by Mali Baker
‘I will take you there,’ she said, as calmly as she could, ‘but first I need to see that my sister is alive.’
‘You just heard her; she is alive.’
‘I want…’ She paused. ‘I need to see for myself. Please, Eleon, let me off this cord for one minute. I need to see she’s OK.’
He huffed like a spoilt brat, whipping the cord away from River with such force that it burnt her skin and ripped her dress. She hobbled over to Kit, her legs weak and feet throbbing.
‘Kit,’ she whispered, as she reached the tree. ‘Kit, it’s me.’ River wanted to be strong for her sister but she couldn’t help the few stray sobs that left her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, gently placing both hands on Kit’s face and lifting it up so their eyes met.
Kit could barely open her eyes. River felt her hands begin to throb and a gentle flow of pink light sank into the side of Kit’s face. As she realised what was happening, she got as close to Kit as she could. ‘Don’t let him see, please don’t let him see,’ she whispered, underneath her breath. She prayed she could just give her sister enough energy to hold on until she was back. River could feel Eleon getting more agitated.
‘Uuuuuugggg eeee,’ Kit tried to talk. River didn’t understand what she was saying; she was just so thankful noise was coming out of her mouth.
‘Kit, oh, Kit, you’re alive, thank God. Are you OK? Sorry, stupid question.’ River used her thumbs to pull Kit’s eyelids open. But Kit flinched; the light was too bright for her.
‘Huuuug meeeeee,’ Kit said, frustrated that River had not done so already. River embraced her sister, cautious not to cause her any more pain. She rested her head on Kit’s shoulder and for a split second she closed her eyes, imagining they were home, safe and sound and back in their own world. When River opened her eyes she saw the soft glow of her light leaving her heart and seeping into Kit’s. Their two bodies were becoming one, glowing, but not bright enough that Eleon would be able to see. The pink light was healing Kit!
‘River,’ he said, his voice impatient. River knew her time was up.
‘I love you, Kit,’ she whispered, softly. Kit didn’t lift her head but she spoke, trying to tell River something. River pulled away, letting the light fade out. She placed her hands on Kit’s shoulders.
‘River, don’t make me drag you away.’ Eleon threatened.
She went to answer him but noticed Boba hovering behind the trunk of the tree.
‘Undo her I try,’ he said, very proud of himself as he tugged with all his might at the rope keeping Kit hostage.
‘Go, River,’ Kit mumbled. ‘But whatever you do, don’t help him use the crystal to leave this world.’
River surged one last bout of energy into Kit’s body.
‘I won’t,’ she promised. ‘RALA,’ she said, not sure that Kit would have any idea what she was talking about, but it felt like the right thing to say. River turned around just in time: Eleon had both arms raised, ready to fire.
CHAPTER 23
The Right Direction
By now River had learnt she had the power to heal and protect herself. She led Eleon through the forest, not sure where she was going but hoping to find her way back to the sleeping garden. The dark sky had cleared and the sun had risen, softly lighting the forest. For the first time she was completely alone with Eleon; there were no butterflies to help her and she had no idea where her Warrior friends were. She had not seen them since she had hopped across the sky on a bunch of clouds!
She walked as far as she could before her feet started to bleed. River didn’t want Eleon to know she knew how to use her light. She didn’t want him to realise how powerful she had become. He was still much stronger than her, she could feel that, but she knew his ignorance of her abilities gave her an advantage. She had a feeling she was going to need it!
‘Eleon, I want to get you the book, I really do, but my feet, look at them.’ She turned to him lifting the sole of her foot so he could see it. ‘I don’t know how much farther I can go. Can you please help me?’
He looked more human again; perhaps knowing he was going to get hold of the book calmed him down slightly. He examined her feet.
‘I will carry you,’ he said.
‘No,’ she said, jumping backwards. ‘Please don’t.’ She didn’t want to be degraded by him any more than she already had been. ‘Please let me lead you,’ she said, cautiously stepping back towards him and slowly reaching her hands to his heart. What made her do this, she didn’t know, but he didn’t back away.
Eleon felt something but it wasn’t the power in her hands, it was the simple touch of a human being. He missed it so much. A vision of the girl he loved flashed before him: he saw Violet. And for the first time in fifty-six years he felt his heart beat, really beat, inside his chest.
River saw the change in his eyes and continued to talk while she had the courage.
‘I noticed – well, you have a light… I only saw it do bad things, but I’m sure it could do good too, right?’
He lowered his eyes to look into hers and she saw life behind them. And, in her, he saw Violet. It made him feel happy. River smiled, hoping he would reflect it. He nearly got lost in the moment but not quite. Instead he wrapped his hands around her wrists and threw her arms away from his chest. ‘Sit,’ he said, as though she was his slave. Any trace of a soul vanished again. River did as he said, disappointed that she hadn’t got through to him.
He sat next to her and placed his hands on the tops of her feet. She winced. ‘Ouch!’
‘Do you want me to help you or not?’ he snapped.
‘Yes, yes, please,’ she said, desperately. ‘I’m sorry, it just stung a bit.’
