We're the Last

by G Sasaki

  Like most of her life, it was a secret buried deep within.

  Nicole’s boots crunched on chunks of dried dirt as she sped up to even with Tolrik. “So what is the Ropen? Is it real? Or did you make it up to throw people off?”

  Tolrik, somewhat irritated with her question, responded, “We would not make that up. The Ropen is real. He is just too smart to be caught.” He had stressed the importance of secrecy to her countless times. But it still wasn’t enough. “The last thing this island needs is people snooping around. I hope you understand… you are not to touch what is inside. I may be a fool for taking you here. But I cannot afford to have teams of people coming here looking for this cave…”

  “You have my word. No one will ever hear of Endless Life.”

  Tolrik snapped back, “Yet here you are.”

  “I’m different.”

  Behind Nicole and Tolrik, Courtney followed closely. She reached for her bottle and dumped water into her mouth. Every drop splashed a reprieve against the draining heat. Courtney felt like the trip to Endless Life had been going on for days. The pressure on her head grew and she heard the faint sound of her father’s voice in her mind. “Keep going, Courtney. I’m waiting for you.” Courtney brushed it off and forced her weary legs to keep on. She doubted they were even going the right way. At the very least, Tolrik was taking them on an impossible-to-remember route of zigzags. She was sure she had seen the same pear-shaped tree at least three times. Was Tolrik so protective of this cave he would take them on a crazy route forever? Maybe he was just going to keep walking until they all passed out. It was obvious that the huge rock ahead was where they were headed. Like an annoyed teenager, Courtney blurted, “Are we almost there?”

  Without turning his head, Tolrik casually responded, “Perhaps.”

  Nicole again asked, “So what is the Ropen?”

  “It is exactly as you’ve heard. The Ropen is a large winged… animal… the size of a man. People who have come looking for it have described it as a dinosaur. That’s not correct. It certainly does not have a tail either. If you imagine a bat that is the size of a man, you will imagine a Ropen. If you see one, you will know.” He gazed into Nicole’s green eyes and said, “When we are at Endless Life, I suppose you might understand more fully.”

  Courtney stopped, put her hands on her knees and coughed. She gagged so deeply, it sounded like she might throw up. Tolrik paused and observed. Her hoarse cough continued for several seconds and finally let up. As she rose from her knees, Tolrik observed her face. Tiny droplets of sweat sprinkled on her face and thick, purplish bags lingered under her eyes. The white in her eyes had changed to a reddish pink color. She looked like she had been beaten up.

  Nicole asked, “You okay?”

  Courtney’s eyes slowly scanned its surroundings. She blinked like something was in her eyes. She swallowed and looked at Nicole. “Yes. I’m okay.”

  Tolrik stared. It became evident that what was happening to her was not natural. Was the Heart of Man affecting her from this distance? If she was weak-hearted, he supposed, it was possible. He turned to Nicole and declared, “If you want me to continue, she must stay behind.”

  There wasn’t much of an argument she could make. She whispered to Courtney, “Can you just stay here? I’ll come get you once we’re in and I’ve checked it out.”

  Courtney’s baggy eyes stared at Tolrik. A raging fire suddenly sprouted through her muscles. Pushing it back, she simply turned her hands to fists. She responded, “I’ll stay here.” As Tolrik hiked on and Nicole followed behind, Courtney couldn’t help but wonder why her dad’s voice kept screaming in her head. “You’re not good enough! I’m right here! You’re not good enough! I’m right here!”

  Courtney whispered to herself, “Shut up Dad. I’m coming.”

  When Nicole and Tolrik reached the huge, towering rock, they stood in front of a solid wall. Tolrik faced Nicole. “Are you ready?”

  She looked at the rock in front of them. Jagged edges pointed toward them. No sign of any opening. Was she ready for what? Regardless, she answered, “Yes.”

