mark of the moon child

The Truth

Two days went by and Elle was still in the hospital. They were now planning on hooking her up to some machines that would record her brain activity while dreaming. Tomorrow would be the day the doctor would be available to conduct the test, though all Elle wanted to do was go to the Grotto Of Truth.

She continued to think of it, to wonder what she would find if she could only get there as she drifted off slowly into a deep slumber.

Elle woke as the water from the beach rose around her, then receded back from the sand. Her eyes fluttered open to an endless spread of sand. She jolted up recognizing the beach from her last dream that put her in the hospital. It was different this time. When she looked up to the sky, it was open, bright and blue. The sand was soft and warm, the ocean water so blue and clear you could see to the bottom. She looked down to find a white gown this time, one so light she could barely feel it flowing in the breeze.

It pooled in the water, a slit opened to the top of her thigh. Two thick pieces of fabric covered her breasts, came over her shoulders, and flowed back down to the bottom of her dress. Her hair flew wildly in the wind around her shoulders and waist. Then she heard the whisper.

Come. It said. Find your truth.

Elle walked the length of the beach following the voice to an opening in what looked like a wall made of rock. As she stood in the opening, her back to the water, she saw a clear passage way that lead to a bright white light.

Come forward. Find your truth. It said again.

So she stepped forward and followed the voice and the light. Once she'd reached the end of the passage way, she entered a room with a round pool of bright blue, clear water that seemed to sparkle though when she looked up, the sun was nowhere in sight, only more stone. The water seemed to pulse when Elle entered the room.

"Elle, don't go in there." Elle turned to see Jay, who while in the passage way wore all black, but as he stepped into the room his clothes faded to a pure white like her dress. He stepped closer to her. He couldn't help it. The softness of her dress against her skin made him want to run his fingers down her arm. To run them along the hem of the slit in her dress that ran high on her thigh. His eyes paused when he saw the red scar on her side, uncovered by her dress. He could still see the stitches. His jaw tightened as he looked away. Her wavy hair was moving in a wind that wasn't there and made his hand itch to get tangled in it. And her face. So natural without makeup, yet her lashes seemed so thick and long and there was a shine to her lips though she wore nothing on them. Once he'd made it to her eyes, he began to feel weak in the knees. They were so clear yet so full of questions and sorrow.

"I need to know. This is the only way." She said quietly, almost in a whisper, her voice echoing around the room. He wanted to take her hand, lead her out of the grotto, bring her back to the beach where he could lay her down, lay with her, touch her lips.

"It's too dangerous." He said as he took a step back. He needed distance, to clear his mind of her scent. Elle turned her head back towards the pool.

"It's the only way." She said again as she stepped closer to it. "It will tell me the truth. I need the truth." Her voice only a whisper now. She felt so dazed, like she was floating on a cloud.

"You could drown. I can't let that happen." He took a step towards her. Elle spoke words that seemed to flow from the pool and through her.

"The pure of heart shall know the truth. Those unpure shall drown in their own darkness." She took one more step to the edge of the pool where stairs descended into the water, then looked back at Jay. Something always pulled her towards him. Every time she looked into his eyes she felt like they were alone. Like no matter what was happening around them she could take his hand and know he wouldn't let go. Those thoughts were so confusing. She barely knew him but they felt like they were out of her control.