by Lucy Adler
She sensed it fusing with the image of the eagle that had stirred her imagination.
And all at once she watched as its form emerged from her.
It was twice its normal size. Even three times.
Instead of brown, white, and yellow, it was various degrees of shadow. The purple glow of her dream-state moved like flashes of lightning throughout its body and head - dark one moment, vibrant and electric the next.
It spread its wings in one majestic motion and instantly took to flight, rising above the snowy field and the two girls seated below.
Holy crap!
Daria felt the movement - like being thrown back in your seat in a fast car - as the dream eagle rose up, then banked left and made a large circle around where they were sitting.
At first, she felt like she was just a passenger along for the ride.
But then she sensed the connection, just as she had sensed it with the normal dream figure.
She didn’t know what it should feel like - she never had wings before!
But it was intuitive. It was deeper than knowing which feather to adjust or how to lean into the wind.
All she needed to do was will it, and the energy, the power moving through both her and the eagle responded.
This is so much fun!
She tucked its wings and dived the ground, then spread them again at the last second and climbed higher and higher into the sky.
The view was stunning.
She could see the canyon off to the north, and the lake to the south.
She could see the main settlement, but also several of the smaller encampments Jake had told her about when they first arrived. Those people that carved out their own private space in the vast beauty of the park.
And all was still and silent.
She knew that Brett had told her about a battle, one that no one really understood yet.
She had seen the flowering field stained by the inky black cloud, and she had been overwhelmed by the strange humming sound.
She knew her two friends were still asleep, and no one knew why or how to wake them.
She knew her other friend was still missing.
And she remembered the one that had given his life to rescue them.
But from the heights of the clouds, as she soared above the stuff of earth...
She returned to the peace that had greeted her when she awoke that other morning in her bed.
And she knew once again that all would be well.
All would be well.
“Daria?”
“Daria?”
The voice was so distant, she wasn’t sure she had heard it.
But then the next part was loud and clear.
“Daria, come back to the house, now! Brix is awake!”
18
Month: 4 | Day: 15 | Year: 60
THE INFAMOUS BRIANNA SAXON
“Get away from me! Don’t touch me!”
Brix’s voice echoed along the hall and down the stairs.
“Where am I? Who are you people? Let me out of here, now!”
Daria heard it as she entered the house. Livy was there to meet her.
“I’m glad you got my message!”
“What’s going on?”
“She doesn’t seem to remember anything. At least, nothing from the time she arrived here. We were hoping she’d remember you. She’s really scared.”
Daria dropped her jacket and kicked off her boots by the door, then ran up the stairs. She could hear other voices that sounded like they were trying to calm her friend.
“It’s alright, Brix. We’re not going to hurt you. No one is. You’re safe.”
“Then let me out of here!”
Just then, Daria appeared in the doorway.
“Brix! You’re awake! Are you ok?”
Her friend was backed into the corner beside her bed, like a frightened animal, her face flushed from yelling.
She didn’t immediately respond to Daria. She only frowned and squinted, like she was trying to understand her words.
“Can I talk to her alone, please?” Daria asked the other two who were in the room. One of them was a healer, the same guy she had seen the night of the fire. The other was a girl she hadn’t met before.
“Yeah, sure,” the girl said. “Helena needed to step out for a little while, so she asked us to check on her. When we came in, she bolted up out of the bed and freaked out. We didn’t do anything, honestly.”
“I believe you. Thanks for checking on her.”
As they left the room, Daria closed the door.
“How are you feeling?” she asked her friend.
Brix was calmer now but she still looked confused.
Daria moved a little closer and leaned against the dresser that sat opposite the end of the bed.
“You slept a long time!” she said with a smile.
“Where am I?”
“You don’t remember?”
“If I did, would I be asking you?”
“At least you’re still yourself!” Daria laughed. “This is a community in what used to be Yellowstone Park. Just think of it like a small town.”
“How did I get here?”
“You came with me and Jake.”
“Jake?”
“Our friend, Jake... do you remember him?”
Brix squinted again. She moved over to her bed and sat down. Then she rubbed her head with her hand.
“I... I don’t know... maybe.”
“Do you remember me?” Daria asked.
“Sort of. I don’t know your name, though. It’s more like a feeling. Like I should know but I don’t.” Brix rubbed her temples with both hands now. “This headache,” she said with a groan.
Daria thought she would risk getting closer. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside her friend, gently placing her hand on her back.
“It’s Daria,” she said quietly. “But you usually call me --”
“Dashy?”
“Yes! That’s right! You’re remembering!”
“It was more like a reflex. Why do I call you that?”
“It’s just a nickname.”
“It’s kinda strange, isn’t it, if your name is actually Daria?”
“My grandmother used to call me Dasha. You thought Dashy sounded cuter. We were a lot younger then, but it just kinda stuck.”
