The Diaries of a Soul Rider

Chapter 8 - The Awakening

When I opened my eyes, it was dark. I could barely see what was 2 feet in front of me. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, hoping that I could find out where I was, but it was no use. It was pitch black outside. I began walking, regardless of the fact that I couldn't see. I was quite confused, last I checked I was sound asleep, and now... Where am I? Am I sleepwalking?

I continued walking, I could feel the long, soft, Jorvik grass in between my toes. I walked and walked, but there was no source of light anywhere. It was like I was just walking down a dark, lifeless tunnel. There was no light source for what seemed like miles ahead.

In that moment, I saw a tiny speck of light straight ahead. I noticed quickly that the light began to get larger and larger as it got closer to me. I began to wonder - What was this light? Normal lights don't just gradually get closer and closer to you. Normal lights don't even move at all, I thought.

The source of light continued to get closer. Eventually, it became less of a speck and grew bigger as it got closer to me. I continued to watch the light carefully, still trying to figure out what it was.

In time, the light got even closer. I could soon tell that the light had been a person carrying a lantern. I had no clue who this person was or what their intentions were, but strangely, I felt not an ounce of fear in my body. This was strange. I just randomly woke up in a world of darkness, and there's a strange person who seemingly has the only source of light for miles, and I wasn't even a tiny bit afraid?

I'd been standing there as the person got close. Really close. With just a few more steps, whoever he or she was would be revealed to me.

Oh... Oh my god. I whispered silently to myself as I saw who the person carrying the light was. It was Noella. My sister. But... she died. How could this be? I was completely frozen. I couldn't move a bone in my body even if I wanted to. My face was filled with a look of confusion, shock, and just a tiny bit of hope that this was really Noella.

She was staring at me, smiling brightly. She then placed the lantern on the ground, motioned for me to go to her, and said "Well, what are you just standing there for? Come here!"

I ran quickly over to where my sister was standing, and I hugged her tightly. But it was so much more than just a hug. It was everything. It was the reunion that I'd only imagined on nights that I missed her extra. It was the one thing I've always wanted - to see my sister again. To hug her, and tell her how much I love her.

After a long hug, we both released and took a few steps back. I looked at Noella, just to make sure it was really her. It was. She had dark brown hair, different from my rosey red curly hair. But we had the same piercing green eyes. As soon as I looked into her eyes, I knew it was her, I just knew.

"I... I can't believe this! How are you here?! What happened on the day you-"

Noella then interrupted me saying, "Natalie, I promise all of your questions will be answered, but for now, we must discuss something else." Her smile disappeared, and was replaced with a serious expression on her face. She then said "Come with me." And picked up her lantern again.

We both began walking, I was extremely confused as to how Noella was even here. I didn't even know where I was.

"Natalie..." Noella began to speak, while continuing to walk. "You remember when I used to tuck you in every night, right?" She asked me.

"Yes, of course I remember." I say, thinking back on those times.

"Do you remember what I used to tell you every night?" Her gaze then went from the lantern in her left hand, to me.

"Yes... You told me I was special, and that I was different from everyone else." I responded, shrugging.

"Do you know what I meant by that?" She asked me, she was looking me in the eyes the whole time.

"Why are you the one asking questions? I mean, you're the one who supposedly died... And now you're standing right here in front of me." I said to her, confused as to why she was asking me all of this, and why it seemed so urgent.

She chuckled jokingly and said "You're so stubborn, Nat." Her face then became serious again as she said "We don't have much more time. I promise you'll get all the answers you need. But I need you to listen to me right now. Do you understand?"

I nodded my head slowly.

"Now, do you know what I meant when I said you were special and different from everyone else?"

"No..." I say "I guess I never really thought about it too much."

"You're different, Natalie. You are powerful. Even more powerful than the others. You're going to save us all, just wait. Waiting is key. There's going to be men who will go after you, they'll try to take your power, they'll try to keep you locked up. Hell, they may even go as far as to kill you. But you can't let them. Just remember, you're stronger than them, I know you are."

This caused even more questions to float around in my head. Who are the others? What does she mean I'm "powerful?" And WHO is trying to kill me?

"I don't understand." I begin speaking. "What do you mean by-"

I was interrupted again, but this time it wasn't by Noella. This time, the Earth began to shake violently. I wobbled back and forth, before tumbling to the ground. I quickly got back up to try and figure out what was going on. Just moments after I got back up, the ground began to split in half. There was a huge crack in the ground, it must've been only 5 feet away from me. It was still dark, but I could see the crack that just formed right before my eyes.

Very abruptly, the Earth stopped shaking. I saw Noella standing extremely close to the crack. I began walking towards the crack, curious as to what just happened and why Noella was standing so close to it. Light! There was a beading pinkish light that shot out from the crack in the ground. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I walked closer to admire the light, and to see what Noella was doing.

As I approached the light, there was a great force that I felt pulling me toward the crack. The force had been pulling Noella too, and I watched as the crack started to suck her in like a vacuum. Just before the crack swallowed Noella whole, she yelled "Run, Natalie! And remember what I told you!" I watched as the crack sucked Noella into it. I yelled "Noella! No!" I wasn't about to have her be taken from me again, so I ran closer to the light in search of my sister. I then felt the pulling force again, but it was much stronger this time. I was sucked into the crack just as Noella was only moments before. Once again, everything went black.

I was consumed by the darkness.