by C. Louis S.
Leon didn’t leave his house until he was practically forced to on the day of Kali’s Immersion.
“Get out of bed, take a shower, get some nice clothes on, and stop moping around,” Father said. “This is a special day for your sister, for the whole family. You’re not going to ruin it because you’re depressed about the Junior Firebolts.”
Leon hadn’t told him about Randall. He hadn’t told him how he almost killed his best friend. He didn’t even tell Aidan or Kali. They would have all hated him. He was a monster. He had turned into a killer. Who could love a killer?
When he was finally dressed, the rest of the family was practically honking the horn to get him out the door on time. He wore black slacks with a white belt and a green, button-up, shirt that Mother detested.
“If we weren’t leaving right this instant, I’d tell you to go back upstairs and change,” said Mother.
When they arrived at the castle and got out of the car, Leon saw that Father was dressed in a pressed white button-up shirt and black slacks. Mother had bought him a royal blue tie, or at least that’s what Leon assumed because he had never seen Father wear a tie before. He looked impressive.
Aidan was dressed the same minus a tie, but Mother and Kali really stole the show. They had bought dresses just for this occasion. Mother’s was white with gold accents and Kali’s had purple and yellow flowers on it. They both had their hair done up and had makeup on. Leon thought they glowed. He’d never seen them look so beautiful before.
Father, Aidan, and Mother were just as impressed and overwhelmed with the inside of the castle as Leon and Kali had been. They looked all around, mouths gaping in awe on several occasions.
They were ushered up to a small waiting room where the rest of the family sat while Kali went into a dressing room and got dressed in an all white jumpsuit. When she was ready (clearly deflated that she couldn’t wear her new dress for the whole ceremony) they were taken to a room that looked like a hospital room except that it was intricately carved and painted like the rest of the castle.
On the far side of the room there were cabinets and a sink. In front of the cabinets there was a bed whose back was angled up like in a hospital and then next to it in the floor there was a shallow rectangular pool with little stairs leading into it.
On the opposite side of the room there was a wooden bench with white cushion that ran the length of the room. Leon and his family sat on the bench and were told to wait.
“Dude, you were right about the music,” whispered Aidan. “It’s like it follows you. It makes me think of a Medieval castle or something with trumpets announcing the king.”
“Trumpets?” Leon shook his head. “It’s different for everyone. Kali hears a violin.”
Aidan nodded with a surprised look on his face.
Leon sat back and felt the relaxing calm in the room. His soul seemed to find rest in the peaceful piano music that played in his ears. As his breathing slowed, he almost felt like he was meditating.
In short order Flynn walked into the room with several people behind him. He wore a white lab coat on top of his white clothes. Behind him were Micaela, her parents, and her older sister. The three women had colorful dresses that almost covered their white slippers and Mr. Sol wore a white shirt and tie like Father. They joined Leon’s family on the bench. Micaela’s older sister winked at Aidan as she sat, and Aidan blushed.
Leon nudged Aidan. Aidan nudged back. Leon nudged twice. Mother saw and gave them the look before turning back towards the group and smiling again.
This was the first time in several weeks that Leon and Aidan were back to their usual goofing around. It made Leon feel like part of the family again.
The last three people in the door were also wearing white lab coats. Two were female and one male. They varied in age from middle-aged to early twenties. The three of them smiled brightly.
Flynn addressed the group while his assistants prepared for the Immersion behind him. He smiled and spoke in a hushed, reverent tone.
“Kali, it’s so good to see you here today. I’m so glad your parents and brothers could come and that the Sol family is here to support you in this big decision. This may look a little scary, but I’m going to have Ryan explain everything to you.”
With that, Ryan walked forward and bent over to look at Kali with an exaggerated grin on his face.
“Okay, little girl. Your first big girl step is going to be onto this big bed over here.”
Kali stared at him dead pan.
Aidan whispered, “What? Is she a toddler now?”
Leon giggled silently.
“Then we are going to give you something that is going to tickle like a warm fuzzy all over your arms and little legs. After that you’re going to take a little dip in the pool like you’re going for a little bitty swim. You’re really going to like that part, I bet. Hop on up here.”
Kali climbed onto the table with marked excitement.
“Umm, yes, thank you, Ryan. Now as you get up on the bed, I’m going to explain why we do it like this and what will be happening to your body. Today is like you’re being born all over.
“The ability to have superpowers is actually a technology. The Dark Void wants us to think it’s a part of human nature, but we know better.
“This technology is really two technologies. First, is the genetic mutation. It’s administered at birth. Doctors don’t even tell people they do it anymore because it’s just part of the normal process. You spent a few hours in pain as a newborn, but you don’t remember that now, obviously.
“The second technology came when you were almost five or six. It was a shot that they gave you called an NBSI, nano bot safety injection, that actually injected you with tiny robots that swim through your blood stream. The robots supposedly help your immune system, but that was a lie. Instead, they store light energy from one of the nine colors that reaches your skin. By bonding with a special part of your blood cells that only exists because of the mutations, these tiny robots allow you to use that light energy.”
Though Flynn was much older, he was a steady and fluid speaker. Leon had planned to play games on his phone the whole time, but he found himself watching Flynn intently. The superpowers are technology!? I just always assumed it was something that passed from one generation to the next, something you’re born with.
“Either the tiny robots or the genetic alterations—we are not sure yet—effectively block your body’s ability to bond with the True Light and experience its full affect.
“So first, we are going to give you something that will return your cells back to normal. Besides the sting of the shot, you will feel tingly all over your body. This will be mildly painful, but I know you’re a strong girl, Kalina.
