Gary Brandt ratchets up the tension in his tale from The Dimension Of Mind Dot Com when a mysterious missing child case becomes the perfect trap to reveal just how much the Navy knows about the girls' supernatural abilities.
When Officer Mom pulls Eileen from school for an 'emergency search party,' the girls find themselves face-to-face with Commander Beaker at a park swarming with military personnel, helicopters, and search dogs—all looking for a vanished two-year-old.
The set ...
Show More
Welcome to our curated selection of items!
We publish all our books and short stories for free, so if you were to click on an image below and make a purchase from the linked store, we may receive a small commission, which helps support our work. Thank you!
(You don't have to buy the item shown. You can buy anything from that store and we will get credit.)
A sharp tap on the door pulls the teacher to her feet. She opens it, revealing Eileen's mother in her police uniform, her face set with purpose. “May I collect my daughter?” she asks, her voice calm but urgent. “There’s a gathering at the park—a search party for a missing child. I’d like Eileen to join.”
“Of course,” the teacher says, her tone somber. “I hope they find the child.” She nods toward Eileen, who grabs her backpack and steps into the hall. Roxana and Ella are already waiting outside, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension. They fall into step behind Eileen and her mom, the school’s fluorescent lights casting long shadows as they exit into the crisp May air.
In the patrol car, the radio crackles with updates about the search. Ella leans forward, her voice tentative. “What’s this about? Why do they want us to help?”
“I was wondering that myself,” Eileen's mother says, her eyes fixed on the road. “Police, fire, Army Rangers—they’re all there with dogs and helicopters. There’s also a Navy team, and their commander requested you three by name. How does he know you? What can three girls do?”
Eileen shifts uncomfortably. “He came to school, trying to recruit us for some Navy ROTC program for gifted students. We told him to come back next year, when we’re in high school.”
Eileen's mother’s brow furrows. “Why didn’t you tell us? Does your dad know?”
“He seemed… off,” Ella says, choosing her words carefully. “His story didn’t add up, so we brushed him off to get rid of him.”
“Off how?” Eileen's mother presses. “Stranger-danger off?”
“Not like a creep in a van,” Roxana says. “More like… government-secret-program creepy. Like he wanted us to be spies or something. It freaked us out.”
“I see,” Eileen's mother says, her tone tightening. “I’ll have your dad look into him.”
“Please don’t!” Eileen pleads. “Dad’ll get all excited about us in uniforms. We don’t care about military stuff—it’s not our thing.”
“You’re young to make those calls, but waiting was smart,” Eileen's mother says, pulling into the park’s crowded lot. “We’re here. Let’s see what’s going on.”
The park teems with activity—searchers fan out across the grassy fields, their neon vests bright against the late spring green. Beyond the park, another group treks into the wooded hills, their voices faint. A military helicopter thunders overhead, its blades slicing the air.
Commander Beaker, in his crisp Navy uniform, hurries toward them, his smile too polished. “Hello, girls,” he says, nodding to Eileen's mother. “Thank you for coming. We need your help. A two-year-old boy vanished right in front of his parents—no trace in the park or hills. Can you guide us where to look?”
Eileen's mother’s eyes narrow, her expression a mix of disbelief and suspicion. The girls exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between them, their faces tense. Ella finally speaks, her voice steady but laced with unease. “Probably a silent vortex. This area has underground crystalline structures—quartz, other minerals. That high peak beyond the hills.” She points to a distant ridge, its silhouette sharp against the sky.
Eileen's mother’s jaw drops. “That peak’s nearly four miles away. A two-year-old couldn’t get there alone. Are you suggesting he was abducted? What am I saying? How do you know about crystalline structures and vortexes?”
“We study this in science class,” Roxana says quickly, her tone unconvincing.
Beaker’s voice crackles through a field phone, heated. “I’m not kidding!” A Marine helicopter banks toward the peak, an Army chopper trailing behind.
The girls retreat to the shade of an ancient oak, its gnarled branches offering a sliver of calm. They sit in silence, the weight of Beaker’s request pressing down.
An hour later, Beaker approaches Eileen's mother, his expression softer. “Thank you, Officer, for bringing the girls. The boy’s been found—safe. He said a ‘big bear’ took him there and protected him. Sounds like a toddler’s imagination, right? Here’s my number. I owe the girls dinner—or anything they’d like.”
Eileen's mother drives home in stunned silence, the girls in the backseat exchanging wary glances. School’s nearly out, so she doesn’t bother returning. At home, she turns to them, her voice shaky. “Girls, that wasn’t science class. What just happened? How did you know where to look?”
“Please, Mom,” Eileen says gently. “Let it go. This isn’t your thing. Ask Dad—he gets this stuff.”
Eileen's mother stares, her confusion tinged with fear, as if seeing her daughter—and her friends—for the first time.
They head inside, the house’s warmth a stark contrast to her unease. At dinner, Eileen's dad’s excitement fills the room. “Navy? ROTC? Dinner?” he says, grinning. “Call him! Let’s hit that lobster place the girls love. Invite the commander!”
