Piercing The Fold by Venessa Kimball

ant farm. However, I was still so proud of my ants’ victories in their small world.
    “They are fascinating little creatures, aren’t they?” Ezra is standing a few feet from me. He walks back to his desk and clears his side. “They are creating their own world in there. Each has a purpose. Each has a significant part in the functionality and nature of their survival individually and cumulatively. Some make good choices and some make bad ones. The natural balance of good and bad reveals itself in everything at some point in time, doesn’t it?”
    I look at Ezra, now standing next to me peering into the little world he has given to these ants.
    Ezra turns and walks around the room. “You know, we are much like those ants.”
    I respond with a hint of skepticism. “We are? How is that?”
    Ezra turns and walks toward the wall of books on the other side of the room. “Remember our conversation the first time we ran into each other at Margot’s?”
    I nod. “Yes. You were talking about wormholes and how they are not impossible and completely plausible with the right amount of negative mass, like a black hole’s event horizon.”
    Ezra eyes me with pride of my recollection. “Well, these little ants are in a pursuit just as many of us are. They want to cut out a new tunnel to something different, better, or greater. Sometimes they tunnel and find they have gone nowhere. Sometimes they tunnel, get trapped, and must be saved. Even more, sometimes there is mutiny against the one that is trapped and injured trying to tunnel. The others either save it or kill and eat it to keep their expanding world unpolluted, no barriers or blockages.”
    I let out a sound from within. “Ugh. That is disgusting.”
    Ezra says, “Yeah, but haven’t we as humans done such abominating actions throughout history? Concentration camps. Elimination of the perceived weaker of the human race.”
    I nod and wave my hand. “Okay, point taken. The ant farm analogy is getting a little heavy, don’t you think?”
    There is silence for a few moments. Tension instantly becomes thick in the air. Lightning striking at any moment.
    I can’t wait any longer. I walk toward Ezra and stand in the middle of the room with my hands up. “Okay. So hit me with it. Let’s discuss.”
    Ezra extends his hand for me to sit. “Have a seat.”
    Ezra sits in his oversized side chair. I sit on the love seat and lean forward in anticipation.
    Ezra holds his folded hands over his lips for a few moments. Then he slowly lays both of his hands on either arm of the chair. His gaze is steady on me.
    “As a child you were adopted by the Sera family. You have a younger sister, biological to the Sera’s. Her name is Bethany. You were raised in the Christian faith. You were raised to respect the arts and sciences. Your best friend is Elisha Montgomery, who also works with you at Benson’s Book Store. Since you were young, you have been having a reoccurring nightmare. One that has become more frequent and vivid in the recent weeks. You are also experiencing unexplainable abilities and advantages…”
    I put my hand up to stop him. “Whoa! What? You mean the warped visions and the high-frequency hearing I have are abilities? How do you know about me? My life? My family?”
    I feel so violated. I don’t really know Ezra Kahn, other than he was my professor one semester and has been making regular appearances in my life lately. This man could be a stalker, for all I know. He has been following me around town, expressing growing interest in me. I feel the urge to leave quickly. I know that Ezra feels my urge as well.
    Ezra puts his hand on his forehead and lets out a half laugh and half cough. “Jes, I’m not stalking you. I am old enough to be your father, for God’s sake. Your parents and I…Well, let’s just say we are very old friends.” Ezra’s face and tone instantly become serious again.
    I’m silent, feeling sabotaged all of a sudden. First, my parents are