The Awakener (The Watchers of Men)

by Amanda Strong

  “What was that?” he gasped between breaths. She didn’t say anything. Slowly, he straightened, gazing at her. Pain etched the lines around her eyes, her lips turned down.

  “Why did I see that?” He hoped there was a reason for that nightmare.

  Her head tilted to the side and her mouth opened. He eagerly awaited her words, but as her lips formed them, no sound came out.

  “I can’t hear you,” he blurted.

  She nodded and continued speaking nonetheless.

  He stepped closer. “I still can’t understand—”

  “Micah!” Trent’s voice boomed out from the other side of the bathroom door. Micah jumped and spun around. Trent’s up? It’s probably three am.

  “What the banana balls are you doing in there?” Trent growled through the wood. The woman disappeared.

  Frustrated by her short visit, Micah threw the door open and Trent barged in. Trent surveyed the room and then stared at him. “Who were you talking to?”

  “No one,” he responded, surprised Trent could’ve heard him through the closed bathroom doors. He hadn’t spoken loudly, or that much, and he knew his cousin was a pretty sound sleeper.

  “Whatever. I heard you talking to a girl. Were you talking online with someone or something?”

  Micah’s body stiffened. “How did you know I was talking to a girl?”

  “Ha! I knew it! Who is she? Megan?” Trent grinned.

  “How’d you know, Trent?” He took a step towards his cousin, who was now checking out his closet. Does he think I hid someone in there?

  Trent turned around and snickered. “Dude, what were you doing online? Do I need to talk to your parents?”

  “Trent, I wasn’t on my computer. Tell me how you knew it was a girl!” Micah shouted, annoyed his cousin was ignoring his question.

  Trent cocked an eyebrow at Micah and then shrugged. “I heard her, ok, loud and clear. So loud I’m beginning to wonder if you somehow snuck Viola in here.” Trent dropped down and peered under Micah’s bed, calling, “Viola, are you in there?”

  If it had been any other time, Micah would’ve laughed at him, but his mind was buzzing. Trent heard her?

  “What did she say?” he demanded, but Trent was peeling his covers down saying, “Viola, come out, come out, wherever you are.”

  “Trent.” Micah’s tone was firm. His cousin stopped chuckling and stared at him. “I need to know what you heard. What did the girl say?”

  “Am I on crazy pills here or are you going to tell me what’s going on here? Who is she?” Trent retorted.

  He struggled to respond. He supposed it was as good of a time as any to tell Trent he saw ghosts or angels, or whatever the woman in red was.

  Trent huffed impatiently. “Fine, I’m too tired for this. She said something like you did the right thing coming here, and he’ll hear me,” he paused, Micah hanging on his every word, “and it’s time to study. You’re supposed to live with the Gennaros. They’ll show you what to study.” Trent stopped talking and threw his hands on his hips, waiting.

  So the Gennaros are why I’m here, Micah thought. I need to talk to them. But I guess it’ll have to wait until morning.

  “Che cavolo,” Trent muttered, bringing Micah back to present.

  “Thanks, Trent,” Micah breathed out, his shoulders relaxing.

  Trent eyed him suspiciously. “If this happens again, you’re going to talk, got it? I can’t have you turning into a nutcase while we’re here. You will freak out the ladies. Now I, for one, am going back into my room to think about Gianna’s soft lips on mine.” Trent left, mumbling, “Poor kid’s losing it. I hope it’s not contagious.”

  Micah was grateful Trent acted like nothing had happened the night before, announcing he was going sightseeing with Gianna since it was Saturday. Anxious to talk to the Gennaros, Micah was upset to learn, by the small note Caterina stuck to the fridge, they’d gone early to the markets to shop for fresh produce. Micah peeled the yellow stick-it off, crumpling it and tossing it into the trash can.

  Now what? I might as well browse Gustavo’s library. Maybe I can figure out what I’m supposed to learn. The apartment was quiet as he made his way to the den. One solid wall was devoted to books with a built-in white bookcase and a white, wooden ladder leaning against it. Scanning, he was slightly disappointed to see they were all in Italian. Looking higher up, he was happy to discover old copies of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, both in English. Up higher still, there was a whole row of Jane Austin books and the complete works of William Shakespeare in English.

  They must have gotten them through all the years of housing American kids.

  Curious as to what was on the top shelf, he ascended the ladder. Again, most of the titles were in Italian, but he gathered from the covers that they were books on philosophy, architecture, and world history. One large, cloth book was titled Bibbia.

  Looks like the Bible. Cocking his head, he surveyed the volumes next to it, surprised they were in English. Drawn to the old, leather binding on one hefty-looking book, he pulled it out, reading the title, The Apocryphical Book of Enoch.

  Huh, wonder what this is about?

  Tucking the book under his arm, he climbed down. Hope Gustavo doesn’t mind if I borrow this. He settled on the chaise and carefully opened it. It landed somewhere in the middle.

  He read aloud:

  “And I saw there something horrible; I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. And there I saw seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire.”

  He paused. Fire?

  “‘For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?’ Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them and said: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth? These are the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.’”

  He jumped ahead a bit. “…and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture.”

