The Evergreen Enigma

Part Four: The Whispered Words

                                                                  Part Four: The Whispered Words

     Dexter quickly saved the virtual map onto his laptop, ready to print when the noise wouldn't wake his parents. He powered down his computer, the illumination of the screen fading away and leaving his bedroom in a hazy light, flowing in from the window that was still cracked open from his entrance. The cool breeze was blowing in, engulfing him in a cold hug and sending chills up his spine. Dexter glanced over to his clock that sat on the desk; it read 4:53. His tired eyes were hesitantly drifting closed, refusing to stay open and awake any longer. He stood up from his desk, a dizzying exhaustion taking over him. He quickly changed clothes, switching from jeans to more comfortable athletic shorts, and trading in his autumn-smelling t-shirt for a clean one. Dexter snuck out of his bedroom door and across the house, to avoid his parent's bedroom that sat across from his own, and entered the half bathroom. He stared into the mirror, his own green eyes reflecting off of the glass and looking into his heart. He stared for what seemed like hours, but was actually a couple of minutes, and waited for himself to wake up. It seemed as if the Evergreen Island madness was nothing but a dream, one that he would wake up from with a whirlpool of emotions swirling around in his head. He would feel relief, because he would no longer be sad and anxious for the inhabitants; but at the same time, he would feel upset, because the adventure that he craved would not happen, and he wouldn't have the chance to help.

     However, he didn't wake up, and this was as real as anything he had ever experienced. Dexter quietly stumbled back to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. He sleepily made his way to the other side of his bedroom where the window was, and he peered out, the cold wind hitting his face unexpectedly, which made his eyes water. That watering soon turned into a cry- a cry for the island that he couldn't get to, and a cry for people who he couldn't help.

     "I'll find you, Evergreen. I'll get to you," he whispered into the wind.

     And as the air carried his words, silencing them almost immediately, he hoped that the same wind would reach the island somehow, and that it would give the people hope. Dexter meant what he said; he was going to Evergreen. He was going to help these people to take back their home; he was going to make sure they were safe and happy and well fed; he was going to get there, and he was going to convince the people trying to overtake the island that they couldn't pry those people from their home. Dexter slipped the window closed, crawling into his bed and wrapping the blanket around himself. The cold air that still resided in the room, though the window was now closed, urged Dexter to sleep. Before he could object, his eyes were closing, and he was entering a sleep that could not possibly be stopped.

     The matter of making it to Evergreen was definite in the boy's mind; it wasn't if he would get there- it was when he would. In that moment, as he drifted into sleep, he made up his mind; no matter what it took, no matter how difficult it proved to be, Dexter would find Evergreen Island, and he would do what Carter Renaldo never could.

     He would save them, and he would honor the words he whispered into the wind.