by S. E. Meyer
“Does it John? Or does it follow along exactly with everything you have ever learned and that’s what’s turning your stomach. The only reason you feel the need to purge its contents is because you know that it’s true.” Braedon disappeared and everything went black.
“Help me Jake!” John pleaded aloud, but Jake was not there. He closed his eyes for a minute and when he opened them he was lying on a bed in a room with an orange glow. He looked off to his right and could see Jenny sleeping in a chair next to him. John sat up in bed and frantically looked around for somewhere to empty the contents of his stomach. He slipped off the bed and onto the floor with a thud that woke Jenny. John got onto all fours and began heaving as Jenny got down beside him.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Jenny asked. Jenny quickly found a towel and wiped John’s mouth as she helped him to his feet and back into the bed.
“I…I think so, I don’t know. I just had the most incredible dreams.”
“Not a dream at all John,” Braedon said as he rounded the corner and entered the room they were in.
“You mean that was all real?” John asked.
“Yes,” replied Braedon. John looked like he was going to vomit again.
“John, there is so much to tell you and talk about,” Jenny said as she sat on the edge of the bed next to him. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead and then moved in closer and hugged him. “Are you feeling better?”
“I think so,” John answered. His strength was coming back to him and the color in his face returned. “How long have you been sitting here?”
“Since last night, I came down to see you and I guess I fell asleep. The last few days have been a bit much,” Jenny explained.
“How long have I been out?”
“Oh about two days now.” Jenny responded quietly as she rubbed Johns back.
“I’m going to check on the other one,” a Nurse said to Braedon before leaving the room. Braedon nodded and he turned to follow her. “I’ll leave you two alone for a few minutes,” he said to John and Jenny as he passed.
“Are you okay? Your face is all bruised,” Jenny said as she kissed his nose and cheeks softly.
“I’m okay Jen, don’t worry about me. Just a few bruises, that’s all. It looks like they managed to patch me up pretty good and I feel just fine. I’m so glad to see you!” John said with a bright smile, quickly replaced with a concerned look as he continued. “When you disappeared I didn’t know what to think. I was so worried,” he said. “Are you alright Jen?”
“Yes, my wrist is a little sore. They said I broke it pretty bad when I fell, but they fixed me all up, so otherwise I‘m fine,” answered Jenny. “I don’t know how they healed it so fast.” She paused for a moment. “Do you feel good enough to take a walk?”
“I think so.” John got out of bed and stood up. He changed into the clothes that were at the end of the bed and they headed out of the room and down the hall.
“I’ll give you a little tour,” Jenny said as she smiled and took John’s hand. They made their way down the corridor to a bank of elevators and John followed Jenny inside the one on their left. Jenny waved her hand across a console and they immediately rose up through the ceiling above them into a massive cavern that spanned miles across. John gave her a confused look.
“Braedon showed me how to use the elevator yesterday. While you’ve been sleeping and healing I’ve been exploring and learning the ropes around here,” said Jenny.
As they rose higher above the cavern floor John could see buildings stretched out below them under a reddish orange sun that was just beginning to rise along the far wall of the city, miles away. John stared in awe at the city below them. “It looks like we’re outside.”
“I don’t really know how they do it,” Jenny explained of the expansive view below them. “How they made all of this, it’s so realistic.” The elevator stopped and they both continued to look out over the city below. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Jenny asked.
“It’s amazing, but where are we?” replied John.
“Well, technically we’re still in Iraq directly below the cave we were in with Lucas, Frank and Hosea, only much deeper. This is kind of the main hub and main living quarters of our new friends,” Jenny explained. She brushed her hand across the window gesturing to the city below. “They created all of this so they could live comfortably here and made it to resemble where they’re from. I can’t imagine the technology it would take to create an entire world, right here deep underground. Or the technology involved in creating their transportation system. It’s quite amazing too John. From here we can travel just about anywhere in the world in a very short amount of time using these elevators. They can move thousands of miles per hour and they have shafts cut into the Earth at different angles from here that lead to all of Europe, the Middle East and West Asia. Braedon said they also have a shaft that runs under the ocean to another hub in southern Mexico that accesses the North and South American continents,” Jenny continued and then paused. John had a strange look on his face.
“Are you okay John?” she asked him.
“Yes, it’s just a lot to take in at once. Do you know where Frank is? Why isn’t he here?” John asked.
“He’s okay John. Braedon assured me he would recover, but he’s in a coma right now. The way Braedon and Ninti, she’s our Nurse, explained it to me is that there are only certain people who are supposed to take that serum Frank made. That’s why Adam went crazy and Frank is still healing. It’s also why you’re okay, Braedon said you were one of only a few people that were meant for it. Meant for the changes you’re going through,” she said. “Are you sure you’re alright? You seem, well I don’t know, different,” Jenny said, concerned.
