by C J Benjamin
Not possible, I thought to myself. Jemma doesn’t cry.
I could feel my mind getting fuzzy and there was a dull buzzing in my ears that seemed to be making it really hard for me to connect my thoughts. I looked around to see where it was coming from and my eyes took in the devastating scenery surrounding me once more.
“This can’t be real,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone in particular. But it seemed Jemma thought I was talking to her because she launched herself toward me and crushed me in a desperate hug.
“It is! It is real!” She squeezed tighter and sobbed harder. “It’s you! I can’t believe this either, but it’s you! You’re my sister! I thought you were dead. They told me you died in the Flood.”
It was all too much for me to take. I pushed her off of me, quickly wiping my eyes to hide my emotions, which were dangerously close to brimming over.
“I can’t do this,” was all I managed to squeak out before my voice betrayed me with a sob, so I turned on my heels and ran away.
“Wait! Eva!” Jemma called after me, but I didn’t stop. I kept going, quickening my stride. I willed my legs to carry me far enough away, so I could have some privacy when I broke down.
“Let me talk to her,” I heard Remi say. “You’re overwhelming her, Jemma.”
I tried to tune them out but my telepathy fed me a steady stream of their voices. I hurried my pace, sprinting away from their voices.
“I think she’s probably in shock. She just needs some space to come to terms with all of this new information the Book of Secrets has just dumped on her,” Nova said, putting his arm up to stop Remi.
“Are you some sort of Geneva expert all of a sudden? You’ve known her for a second compared to me, so stop acting like you’re the only one that knows what’s best for her. I know her too and I think she needs someone to talk her through all of this,” Remi challenged as he tried to push past Nova.
“She wants to be left alone,” Nova said, stepping into Remi’s path.
This time his tone was final and I didn’t hear any more arguments from Remi. Maybe they’d stopped fighting or I was too far away to connect to them anymore. Either way, Nova was right. I know he only knew I wanted to be left alone because he was reading my thoughts again even though I’d asked him not to a million times. He probably couldn’t help himself right now because my mind was practically screaming ‘back off!’ And honestly I was glad for Nova’s mind reading abilities at the moment, because I truly did just want to be alone. I’m sure this probably hurt my best friend’s feelings a bit, but right now, Remi’s feelings weren’t my focus. I was trying desperately not to freak out. I needed to keep breathing and calm myself down so I didn’t lose control of my powers and so I could think of a solution.
2
“It’s happening, Master. I can feel it. The Eva has taken possession of the book!”
“The Book of Secrets? You’re sure?”
“Yes, very sure Master. No one other than the Eva would be able to open it.”
“How do you know it’s been opened?”
“Look here, Master,” the old man said, pointing to an open book in his lap. “The legend continues.”
The tall man watched in wonder, as scrawling script inked its way across the brittle parchment of the open manuscript. The words formed slowly, darkly, like blood seeping through the ancient pages.
The two men stood, watching the words spread. One man short, crippled by age and the other, tall and menacing. A slow, wicked smile spread across the face of the tall man. It was obvious that he was the one in charge. He wore a black robe that billowed as he moved, gracefully skimming across the spotless, stone floor. Even beneath his robes, it was easy to see he was muscularly built. His hair was glossy black, and shimmered iridescently like obsidian feathers. It was pulled back so tightly, that it gave his angular features an even more severe shape. His eyes were dark and keen. He narrowed them in a sinister way, as he threw his head back, releasing his intimidating laughter.
“Excellent work, Kobel. I think it’s time I meet our Eva, don’t you? Get me her location.”
“Each time she uses the Book of Secrets, I can try to zero in on her location, Master.”
“Good. In the meantime, send a search party out. Scour the island. I want that book and I want the Eva!” he bellowed.
3
My lungs burned as I sucked in ragged breaths of smoky air. I was far enough away from my friends now that I could let my composure slip even more than it already had, and I launched into a full blown conversation with myself.
