Falling Awake

by T. A Richards Neville

  A loud thump sounded behind me.

  “Going somewhere Sabre?” A voice asked us coldly.

  Sabre swung around in the direction of the intruding voice, his grip loosening on me a fraction, and a dark, tight smile spread over his lips.

  I looked up. Ressler was crouched in front of the railing with one hand to the floor, and he straightened himself, standing up. I tried in vain to call out to him.

  “How original,” Sabre said with boredom. “Ressler, come to save Caleb’s girl have you? You do know that she’s Caleb’s right? And not yours? Well actually, she’s mine now. Oh I will miss this complicated little love triangle ever so much.”

  “I won’t let you hurt her,” Ressler growled. A roar of laughter bellowed up from Sabre and he began dragging me backwards, putting distance between Ressler and us.

  “Are you kidding? It’s a bit late for that. She’s bleeding everywhere you idiot!” he boomed. “So say your goodbye’s; she’s mine now, and you can’t stop me you feeble little angel.”

  My head swam with dizziness from the pain as I tried to hold onto the vision of Ressler, and I slumped, caught by the rough pull of Sabre as he righted me, pulling his arm in around my waist and pulling me further back.

  “Don’t try and stop me Ressler. This is bigger than you. Bigger than you could ever understand. And you’re not strong enough.”

  “I’m every bit as strong as you,” Ressler shot back, slowly advancing forward.

  “Ha! If that’s what you think, you are even stupider than I thought.” I felt a sharp sting in my waist and I glanced down through blurred vision at what looked like a knife blade piercing my skin. I whimpered in silence at the stinging sensation and prayed to god that he wouldn’t push the knife any further in, but my prayers were in vain as the knife slowly twisted into me, and I doubled over in agony.

  “Stop!” Ressler shouted. “I know what you’re doing. You don’t need to. I see it. Just leave her alone. I won’t try and stop you. Just take her.”

  “Blood and water,” said Sabre. “Do you know what that means?”

  Ressler swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  “Say it,” Sabre hissed through his teeth.

  Ressler looked at me in apology, as I stood there helpless and in agony. I couldn’t wish for unconsciousness to come soon enough.

  “Divine,” he said under his breath.

  “Sorry can’t hear you.” It came out in a sing song voice. “Louder please. This is quite a significant moment in history.”

  “Divine!” Ressler shouted, clenching his fists.

  Sabre sighed and brought his hand up to stroke my hair as if I was his pet. “Ah, Music to my ears.”

  He gave a shriek of dark laughter and pulled me backwards.

  “You’ll be seeing me again,” he warned Ressler, and my vision decreased more as we entered the dreary staircase, and I succumbed totally as Ressler faded from my sight. I could almost swear I heard him say, “Not likely,” but I didn’t know what was real anymore.

  We barrelled down the winding passageway, Sabres boots pounding hard on the concrete, and I was beginning to feel queasy. At the end of the staircase, we came up short and I was thrown from Sabre’s grip. I rolled across the cold marble floor banging my head on the corner of a wooden pew. I felt the darkness crowding in on me, and I fought the urge to close my eyes. Eventually, I gave myself up to the abyss of nothingness, and Let myself fall under.

  Pria…Open your eyes

  My eyelids fluttered at the sound of the voice and I moaned in response.

  Pria wake up

  I lifted my head gingerly off the floor, and with every ounce of effort in me, I scanned my surroundings. There was no one there, but I could hear a scuffle going on nearby. I hoisted myself up onto one arm, and slowly dragged myself across the floor. I could see Caleb and Sabre over by the alter. What was Caleb doing here? I forced my eyes shut and let them spring back open.

  He was definitely here.

  Sabre caught him in a headlock and was saying something, which I couldn’t make out through gritted teeth, and his expression was strained with undiluted rage. His reddened face was warped with hideous bulging veins as he held tightly onto Caleb, oblivious that I was watching them. Pulling myself up into a crawling position, I ignored the burning pain in my thigh. I crawled as fast as my limp leg would allow, behind the first rows of pews, out of sight, and emerged from the other end in the peripheral vision of Caleb and Sabre.