“I am different. I feel different. It’s all just a lot to process and seems so surreal,” replied John. He pulled away from her slightly so he could look into Jenny’s bright green eyes. “Braedon showed me things while I was unconscious. I learned things, and saw things. Things I could have gone without ever knowing or seeing. And my brain, my mind, it continues to change and get stronger. It’s just too much at times,” John said as he stared into her eyes. He looked away from her for a moment and gazed back out over the city as the deep orange sun climbed higher, illuminating the tops of the buildings below. “Jenny, I didn’t just get to see our past, but I was also shown our future,” John explained. He hugged her again and felt a tear run down his cheek. Jenny kissed him and noticed the drop as it reached his jaw.
“Is the future that bad John?” she asked.
“I’m sad because of what we’re going to lose. Not just us personally, but the whole human race. I’m mourning the loss of our present. Our home and our lives will never be the same. There’s no going back to the way things were and that weighs heavy on me as well as the fate of our family and friends,” John explained.
Jenny swiped her hand over the console and the elevator began moving again. “Braedon told me not to have you gone for too long. He wants to show us something,” Jenny explained then looked into his eyes. “John?” she asked.
“Yes honey?”
“Will you tell me sometime? Tell me what he showed you?”
“Of course, you have a right to know what’s coming, but not now, not just yet.” The elevator stopped just down the hall from their rooms. As they entered the corridor Braedon came around the corner and met them in front of the elevators.
“Let’s take a walk shall we?” Braedon asked them both and motioned for them to follow. They led down another corridor off to their right which opened up into a large cavern. Along its walls were big tunnel-like openings leading upwards at different angles, and in different directions away from the central room they had entered. Braedon led them to one on their right and they stepped into a white oval room. The wall facing them was opaque and seemed to melt away once they were inside and John recognized it as another elevator.
“Where are we going?” John asked Braedon. He and Jenny both fe
lt slightly nauseous at the speed they were moving. John thought it was odd that he could not feel any outside forces like gravity, and felt as though they were standing still with no g-force effect. If I were in a real elevator I would be a pancake on the floor. He thought as he watched the walls fly past them in a blur.
Braedon spoke directly into John’s mind. John, I have already shown you the beginning of your race. Now I want to try and explain it to Jenny. I need to explain it to her differently, to help her understand. You are a Sura now John, and your mind is much stronger than hers. Everyone reacts differently to learning the true beginnings of your race. I need to do it in the way that is best for her.
“I understand.” John replied telepathically.
Braedon turned toward Jenny and began speaking aloud. “I want to show you something. My goal is to explain it to you in a way that you will be able to understand it better,” explained Braedon as he smiled a genuine smile. “You see some people who learn who we are can’t quite get their head around it, and it affects them negatively. I don’t want that to happen to you. I want to open your eyes and mind gently.” The elevator they were in suddenly stopped and they stepped out into another large cavern with a smooth rock floor. At one end was a massive opening and John could see bright sunlight and green grass beyond. John and Jenny both began to walk briskly towards it. They suddenly longed for it after being trapped in the darkness, underground. Braedon quickly caught up with them and grabbed Jenny’s arm. “Wait! There’s something I have to do before going in,” he said. He walked to the right side of the large opening and pulled something from his clothing. He placed it into an indentation in the rock wall and within a few second they could see a large net, like woven strands of electricity blocking the opening. The electric web suddenly disappeared. “Come,” Braedon said and held out his hand for Jenny to take. They all walked out into bright sunshine and John glanced back over his shoulder, noticing they had just left a large cave in the side of a mountain. He turned back around to look in front of him as Braedon led them both down a grassy hill. They were at a place where the mountains behind them had changed over to foothills and flat ground below. The mountain range behind them stretched all the way around in a giant circle, completely enveloping the valley below. Jenny felt a sun-warmed breeze brush her cheek and she suddenly had the urge to kick off her shoes and socks.
“Oh, that is so good” she said as she took them off one at a time and pressed her bare feet into the soft grass. Seeing her expression, John quickly followed suit.
“So, where the heck are we?” John asked with a smile. He and Jenny both felt fantastic.
“Right now we are in the mountains that the Euphrates and Tigris rivers flow from. They both gave Braedon a quizzical look. “If you look to the east, the spring run-off from those mountains run south into the Euphrates river from here,” Braedon explained. Then he turned and faced the opposite direction pointing out in front of him. “West of here, all of those mountains, and the waters they feed, flow south into the Tigris. We are at the true mouth of those two rivers. There very place where they are born.” Jenny looked up at the sun and closed her eyes. She stretched out her arms as she enjoyed the sun’s rays warming her face.
“Welcome to E-Den,” Braedon said, smiling again.
“You mean like the garden of Eden?” asked Jenny. “How were you able to re-create it?”
“Yes exactly, the garden of Eden, but we didn’t re-create it. It has been here ever since we first created it.” Braedon replied, then led them further down the hill until they came to the beginning of a thick forest with tall trees. There were flowers of every kind in bloom growing all around them, and the air smelled of roses and lavender all at the same time.