“How can Jemma be my sister? She’s the most awful person I’ve ever met!” I wailed.
Well that’s not true, I argued with myself.
My mind snapped back to our Headmistress Greeley. She was much more awful than Jemma. She killed Niv, or at least she thought she had. She tried to kill all of us and she would have if I hadn’t stopped her. I shuddered at the thought of it and suddenly the reality of what I’d done unexpectedly gripped my stomach! I found myself lurching over a bush nearby, heaving up guilt and bile.
Finally unable to fight my exhaustion, I collapsed to the ground and gave in to the river of tears that were battering the dam of my eyelids. I shook and gasped for air as I let the events of the past few days wash over me. It was almost too awful to bear.
There were so many highs and lows. We had found the Book of Secrets, but what had it cost us? Greeley caught and cornered us. She tortured my beloved marmouse, while I stood helplessly by, frozen by one of her spells. Then she let her tarcats tear him to pieces before my very eyes. I had foolishly tethered my soul to his and instantly expected to extinguish with him. But, when I didn’t, I used every ounce of my love for Niv to fight back against Greeley and save my friends. We escaped to the forest, and Remi, my incredible best friend, shocked us all by leading us to a perfectly happy and healthy Niv! He had foreseen the dangers of my soul being tethered to Niv’s and used shadow magic to create an imposter Niv, while protecting me and the real Niv all the while. I didn’t think I could ever be as happy as when I was reunited with Niv. I owed Remi my life and so much more.
But my happiness was short lived, because Greeley and the Grifts from the Troian Center followed us to the forest and set it ablaze in their search for us. I knew I had to face Greeley, but I had to protect my friends as well. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing any of them after coming so close to losing Niv. I trapped them with a fissure and confronted Greeley myself. All my training in the forest paid off. I was able to stay calm enough to realize that I could beat Greeley with her own tools by turning her vicious tarcats against her. But now, I was left with that final image of her, writhing under their blood stained fur, and I knew it would haunt me forever.
I started heaving again, even though there was nothing left in my stomach. I didn’t know how to move on from this.
“I killed someone.” I whispered the words out loud to help them sink in.
Yes, she was evil and trying to kill me and my friends, but I still took a life. It seemed like my only option and the right thing to do. “But if it was right, why do I feel so horrible?” I asked myself. “I wish I could take it back,” I sobbed.
I didn’t regret that we were all safe now, but I just didn’t know how to live with this awful feeling. I let myself cry shamefully on the damp forest floor. It was covered in soft moss that comforted me more than I deserved. I felt something touch my leg. I immediately stopped crying and held my breath. Then it climbed upon me—I stiffened until I saw Niv’s twitchy little nose creep into view.
“Niv,” I sighed as I sat up and scooped him into my lap. “You scared me half-to-death!”
He twitched his nose at me and I smiled as he rapidly combed at his whiskers with his agile, black paws.
“Well, I guess if you found me I’m not as far from the others as I hoped,” I said to him.
I stood, dusting off my badly torn and tattered Troian Center uniform. The tan, threadbare mater
ial was scorched where I had come too close to the fire and one sleeve was torn, flapping sadly each time I moved. Looking at the dark stains on the rest of my uniform, I shrugged and gave up trying to brush away the moss that was still clinging to me. I lifted Niv up to let him perch on my shoulder as I continued my trek deeper into the forest. I still wasn’t ready to face my friends. I needed to sort out my thoughts and I preferred to do that without Nova listening in on them.
My legs felt sore, but steadier and my chest felt lighter.
“A good cry always leaves my head clearer,” I said to Niv as he watched the forest scenery float by from my shoulders. His ears pricked up and down, tickling my neck as he took in the forest sounds.
I was wandering aimlessly, trying to organize my thoughts. Somehow walking was helping. I felt that each footstep was taking me a step closer to coming to terms with this new role that had been thrust upon me.
“You wanted to know the truth, Tippy,” I said to myself.
