The Girl Named Ray {Short Story}

The Girl Named Ray

Rachel sat quietly, taking in the sunlight as she laid in the soft, damp grass after it had just rained an hour ago. Her mud-soaked dress sprawled out across the ground as parts of the beautiful coral color darkened into a dark brown. The air was fresh and clean as she took soft breaths, her chest slowly lifting and falling. Trees clapped their branches with the spring's chill wind and some of the grass gently grazed her skin as it blew. She lifted her hands slowly, staring at them quietly before letting out a deep sigh. 

Without her knowledge, a root of a tree slowly raised up from the ground and made its way towards her. It wrapped around her left arm with a gentle embrace. Rachel looked at it silently; feeling the bark of the root scrap against her skin slightly. She then looked towards the tree as she sat up. "I know you're there, Tuli," Rachel spoke into the comforting silence. 

As she expected, a trunk of a tree slowly moved to open itself up. A girl with velvet hair and shining blue eyes stepped out onto the muddy grass with her bare feet. "How did you know?" The female asked as she let out a laugh; her wings on her back gave a slight flutter and sparkled as she did so. "I could've been a Pixie."

The human girl only shook her head with a calm smile. "You're too sweet to act like a Pixie. You need to try harder to scare me," Rachel replied. She then stood up as she let her feet sink into the muddy ground a bit. Though Tuli was a fairy, Rachel stood shorter compared to her; even if you removed Tuli's large wings. "The rain rolled by quickly, I assume that's why you're out here?"

"And I assume that you are right," Tuli said jokingly. "It is strange isn't it? And didn't you see that random flash of blue light?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow at her friend before looking up at the orange colored sky, the sun being the center of it all. Anything a different color would stand out to her, yet she hadn't seen even a quick second of it. "I don't know what you are talking about, Tuli. Are you sure you just didn't see a fairy flying? Or even a Pixie?" Rachel questioned.

"I know I don't see perfectly, but I am sure it wasn't a fairy. It was quite big after all and disappeared within a second. How did you not see it?" She asked, leaning closer to me. "Are you sure you are not hiding your capabilities, Ray?"

Rachel let out a laugh as she simply replied, "I know I am a human. If I wasn't, wouldn't I have wings like the fairies? Besides, why would I hide my capabilities if I got tossed out because I was different?"

Tuli sighed lightly, flying back onto her heals. "I suppose you are right. I didn't think of it that way."

"Anyways, where did you see it? Maybe we can check out the cause of it," Rachel said with a slight shrug. 

"Just West of here, I'll show you," the fairy replied and grasped her friends hand. Swiftly, she began flying, leaving Rachel to jog as she was forced to catch up.

Tuli stopped rushing through the trees as they both came across a rather large crater within the ground, revealing heaps of stone and dirt. Some trees were even collapsed and any trees surrounding the crater had branches missing. There was a slight blue glow emanating from the center of the crash as a boy laid there. "I do not think that is a Pixie..." Tuli stated before watching in disbelief as Rachel slowly slid down towards the glow, still being cautious. Despite her friend's calls for her Rachel continued going and eventually made it.

"Ray! You don't know what that thing is! What if it eats fairies?" Tuli called out, flying upwards as she watched nervously as her friend reached out to it.

"I'm not a fairy, remember? So at least I'm safe. I'll protect you if anything goes wrong," Rachel stated simply, placing her hand on the boy's chest.

"Oh, my hero," Tuli muttered while rolling her eyes before flying down. She didn't dare let her feet touch the ground, nervous of what could happen.

Suddenly, the blue light turned yellow and swarmed around Rachel before disappearing into the sky. Rachel and Tuli looked at each other in shock before looking back at the boy as he let out a groan. He slowly opened his eyes and looked between both Tuli and Rachel, but his eyes widened when he looked directly at Tuli's wings.

"What are you?" He asked and quickly backed away, putting his arm up in defense. Tuli almost let out a loud laugh, but stopped herself. He then glanced at Rachel, but turned his attention back to Tuli in an instant. "Why are you not running?"

"Her name is Tuli, a fairy who is a friend. There is need for you to act like this," Rachel simply replied with a light laugh. "My name is Rachel, and you are?"

Slowly, the boy lowered his arm, staring at Rachel almost as if he didn't believe a single word she spoke. "Nathaniel..." He said in a quiet voice. He then slowly stood up, dusting himself off before looking at the sky. "I think I fell from there."

Tuli and Rachel just blinked in shock, looking at each other for an explanation. Finally, Tuli stepped forward and asked, "Were you that flashing blue light?"

"I have no clue what you are talking about, but maybe. I don't ever remember the sky being that color. Where I'm from it is blue," he stated. "I..don't think I'm in my world." His voice sounded nervous before his eyes widened and he looked at Rachel. 

"What is it?" Rachel asked nervously as she took a couple of steps back. Suddenly the air felt thick and heavy and her breathing became heavy as well. She felt sick to her stomach, like the feeling with bad news. Then he said lines she'll never forget.

"I was sent here to rescue a human sent here years ago. Her name was Rachel."