Hall of Mosses

by Evans, Nicoline

  They had three days to make it from Saudi Arabia to the base of Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb in Yemen. The heat and rough terrain was slowing their large group down, and the prospect of making it there on time was not promising.

  The days dwindled and they were still meandering through the Empty Quarter of the Rub ‘al Khali desert in southern Saudi Arabia when the fresh water refocused its attack to assist the soil. It began with a cool breeze from the west and a heavy rainfall later that night. The precipitation didn’t last long, just enough to wet the sand, then the rain carried north toward Russia and they were left to navigate through a hot, dry squall. The loose soil turned into a sandstorm by day three, which made it impossible to traverse. Sofyla was drained and so were her people. The trek was grueling and she no longer had any concept of the distance left to travel.

  Eshe, she thought. Her mind was weak from exhaustion. Eshe, can you hear me?

  Sofyla?

  Yes.

  Why aren’t you here? I’m waiting for you in the caves where we agreed to meet. Hasn’t the soil begun its attacks?

  Yes, and we are caught in the middle. I see the mountain in the distance, but I don’t think we will make it to Ma’rib.

  There was a pause.

  Reroute to Al Jawf, Eshe instructed. The caves there are less refined and harder to maneuver through, but they are still connected to the rest of the rift. They aren’t as far as Ma’rib and taking shelter there will get you out of harm’s way faster.

  Al Jawf, Sofyla repeated, unsure how she was supposed to find this new location.

  Head west. If you’re as far away as you say you are, it will be the first mountain formation you see on the western horizon. I’ll meet you there.

  The connection broke and the feeling of sand pelting her eardrums returned. She pulled her shawl tighter over her face and marched forward. People fell all around them as they carried on, succumbing to the fate the harsh elements wished upon them. As they gave up, their faith in the cause disappeared and the soil no longer saw them as an ally. The moment their auras of loyalty vanished in defeat, the sandstorm covered them in a blanket of death. Sofyla stopped counting as member by member fell victim to doubt. Instead, she focused on rallying those who remained, promising them that the worst was almost over. But the closer they got to Yemen, the worse their conditions got. A few kilometers south of Najran the quicksand began consuming people whole. One minute they were there, and in a blink they were swallowed. It was terrifying and played a detrimental role in deterring faith. It was a ripple effect; for every one person lost to doubt was another three whose sudden fear crippled them long enough to turn them victim as well. Sofyla did her best to keep those remaining strong, and prayed for relief to arrive soon.

  When they crossed the border of Yemen, she saw the mountain range more clearly.

  Follow the cloudless path.

  A vortex of pristine vision appeared before them. It was circular and free of wind. The violent sandstorm raged at its invisible walls but none of the fury entered their impenetrable tunnel. They were safe again. Sofyla led them down the long path toward Al Jawf. They caught their breath as they walked through the tube of clean air and refuge. The manifestation of this vortex was a miracle, and that revelation was not lost on anyone. It took another two days to reach Al Jawf and when the last of her people entered the safety beneath the mountain, the vortex vanished and the harsh sandstorm lashed at the edge of the cave.

  Eshe was there waiting for them. She was tall and exquisite, towering over Sofyla’s petite frame. She buried her fellow Champion in a tight embrace at first sight.

  “I am so glad you are okay.” Her Kenyan accent was thick.

  “Thank you for your help. We’d have died without your quick thinking to reroute.”

  “We are sisters now. I will always protect you.”

  Sofyla smiled. “And I will always protect you.”

  “Let’s keep moving. We have a long and treacherous journey ahead. These caves are poorly sculpted and they won’t be easy to maneuver through.”

  They followed Eshe through the intricate maze of rocky tunnels, no longer afraid of falling victim to the storm that raged overhead. Sofyla had her sister by her side, and together, they’d save everyone.