“What about this Jake guy? Is he around? Can I see him? Maybe I’ll remember something else.”
“Um,” Daria started, trying to think of what to say. “He’s out running some errands right now. You can see him later.”
“Errands? In Yellowstone Park?” Brix asked, looking up at Daria for the first time since she had sat down beside her.
“Well, not like shopping or anything like that!” Daria laughed. “Just some chores around the settlement.”
“Settlement?”
“That’s how they refer to this little community.”
“And who are ‘they’?”
“Friends, Brix. Good people. They helped us, all three of us. And they’re still helping us.”
“Helped us how? And what actually happened to me?”
Daria sighed and looked away for a second.
Ugh. This is getting difficult.
“We were in some trouble and these guys rescued us, I guess you could say.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Alright, look,” Daria said, giving Brix’s back another rub with her hand. “Can we hold off on more questions for a little while? I really think it might be better if you get up and move around a bit, maybe have some food and take something for that headache. Then we can talk later, ok? I promise.”
Her friend seemed to be suddenly reminded of her headache, rubbing her temples with her hands again.
“Yeah, sure. Just make this stop, please? It really hurts.”
____________________________
Daria had ended up spending the entire day out in the field with Aury, so it was just about time for dinner when s
he helped Brix down the stairs and into the dining room. They walked slowly as her friend was still regaining her sense of balance after lying in bed for so long.
“There she is! The infamous Brianna Saxon!”
“Shhh!” Daria replied, putting her finger to her lips. Brix winced as Max’s voice rattled her sore head.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” he whispered.
Helena and Daria had told several of her friends about their suspicions concerning Brix - that she may have had something to do with the fire, and with Jake’s situation. They also mentioned the vials she had hidden in her dresser, as well as Daria’s concern that the doctor may have influenced her actions. But they kept everything to a small circle of friends: Max, Aury, Phillip, Livy, and Brett. Helena thought it was best to hold off on worrying the entire settlement, in case their theory was wrong. She was also worried that some people might push for her to send Brix away, and she wasn’t ready to do that just yet.
Of course, given Brix’s weakened state and lack of memory, it was easy enough to keep things relatively normal for the time being.
“Wait, I’m Brianna Saxon, right?”
“Yes, you are!” Daria replied.
“So why do you keep calling me Brix?”
“Well, you came up with Dashy so I came up with Brix. I just sorta mashed part of your surname with your first name!”
“I guess it’s alright,” her friend said with a shoulder shrug. “Though, I do like the sound of Brianna.”
“Please, don’t ask me to call you that!” Daria laughed. “I’ll feel like your mother!”
“Do my parents know where I am?” Brix asked, stopping just before they got to the table.
“Uh, yeah, yeah. They know. They’re totally fine with it.” Daria glanced at Max and the others who were already gathered around the table - Aury, Phillip, and Livy. They smiled and nodded in assurance.
I hate this.
But I can’t just hit her with everything at once, can I?
Besides, I’m sure she’ll start to remember soon, right?
They sat down and Max served up the stew he had spent that afternoon making. It was overflowing with beef, carrots, potatoes, and shallots, as well as some fresh tomatoes and parsley. And there were a couple of loaves of warm, crusty bread on the side.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Daria said after her first bite.
“Yeah, it’s alright,” Max replied flatly.
“What? It’s definitely more than alright!”
“Only because you don’t know what’s missing!”
“Oh, come on, Maxy,” Aury chimed in. “Don’t be a little Mr. Grumpy Pants. It’s perfectly fine, just as it is.”
“What could possibly be missing?” Daria asked.
“It’s the base of a French stew, a ‘daube de boeuf Arlesienne’,” he said in his best French accent. “But the bits that make it really ‘Arlesienne’ are a little hard to come by out here. Just some hazelnuts, capers, and Niçoise olives. Oh, and some Herbes de Provence.”
“Well, I think it’s perfect,” Daria said with a smile as she took another bite. “It’s just a ‘daube de boeuf Maxy’!”
That definitely made him smile, no matter how much he tried to resist.
“Thanks, skin,” he replied. “Oh, but let’s make sure we save a bowl for Jake. Maybe he’ll wake up soon, too. I’m sure he’ll be starving!”
“Wake up?” Brix asked. “I thought he was out doing chores or something?”
Max gave Daria an apologetic look, and everyone else went quiet.
“Uh, well,” she started, stumbling over each sound as it came out of her mouth.
“Were you lying to me?” Brix asked, setting down her spoon and leaning back in her chair.
“No, no,” Daria said quickly.
Just get it over with, Dashy.
“Alright, here’s the deal,” she said firmly. “Something happened a few days ago and both you and Jake ended up unconscious. Actually, so did I. No one knows what it was. But whatever it was, it was intense. I woke up two days later, you just woke up five days later, and Jake’s still out of it. I only remember part of that night, so we’ve been hoping that you or Jake would be able to fill in the gaps. And that’s the truth.”
