Forever Etched

Chapter 6-Crescent of the Moon

The next couple days all Challery could think about was the tall stranger who she saw at school. She had not seen him around campus for the rest of the week and was praying the next time they had an encounter she would be able to atleast say hi. Daneil on the other hand was thinking about the weird mark that appeared on his forehead. His mom said it was probably a heat mark. He decided to take the next few days off. It was not easy being a bipolar who was also skitsoeffective.

He never told anyone about the chronic illness, only his family and his best friend Marc who assured him that it was not as bad as he made it seem. Daniel knocked about the house overthinking everything. He tested his powers and realized that they had returned the day he saw the bronze angel. This time they seemed out of whack. What was her name and why had she run off. Hmm, she doesn't look American though. Daniel was conflicted in everything that he believed. He decided to get out of his head my going to the New Manhattan Mall. He grabbed his truck keys saying goodbye to his mother Mrs Johnson.

The weekend for Challery was something to look forward to. She only wished that she could spend it with someone special.
The mall was massive and expansive nothing compared to the quaint malls back home. She got lost for a minute as she searched through the endless rack of CD's in Music and Echo.
She saw that they had created records for Beyonce, Avril Lavigne and Chance the Rapper. She was sensing the colour blue again.
Little did Daniel and Challery know that they were supposed to have their first kiss under a full moon after their marks appeared. Or, the powers they have would return to the womb of Mother Earth, their marks would vanish and they would then have to meet in the next lifetime. And a lifetime could be thousands of years before their souls line up again to come to planet earth. Challery went to watch The Fault in Our Stars alone at the Olympus Movie Theatre when she finally found her way outside of Music and Echo.

Daniel was in the same down town Manhattan mall checking out surfboards for later in the year but all he could think about was Challery.  What was her name? Was she into white guys? And then reality hit him he was bipolar and no one would ever want to get to know the side of him which denied his parents and hallucinated. Who would want to deal with that madness? He also heard voices. It was enough to depress a person. He yanked out a yellow Reef surfboard in the SurfShack. Would she like surfing?
He turned around to pay for the surfboard still thinking about Challery. His soulmate unknown to him.
"I'll take this one."
"One hundred and fifty," the cashier said monotone.
"Aw, sweet that's it? I'll take two sticky bumps as well." He pulled out the cash from his leather Land wallet and placed it in the fat young ladies hand.
At this time his stomach started to growl.
Daniel turned to head out to his truck when he saw the beautiful African girl heading in his direction. All his hunger forgotten. Now was his chance to make an impression.
Gosh he felt like he could barely think straight. His palms felt sweaty and his heart was beating outside of his chest.
It seemed like time stood still for the next five minutes.
Challery's stomach was doing summersaults after watching the movie.
Daniel decided this was his chance now.
Its now or later. Now or later. Later or now. His thoughts were all over the place. He noticed the mark perfectly placed above Challery's eyebrows. It looked so similar to his, like a lighting bolt engraved on the skin. Somesort of weird  but beautifully powerful tattoo.
"Hey," was all that he could muster as they passed Subway lightly brushing against each other. The hair on the back of his neck stood up straight. Both of them felt like they had electricity passing through their bodies. Everyone in the fast food joint seemed to be staring at them. The New Manhatten Mall was pretty full at this time on the weekend.
Challery looked at him and saw for the first time that he was like the white version of herself.
"Hey, I think I saw you on campus..."
Daniel leaned the surfboard on the green tiled wall nearby.
He realized that Challery had a funny  accent. Well it was different but very beautiful, her voice was amazingly husky too.
"Yeah I was on campus last week," she said in a low voice.
She felt her neck pulsating. His lips were so perfect.
Woah. Daniel thought;her dreadlocs make her look like a true African beauty. Is that racist? To call a black person African?-focus Daniel Focus. He felt tears in his eyes. Daniel was so connected to her soul. And his stomach twirled.
Not knowing what to say he opened his mouth and words just flew out.
"The heat has you too huh?"he said. pointing at his own mark.
Challery laughed nervously.
She spent her whole life waiting for this moment and then it hit her. Daniel. The guy from school. This weirdly perfect jock was probably her soulmate.
"I guess its the heat," she said swallowing slowly.
The air smelled like roses and honey. The sea breeze and rainbows. It smelled like perfection and a couple forevers.
Daniel didn't want to make Challery anymore nervous or uncomfortable so he dropped the soulmark questions.
At this time he didn't realize what was happening.
"What's your name and where are you from?"
"I'm Challery Monti and I'm from Athenia."
Realizing that Daniel had no idea what she was talking about she pulled out her Nokia to show him her google maps.
"Hmm that's weird. It looks like where Atlantis was. The city that sank many years ago by a powerful tsunami."
Challery felt her hands go numb as Daniel leaned over to look at her phone.
Daniel was most definately a man but he was so beautiful to her and almost perfect.
"Oh that's a pretty name but I never heard of Athenia. What are you doing here?" he quizzed, inspecting every element of Challery.
Her chestnut eyes and smooth dark skin carved perfectly by God.
"I- I'm studying a Masters in Media and Law." she realized that she stuttered and decided to wrap up the conversation.
"But I'll see you around?"
"Sure...Challery." Daniel said taking the cue and picking up his surfboard.
"Would you like a ride home though?"
Challery knew that she wanted to take things slowly but she still felt like she couldn't leave Daniel's presence. Finally she said, "No thanks. I think I'll take the cab home."
And with that Challery was outside in the light of the crescent of the moon.