He saw Tom looking back at him, laughing. Tom must have been about five years old. He remembered the day. It had been Tom's birthday. He had gotten some new toy Tom desperately wanted. He couldn't remember what the toy was. It was Tom, so it was probably some action figure. Tom liked his heroes and comic books and other fantastical tales. He had just received the gift. The day hadn't ended well because Tristan destroyed the toy. There was no real intent in it. He just liked to see the emotional reactions he could cause on Tom.
Tristan was brilliant, though. No one would ever catch him. His parents had believed that Tom had accidentally broken the toy. Even Tom had believed he accidentally broke the doll. Tristan comforted his brother and made his parents take him out for ice cream. He thought it like the perfect day. Not only had his plan been carried out to perfection, but the end result, he had gotten a magnificent chocolate on chocolate Sunday, and his mother congratulated him for being such an amazing brother.
Each of the scenes presented was similar. Tristan would do something horrible. He was aware of how terrible he could be. After all, Tristan had a rather impressive list of ladies whom he hurt. He was no saint and wondered if they expected him to feel remorse. He didn't feel any. Mostly, he felt a bit of elation at his own bravado. He was powerful, and he loved the power. He didn't need to be a weirdo like Geoffrey. He didn't need to be the president of a country. All he had to do was be himself.
After what felt like hours, the images subsided. The one thing that Tristan had gotten from the experience was that these people knew him. They knew every intimate detail, everything that there was to know about him. When it ended, he felt the pressure leave his brain. Tristan closed his eyes feeling oddly exhausted. He didn't want these Sentinels to think him weak, so he opened them again and faced the person sitting next to him.
"We have a deal," the Sentinel said. The way it said "deal" made it feel like something dirty. Tristan also understood that they were speaking his language.
“I’m listening,” Tristan replied.
“If you survive, we want you to take something to someone. We will pay handsomely for it.” The Sentinel took a small glass spiral from his robe. He handed the spiral to Tristan.
Tristan took it carefully and studied it. It made no sense why it was so important to them. It looked like a pretty little piece of glass from a gift shop.
“What does it do?” Tristan asked.
“That is not your concern,” the Sentinel answered. “Just deliver.”
“What will you do if I don’t deliver?” Tristan asked.
Before he had finished the thought, the most unbearable pain filled his head. He heard the screaming and crashed to the floor. He grabbed his head, trying to beg them to stop, but he could not make the words come out. The only thought running through his head was a prayer to let him die. Then it stopped. He got back to his chair, trembling.
"You know how to make a bargain," Tristan answered, trying to be cool aware that tears were pouring out his eyes. "Who gets this thing?"
Tristan got the image of a woman in his brain. She had dark hair in long braids. He got a name and an address and knew he couldn't forget it.
“I have nowhere to place this. It will break.” Tristan said.
“It is impossible for it to break. Do your part of this bargain, and you will have the money in your account.” The Sentinel said. “And one more thing, you must not seek your revenge towards Emily, until after the object has been delivered.”
“What? I have no intention…” Tristan began.
The screens immediately showed images of Tom’s death. It was brutal. Tristan stared unblinking at his brother’s body consumed by fire, and Emily untouched and unhurt by the experience.
“How could that be possible?” Tristan said in a whisper.
“That is not your concern. We know you seek revenge for your brother’s death. The revenge will come, but not right now. You must deliver the object first. After, you will know the meaning of revenge, and the purpose of your life will become clear.” The Sentinel said and walked out.
Tristan wrapped his fingers around the spiral and pressed with all his strength. It did not break. He knew it would travel anywhere. He thought about the money headed into his account if he accomplished such a simple task. Emily could wait.
Chapter 11
EB26392
Journal 1
Emily stood in the center of the Hall in a rage. She felt she had been horribly tricked by the universe, and she was not having it. It made her beyond furious. She found someone who liked having her around. Geoffrey enjoyed her company. She knew he did, and she felt less lonely for the first time. Rage was the only thing left for her to fight. This would not be accepted as a done deal.
She stormed out of the hall, walked past the Sentinels, and into the tram alone. They stood in place and watched her. She rode in the tram with her eyes closed, trying to control all the feelings surging through her. When Tom died, she made a promise. She would never hurt anyone again. Not as long as she lived, she would make sure no one would die. Geoffrey was definitely top of the list. If that meant she would never have an intimate relationship with anyone, then so be it. It was perfectly acceptable in her mind.
The tram stopped in the city center. She stepped out onto the square and looked around. It was time for her to get out of there. Now she knew she could get through the gates on her own. Emily closed her eyes and focused her attention. The gate that led to the water planet MD877 was to the right of the city. There were more gates. The question was how to get to them. She didn’t have money. Even if she got back to earth, she wouldn’t get far.
