Vaalbara; Visions & Shadows

by Michelle Horst

  You do not want to know my age, it is best you leave it an unknown piece of information. Now, that was the wrong thing to say to me. Now I had to know.

  I looked around me; the area was absolutely beautiful. The gardens were a brilliant green, with hundreds of colorful flowers in bloom. My eyes searched the parking lot for any sign of Doug and Sarah, but there was none. Panic gripped my heart as I thought of Sky, waiting for me to save her from whatever was heading her way. I felt alone, empty - only this time the pain wasn’t for myself, it was for my Chosen Ones out there…waiting to die. At this rate Adeth would definitely get to them first.

  “No!” I shouted. “How will they survive?” I threw myself down on a bench just outside the entrance, frustrated beyond belief.

  Raighne kneeled in front of me, and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Tell me what is going on with you so I can help.” His intoxicating voice fell over me like a cloud of calm and peace.

  “I can’t get rid of the feelings. It’s like everything I’ve been through in the shack keeps haunting me. I feel like a failure…lost to Carter’s evil. It seems as if Adeth is slowly overpowering me from within, like I’ve never escaped.” Damn, I had just voiced my darkest fear. Wouldn’t that make it come true somehow? Plus, I’d gone and opened myself up to another - to Raighne of all people - a man who’d already been blaming himself for every misstep I‘d taken along the way.

  “You are still the same Alchera as before that happened. You are a survivor, and the strongest person I know. Adeth cannot hurt you anymore. I am with you, and I promise I will not let it happen again.” I gave him a weak smile, appreciating his efforts.

  My eyes kept scanning the area. Worry for Sky was starting to eat at my insides. I got up so fast Raighne fell backwards. I was looking directly at Sarah! She didn’t look surprised when I came running at her; she just smiled her pretty smile at me.

  “Hi, Sarah,” I began, trying to sound as normal as possible. “How are you feeling today?” I felt such a bond with her after ‘sharing’ her pain that it felt right for me to just greet her as if we were old friends.

  “I’m feeling stronger today, thank you for asking.” She tilted her head as if trying to place me. “Why do you look so familiar? Have we met?”

  Doug came and stood beside her with the same confused smile.

  I took a deep breath. “I really hope you’ll believe me.” I sped up my words, hoping to get everything out before they called the police or booked me passage to that local mental asylum. “I’m here to fetch you. I know you’re dying of cancer and I know this because…I had a vision of you. A pain shot through your head. It drove you to your knees, and your nose was bleeding. Doug gave you some tablets with water while holding your head to help it go down.” I looked over at him. “You’re amazing…the way you care for her.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek, as Sarah reached out and took my hand.

  I continued, “I know all this because you and Doug are two of Ten Chosen Ones. Awo, who you choose to call God, has chosen you to be saved. You have to come with us - to go live on a new Earth called Vaalbara. You will be healed there, Sarah. You won’t suffer anymore.”

  There was a glimpse of disbelief in Sarah’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced with…hope. I didn’t know how or why she believed me so quickly but she did, and I was grateful for it.

  Sarah‘s voice came out as a whisper, “I’ve prayed night and day for an answer. I’ve needed a miracle for so long and, out of the blue, stands the answer to my prayers.”

  I hugged her fragile body to mine, keeping my eyes on Doug, who didn’t seem as convinced.

  I stared directly into his eyes. “Doug, I’m gonna’ be as straightforward with you as I can. All hell is about to break loose. A huge earthquake is going to happen soon, and we still need to collect seven more people before it does. It’s the end of the world and I don’t have much time left.”

  As if the angels were simply looking for their cue, the ground beneath us started to tremble, followed by a deep, low moan. It sounded all too familiar. Perhaps the heavens were offering Doug a preview in order to get him to move.

  “No! Not now! It’s too soon!” My whole body went cold as adrenaline started pumping through me, sending me into overdrive. I took Sarah’s hand as I ran towards their car.

