The Collision (Sequel to The Division)

Chapter 22 (River)

I am surrounded by black water. It is impossible to see anything but myself. Where am I?

I realize that I shouldn't be able to breath. I choke, my brain switching to panic mode.

"Calm down child,"A soothing voice whispers, "How easily you lose your trust."

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Who do you think?" The voice replies.

"I don't know, that's why I asked," I snap back.

"Hmmmm... That would be the point of a question." The voice ponders.

"So are you going to answer?" I demand.

"Are you going to answer?" The voice counters.

Obviously this isn't going to get me anywhere. I think.

"Stop confusing me with all your stupid riddles," I yell, "just answer the question!"

"Alright. If you insist."

I hear the water around me begin to drain away. I slowly am falling towards the bottom...only I don't know what that is. I feel my back touch something solid but I don't stop. I am pulled through the object. I close my eyes and wait.

I stop and when I open my eyes I have to blink to adjust to the bright light. I hesitantly  stand on shaky feet.

"I suggest you don't stand." The voice suggests.

Suddenly the ground is pulled from under my feet, like a table cloth pulled off a table, and I fall ungracefully on my butt. I open my eyes to see a perfect blue sky, delicate flowers poking out from freshly cut grass. A pure white gazebo  sits to my left, in it sits a woman in a dress that matches the gazebo. I see a table, filled with dainty tea cups, with two chairs opposite each other. The woman motions for me to take one. I stand and walk hesitantly to the woman.

She chuckles, her voice wise and humorous. "You don't need to freak out. I'm not going to hurt you."

I hear the sincerity in her voice and walk, with a little more confidence, to the gazebo. I study the woman as I walk. She looks very old, her shoulders slightly slouched over, her hands wrinkled, her face sagging and aged. But her eyes hold a brightness and innocence that mimic a child's while still displaying the wise woman's mind. Her hair is braided simply down her back, the silver color glittering in the nonexistent sunlight.

I sit in the white wooden chair across from the woman. She raises the tea pot, with sturdy hands, to offer me some. I shake my head.

She takes a sip of  her tea. "This gazebo is older than me," She chuckles to herself. "It was the favorite place of my mentor and where I often trained."

"Trained to do what?" I ask.

She shrugs, "Anything and everything."

I bite lip in order to control my anger. I am getting really tired of these riddles. I close my eyes and sigh, "Why am I here?"

She smiles, "Patience child, all will be known soon."

Just when I was going to strangle her, three children appear in the distance. The oldest, about twelve years old, is a dark skinned boy with large muscles, larger than I have seen on child. His eyes are strong, unwavering and the brown orbs seem to bore into my soul, studying my every move. He wears a smaller version of a military uniform. The middle girl, probably nine to ten, is long, chestnut haired with piercing green eyes. She wears a beautiful pink tulle dress that she maneuvers with ease. The last and youngest, about four or five, has short blond curly hair that reaches to her shoulders. Her eyes are sky blue and she wears a simple white dress with white sandals. All three of the children seem to have a strange glow surrounding their figures.