. "I..." "Yeah, whatever. Help me pick out some cereal." They chose the least expensive cereal, which turned out to be storebrand frosted corn flakes. Then they went to the milk aisle, where Clarissa decided to buy skim milk. "You know I hate skim milk!" Chris protested. "Yep!" grinned Clarissa. "I… well… I have to go to the bathroom," Chris mumbled, walking away from his sister. "Take your time, little brother!" called Clarissa. "Hope everything comes out alright!" People turned to stare, and Chris noticed the woman with the blue visor watching from several aisles over. He walked to the customer information desk, where a short, balding man stood behind the desk. The man, wearing an ugly green Food Universe uniform, looked very bored. "Where are your restrooms?" Chris asked. He didn't actually need to use them; he just wanted to get away from Clarissa. This was the only way he could think of to have some alone time. "Next to the Japanese restaurant," the man replied in a monotone. Chris remembered seeing it outside, across the parking lot. "Down the little alley, and make a left. Code is 654." Chris wasn't sure what that meant, but he smiled and thanked the man. He walked outside into the parking lot, where the car alarm was still going off. He made sure to walk around the car, just in case anyone recognized him as having been there when the alarm had started. He reached the Japanese restaurant and followed the man's directions. Chris found himself standing in

front of a door marked "Kane". Underneath, in smaller print, was the word "Men". There was a keypad on the handle, with a red light above it. Chris now understood what the clerk had meant. A sign to the right of the door read, "These are NOT public restrooms. Obtain the entry code from any business in this shopping plaza. Mahalo." Chris shook his head. Why not just have these open to the public? He punched 6-5-4 into the keypad, and the light switched from red to green. He turned the handle and the door swung open. The restroom smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. There was a toilet, a urinal, and a sink in the small ten by ten room. Chris stepped over to the sink and splashed water on his face, trying to wake himself up. It was then, staring into the mirror, that he saw the ladder. Made of old, rusted metal, it was bolted into the wall next to the door. It went up for several feet before disappearing into a square cutout in the ceiling. Its rungs were worn from use, and there were several rungs missing. Chris went over to the ladder and looked up through the ceiling. He saw a white shaft, just big enough for a person to fit through, which seemed to go all the way up to the roof. The ladder ended at a metal trapdoor. Chris grasped the bottom rung and, before he knew it, he was climbing. His heart skipped a beat, and he stopped. Perhaps he would have continued to climb if he had been alone, or maybe just with his parents, but not with Clarissa. If he disappeared for a long time she would almost certainly freak out, and never let him forget it. He couldn't try it; at least, not now. He forced himself to climb back down to the ground and walk out the door without looking back. He strolled nonchalantly across the parking lot (where someone had finally shut off the alarm) and back into The Food Universe. He waited by the registers until he saw Clarissa, with a full shopping cart, walk up to one. "Find some good food?" he asked casually. "No thanks to you," she replied. "What took you so long, anyway?" "I was gone, what, five minutes?" Chris exclaimed, but Clarissa hushed him. "There's that lady you blocked." It was true. She was on line behind them. "Aloha," Chris said, but she pretended not to notice. Instead, she inspected her fingernails as if they were the most interesting things in the world.