  “Come on, Doug!” Luckily he didn’t hesitate. Sarah was completely out of breath when we reached their car. Sarah and I climbed into the back, as Raighne took his seat beside Doug.

  “Take us to the nearest waterfall.”

  “Excuse me?” Doug turned in his seat just as the ground shook again.

  “Please, Doug, as fast as you can!” I begged. “Sky’s life depends on it!” I’m not sure which statement won him over, but Doug flew out of the parking lot, breaking every traffic law in existence.

  The drive felt endless. All I could think of were those big, black eyes of Sky looking up at me.

  “We’re not going to make it. The San Andreas Fault Line is about to break in half, and cause earthquakes, destruction, and the biggest tsunamis the world has ever seen. The whole of Japan will be swallowed up by the ocean. I’m not going to make it!” I thought of Sky standing alone by the waterfall…waiting to live or die.

  “She needs me. She called to me and t-told me where t-to get her. I’m not going t-to make it, and she t-trusted me!” I was rocking myself when Doug came to a screeching halt outside a nursery.

  He turned in his seat. “Does the waterfall have to be natural?”

  I looked at him, dumbfounded. “I guess not,” I replied, staring at Raighne. “I mean, I came th-through the one in Jason’s pond.”

  Doug pointed through the gate. “You go through the entrance and turn left. You’ll pass a display of bonsai trees and a small teagarden. You’ll hear it. It’s actually big; you can’t miss it.”

  I got out fast, holding Raighne back. “You can’t come with me. Someone has to stay with th-them. You need to protect th-them, while I go get Sky.”

  He looked at me for a few seconds before turning to Doug and Sarah. “Will you be able to sit at that teagarden while we wait for Alchera to return?”

  It was Sarah who answered, “It would actually be nice to be out in the fresh air.”

  I couldn’t wait any longer. I ran ahead of them, my need to get to Sky grew stronger with every second lost. I got to the waterfall, sighing in relief. Raighne walked with me to the curtain. He held me so tight that for a brief moment it felt as if we were one person.

  “Please be careful. I need you to come back to me. Promise me, you will come back to me.”

  “I promise I’ll do my best.” I pulled myself loose from Raighne’s grip. With no glance back, I ran into the waterfall. I didn’t care what would happen if I had a vision while shifting through the curtain. All that mattered now was saving a frightened girl who’d looked to the heavens and prayed for life.

  ~*~

  I ran straight into the gale force winds that surrounded Kegan Falls.

  “Alchera!” Her voice was faint. I hoped she was close by, but it was too dark to rely on only my sight.

  “Sky! I’m here. Keep calling out, I’ll follow your voice.” I could hardly hear my own voice above the roar of the winds. I practically crawled out of the water onto the grass. Trees on the river bank were bending and cracking; pieces of debris flew, slamming hard into my body.

  “Where are you?” I cried out.

  “By the waterfall!” She sounded closer. My eyes began to adjust to the darkness.

  “I’m coming.” I squinted and crawled a little further into the long grass, when I suddenly caught some movement to my right.

  “I see something and really hope it’s you. I’m waving, can you see me?”

  “Yes! Yes, I see you.” Her voice was filled with relief.

  “Thank you Awo!” I cried. Using every bit of power I had, I pushed myself up off the grass. I didn’t know where the strength came from, but I needed to
get to Sky. She was all that mattered now.

  When she saw me, a sob tore through her small frame. I held mine back; it was my turn to be the strong one.

  “You came for me. You didn’t forget me.” She grabbed me so tightly I almost lost my balance.

  “Can you move faster?” She nodded, too emotional to speak. She looked worn out after being in this storm for so long. But we had to fight our way back to the curtain of water.

  We were almost there when I heard the monstrous roar I’d been waiting for. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the colossal wall of water coming at us - a mass of pure destruction coming directly at us. It’s size blocked out everything around it; even the stars in the heavens had been extinguished. The tsunami came with such speed that there were only seconds left to escape.

  I needed to move. Move faster, move faster!