  Caleb grabbed Sabre’s hand and twisted it around; swinging Sabre up and over in front of him. He landed flat on his back with a deafening thud as he hit the hard floor. As quick as he landed, he jumped up and slammed Caleb into the high alter, the impact resounding around the whole cathedral. I clamped my eyes shut at the horrific sight, and needing no more encouragement, I pulled myself up onto two legs. I scrunched my face up in unbearable pain, and raced over as quick as I could, which was not very quick at all- over to where Sabre had Caleb pinned against the alter.

  “Why save her when you could join me?” he hissed into Caleb’s face.

  “I’d rather die than join you,” Caleb spat back

  “Oh, that can be arranged.” Snide laughter was thick in Sabre’s voice.

  “Join me now, or die here in the holy hell that you fell from,” he shouted, slamming Caleb once again into the alter. I pulled myself up by the side of it, out of sight, and peeked my head around the corner, not wanting to take my eyes off them for even a second. My head felt weighed down with fuzziness, and I fought back the urge to vomit and pass out. I didn’t know what to do now to help Caleb, I had no weapons and no strength. I was as good as useless, but I couldn’t give up.

  “You can’t kill me,” Caleb grinned.

  “Oh wanna bet?” Sabre spat, with the returned humour in his voice. That was it; I knew what I had to do. With a feeling of being pushed by a renewed life force, I pulled myself up and ran around the back of the alter, where a delicately carved marble stand opened up into a bowl, filled with holy water.

  Bingo.

  Before giving Sabre any more notice that I had moved from sight, I scooped up as much water as I could hold in my cupped hands, and flung myself forwards back around the front of the alter. I threw the water at Sabre and a look of shock registered across his face. His grip on Caleb released, and he staggered back with curls of smoke wafting up from his burning body.

  “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” His face morphed into a twisted spasm of deformity.

  “Go back to hell Sabre,” I snarled, my voice finally heard again. And his body burned and crumpled around his now skeleton frame, and his screams engulfed us as the last of him went up in a lick of bright blue and orange flames, then vanished. The stench of rotting flesh was overwhelming and I finally passed out.

  Before The Goodbye

  My eyes fluttered open to an overly bright white room bathed in fluorescent lighting. “You’re awake.” Caleb sat to the side of me. He was smiling but his eyes were guarded and heavy. “Hey,” I managed to whisper. My mouth was too dry to speak properly. Getting up and disappearing from the room, he returned a few seconds later with a small plastic cup of water and ice chips. He helped me prop myself up and I took the water from him, sipping the cold liquid until my throat felt less like sandpaper. “Thanks,” I said, setting the cup down on the small table next to me.

  “You’re in hospital,” he told me, watching me intently.

  “I gathered.” I wondered why he was looking at me like that.

  “Do you remember what happened?”

  “Parts of it.”

  He nodded. “You threw Holy Water over Sabre. How did you know that would kill him?” he asked me, studying me hard.

  I shrugged. “I just did. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t.”

  He was silent and then eventually he said, “Okay.” I could tell by the expression on his face that he knew I was telling the truth.

  “Who was that Caleb? He looked at me thoughtfully before an
swering. “Well he was just a fallen angel– but apparently, not anymore. I don’t know anything for sure, I’m just guessing, but I think he had some of the devil in him.

  I looked at him perplexed. “How?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen that happen before. We are cut from holiness, the same holiness that somehow destroyed one of us.” He took my hand and laced his fingers through mine. “Never mind that. How are you feeling?”

  “My leg hurts,” I told him. “And my head, but apart from that, I’m okay.”

  “The nurse not long ago came in and topped up your pain relief,” he said, looking towards a bag of clear fluid that was hooked up to my arm. “It should take the edge off.”

  “What are you doing here Caleb?” I asked him, now having time to realise that him being here was not part of the original plan.

  “Ressler called me yesterday and told me about Sabre, so I flew straight out.”

  “Who’s with my dad?”