Daria sighed as she finished.
Brix squinted again as she processed what she had just heard.
“Why didn’t you tell me this upstairs? Why make something up?”
“I just didn’t want to hit you all at once. That’s really all it was. I was just trying to be gentle!” she said with a nervous but sincere look.
Brix glanced across the faces of their friends, then out the window, then back to Daria.
Come on, Brix. Don’t do anything stupid. Just relax.
“I believe you,” her friend finally said. She picked up her spoon again and resumed her meal. “Like I said earlier, I don’t really remember you, but somehow I feel like I’m supposed to. I guess that’ll have to be enough for now.”
Daria sighed again.
Whew!
Ok, I think I’m ready for a nap!
“Thanks, Brix. That really means a lot.”
“All good, Dashy,” she replied with a genuine smile. Then she changed the subject. “So, what about something for this headache? I feel like someone’s got their hands around my brain and they won’t let go!”
____________________________
Daria ended up not having to face the awkward process of reminding Brix about everything she had forgotten. At least, not that evening. After dinner, the six of them sat around the fire, intending to help restore their friend’s lost memories. But Brix was so drowsy after the meal, that she fell asleep only a few minutes after they sat down in front of the warm fire. Daria was able to wake her up just enough to get her upstairs and back into bed. As she shut the door to her room, she breathed yet another sigh of relief.
Maybe she’ll remember more the next time she wakes up?
I really hope so.
Then Daria’s thoughts drifted to the corridor at the Institute, when Dr. Reston...
It was like he switched her off. Like she was a robot or something.
She leaned against the wall outside her friend’s room.
What if he really is, like, in her head... controlling her?
Maybe it’s better if she doesn’t remember.
But would that matter anyway? If he’s in there, then what difference does it make what she remembers?
Daria rubbed her forehead.
This is too confusing.
She looked down the hall, at the next door on the right.
Come on, Jake.
Please wake up.
Please.
Daria took a deep breath, then headed back downstairs to join her friends by the fire.
____________________________
“Is she alright?”
“Yup. Sound asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.”
“That’s good,” Aury replied. “Maybe she’ll remember more when she wakes up again, right?”
“Maybe,” Daria said, flopping down beside her on the couch.
“So, you really think she started that fire, huh?” Livy asked.
“Or the doctor started it through her.”
“But how is that possible? I mean, we can reach out and talk through the dream-state, but I can’t force you to do things.”
“And we’re all thankful for that!” Max laughed.
Livy gave him a look and then threw a pillow at him.
“It has to be that purple liquid,” Daria said, staring into the fire.
“What purple liquid?” Aury asked. “Oh, wait, the three vials, right? But what do you think it could be?”
“Direx?” Max asked.
“No. That’s the reddish one. The purple one is something different. Something special. I didn’t actually see him give it to anyone. I think, maybe...”
“Maybe, what?” Livy replied.
Daria shook her head.
; “I’m not sure but I think the doctor took the purple stuff. At least, that’s what he made it sound like, with all that talk about it being for ‘the leaders’ or whatever.”
Aury’s eyes widened and she looked worried.
“So... do you think it gives him... powers?”
“Maybe. I have no idea,” Daria said, shrugging her shoulders. Then she caught on to the fear in her friend’s eyes. “But it doesn’t mean he has access to the dream-state,” she continued. “Or that he’s actually got the gift up here,” she said, tapping Aury’s head and giving her a comforting smile.
“It is kinda strange, though, don’t you think?” Aury replied.
“It’s all pretty wild, kiddo!” Max laughed. “You’re gonna have to be more specific!”
“I mean the colour,” Aury clarified.
“How so?” Livy asked.
“Well, the gift gives us a purple glow, right? And the liquid is, well, purple.”
“What, you think he’s bottled the gift?” Max asked as if it were a silly idea.
“I don’t know, maybe. It’s not like anyone really understands it completely. How do we know that’s not possible?”
Despite Max’s scoffing, the rest of them seemed a little uneasy at the thought.
“But if it’s all just some chemical in our brains,” Livy protested, “then how does it allow us to do things, or see things, that are so far outside of our physical abilities? That just doesn’t make sense.”
“For what it’s worth,” Phillip added with a hesitant look on his face, “I know I’m not one of you and I haven’t experienced any of this stuff, but from what I’ve seen so far, I find it hard to believe that this is something you could put in a test tube!”
Aury smiled as he spoke, and a measure of lightness and peace returned to her face.
“I guess you’re right,” she conceded.
They all seemed to be on the same page again - except for Daria.
Her face wasn’t just uneasy.
It looked genuinely frightened.
“What is it, skin?” Max asked.
Daria leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, her forehead in her hands.