“Because he didn't ask for help; you did. No one can see me or hear me but you. Now eat your breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day, you know.”
Eric picked up a fork and poked the eggs. “Is this stuff going to improve my life?”
“Yes.” Eric shoveled it all into his mouth, swallowed, and choked. Tasio slapped his back until it came back out. “You shouldn't eat it all at once; it's bad for digestion.”
“Digestion?” Eric asked. “I thought it was magic.”
“Magic? How come?”
“You said it would improve my life!”
“A balanced breakfast can improve anyone's life.”
Eric rubbed his forehead once more. He really didn't need this today. Medicine would never fix a headache ache like the one feeding him right now.
“So when are you going to help me?”
“I am right now. Eat up.”
It was pretty good; Eric hadn't eaten food like this since he was young. Maybe having Tasio here won't be so bad . . .
“By the way . . . when does that place open?”
Eric looked down at his watch. “I'M LATE!” He ran out the door and Tasio hovered after him.
“I suppose this would be a bad time to tell you that I adjusted your alarm clock?”
“You what!?”
“You weren't getting enough sleep.” Tasio protested. “Really, I'm surprised you haven't burned out yet.“
Eric dashed through the hall and slammed into the elevator. He pressed the button, but the numbers changed at a snail's pace. Tasio lounged in midair and inspected his nails.
“You could take the stairs, you know.” Eric rushed to the stairs, ran down several flights, and stumbled the rest of the way. He was almost to the front door when Tasio spoke up again “Oh, and Eric, I do believe you forgot your briefcase.” Eric groaned before running back to the stairs and taking them two at a time to get back to his floor. Huffing and puffing, he reached his apartment and grabbed his briefcase. He ran back to the elevator, which still hadn't arrived, and reluctantly took the stairs. By the time he was in the lobby, the elevator dinged.
“A little help?”
Tasio blinked. “With what?”
“Getting to work!”
“Oh, right!” Tasio snapped his fingers and light flared.
When his eyes recovered, Eric was no longer in his apartment lobby, but he wasn't at Hanson Enterprises either. This area was so cold he shivered, and so quiet he could hear himself breathing. An overhead light clicked on and he realized he was in a tunnel of rock. The smell of iron, dirt, and sulfur mixed with the chill air. It looks like a quarry . . . Why did—
Dust arose in a great cloud. “Who are you?”
A tall man walked out of the dust. He wore a dark mantle whose hem seemed to ebb and flow as the overhead lights swayed. It looked like he was wearing darkness itself.
“Um . . . uh... I . . . I’m . . .”
“Where'd you come from?” His eyes narrowed. “You don't look like one of us.”
If I tell him a trickster zapped me here, he'll think I'm crazy. “I . . . My superior and I were checking the safety standards of the mine and I got separated from him.” Mantleman stared. Then his expression softened into a mixture of curiosity and pity.
“That makes sense. If you go down this tunnel, you'll find the elevator.” He lifted his arm and the mantle moved with it like the skin of a bat's wing. Through the dust, Eric could see a red light. “It's about to shut down for the day. You should hurry.” The arm disappeared beneath the mantle.
“Th-thanks.” Eric couldn't stand bothering someone, and asking about an exit made him feel even more embarrassed. The echo of drills reached his ears with the sounds of far-off talking.
“You're welcome. I will tell the others you're here.” He re-entered the dust cloud and disappeared. Seconds later, the dust settled and Eric could see the red light clearly.
Who the heck was that? He didn't look like a miner . . .And where's Tasio? He's supposed to be helping me . . .. The lamps went out, plunging Eric in total darkness. He stopped; afraid to move an inch. There was nothing but darkness as far as the eye could see. It was like being in a void. His pulse quickened and his mind swam. Thoughts deserted him and he felt like screaming. The only thing that stopped him was the fear he wouldn't hear himself.
It doesn't matter if the lights are on or off. The tunnel is straight so I can't get lost. With that calming thought, his pulse slowed, his panic subsided, and he walked confidently through the darkness. He walked so long his legs ached, yet the red light loomed in the distance. Added to his earlier hustle, it took a toll on him. The noises of the mine melted into something resembling a voice.
