Bae Bae

Part 1 - The GateKeeper

Part I

The Gatekeeper

The water was all around me, encompassing my whole body. Though my eyes were open, the water didn't sting, and I could look around at the never ending deep blue. A few strands of light filtered up from below me, dancing past my feet, making the water sparkle. I looked down, and could see the water twinkling, rippling beneath me. I flipped my body and swam down, towards the light. It grew closer and closer and brighter and brighter, the blue slowly becoming lighter.

My head burst through the surface, the sunset warming my face. I blinked and looked around

me. I was treading water in the middle of an ocean. It was completely calm, the only ripples were born from my movement. I slowly turned in a circle, searching for anything other than water.

There.

In the distance. A lone palm tree growing up out of the water.

I swam towards it.

As I grew closer I saw the tree was connected to land, a pearl mound that rose up out of the stillness of the water. Stretching my legs down I felt my toes brush the sand. I stood up, the water coming up to my shoulders.

Looking at the island, I spotted a dark form underneath the palm tree. A rock? No....a person.

Slowly I walked up the shore, feeling the beads of water run down my body, my skin beginning to dry in the warm air. As I grew closer I was able to depict the person with more clarity.

It was a man, appearing to be a little older than I was, in his mid twenties, lounging under the palm tree, the sole inhabitant of the island. His territory. He had dark hair that glistened with wetness. It hung in front of his face, covering his eyes, dividing his face in half. What wasn't hidden by hair was a large nose and full, almost woman-like lips. His cheeks looked soft to the touch, his skin glowing with health. Not what I would expect from someone stuck on an island with limited shade. His clothing also did not fit the atmosphere in the slightest. He had on a fancy blue and red jacket, with tiny black designs and large silver buttons. It was styled in the fashion of what a Disney prince might wear. He had no shirt on under the jacket, exposing a toned torso and stomach. He had on long black pants tucked into dark boots.

I couldn't tell if he saw me or not, with his hair concealing his eyes. I quietly approached, squinting at his face. Was he watching me?

"I don't get very many visitors."

Yes. He was.

"Oh. Sorry. I just..." I gestured at the endless ocean around us, the sun disappearing in the distance, "there wasn't really anywhere else to go."

"It's not a problem. I enjoy guests, the rare occasions I get them." His smile was even brighter than the sun reflecting off the water.

"Where are....." I looked down at him, leisurely stretched out on the white sand. "Do you live here?"

He smiled again. "Sit, let's talk."

I hesitated for a brief moment, then sat on the sand next to him. He turned to gaze at me, or I think he was, I still couldn't see his eyes. "Ricecake?"

"What?"

For the first time I noticed he had a little tray of small, square, sticky rice cakes next to him.

"Um...no thanks."

He shrugged and popped one in his mouth. I waited while he chewed, swallowed, and then finally spoke. "Do you know where you are?"

I stared at him.

Where was I? That was a very good question. I trekked back through my mind... "No....I just was in the water. I don't know what happened before that..." Worry crept through my body.