  Tolrik faced the rock, gently rested his hand on the wall, and closed his eyes. A spark of worry spread through Nicole that she might’ve followed a crazy person. That fear grew when Tolrik bowed his head and whispered garbled words. Nicole glanced back and, in the distance, about thirty yards away, Courtney stared. She looked like just a spec. Courtney stood still, with her hands at her side, and didn’t move. That’s kind of creepy, Nicole thought. Tolrik’s voice fell silent and he froze. The howling of the gentle wind replaced the quiet. Nicole gripped her pocketknife, just in case. Tolrik muttered, “I don’t know what you’re expecting to see in this cave. There is no other place like it in the world. Open your heart. And follow me.”

  Nicole always believed what her eyes showed her. But what she saw next made her doubt them. Tolrik moved forward, straight through the rocks. He disappeared. It was as if the sharp, pointy rocks that stared back weren’t there at all.

  “What the hell?”

  Confusion strangled Nicole. How was something like that possible? Nicole stepped to where Tolrik vanished and stared at the rock that rested inches from her face. She could see the cracks in them, the natural wear from weather. She lifted her hand, spread her fingers, and tried to touch them. But to her surprise, her fingers seeped through. Nicole stared at her arm, with her unseen hand inside a rock. She waved her arm around and still her hand was missing in the confines of stone. Had Tolrik somehow drugged her?

  Nicole stepped forward and the rock swallowed the rest of her arm. She kicked out her foot and, sure enough, it too disappeared. Though she didn’t understand it, she had to keep going. Nicole stepped through and her entire body disappeared into the rock.

  Inside the cave, Nicole witnessed a grinning Tolrik. “Welcome to Endless Life.” Nicole looked back at the entrance she just walked through, expecting to see the sun poking its rays inside. Instead, it was completely sealed, keeping the cave dark, with the exception of a dim red light. “How did…”

  Thump, thump. Thump, thump. The pounding, echoed sound of a heartbeat interrupted her.

  Nicole looked at Endless Life. A slight red hue filled the space and provided the only source of light and color. Small and circular, the cave’s ceiling rested just inches above their heads. The walls curved from the ceiling to the floor. There were no tunnels leading to other rooms; just this one space. There was no unevenness of the walls, no jaggedness in the rocks. Everything had a smoothed out and metallic look. The air felt thick and pure. Endless Life appeared to be more of a perfectly built shrine than a cave.

  In the center of the space, a red circle floated. Red spirally lines sprouted out of it and kept it suspended directly in the middle of the ceiling and the ground. It looked like a perfectly round red bowling ball. But it beated like a heart. The circle grew and shrunk with the sound. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. On the middle of the beating circle, a tiny white spark fizzled like a sparkler.

  Nicole looked in awe at Endless Life. She expected a treasure or two, some gold here and there, burial grounds… the kinds of things usually hidden inside sacred places. Since this was a ‘cave’, she thought maybe she’d see some stalactites… not this smooth metal surface. She gawked at the red-lit Tolrik, who looked on like a proud father. Nicole asked, “What is this place?”

  “You knew of Endless Life but did not know what was inside? Now that you have seen it, may we leave?”

  Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

  “No. I want to know what this is. How did you make that rock illusion? What is that beating thing?” Nicole’s eyes fixated on the beating red circle and the white light inside. With each beat, the cave resonated with a brighter red flashing light.

  Matter-of-factly, Tolrik said, “That is the Heart Of Man.”

  Nicole timidly stepped toward it. Tolrik’s hand shot up, halting her. “Don’t get too close. Don’t touch it. No matter what you see.”

 
Nicole’s eyebrows dipped in confusion. “I won’t.” The whole scene felt surreal. She still wasn’t convinced Tolrik hadn’t drugged her. This cave could very well be the result of a hallucinogenic drug. If he wanted to keep Endless Life a secret, then it seemed like a viable solution.

  Nicole approached the Heart. It rested directly in the center of the cave, practically hovering off the ground. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Vein-like lines protruded. It almost looked like this thing was an internal organ… and it was alive… like… an actual beating heart. The white spark in the middle danced around like a flame. Nicole jumped in surprise as the Heart abruptly swooped up and met her at eye level. It made a sound as it rose like a zipping coat. The veins contracted like muscles and adjusted to bring the Heart upward. She couldn’t help but feel like… it was watching her.