You should rest, it whispered in his ear. Take a load off. You'll feel better. Whispers surrounded him and caressed him, gently urging him. Eric's eyes drooped. There's no shame in resting. Lie down and regain your strength. He leaned against a wall and slid down it. Yes, rest . . . rest . . .rest . . .forever . . .
The . . .the elevators . . . They . . .close soon . . .His eyes shot open. I need to hurry! He got up and walked a little faster. The whispers vanished and were replaced by the normal sounds of the mine. The lamps flickered on and Eric bumped into the elevator. The car was just coming down and when it opened, it was empty. Why did it come down if no one's in it? He stepped in regardless and the doors closed behind him. The elevator ascended without his action.
Inside the elevator, the air was hot and moist and soon he was sweating. By the time the elevator stopped, he'd taken off his jacket and tied it around his waist. The doors parted and he discovered the reason for the increase in heat: the elevator opened into the mouth of an active volcano.
The lava churned and swirled like a lake and spouts of fire and steam shot up at odd intervals. The smell of sulfur was far stronger here and combined with a dozen others. The immense heat was a smothering physical force. After he recovered from the initial shock, he saw that there was more here than rock and lava. Along the rim was a steel tower extending into a bridge that ended in a balcony, overlooking the mouth.
Maybe someone over there can tell me where I am. Eric began walking to the structure. Clearly, I can't count on Tasio. By the time he arrived, his throat was parched and his clothes were soaked with sweat, but the inside offered no relief. The only machines here carried more fire and more lava and more steaming rocks. They hissed and buzzed as Eric passed. No one's here.
He found the stairs and, after climbing them and looking down every branch, he still found no one. I'm getting more exercise today than I have all month. Someone's gotta work here. Someone was leaning over the rim at the top and it was someone Eric knew well. A pair of arrogant eyes zeroed in on him. Recognition flashed in both and Eric's went down.
“Eric, should you be this far from your cradle?”
Eric approached hesitantly. “Aaron, where is this?”
Aaron's haughty sneer grew. “Oh, is the widdle baby lost?” The lava continued to churn and hiss.
“Yes, I need help getting to the office.”
Chuckles were his answers. “Mama Emily would waste time helping the widdle baby, but Aaron is far too busy with important work.” He turned back to the volcano with his notepad and machines. An enormous surge erupted and smothered the balcony with its heat. It filled Eric's heart and shot like lightning in his veins.
Push him! A voice pounded in his mind and raged in his thoughts. Do it! The voice commanded. Push him! Eric's eyes turned red and he advanced on the unknowing Aaron. There's no one around! No one will know! He chambered his arms and prepared to shove Aaron over the railing and into the boiling lava below.
Then he froze. Push him! He deserves it!! The Fire in his mind grew hotter as the voice became more demanding. His arms burned with the desire to push Aaron, but they were frozen in place. Do it! NOW! Eric still didn't budge. The Fire in his mind grew hotter still and he blacked out.
Soaking wet; not with his own sweat, but
with something else. He lay in a shallow pool of water gathered in the center of a cavern. Small holes in the ceiling allowed beams of sunlight to illuminate the cave and the reflections on the water made a pretty display on the walls. Another strange place and still no Tasio in sight . . . Just my luck.
Eric's stomach growled. I'd better look for something to eat, and drink too. Unfortunately for him, the pool was salt water. He stood up and walked out of the cavern and into a larger one.
Many pools were scattered in this one. Stalagmites rose from the ground to point to stalactites hanging from ceiling. Occasionally, water would drop into the pools or the smooth rock floor and each one sent a clear sound echoing in the chamber. All this beauty was lost on Eric, for the only thing he noticed was the exit, or lack thereof.
Footsteps from the far corner of the room drew his attention. A cloaked figure hunched on a staff hobbled in his direction then stopped at the pool in the center.
