Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

"Anybody notice the smell?" Mark asked."What smell?" asked Deidre, sniffing the air."That's the point; smells like the only person who's been in here has been Mr.Clean.""He's right," Brian agreed. "There's nothing unusual here.""I don't get it," Melissa griped disappointedly. "I was sure we'd find some cluehere; I know what I experienced.""I don't think anyone doubts you," Brian said, inspecting one of the tables. "Youdid get us here without much effort.""But what could it mean?" Father Benedict wondered aloud. "Why wouldMalcolm's dream and Melissa's experience be so similar?""Melissa," Deidre spoke up, "didn't you say that your guide sort of wanted you togo down the hallway in the other direction?""Yes ... I felt that it did, but it wouldn't move.""You make it sound like old Casper didn't want to go with you, Missy" Malcolmcracked."You know . . . I did get that impression. It was almost as if . . . it wasfrightened—and don't ever call me Missy again.""You're such a help, Malcolm," Deidre replied in an annoyed tone."Well?" asked Mark impatiently."Well what?" insisted Melissa."Well, are we going the other direction or not?" The team looked at each otherapprehensively."I doubt very much if we're going to see anything creepier than Adam downthere," Mark opined."Oh, I can think of a few things that might do the trick," Deidre retortedanxiously."We must go," Father Benedict insisted. "We can't pass up any chance to learnfrom Melissa's experience. I'm going." With that the aged cleric headed down thehallway."He is an exorcist, you know," Brian eyed Melissa with a nervous smirk, andturned to follow Andrew."Let's hope we don't need him," Neil said darkly, right be-hind him. The othersaccompanied the threesome.The team cautiously made their way down the opposing corridor. They carefullyobserved any signs on the rooms that lined the hallway. None of them held any promiseof insight, and were all locked anyway, with the exception of the last room. Toeveryone's surprise, the door was ajar.Neil slowly pushed open the door and peered into the room. The others filedinside following his lead. The windowless room contained nothing of apparent value orsecrecy, only a large, rectangular, polished oak table surrounded by thickly cushionedlow-back swivel chairs. The deep, plush carpeting that greeted their feet was the sole hintof luxury. The lone adornment was a beautiful but unspectacular bronze sun disk, itsmetallic rays pointing in all directions, fixed on the wall behind one of the long sides ofthe table."Oooh . . ." Melissa suddenly swooned. "I feel dizzy ... Brian…275