“I’m not sure how that’s possible, but this is kind of what someone might picture heaven to be like,” Jenny said as she continued to look around her with wonder and excitement.
Braedon stopped walking and turned to look at them again. “We built this beautiful protected piece of Earth for the first of your kind to live in,” Braedon explained. It’s completely protected here in this valley. The wind currents that travel over the mountains make it impossible to fly over with aircraft and the steep snow capped ranges are impenetrable on foot. Right here in the middle of the Caucasus mountain range is where your people come from.” Braedon smiled again. “This is where it all started.”
“What do you mean when you say you built this place?” asked Jenny.
“We are the ones that breathed life into your race. Awoke your inner consciousness. You were already well on your way. We more or less just gave you a nudge in a new direction.”
“So you’re saying you are responsible for the human race?” Jenny could feel her breathing become labored and a wave of anxiety was creeping into her chest. She sighed deeply. “And now you have come back to explain it to us? I don’t really understand.”
“No Jenny, what I’m telling you is we never left.”
There was a long pause as she worked the information around in her head. Braedon continued. “Let me ask you something. Have you ever wondered where you get all of your human traits from?” As soon as he finished asking the question Braedon winked and then playfully hid his face behind a broad green leaf. He quickly removed it sporting a large smile and wide-open eyes. His expression made Jenny laugh. “Yes, humor, sarcasm, jealousy, laughter, love, even hate, and rage, you don’t see those human traits in any other living being on Earth do you?” He kept emphasizing the word human as he continued to explain. “So why is it do you think that humans are the only living things on this planet that experience those feelings, such a range of emotions, and deep thought?” he asked.
“I think animals have feelings too,” Jenny answered.
“Yes, to a lesser extent, but why do you think humans have so much more emotion and higher consciousness?”
“I don’t know, we‘re different,” Jenny replied.
“Yes, different, very different, but have you ever asked yourself why?”
“I guess that’s how God made us,” answered Jenny
“Indeed,” Braedon said as he smiled broadly. They continued walking through the forest until they entered a clearing where a large fruit tree was growing in its center. Braedon walked over to one of the lower branches and plucked a pear shaped fruit. He walked back over to Jenny and handed it to her. “Here, take this. I’m sure you’re hungry. I have no idea when the last time you ate something and I assure you that by the time you are done eating it you will feel much better.” The ripe pear felt good in her hands and she was suddenly overcome with hunger. Jenny bit into the soft, sun-warmed fruit. It tasted better than anything she had ever eaten. She felt warmth in the pit of her stomach that quickly flooded throughout her body. She could feel a euphoric tingling that ran from her spine out to the very tips of her fingers.
“This is amazing,” was all Jenny could muster between mouthfuls. They sat down in the grass a while, enjoying the beautiful view, sunshine and wonderful smells. Finally, Braedon took Jenny by the hand and helped her back to her feet. She stumbled slightly and fell into his arms. As Braedon steadied her she looked into his kind eyes. He had a trusting look about him. Braedon pulled away and the three of them began to head back the way they had come.
“So why is this the first time we have ever heard of you and your kind?” John asked.
“Knowledge is power and there have been rulers on your planet that chose to make the story fit for their purposes. We felt that it was in your best interests to keep the knowledge of us secret. But there are many ancient references that you may have mistaken for something or someone else. Just like at your home.”
“That was you?” John asked with surprise.
“Not me no, but yes it was some of my people.”
“Well, it seemed like you were trying to kill us,” Jenny said.
“That was Frank’s interpretation, but by that time Frank was already starting to show poor judgment, due to his con
dition. Things are not always what they seem. It’s all about perspective. You were never actually harmed were you?”
“Well, no, but what about Adam, he came after us with a gun. He was definitely out for blood,” said John.
“Adam is another one who was on a path not meant for him to follow. Adam could not handle what happened to his mind and went completely mad. He is gone now. He had to be eliminated like a rabid animal. It was regrettable, but something that had to be done.”
“It sure seemed like you were out to harm us in some way. I feel differently now, but it sure felt that way to me,” explained John.
“Yes, sometimes the unknown comes across as fear or panic. But don’t worry, we got our pyramid back and everything is fine now.”
“That’s all you wanted? You just wanted the pyramid?” John asked.
“Yes, that was all. But when we found you, we realized that you needed our help. So we brought you home with us so we could nurse you back to health. You see, we’re your friends and we’re here to help,” Braedon finished.
“I don’t know what it is about you Braedon,” Jenny finally said as they climbed the hill back up to the opening in the cave. She was winded a little when she got to the top and stopped to catch her breath. “You have a way of making a person feel safe and secure, and I like that. I just want to say thank you for taking us here today. It raises more questions than answers for me and it’s quite a story but...” She paused a moment, “but coming from you, well, let say somehow you make it easy to believe. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you fixing my wrist and taking care of John and Frank, and for being so nice.”
“I am happy to help in any way that I can. You are all so special to me you know. I would like you to think of me as a friend.”