  The spark bursted apart and a bright white covered the red of the Heart. As it expanded, Nicole looked closer and saw an image begin to materialize: a blue sky littered with clouds. Nicole squinted to get a better look and brought her face inches from the Heart. Under the rich blue, the ocean’s gentle waves danced with ripples and crashed onto the shore. Somehow, in her mind, she could hear the waves falling onto the sand. The image looked incredibly clear… as if she was looking at the ocean.

  Nicole looked back at Tolrik. “What is this?”

  “It is using your memories to show you pieces of yourself.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “The Heart is showing you what has made you. Your life. But do not listen to anyone who appears. I would not say the Heart of Man is… bad… but it does not have your good will in mind. Do not touch it… no matter what it tells you.” In his short dealings with Nicole, Tolrik had peered into her heart. He could tell pain lingered inside, but immense strength resonated because of it. So when he warned her not to touch the Heart, he had no worry that she would comply.

  Nicole looked back at the Heart, where she could still see the ocean. Suddenly, the unbelievable appeared: a familiar face entered the image. This girl looked at Nicole and smiled. But the face wasn’t just looking in her direction, she made eye contact with her.

  “Ava?”

  40

  Ava’s face filled the Heart. Shock forced Nicole’s eyes to open wide. “Ava…” Amazingly, life illuminated her face, just as when she was alive. The life that was absent when Ava was in the coffin, the life that had only existed in Nicole’s memories, was now vividly on display in front of her. This was an image she thought she’d never see again. Ava looked at her with the dimply smile she always used to wear. Her blonde hair blew with the ocean breeze and her blue eyes gazed into Nicole’s.

  Ava spoke, “Hi Nicole.”

  Goosebumps tingled from Nicole’s skin and chills filled her body. Ava’s voice played in her mind; she didn’t hear it with her ears. But it sounded clear as day. Hearing Ava’s voice again sent shockwaves to her heart. For the first time in years, she felt warm inside. “Is it really you?”

  Ava’s smile grew. “I told you I’d always be there. Thank you for smiling when you think of me.”

  Nicole chuckled. “How could I not? You’re my best friend.” Nicole paused. “You’re my sister. I miss you so much.”

  Ava laughed an innocent chuckle and sounded just the way she used to. “I miss being with you too. Your life has been as exciting as I thought it would be. And I’m proud of you. One day we will be together again. We will stare at the horizon for as long as we wish. Until then, my love will never leave you. We will always be best friends.”

  Nicole desperately wanted to hug her. To feel her again. To feel her heart beat one more time and know that her best friend was alive.

  Ava lifted her hand like she wanted Nicole to take hold. The Heart showed her hand floating in the air, all five fingers fully extended. Nicole stared at it. Maybe if she took it, they would be together again. She could be happy again. Nicole’s fingers bent and her hand demanded to rest on the Heart. But she remembered what Tolrik told her. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  Ava dropped her head in disappointment. She looked back at Nicole, with sorrow drowning her eyes and said, “I knew you were too strong.” Her squinty eyes stared and her face contorted into a familiar smile. After several seconds of transforming, the image of Ava looked identical to the picture from the prayer card Nicole kept from the wake. In her mind, Nicole heard Ava’s voice say, “Goodbye Nicole.”

  “Wait…” In an instant, the image of Ava’s face vanished. The sky and the ocean disappeared. In its place, the dark outline of a person, more like a shadow, looked back. One eye glowed white and the other black. This figure had no details on its face but she couldn’t help but feel it smiling at her. This shadow figure gave her an immensely uneasy feeling. Then it dawned on Nicole: what she talked to wasn’t Ava. It was something projecting as Ava. But to see her face, hear her voice, and look her in the eye… she didn’t care.

  The image of the shadow vanished and the white of the Heart shrunk and reverted to the tiny spark that danced in the middle. The Heart fell from eye level and went to its original position. It made a zipping noise on the way down. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. The red light shined on her face with every beat. Nicole stared at the Heart, stunned by what just happened.

  Tolrik’s voice shot through the silence. “There are forces in this world we can not understand. The Heart Of Man is what gives us life. But no one must ever know of it. It is dangerous. We have taken care it since the beginning and if word gets out, if anything were to happen, it will be the end of humanity.”