“Can you tell me how to get out of here?” The figure looked at him, but a hood obscured its face. It pointed at the pool with a sleeve-covered hand. Eric saw only water, rocks, and small sea creatures. “Yes, it's a nice pool, but I need to know how to get out of here.”
Drop. Who are you?
Eric looked for the voice but it echoed with the water drops.
Drop. What are you?
“Are you doing this?” The figure continued pointing at the pool. It neither moved nor spoke.
Drop. Why are you?
“What does it mean?” Eric demanded of the figure. Its only answer was to point at the pool. Eric spun and looked high and low for the speaker. He ran to the other side of the cave, but found only a solid rock wall. Water drops created a chorus of plops and bloops.
Plop. Who are you?
Bloop. What are you?
Plop. Why are you?
Mist flowed from a hole in the ceiling. It surrounded Eric as a dome and instantaneously turned to water and hung in the air before becoming ice and landing with a thud. Just like in the darkness, Eric began to panic. The ice melted into water and hung in the air before shifting back into mist and swirling away. Eric's nerves were so frayed he sat down. Leaning over the pool, he splashed himself.
Bloop Who are you?
Plop. What are you?
Bloop. Why are you?
That's it! He rushed back to the center pool. “Who am I? I'm Eric Watley.”
Water dropped into the pool and rippled its surface. Inside, Eric saw himself getting pushed around in elementary school. “Wimp! Weenie!” A second drop and Eric saw himself getting pushed around at high school. “Loser! Nerd!” A third drop and Eric saw himself getting pushed around at his jobs. “Useless! Incompetent!”
If you are Eric Watley, then this is who Eric Watley is.
“What am I? I work for Hanson Enterprises.”
Mores drops fell and created more ripples. The first one showed him choking on tests; academic and otherwise. The second showed him receiving pink slip after pink slip. The third showed him running errands for various people without wanting to.
If you are Eric Watley, then this is what Eric Watley is.
“Why am I? I . . .I don't know.”
A drop of water and the following ripples showed a group of people sitting on the ground. One by one, they stood up and walked to a cliff, which they all scaled. At random points on the cliff face were caves that some passed on their way to the top and others crawled into. Some of them lost their grip and fell. Of these fallers, some regained their grip, some were caught by others, and the rest of them continued to fall until they hit rock bottom. Those that fell split into two groups: those that got up and those that lay still forever. None of these people were Eric; he was still sitting.
If you are Eric Watley, then this is why Eric Watley is.
“Normally, I would love to play riddles with you but I really need to go. I'm late for work!”
The figure raised its arms and giant hands of water emerged from the center pool. They grabbed Eric's arms and yanked him backwards. Eric fell through suddenly much deeper water and gasped at the frigid temperature. Water rushed into his mouth and up his nose and in his ears. The hands pulled him ever deeper into the watery abyss despite his struggles.
Who are you? The voice was all around him now.
What are you? His lungs screamed for oxygen.
Why are you? Just as he lost consciousness, he heard a fourth message.
What do you wish to be?
“Hey . . .” Eric groaned and covered his ears. “Hey! Are you all right?” Eric still didn't open his eyes. A foot kicked his side. It was a woman in a lap coat. “Are you all right?”
His side hurt from her kick, but he said, “I'm fine.”
The woman had green hair. He shook his head to clear it, but the green-haired woman was still there. Maybe it’s some kind of experiment?
He was sitting on a beach, and once again, he was completely soaked. Before him was an endless ocean, behind him was a jungle, and then a cliff that rose above the clouds.
“Where am I?”
“You're at the Tunrig Research Facility,” the woman said. “Technically, the facility is on top of that mountain. It studies atmospheric phenomenon.”
“Could you show me a way out of here?”
“Sure, we'll go to the lab and arrange a ride.”
Eric hastily stood and followed the green-haired woman. The wet heat of the jungle was almost as bad as the dry heat of the volcano, but the smells were more pleasant. There were so many flowers and so much life in every direction. They gave him the peace of mind to think clearly. Darkness . . .Fire . . .Water . . .Forest . . .Earth.. A wind-based facility . . . It sounds like a classical element club. If I'm right, then after wind should be light. Then Tasio will show up.
