The Nibiru Effect

Memory 45

Follow me," says the hooded man. His voice echoes through the darkness, yet none of my companions wake.

I hesitate. What if he lied? What if he can't help me control my powers? Then again, can I risk not taking advantage of such an opportunity? Mastering my shifting will allow me to stop living my life in fear of human contact. Not to mention the fact that it may also allow me to aid my friends in finding Avalon and returning us to our respective times.

I follow the stranger.

He leads me through the darkness, avoiding obstacles like he can see through the gloom. We come to a stop a short distance from the camp. It's close enough that I can find my way back, yet far enough that we won't disturb my sleeping companions.

"Who are you?" I ask once we're seated.

"My identity is irrelevant," says the man.

I consider insisting, but I doubt what will help.

"Why are you here?"

"It's my job to train you. In time you will learn to master your powers, but for now I will teach you to suppress your ability."

There's a long silence before the man speaks again.

"Close your eyes," he says.

I obey the command.

"Focus on your breathing," he instructs. "Picture the air entering your nostrils, sliding down your windpipe, and entering your lungs. Visualize them getting bigger and bigger until they can take in no more oxygen. Hold it for a second, then release."

I do as I'm told. At first, I wonder what any of this has to do with learning to suppress my abilities, but the more I focus on my breathing, the less it seems to matter. I feel relaxed, happy.

"Can you feel the wind?" asks my mentor.

"Yes."

"Focus on it. Picture it caressing your skin, curving around your body, enveloping you completely. Now concentrate on your skin. It's getting harder, isn't it?"

It is. It feels as though it's growing thicker. I experience a moment of panic before remembering it isn't real. Nonetheless, I feel as though I'm being wrapped like a mummy, only the strips of cloth are made of air, not linen. Before long, my entire body is cocooned in a shell of hardness. My skin is now stiff as stone. I want to touch it, but I'm afraid of what will happen. I maintain my focus until the hooded man's voice shatters the illusion.

"That's enough," he says.

My eyes flutter open, and the odd sensation evaporates. I run my fingers along my arm, but the skin feels normal.

"What happened? What went wrong?"

"Nothing. You have successfully suppressed your powers."

"That's impossible." I spent the last few weeks desperately trying to get rid of my shifting abilities, only to fail time and time again. The solution can't be as simple as imagining my skin hardening. Can it?

"Touch me," says the man. An arm emerges from the folds of the cloak and moonlight shines upon it. It's human in origin, but that's pretty much all I can determine because of the darkness. I stare at it for the longest time before finally deciding to throw caution to the wind.

I reach out with a trembling hand and touch the offered limb.

Nothing happens.

"Oh my god!" I gasp. "It worked."

The stranger chuckles.

"Thank you," I say, releasing the man's arm. It retreats into the darkness and vanishes.

"You're welcome. But your training has only just begun. To fulfill your destiny, you must first master your powers."

"How?"

"You must—" begins the man, but his voice trails off when the shuffling of approaching footsteps reaches our ears. I focus on the sound and see a shape emerge from the darkness.

It's Jonn.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?" he asks.

"I'm not..." I begin, but my voice trails off when I realize the hooded stranger is gone. For a brief moment I wonder if he was even real, but then I remember Jonn asked me a question.

"I couldn't sleep," I lie, knowing he would make fun of me if I tell him the truth. "I went for a walk."

Jonn grunts, which I take to mean he believes my lie.

"I need to pee," he says, then wanders off into the darkness.

I wait a while, but my mentor doesn't return. All I hear is a voice carried forth by the wind.

"I will return to continue your training."

I get up and return to camp, but sleep refuses to come.

I stare at the sky and smile. Unlike the Montréal nights of my recent past, there's no smog to veil the beauty of the firmament. The stars shine with a brilliance I'm unaccustomed to. The moon is so bright it seems to light up the whole sky. There's a faint reddish glow in the distance which I can only assume is Nibiru, but I have no way of knowing for sure. For the first time since this insane adventure began, I feel lucky. Few are those who can claim to have seen the beauty of the prehistoric night sky. Of course, I would much prefer being back in my own time with my mother and father, but at least I get to see beautiful and wondrous things. Perhaps time travel isn't so bad after all. Or so I think until the ground starts shaking.

At first, I think it's an earthquake, but I soon realize it's not powerful enough for that. Not to mention the fact that the tremors are far too frequent. But if it's not an earthquake, then what is it? It's not until I sit up and glance around that the truth dawns on me.

It stands a dozen metres away, its frame as big as a mountain. Its scales glimmer in the moonlight, but it's not until I catch a glimpse of its sharp teeth that I understand what I'm looking at. My heart stops beating, and my hands start shaking. I gaze at the all too familiar beast for what feels like an eternity before I finally find the strength to speak. The high-pitched shriek shoots from my mouth like a bullet leaving the chamber.

"T. REX!"