Dreamwalkers

Chapter Five

Chapter Five:

                 “This really is a marvelous place.” I said to Iker as we walked towards his house. He had just shown me one of the gardens they had, and I really was in love with it. Never would you ever find a place like this on earth. The people were all very friends too; calling me Miss, shaking my hand and giving me hugs and such. There was truly no better place in the world.

                “I’m glad you like it so much. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy.” I blushed, looking down, hiding my face with my hair. Iker had been making comments like that ever since the whole him-meeting-me-in-my-home thing had happened. It had freaked me out at first, but now… I kind of liked it. No one had ever been so obvious about it while still holding their manners. I mean, I’ve been in the lame pick-up line thing, and I don’t even want to talk about the butt-grabbing incident, but this was different. He wasn’t trying to grab me or anything; in fact, he’d done little more than touch my hand.

                “Iker,” I said, my mind wandering. “How come I’ve never seen any women here?” The thought had occurred to me when we’d been meeting the baker. I’d glanced around and noticed that they were all men. Did the women not come outside or something?  As the question left my mouth, I felt him tense ever so slightly. I’d hit some type of nerve.

                “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to!” I rushed out. “I was just curious.” I was scared that if I pushed him too far, he’d never tell me anything, and I couldn’t handle that.

                “No, no. It’s a good question. I was actually waiting for you to notice.” He said, his voice nonchalant. It would have been completely believable if I hadn’t seen the strain, worried look in his eyes. “There are no women here, because they age much faster than the men.”

                “Then how come there are none at all? I mean, surely you would have a few.” I questioned. It didn’t really add up. How did they all get here and become brothers and fathers and whatever the heck else he said?

                “Well, you see… women only choose to stay here. They aren’t born into the family. They’re chosen. Like you.” My jaw dropped at his last statement. I remembered him asking me to stay with him here forever, but I’d never thought it was something this special.

                “How… how do you get chosen?” I knew the whole disease thing, and trauma thing, but I figured there had to be a few more things. And really, I just wanted to know, why  me? When there are a billion other people in the world, why would anyone ever choose me?

                “Well, We look at a lot of things. She had to be attractive, young, smart, and able to hold her own when things get tough. She had to be fit, and she can’t have a boyfriend or husband.” I nearly chocked. That’s what they thought about me? “And…” he whispered, “I and rather fond of blonds.” I could die. I could die and go to heaven right now. He did not just say that. No, he couldn’t of just said that.

                “I… erm… wha… ugh…” What do you say to that? What do you say to someone when they just told you that you’re all these great things, and that they chose you – not someone else, just them – to stay with them in a wonderful fantasy land?

                “I… ugh… you chose me?” I whispered, my voice cracking.

                “Yes, I did. You see, there are still a few things I haven’t told you.” He said, walking me over and gently pushing me down onto a bench. “I am kind of like the president… no, tribal leader of this group. I’m the oldest at the ripe age of 199, and that makes me in charge by default. Me being in charge means that I get to choose who we go to and who can come, and I chose you Sarah Grace Carter to stay here with me.” I felt the tears start to fall down my cheeks, and I hurriedly wiped them away. I hated showing weakness.

                “Thank you. I feel honored, truly. But like I said before, I could never leave my family and friends. They mean too much to me. And… I don’t love you. I couldn’t choose you over the ones I love. It’s not worth it.” He turned his face away from mine, and I cringed. “Don’t take this the wrong way. I hardly know you!” I cried out.

                Iker let out a sigh, and turned around, towards me, cupping my face. “I don’t blame you or anything, and I’m not hurt. I understand where you’re coming from, and I respect your wishes. I just want you to think about it. Promise me you’ll think about it.” He said in a soft voice, whipping the tears off my cheeks.

                “Ok,” I let out in a hoarse whisper. “I’ll think about it. Promise.”

                He let out a breath-taking smile, and did a very prince-charming-like bow, then stuck his hand out. “Now, there is something I’d like to show you.”

                I put my hand in his and we walked and talked for a few minutes, acting as if the entire fiasco back there hadn’t just happened. I didn’t really mind, wanting to forget it anyways.

                “Now close your eyes.” Iker commanded. I gave in, closing my eyes. He wrapped his hands around them to make sure I wouldn’t peak. Party pooper.

                “Where are you taking me?” I asked.

                “Just be patient,” He chided. As he said it, we took a sudden left. How the heck did he expect me to be patient? I was never patient, and I wasn’t about to change now.

                “No.” I replied.

                “Patience is a virtue.” He said, laughing at my childish behavior.

                “yeah, well… ugh. Just hurry up.” I grumbled, defeated. Though, I’d never really been trying. Iker seemed to beat me at everything one way or another, and the sooner I learned to accept that the better.

                “One second now.” He said, stopping. “Just turn a little to the left. Perfect. Now, 1, 2, 3, open your eyes.” My eyelids shot open, and I took in the scene before me. I had expected something glorious and magnificent, but what I saw completely shocked me into a laughing fit.

                “Its… its… an apple tree!” I laughed, clutching my stomach. That’s what he had wanted to show me? I could look at those whenever I wanted.

                “I’ll have you know,” he said. “That this is no ordinary apple tree.”

                “Oh, oh! Let me guess! I bet it’s a special talking on that gives you advice; like Pocahontas.” Just saying that had me in a laughing fit all over again.

                “This is not something to joke about.” Iker commanded. I had obviously hurt is feelings, because he was not a happy camper. “This tree is over 5,000 years old, when we were first coming into existence. It is our lifeline. If it were to die we would perish with it. Each apple represents all of us that are living and the leaves are the spirits of those that have died.”

                “Oh.” I felt bad after he explained. How would I feel if I showed him some sacred bush or something and he just sat there and laughed at me? “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was so important.”

                He let out a sigh, and pulled me over to sit next to him under the shade of the tree. “It’s fine. All’s well.” He murmured, running his fingers through my hair. “All’s well.”