  I dragged poor Sky behind me; she’d gone silent from the shock. Drawing my last ounce of strength, I forged through the pool towards the curtain that held our only way out. We were running from water towards water, how was that for irony?

  I smelled salt in the air. Knowing we were out of time, I positioned Sky in front of me. I cleared my thoughts, trying to think only of the falls. I would at least save her, if it was the last thing I did.

  I felt the spray of drops against my back. Crap, I was out of time!

  I thought of Raighne, and then quickly pictured the waterfall. As the massive ton of water slammed into me, the powerful force ripped the jacket from my back and Sky from my arms. I wanted to cry out to her, but only ended up with a mouthful of water. A mighty wave propelled me through the curtain, and hurled me into the air. With a crash, I landed hard on the ground in the center of the teagarden and saw Sky lying a few feet away. The wave of relief that hit my body was even harder than the tsunami’s strength.

  Sky smiled as she pushed herself up and walked over to me. She seemed completely unharmed. Trying to move, I noticed the odd angle that my left arm was bent into. I tried pushing myself up, but it wouldn’t play along.

  Sky dropped to her knees beside me. “Do not move. Lie still.” Her voice was soft, with just a hint of panic hidden inside her words.

  Raighne skidded to a stop, almost falling over me in his haste to get to us. He straddled me, his hands already on my arm, sending warmth into my skin. I started to feel my arm when an icy dull pain suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

  Now, I don’t know if it was because of the pain, or the massive issue I had with lying face down that caused me to crack. But I did, right then and there.

  I yanked my injured arm free from the hands holding it, as panic and fear flooded me. “Get off me!” I pushed myself off the floor and swung my right elbow backwards, secretly hoping to hit him in the ribs.

  He was there. And, as always, Carter was quicker and stronger. His arms circled me, but I was going to fight harder this time - he wouldn’t win so easily. I tried to head butt him, but he ducked to the side. With one swift movement, his mouth was by my ear making me shiver with disgust.

  The haze began to lift. “Alchera! Calm down.” Raighne’s calm voice soothed my nerves. Carter wasn’t here. My torturer was another time…another life. My body crumpled into Raighne’s arms.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “We will deal with your fear together, but first we need to heal your arm. Sit, so I can take a look at it.”

  My legs obeyed, buckling beneath me. I could hear the wind playing in the leaves of the trees, and I shivered. “The wind, Raighne. I don’t like the…wind.”

  But the darkness enveloping me was so much worse.

  ~*~

  “We will rest shortly! If we don’t keep moving we might as well kill ourselves.” I jumped up at the voice. It wasn’t harsh at all, instead it sounded supportive.

  My surroundings slowly came into focus. I was standing in a forest of Christmas trees. At least, that was what they looked like to me. They were the tallest trees I’d ever seen, and they were everywhere. Their branches swayed gently from side to side. It made me nervous. Wind had become an extremely ominous sign.

  “I am not as fit as you are. I will only hold you back. Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

  “Don’t talk shit. Give me your bag.”

  Movement caught my eye. They were by a boulder. A tall guy loomed over a shorter one and everything about him screamed soldier. He was well built; his hair was carved into a crew-cut style that spoke of a regal, patriotic fighter. The shorter one reached his shoulders. He was of medium build, with intelligent eyes staring out at the world from behind thick glasses. He gave the impression of an absentminded professor, not able to keep his hands out of his already messy hair.

  “Dammit! Come on, Carlo. We have to move faster!”

  “You know I hate it when you curse. I’m trying my best.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just…I want to get you to a safe place. The safety of the mountains is still far away.”

  “I know. I know”

  They began to move again. That was when I saw the mountains. They were huge, stretching out far above them.

  “Are you sure we’ll be safe there, Lee?”

  “I’ll keep you alive as long as I’m alive,” his oath was solid, as he stopped and listened to their surroundings. “I hear water. We can rest there for a while.” His voice grew quiet. “We were lucky to get away from the city. Half of Canada is gone. The radio said that tsunamis had struck all over the world. We’re gonna take cover as high as possible and just wait this thing out. Alright bro?”

