Beyond the Stars- Awakened

by Angela Morales

  Zech stirred something inside of her. Ina closed her eyes and focused.

  “You’re in control, Inanna. You are powerful. Awaken your senses,” she commanded herself.

  Suddenly, Ina felt Zech’s heartbeat inside her chest. She felt the electricity up her spine and that familiar feeling from the first night on the beach. The burning desire to be near Zech overpowered her. She closed her eyes and imagined Zech with her.

  Suddenly, Zech’s body fell to the floor in front of Meretseger.

  “Zech!” cried Meretseger. “No!”

  “What is happening?” Salixz demanded.

  Meretseger checked Zech’s pulse and breathing.

  “He’s alive.” Meretseger said with relief.

  The electricity continued to pulsate through every vein in Inanna’s body. When she finally opened her eyes from trying to imagine Zech next to her, she saw Zech standing right before her in the center of the slimy silver sphere.

  Zech embraced Inanna, with such tenderness and relief. He was not only grateful to see the love of his life alive, but he was even more grateful to have her with him, in his arms.

  “Is this my imagination?” Ina whispered in disbelief.

  Inanna couldn’t believe this was real. The situation certainly felt real – more real than a dream – but more surreal than real life. Surely this wasn’t actually happening; it was just another realm they weren’t accustomed to.

  “Inanna?” he murmured in disbelief. “How? Where are we?”

  “I don’t know – I think – I must be trapped within myself. I can hear – I could hear you talking to me just now.”

  “You could hear me this whole time?” he said.

  “Well, I don’t think I’ve been aware until just now. The last thing I remember is Ria, and then suddenly it was like I woke up within myself and I could hear you, Salixz, and Meretseger,” she explained.

  Zech held her face between his hands, with pain in his eyes.

  “I hate that I have put you through this…that I didn’t protect you when I should have. Things shouldn’t be this way.”

  Inanna felt his pain and guilt. “You can’t blame yourself, Zech. I’d do it all over again just to be with you. We just have to figure out how to get out of here.”

  The words ached Zech to his core. He would suffer through anything to be with Ina, but to know her life was at risk because of him, only made him feel agony.

  Zech admired every feature on Inanna’s face. He slowly brought his nose to her silk ringlets and took in her scent, making his stomach jolt. His fingers teasing every hair on her body, then slowly making their way down her spine. A jolt of electricity pulsated through every nerve inside each of them. Finally, his mouth found hers with pure delight.

  Zech softly kissed the tip of Ina’s nose, then he studied her face as if to never forget it.

  “I don’t know how I got here, but -” Ina began.

  “I will get you out of here, and I will kill Ria myself for doing this to you.”

  “No,” she said seriously and pulled away. “You’re not killing Ria or anyone for that matter; it’s not right.”

  “How can you be so merciful, after all Ria has put you through?” Zech asked.

  “What good does it do me to hate her? After all, she could have killed me many times and she hasn’t.”

  “She’s made your life a living hell; some would prefer death,” he responded.

  She smiled. “But I’m here…and I’m just so happy to see you. If I die, at least I am with you. Doesn’t that mean anything, Zech?”

  “Don’t say that. I won’t let you die, Ina.”

  Zech gently clenched a fistful of Ina’s hair in his palm, lowered his mouth to hers, and kissed her softly.

  Closing her eyes, Ina breathed in heavily. “Is this real?” she softly muttered.

  Zech smiled and caressed Inanna’s face gently. “I love you, my princess. This is as real as it can be, but I fear we’re stuck…” he paused, “in your head, it seems.” He smiled lightly with curiosity.

  Ina opened her eyes and kissed Zech once more. She couldn’t contain herself. It had been agonizing to dream of Zech for so long while she was on Earth, not knowing he truly existed and that she’d already fallen in love with him before she lost her memory. Her dreams had only taunted her each night, while she fought within herself to try to only love Keith instead of the mystery man in her dreams, Zech. The man in her dreams who turned out to be very real! All of her old memories came toppling down on her, and she was finally reunited with Zech in Cova.