"Looks like she likes you," teased Clarissa. Chris was about to make a comeback when he looked again at the lady. She was not as old as he had first thought; she couldn't be more than four or five years older than he. She wasn't actually ugly, either. Her hair was blonde and curly, and her eyes were big and blue. "Sure..." Chris said lamely, and waited while Clarissa checked out. There was a problem with the membership card; according to the cashier, it had expired. Chris tried to keep himself from laughing, in addition to not looking at the lady wearing the visor. He was, however, unsuccessful in both endeavors; he constantly found himself chuckling as he glanced over his shoulder. He usually caught her looking at him too, but when their eyes met she would quickly look away. When Clarissa fixed the problem (by threatening to scratch the cashier's eyes out) and paid for their groceries, they left The Food Universe. On the way back to the rental car, Clarissa looked up at the sky and remarked on how clear it was. Chris’s heart leapt when he saw she was about to run the cart into a van, but he didn't say anything. The cart and van met with a loud crashing sound, and Clarissa was jolted backward. The van's alarm sounded. Chris laughed all the way back to the condominium. As he lay in bed later that night, he found his thoughts straying to the ladder in the restroom. Why hadn't he climbed it? What was the worst that could've happened? Sure, he could have been caught and hauled off to jail, but at least he would have known what was on the other side of the trapdoor. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had to go back to satisfy his curiosity. He stood up and looked at the clock. It was only 9:35, which meant there would still be people out and about. He might be able to hitch a ride back to the shopping plaza. Chris pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and let himself out of the condo. He thought about taking the rental car keys, but if his parents woke up and found the car gone they were more likely to be angry than if he just walked or got a ride with someone else. Outside, the sky had been covered with clouds. The birds had all stopped singing, but the grass rustled with what might have been wind or lizards. It was a very different night than what he had gone to bed in.

He walked to the main road, which took about five minutes. From there, he began to make his way down the median toward town, with his thumb held out. It wasn't long before a car pulled up next to him. He went around and opened the passenger door, muttering "Mahalo." Bending down, he got into the car. Only then did he look at the person who had picked him up. It was the woman with the neon-blue visor. She smiled when she saw his surprise. "I saw you there and I couldn't resist," she said, voice a little stronger than it had been earlier in the night. "Well, thank you," Chris said. "I..." "Where do you need to go?" she asked with a laugh. "Just down to the Food Universe, if that's ok." "Forgot something?" He wasn't sure what she meant for a moment, until he remembered she had seen him shopping before. "Something like that," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. As they drove, they talked about their homes and families. Chris was careful not to tell her his name, and he didn't ask for hers. It turned out she was twenty years old, from Florida. She lived alone but was looking for someone to spend the rest of her life with. How cliché, thought Chris. The woman with the neon-blue visor drove into the shopping plaza and pulled up to the Food Universe door. "Well, here we are," she said cheerfully. Chris pulled out his wallet. "How much-" "No, no, there's no need for that!" she said, actually smiling this time. He smiled thankfully and put his wallet back in his pocket. "Thanks again," he said, and turned. He was about to head for the restroom when he remembered what he had told her. Instead, he walked into The Food Universe. "Back so soon?" grumbled the short man behind the counter. Chris nodded irritably and the man shrugged. "Just trying to make conversation." Chris jogged a lap around the store and then walked out the way he had come. The woman with the visor had left, so he went across the parking lot to the Japanese restaurant. He was soon standing in front of the restroom door. He touched the 6, then the 5, and finally the 4. The red light turned green, and he pushed open the door. The restroom was exactly as he had left it, albeit smokier. He closed the door behind him, and he heard it lock. He was alone.

Turning to the ladder, he put his hand on the rung. A feeling of opportunity surged through him, revitalizing his very being. He began to climb. Chris lifted his leg up to the bottom rung, and reached up with his hand. He pulled himself upward and, after a few more movements like this, found himself inside the white shaft. The walls closed around him, threatening to squeeze the air from his lungs. He fought off the sense of claustrophobia, rubbing his neck. Chris climbed ever higher. After about sixty seconds of climbing, he was at the trapdoor. It hadn't occurred to him that it might be locked, but now this seemed a very real possibility. What would he do if he had come all this way, only to be turned back by a simple lock? He stared at the metal door above his head and saw the padlock was, indeed, closed. His heart fell, and he pounded the trapdoor in frustration. To his great astonishment, the padlock fell off and clattered to the restroom floor below. It had rusted through, leaving Chris with a clear path to the roof. He pushed upward, and the trapdoor opened. It swung up and then fell back onto the roof with a clang. Chris braced himself for shouting or voices, but heard nothing. He climbed cautiously through the hole. Overhead, the clouds had cleared and the moon was shining brightly. There was no noise except his own breathing as he looked around. The rooftop spread out in all directions; it was a very large row of stores he was standing on. It was covered in boxes of all shapes and sizes, which he supposed were air conditioners and vents and the like. He saw The Food Universe across the parking lot, which was almost empty. Chris walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. The shaft must have been longer than he had thought; he was at least two stories above the ground. The wind threatened to push him off, so he crouched down to the ground. Peering over the edge, he saw people walking along the sidewalk, unaware there was a person above them. It felt great to be standing alone on the roof, he thought. He could see the ocean in the distance, and if he closed his eyes he could almost hear the waves breaking on the shore. "Amazing..." he said out loud. Something rustled on the ground behind him. He stood up and whirled around, expecting to see someone standing behind him. However, the only thing he saw was a couple of leaves being blown across the roof by the wind. He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