  Chapter 24

  Caves of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

  Eshe led Sofyla and her following to the safe spot where her people hid. It was an expansive cave thirty meters below Mt. Kilimanjaro. As time passed, the heat in their cave grew exponentially. The volcano was gearing up to burst and they could feel the steady rumble of its inferno. By the time Sofyla joined the group, the temperature was unbearable. At fifty degrees Celsius the soil acolytes found themselves in a new hell.

  “I apologize for the extreme temperature,” Eshe said to an incapacitated Sofyla. “My people have been down here for weeks, adjusting and adapting with the ever-growing heat. I imagine being thrust into this climate is traumatic.”

  “I can barely breathe.”

  “It won’t get much hotter than this. We are far from the magma chamber so this is the worst it will get. The core made sure we’d be safe. You just need to be strong.”

  “We will persevere.” Sofyla panted and wiped the sweat from her brow. “There’s no giving up now.”

  Eshe’s people tended to their visitors, trying to make their uncomfortable stay as bearable as possible. Many traveled back and forth between their hiding spot and a fresh water spring they found twenty meters below their cave to deliver water to the weakened soil acolytes. When Sofyla asked why they couldn’t travel deeper to where the air was cooler, Eshe explained that the people of the core had been easing their way to great depths over months and the pressure of the sudden altitude change might rupture an outsider’s eardrum. Sofyla was too depleted to question her and took her warnings as fact.

  When the core began its strike, the entire cave shook. Volcanoes all over Africa erupted like fireworks, exploding one after another. Due to the supernatural nature of these events, each volcano blasted lava multiple times. With over a hundred active and dormant volcanoes coming to life simultaneously, no one in Africa was safe. The survivors huddled together in their hidden sanctuary and waited out the flare-up. Kilimanjaro still hadn’t taken its turn, but once it did their hideout would cool down.

  Days passed in the scorching heat of the subterranean cave. They could hear the world above exploding every few hours. They heard the earth’s fury echo through the tunnels to where they hid, and felt each aftershock vibrate beneath their feet.

  “It’s been five days,” Sofyla said to Eshe in private. “How much longer until this passes?”

  “It will be over soon. On day six, Kilimanjaro erupts, sending this part of the world into prolonged darkness. We have an infinite water supply and enough food to last us a few months. The core prepared us well. We will be okay.”

  “What comes after this volcano blows?”

  “The trees take back the land.”

  “Does the Tree Champion know? Has anyone talked to her?”

  “Marisabel has. Her name is Juniper and she was not given as much time as the rest of us to prepare. She is far behind and it’s uncertain if she will prevail.”

  “Have the trees been helping her?

  “I don’t know. I’ve heard she’s the most connected to her element out of all seven Champions, but by being so bonded to nature, she lacks a connection to humanity. Let’s pray she pulls through.”

  “We need her to succeed. It’s vital we have direct communication to the foliage and vegetation of the earth when this is all over. I can only do so much with the soil if the growth of new flora is muted to our needs.”

  “Yes. Though we all play pivotal roles in our endurance as a race after Gaia has reclaimed the planet, she is critical to our ultimate survival.”

  “I hope she knows her time is up.”

  Eshe nodded but had nothing more to say. “Can you stay with the group? I need a minute to assess the dam
age above.”

  “Sure, but be careful.”

  Eshe was quick and agile, dodging random protrusions from the tunnel walls and ducking with stealth beneath the uneven heights. Her evolution into the core was expeditious; her body and abilities were modifying to fit this element’s requirements on a daily basis. She was adapting faster than the other Champions and thriving in her harsh new home. It was critical, considering her element was the most vicious to acclimate with. It would kill her if she didn’t become one with fire.

  “Spirits of the core, can you hear me?” she asked aloud as she sprinted north toward Kenya.

  Yes, dear Champion.

  “I’d like to take a look at all you’re doing. Can you guide me safely to the top of Chyulu Hills?”

  Keep running. It will have expelled its final blast by the time you reach its caves.