“The second part of the process happens in that pool there. When your cells return to normal, the tiny robots will detach from your blood cells and remove themselves from your body. Now, this part does hurt, but being in water soothes your skin as they make their way out of your pores.”
Leon shivered. That doesn’t sound very nice. Poor Kali.
“Once the robots detach themselves, your body will be able to experience the full glory of the True Light and you will feel it powerfully when you accept it in your heart. It will be a companion with you for the rest of your life. You will be guided by its power and it will comfort you.
“The water is also symbolic of a new life. You’ll be a brand new person after today, Kalina Torvell. No one is immersed until they have accepted the True Light in their hearts and committed to following Christ. So Immersion is really just an outward symbol of an inward commitment. We’re so happy for you today.”
He was now standing next to her bed. She turned her head to not see the needle that one of the assistants pushed into her arm. She cringed, but then relaxed. She had been prepared for pain, but now she was relieved. She giggled.
“It’s all tingly.”
Flynn excused himself to go to another Immersion but promised he would return before sh
e was put in the water.
The Sol family stood up to follow him. Leon shot Micaela a puzzled look. Whispering, she explained that they were going to see Randall’s Immersion.
“What?”
Several in the room shushed him. Micaela just smiled and followed her parents. Leon sat back, shocked.
Randall is being immersed? He told me that he was going to follow the True Light, but for some reason I didn’t connect that with him being immersed. This means he’s going to lose all his powers. And after he worked so hard to learn them all. I guess it’s for the better, though. If you’re not following the right path in life, it doesn’t matter what amazing powers you have.
Wait, this means that he couldn’t join the Junior Firebolts. That’s what he was trying to tell me all along. I’m such an idiot. He wasn’t stabbing me in the back. He was going to tell Kaz ‘no’ because he is giving up his powers. Oh, why didn’t I see this before? I’m such a horrible friend.
Leon slumped down into the bench.
“After the fight that sent you to the hospital, he started learning about the True Light from Micaela,” Mother whispered. She slid closer on the bench. “It was part of his punishment, but Micaela thought it would help both of you. Randall has really changed. You might want to go watch his Immersion as well.”
“No. I … I can’t.”
“It might be good for you,” said Mother.
“He might not want me there. I would ruin it.”
She shrugged and then walked over to Kali. She held Kali’s hand. Kali lay calmly with her eyes closed.
“Mom, it’s starting to hurt a little,” she said.
“I’m here for you. I’m very proud of you, Kali. You’re being an example to us all.”
Kali smiled with her eyes closed.
The piano music played loudly in Leon’s head despite his inner turmoil. Micaela’s words came back to him. Music has always been a sign that you are fulfilling your purpose, that you are on the right path. When you are a follower of the True Light, your body remains on the earth after you die. We have a ceremony and bury them in the ground because we know we’ll see them again someday.
Tears budded at Leon’s eyes, but he held them back.
Kali squeezed Mother’s hand tightly. The pain was intensifying. She grimaced, but didn’t squirm. Father stood next to her and held her shoulder and arm. Mother and Father looked at each other, worried.
Leon remembered Flynn’s words in the castle that first day. What powers does True Light have? Powers? No powers. Courage, Compassion, and a warm light for all the world to follow.
The song continued to throb in Leon’s heart. He turned to the side so that Aidan wouldn’t see his tears.
After what had to be an hour or two, the assistants came back into the room and Ryan declared the procedure done. One left to get Flynn and the others prepped Kali for the second part. They gave her juice and cookies. They explained that it was a huge strain on her body, even though she had only laid there. Her body had been exerting lots of energy on the cellular level.
When Flynn returned he explained that the other person being immersed that day had run into some complications with the procedure and that the Sol family was staying with him. Leon’s eyes widened. Randall is having complications. I wonder if I didn’t heal him enough. Maybe he’s too weak to go through with the Immersion. He’s going to hate me, if he makes it.
Ryan instructed Father to pick Kali up and place her gently in the shallow pool. Flynn explained that in just a few moments the robots would start detaching themselves from her blood cells and exiting her body. She needed to be in the pool before that started.
“I’m going to be free,” she said smiling weakly as she sat in the pool, holding onto Father’s arm.
Ryan put a scuba mask on her—or something that looked like one—and then let Father lay her down in the water.
The family gathered around the pool and leaned over to see Kali. After a few silent moments, the pain started. Kali’s eyes got large and she started cringing and squirming. Slowly small dots of blood began appearing on her white jumpsuit. Her face contorted in pain.
Leon wanted to jump in and pull her out. I can’t let her go through with this. I’ve got to stop her pain, but how? It’s too late now. What was she thinking? This is insane. His intentions must have been obvious, because Aidan’s arm snapped up to hold him back. Leon looked up and noticed Aidan was being held back in similar fashion by Father, and he in turn was held back by Mother. Aidan would have normally found this scene funny, but only fear shone on his face, no laughter.
Leon reached out to grab something and found Aidan’s hand. He squeezed. Aidan grabbed Father’s hand and Father held Mother’s. They waited breathlessly for the minutes to pass and for Kali to stop twitching and contorting herself.
The music drummed in Leon’s ears along with the sound of blood pulsing. Aidan let go of Leon’s hand to wipe away a tear. Leon just let them fall down his cheeks. How could someone so young and innocent as her, be such an example to a lost soul such as me? If she can do this and follow the True Light, so can I.
At Ryan’s command, Father dropped into the water and scooped his daughter out. Her whole jumpsuit dripped deep red. Father took no notice of the stains that his clothes would have. He grabbed her and held her tight. Mother joined the hug as soon as Father was out of the water and Leon and Aidan squeezed them all tightly.
chapter 25
Courage