Orelie

*6*

*6*

"Orelie...?" The word felt foreign and ancient. It didn't seem right coming from my mouth. I tried to gather my thoughts. "How... what... I don't understand. I'm... dying?"

"You were," My head snapped up to Crae. "Being on Earth for too long can start to wear down our bodies. Orelie are naturally on the smaller side and more frail than others, but because you've been on Earth for nearly two decades, your body is almost literally falling apart."

I bit my lip hard and lowered my head. "This isn't happening... this isn't real... I-I can't be... There's no way! I'm human! So were my parents! I'm... I'm not magical. I'm not an Orelie! You have the wrong person!"

"Then explain to me why you have seen things you can't understand." He stated. "Tell me why you see different realities. In other words, the future."

"I... I don't..." Was he there when I told Dr. Brist about his wife?

"Let me help you," I peeked up at Crae through my lashes. "Last week, your doctor came to look at you. He was new. You saw his wife in labor. I followed him home. At first, his wife was confused as to why he was home early and out of breath. After a few moments, she suddenly went into active labor. Had you not told him, or he didn't believe you, she would have died, as well as her baby."

I couldn't speak. My mouth wanted to make words, but no sound came out. He heard that. He saw the altercation.

"No..." I shook my head. "It was... coincidence. I just guessed."

"What did you see with your original doctor?" The question caught me off guard. "And Ella? What about what you saw after Ella changed personalities? What did you see?"

I picked at my nails and swallowed hard. "My original doctor... I saw him living a full, happy life. He grew old with his wife and three kids. He died peacefully in his sleep. Ella... I just knew Ella would die alone if she continued to take care of me..."

I shook with fear. "Wh-when she changed... I kept seeing her coming at me with a large knife, saying she would kill me... that they would praise her for killing me."

"They?" Crae prompted.

"I don't know." I buried my face in my hands. "I don't know, I don't know! None of this makes sense! I don't understand any of it! I can't be an Orelie; there's no possible way. I always just thought that the things I saw were uncontrollable daydreams. I thought they were just a way I could escape the real world, just for a short while."

"Kyrene-"

"Please." I cut him off. "Take me back."

"Where would you go?" He asked. "You have no one to go back to on Earth. You can't walk and you're extremely fragile right now. If you stay on Earth, you'll die sooner than if you stayed here. Here, you have a higher chance of living longer."

"I can crawl." I whispered. "I can find a town or something."

"Kyrene," I didn't look up. "Since you came to Fucrya, your sickness went away almost instantly. Because you are an Orelie, a natural inhabitant, the land has started to heal you. If we start soon, you can be up and walking on your own in a couple weeks, and practicing magic in a week after that."

I grabbed the side of my head. "Crae, I don't know! I'm confused and scared, and I just want to be left alone!"

He sighed heavily. "I understand. I'll leave you be. I'll head into the town near by. I should be back before sundown. Think this over." He stood from the couch and headed towards the kitchen.

"In case you get thirsty," He set a large glass of water on the coffee table. "If there is a knock on the door, don't answer it. You'll know it's me when the lock clicks three times." He left without another word. I heard the door shut and lock tightly.