The Abductors of Euskera: The Taking of Vanessa
Chapter 1: Vanessa's Dream
Today was just another day, another passing clock-tick in a life of routine, yet the daily drudgery and stress were worth it as Vanessa pulled into her driveway and her eyes soaked in the spectacular mountainscape that towered above her little house. It was good to be home, she thought, and thank goodness it's Friday. She grabbed up her purse and the bottle of chilled rosé wine she picked up in town, and prepared to settle in for the evening.
Vanessa cooked herself her favorite comfort meal, a choice cut of range beef covered in mushrooms with a side of fried asparagus smattered with almond slivers, just like mother made. She popped the cork of the rosé and made her way out to the back porch for a sunset dinner in the clean mountain air. The sun was just setting and a spray of orange and reds laid in a thick haze over the mountaintops, then slowly melted away into darkness as the day's end drew to a close. As Vanessa was finishing her dinner, the last flickers of daylight disappeared and replaced by a big, glittery starry sky. The wine was the perfect nightcap and a well-earned reward for a tough week at the office. The light fruity aromas and semi-sweet taste made for a suitable dessert after a satisfying meal. Vanessa lounged deeply in the padded cushions of her chair with her feet up on a worn tree-stump that she thought was too pretty to burn. She was a sucker for natural wood and everything country. This is living, she thought, then took another long sip of the aromatic rosé.
As Vanessa's eyes panned the brilliantly jeweled night sky, she saw something unusual. It appeared to be a bright star, but it moved in several directions like a firefly. It was too high and didn't mover like a plane, nor could it be a satellite. The star shot directly above her and stopped, a vast white glow that radiated brighter than anything else around it. For some distance outside of its shape was a ring of total blackness, as if it consumed all the light from the surrounding stars. Then in an instant, it shot straight up and disappeared among the white speckles of midnight. Vanessa's heart was pounding, not from fear but excitement. "What the hell was that?" she said out loud as she squinted and tried to peer deeper into the darkness in search of the mysterious star. It was gone. Vanessa took the wine bottle and poured what was left into her glass and drank it down in gulps. "I hope someone else besides me saw that," she said looking up into the darkness. With the euphoria of the wine starting to kick in, Vanessa thought it time to call it a night. She would call her neighbors tomorrow to see if anyone else saw what she thought she saw, whatever it was.
It was late, and Vanessa was tired and tipsy. She made her way to the bedroom, flipping off lights as she went, and entered the master bedroom and locked the door. Locking doors was a habit that was nagged into her by her parents and their constant concern for her living alone out in the country. Piece by piece she stripped off her clothes and left them in a trail on her way to the bathroom. A warm shower at the end of the day always made her sleep better, not that she would need it after drinking an entire bottle of wine. Besides, she was feeling lightheaded, and a little unsteady, and a shower may clear her head a little after experiencing that strange light in the sky.
Vanessa stepped into the shower with the water pressure on full, and the temperature cranked up. She let the jets of water massage her shoulders and backside as she leaned against the wall with both hands. The hot water ran down her body and pooled at her feet, washing away the chill from the night air. Trying to overcome her alcohol-induced brain-fog, Vanessa kept replaying the movements and image of the bright start, not wanting to forget any detail when she would talk to the neighbors tomorrow. She lathered up her youthful skin and slender limbs, releasing a strong lavender scent from the bubbling suds. Her whole body felt warm and relaxed, and the flower-scented steam began to intensify the sedative effects of the wine. Vanessa turned off the water and took a few deep breaths before stepping out of the shower. Sleep would come fast tonight.
After a quick buff with the towel, she slipped on her satin nightgown and climbed into bed. Her head was spinning as she began to drift into slumber, and visions of the bright star that visited her began to meld into a dream. Her body sank limply into the soft fluff of her bed, the glow of the memory of the light in the sky began to change into familiar images as she drifted into a deep sleep.