by Elle Scott
‘Good girl Nora, good girl,’ I whisper to myself.
‘Uh guys, we gotta get out of here.’ Ross takes a few steps backwards as he points to the Red Orb. That's when I notice the crowd of people dispersing through the trees, becoming shadows in the forest.
I swing my head back to the enormous orb; a small red dot starts pulsating in the centre of it. The pulse grows larger with every beat. The dormant beast awakens again.
‘It looks like it's… regenerating!’ Ross says, still moving away.
Xander, Eli and Miles scramble to push the remaining debris off Nora's orb shield.
‘NORA!’ Miles yells trying to wake her up, ‘NORA!’
As the Red Orb becomes brighter, I dart my eyes between it and Nora's closed eyes, willing her to wake up.
‘Kate!’ Xander jumps off Nora’s shield.
‘They'll be safe in there,’ Eli climbs down now. ‘We need to get our distance!’
Miles doesn't move though. At the top of the shield his head rests above Nora's head as his hands beat in rhythm against it; and at the bottom of the shield, his leg is trapped inside cracked clumps of cement. Eli and Xander see it the same time as I do. We all lean down to free him but they are too heavy for us.
‘ROSS?’ Eli screams. ‘Help, Miles is stuck!’ But Ross is already half way across the field.
‘Get away Kate!’ Xander demands. ‘Now please!’
‘No!’ I feel a piece of cement nudge under the power of mine and Eli's pull. ‘This one!’
Xander pulls my hands. ‘GO!’ he commands.
I stand back, but I won’t leave.
He places his hands where mine were and they pull together, the piece moves a few centimetres, but still not enough.
‘Here!’ Ross pants behind us. Jennifer and Marcus rush around him and try to help Xander and Eli. They pull the piece away, but another below it still holds Miles’ foot. He’s still trapped but he doesn’t even notice what they are doing anyway, his face is fixed on Nora's.
‘NORA!’ I scream at her as I feel the ground tremble beneath my feet.
Bruised and bleeding hands heave at the rubble, but it’s too late. The Red Orb, in its renewed life force, begins charging bolts of tiny lightening shards. We have no time to run now.
‘NORA!’ We cry together.
FORTY-NINE
Nora
Through the smallest slit in my eyes, I see seven shadows moving. The rubble has cleared. I lift my weary hands up to release the shield but the orb isn't in either of them. How is it working?
Out of the corner of my eye, a few inches from my right hand, I see the blurry blue-green sphere illuminate radiantly. I reach for it, but my knuckles slide over it and the blur rolls down towards my feet. I must have lost a lot of blood, not just because of the pool my thigh is bathed in, but because I'm starting to see things. The veins in my arm are like rivers of neon blue, it mesmerises me like my orb did when I first saw it. All those days ago, or was it years? I can't remember.
I bring my hands up to my face, flipping them around to study the veins glow. Beyond them, a face presses against my orb’s shield, I can't make out who it is. The voice is muffled and says Red Orb something… something. I roll my head to the right, the Red Orb towers over us, blazing as bright as the sun through smoke. The ground vibrates, and ominous red sparks flash in each direction.
The haze clears from my sight as I focus my eyes. Standing over us is Xander, Miles, Kate, Eli, Ross, Jennifer, and Marcus. Their faces illuminated by the deep menacing red light beside them. I slide my aching leg across and hit the orb with my foot. I miss. My thigh moves unsettlingly through my own blood as I try to hit it again. It rolls around the edge of the shield, stopping inches from my right hand. I moan as I try to extend it further; my shoulder sends a stabbing pain down my arm. I can't do it. Inside my head, I see my body tear at the shield, it lunges and thrashes and scratches to escape. But in reality, I’m a statue, my muscles numb and my nerves frozen. I scream from frustration and fear.
‘Get away!’ I croak through fading breath.
Miles shakes his head and presses his hands on the shield. I lift my left hand up to mirror his, separated by only a thin polymer-like substance that keeps me safe, but not him.
I must still be seeing things, because I swear I can see him mouth the words, ‘I love you.’ I wonder if he is really here or if I'm just seeing things I want to see. Do I want him to love me?