He stood still for almost ten minutes, staring out over the Hawaiian landscape. It was one of the most beautiful places he had been to, second only to the Italian countryside. He could definitely live here. Chris glanced at the trapdoor and gasped. It was closed. He thought back to when he had first come up onto the roof, and he was sure he had left it open. He darted across to the trapdoor and felt for the handle. He pulled on it, whispering, "Oh, please! Please open!" It didn't. For a minute or more he sat on the ground, staring at the trapdoor and rubbing his neck. The padlock had rusted through... this couldn't be happening! It couldn't be locked. Maybe it had just gotten stuck... He pulled again, hoping for a different result. Again, he couldn't get it to open. "No!" he cried out loud. He was going to have to look for another way down, or spend the entire night here. There was a cough behind him. He turned, but saw nothing. "Who's... who's there?" he called, voice shaky. There was no response. "I heard you... come out!" A figure stepped out from behind an air conditioner as the moon went behind a cloud. They were plunged into a darkness as complete as molasses. Chris heard footsteps coming toward him; he started to back away and stumbled over the trapdoor. He fell backward with a grunt of pain. "What are you doing here?" came a gruff voice from the darkness. Chris said nothing. He scrambled back to his feet and turned to run. He remembered he was on a roof only when he set his foot down on empty space. He pitched forward, arms windmilling. This is it, he thought. I'm going to die. "What's going on?" shouted the person behind him as a scream tore from Chris's throat. Chris tried to grasp something, anything, to stop his fall. He gasped as his center of gravity shifted to over the edge of the roof, and he felt his heart jump into his throat. Just as he thought it was hopeless, a hand grabbed his shirt from behind. It pulled him back up onto the roof, where he collapsed, sobbing with relief. "What's wrong with you, kid?" "Who are you?" Chris asked, wiping his eyes. He stood up, facing where he thought the person stood.

"That doesn't matter," said the voice. "The question is, who are you? What are you doing up here?" "What's it to you?" "Did you know you're breaking the law by being up here? I can drag you down to the police station right there, and you'll be arrested..." "I didn't see any sign saying people aren't allowed on the roof. And you're supposed to be here?" The moon came out from behind the cloud, and Chris saw the man who had saved his life for the first time. He was dressed in a navy blue three-piece suit, with a dark black bowler hat on his head. Wisps of white hair were visible under the hat, and his forehead was dotted with liver spots. "Not exactly," the old man said, averting his eyes. "I guess I wouldn't turn you in, then. But who are you?" "My name is Chris. I'm here on vacation. I went into the bathroom and saw the ladder, and it just-" "Called to you," the man said, nodding. "My name is Chris, also. You can call me Christopher, though, I sort of prefer that now that I'm older. I've been coming up on this roof for years. It's amazing, really. I've seen more sunsets from this roof than you've lived through. No one has ever had the nerve to come here before, though. I've always been alone." He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then added, "Actually, now that I think about it, there was someone else once... a long time ago... But never mind that." "I never get the chance to be alone," Chris said, ignoring the man's last comment. "By the way, thanks for... you know." He cocked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the edge of the roof. "No problem," the old man said, holding out his hand. Chris took the man's hand and shook, surprised at how strong his grip was. "So, do you have a big family?" Christopher asked. He gestured for the young boy to follow, and they walked together to the edge of the roof that faced away from the parking lot. "No, just very loud," Chris said. "The reason we're here is because my older sister, Clarissa, came home from college for a while." The old man looked surprised for a moment, but the emotion passed. "Really. And where is your family now?" "Sleeping in the condominium. They don't know I'm here. You won't tell them?" Chris asked fearfully.