  “You dreamt of me?” he said with a smile.

  Ina blushed in embarrassment; was he reading her mind?

  “Uh – well – I…” she began.

  Zech smiled and kissed her again.

  Her dreams and life were finally making sense now, and she was where she wanted to be, at least in this moment. It was all too good to be true that Zech was with her now. She had trusted Ria again, and she was quickly separated from Zech once more because of it. It seemed that wherever Ria was, some disaster was bound to take place. Now, somewhere in Inanna’s subconscious, she was alive again. Somehow, she was with Zech. She didn’t care where she was – if she was with Zech, then she knew everything was going to be okay. But the matter still remained that Ria was trying to ruin her. But why?

  “Zech…why would Ria do this?” Ina asked.

  “Jealousy maybe, I don’t know. Meretseger is doing everything she can to wake you out of this spell – just give her time to find her cane.” He said with conviction. “Ria is going to pay for all of this.”

  Ina took a long moment to analyze what she wanted to say.

  “Zech,” she paused. “Ria must have other motives? Why wouldn’t she just kill me?”

  “It’s Ria, and it’s all very complicated.”

  Zech wasn’t sure if Inanna understood how important her powers were in order to fulfill the prophecy.

  “Was she always this way?” Ina asked.

  “Well,” Zech answered. “That doesn’t matter anymore, Ina – she’s a different person now. She has gone to the dark side. Once you’ve gone that deep, there’s no turning back.”

  “You told me to focus and tap into my senses. When I brought you into my mind, I felt something. There’s more Zech. I sensed your emotions of the past – I felt your heart beating – I could feel your anger too. But when I felt your anger, I saw more than just your family and trials. I saw Ria. You have a history with Ria.”

  “Yes. We do have a history, but all that doesn’t matter anymore because she has betrayed me, Ina,” Zech said very matter-of-factly.

  “I want to know,” Ina said.

  “Know what?” Zech said, looking into her eyes.

  “Everything,” she said with conviction.

  “I’ll show you, if you let me. I don’t know if it will help you figure anything out, except that Ria is who she is. There is no turning back now; it’s too late,” he said.

  Zech took Ina’s hands and laced her fingers between his. Putting his forehead up to hers and kissed her nose.

  “Are you sure you’re ready to know everything?” he asked.

  “Yes, but for now, just hold me for a moment,” she said.

  Past: Ina’s 5th Birthday

  M argorie and Liam didn’t host anymore birthday parties after Ina’s first birthday. Over the years, Marjorie had secluded herself, and she stopped mingling with the few friends she had. She loved Inanna more than anything in the world, and she couldn’t stand the comments or questions as to why Inanna was so different from other children.

  It bothered her! It bothered her to her core.

  Or the questions as to why she and Liam never had children of their own, or why they didn’t adopt more children for Inanna to play with.

  “Don’t you think a sibling will help her socialize more?” one mom had asked at the park one day.

  “She’s fine; she just likes playing alone,” Margie had answered, but dee
p down she just wanted to scream for the woman to mind her own damn business.

  “Have you talked to the pediatrician? Maybe there’s something wrong? I mean, you don’t really know her past or where she came from?” another mom had added.

  “She’s unique, and that’s why we love her,” Marjorie answered defensively, storming off with Ina in her arms.

  Ina preferred playing alone anyway. She loved the company of her adopted parents, and more than anything, she loved her grandmother, Pipa. Inanna was not the average child that enjoyed playing with other children.

  “Ina, do you want us to sing happy birthday to you this year?” Marjorie asked, feeling hopeful.

  “No, that’s okay,” she said.

  Ina never wanted a birthday party, or cake, or balloons, or a gift. She only wanted to see Pipa.

  “Wow, you’re almost done with that,” said Liam.