When I heard the name Tippy come out of my mouth I smiled. It was the nickname Nova had given me and I’d grown fond of it. It seemed my real name was Geneva, though.
“Geneva,” I whispered trying it out. “Geneva,” I said again, this time with more confidence.
It felt so foreign rolling off my tongue, but it’s what I had wanted more than anything; to know my real name. It’s what started this whole crazy quest. I met a boy who knew his name and I couldn’t stop thinking about him and about what my name might be. I wanted to know my name and now I did, so I guess I had better start going by it.
I was sad to let go of Tippy. It was so endearing to me now because I felt like it connected me to Nova. My cheeks flushed at the thought of him. The events of the past year brought me closer than I ever could have dreamed to Nova. Yet somehow I still didn’t know where we stood. He opened my eyes to a whole new world of magic and secrets and we solved them together to find out my true identity. It was a rough road, but I knew I would do it all again because I was addicted to him. When he kissed me, it unlocked a part of my heart that I didn’t know I had. I sighed as I remembered our perfect kiss in the locker. I shook myself quickly from the reverie of that blissful memory because it was too easy for me to get caught up dreaming about Nova. I really needed to have a talk with him to find out where we stood, but now wasn’t the time.
I reminded myself I was out here, wandering around the forest, because I needed to figure out what to do next. Now that I knew who I was, I had to figure out what it all meant.
My name is Geneva Sommers. I’m the Eva, the chosen one who will lead Hullabee Island back to peace and equality. It sounded like a tall order for a teenage orphan. I was being swallowed whole by the idea. I wished there was some kind of guide as to how I was supposed to accomplish this task, because I had no idea.
“What do you think, Niv?” I asked as I scratched him between his ears. He cooed and chattered in response and I laughed. “Well I was actually looking for a more specific answer, but thank you,” I said to him.
Suddenly, his body tensed up and his ears flew to attention. I stopped walking and tried to train my eyes to where he was looking. He was spooked and looking around wildly. His hair bristled with agitation.
“What is it, buddy?” I whispered to him.
I used the hunter powers I’d acquired from Journey to get a better sense of my surroundings. Niv was right. Something was off here, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. It was quiet. Too quiet actually. I looked around and for the first time, took in the oddness of the forest around me. It didn’t look much like the rainforest at all. I’d been walking for a while and the majority of my surroundings were blurred away by the haze the forest fire left behind. But ahead of me, I saw an eerie clearing. It was devoid of trees or vegetation of any kind. It looked like the surface of the moon. Everything was ashy and gray. A light mist of something white was falling around me. I took another step forward to get a better look and Niv went into a frenzy.
“Niv! What is it?”
“It’s me,” came a sheepish voice behind me that just about made me jump out of my skin.
For the split second, before I recognized the voice, I was ready to fight. Blue orbs glowing in my hands at the ready.
I turned around just in time to see Remi materialize in front of me.
“REMI!” I scolded.
“Sorry! I’m sorry, 65, I mean, Geneva? Eva? What am I supposed to call you now?”
I couldn’t be mad at him. We burst into a comfortable laughter as only best friends can.
“Geneva will be fine,” I smiled at him. “You nearly gave us a heart attack you know?”
Niv chattered his disapproval from behind an ashy boulder.
“I know, I’m sorry. I know you want to be alone, but . . .”
“It’s okay. I’m feeling a little better . . . I think. I’m glad you’re here, Remi.”
And I really meant it, I realized, as I gave him a long overdue hug.
“Where are we exactly?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. It’s what I was trying to figure out when you snuck up on us. I thought there was something spooking Niv, but it must’ve been you.”
“I don’t know,” Remi said, “this place is pretty spooky if you ask me.”
“I think it’s kind of pretty,” I said. “It almost looks like it’s snowing.”
“That’s not snow, Geneva. It’s ash.”
“Ash? But we’re so far from where the fire broke out. Could the ash really have traveled this far?”
“I don’t think it’s ash from the fire,” Remi said warily. “I think it’s from the volcano.”
