T.O.R.N.: There's Only Right Now

Chapter 8 Marie

The wind blew Aissa's curly hair as she clung for dear life to Obadias as they sped down the Pacific Coast Highway on his Harley. The sun was setting into a beautiful bouquet of violets, corals, and pinks that it captured her breath. She was at peace for the first time since she'd been with her mother and sister all those many moons ago. In the distance, a new moon was rising and Aissa took this as a sign. A symbol of what lay ahead.

She and Obadias had spent the entire day talking on the beach. He told her stories of The Wave, the faction that he belonged to, the faction that her mother, Stella, and father, Michael had given their lives and freedom for. He told her of how his parents had fought alongside them against The Sephiren and other sub-factions that were oppressing mankind. He said that he and the other members of The Wave had been searching for her and Asante since The Sephiren murdered their mother.

The motorcycle slowed grabbing Aissa's attention. They turned off Pacific Coast Highway and onto Sunset Boulevard and followed the signs that said Pacific Palisades. A few more turns and hills and they pulled up to a beautiful modern wood home surrounded by trees. It reminded Aissa of a tree house. There was a wooden bridge that went from the street to the entryway of the home. On each side of the bridge, a stream with large koi, ducks, and turtles as its inhabitants flowed.

As they got off and began to unload Aissa's few belongings from the storage compartment on the back of the bike, the large wooden double doors of the entryway opened. A svelte, long-legged, curly-haired, blonde girl, with caramel skin, came running out and across the bridge to meet them.

"Aissa," she seemed to scream at the top of her lungs, with her arms stretched out as wide as her fingers would pull. She came in for the real thing and immediately hugged Aissa so tight that she nearly lost her breath.

"I feel like I've been waiting to meet you my whole life, my name is Marie," she whispered in Aissa's ear as she held her. Aissa finally relented and released her body into the love that felt so much like home instantly. They walked hand in hand like little girls into the house.

The wood theme continued into the open floor plan home. Sitting at a fireplace were a group of what looked like members of an alternative rock band. Vibrant colored dyed hair, ripped jeans, plaid shirts in varied colors, and doc martens were adorned by all of them. In the kitchen was a woman cooking what smelled like heaven to Aissa. Aissa was introduced first to her. She had long silver hair to her butt. Eyes that mirrored Marie's of the clear aquamarine hue.

Marie said, "This is my Grandmother NikkiNicole."

She held out a hand, her wrist full of charms, and bracelets of every metal possible. "It's a pleasure to meet you Aissa, you have been blessed with your mother's beauty, both inside and out I'm sure!"

Aissa, shook her hand as her heart felt like it would implode with love and light. Aissa, responded with, "Will you tell me more of my mother?" This surprised Aissa, but NikkiNicole seemed to expect it and nodded while patting her hands as the words tumbled out of her mouth.

From the kitchen, they walked into a living space that flowed into an open garden with a spectacular view of the ocean. In the large door frame stood a girl wearing butterfly wings, with lavender hair, black ripped jeans, and fluffy pink slippers. She was a tad more timid in meeting Aissa but the warmth and love emanating from her matched Marie and NikkiNicole's.

"I'm J.StaRR, nice to meet you Aissa," she opened her arms slowly to embrace her. Aissa let go of Marie's hand and as she went to hug J.StaRR, there was a physical current between the two of them which she could feel in her whole being immediately. As they got closer a blue light became visible and began to emanate from their bodies. Obadias stepped in and pulled them apart.

"I thought that might happen," he turned to Aissa, "You and J.StaRR are alike in many ways. Like you, she's aligned with the frequency of tectonic plates. But she also has complete mastery over sound waves as well. She can actually manipulate the cells in our bodies with the pitch, tone, and vibrato of her voice."

Aissa's eyes opened wide with amazement.

The kids near the fireplace now walked over to where they stood and collectively introduced themselves, "We are The Misfitz!"

"This is my band," J.StaRR continued, "They share the same relationship to sound as I do with my voice but they can transmute it through the instruments they play. Eddie, Mystro, Chase Money, and Kaz." They all smiled and did a simultaneous bow. Aissa's heart soared.

After dinner, they all sat around a fire-pit beyond the garden, near a cliff. The ocean air combined with the company continued to imbue Aissa with peace.

In the midst of the tranquility Obadias began, "Aissa, we've yet to tell you what Marie's very special gift is. She's a telepath who writes and draws what she is able to see and hear by entraining other's brainwaves."

"Amazing!" Aissa was enamored with it all.

"Well, we've been looking for you, not just to bring you into the fold, but in your mind, in your memories, there may be a picture of an object that we've been searching for since your mother's death. A small leather-bound notebook. It is incredibly integral to the work of The Wave. If Marie can see it, she can gather the information inside it through a process similar to osmosis."

"Incredible," Aissa whispered with tears welling up in her eyes. "But I barely remember my mother, I don't think I will be able to help," she said shaking her head and wiping away her tears.

Marie then came and knelt in front of her and held her hands. As she did, a memory surrounded Aissa as if she were reliving it. She was in bed with her mother, in she and Asante's room. Stella was holding her and singing the, "Ready for the Day" song. All the words came easily out of her mouth as she began to sing along with her mother."I am ready for the day, I am kind, I am brave. I'm exactly what I say, not tomorrow but today! I am ready for today, night is gone, I'm awake. There is no time anyway, let's have fun and create. Don't delay, ride the waves, I am ready for the day. I am ready for the day, I am ready for the day."

Marie let go of her hand and her mother and the room disappeared. Overwhelmed with emotion, Aissa caused the ground beneath them to move. Aissa calmed herself and everyone and everything was still.

"Alrighty then," Obadias broke the silence. "Now that you see, you and Marie will spend a little time every day searching for your mother's notebook in your memories."

"What's in it, what's in the notebook?" Aissa asked.

"The knowledge that will give us the ultimate weapon against The Sephiren and free humanity from the guise of the veil," Obadias answered.

"Oh no pressure to find it then," Aissa smiled nervously.