THE TRAVERSING SERIES
Ecaterina Scarlat
As I get closer to Fort Western, I feel the first droplets of water on my face, the wind saying hello to me in an obtrusive way. I am approaching the middle of the sidewalk just outside the doors to Fort Western when I begin to feel my arm tingle. It is a unique electric feeling and it stings a little. I wince out loud in pain. The pull was so strong. That must mean that I am close. I see people walking up the street in front of me, looking me in the eyes, then lower at my belly. It was then that I felt the first tinge of embarrassment and it makes me lower my eyes. As the middle ages couple passed, I hear them whispering about me, probably wondering what my story is. The large concrete stone by the entrance was sparkling, and as I leaned in closer I could see the bright sprays of electricity jumping out, trying to greet me. I put my hand closer to the light and I can see a portal open. This was it. Should I do it? Should I risk my baby’s life? I turn around and see people rushing to their cars, the clouds have released their package and everyone was getting soaked. Except for me. I look around me and see that I have already been encapsulated into a glowing sphere; smaller bits of lights circle around in the opposite direction. I am caught now, there is no turning back. I suddenly feel very hot and then in one large flash I feel myself falling which was the same feeling I felt before in the other portal. I let out a scream as my hair flies above me and I try to look below, wondering if I will slam into something hard. I grab my belly and curl myself around it.
There is a deafening sound, like a beeping that hurts my ears, the pulsating beats pounding in my head until I thought it would explode. Then, all at once, it is quiet and everything has stopped. I slowly open my eyes, noting the brightness of the sun. I see a lot of dust in the road, and hear the sound of vehicles. Where was I? I stand up and brush myself off and look around. Everything was so quiet. Then someone rushes toward me and grabs my hand.
Amir drove in the Airshot for a while and then put it down in a field. He hadn’t travelled very far and pulled the machine into the large brush and sat on the ground. He had gone maybe 20 miles, but as he got further and further away from the castle, his anxiety mounted. He couldn’t go back to Boston. Or Connecticut, not in this thing. He leaned back against the large pine tree and fell into a fitful sleep. His mind replayed the last days with Kokia, especially the part of when she told him that she was pregnant.
“Our baby has a heartbeat…” she had whispered to him. He was so happy, wondering what their child would look like or even if it was a boy or girl. And more seriously, what he could do to protect them.
Amir jolted awake and looked around him, disappointment setting in when he realized it was just a dream. He just didn’t know what to do. He was stuck. Not wishing to cede defeat, Amir stood up and was determined to stay alive.
He walked around the Airshot and realized that its readings still had a green bar, meaning it was almost full charge. Looking at it reminded Amir of the loss he recently experienced. His father and brothers saved him and Kokia, and in a cruel twist were lost when their Airshot either malfunctioned or it was shot down. Amir would never know. He held up his TerraView and moved it from side to side, looking at the geo map. He was still in Maine, and as he moved his hand he saw the broken castle he had just left. Just then he felt a jolt of electricity, and he could almost make out Kokia, like a clear bluish figure in the woods.
“Amir, stay. Stay. I will come back to you,” she whispered. Amir rubbed his eyes and peered deeper in the woods. He sees her body shimmering in a beautiful white ring and he feared that she was dead. She looked beautiful and he saw her small, round stomach and his heart ached with pain. She then immediately turned around and ran, disappearing into the dense fog that was enveloping his feet and legs. Amir sprinted into the woods after her, but the image disappeared.
“Kokia!!” he screamed in the air, a slight echo resonated all around him. “Kokia,” he said softly, tears sliding down his nose and his eyes go to the sky. He would do as he was told and got into the Airshot and maneuvered it back to the castle. He would wait forever for her.
He gently landed the Airshot behind the castle and climbed the steps. He sets down his backpack and sits against the wall. He runs his hands in his hair and begins to weep. Deep sobs of loss wracked through his body and he just didn’t know how to handle all of this. He had no idea if Kokia was alive and he now had to face the fact that he was alone in this world.