He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He put his hands on her insteps, gently allowing a pure white light to soak into her, cleansing and healing the wounds. It pulsed into her at an uneven rate to start with, like a water tap that hadn’t been turned on in a very long time. River didn’t know how long they sat there but she stared at him the whole time, relishing his kindness, not sure whether she would ever see this side of him again. He moved his hands to the soles of her feet and she closed her eyes, willing the light to fill her whole body. She didn’t mean to be greedy but it felt so good.
And the more the light flowed, the more of Eleon she could see. He was showing her images of himself, whether he knew it or not; she could see his life in visions playing on a big imaginary screen in front of her. He looked nothing like the boy she was sitting with. He looked youthful and charming. He and Violet played together as children in the sleeping garden. He picked her flowers. They danced and sang songs. He had wings, just like Sedina. Then the movie changed: they were both older. Eleon was lighting candles on a cake – it was for Violet’s birthday party, the one she never had. She left the garden. He waited and waited for her to come back, and with each day that went by he turned colder and colder. He didn’t want to be in RALA any more and decided to steal the crystal, to try to use it to escape. Sedina and No Name were at Indigo House when he arrived to take it. After a battle, Eleon managed to take the crystal. He raised his arm and sent his violent black beam flying into the sky. Then he ran and ran until he was exhausted, and hid in the bush.
River knew what came next. She opened her eyes to find Eleon watching her.
‘I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,’ he said.
‘Eleon, without the crystal, RALA can’t survive. The Warriors will all die. I know you want to see Violet again, but you know you can’t take the crystal out of RALA, right?’
‘Why did she leave?’ he asked, as a tear rolled down his cheek. He wanted answers and River didn’t have any.
‘I don’t know; I never knew her. She was my great-aunt but we never met.’
‘Then I need to get the book. I need it to understand what happened that day,’ he said.
River wanted to help him but sh
e was torn. Despite all the bad things he had done, she could understand where he was coming from – he loved Violet. Even River was now curious as to what had happened to her. But she was worried time was running out for Kit.
‘If I get you to the tree, will you give me the crystal?’ she asked.
He pulled it from his pocket and stared at it. It was mesmerisingly beautiful. Until now River hadn’t had the opportunity to see it in all its glory. The power it had, and the ability it gave to the Warriors, was magical.
‘I will give you the crystal if you take me to the tree,’ Eleon finally said. ‘I need that book.’
‘OK, then let’s go.’ River jumped up to her feet, pain-free after her healing.
Eleon ripped a piece of material from his shirt and then tore it in half again. ‘Lift your foot,’ he said. She did and he wrapped the material around it, knotting it at the ankle like a sandal. ‘And the other one,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ she said. There was good in him. She believed he could be good; right now he was just lost. ‘Let’s get back to Eddie.’
As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted it. She had told him where the book was – exactly where it was. Now he didn’t need her, and even though she believed he was good he wasn’t in a rational state of mind. River felt his bubble balloon, pushing her out of the way.
‘Eddie? EDDIE?’ He was confused. ‘Eddie’s had it this whole time?’
River was scared. Her head was saying run, run now, but the rest of her body was paralysed.
‘All these years I’ve been wondering what happened to it, to Violet, and he had the answers all along.’
River watched as the boy she had finally connected with disappeared and the monster returned. He was red from head to toe, but his bubble was now black. River presumed this wasn’t good news.
‘You,’ he said, pointing directly at River. ‘You knew this whole time.’
‘No, well, I…’ she stuttered. ‘I saw it in a dream. I didn’t know until then.’ He raised his arms, ready to attack her. This was it, she thought, shutting her eyes tightly. She preferred not to see what was coming. Her journey flashed through her mind. She saw all the people she had met along the way and all the things she had learnt about herself and her family. Then she heard Adora.
Remember who you are, River.
Adora’s words empowered her as they always did. River opened her eyes, staring straight at Eleon, and widened her stance.
‘VIOLET IS ALIVE,’ she shouted. She found the strength to stand up to him and refused to let him bully her any more. ‘She didn’t come back because she can’t, not because she didn’t want to.’
Her words had no effect on him. ‘I don’t believe you,’ he screamed, shooting a black beam of light at her.
River’s pink light shot around her thick and fast, and his beam bounced off it, not even making a dent. He was shocked. Even River was shocked. He looked down into his palms, as though they hadn’t worked properly.
‘But… how?’ he said, confused.
‘I am one of you,’ she said. ‘Like it or not, I am a Warrior too.’
He squinted his eyes. ‘You will never be a Warrior,’ he said, laughing nastily. She released a pink light from her palms to show him what she could do. She was taking a chance: whether he would respond positively to this or not, she had no idea. Once her bubble was full of the pink light, she placed the backs of her hands together and said, ‘RALA.’
It was as if he had seen a ghost. So many years had passed since he’d seen this, it was now only a painful reminder of Violet and her disappearance.
‘You don’t know the meaning of that word. YOU ARE NOT ONE OF US.’ He raised his arm again and another blade flew in River’s direction. She threw herself to the side, dodging it.
‘Eleon…stop,’ a female voice commanded. Sedina had come to River’s rescue. The sound of such an authoritative voice made both Eleon and River turn their heads.
