True Calling

by Siobhan Davis

  Dolores Lambten is a total sweetheart. I’ve no doubt that it’s all part of her ‘persona’, but I’m appreciative at the effort she makes to put us both at ease. She certainly looks the part; elegantly coiffed hair, immaculately applied make-up and she’s wearing a silver-gray tailored suit that fits her beautiful figure perfectly.

  We’re seated comfortably on a plush velour couch. She doesn’t need to encourage us to look all loved up, I’m snuggled in close to him and his arm naturally extends around my shoulder, neither one of us has to be reminded of the importance of putting on a good show. We’re a good team and we know one another well enough now to naturally tease and spar off each other. That’s not to say there aren’t some tricky moments, like when she asks about the things we love most about each other and when we first realized the depth of our feelings. Talking about these things privately with Cal is challenging enough for me and neither one of us has mentioned the “l” word yet. Thankfully we navigate the choppy waters intact. Finally, it’s over and the camera crew starts loading up, ready to move on to the next Region. Cal is a perfect gentleman: he graciously thanks Dolores on both our behalf and I can see she’s already won over by his charm. “You’ve got a good one there,” she winks at me.

  “I know.” I smile sweetly at her. In his ear I whisper, “I’m just gonna call you Casanova from now on” and he roars laughing.

  We decide to grab a bite to eat in the square on our way back and we arrange for Lily and Deacon to meet us there. I then fill a bag for Deacon and help Lily with her packing before we drive them both over to Eve’s.

  Eve comes dancing out of the house as Cal is retrieving the bags from the back of the rovercraft. “Guess what? Evan and I have set a date!” she practically explodes with glee. They have more than seven months before their marriage deadline so I don’t understand the rush, but it’s pure Eve.

  “That’s great news Eve, when is it?”

  “Three weeks time,” she says ecstatically. PDQ, I think but I say nothing. I’m magnanimous when I agree to be her bridesmaid and the look on her face makes it worthwhile.

  “Hi Ariana,” Evan greets me at the door.

  “Hi Evan, congratulations,” I say congenially. I feel Cal’s hand at my back and turning I see he is astutely appraising the situation.

  “Hey Evan,” he says coolly.

  “Cal,” says Evan eyeing him in return.

  “Come in everyone, no need to converge on the doorstep!” says Dr. Zousa, expertly diffusing the situation.

  We accept the offer of coffee and I try to listen attentively as Eve prattles on about wedding dresses and cakes and color schemes. I help Deacon and Lily to unpack their things, then it’s time to go. I struggle to contain my emotions and I have to remind myself that I won’t be gone that long. I hug each of them firmly. I know Deacon is upset, I see his bottom lip trembling but he doesn’t want to cry in front of the others. I promise I’ll contact them every day and joke that they’ll be able to keep tabs on me easily via the televised programmes and live streams. Everyone wishes us good luck and we say our final goodbyes.

  “Mel has promised to call in every day and I’m sure they’ll be fine, the Zousa’s seem like a lovely family,” Cal says.

  “I know, but I can’t help feeling like everyone’s abandoned them now,” I say despondently, wiping a tear from my eye.

  “They’re smart kids, they understand and it’s not like we’re gone forever,” he says in a bid to settle me.

  “Doesn’t it?” I ask. “What will become of them when we’re married? What if my mother’s still in the hospital?”

  “They’ll live with us Ariana, there’s no question about it,” he says defiantly. His loyalty to my siblings only makes me adore him more, I squeeze his hand tightly and rest my head on his shoulder.

  He insists on staying in my room tonight and I don’t raise the slightest objection, in fact, I’d have demanded it myself if he hadn’t said it first. I don’t know how much more my emotional state can cope with and I feel a fervent need to lose myself in him. I pounce on him the moment he gets in the bed beside me. I kiss him passionately and the stirring I feel inside is building to a fever pitch. He returns my ardor and some, yet he’s the one to break away first.