I close my eyes, the whirring noise from the Red Orb circulates inside the shield, like a loud warning siren. I open my eyes and he is still there.
‘I love you,’ his voice echoes clear this time, his forehead a white oval as it rests against the shield.
‘No, no,’ I shake my head, the agony rises from my chest and pours out my eyes in the form of tears. Tears that don't justify the pain from where they were born. Salty drops of water that will barely fill a cup and never show how deep the well is.
In this moment, right now I realise he has always been there for me, never leaving me alone. His constant smiles, steady arms, patient love, unfaltering support—never for what he needed, always for what I needed. It makes sense now. Why I've resisted him, why my heart beats out of my chest and my body melts like lava when he comes near me. He scares me, not because of how he could hurt me—but because of how he could love me. I know he could never hurt me, but loving him right now, I hurt.
Red lights bounce off my shield. People start to scatter, Xander grabs his sister and holds her beneath his protective body. Ross, Jennifer and Marcus turn and run. Eli stays at the base of the shield, heaving on something that encases Miles’ foot. He's stuck, Miles is stuck. I look up to him in panic but he shows no fear of his own.
‘It's okay!’ He says with such conviction I think I believe him. But I know it's not okay. He actually does need me; they all need me and I don't want to leave.
The Red Orb is almost as bright as it was when it shattered before. In seconds it will expel an energy so strong no building could survive let alone human.
And then it’s clear to me, that I can no longer hold on to what I’m afraid of. My mother, rejection, Miles’ love, the power of my orb. What if, that which we are soul filling, mind blowing, life changing destined for is right there behind the distraction of fear?
I stretch my arm once more to reach for my orb, but my hand is heavy and the orb’s familiar cold round pressure is already in my palm. I don’t dare stop to wonder how it got there, so I close my eyes and, despite the pain in my shoulder, I punch my arm into the air.
A booming crack resonates through my eardrums and reverberates down my spine. I scream, to both drown out the noise and exert as much energy as I can. And once I've drained every atom of strength that was left in my body, I open my eyes.
Miles leans over my body, his long smooth fingers circulate around my wrist like they did earlier, he tugs at my arm to lower it. My breaths are quick yet strong and I feel them powering my heart as it beats against my ribs. I look around at the grown shield that emanates from the orb in my hand, it is so large it encompasses the whole clearing.
Xander's warm hand cups my injured shoulder, he smiles at me. ‘It's over!’
The pain enters my body then, and I collapse. Kate, Eli and Ross run over to us and huddle around. Miles uncurls my fingers from the constricted grasp I have on my orb, and the shield drops away.
‘How did you do that?’ Kate asks, behind Xander.
‘Which part?’ Miles says breathless, as he removes his father’s jacket from around my leg. He pushes my hand towards my leg, the orb lands gently onto my thigh.
‘The orb rolled to you, it was stagnant and it rolled to you. Like telekinesis or something!’ Ross pants.
I look at Xander nod. He is still squeezing my shoulder, stopping the blood.
‘And then this!’ Kate motions to a dark patch where the Red Orb used to sit.
A burning sensation causes me to flinch and I look back to Miles, his eyes glaze o
ver with tears.
‘Am I dying?’ I ask.
His mouth glides open and he shows his teeth amused, ‘No Nora… you're healing!’
Behind me, Ladlow writhes, ‘Don't even think about touching me with that orb!’
Eli chuckles as he wraps an arm around Ross, ‘Ladlow loves his cardinal rule of new orb discovery.’
‘Which is?’ Ladlow asks groggily.
The five of us exchange knowing glances against Kate's confusion.
‘Ten metres, guys,’ Xander says. ‘Ten metres!’
FIFTY
Nora
It's weird when the feeling of having a purpose is suddenly gone and it leaves an empty space inside. What am I to do now? Where am I to go? What will happen if I move on to something else? I guess that's the excitement of life. The biggest life-changing circumstance for me has occurred over the last five years, yet happened in one week. Try explaining that to people. Maybe I'll keep it a secret, that's in my job description after all.