  Eshe ran with inhuman speed, empowered by the magic of the core. She relished in the abilities her status as a chosen bestowed and wondered what evolutionary gifts she’d be granted in the future.

  The route was direct and took only a few hours to complete. The core guided her ascent through the steaming vent, and with careful hand and foot placement she climbed the jagged wall. The rock was hot to touch, but her skin was calloused enough to endure such heat. She scaled with speed and climbed over the edge of the crater.

  As she crawled out of the volcano the world was dark and smothered in ash. The only source of light was that of the lava erupting from volcanoes in the distance and the magma that still flowed and burnt bright as it slowly turned into indigenous rock. The earth rumbled beneath her and another small surge of lava burst through a secondary cone on the side of Chyulu Hill. The molten rock ruptured through freshly solidified lava and glowed bright as it poured over the black rock.

  Eshe’s heart pounded with adrenaline at the sight. If she had been a few minutes later she’d have been in the main vent, and likely in the path of that residual lava flow. The notion of escaping such danger was exhilarating.

  Magma bubbled over the earth below and the buildings that weren’t covered in ash were ignited with flames. For a moment she thought of those buried beneath the debris, burning beneath the cinders and choking on ash. Her face contracted with pain as she imagined the horror of such a death. Then she remembered the greater picture. This would stop all the warring in Africa and would bring peace to the world. She and her loved ones could live without fear of violence and terrorism. The age of humans attacking humans could be over if they chose to take this opportunity and craft a better society. There was no need for fighting or lethal squabbling over issues of power, greed, and money. Those issues need not exist if they built their world on a pure foundation, one devoid of desires fueled by ego. Though many innocents died in the crossfire, it was for the greater good. Eshe believed they were on the brink of a better life.

  She said a prayer for the fallen and descended back into the volcano. She made the trip in half the time and arrived to a cave of sleeping acolytes. Sofyla kept all their followers calm in slumber and Eshe found a spot at the edge of the group and nuzzled into the group cuddle.

  Tomorrow would be a beast to bear. The explosion of Kilimanjaro would test the backbone of their resolve. It would be loud, uncomfortable, and terrifying, but Eshe had faith in the resilience of those she chose to carry through these wicked times.

  Chapter 25

  The world was collapsing all around them and Juniper’s time was running out. Kilimanjaro would erupt soon and she wasn’t sure she had many who would follow her to safety in the woods.

  At work, the bar patrons were mystified by the unnatural occurrences across the globe. Many talked about global warming and how our actions caused these catastrophes. Others suggested this was God’s doing and he was punishing the human race for its neglectful and immoral behavior. Neither guess was entirely wrong; they just didn’t have all the facts. The few times Juniper tried to explain the truth, she lost them at the mention of Gaia. No one believed her when she said Mother Nature was a real entity. They always laughed and went back to combing the details of their own suspicions.

  Roscoe was having more luck than her. With his help, she managed to get her co-workers on board and he was able to convince a sizable group from town to be ready to flee when he gave them the word. She suspected his charisma, charm, and removed connection to the source had something to do with his success. Her spiel was off-putting and awkward since it came from her, the chosen one. No matter how she worded it, she always sounded deranged.

  Irene agreed to fly her family out to Washington. After all of Canada and Russia turned into muddy death pits and the Middle East transformed into a sinkhole of quicksand, she needed no further convincing. Her plane was scheduled to land later that day and Mallory and Zoe were accompanying her. Juniper hadn’t spoken to either of them since Ozzie’s funeral, but Irene promised they’d be on their best behavior. They were scared, just like millions of other people in the United States. Everyone suspected it was only a matter of time before these supernatural disasters struck the states and the collective panic was tangible. Mallory and Zoe had their issues with Juniper, but they weren’t foolish enough to pass over a chance to possibly survive whatever disaster was headed their way.