  “Drake’s keeping an eye on him.” I bit back tears that tried to force their way to the surface. “Is this it then?” My voice cracked. “Never knowing when, or where, or even why? Just that someone will be coming for me…to kill me.”

  “No.” He dropped my hand and shoved his chair back. He stood up and walked over to the foot of the bed, dragging his hands down his face. “I’m sorry any of this is happening to you, I really am, but you won’t die.”

  “How can you say that?” I asked, letting a tear escape.

  “Because I won’t let it happen. How many times do I have to tell you?” His voice held an undercurrent of annoyance.

  “I don’t see how you can stop it Caleb. It’s impossible for you to be there twenty four seven,” I said, raising my voice. “If Ressler hadn’t called you, you wouldn’t have even been there, then what huh?” I was practically shouting and he flinched from my words.

  “Then it’s a good job you had Ressler,” he said icily, before walking out of the hospital room. I sunk deeper into the pillows and scrunched my eyes shut. That went well I thought to myself. What was up with him? Why couldn’t he see that he couldn’t protect me from every single thing? I considered the possibility of him being jealous at the thought of Ressler being there instead, but that seemed highly unlikely. He rarely showed signs of jealousy and he had much bigger things to worry about. I wished I hadn’t said anything because now I didn’t know if I’d see him again, or if he would just go straight back home. Who else even knew I was in this hospital? More importantly what hospital was I even in?

  “Oh wow, look at the state of you.” Mellissa’s voice broke through my thoughts. She came rushing into the room and threw herself on top of me, hugging me a little too tightly. “Ouch,” I said, at the weight of her arms pressing into my side.

  “Oh sorry babe,” she said, pulling back and checking me over. I dug into the sheets and pulled up my white spotty hospital gown. I found my left side had been bandaged up, just above my hip.

  “What happened to you?” Mellissa leaned over to look at the bandage. “How did you manage to get stabbed? And why?” she asked. “In a Church of all places,” She went on, giving me time to think of an adequate answer “Those things are supposed to be holy right? And safe?” She shook her head. “Well holy my ass. You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”

  “I’m okay,” I reassured her. I wasn’t sure what she knew, but I would let her do all the talking until I had a good idea. “They’re still looking for whoever did it,” she said, sitting down in the seat Caleb had occupied minutes ago. “It was weird. The main doors were locked and none of us could get in, and when Mr Kelly and um, how do you say it? Whatever, I don’t care, Mr Lyle will do. When they did finally get in, there was no one else there apart from you,” she said, hardly able to believe her own story.

  “I don’t remember exactly what happened,” I lied. “All I know is, someone grabbed me and they stabbed me. Everything else is kind of a blur.”

  “As long as you’re okay, that’s the main thing. You can go over the details when you’re feeling better.” I smiled at her in agreement. “Anyway I’ve gotta shoot. Speaking of details, police are outside and they want to talk to you, get your side of the story. I said I’d only be a minute with you. I just wanted to see for myself that you were okay. I’ll be back in the morning okay?” She leaned down and hugged me gently this time.

  “I’ll see you in the morning.” I waved as she left the room. Twenty or thirty minutes later, the police had gone and I was alone. I stuck to my story of someone stabbing me, and blacking out from there, and they seemed to buy it. I gave them a description or thereabouts of Sabre, knowing they would never find him anyway. Only I, Caleb, and Notre Dame knew exactly what went down tonight, and apparently, there were no other witnesses to this so they only had my word to go on. A few hours later, a nurse came in and topped up my pain relief. I was beginning to feel drowsy, succumbing to the steady stream of medication, and when she smiled, pointing at the overhead lamp, I smiled back weekly and nodded. She flicked out the lamp and the room was plunged into darkness. I closed my eyes just as the smoky, grey silhouette in the shape of a person, detached itself from the wall and slinked over to the bottom of my bed, illuminated by the streak of moonlight filtering in through the crack in the curtains. It’s just the medication, I told myself.