  “Ariana, as much as I want to ... and I really do ... not here, not like this, with Rada watching our every move, let’s just go to sleep,” he whispers in frustration and while I know he’s completely right I’m so annoyed with life right now. With the intensity of my loathing for the authorities at this minute, I could probably start a rebellion all by myself.

  I don’t sleep a wink all night, my mind can’t switch off from the myriad of things bouncing in my brain. I’m also terrified of the inevitable nightmares and know that, in my fragile state of mind, they could be the very thing to finally send me over the edge. Cal is sound asleep and I’m grateful that one of us will be fully alert tomorrow. I pull my dog-eared copy of ‘Gone with the Wind’ from my bedside locker and lock myself away in the world of Scarlett O’Hara. It’s as much a story of survival as it is about love and I’m hoping for some inspiration that’s sorely needed. I’m on the last chapter when Cal awakens.

  There isn’t any packing left to do, Fenuka and her assistant have already organized transfer of our pageant wardrobe so we only have to include whatever personal belongings we wish to take. I take a family photo, some of my favorite books and my sketch pad. Cal decides to bring his guitar. We both bring our running gear although we’re not sure if we’ll have an opportunity to use them.

  A hovercraft arrives to collect us at ten and we’re on our way. The trip to Illumina only takes minutes on the Velo, but it’s almost three hours by road; Cal entertains me by playing loads of my favorite songs on the guitar. I never realized he was so musically-gifted; he knows every song I request. It’s a welcome respite from the tension of the past few days.

  Neither of us has had any need to visit our capital city before so as we approach the outskirts of Illumina we’re both transfixed by our surroundings. Illumina has been created in the likeness of New York and there are towering skyscrapers in every direction. As we move into the center of the city, we can see the sprawling park in the middle, clearly modelled on Central Park. The buildings in the city are a mix of old red brick facades, modern shiny glass fronts and expansive concrete structures. While the design has been cleverly constructed I still think it has the look and feel of a concrete jungle; cold and impersonal at best.

  We pull up outside a huge glass building with a really impressive lobby, this is the convention center that has been purpose-built to house the ‘Amor Regale’; clearly no expense has been spared. Fenuka is waiting and she ushers us inside quickly. Dolores Lambten is on stand-by with her camera crew, ready to greet all the couples as they arrive. We pose for a few shots and then Fenuka is guiding us upstairs. She frowns at the dark circles under my eyes and scolds me gently for not applying stronger make-up to mask the obvious lack of sleep. We take the elevator to the 45th floor and Fenuka inserts a five-digit code when we stop, instantly the doors open out into our suite.

  The whole floor is ours and the vastness is completely overwhelming. The views are totally breathtaking though, we can see for miles around the city and Fenuka excitedly points out some of the key landmarks. There is a decked terrace spanning the full exterior of the suite and a different assortment of tables, couches and chairs offer ample means of utilizing the space. There is a light breeze at this elevation, but the air is warm and pleasant.

  Inside there is a huge living area with the largest commiboard I have ever seen. There are various soft couches framed around a rectangular coffee table and entertainment center. A large dining table and compact kitchen are located to the right. All our meals will be catered, so Cal can breathe a sigh of relief that I don’t have to inflict my cooking on him. To the far right of the suite are the bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, one each for Fenuka, Cal and myself. The other side of the suite houses a full
y-equipped gym, spa room and a humongous walk-in wardrobe. Cal has a small separate section, but the bulk of the room is devoted to my wardrobe; I try not to look smug but fail miserably. Fenuka quickly shows me some of my outfits and I’m blown away by the sheer size of my pageant collection. There are several haute couture evening gowns that are too stunning for words, Fenuka has really outdone herself this time.

