Oasis Path©(English Version)BOOK 1 OASIS SAGA

Part 28.

Lawrence, February 18th.

At last, freedom seized me, allowing me to savor tranquility and fully immerse myself in the feelings I harbor for Alex. My hopes multiply, and an unparalleled joy flooded every fiber of my being.

This morning, waking with the same determination as always, I approached the window near my bed. However, an unexpected twist awaited my routine. A mysterious note laid there, its revealing words tracing a divergent destiny.

“I made arrangements for you to be free from classes. Wait for the first bell at 7, leave your room, and follow the path of the conduits. No one will notice your absence. Trust me. Just do it.”

Though logic hesitated in my mind about how I could go unnoticed, I chose not to waste time on worries and placed my trust in Alex. When the first toll sounded, I hurriedly left my dorm.

I navigated through corridors that would lead to the conduits, surprised to notice that the few people I encountered seemed to ignore my existence. Upon reaching the conduits, now miraculously deserted, I opened the door and encountered Alex, barely leaving room for me to delve into the unfolding mystery.

With determination, he held my left hand.

“Come on, no time to waste!” he said, breathless. “I’ll explain everything when we’re far from here.”

We stepped into the pine reserve overlooking the entrance to the Bloom forest on the side of the school. The wind rustled the branches, creating a mesmerizing sound. Alex remained silent as we walked, glancing impatiently at his watch, as if awaiting the precise moment for something.

Venturing into the forest, I felt something increasingly agitating Alex. His hand was sweaty, and his grip became firmer.

“Alex! Can you explain?” I asked, confused, forcing him to stop. “Where are we going? How is it that no one will notice my absence? I need to know.”

“Very easy, Amelie! I created an optical illusion,” he said, turning towards me and slowing his pace. “I wrapped the school in a kind of loop so that no one notices your absence.”

“Is that possible?” I asked, incredulous.

“Are you doubting me?” he asked playfully.

“Never!” I immediately responded. “I trust you a hundred percent.”

“It makes me very happy to know that, Amelie,” he said, approaching with a big smile.

“So, can you tell me what we’re doing here? Or where we’re going?”

“If you kiss me, I’ll tell you,” he imposed, smiling.

I leaned in to kiss him without hesitation. How could I not? My heart seemed to want to escape my chest during that kiss, but something felt different. I sensed that Alex was somewhat nervous and tried to pull back.

However, Alex didn’t allow it. He pressed me against his body and sought my left wrist, squeezing it firmly, as if to make sure I wouldn’t let go. The abruptness of his actions frightened me greatly; Alex had never been so rough in a kiss before.

In a matter of seconds, something incredible and terrifying happened. Squeezing my left wrist, he abruptly separated me from his body and pulled out a small dagger from somewhere I hadn’t seen. Before I could react, he had buried the dagger in my hand.

In complete surprise, I felt something detach from my hand as blood gushed, and intense pain forced me to bend down to touch the ground. Not only did my hand hurt; the pain in the center of my chest was unbearable, and I felt like I could faint.

“Amelie, Amelie... Hey! Look at me, my love!” Alex pleaded, searching my face with his hands. “What’s happening? What do you feel, my love?”

Desperate, Alex took my hand and nervously examined it, while I felt the pain slowly diminishing.

“It was true! We did it, Amelie! You don’t have to worry anymore!” he exclaimed, surprised.

“What’s happening, Alex? What was true?” I asked, breathing with a bit of difficulty.

At that moment, he pulled out a handkerchief and began to bandage my hand. As he tied it tightly, he started to tell me the details.

“I read in one of the documents we recovered from Glass that the butterfly could be removed without harm to the human carrying it, ten days after the first reaction, right within a 12-hour window. I thought of trying it, and you see, we did it!”

“I still don’t understand, Alex,” I said, showing obvious confusion.

“Do you remember that day in the cabin?” he asked and didn’t wait for an answer. “That was your first reaction. I was sure we were at the right moment.”

“So... is it over?”

“Yes, my love, you’re free now.”

“I can’t believe it, Alex!” I said excitedly, and at that moment, I began to see how the blood seeped through the bandage wrapped around my hand. “And now... what am I going to say at school?”

He lowered his gaze for a moment, as if devising an excuse, but quickly looked up.

“As soon as we get to school, you’re going to act as if we ran into each other in one of the hallways. I’ll take you to the clinic so a nurse can give you a better bandage, and you’ll say you hurt your hand while trying to move a mirror.”

“I think you’ve got it all covered!” I exclaimed. “Shall we go then?”

“Yes, let’s go. It’s not good for you to lose so much blood. You might start feeling unwell.”

Once again, we set out on the path, this time back to school. As we walked, a warm spring sun spilled its light on the trail lined with lush trees. Each step we took was like a harmonious melody resonating in our newly discovered complicity. The connection between Alex and me intensified with every shared laugh and exchanged word.

It was incredibly liberating to feel Alex’s proximity without the shadow of the butterfly that had previously kept us apart. Captivated by the sensation of freedom, joy overtook me in a way I had never experienced before. The certainty that we were overcoming an insurmountable obstacle filled us with energy, and the simple touch of our hands became an expression of triumph.

As we progressed, we shared dreams and aspirations, as if the journey back to school were a magical path allowing us to explore our most intimate thoughts. Laughter echoed in the air, blending with the rustle of leaves stirred by the breeze. It was as if the forest, witnessing our liberation, celebrated with us.