“What? It can’t be. I didn’t run that far! Did I?” I asked with a bit of panic in my voice.
But I knew he was right. We had to be near the base of the volcano. That would explain the different terrain, the lack of vegetation, and the clouds of ash that frequently spewed from our very active volcano. I’d never actually seen the volcano up close before. I’d only read about it, but the reading didn’t do it justice. I craned my neck to look up through the thick clouds, trying to catch a glimpse of the legendary peak. The flurry of ash raining down seemed so surreal. I took a few more steps into the clearing and reached out my hands, letting the ash land weightlessly on my palms. It made me smile and I was lost in thought for a moment before Remi called me back to reality.
I turned to look at him when he said my name. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself.
“What?” I asked.
He had such a peculiar look on his face.
“Nothing,” he said shyly.
“Remi, what were you going to say?”
He looked around for a moment, like he was expecting someone else to be nearby. When he turned back to me he looked more confident. He took three quick strides and closed the gap between us. He reached out his hands and placed them under mine as I continued to catch the silent ashes. We smiled at each other, spellbound by this dreamlike moment.
Remi broke the silence and said, “I was going to say how beautiful you look.”
And then my world caved in.
There was a deafening, splitting sound and the ground beneath our feet moaned and exploded to life! Remi was pitched away from me. I lost my grip on his hands as my footing crumbled away. It happened so fast. One moment I was staring into my best friend’s eyes and the next I was swimming though the air, clawing at clumps of dirt and stone as I desperately fought a losing battle with gravity. I tried to keep my eyes open, but fear clamped them shut and all I could hear were my own screams echoing around me. It felt like a bad dream that wakes you in a cold sweat. The kind where you thought you were falling only to awake to the relief that you’re in your bed. But there was no waking. No bed. No solid ground. I just kept falling until an ice cold pain shocked and strangled me all at once!
I choked and my lungs burned. It felt like my chest was about to explode. I tried to open my eyes but they stung and I only saw a
blurry blackness around me. I fought hard against the unknown source that was smothering me, but I couldn’t strike anything, no matter how hard I tried. I kicked and clawed, but each of my furious movements felt heavy and sluggish, yet they took every ounce of strength I had left. I felt my struggling slow as I fought the pounding resistance in my lungs for a few moments more, before letting go. My last breath slowly escaped in a long, hopeless bubble that lazily climbed away from me. As I watched it rise bleakly away, toward a distant light, it finally clicked. I realized I was underwater. The sad reality that I was drowning washed over me as I sunk helplessly away from the light. There was something peaceful about it now that I’d stopped fighting. It was cool and quiet as I let my life drift away from me.
4
“Master! Master! Come quick!”
The tall man with the dark hair was suddenly and soundlessly at Kobel’s side.
“What is it, Kobel?” he asked, unable to hide the hint of distress in his normally calm voice.
“The book . . .” he said, pointing to the Book of Gods that lay open on the marble pulpit before them.
The color drained from both men’s faces as they watched water seeping from the ancient book. The ink that had magically been scrawling out the prophecy of the Eva as it unfolded was now mixing with the cold, clear liquid, as if blotting out her existence.
5
It seems what they say is true; your life does sort of flash before your eyes when you’re dying. At least it did for me. Everything slowed down, as bits of memories flickered into view.
I thought of my friends and how unfair it was that I wouldn’t get to say goodbye. I was saddened by the bittersweet last memories I had of them. I didn’t want to remember them the way I had left them in the forest after unlocking the Book of Secrets. They had all looked so defeated. I frowned as I pictured Journey, resting on a mossy boulder when I’d stormed away from everyone. I hadn’t noticed it then, but in my memory, he looked tired, which struck me as odd. Journey always looked as though he was ready to fight the world at a moment’s notice and he had the physique to make you think he would win. It frightened me to see him look so subdued and wounded. Who would fight to save the island if Journey wasn’t there to lead the charge? I struggled to think of another time when he might have looked this exhausted and hopeless but I came up empty.