The Awakener

by Amanda Strong

  Eden woke to loud banging on her door. Disoriented, she popped up, her eyes darting back and forth. Sunlight peeked through her blinds, leaving sun lines on her carpet.

  “Wake up, Eden!” Brendon’s voice hollered.

  She shoved the covers off, slid her glasses on, and peered over the side of her bed. Examining the carpet for any trace of ash, she saw nothing. Was it all a horrible dream? Continuing to scan her room however, she spied the items on her dresser knocked over. Remembering how hard she had hit, she gingerly touched her back and winced.

  Not leaving her bed, she called, “I’m up.”

  She was happy Brendon barged in, because now she felt safe getting out of bed. No claws reached out and snatched her legs. She remembered her guardian saying he’d always be with her and, taking a deep breath, stood up. Thinking of him, she realized there were no burn marks anywhere, no sign anything had happened last night, other than her room was a mess, which was common.

  “So?” Brendon asked, staring at her. “Want to go rollerblading or something?”

  “Uh, sure. What time is it?”

  “Like eleven, you never sleep this late.” Brendon looked around the room. “Man, Eden, you’re a slob.”

  “Thanks, Brendon, I know. I’m going to get dressed now so…”

  “Say no more, I’m leaving.”

  After he’d gone, Eden surveyed the clothes on the floor, reached down, and picked up whatever was on top. She began pulling her t-shirt off but stopped. Last night, the idea of a big, muscular man always being with her, had been comforting, but now…

  Is he watching right now?

  She grabbed her clothes and entered the hall bathroom. Glimpsing in the mirror, she gasped. Apparently, leaving her makeup on last night had been a big mistake. With all the crying she’d done, black streaks ran down her face. She’d thought Brendon meant her room made her a slob, now she knew he meant she was the slob. She tugged the shower curtain back and stepped in, still fully dressed.

  She whispered, “Ok, I’m getting in the shower now. And you can stay on that side of the curtain. I’ll let you know if something attacks me in here. Ok?”

  I’m talking out loud to an invisible person. I’m certifiable.

  Still, she stripped down and threw her clothes over the shower curtain, just to be safe. After she shut the water off, she dried and dressed in the shower.

  Climbing out, she mumbled, “Sorry, I know you’ve seen it all before, but it’s still creepy.”

  Jogging down to breakfast, she realized something. Darn, I didn’t even find out his name.

  Eden spent the rest of the day hashing and rehashing the entire study date for Jessie. Once Jessie heard Andrew had asked her out, it was all Jessie wanted to talk about, she’d even dialed up Caitlyn. By the end of the day, all Eden could think about was Andrew. She wondered what her guardian did all day.

  I must be the most boring person to guard.

  After dinner, she decided it was time to email Micah. She needed to tell him what had happened. She figured of anybody, he’d understand.

  That night, she purposely left the lamp on in her room before climbing into bed. She didn’t think she’d be sleeping in the dark for a while. She carefully set her glasses down on her nightstand, making sure they were reachable, just in case.

  She peered around. “Are you here right now? How do I know if I can’t see you?”

  She knew she shouldn’t feel disappointed when she saw nothing, but she was. Then she felt a warm, comforting feeling washing over her.

  So you are here. She smiled.

  She laid her head down and whispered, “Good night, Guardian.”

  Sunday night, Eden opened her nightstand drawer, pulling out books, stationary, and other random things. She stopped digging and sat back on her heels.

  She’d found her Bible; it was a gift from her grandma in Arizona.

  She shoved all the stuff back into her drawer, and then climbed on her bed. She stared at the book for a minute, without opening it.

  “When Micah started seeing things, he read the Bible. So, I’m thinking maybe I should read too,” she said as she leaned against her headboard.

  Flipping through the book, she stopped a few times, scanning the pages. Sighing, she shut the book. “What am I supposed to read?”

  She decided just to let the book open up. She peered down. It was in Isaiah.

  “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city.” She looked up. “What the heck does that mean?”

  Her fingers began turning pages again. She watched, fascinated. It was like they weren’t her hands anymore. Feeling how involuntary it was, made her realize something else.

  The book fell open but she glanced around. “It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one throwing me into people, making me hug them.”

  She didn’t feel anything, but she knew she was right.

  “Why’d you do that? It was really embarrassing.”

  She felt a flicker inside. She knew he was listening. Probably laughing.

  It made no sense to her either way. Why does he want me hugging everyone?

  She looked down; this time it was in Corinthians, in the New Testament.

  “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass … and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries ... and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” She paused. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

  She stared at the page, willing the words to make sense.

  “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face,” she re-read. “That’s how it is, isn’t it? There’s some kind of barrier between your world and mine. Like dark glass. And then I saw you last night.”

  She felt the good feeling.

  “Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. You know me, don’t you? Probably better than I know myself. I know so little right now. As it said, it’s like I’m a child, still thinking as a child. It’s time for me to think like an adult. It is time for me to awake to what’s truly happening.”

  The good feeling engulfed her. She smiled.

  “It calls them spiritual gifts in the next chapter. The gift of prophecy, of tongues, of faith, of knowledge, but says without charity, they would all be nothing. That charity’s the greatest of them all. What am I to learn from that?” She waited.

  Nothing.

  “Well, I think charity’s important. Maybe that’s what I need to focus on right now,” she said decisively.

  Shutting the book, she stood, stretching her arms above her head. “Well, I guess I better get back to my family and homework. Nice talking with you.”