by J. L. Chan
I waved goodbye to them, and they returned the favour. I started running to my destination.
It was not long before I reach there. I aligned myself with the bridge. I was going to get myself ready for a plummet, but of course, I was not going to plummet.
With a huff and a puff, I ran as fast as I could across the bridge, hoping it wouldn't break too fast. To my horror, before I made it halfway, the bridge snapped in two.
I started falling once again. Was I going to fail again? No... this couldn't be. Not again! I was given a second chance, and I sure as hell was not going to throw it away like that! I'll make it!
I outstretched my hands, and attempted to get a grip on the wooden plank of the second half of the bridge in front of me.
"I WILL MAKE IT!!"
I let a triumphant warcry. I managed to clasp onto the wooden plank. Yes! I did it! I started climbing back up to the other side of the cliff.
I made it... I made it! I passed the test! I dusted my hand, and let out a sigh of relief and victory. I walked along the path and continued on. My vision was suddenly blurred by a light. I shielded my eyes with my shoulder. Ugh, I feel drowsy. My consciousness suddenly cut to black. I've collapsed.
CHAPTER TEN – LESSON UNFORGOTTEN
"You think he's waking up?"
"I am very much convinced he will in the nick of time."
I heard two voices. It was difficult trying to make what they were saying. As I regained my consciousness, my vision was so blurry―it was like looking through a foggy mirror. It took a moment for it to normalize itself.
"Hey! Michael! Wake up!"
"Now, now... don't push him too hard."
The voices began sounding more and more familiar by the second. I finally realized who they were.
"Ugh... Bianca...? Hummingbird...? Are those you?..." I asked putting a palm on my forehead.
"Wow, you must have had quite an adventure, didn't you, Michael?" Bianca replied.
"You strained yourself a lot there. I am very glad you made it in one piece," the hummingbird replied.
Bianca helped me up on my feet. I thanked her in gratitude.
"Michael, you really knocked yourself out there," the hummingbird joked.
"Ha ha... very funny," while I turned around to look at it.
"Uhh... is that you, Hummingbird?"
"Oh yes. You've yet to meet me in my humanoid form. Right, I am the hummingbird, but please call me Joseph."
The hummingbird, or "Joseph" by now, was the same height as me. He wore a navy blue letterman jacket with a hummingbird crest on his left chest. Underneath it was a yellow t-shirt. He wore a matching navy blue jeans with brown tennis shoes. His hairstyle was that of a casual everyday teenager and had a facial figure of a Scottish boy.
"So... Hum―I mean Joseph, what are you and Bianca doing here? How did you two even meet?"
"Didn't I tell you, Mikey? In the Land of Spirits, you can connect with others close to you too!" Bianca explained.
"It is true, Michael. We were here to well, congratulate you on your success," Joseph explained as well.
"Yep yep yep! Kohn-gruah-chu-wei-shouns, Mikey! You totally crushed your trial!" Bianca said bouncily.
"Gee... thanks. If it wasn't for you two, I bet I would've been lost."
I took a glance on the place we were at. I was completely shocked. It was the very same beach I was on when I first arrive in the Land of Spirits. The details were not even point one percent off.
"Ah... Michael, I see you realized we are on the same beach where you first arrived," Joseph said, picking up on my confusion.
"The beginning of your journey marks your end,"
That makes me wonder, though. Whatever happened to my "lesson" I was supposed to "learn"?
"That reminds me... have I yet to learn?"
"Learn about what?" Bianca asked, putting a finger on her lips.
"The lesson. Did I fail it?"
"Poppycock! You didn't fail it, you passed it with flying colours!" Joseph replied happily.
I almost forgot about something with all this bliss flowing into me. I wanted to ask Bianca of whose spirit she was. Joseph nudged me to ask by tilting his head towards her direction.
"Uh, Bianca. I have something I've been waiting to ask you,"
"Whaaaaaaaat is it?" she said while fluttering her eyelashes.
"Since Joseph is my spirit... whose spirit are you to?"