  There’s not much on our agenda for today so Fenuka lets us do as we please. She has to attend a group meeting with the other coordinators so we’re alone for now. Cal insists that I grab a nap and he tenderly tucks me into bed, with strict orders to get some shut eye. I’m so exhausted from my sleepless night that I drift off the minute my head hits the pillow. I’m too drained to dream and I’m thankful for small mercies. The next thing I know, Cal is waking me up. He’s discovered a running track not far from the convention center. I’m invigorated at the prospect of a good run so I have no difficulty in motivating myself to get up out of bed, despite the feeling of tiredness that still pervades every bone in my body.

  Fenuka has had the forethought to pack brand new running gear for both of us so we didn’t need to bring our own stuff. I happily put my new running top and leggings on but I stick with my comfy sneakers. The outfit is far tighter than my normal jogging gear and it clings rigidly to my every curve. I brush my hair quickly and pull it into a high ponytail. It seems ridiculous to wear even a light layer of make-up, but Fenuka was insistent that I need to appear camera-ready at all times. There are only seven couples in the pageant, one from each Region, so our airtime is going to ramp up significantly; we have to be constantly prepared. Not that it’ll make a blind bit of difference, the outcome is already decided, but Fenuka doesn’t know that and I don’t want to let her down. We still need to play our parts to perfection, so I apply lip gloss, blusher and waterproof mascara. I still require the concealer under my eyes.

  “Are you going for a run or taking a trip down the catwalk?” Cal mocks playfully.

  “Us celebrities have got to look the part,” I say jokingly.

  “Come on gorgeous,” he says as he takes my hand in his.

  We use our data-cuffs to direct us to the running track; it’s much larger than the one back in Aqua but I’m not overly surprised, everything seems super-sized here in Illumina.

  ***

  We are showered, changed and looking fresh as daisies by the time Fenuka shows up for dinner. It’s a low-key affair tonight and I’m grateful that today wasn’t too demanding. Our schedule is much more taxing tomorrow and I’m not happy that we have to attend a group meet and greet, and dancing lessons in the morning. It seems a completely useless waste of time, but I’ll ensure to plaster my happy face on before we leave.

  Fenuka goes out again after dinner, there are still some preparations to finalise, apparently. Cal and I are snuggled up on the couch watching a movie when it happens.

  Without any warning, we are plunged into complete and utter darkness.

  CHAPTER 24

  I can scarcely see him in the all-consuming dark night air, but I hear his shallow breathing and feel the strength of his arms as they pull me closer. “What’s going on?” I ask. I can always be relied on to state the obvious.

  “Let’s look outside and see if the power outage is just impacting us or the whole city.”

  I stumble in the pitch blackness but his eyes have acclimatized quicker than mine and he capably leads me outside to the terrace. There’s a total absence of visible light anywhere and the city is laid out before us in eerie blackness. “Do you think this is our sign?” I whisper to him.

  “Maybe,” he whispers back.

  We both reach the realization at the same time and our eyes instantly connect. “The cameras are out, they’re not watching us,” I whisper even though there’s no need. My eyes have slowly grown accustomed to the darkness and I can see the way he’s looking at me; it doesn’t take me long to catch up as I instantaneously feel the longing stir deep within. We may not have this chance again! And we may not have long! I can tell he’s not going to place any demands on me, so I take control. “Come on, we don’t know how long we have,” I say as I tug him inside.

  As I lead him into my bedroom, I realize that I’ve no idea how to go about this, so I just pull him down on the bed beside me and start kissing him. It’s as if a foreign being has taken possession of my body, I literally feel like I’m on fire and only Cal can quench the flames. We rip at each other’s clothes and I readily abandon my usual self-consciousness. I feel his lips pulling back from mine, but I resist; he gently pushes my face back. “Ariana—are you sure?” he asks breathlessly.

  “Yes, we’re wasting time!” I say as I plant my lips firmly back on his. I immerse myself in the abundance of wonderful new feelings and each sensation intensifies my insatiable desire for him.

  After, I lie there content in his arms and feel like I’m enclosed in a tangible warm glow, my happy bubble is close to saturation. I look at him discreetly out of the corner of my eye and he looks as deliriously happy as I feel. He runs his fingers lightly through my hair as he gazes at me lovingly. “I love you Ariana.”