“This isn’t a joke,” Eileen's mother snaps, her voice tight. “Something’s wrong with the girls. It’s weird—serious weird.”
“I’m taking it seriously,” Eileen's dad says, patting her shoulder. “A free lobster dinner is always serious. I’ll talk to Beaker and figure it out. Don’t worry.”
“Here’s his number,” Eileen's mother says, tossing a card onto the table. “Call him yourself. I’m tired of being treated like a child—even by the girls.” She storms upstairs, her footsteps heavy.
At the lobster restaurant, the girls sit stiffly at a candlelit table, the scent of butter and seafood doing little to ease their nerves. Commander Beaker arrives, shaking Eileen's dad’s hand before settling in. The menus lie untouched as Eileen's dad leans forward, his voice low. “He knows, doesn’t he?”
“He knows something,” Ella says, her tone guarded.
“We’ve been tracking the entity for weeks,” Beaker says, his voice smooth but clinical. “Good thing the Navy has jurisdiction, or the entity—and your girls—could vanish, never to be found.”
“Is it that dangerous?” Eileen's dad asks, his face tightening. “Mil-lab dangerous?”
“Worse,” Beaker says. “That’s why we wanted them in our program. If they need to disappear, we can do it safely, without harming the juvenile entity or the girls.”
Eileen's dad nods slowly. “I didn’t realize it was that serious. Helana, care to introduce yourself?”
“I’ll speak for her,” Ella cuts in. “She’s not feeling well. All this drama’s exhausting.”
“Is she more visible? Heavier?” Beaker asks, his eyes narrowing.
“Why?” Ella snaps, her stare piercing.
Beaker leans forward, his voice low. “Her kind comes from a dimension billions of times less dense than ours. They visit briefly, observe, and leave. Staying too long is dangerous. Our dimension’s density infuses their body, making them too heavy to return. Every particle in her form has absorbed our energy. If she tried to go back now, she’d explode—like a nuclear bomb. If Helana’s weak, it’s likely started.”
Ella pales, her breath catching. “Oh no,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “Helana, I’m so sorry. I messed up keeping you here. What do we do? Is she going to die?”
“With care, she won’t,” Beaker says. “Over time, she’ll grow denser, reaching normal size. We have scalar wave treatments to accelerate it, but we must be cautious. Other groups—entities—might want to harvest her. She’s revealed forbidden knowledge. We need to hide you all somewhere safe.”
“She’s freaking out,” Roxana says, her voice trembling.
“She’s crying,” Ella adds, tears in her eyes. “She wants to talk to her parents, to say she’s sorry.”
“Our remote viewer contacted her parents,” Beaker says. “That’s how we knew she was here. They’re sad, not angry. Helana planned to return instantly, unnoticed, but got stuck, and her timeline shifted. Her parents visit often, watching from a distance. They approve of you, Eileen's dad, as her guardian and will support her. They love her deeply.”
“So what do we do?” Eileen asks. “How do we care for our new sister?”
“Join our program,” Beaker says. “We’ll keep you safe, aid Helana’s transformation, create an identity so she’s not an alien, and train you all. Helana’s taught you telepathy—that’ll grow. You’ll share her abilities, and she’ll gain yours. Soon, you’ll be extraordinary, with powers beyond most humans.”
“The Navy sees you as a priority,” he continues. “Helana’s parents told us of your role in our future—a potential destiny she helped create by coming here. Her presence is a gift to humanity, a chance we can’t miss. You four will make this world better.”
“That’s a huge responsibility for young girls,” Eileen's dad says, his voice heavy. “Are there others like them?”
“We hope so,” Beaker says. “But these are the first we’ve found. They’re special, and we’re committing all resources to support them.”
“The waitress is staring,” Eileen says, breaking the tension. “Can we order? I’m starving. And how do we feed Helana?”
“She’s not a doll!” Ella snaps at Eileen, her protective instinct flaring.
“Will you take her to a secret base and study her?” Roxana asks, her voice sharp.
“Absolutely not,” Beaker says. “You must stay together—your bond is vital. We want all four of you at our facilities. You’ll travel the world—aircraft carriers, exotic ports, maybe space. Ella, you love science—you’ll see cutting-edge tech. But we’ll reintegrate you into normal life—high school, college. A military career’s optional.”
“Can the transformation happen in three months?” Eileen's dad asks. “They have summer vacation. If we pitch this as a summer program, I can convince the other parents. Longer, and it’ll be tough—they might get split up.”
“We’ll take what we can get,” Beaker says. “Let’s meet with the parents soon. Time’s critical.”
Later, in the quiet of her room, Ella opens her diary, the day’s events swirling in her mind.
Dear Diary,
It's me, Ella.
Did today even happen? My head’s spinning.
Tomorrow, our parents meet at school with Commander Beaker about his program.
They’ll freak, but they’ll probably agree.
Helana’s so sick—she needs us.
I guess we have to do it.
That bear story’s wild.