There's still so many unanswered questions that I may never need to find the answers for. But if I've learnt anything over this last week/five years, is that I'm capable of much more than I thought.
I've stayed here for a couple of hours, delaying the inevitable. Leaving this chapter and all its contents here in this field. I’ve circled the Corridor, making sure it’s out of use. I’ve cleaned up the mess the Red Orb made. I’ve watched Xander and Miles transport those left wandering in the forest back to their homes. I’ve helped collect the scattered few portal orbs that survived the blast to be taken to the third and now only Palladium base. I’ve sat here on the river bank for the most part though.
I pull a strand of grass from the dirt I sit on and throw it into the river, I watch it spin rapidly with the current. It hits rocks and branches; it submerges and resurfaces time and time again. And yet it still flows, still goes, it still exists.
I feel a tap on my thigh, Xander's foot stretches as he sits behind me.
‘What I want to know is…’ he says. ‘What happens now that the Uprising has the orbs?’
‘Well… they do have the orbs but they don’t have their power,’ I smile and turn around. From right to left, Ross, Eli, Miles, Xander and Kate all look at me curiously.
I place the orb beside me on the grass.
Miles leans forward. ‘What did you do?’
‘I kind of neutralised all the orbs before they took them!’
Miles smiles and whispers, ‘I knew it.’
Kate and Ross gasp.
‘Oh my god, you what? Ha!’ Eli laughs.
‘Can I see it?’ Xander reaches for the orb.
I snatch it up. ‘No. Sorry. It's sort of only meant for me, if you try to touch it, well…’
‘It was developed with her DNA, literally only she can make it work. To everyone else it's an angry static orb,’ Miles helps me explain.
‘But how come it didn’t zap you when she healed you?’ Eli asks.
Miles looks at me and I shrug, ‘I don’t know.’
‘So it's a portal orb, a static orb, a neutralising orb?’ Xander asks.
‘So much more. So, so… much more,’ I smile and hold the orb up to my heart. ‘It's ability is limitless, it's like an outer display of what’s going on inside me. It’s both powerful and humbling—it makes me question my own judgement.’
‘That’s why.’ Ladlow joins us, underneath his shirt the bulk of a bandage shows through. He’s been to hospital and back in the time we’ve been procrastinating.
Everyone looks to him to continue.
‘You asked “Why me?” That answer, is the reason why you’re the best person for the orb! You’re discerning, you allow yourself to be humbled, you aren’t greedy with its power. In any other person’s hands—my hands, Nichols’ hands, it would only highlight our egotistical desires.’
‘It makes me feel vulnerable.’
‘Vulnerability isn't all that bad though?’ Xander's eyes light up, reminding me of our conversation out here only a few days ago.
‘So, what? Are you a superhero now?’ Eli jokes.
‘It does feel like an extension of me,’ I furrow my brow, it sounds stupid to say.
‘Nora,’ Kate changes the subject. ‘Where did you send the Uprisers? The ones holding everyone hostage?’
‘Where they belong,’ I wink to her. ‘Maybe the middle of the ocean, or the top of Mt Everest, or a maximum security holding cell…’
‘Not Adam though?’ she confirms.
‘No, not Adam,’ I tease.
‘Oh no, hell no!’ Xander protests.
‘What?’ Kate retreats, her cheeks bright red.
‘He's actually a nice guy,’ Ross tries to help.
Xander shakes his head and smiles. He floats his arm around her shoulder. ‘No boys yet!’
We all laugh and I forget the hole in the pit of my stomach, if only for a second.
‘Are you ready to go home?’ Ladlow is looking at Xander and points to the helicopter behind us.
I stand up and watch Xander hug Ross, then Eli, and Miles. When he gets to me, I wrap my arms around his neck. His hands dig so deep into my back, I’m worried he might reach through my skin and curl his fingers around my ribs.
‘I was so stupid to push you away,’ his soft voice blows over my hair, ‘but you’ve always been too good for me.’
I place my cheek firmly against him so my mouth is beside his ear, ‘you have no idea how amazing you are. Don’t ever tell…’
‘I don’t know Nora. All I know is what a rat I am.’
