“Aren’t you milking this faintin’ business a little too much?”
I know the voice, it’s one I began hearing before I was even born. I’m not sure how I remember it from that long ago, but it’s familiar nonetheless. Struggling into an upright position, I pull my legs up, and tuck them underneath me on the sandy cave floor. Assuming what used to be known as the “meditation” pose, I study the man sitting across from me, mirroring my exact position.
“How are you here?” I ask in a voice thick with tears. “I saw you die.”
“That’s not important right now, Kiddo.” He waves my question away like a hovering gnat. “You need to focus on your task, the sooner you find that Tree for them angels, the sooner you can start livin’.” His Louisiana accent grows thicker with each word.
“I miss you.” Ignoring his advice, I can’t help but just stare at him. He’d always been one of the strongest people I’d ever known; too tough for a simple car accident to take his life. “I miss you all.”
He smiles, his deep chocolate eyes twinkling, and for possibly the first time, I notice the deep lines fanning away from the corner of his eyes. Were they always there?
“What’s the matter Sugarbean?” He frowns, and his forehead crinkles like an accordion. Mom and Dad were in their mid-thirties when they died, he shouldn’t look so old now. “Are you listenin’ to me?”
“Andrea?” His voice sounds farther away now, and his body begins to fade. I see the cave wall behind him, through him. “Do as I say and you’ll be right as rain.”
“Daddy?” I scream his name. Lurching from the ground, I grasp at him, my arms circling his neck in an attempt to hug him, to hold him to me, but my arms engulf empty air. He’s gone.
“Andrea!” Strong arms surround me, pulling me into a thick wall of muscle. I struggle, not sure who has me, or why. All I think about is that whoever’s holding me is keeping me from reaching my dad. Struggling with all my might, the tears break free, clouding my sight.
“Let me go!" Rage fills me, turning my blood into liquid fire. "Dad, don’t go, don’t leave me again.” Now I’m full-on crying, great body racking sobs that leave a hollowness in the pit of my stomach. “Don’t leave me alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Daniel murmurs against my temple, his warm breath washing across me, stealing the sorrow overwhelming me. “Breathe,” he urges. “Just breathe.” Realizing that I’d been holding my breath, I slowly release my chest muscles, relieving the pressure.
My entire body goes limp but he catches me before I hit the ground.
Of all the sorrow and grief I’d seen in those horrific images, the vision of my dad crushed my soul. Losing him once was bad enough, but having to lose him again took more strength than I have.
“Just let me go,” my voice trembles. “Just let me die, I can’t do it, I can’t save anyone or anything. Find someone else.”
I have the slight sensation of the room spinning and suddenly I’m looking up at the dusty cavern ceiling. Lifting my head, I see that Daniel has lifted me, carrying me like the baby I am. I’m only giving Aeriel more ammo to nag me with, but at this moment, I could care less.
“No.” Daniel’s voice is strong, adamant. “I won’t leave you to die. Not when I’ve finally surrendered. I won’t let you die.” And with his head held regally, he propels us into the air, clearing the opening by mere inches.
Instead of landing, he brings his majestic wings down forcefully, boosting us further into the sky. The fresh air clears my brain fog and a sense of weightlessness envelopes my body and soul. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply, savoring the cool air as it enters my lungs.
We sail around, aimlessly, for what feels like hours before I lift my eyes, already fearing the disappointment I know I’ll see in his. Instead, he’s smiling, the wind lifting the ends of his hair, disheveling it into a sexy bed-head. I let his peacefulness wash over me, mentally pulling it in to coat my body and it’s only seconds before I feel free; blissfully unburdened. Logically I know the illusion won’t last long, but at this point, I’ll take what I can get.
“Better?” he asks, his voice husky.
“Better,” I agree.
“Good, because we have work to do,” he muses and tilts us back toward the mountain top where Aeriel and Joe look like ants in the distance.
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Genesis 2.0 (Monster Apocalypse Survival) Sci-Fi/DarkFan/Horror
Science FictionThe End was the Beginning. Adapt and conquer, or die. Sixteen-year-old Andrea Collins survives by the skin of her teeth: always on the move, and trusting no one. Until the one day, the truth hits her - and he has wings. Taking advatage of Creation'...