It would be too hard to return with Geoffrey. He would put pressure on her. Now she knew exactly what he wanted. He had made allusions to it and mentioned how desperately he wanted to die. It would not be by her hand. She felt a gate straight ahead, not too far from the city. As she was turning towards the sensation of the gate, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Geoffrey… I…” She started to scream as she opened her eyes. She took a step back in shock when she saw Tristan. “What are you doing here?”
“If you want to know the truth, I followed you. I decided to follow Geoffrey and found myself near his house. Unbelievable right? Surreal. Then when you guys were leaving, I decided to follow. I won’t even go into what happened to me, but somehow I ended up here.” Tristan shrugged.
“How were you planning to get back?” Emily asked.
“I have no clue. I figured I would find you. I did see a kid earlier. A human from New York. I thought maybe he would still be here. I could go back with them if I didn’t see you.” Tristan answered.
"I know who you are. You are Tom's brother. I need help getting back to Los Angeles, and right now, you are the only person who can help me. I can get you off this planet and back to earth if you help me." Emily said.
“What sort of help do you need?”
“I don’t have anything once I get back to Earth. I need to get back to civilization, then I can figure out how to survive.” Emily answered.
"And Geoffrey?" Tristan asked, smiling.
“He had very different plans than I do, and I am not going to be part of his plans.” She answered. “Deal?”
They shook hands and headed towards the gate. They walked in silence. As they were exiting the city, Geoffrey caught up with them. Emily noticed he was not surprised to see Tristan.
“Emily, where are you going?” Geoffrey asked.
“I am leaving. I will not be a part of your grand plan.” Emily answered and kept walking.
"Let me at least come with you," Geoffrey answered. "We can discuss this later in a more private place."
“This is not up for discussion, Geoffrey.” Emily turned to face Geoffrey, and she felt physical pain seeing his face. “Please, don’t.”
He looked at Tristan, who was smiling throughout the exchange. "You could be in danger."
"I know the risks, and I am okay with them. It is
better than the alternative." Emily said.
“You don’t mean that,” Geoffrey replied.
Emily continued to walk into the red desert. Tristan and Geoffrey followed. Emily turned towards Geoffrey, “Please leave me alone.”
"No, I can't," Geoffrey answered.
The three continued on their way. Emily led the way since she couldn't force him to stop. They arrived at another small tent with water and robes. Tristan ran to the water and drank his fill, and then returned with a water bottle for each of them. Emily took a sip and handed hers to Geoffrey.
“This way is tricky,” he said.
“It will get us back to earth,” she replied.
“Yes,” Geoffrey said. “Do you know how to open the gate?”
"I can figure it out," Emily said and closed her eyes, concentrating on the location. She had seen the location in her mind when looking for the gates. Emily saw the gas planet and the small oxygen bubbles where the gate existed. She walked.
Emily felt Tristan grab her left hand, and Geoffrey grab her right hand. The ground began to shake, and she knew she was going the right way. She walked, keeping the image of the planet intact in her brain. The structure of the ground changed beneath her feet. The pictures came to her mind so strongly, she almost dropped the hands she was holding. They were the most terrible images of Earth she could imagine.
She saw the devastation, and the green fields turn into deserts. Los Angeles was flooded and completely underwater. Everywhere she turned, people were screaming for help. Caravans of people traveled across every continent, trying to find a livable place. It didn't work. Everywhere it was the same. It was uninhabitable. It was a barren landscape. She saw fires raging through the forests of the world. She saw storms destroying everything in their path.
Emily was holding on to Geoffrey for dear life. Tristan was doing the same with her. She thought about Tristan and got an image of him walking out of the fire covered in blood, smiling. Emily let go of both hands, shaking herself from the connection with both men. When she opened her eyes, she was floating in a bubble of air. She took a deep breath and looked around. The air felt stale and smelled of something unhealthy.
In front of her, a form materialized. It was obviously female but completely see-through. As she moved through the air, the air shifted around her. She was a dark purple color. It made Emily think of the genies of stories. For the first time, she wondered if there was some truth to them.
In her mind, she felt the words enter, “Welcome to Serendan, better known to your people as GP399. We are the Serendi.”
“Thank you for the welcome,” Emily said.
“Good to see you again, Geoffrey,” the lady smiled to Geoffrey in a way that made Emily uncomfortable.
“It is lovely to see you, Kasec,” Geoffrey answered. The woman crossed through Geoffrey in a way that made him blush, and Tristan laugh.
“You can speak to her?” Tristan asked.
Kasec replied, “You must hurry. You know the oxygen only lasts minutes in the pods. We must get you through the circle and into the next gate before they see you.”
Emily turned to Geoffrey enquiring.
"The Serendi don't understand or believe in the gates. They exist in secret. It is possible to maintain the secret because they can move the pods from one location to the next independently of each other. They don't need the pods to survive." Geoffrey answered.
“Lay flat,” Kasec asked.