  The volcanoes were tearing apart Africa. Five days of lava, fire, and ash and the explosions continued. Juniper wasn’t sure when Kilimanjaro would erupt, but she suspected it would happen soon. She was ready to run, and the few who agreed to follow were prepared for her signal. She’d been spending a lot of time in her backyard since the fresh water attacks on South America and Africa, hoping the trees throughout her yard would talk, but they remained quiet. She hadn’t heard from them since their last conversation when they told her to be in the Hoh Rainforest by the time Kilimanjaro exploded. She spoke to Marisabel a few times when she had her feet submerged in Lake Dawn. She was often out of breath and stressed, but the majority of her people survived the worst of the storms. They were at the shores of Punta del Diablo, Uruguay and boarding a catamaran that would take them to Antarctica when she last heard from her. Their journey was harsh and demanding, and Juniper was grateful her safe spot was only a trek through trails she already cleared. The updates from her fellow Champion were terrifying but strangely comforting; it reminded her she wasn’t alone in her responsibility.

  She didn’t have nearly as many followers as Marisabel, but hoped when the attacks began in their area, more people would follow out of desperation. It wasn’t ideal, these new followers would be unpredictable and possibly unworthy, but it was better than having no one to help rebuild when that day arrived.

  After her day shift on Sunday, she went home and enjoyed the sunset on her back porch. No word from the trees, no word from any of the Champions, so she kept a radio she borrowed from Clark on a station that broadcasted 24-hour news.

  Roscoe, where are you?

  A moment passed before he answered.

  I’ll never get used to this. I’m with Clark at the office. Are you okay?

  Yeah, I’m fine. I just have a feeling it’s coming.

  Have you heard from the trees?

  No. It’s been eerily silent on all frequencies. If it happens soon, I’m all alone and I won’t be able to help anyone. I’m going to call Irene at the hotel and tell them to come over. Can you round up the others? Even if they won’t follow me into the woods now, I want us all to be together so I can lead us there when it happens.

  I’m all yours. Clark and I will grab my dad and then I’ll give your co-workers a call.

  Thank you.

  Anything for you.

  There was a moment of warmth shared telepathically before the connection broke. After all she’d been through she assumed she’d never love again, but he was a different breed of man; the caliber of his character was greater than any other person she’d ever met. He was her home.

  She called Irene, who agreed to come over immediately, and returned to her back porch to wait. The warm s
pring breeze played with her long brown curls, and the smell of fresh blossoms filled the air. It was hard to imagine this place would be in ruins soon. She tried not to think about it. Instead, she closed her eyes and imagined herself thriving in the new world. Maybe those who survived would be happier living in simplicity. Maybe they’d realize all the flashy technology, materialistic desires, and shallow narcissisms they’d grown accustomed to only hindered them from a truly fulfilling life. She’d hoped this devastating change brought out the best in humanity. It would if she had any influence in the matter.

  Find a flame.

  Juniper’s eye’s shot open and she looked around. The voice was unfamiliar.

  Light a candle, strike a match, anything. We need a solid connection.

  Juniper went inside and found a Christmas candle at the back of her pantry. She placed it on her kitchen table and lit the wick.

  This is Eshe Ahikiwe, Champion of the Core. Her voice was much clearer now and her African accent echoed inside Juniper’s mind beautifully. Kilimanjaro will be erupting any minute now. Are you in the location the trees told you to be with your following?

  No, but they are on their way to me. I wasn’t sure when the volcano would blow, and I couldn’t get enough people to agree to wait it out in the forest. They’re still wary.

  Yes, I heard you had far less time to cultivate a following than the rest of us. Just promise you’ll head to your safe spot the moment Gaia switches to the trees, even if you’re alone. We all need you to survive. We cannot face the end without you.

  I’ll survive. You can count on me.

  I’ll check in with you again soon.

  Thanks. I’ve been operating in silence lately, so I really appreciate the heads up.

  Of course. Take care, my sister.