"Of course not," the older Christopher said. "I understand how you feel... maybe even more than you think." They sat in silence for a while, staring up at the sky. They saw several more shooting stars, and they laughed and pointed them out to each other. "There's something magical about tonight," the older Christopher whispered. "What do you mean?" "Have you ever heard of ulalena?” he asked. Chris shook his head. “The Hawaiians say it is a wind that has lasted since the dawn of time, and they believe it has mystical powers. Don’t you...” The old man paused, as if searching for the right words to express his complex emotions. “Tonight feels like a night for new beginnings... or, perhaps, endings...” He sighed. “Forgive me. I fear I'm just a rambling old man." "No, not at all. Keep going, please... I think I understand what you’re trying to say." "Well, it's just that all night long, I've had a sense of déjà vú, and I think I now know why." Young Chris waited for an explanation, but none came. With a shrug, he said, "I'd like to live in Hawaii when I get older." "Yes, you would," Christopher replied. Chris shot him a questioning glance, but the older man didn't reply. "How long have you lived here?" "Ever since I got out of college. I too had an older sister whom my parents favored. I just had to get away, and this was the only place that was far enough for me." They sat in silence for a while longer, until Chris noticed the sky was beginning to get lighter. "I think I have to go," Chris said. "I need to find a ride back to the condo before my parents wake up..." "Yes, that's right," Christopher said, eyes focused on some mysterious point on the horizon. He seemed to remember something, and added, "Walk. Don't get a ride." "But that'll take-" "Trust me. You don't want to get a ride with anyone tonight. Walk, and think about what we’ve discussed." "If you’re sure." "Goodbye, Chris." "Goodbye, Christopher. It was nice meeting you."

"Yes." "Ok." Chris stood up and walked over to the trapdoor, and remembered it had been stuck before. He turned back to the older man. "What am I going to do?" "It will work," Christopher said mysteriously. "How do you know?" "Trust me," the old man said. Chris scratched his neck nervously, bent down, and tugged on the handle. The trapdoor opened. He looked one last time at the man sitting on the roof and climbed down into the white shaft, pulling the door closed behind him. Christopher watched the trapdoor clang shut, and the boy was gone. He chuckled, shaking his head. He crawled over to the parking lot side of the roof and watched. He heard the restroom door creak open and then close. Soon he could see the top of the boy’s head. Chris stopped and looked up, but the old man moved back quickly. When he heard the boy’s footsteps begin again, Christopher leaned back over the edge. Chris walked across the parking lot and out into the road. He trudged up the sidewalk, hands in his pockets. ‘Please, don’t let him take a ride,’ the old man prayed silently. To his satisfaction, the boy did not put out his thumb. He kept walking in the direction of the condo. Good. The boy had taken his advice. After he was out of sight, the old man lay down. He stared up at the sky in silence, thinking about the multi-car pileup the boy would pass the next morning on his way to the beach, and the feeling of amazement he would feel when he realized he might have been killed had he hitchhiked back to the condo. Christopher reminisced about all of the wonderful things that had happened to him, here in paradise. He thought about the ocean, and the gentle feeling of the waves around his feet, and the feeling of utter peace he felt when he went snorkeling, and the warmth of the sun’s rays, and most of all ulalena. He lay there, unmoving, near the edge of the roof until the birds awoke and the sun had risen above the volcano in the distance. Young Chris would be almost home by this time. Then there came a far-off screech of metal, followed soon after by the explosion of a gas tank. Christopher jumped as his old heart almost gave out. He rubbed the two freckles on the back of his neck nervously, as he had done ever since he was very young. He sat up slowly, looked around the roof,

and realized with sadness that this would be his last time here. He had done what he was supposed to do. He had prevented the boy from being involved in the car accident and completed the cycle, thus allowing himself to go on living. He lifted the trapdoor, back cracking painfully. With one last wistful glance around the roof where he had spent so many nights, he climbed down into the restroom below. http://www.fictionpress.com/~andfound815