  Ina had been working on a one-thousand-piece puzzle with Pipa for about fifteen minutes, and she was almost done. Inanna was great at puzzles – great at almost anything that required solving.

  “There. Done!” Ina announced proudly.

  “Well I’ll be darn,” said Pipa laughing out loud.

  Marjorie looked at Liam, as if it was time to tell Ina the truth. Liam already knew this was the moment of truth, because they had already discussed that they would tell Ina on her fifth birthday. He hesitated for a moment, knowing that one day Ina may ask more questions and want to meet her biological parents. He would never be able to tell her the full truth.

  “Ina, we want to talk to you, honey,” said Liam.

  “I already know,” Ina said quickly.

  Marjorie giggled nervously. “Know what, Ina?”

  “That I’m different.”

  “Well we’re all different, sweetie,” said Margie.

  Liam shrugged his shoulders, feeling very uncomfortable and worried that maybe Inanna knew too much without being told.

  “It’s okay. I’m not scared of being different,” Inanna reassured.

  “Inanna, you probably feel different…because – the truth is – uh,” Liam began.

  “Marjorie and Liam fell in love with you the day they saw you. You were just a baby, and you needed a new home,” Pipa chimed in.

  “So, we adopted you,” Marjorie said, hoping it came out reassuringly.

  “I know,” said Ina.

  “What?” Marjorie giggled nervously.

  “She can’t possibly - maybe she has good intuition…” said Liam.

  “That’s it? You don’t have any questions, Ina?” Marjorie asked doubtingly.

  “No,” said Ina.

  “Ina, I know you don’t like gifts. But we’d like to give you something,” Liam said as he pulled out the pendant necklace.

  Inanna examined it carefully and held it to the light.

  “It says my name. I love it,” Ina said smiling.

  Marjorie and Liam looked at each other and felt sudden joy. Pipa did the honor of putting the beautiful gold chain around Inanna’s neck. Finally, after five years, they had found the perfect gift. They had told Inanna the truth, and she had her necklace.

  “That pendant was wrapped in your blanket the day you arrived in our home,” said Margie.

  “Thank you,” said Inanna.

  “Happy birthday sweetie,” said Margie.

  Present: Keith in Questioning

  T he questioning room was cold, as Keith sat bouncing his right leg up and down impatiently, with his hands cuffed in his lap.

  “So, when did you last see Miss Inanna Preston?” the investigator asked as he took out a notepad.

  “Three weeks before she left for California.”

  “Did any altercation happen between the two of you that night; what did you talk about?

  “She basically called off our engagement,” Keith responded.

  “Why?”

  “She said she didn’t trust me.”

  “And why would that be?”

  “I don’t know - she was upset about the past - something small that meant nothing.”

  “Well sometimes small things add up and become bigger - was it something like that?”

  “No, I don’t know...maybe to her it was...” Keith was trying to cooperate.

  “So, you two had just broken up?”

  “Yes.”

  “Were you angry with Miss Preston?”

  “Not angry – I was – hurt?”

  “So, you were hurt and maybe angry, because your fiancée had just broken up with you,” the investigator pressed.

  “I don’t know how many times you want me to repeat myself,” Keith blurted out, frustrated.

  “So, you were angry?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But you didn’t correct me just now when I said it…”

  “I’m not angry.”

  “You seem angry right now…”

  “I’m not angry at Ina; I’m upset with all these questions!”

  “Sometimes we confuse hurt and anger - they are almost the same...and sometimes we do things we don’t mean to.”

  “I didn't do anything to Ina.”

  “If you were hurt, maybe you hurt Ina without meaning to.”

  “No!” Keith snapped.

  “Did you pay someone to kill her?”

  Keith closed his eyes, as the words stabbed him like a knife.

  “Detective Stine, I’ve told you many times. I – don’t – know what happened to Inanna. She could be alive for all we know!”

  The detective stood up and gathered his things.

  “You may not know what happened to Inanna, but a gun registered in your name, with your fingerprints, was found at the crime scene. That same gun was used to kill an innocent taxi driver. How do you explain that Keith Merritt?”