  He stopped reading. Is this what I saw in my vision? I saw a fire, or at least I saw the aftermath of a huge fire.

  The front door opened and the Gennaros entered, Caterina coming in first. Micah wanted to ask if it was all right if he borrowed the book, but Caterina’s eyes were darting between his face and the book in his hand. She dropped her grocery bag, her hand flying to her mouth.

  “Caspita! Is it really you?” she gasped.

  Dumbfounded, he stared back at her.

  Gustavo was grumbling something as Caterina whirled around, clutching his arm. “Gustavo, I think he is the one!”

  Gustavo’s eyes peered up at Caterina and then wordlessly squinted in Micah’s direction. A large smile cracked under his long nose. “I think you are right, Caterina! He is finally here!”

  Micah set the book aside, rising to his feet. “What do you mean, the one?” he asked.

  Caterina bustled into the room, grabbing Micah’s hands. “We have so much to discuss. How about some tea first?”

  Micah followed them into the small kitchen. He sat down at the square table in the bay window as Caterina put the kettle on to boil. Gustavo settled into the chair across from him, folding his wrinkled hands. After she had set out the cups and tea bags, Caterina brushed her hands on the apron she’d hastily tied on, and moved to stand next to Micah.

  “Many, many years ago, Micah, I had a dream,” she began. “In my dream, I saw destruction. I saw the world in chaos and misery. It was terrifying. Everything was burned. I found myself wandering through the ruins, crying at the horrible loss, asking why this could not have been prevented.”

  Micah gasped slightly, and both sets of eyes riveted on him. “I sor
t of had the same dream,” he explained, feeling bad about interrupting.

  Caterina’s eyes widened. “I knew it. I knew you would come.” Micah waited and she continued, “My dream shifted to a new place. I saw a young man with dark hair, leaning over a book, reading. He was a very special young man. I could tell in my dream because I saw angels around him as he read. It was like they were protecting him, watching him.”

  Micah’s skin crawled with goose bumps.

  “In my dream,” she continued, “I knew the boy was American. He was speaking English to me. He was telling me he had a mission to save mankind from complete destruction. At the time of my dream, I spoke very little English. I remember I woke up and told Gustavo the words I had heard. He translated it into Italian for me.” Caterina glanced at Gustavo.

  Gustavo cleared his throat as Caterina got up to pour the boiling water into the teacups.

  “I knew this dream she had was important. We were still raising our children at home, but we both felt that we were supposed to do something. We decided to start hosting foreign exchange students. We have been doing it for over thirty years, waiting for the time when we would meet the young American from Caterina’s dream.” Gustavo gaped at Micah. “And now you have come.”

  “How do you know it’s me?”

  Gustavo and Caterina exchanged stares as she set the teacup in front of Micah.

  “We know because of what you were reading,” Gustavo answered, taking his tea from Caterina.

  “The Book of Enoch?”

  Gustavo smiled. “Yes, my boy! That is your destiny!”

  Trying to grapple with what their words meant, Micah swallowed the hot tea, searing his tongue and throat. He gasped and sputtered, until Gustavo gave him a resounding thump on the back.

  “I’m okay, thanks,” Micah coughed, hoping to avoid having the air knocked out of him again. Gustavo’s stronger than he looks.

  Caterina sat down, her eyes full of empathy. “I am sure this is very confusing to you, my dear.” She sighed. “In my dream, I saw the book the boy read. It was a book about the City of Enoch. I told this to Gustavo. He has made it his life’s mission to learn everything there is about Enoch and his great city. And now you have come to learn from him.”

  Though unfamiliar with Enoch and the city they spoke of, Micah knew they were right. The woman in red said he was to study with the Gennaros; this must be what he was to learn about. Gazing at the elderly couple, he realized how incredible it was that this was lined up thirty years ago, long before he’d even been born.

  “All right,” Micah replied. “I want to learn everything you can teach me.”

  And, he thought grimly, about how I’m going to save everyone from that fire.

  “I wish you had Biology with me,” Eden sighed to her friend on Monday.

  Jessie leaned back in her seat and, in a not-so-quiet voice, said, “Why? You love that stuff. I hate science.”

  “I like the class. I just wish it wasn’t so… awkward,” she admitted.

  “Huh, awkward?” Jessie asked, hefting her trig book out of her backpack.

  “What are you two banshee’s whispering about?” a male voice whispered. Eden turned, already knowing it was Andrew.

  I don’t know why he likes teasing us so much.

  She was surprised his face was close, emerald eyes staring back at her.

  “Hey, you got your braces off!” His eyes widened further.

  She felt herself flush. Yesterday, her mom had taken her to her new orthodontist for a check-up. She’d been thrilled when he decided it was time for the braces to come off. All night she had rubbed her tongue across her teeth.

  Even now, she couldn’t resist feeling how smooth it felt. It was almost slimy. “Yeah, got them off yesterday.”

  “Nice.” He grinned back at her. He didn’t hide the fact he was gawking now. She turned away, meeting Jessie’s wide grin.

  She couldn’t help but be aware of Andrew’s quick glances throughout class though. Unfortunately for her, Jessie noticed too, and kept shooting her winks. Jessie had many qualities Eden loved, but subtlety was not one of them. Shorter than her, Jessie was as outspoken as her bright red, curly hair.