  And it’s the most natural thing in the world for me to respond as I do, “And I love you.”

  We stay wrapped around one another and the touch of his naked skin against mine makes me feel so cherished and adored. I could quite happily stay in this moment forever, but my sixth sense is bristling and I know we can’t be discovered like this. “We need to get dressed. NOW,” I say firmly as I hastily start pulling my clothes back on. It was far easier taking them off. As soon as we’re both dressed I grab his hand and pull him out into the living area. We’ve only just re-positioned ourselves on the couch when the room is flooded in light.

  He stares at me in amazement and I see the question in his eyes. “I just sensed that it was time to move,” I whisper in his ear. His face is still flushed and glowing as no doubt mine is: I hope the cameras don’t choose now to hone in for any close-ups. The brightness is almost blinding and it takes a few minutes to readjust to the light. I blush as I recall my wanton behavior.

  “Do you regret it?” he whispers, and his face drops.

  “No! Definitely not. I just ... I just don’t know where that side of me came from,” I say in a hushed voice.

  “It’s me, I’m just too irresistible!” he says happily.

  “That you are,” I say easily as there’s no point in even attempting to deny it.

  Fenuka comes bursting into the room then, eager to ensure we’re all right. I had forgotten all about her in the heat of the moment; I think of how embarrassing it would’ve been if she had come back earlier! Cal carefully interrogates Fenuka, but she has no outward knowledge of what just happened, so he drops the subject before arousing any unwanted suspicion.

  Lying in bed on my own later, I feel two things—abject loneliness without Cal beside me, and overpowering curiosity on the cause of the blackout. While I have no proof of who or why, I sense that the rebels were behind it. But how did they do it? And to gain what advantage? I hate this proverbial darkness and wish we had some confidant to glean information from. My mind wanders back to my father’s letter and the military man who approached me in Aqua, he said that I wasn’t alone but since then I’ve had no contact from him or anyone else. If there are people looking out for me, they’re carefully hiding in the shadows. My patience reservoir is running dangerously low.

  My mind wanders to Zane; is he on his way or still plotting details of the rescue mission? Will he get here before or after I’m married? I don’t know my preference and I’m befuddled. I push the feelings away, averse to confronting them now. What I wouldn’t give to be in Zane’s head for a few days, to bring myself up to speed. The seeds of an idea are forming in my head, something is tapping my subconscious mind. I consider the things I know and start a mental checklist.

  Zane is real.

  He lives on Earth.

  He’s working with the rebels.<
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  I have the ability to see him in my dreams.

  Does he see me in his? I quickly sit upright, the thought expanding. If I see him in my head then it’s totally possible that he can do the same! That’s how he knows what’s been going on in my life! I continue with my list.

  He has the ability to communicate messages to me, both awake and asleep.

  Is it possible that I have the power to do the same? I feel dizzy with excitement because I know I’ve just had my eureka moment. I have no way of confirming my assertion, but I’m sure my analysis is right. But as certain as I am, I’m equally unsure of how to do it. I wish I could talk to Cal, but I can’t risk being seen going into his room at this hour of the night; our whispered conversation would surely draw scrutiny.

  I remember how I subconsciously blanked my mind a couple of days ago in Strata when I was trying to encourage a further message from Zane. Was that really just two days ago? There was a time when my days passed by uneventfully, with comforting predictability. Nowadays there’s so much drama fighting for space in my life that twenty-four hours seem like a life sentence. I wonder if I try to blank my mind and visualize him if it’s possible to send him a message that way. I decide there’s no harm in trying, the most that will happen is a potential headache from the mental strain. I settle myself comfortably in the bed and focus on clearing my mind. I visualize blackness and work hard to put Zane in the frame. When I see his face, I zoom in closely, penetrating his eyes and in my head I silently say, “I need information, please Zane, let me know what’s going on.” I repeat this several times before I drift off to sleep.