  ***

  The next morning I woke up feeling more like myself. The pain relief was given to me intravenously throughout the night, and I felt better for it. Mellissa came charging into the room and I stole a glance at the black plastic clock on the wall, just as the minute hand signalled it was exactly nine am.

  “Guess what?” she said, hardly able to contain her excitement as she perched herself on the edge of the visitors chair. She was wearing a blue and red floral halter tied around the neck like ribbon, and black short shorts. Her hair was blow dried immaculately, her side bangs framing her face to perfection. Her bright red lipstick was the same colour as her top.

  “You’re coming with us right now to the Eiffel tower.” She brought her hands together. “So come on. I’ll help you get dressed.” She stood and held out her arms to help me out of bed. “I haven’t got anything to wear,” I protested.

  “You do. I brought you something to wear.” She held up a plastic bag. “Now come on, let’s get you dressed. The bus is outside waiting.” A good half hour later with the help of Mellissa, and waterproof bandages; I had showered and changed into a long sleeved, peach V-neck top, and white skinny jeans. Mellissa fixed my hair into a thick side plait and we left after I was given the all clear from the doctor. After being discharged, and given bags of bandages, gauze, and antiseptic to change my dressings, I was given a pair of crutches and was allowed to leave.

  Mr Kelly stood at the reception desk just outside of my room, smiling at me.

  “Oh Pria, I am so glad you are well,” he said, Stepping forward and giving me an awkward hug. “I called your dad to tell him what’s happened and that you’re okay.” Oh god, he didn’t. My dad would be freaking out.

  “Your cousin answered and said he would let him know straight away.” My cousin? Ah, Drake obviously. Thank god. I hoped he wouldn’t relay that message and he was just saying that for effect. “I’ve spoken to him actually sir; he called the hospital last night.” Another lie. “Thanks for calling him.”

  “My pleasure. Now let’s get you out of here and salvage what we have left of this trap shall we? Do you need a hand? He asked.

  “No sir, I’m good,” I said, hobbling my way down the corridor not having a clue how to use these awful crutches that were causing more pain than good. The bus was filled with the other students and they all greeted me dramatically, pleased I was okay. I sat with Mellissa right at the front and did my best to play down any dramatics of what happened last night. Mr Kelly hushed everyone up after a while, and I was grateful. I didn’t take too well to being the centre of attention because I was the injured one. I felt a little bit like a sideshow.
/>
  The bus pulled up outside of the Eiffel Tower and after being given strict instructions not to buy anything from street sellers, we were pretty much free to do as we wished till it was time to meet back at the bus in a few hours. I walked slowly with Mellissa over to the Eiffel Tower, really not getting the hang of how to use the damned crutches.

  “Can I have a go?” Mellissa asked me, eyeing my wooden sticks.

  “Sure,” I said, thrusting them at her. She gripped them under her arms and moved all of her weight down onto her hands, hoisting her body up off the floor, and using the crutches, she swung herself up and down taking long comical jumps.

  “Just do it like this,” she shouted back at me.

  “Right, and look like I’ve escaped the circus? No thanks,” I shouted back. Satisfied with her fix of her new toy, she handed them back to me just as Nathan strode up to us. “I’m sorry about what happened to you Pria,” he said sincerely, looking from me to my crutches.

  “Yeah, I mean how many times can this girl get attacked right?” Mellissa asked him, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes taking on a hard edge.

  Nathan cleared his throat and looked away from her. “Anyway, I just came over here to see if you guys wanted to come up to the top with me and Tye.” He jerked his thumb back towards where the guy I’d seen him talking to last night stood watching us half-smiling, and waved.

  “What’s he waving at?” Mellissa asked, scrunching her face up in disgust.

  “He kinda likes you,” Nathan said to Mellissa, shrugging his shoulders. He probably knew the guy didn’t stand a chance. He was okay looking with his dull blonde spiked hair and green eyes, but he was plain and boring compared to Drake.

  “Who doesn’t?” she said in all seriousness.

  “Uh, I can think of a few people,” I barely heard Nathan mutter under his breath.

  “What was that?” Mellissa asked, cupping her ear with her hand.