by L M Feldt
Then I spy a tentacle by my right hand. For a moment I fear that I have somehow gone full circle, back into the cavern where the King’s guards had first found us. I lift my head, straining because every part of my body is in pain from the fall. Craning my neck I see the lone guard sitting next to me, motionless, in shock that he is still alive probably. I struggle to sit up, looking for my friends. There is light here from a crevice in the ceiling of the cavern. I spy Aito dragging Naoaki and I crawl to help him get her fully out of the water. We roll her on her side, make sure she is breathing and move on to Micha. He is mostly out of the water already and his remnant bares it’s teeth at us as we approach. Beyond I see Khane floating face down, just shy of the beach.
Aito and I splash toward him and have nearly gotten there when a huge black fin breaks the water. The creature below pushes Khane’s body and I am able to finally grab his hand and pull him in.
“Water in his lungs.” Gasps Aito. “Push here!”
I place my hands on Khane’s chest and push as instructed, watching amused and shocked as Aito places his mouth over Khane’s and breathes. I giggle inappropriately and then scoot out of the way when Khane rolls onto his side and heaves brown liquid. He blinks at me and smiles blandly.
“Are you ok?” I ask.
“No.”
I huff a laugh. He will live.
Beyond the narrow spit of land we have dragged ourselves onto the waterways fork. I cannot see a difference between the two in the mist laden air and none of us are in any condition to go anywhere just yet anyway. Aito is moving about the island picking up bit and pieces, making a pile of dry trash. It isn’t until I see him trying to make a fire that I realize how cold I am. I help first Naoaki and then Khane to the fire. Micha is up and joins us with his pet who has thankfully calmed down. The poor forlorn guard sits alone, slumped. He looks so sad I want to go over and invite him to our fire, which Aito got going with one of his chemical light sticks.
I am distracted, however, by a huge black serpent that winds up onto the beach, coils of rope-like muscle churning the murky water. I stand, rooted, as the creature thrashes in the foaming shallows. It rises up snake like and a dark purple haze obscures it for a moment. Then I see Ash, standing tall and proud. His skin shines with health, golden eyes so much brighter than they had been when he was a pale, sickly boy. My heart pounds and my skin flushes. He is a boy no longer.
Hello.He signs.
Naoaki’s scream startles me out of my dream state.
“Fish!”
She hurtles down to the water’s edge and throws herself into his arms. He gives her a tight hug and a fully toothed grin, but his eyes seek mine. He finally sets her down and gently pats her head, then slowly walks toward me. He is graceful, wild and powerful while I am a smelly, dirty mess. I want desperately to look my best right now but I have no idea where these feelings are coming from. I should feel grateful to him for saving my life a second time……but I am having a hard time putting my thoughts in order.
He stops before me and gently reaches out to brush my cheek. I raise my eyes to his, hoping my swirling emotions aren’t too obvious. Soft as a puff of air his lips touch mine…..and electric fire races down my spine, but this time it is a different kind of danger that sparks my twist.
Whatever the future holds, whatever trials we face on our way to the City of Lights, I am the rebellious, angry girl no longer. I have a confidence now that comes from survival. I am a warrior, a leader and a friend. I have fought off the monsters of my nightmares and run from them too. I’ve made friends, considered love, and met challenges I never could have imagined back in the Compound.
The future is uncertain….just the way I like it.
The End
A note from the Author
The idea of engineering human DNA is not a new concept. We hesitate on the threshold even now. Why not make a child’s life better by removing the markers for asthma or dementia or small ears? It is a Pandora’s box that I find both fascinating and terrifying. There are no limits to what can be done or what might happen as a result.
“In 2012, genetics took another leap. Using a technology called CRISPR, scientists can now reliably and cheaply cut and paste in DNA for the first time. Changing the DNA sequencing of a living thing used to a massive, labor intensive project; now it can be done quickly by graduate students in a good biolab.” Source: www.Newsweek.com, April 30, 2016
As we watch the news and consider what separates one quality of person from another, as we pigeon hole people into categories of class or education or social status….perhaps we need to take a step back and re-evaluate what’s really important. Before too long we made need to classify: What is human?
