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

Chapter 26 A New Reality

Unbridled anarchy spread through the cities of the world in the following weeks after Aissa guided millions of people's energy to levitate and teleport The New York City Library. The knowledge that The Sephiren had been manipulating humankind in every aspect of life had taken root in the minds of millions. However, millions more refused to accept the foundational idea in which this reality was built upon. For many, the concept that they had not been in control of their own lives was too far of a stretch from the freedom they had been brainwashed to believe they already had. Those thirsty for the taste of real liberty and those comforted by their chains began to battle.

The first arena of combat was on the political stage. There was an immediate demand for new governance throughout the world. Political parties split into factions that no longer represented the ideologies that separated us for generations, yet a new division grew in its place. Those seeking The Now demanded an end to all that had previously defined and distracted humanity from its highest self. They wanted an end to nationalism, racism, sexism, and classism. A new world order with men, women, and children represented equally amongst those acting on their behalf.

The other side viewed these people as treasonous. Those still enslaved to the paradigm, rooted in time, couldn't let go of history, culture, and the traditions that were the foundation of their existence. They demanded the status quo be restored.

The second sphere of conflict rose for the spiritual identity of humankind. Many religious people that were trapped in their doctrine believed The Wave were cultists peddling dark magic disguised as enlightenment. Some Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders unified under this banner, calling Asante the Anti-Christ, which gratified the seeds of doubts in their followers' hearts which The Wave and Asante's abilities planted. Those that were never satisfied with traditional, false religious structures were open to thinking of their spiritual purpose in a new way. They began to organize under the ideas that The Wave pointed to, love and spiritual unification for all. The lines between these factions of belief became harder and more defined as neither The Wave nor The Sephiren voiced their allegiance to any side.

Many speculated on the whereabouts of where the library had been teleported. Some were convinced they were in another dimension. While others launched search parties in some of the most remote locations on the planet to no avail. Speculation also broke out about who were the members of The Sephiren. Some of the employees of Quanta came forward claiming that they had been on the ground level of the organization and that billionaire Eric Fairchild, media tycoons, The Vanderneiss', the late Dr. Louis Schmidt, Dr. Emily Farraday, and a long list of prominent politicians, scientists, and businessmen and women from all walks of life, all over the world, were all part of the unseen hand of The Sephiren. However, without proof, their voices were dissolved into the sea of emerging conspiracies on the matter.

When Aissa, Michael, and the others opened their eyes to the sound of The New York City Library settling into the earth they were all filled with a moment of relief. But when they stepped outside to find they were on a clearing next to Leigh Lake in Teton, Wyoming, an overwhelming sense of gratitude for life itself sprung from the depths of their souls. The beauty of the location reflected the millions of people's hope for a new reality. By all accounts, there were a hundred or so that survived the attack in New York and made it back inside the library before they all disappeared into the sky. For the next two days, they would contemplate their options while they healed.

With no communication with the rest of the world, they were at odds over their direction. Many members desired to stay off-grid while the repercussions of what happened unfolded. Michael felt they needed to organize and rebuild under the radar until The Sephiren's intentions could be revealed. But Aissa felt as though they should seize the moment and make their selves known capitalizing on what happened in New York. She was convinced that the world was awake and waiting for them.