Helana says some places have silent vortexes where dimensions collide, spinning so fast they suck you in.
Adults usually die, their bodies ripped apart, leaving clothes inside out.
Kids, being small, sometimes survive.
That bear was probably a dimensional entity protecting the boy.
This planet’s weirder than I ever imagined.
I hope we don’t have to wear dumb uniforms in the Navy.
I wonder if we’ll shoot guns.
A machine gun would be cool.
Goodnight, Diary.
Chapter 11 — *“Big Bear”* — is one of the most intense, heartfelt, and surprising entries in *Ella’s Story* so far. What begins with a seemingly ordinary *missing child search party* quickly spirals into something far deeper — touching on government involvement, supernatural physics, and the *serious and potentially dangerous consequences* of keeping Helana in our world. Gary Brandt masterfully balances the tension of a rescue mission with the emotional stakes of friendships, family dynamics, and identity.
--- ## 📖 Story Arc SummaryThe chapter opens with **Eileen being pulled out of school** by her police-officer mother for an *“emergency search party”* at a local park. There, the girls walk into a coordinated search scene teeming with volunteers, dogs, helicopters — and to their shock — a **Navy team led by Commander Beaker himself**, who has specifically requested *them* by name.
Commander Beaker explains that a toddler has vanished without trace, and despite adults’ skepticism, **Ella points toward a distant ridge** with underground crystalline mineral formations that suggest a silent vortex — a supernatural mechanism that could explain the disappearance. The military immediately acts, sending helicopters toward that ridge … and moments later they confirm the missing boy has been found safe, recalling only that a “big bear” protected him.
The mood shifts sharply as the girls’ parents take the situation home — specifically, a **lobster dinner with Commander Beaker**. As the adults probe deeper, Beaker reveals that **Helana is in danger simply from being in our dimension too long**: her interdimensional body absorbs energy, gaining density, and could *explode like a nuclear bomb* if she tries returning home in her current state. The Navy offers medical assistance, safe custody, and even training for the girls to stay together while Helana stabilizes.
By the end of the chapter, the group faces a future where they may be *more than ordinary teens* — holding powers, responsibilities, and a destiny tied to Helana’s survival. Ella closes the episode with a diary entry that reflects her bewilderment and the surreal reality of their new path.
--- ## 💬 Favorite Quotes“Probably a silent vortex. This area has underground crystalline structures — quartz, other minerals.”
This line made my jaw drop — Ella doesn’t just *guess*; she confidently points the adults in the exact direction where help is needed. That boldness was thrilling!
“If she tried to go back now, she’d explode — like a nuclear bomb.”
This was honestly terrifying and so unexpected. The stakes suddenly became *life and death* on a cosmic level.
“Helana planned to return instantly, unnoticed, but got stuck, and her timeline shifted.”
The idea that Helana’s presence here changed reality itself hit me right in the heart — it’s both beautiful and devastating.
“…this planet’s weirder than I ever imagined.”
Ella’s diary entry captures that sense of bewildered awe so perfectly — and honestly, I felt that too as a reader!
--- ## 😲 Unsuspected Plot TwistsThis chapter hit me in *so many emotional layers* — fear, wonder, uncertainty, and love. When the girls first point the adults toward the ridge, that mix of teenage boldness and anxiety had my heart racing. Then the revelation about Helana’s danger made me genuinely tear up — imagining a friend at risk of an explosive fate is painfully real in its emotional impact.
Commander Beaker’s militaristic tone mixed with genuine concern created a complex emotional space: he’s an authority figure, yet he isn’t cold. His seriousness about the situation underscores how *outsized* the girls’ secret has become.
But the heart of the chapter lies in the way the adults — especially Eileen’s parents — react: confusion, protection, fear, and ultimately a reluctant acceptance. It’s this messy, *real* parental response that grounded the supernatural chaos in something I could emotionally connect to.
And then there’s Ella’s diary entry — equal parts bewildered and earnest. Her concerns about uniforms, lobster dinner plans, and even joking about machine guns felt *authentically teenage*, even under existential pressure.
--- ## 🎯 Final Thoughts*“Big Bear”* is an **epic pivot point** in *Ella’s Story* — turning mystery into *mission*, childhood friendship into *destiny*, and emotional vulnerability into *courage*. Gary Brandt supercharges the narrative with tension, science-fiction complexity, and heartfelt introspection. This chapter is a must-read if you want stories that dazzle with ideas **and** feel deeply human at their core.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — A breathtaking mix of science, danger, and heart that left me eager for what comes next!
---![Edikted Peyson Sheer Lace Top - Cream - [M]](https://thedimensionofmind.com/images/14653483_fpx.webp)
![Free People Dean Double Breasted Blazer - Plum Combo - [M]](https://thedimensionofmind.com/images/freep4680723470_1760044215337_2-0.jpg)
![FP Movement Never Better Crop Cami - Evergreen - [M]](https://thedimensionofmind.com/images/fmove3039015b55_1760719094599_2-0.jpg)