  “Yes.” Carlo seemed to trust his brother with his life.

  I began to follow. I saw the waterfall through the trees as we came around a bend. It wasn’t as big as the others I’d seen, though apparently anything would do. I studied it, trying my best to record the details in my mind.

  “We can rest here for thirty minutes only, but then we have to get going again. We have to reach the base of the mountain before nightfall.” Lee gave Carlo a stern look before setting down the bags.

  Carlo nodded. A terrified breath came through his lips as the ground beneath them began to tremble.

  ~*~

  My head hurt so bad. I was lying on my back, with my head on Raighne’s thigh.

  “She’s awake!” I tried to focus on Sky’s relieved voice as I pushed myself off the ground, thankful there was no pain this time. I only had thirty minutes to get to Carlo and Lee.

  “Slow down! You will only faint again.” Raighne made it sound like an order, one which I chose to ignore.

  “I didn’t faint. I need to go. I’ll be back in a little while.” I turned to head back to the curtain of water, when his arm went around my waist and completely stopped me in my tracks. It would be way easier to yell at Raighne if my stomach would stop doing teenage flip-flops every time he touched me.

  “You have to let me go,” I breathed.

  “No. Not yet. You have to eat something first.” I could hear the worry in his voice.

  “Believe me,” I shot back. “I don‘t want to do any of this crap with a full stomach.” I needed to stay in control. “I can eat when they’re all safe.”

  I gathered the little bit of willpower I had left and pried my body from his arms. Running for the curtain, picturing the waterfall I’d studied while doing my best to clear my mind of Raighne, I shifted through it.

  ~*~

  Taking a few deep breaths, I waited for my head to stop spinning. After wiping the water from my eyes, I scanned the area; it looked the same as my vision.

  “Miss…are you okay?” It was Lee, standing not too far from the pool.

  Yes, they were still here! Thank you, Awo. I struggled towards Lee with, what I felt, was a huge goofy grin on my face. By now I was completely sure that I looked like the main character in Psycho. But, with all the waterfalls I’d been through, at least I’d be clean when they put me in that padded room.

  Lee reached down and helped me out of the pool. It wasn’t until I stood in
front of him that I realized how big he really was. Damn…the guy was massive; he even put G.I. Joe to shame.

  “I’m glad you’re still here. Where’s Carlo?”

  “What?” He frowned down at me.

  “I need you to get Carlo so we can leave.”

  He held up his hand. “I’m not letting you near my brother until you tell me who the hell you are. We’ve dealt with a lot of crazy crap back in the city, and had more than our fair share of shocks for the day. So, spill it, lady. What the hell do you want?” Lee took a step forward; his size was threatening, but I didn’t budge. I still had a little spirit left in me.

  “My name is Alchera. I’m here to save you and your brother’s lives. I know you want to get to the mountain, but in a few days even that will be gone. I’m here to take you and Carlo to a safe place called Vaalbara. It’s a new Earth only a chosen few will see. This is the beginning of the end, Lee. I have four others waiting for me to return. You and your brother are numbers five and six. So if you could please make this easy for me and just come willingly, I’ll be forever grateful.”

  “Wow.” It was Carlo. “Wow.” He stared at me with big, wide eyes. “I can’t believe I am alive to witness this. This is such an honor.”

  Lee turned on him. “You weren’t just made prom King, kid. You can’t be serious. The chick is nuts. How can you believe a word she’s saying?”

  Carlo’s eyes remained on me. “Think about Lee, the proof is there. The Mayans warned us, Nostradamus warned us, the Bible warned us…the list is endless. It’s all here in my books.” As if waiting for its cue, the wind began to blow harder. There was something coming and I wasn’t going to stick around to find out what.

  “Look, whatever’s about to happen won’t be good. Trust me, I’ve had experiences with all th-this. I swear, Lee, come with me and I promise you’ll get th-the answers you need back in Ireland.”

  The solider looked at me like he was about to pull the pin from a grenade and wipe me from the face of the earth.