“Hey, take a look at this and tell me what you think.” The woman's voice broke his chain of thought so Eric looked where she pointed: a fly was caught in a web and a spider eagerly approached.
“I see a fly and a spider about to eat it.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Well, yeah, but don't you feel sorry for the fly?”
Eric shrugged. “It is sad, but the spider has to eat.”
The woman slapped Eric on the back, just like old friend would. “Ain't it the truth! The spider eats the fly or starves. In my youth, I felt awful for the fly. Then a friend of mine called me a spider killer.” She chuckled. “Oh well, we're all young and naive at the start, but we get over it, right?”
“Yeah . . .I guess.”
“We're here.” The pair stopped in front of an elevator at the base of the cliff. She pushed the call button and waited. “Hmm . . .The elevator must be broken again.”
Next to the elevator, a shack was nestled between two trees. She walked in but a man walked out; a stocky man in a lab coat and hardhat with a pick ax in his belt. He was muscular and covered in dust and stone fragments. In both hands, he carried pulleys and harnesses. I knew it.
“My sister said you need to climb. Without the elevator this is the only way.” He helped Eric into the equipment and energetically started climbing. Eric hesitantly grabbed the first handhold.
“Come on, don't be scared.” Eric grabbed the second one and pulled himself higher. After they had climbed a fair distance, the man said, “You'll be fine as long as you don't look down.” Of course, one look was all it took to freeze Eric. “I told you not to look down! Just focus on the top.”
Eric did just that. His eyes did nothing but look for handholds and the distant summit. He made good progress this way. As long as I don't look down, it isn't so bad. Then his arms tired and his breath came in gasps. His legs were still tired from the long walk in the darkness.
Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall! The voice pulled on every inch of his body as if to nudge him off the cliff. The very mountain seemed to resist him; sharp edges cut his skin and loose pieces gave way when he put his weight on them. He could have sworn hand and footholds even moved out of his reach.
>
Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall! A length of rope landed on his head. Eric gulped. Now the only thing keeping him from a long drop was his own hands and feet. He continued to climb without assistance and the mountain continued to gnaw at him. Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall! FALL!
One handhold broke and then a second. Eric overbalanced and fell into empty air. . . .I guess this is it . . . His life flashed before his eyes, but he found no comfort in it. The bulk of it was in the water cave—picked on, fired, bossed around, ignored—little that brought him joy or relief. However, deep down inside him . . .something pulsed. NO!
He reached out and grabbed a rock jutting out of the cliff. The sudden stop nearly tore his arm off, but he hung on. He grabbed with his other arm, but was too tired to pull himself up.
“Come on!” The stone-man’s voice sounded from far above. Eric could only see him as a tiny speck since he was so far up and the summit was even farther. He looked down and saw clouds beneath his feet. If I fall, I'm dead, but the summit is so far away. I'll never make it. His hands slipped and he hurried to renew his grip. With his arms feeling like jelly and his feet dangling in midair, he realized he had a choice: fall or ascend. Biting his lip and ignoring his aching muscles, he pulled himself up.
“Good job, but it's about time,” the dusty climber said. Eric blinked and had a brief spell of confusion. Instead of the ledge, he was sitting on top of the mountain.
“Wasn't I . . . much further down?”
“Well, yeah, we had to start at the bottom.”
Eric shook his head. “No. I mean just now, wasn't I much farther down?”.
“No, you were at the ledge and pulled yourself up.” His eyes widened. “Ah, you must have had Cliff Fright. It's a common condition for novice climbers where they exaggerate the distance between themselves and the top or bottom.”
He pulled Eric to his feet. “Now, let's get you a ride to wherever it is you need.” A ring tone came from his pocket and he pulled out a device. “Uh-huh, yeah, sure. I'll be right there.” He put the thing back in his pocket. “I gotta get to work. Just go to the main building and they should help you.”
A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos) Page 2