  Tolrik’s words weighed heavily. Before she came here, she would have laughed at the statement he just uttered. But as Nicole looked at the veiny beating ‘heart,’ she had trouble refuting anything he said. But before they left, she needed to know. “What does it do? Why is it so dangerous?”

  Tolrik said, “The danger lies with the Ropen – the winged creature people come looking for.” Nicole paced toward him, away from the Heart. He continued, “The Ropen is a product of the Heart Of Man. Thanks to us, the transformation is limited to only one person.”

  Nicole knew all about this island’s legend of the Ropen: a giant bat-like creature, a lesser-known cryptid, like the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot. People frequently came to Umboi Island to look for it. But that legend… that creature, the Ropen was a… person?

  Tolrik said, “The Heart Of Man may appear to be a wonderful treasure, and it is. But inside, a strong current of energy flows, the effects of which, to us, are detrimental. With every beat, that energy builds. Eventually, it needs to release. Around every hundred years, someone from our tribe travels here to face himself. To look inside and see what has made him. Then, he puts his hand on the Heart and absorbs the energy, allowing it to continue to beat. But because he absorbs that energy, he changes. First, he loses control of his mind. Delusions overtake him, his darkest fears become reality. There is no control of his inhibition. He stays alone in the forest, away from anyone, away from anything, so he cannot harm another. Shortly after, his appearance changes. He grows fur, grows wings, until he no longer resembles the man he once was. Now, he is more beast than human. With no one to relate to, he lives the rest of his days wandering the island. When outsiders spot him, they assume he is a dinosaur or some mysterious unknown creature. They have dubbed this man the Ropen. But the truth is he is a brave man who sacrificed his humanity to keep the energy away from the rest of the world.”

  Nicole asked, “What if no one releases the energy?”

  “The energy would release naturally. If that were to happen… if any energy left Endless Life… the world would become Ropen. Humanity would cease to be.”

  This sounded like a bedtime story. Even if it wasn’t true, Nicole realized this Heart wasn’t something she wanted to fool around with. “Alright. Let’s leave this place.”

  But after she said that, Nicole heard a familiar zipping noise from behind. It had come from the Heart. Nicole and Tolrik turned to see it
had risen to eye level… and Courtney stood in front of it.

  41

  While he was comfortable with Nicole approaching the Heart, Tolrik was terrified of Courtney stepping anywhere near it. With Nicole, he saw strength. But with Courtney, he sensed overwhelming weakness. Emotions like jealousy and fear seemed to radiate from her core. So much so, the Heart seemed to call out to her even from outside. It knew she would be an easy target to absorb its energy. She must have followed its commands to sneak in. Tolrik screamed. “Get away from there!”

  Courtney stood frozen, mesmerized by the images on the Heart. Nicole gingerly stepped toward her, careful not to catch her by surprise. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. The red light flashed against Courtney’s face. “Courtney, we’re going to leave. Are you ready?” She didn’t move. As Nicole moved closer and saw the side of her face, a wide- eyed Courtney whispered to the Heart. “You left us behind. I could never forgive you. I don’t need to prove anything to you.”

  Nicole looked at the Heart. The white spark fizzled in the middle. To her, there was no image. Was it only for Courtney to see?

  “No!”

  Courtney’s outburst startled Nicole. “Are you okay, Courtney?” As the red light faded in and out of her face, Nicole observed the thick bags under Courtney’s eyes. She looked like she had been under duress for days.

  Tolrik demanded, “Get her away from there!”

  Courtney mumbled angrily, “I wouldn’t go anywhere with you.”

  “Courtney…”

  “I just want to know why…”

  “Courtney!”

  “I want to forgive you. I wish I could forgive you…” Courtney lifted her hand and brought it close to the Heart.

  Nicole thrust forward to stop her. “Don’t touch it!”

  But it was too late. Courtney’s outreached hand rested on the Heart. A deafening whistling sound shot out. Nicole’s head throbbed at the high pitch and she covered her ears with her hands. The gentle red light replaced with a frantic strobe-like white. A monstrous wind came from the Heart, shoving Nicole backwards. Courtney’s body convulsed as her hand still attached to the Heart.