  Eden peeked in Andrew’s direction. As always, he was dressed in expensive clothes with his dark blond hair having that messy look she was sure he’d spent a long time creating.

  “Eden,” Mr. Giles voice asked impatiently. She snapped her eyes to the front, terrified she’d been caught unaware.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you know the cosign of π/4?”

  “Ah… square root of 2 over 2,” she answered.

  She glanced over; Andrew was gazing at her. Embarrassed, she looked away.

  Thankfully, class ended and Jessie moaned about the homework load. “Mr. Giles’s a tyrant.”

  Something brushed her arm as Andrew muttered, “I’m totally not getting this.”

  She glanced down, gaping at his hand near her arm. Did he touch me?

  “Hey, you get it, don’t you? Do you want to help me out?” he asked, grinning.

  She eyed him. Wonder if he means copy my homework. “Sure.”

  “Great! Can you study after school some time?” He slung his backpack on his shoulder.

  Wait… study together? That hadn’t been what she was thinking.

  “Um, yeah.” She threw her backpack on her shoulder too. “Just let me know when you want to.” Like never.

  “My dad’s got me working after school all this week; how about Friday?”

  “Ah,” she stammered. I’m in the twilight zone. “Ok.”

  She shuffled away, with Jessie following behind her, mouthing the words, I told you so!

  Eden hurried to her next class, Biology, not wanting to acknowledge that maybe Jessie was right. It was a study date, not a date date. She flopped down in her seat and pulled her textbook out.

  Glancing up, she saw the reason she dreaded Biology walk down their aisle to take the seat behind her—Damon.

  At least he always smells like clean soap.

  Damon’s jeans hung low, revealing blue boxers today. He wore black t-shirts most days and skater DC shoes. His fingernails were painted black and he had hand-drawn tattoos on his arms of snakes and dragons. His black hair hung over his ears and into his face. She knew he belonged to the skater crowd and assumed he did drugs because of the dark bags under his eyes, but those weren’t the reasons she dreaded sitting by him. It was the memory of 3rd grade, when he sat next to her all day long, every day.

  And he threw spit wads in my hair, pulled my seat out from underneath me, and scribbled on my homework assignments.

  She knew it was a long time ago, and she should forget it ever happened. She wished she could. Logically, she knew he wouldn’t throw spit wads anymore, but she still felt uneasy being so close to him.

  Eden half-hoped Andrew wouldn’t be in class on Friday—the week had been a long one—but he came in right after her and Jessie. Eden caught his scent as they all sat down.

  Geez, he not only looks goods today but smells good too.

  “So, still good with studying?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

  “Sure. Where’d you want to meet?”

  “How about the football bleachers?”

  “Ok,” she replied as the teacher flipped on the overhead projector. Eden tried to concentrate on the lesson, knowing she was going to have to try to explain it to Andrew later. She felt pretty confident she knew the stuff.

  After class, Andrew got up, saying, “See you later.”

  Once he was gone, Jessie turned to Eden. “Meeting you on the bleachers! I was so right, admit it.”

  “Whatever. It’s not like that.”

  “Eden, I don’t think you realize you’re a pretty girl and—” Jessie began.

  “Jessie, please don’t give me the ‘you’re a pretty girl speech’! I know what I am, and pretty isn’t how I’d describe myself. But thanks for being nice,” she added with a smile.r />
  Jessie shook her head. “You’re hopeless.”

  “Sorry, I’m late,” Andrew called as he jogged up the bleachers. He tossed his backpack down next to her, and sank down on the bench.

  Spying her trig book open on her lap, he asked, “Were you waiting long? Chase was yapping at me.”

  “No, just got here,” she lied. She didn’t want to admit she’d been waiting ten minutes. Did he say Chase?

  “Is Chase your friend?”

  “Yeah, you know him?”

  “No, not really, just met him once.” She zipped her jacket up. Who studies outside in February?

  He noticed. “Guess it’s kind of cold, huh? Are you ok? We could go inside. Maybe the library’s open.”

  “No, I’m fine. We should get started.” It wasn’t just the chill making her uncomfortable. Boys were not familiar territory for her.

  “Sure.” He pulled his book out. “But I’m warning you, I’m not as smart as I look.” He winked at her. Forty minutes later, they were done.

  “What a relief,” Andrew sighed. “No homework for the weekend.”

  She glanced over at him. He was leaning against the bench behind them, with both hands behind his head.

  “You know, I don’t think you really needed my help.” She cringed inwardly. Why did I just speak my thoughts?

  He chuckled. “Ah, busted. You really are too smart for your own good, you know.”

  She stared back at him, lost.

  He sat up, his green eyes dancing. “You’re right. I didn’t really need your help. But I wanted it.”

  She pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees, trying to get warm. She resisted the urge to push her glasses up; it was a nervous habit.

  “I don’t understand.”

  He stared down at the football field, cleared his throat, and then glanced her way.

  “Chase is throwing Willow a surprise birthday party next weekend.”

  Chase and Willow, both names filled her with dread.