‘Sedina,’ River gasped, thankfully. She couldn’t have been happier to see her. Eleon raised his palms towards Sedina and immediately fired at her. She had no choice but to defend herself. Their two blades met in the middle, suspended in mid-air. Each Warrior used every ounce of strength to be stronger than the other.
‘Sedina…’ River said.
‘Run, River.’ Sedina was struggling to talk and keep Eleon from hitting either of them with his beam.
‘What about you?’ River didn’t want to leave her.
‘River, GO NOW.’ It was an order. River took off, darting through the forest, not certain she was going the right way. The distant grunts of Sedina and Eleon in battle were still just about audible. River knew she had to get the book before Eleon did, but it wasn’t easy leaving Sedina alone with him.
She found the path but in this light it looked so different. She stopped to see if she could recognise where she was. Her hands rested on her knees; she was breathless. The air was humid, making it even harder to catch her breath. She had no concept of time or for how long they had walked through the night. She was drenched in sweat from head to toe. Her once brand new dress was ruined. The best seamstress in the world would have a hard job making it look anything like what it had been when it was given to her.
Everything at stake flashed before River’s eyes: Kit, Sedina, the other Warriors and the crystal. River was the only one who really knew what was going on. Suddenly she felt under a lot of pressure.
She was at a crossroads, and for the first time in her life she had to make a decision all by herself. She could go left or right. She didn’t know how she had got to the path from the forest, she had no idea what direction Indigo House was in, she had no idea where the floating clouds were – all she knew was that somewhere on this path there was a gate, and that gate led to a garden, and in that garden Eddie had a book – a book that could be the final piece of this puzzle, giving this story an end. River stood up and took a deep breath.
You know the way. Adora was back, not physically, but she could hear her voice. You know the way, River.
‘But I don’t,’ River said out loud, as she looked left then right, hoping something in either direction would be recognisable. Nothing was, but she turned to her right and started to walk anyway. ‘Right it is, then,’ she said, letting her legs guide the way. She took a few steps along the path before turning her body completely, to take a last look in the opposite direction, while she continued to walk backwards.
‘Whhoooaaaah,’ she said, stumbling. Unable to regain her balance, she fell on to her bottom. She picked up the branch she had tripped over and went to fling it into the bushes, but before she let go of it she stopped and looked closely at the piece of wood. She remembered when Kit had tripped over, soon after they had first started along the path. This couldn’t possibly be the same branch, could it? She smiled, got up and laughed a little.
‘Thanks, buddy,’ she said to the branch, placing it carefully back down exactly where she had found it. ‘I didn’t get the message the first time but I’m listening loud and clear now.’ And she rose to her feet and dusted off the dirt from her bottom.
She stood up and started to walk, in the opposite direction. No way did she want history repeating itself. She picked up the pace and began running, this time knowing she was heading in the right direction, back towards the gate, and back towards Eddie in the sleeping garden.
CHAPTER 24
Help Me, RALA
The gate looked even more ginormous than the first time River saw it. The gap the girls had squeezed through was still ajar. She slipped through it and ran straight to Eddie.
‘Eddie!’ she shouted. He was in a deep sleep. She wondered if waking him would slow her down, and time was running out. She decided against it and jumped for the lowest branch, although it was still too high for her to reach.
‘Hey, River,’ an unfamiliar voice said. River s
pun around: one of the sunflowers was wide awake.
‘I can help,’ it said. ‘Step into my bud and I will catapult you up, on to Eddie.’ The sunflower tilted its stem down to River.
‘Boy, am I glad I got rid of those weeds,’ River said, delighted. All that hard work was worth it. ‘It’s so good to see you awake.’ She lifted her foot, gently took hold of its petals and pulled herself on to it.
‘RIVER!’ Eleon yelled. He had caught up and was entering the garden. River didn’t turn to look at him, and she didn’t let herself think about what might have happened to Sedina. Adora and Boba raced in behind him.
‘Go, go!’ River shouted. The sunflower shot upright, River held on tightly. She towered over Eleon. For the first time she didn’t feel afraid of him.
‘Time now is,’ Boba said. ‘You fly must now.’ Boba and Adora flew up to River and grabbed the sunflower’s petals, pulling it back, away from Eddie.
‘One, two, three…’ River shouted. Boba and Adora let go and River flew into the air. She streaked across the sky, her legs glued together and arms wide open. Eleon stalked her with his eyes. He was shocked at how brightly her light shone through the sky. River gracefully landed on one of Eddie’s branches, mid-way up his trunk. Quickly she scrambled up a few more branches, before braving a look down. Boba and Adora flew to her side.
‘Don’t stall, River,’ Adora said.
‘Get book, fast,’ Boba tapped her on the cheek but River couldn’t move. Eleon had brought Kit with him. She was lying, lifeless on the grass. He was climbing the tree. River was ahead but he was quick. There was no sign of Sedina. River shook away her fears, and climbed until she reached the top. She could see the whole of RALA from here. It was the most magical view she had ever seen. Indigo House was glowing, radiating its indigo light straight up into the sky. Speckles of light flew towards her. They twinkled like the stars that had dressed the sky the night before.