  Keith was silent. He felt like he’d explained what happened a million times. He didn’t know how his gun got into that taxi cab. It was all like living a nightmare.

  “There’s always a day for redemption. Before you’ll ever have yours, you will pay for the murder of that taxi cab driver, and we will get to the bottom of Inanna Preston’s disappearance.” The detective stood up, adjusted his belt, grabbed his documents and walked out.

  A heavy-set woman in a black suit walked into the room. She exchanged glances with the investigator as he exited. Laying her briefcase across the table she began rummaging through some files.

  “God, not another one of you…I’ve already told everyone everything I know,” Keith began.

  “I’m Valerie Garcia, public defense attorney. Probably your best friend right now.” She introduced herself in a very professional manner with a Spanish accent.

  “Oh, so now I have an attorney?”

  She didn’t respond. She was doing something on her phone.

  “Do you believe that I killed Ina and that guy?”

  “It’s in your best interest to let me do the questioning. You have the right to representation, and it seems there’s a serious investigation going on here, Mr. Merritt. You’re the main suspect for the murder of Chen Ho and the disappearance of Inanna Ruthe Preston. Seeing as how the media got their hands on this and has exploited the evidence, this has now become a high-profile case. You see, in the public eye you’re already guilty.”

  “But you believe me, right?” Keith asked hopeful.

  “I’m a lawyer, Mr. Merritt. To a certain extent, it doesn’t matter if I believe you or not. This is about getting you the best plea bargain deal possible.”

  “Plea bargain?” Keith sunk in his chair again. “I don’t understand. Why would you come in here, and suddenly think I’m going to plead guilty to something I didn’t do? I thought you said you were my lawyer?”

  “Mr. Merritt, I highly doubt you can afford a lawyer who would be willing to take this case. Now, I’m willing to do my best -”

  “Do your best? At what? Them not giving me the death penalty for a murder I didn’t even commit?”

  She pulled out
some photographs. Looking at Keith for a brief moment, unfazed by his flustered questioning, she continued.

  “There was a dead taxi cab driver found in the middle of an alley near the hotel where Inanna was supposed to be staying at. Do you recognize this man?”

  She showed him the gruesome photographs.

  “No,” Keith cringed at the photos.

  “This is being treated as a homicide, Mr. Merritt, and possibly a double homicide based on circumstantial evidence. If Inanna is found dead, they will want to press further charges against you. You need a lawyer, and I’m the best shot you’ve got.”

  “It seems I don’t really have a choice, do I?” Keith questioned.

  “Touché. I’ve been appointed to your case, and I’m going to do everything that I can to help you get the lightest sentence possible. Best case scenario, you get thirty years, with good behavior you get out in twenty-five. And you’re young, so you’ll have a chance -”

  “Best case scenario?” he interjected. “You haven’t even known me thirty seconds! You’re just like everyone else! Aren’t I innocent until proven guilty? What if she’s alive somewhere – while you’re all wasting time here asking me questions that make no damn sense!?”

  “It may not make sense to you, Mr. Merritt, but a judge is only going to look at the facts. There is enough solid and circumstantial evidence to build a case against you. You have no alibi and you have no witnesses. Your cell service was off the grid the week of the crime, and you took out a large sum of cash before your left. Do you see where I’m going with this? The odds are against you.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Now given, that could change if new evidence arises. Think about it…you break up with your fiancée of two years; she mysteriously goes to California to mend her relationship with a friend who you once had a romantic relationship with -”

  “I did not have a romantic relationship with Jenna,” he interrupted in frustration.

  “I’m going by the investigation statements, Mr. Merritt, and according to some, you and Jenna have a romantic history. After several weeks of investigating, it is believed that you and Inanna had problems because of this friend of yours, Jenna. Again, they only care about the facts, and the prosecutors will tear you apart in there if you’re not prepared.”