The three laid on the base of the bubble. It felt like a bubble, capable of breaking at any moment. The floor moved as it traveled. Kasec settled next to Geoffrey as the pod floated lazily through the air. She tried to not look down since the floor of the bubble was also see-through. The oxygen levels were decreasing. Emily felt giddy. She turned to face Tristan, and he was lying on his stomach, looking down. Emily tried it, and vertigo hit her hard. She turned to face the sky again. Tristan laughed. Geoffrey silenced him, and that struck Emily as funny. She tried to hold back a giggle, but it escaped her lips. Two bubbles approached their pod. They had beings like Kasec in them. Kasec immediately spread herself over them to hide them. It was oddly intimate. There was no body to feel, but the texture of the gas felt personal. Emily could sense the thoughts and emotions much more clearly. Tristan and Emily didn't need the warning to stay absolutely silent and still. They stopped breathing. As soon as the other two bubbles left, Kasec removed herself from them. The air was now dangerously low. Emily felt she would lose consciousness at any moment.
They came to a giant pink sphere. Thousands upon thousands of beings like Kasec moved in and out of the sphere. It could have been millions. Kasec returned to her place, covering them completely, and then maneuvered the bubble around the crowds.
“Don’t move at all,” Kasec asked.
Emily held her breath. It was making her feel sick. She tried to take shallow breaths, but it wasn't leading anywhere. It was impossible to see anything with Kasec covering them. She glanced downward, but it was the same. Suddenly, she felt as if she was falling. Before she could scream, a second bubble caught her in midair. She bounced a little bit, and a giggle escaped her lips. Geoffrey's hand came over her mouth, causing the opposite reaction. She laughed. Geoffrey turned her around and kissed her. She responded, settling into him until she felt an elbow in her back.
She had forgotten about Tristan. Kasec was also still completely covering them, which made her even more self-conscious. She could feel her attraction too. Embarrassed, she buried her face into Geoffrey's shoulder. As she felt the cloth of his robe and his shoulder beneath the robe, she felt the tears fill her eyes. She fought them, trying to stay silent. Geoffrey sensed it and put his arms around her. When they switched bubbles again, Geoffrey held her and helped her land more steadily. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. Emily knew it was short-lived. She loved Geoffrey enough to give in to his request if he asked for it. Emily knew she would never forgive herself.
Emily felt warmth and love radiating through her whole being. It was Kasec completely covering her. She was floating in the purple haze that made up Kasec. It felt like a wonderfully odd sandwich to be within both Geoffrey and the Serendi. She looked over and could see Tristan's outline. He was lost in his own world. Had he also felt her grief? Could he sense the visions she saw in the cave? She had no way of knowing. Somehow, Tristan felt more vulnerable than Geoffrey. It was Geoffrey who was facing the end of his life.
They switched bubbles one more time, and it ended.
“You can stand again,” Kasec said gently.
Emily looked around and saw that the sphere was long gone. They were floating alone, moving steadily through a whirling cloud of multicolored energy.
Emily turned to Tristan. “Are you okay?”
Tristan continued to look up at the ceiling, “I don’t know if I will ever be okay. Everything that I thought was true is false. I mean, look at this place. It feels like I’m flying through a little girl’s cartoon fantasy.”
Emily stretched out her hand and held Tristan’s hand for a moment. He didn’t let go.
As the clouds approached, Emily imagined that it would be like traveling through a storm in an airplane and prepared for the turbulence. As they entered the whirling winds, the bubble just joined in the dance of the winds while maintaining complete stability within.
Geoffrey whispered, “We are getting close. Do you want to do the honors?”
Emily nodded, letting go of Tristan. He tried to hold on, but Geoffrey grabbed his arms instead. "You are coming with me."
Emily focused on the land ahead and then focused on her home. There was no earthquake this time. The bubble simply dissolved, and they fell. Emily opened her eyes and saw the black whirlwind of the wormhole. She was aware she was not getting any visions. She was alone. No part of her was touching anyone. The images must come from the experiences of those around her. It meant that Geoffrey would have sensed her own experiences as they walked through the last gate. She could feel the imagina
ry ground under her feet. For the first time, she felt in control. There was no nausea or disorientation. She walked forward, following her instinct. Ahead she saw the glimmering transition into the new land. She walked a little faster. She felt coolness as the shimmering air passed through her. Then she felt the earthquake and continued walking forward, knowing it would soon end. Emily turned back and saw Geoffrey holding on to Tristan.
As the earth settled, she looked around for the first time. It was Earth. She could feel the difference in the textures of the air and took several wonderful breaths. It looked like an African savannah like she had seen in photographs. It was beautiful. The grass was yellow. There was a distant mountain that looked remarkably like Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Africa?” Emily asked excitedly to Geoffrey.
“Northern Tanzania,” he answered.
Geoffrey let go of Tristan. Tristan shook Geoffrey off and walked towards Emily.
“What an adventure, right?” Tristan said. He turned away from them and checked his right hand. He was still holding the glass spiral.
Dance of Life: The Belief Chronicles: Book One (Chronicles of a Planet's End) Page 14
