Ethereal Burn

The Awakening

The subtle breeze felt cool against my skin, the smell of salt, the moisture beneath my feet but it was the loud rumble of thunder that had my eyes opening in fright.

I could not scream, I could not shout, I don't think I could even cry at this moment. I was frozen in a mixture of emotions at what was all around me. Never had I seen the ocean with my own eyes, only read its beautiful descriptions by many authors. As far as my eye could see was different shades of blue water, both mysterious and enchanting.

Dark clouds hovered above but in the far distance I could see where the clouds ended, allowing the sun to shine upon the water creating the prettiest shade of blue green I'd ever seen, it even sparkled in the sunlight.

I somehow stood on top of the water, there was nothing beneath me but an endless depth of ocean water and life I could not see. I did not dare move, afraid I would fall through and drown, for I did not know how to swim.

The clouds above began to darken at a rapid rate, the wind slightly blew my hair uncontrollably as a strike of lightning struck the ocean water not far from me. I screeched in fear as I covered my ears, the loud rumble could be felt through my chest.

"I'm scared, I'm scared"... I whimpered

"Love will set you free, my little flower"... my mothers soft, loving voice rang out from up above.

My eyes quickly searched the dark clouds, scanned the endless stretch of water around me. But I did not see anyone, but I knew her voice, I knew that voice belonged to Mama.

A strong gust of wind blew forcing a small hole to appear within the dark cloud, a beam of sunlight shined down directly on me. I could feel its warmth as it caressed my skin, but what surprised me most to the point of tears was the unmistakable smell of mothers garden in full bloom.

A single tear fell from my eyes as I smiled up into the light... "Mama?"

A strike of lightning rang out behind me, the thunder causing my ears to ring almost painfully. I jumped in fright instinctively but fell on my knees in the process, I was shocked how I had not fallen through the water. I still remained on top but my eyes widened in fear as I could see something dark approaching from underneath and I had nowhere to run. My body refused to move as blackened earth rushed up from beneath the water. My fingers dug into the soft black dirt in an attempt to ground myself, hoping I would not fall off into the ocean as it moved.

I screamed in fright as another strike of lightning hit the ocean. This time the ocean vibrated angrily as tiny islands of blackened earth rose from beneath the water all around me. The light beam never wavered as it continued to shine down on me, allowing me to really see what was beneath me, around me.

I frantically stood to my feet, I trembled at the sight of black mist lingering above the dirt. Something about the black dirt looked sick, the mist pulsed creating more of itself. As I looked out across the waters, the same black mist rose from all the surrounding islands.

"What is happening?".. I mumbled out confused

They started out subtle but the closer the mist swirled to me the louder the broken cries of man, woman and child grew. The sounds were devastating, hauntingly eerie to the point it made my skin crawl in fear. I did not want that blackened mist to touch me, something about it wasn't right. If I touched it, I somehow knew in my heart I'd be tainted with its darkness forever.

A loud roar caused the sick earth, the ocean, the clouds to vibrate as if they too, were all scared of the sudden sound. The dark mist screeched loudly before it vanished by a white glow that touched the very earth I stood on, I watched as it quickly spread across the ocean waters touching every small island, purifying the sick earth.