I pull away from our embrace and dig my own fingers into his shoulders. ‘Oh my god! You’re as blind as a rat, that’s what you are.’
Xander smiles, ‘I think the saying is blind as a bat, not rat.’
‘Anyway,’ I glue my eyes to his to make sure he can see my truth. ‘I’m not too good for you… at all… ever. I think.’ I release my grip on him, ‘I just think it’s for the best that we stopped before it got too serious.’
‘Yeah,’ his nod is slow. ‘I care about you. I want you to be happy.’
‘I want you to be happy too,’ I run my fingers over his hair just above his ear, maybe for the last time.
‘No,’ he laughs. ‘Who’s the blind one now? I’m trying to tell you that it’s okay.’
‘I know,’ I breathe in through my nose, I do know it will all be okay. I lift my eyes up to the sky, the morning sun pouring a hint of warmth on us. A hint of better things to come.
‘Nora! Look at me,’ I look at him. ‘It’s okay if you and Miles… at the cabin.’
‘What? No, nothing happened, I mean I don’t think, that’s not why we shouldn’t be together.’ My face burns along with my heart.
‘You fell in love; I can see it. And it’s okay,’ he kisses me on my forehead and turns away without another word. He walks with Kate under his arm to the helicopter and steps in. He sits down and holds Kate as tight as he can. She looks so tiny moulded against him like that, yet still a small beacon of light, stronger than her years will tell. Xander arches his head over hers and rests, he glances my way—the edges of his lips turn up before he closes his eyes. Ross jumps in opposite them and gives a small wave. Two of Ladlow’s guards sit with them. Precaution he says, just in case.
‘Keep in touch!’ I call out.
‘You’ll have to stand back further than that!’ The pilot calls to us before closing the doors.
I walk backwards until the wind from the propellers is only a breeze on my face.
‘The next helicopter is set to arrive in a few minutes,’ Ladlow says behind me. ‘Are you fine to transport yourself home? Miles, Eli, and I are heading to the Beta Base.’
‘Um…’ I need him in my life but… I also miss my dad so much. ‘Is it too much trouble to be dropped off on the way? My orb could use a rest.’ I flick my eyes in desperate search for Miles, they find him ankle deep at the river bend near the Corridor.
‘Yeah sure,’ Ladlow smirks.
‘Okay thanks,’ I laugh like an embarrassed school girl.
Eli walks past us, heading straight for Miles. ‘Eli!’ Ladlow says, ‘Walk and talk with me!’ He winks at me before taking Eli towards the space where Xander’s helicopter has lifted from.
Miles drags his feet through the water, one foot following the other.
‘Miles?’ I call as I tip-toe over rocks that form the river’s barrier.
He turns and smiles, ‘hey there Sparkles.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘My ankles are still a bit sore from being stuck under the debris.’
I had forgotten. In all the pressure and all the excitement, I forget he was trapped outside my shield. His feet must have been crushed.
‘Let me heal you!’ Without thinking, I tear my shoes off and step into the river. I rush to where he stands, the orb already glowing in my hand.
But he just shakes his head and guides my arm down, ‘I’ll be fine.’
I place the orb back in my jacket pocket and bow my head. I rest my forehead against his chest and watch our feet beneath the ripples of the water. The rise and fall of his chest hypnotises me, and everything around me becomes magnified—the trees around us hitting each other in the wind, the pebbles between our feet, the water lapping at our heels, the distant sound of a helicopter thumping through the wind threatening to tear us apart.
‘I don’t want to leave you,’ I say.
He tucks his fingers under my chin and lifts my head, he runs his thumb in a circle around my cheek. ‘You’ll be fine.’
I lean in and close my eyes, his touch is almost too much for me. I feel his other hand comb through my hair from the temple and around my ear. I feel his breath on my face, it’s short and quick like he’s forgotten how to breathe. It rushes over my eye lids, down my nose, and stops at my mouth. And then, like magic, everything else melts away—the wind, the noise, the tension. There is only us.