"Interesting question, Michael... are you sure you want to know?"
I became more intrigued to find out when she replied with that. She's a natural at making people more eager to learn.
"Yessssssss..." I said clenching my teeth.
"I... am... the spirit of..."
My eyes dilated by the second. I couldn't wait any longer to know the answer. She must be doing it on purpose.
"Trish," Bianca ended.
I was so shocked I think my neck just did a whiplash. Of all the time with her, she was the spirit of Trish. Heh, so I was that close to Trish, wasn't I? I best not tell her about that. She'll go insane. Ah, that explains why Bianca is so lively. Pfft.
My mouth was wide open while Bianca just smiled innocently at me.
"Guess this world has more secrets than it already has, doesn't it? Hah hah..."
"You betcha!"
We both laughed, and Joseph joined in.
A while later, snow started falling from the dark blue sky. The snow glowed very brightly like a full moon. It was magnificent. I noticed that Joseph's face grew serious.
"It is time," Joseph said.
"Michael, you don't belong in this world. It is time you return from whence you came."
Bianca's face became disappointed but agreeing to Joseph. She grabbed my hand and opened my palm, positioning it straight flat. A snowflake fell on my palm.
"You know what to do. Open your heart, feast your eyes, Michael," she said.
I clasped the snowflake, causing an outburst of light from my fist. I then held it to my chest. I felt a moment of accomplishment and success from that.
"That was good... now what?" I asked with a concerned face.
"Now..." Bianca approached me, while Joseph tapped my shoulder.
"Wake up, Michael."
"Wake up, Michael."
I closed my eyes while Bianca chanted the words.
"Michael, wake up! Don't fall asleep!"
When I came to, I saw Trish wiggling my head, asking me to wake up.
"Yes! I'm awake. Sorry."
I saw both Robert and Frank sitting on the ground, talking to each other nearby. I was a tad bit dazed after awaking from the Land of Spirits. I took a look on my watch and my mouth just went wide open, like it lost a supporting hinge. The whole otherworldly journey, it only lasted for ten minutes.
"Michael... did you, you know, managed to contact the spirits? We were worried when you didn't respond to us after the ritual," Trish questioned with a very worried tone.
"Yes, I did. At first I thought it was a crazy notion to believe this, but I was wrong,"
"Wow, Mike! Can you tell all of us about your experience?" Robert asked in excitement.
"Sorry to say, Rob. This is a secret to me, and me only,"
"I told you guys that he wouldn't tell if he did or didn't! Man, but at least you learned a thing or two," Frank said.
"Indeed. I need to go home now. And oh yeah, open your hearts and feast your eyes, guys! Catch ya!"
All three of them were left stunned after I said that. I immediately took my bag and went home. I went to my bedroom and took a sit on my bed. I pondered in my thoughts.
I was not spiritual―or even partially. I mean, why should I be spiritual, let alone believe in spirits, if I can never even see a spirit in real life? At least that was only my poor theory. That experience will truly be unforgotten. The one fateful trip that only lasted but ten minutes. Tell me what was it, really?
I stood up and looked in the window. I caught a glimpse of two white orbs floating a
round by the tree on the mound. I waved a hand at them. Heh, that must be Joseph and Bianca. The two orbs then danced around the tree and flew off. I guess that meant "Good to see you too, Michael, catch ya later!".
I walked to my bedroom door and went out to breathe some fresh air. Now, that was an amazing story about my journey to the Land of Spirits, wasn't it? Remember: open your heart, and feast your eyes.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.L. Chan is a 15-year-old junior author living in Malaysia who desires to be a well-renowned writer someday. He writes books in his leisure time, typically after school, and writes fantasy and adventure. Chan currently has one year of writing experience, but he hopes to get recognition from readers worldwide. He had also won his school's essay writing competition a few times. Whenever he is not writing, he would be surfing the internet or reading several books to gather inspiration for his future works.
OTHER TITLES BY J.L. CHAN
THE MIRROR WITHIN