BEYOND THE RED SKY

14. BEGINNING OF THE END

14. BEGINNING OF THE END

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Like a little light shining in an endless cycle

The day had been so pleasant in the exquisite gardens of Astea that I think I had decided that being here was not such a bad thing as I enjoyed the moment. In the corner of my room, I put my wooden box carved by my father and containing small coloured stones that Elisa and I had collected. It was like they were with me. And knowing that they were okay made me feel better than ever.

I hadn't seen Arlen anywhere that day. I wondered if he was thinking about me right now. I couldn't stop thinking about him and that moment. Even though that impressive image of him was in my memory the first time I saw him, I never thought he would be attracted to me.

When even the thought of it made me feel good, I stopped loitering in the garden and laid down in a corner. This time I was cautious. I stayed away from the magical flowers. I was only near the exquisite daffodils and nefertem.

When I let the sun warm my face, I closed my eyes and listened to the silence. After a few minutes, I opened my eyes when I frowned with a humming. However, the humming was not coming from outside, it was in a different place. It was inside me. My heart skipped a beat at this thought.

I knew how my mum had felt in the past when she had anxiety, so I tried to control myself, thinking I was like her. But I couldn't control my heart and my trembling hands. My anxiety attack was about to start. I was having difficulty breathing, as if the world was shrinking around me. At that moment I felt that it was going to be one of the worst anxiety attacks I had ever experienced. I still shudder when I remember that moment.

When the hum I thought was coming from far away turned into a sound, I stood up, startled by the sound I heard.

"Go to the true king of Astea, Talia!"

I looked around. No one was visible in the sunlit flower garden except me. There should have been only a distant sound, nothing more.

"Just follow the path and you'll see him!"

"Who are you?" I mumbled, clasping my hands together. When my voice, trembling with fear, disappeared, I waited for an answer, but there was no one. For some reason, that voice sounded like someone I recognised. I didn't think it would be Arlen, so I said the first name that came to my mind.

The buzzing stopped when I said, "Damn it, Leonas, is that you?" It couldn't be him. He'd be out by now. I didn't think he'd be that patient.

"Leeme?" I said in a high-pitched voice. Even though I didn't think she would be around me either. I still didn't like him, even though Arlen said it wasn't Leeme's fault. When the humming in the garden started to get closer, I started to run in fear. I ran dazedly in any direction and bumped into someone without realising it.

I watched Leonas, his smile widening as he looked puzzled. When I rolled my eyes, he let out a small laugh.

"You scared me. It wasn't a nice joke," I said, wagging my finger at him. When he put his hands on his waist, he seemed eager to spar with me.

"Excuse me, but I have to say, Talia, you're the one running around like a madman. What's all the excitement, for God's sake?"

"Didn't you call out to me?"

"I see you now. I didn't realise it when I entered the garden, silly human," he said and watched my reaction. If it wasn't Leonas, could I really be going crazy?