Prism of Equilibrium

Chapter 17: Defying Gravity

"I..." I stumbled to find the right way to say it. To be honest, I haven't really decided whether or not to tell him. But then, Branson said I could trust him.

I saw him smiled. "It's okay. Tell me when you've put those words in the right order. Now, let's catch up." he jumped off the net and I followed. I have probably thought too loud that he knew the words and logic are tied into a knot in my brain. We walked a bit from where we jumped and he stopped.

"Be prepared to jump in." he told me.

"What do you mean?" I'm not afraid to jump I can already tell, but there is clearly nothing to jump into. In front of us is the same field of wildflower.

"Jump." he looked at me. "Portal."

"You mean like we'll be at somewhere else if we jump in? How does it even work? Is there a secret button to push to reveal the portal?" In my mind, portal is a blackish-purple, circular hole that leads you to another place in seconds. But I have never thought about how it works.

"Is that a joke?" he asked. I was silenced by my own confusion and I saw the realization dawned on him. "No, you're not." he slowly said. I don't know why my confusion is contagious. "You will be at the place that you are thinking about in your mind the moment you entered the portal. How come you've never been into a portal? Where exactly are you from?"

That simple? A thought and it will bring you there? Cool. "Newsville." I answered. The quiet streets of Newsville flashed across my mind. The route I always took to get home. I stopped my mind from racking for more information. I know where this will lead; an argument with myself. Whether the memory of going to school is real or not.

"Alright." it seemed as if the word 'Newsville' is circling round and round in his head right now. He quickly redirected his focus on the ground where the portal should be. "There's no way you're a human, though. So I guess we'll discuss this later after we jump in." he grabbed my wrist. "Relax. Empty your mind. I'll guide you through it." he said it like he did to assure me to climb that wall, and it still works.

And we jumped---into what first seemed like the grassy ground that turned into nothingness after we stepped on it. We should be falling, but we're not. This portal thing has somehow defied the gravity. Seconds in it was... nothingness.

It was quickly replaced by my feet touching the ground, this time it felt hard like cement. I opened my eyes. I have just literally came out from a wall and now standing in an alley. My hands flew to check if my bag is still there, and luckily it is. The bricks sideways are burgundy, the way they should be. "So that's how you use a portal. How convenient." I said, trying to ease my mind. First, the wall, the fall, and then this---a portal that defies gravity and brings you to another place in seconds. I have no trouble believing it, though. My past isn't even true. Nothing could possibly be worse now.

I walked out of the alley, into the streets, and the temperature changed. The air isn't cooler, but the wind blows a little more vigorously here. As I always did when I felt cold, I pulled my sleeves down and clutched the end of my armholes with my cold fingers. It gives a sense of comfort---a reason I like sweaters.

Then I let my mind run wild about the events earlier, each so confusing, life changing, and too fast.

I wish I hadn't said nothing could possibly be worse. Raziel, where is he?

People are swarming from all sides. How can I find him in the middle of this sea of faces? Of course it's easy---his is too beautiful to not be recognized, but the crowd? Suddenly, I felt a strong push from my back. A middle-aged man, wearing a dark-brown coat walked past me and continued to make his way through the mass of people. Then a woman in a fluffy white coat pushed her way behind me. Another one followed before I could steady myself from that push. they didn't even bother to look back to say sorry or anything. Aren't the people here lovely?

I quickly walked to the side of the street, in front of a shop where a long line of people queue; Anne's. It's a bakery. My nose picked up the smell of freshly baked bread instantly. I walked closer to the glass. Inside, the people in white uniform are busily serving the customers. An employee picked up a donut with shiny icing and put it into a brown paper bag. I swear I can feel my mouth water. That donut must have a glorious taste. I quickly turned away before I started eating myself.

I should be worrying where am I than where's Raziel---but I didn't. It felt to me as if anywhere is fine as long as he's there with me. Selena, how could you trust someone that much? You've just met him 2 hours ago. A complete stranger; a human.

That's my old rule---to not trust humans, in that case pretty much everyone. But now, nothing is to be trusted or untrusted, nothing can be defined as real or unreal. The judgment is based on what I think, and probably I should be a bit open up, let the lights in. Maybe my unrealistic life won't be as bad. Besides, this must be the first real decision I've ever made, if my past is really just a lie.

I took a deep breath. Let's start all over again. I'm a new person. I have to have something to trust. So I let my instinct lead me to Raziel. The street on my left leads to less and less people while on the other side, is the source of people, coming in and out---the shopping centre. I found it!

Raziel is the one who told me how to use the portal, so he must be exactly inside the shopping centre, or so I hope. At least I can find Natasha or Sean or Simon, and tell them what happened. I can't figure this out alone. I don't understand a thing.

I easily made my way into the wave of multicolored coats and jackets entering the shopping centre. Shops lined endlessly on the sides of the street. Benches and street lamps are scattered along the way. People who exit the stores came out with shopping bags in different colors. Some of the shops looked very welcoming but I refused to get in.

If an hour ago I said that Nat, Simon, and Sean climbing the wall is reckless, I might as well say that I am now reckless. Portal, is that logical? How if Raziel is not in this shopping centre? How if I landed somewhere wrong?

The answer is easy, really. I'm doomed, like seriously doomed.

I didn't let these thoughts held me back at all. I carried on walking, my eyes scanning my surrounding for any of my teammates. Soon enough, after I've spotted and intersection, I saw the people I've been searching for; Simon, Natasha, and of course, Raziel. Although my face doesn't show any eagerness, I swear my heart does. I am so relieved!

Simon is sitting down, his eyebrows tied. Raziel is standing, a hand propping him up while another moved as he talked, his back facing me. He seemed to be talking about something important because Natasha has that tense look on her face. "Well, if that is what you think is best, do it. I will always support you." said Natasha. Raziel lowered his head.

"That's risky. She might be a human, a spy, anything. We know nothing." Simon said quietly. They must be talking about something serious. I walked faster, not wanting to miss Raziel's response. "I know." Raziel answered. "But I'll be handling this right."

"Hey." I said, still catching my breath. Raziel's face didn't match his way of talking just now, so was Nat. They both looked normal in all of a sudden. However, Simon's face showed it all; they must've been talking about me.