Wakers: Sayonara Sleep

by Michaela Hoffman

  “Caught you,” he said. In his presence, the Carri-Sects intensified their flailing. With stiff fingers I grabbed the netting and tried to light up. Even a small burn could help me tear us out. But I couldn’t create any warmth; the cold was bone-deep. The Czar laughed at my efforts.

  A few of his guards tethered us to a white dragon-like creature in the water. The others used their sharp fin-like appendages to saw off our ice sheet from the peninsula. We were set adrift on our ice-raft when a shadow blocked out the moon.

  Overhead were hundreds of Carri-Sects, dive-bombing the dragon and grappling with our netting. The Seawall Wakers launched nets from their spears to capture them. Many were successful, and bug behemoths plunged into the polar water. Clearwing Carri-Sects attacked in stealth and managed to break apart weapons. Though I kept trying to self generate heat, I couldn’t stop shivering.

  Queen Piria flitted in front of me. “Just hold on,” she said, patting my cheek. “more reinforzmentz are coming.”

  Then a powerful roar ripped through the air. At the base of the glacier were huge polar bears. Their pelts were neon colors. They stampeded towards us, claws and teeth bared. It felt like the whole earth rocked beneath their weight. The Seawall Wakers readied themselves in stance, firing off their nets and jumping atop furry backs. Some of the bears made their way to the water, tearing the Carri-Sect nets with their claws and freeing the creatures. Amidst the commotion, the dragon was still pulling us out to sea. The Czar sat on its back, watching the battle unfold.

  The next roar made the first one seem trivial. Its vibrations created tidal waves and our ice-raft capsized. Underwater, my eardrums were still throbbing from the sound. To add to this glorious experience, I had lost sense of where the surface was; the currents tossed and spun me every which way.

  Then the ocean just stopped, as if by command. I was floating in complete stillness. Before me was an invisible woman shaped by water. She looped an arm around my waist, and guided my hand with hers. After closing my eyes, I felt a solid embrace around my torso, and then a strong lurch to the water’s surface. I coughed and choked on air. My breath was visible and smoke-like. Trembling, I was pressed against warm orange fur.

  “Hakim,” the Czar said. “I’d hoped we wouldn’t meet.”

  A voice resonated in the chest of my rescuer. “Free the Nestutha Wakers,” he ordered. “And leave my territory.”

  I peered at the Czar. After a beat, he bowed cordially with his cape. “Yes, Snow Sovereign.” With his nod, Seawall Wakers dove into the waters and sliced through the nets of the remaining Carri-Sect captives. My clearwing dragonfly escorts flew towards us with lowered heads, revealing shackled legs. Queen Piria turned red as a hot pepper and zipped into Czar Renezen’s personal space. She spoke so fast, I couldn’t make out her words. Renezen swatted her away before turning to Hakim. “It appears these Carri-Sects have been Bound,” he said with a shrug. “I have no choice but to take them with me.”

  Queen Piria darted back to Hakim, but he held up his hand to silence her. “Very well,” he said to the Czar. “Now go.” Czar Renezen perched atop the dragon again as the Seawall Wakers dove underwater. “Renezen,” Hakim called after him. “I’m watching you.”

  The Czar’s laugh echoed across the sea. “Even the water does that.”

  Hakim carried me back to his home, Queen Piria flying beside us with droopy antennae. The Lathermian ruler lived in a castle sculpted of snow. Even the insides were whitewashed and crushable by hand. His bear servants helped me change into warmer clothing, and then let me lie against their fur. Hakim came in when I was resting with them.

  He threaded a strap of bark around my ankle and sat down beside me. “This is a Rooter,” he said. “From now on, you will Awaken right here, in my castle.”

  Queen Piria landed on Hakim’s paw. “It iz time for zou to crozz over,” she said. “Bee ztrong. Garth will remain here with zou now.”

  ***

  I woke up with a quick shiver. Relieved to be in my bed, tangled up in my covers. When I turned to face the mirror, my lips were blue. This is a second reality, Tuppa. I went downstairs and the TV was left on in the living room. Our local news anchors were discussing the Falconbridge cases and pictures of suspects filled the screen. After a beat, my heart rate accelerated and I raced back upstairs. Sinking to the floor of my room, I buried my head in my hands.

  The suspects they were investigating worked at Falconbridge. They were my father’s colleagues, PhDs, and people I knew as a child. For years, I hadn’t thought of them. Rising to my feet, I walked to my closet and removed a dusty shoebox. A handful of pictures were inside. I removed one, where Dad was standing between me and Aza on the facility steps. The other neuroscientists and psychologists were posing around us. A few patients in front were holding a banner that read: Falconbridge, an innovative approach to mental health care. Dad’s smile was so expansive and contagious back then. A stark contrast to his colleagues, who offered muted grins. Their lab coats were ironed and clean, where my father’s was wrinkled and grass-stained. I could almost hear them again, speaking beyond the photo:

  “To the next innovative minds of the century,” Dr. Bensimhon praised, lifting me into her arms once the photographer left. She elbowed Aza with a wink.

  My sister stretched her arms overhead and spoke with obnoxious volume. “Those minds are promising assets in neuro-rehab clinics.”

  Dr. Miru cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled near Aza’s ear. “After they go to medical school.” Another colleague was standing near dad, laughing.

  Was it really possible? These people were close enough to be family members. Did one of them really hurt Aza and Dad?

  “Lava?” I snapped the lid shut and returned the box to its corner. Uncle Hugo came through the door. At the sight of me, he came closer and pressed a hand to my cheek. “Sweet peach, did you fall asleep in the freezer?” He removed his hoodie and placed it over my shoulders. “Your friends are downstairs waiting for you. A walk to school should warm you up.”

  Clover and Mauricio were silent for most of our jaunt down the sidewalk. Their expressions were lowered and cautious, like I was a volcano due for eruption. Clover cleared her throat. “So… we were thinking about the Lifespan project,” she started, twirling a lock of her hair. “We still need to interview young adults, adults, and older adults.”

  I nodded and Mauricio proceeded in her place. “We thought it’d be smart to pick an inpatient facility with all three of those populations. You know, to be efficient.”

  My jaw tightened. “You two can play around Falconbridge all you want, but I’m not going.”

  Clover balked. “But Lava—”

  I whirled around to face her, steely eyed. “Lay off,” I warned. “If you want to solve the big mystery and be Heirloom’s superheroes, be my guest.” Her eyes were brimming with tears as I brushed past her.

  Mauricio locked his brakes and caught hold of my sleeve. His hand was so warm. “This isn’t for our sake, Lava,” he said. “This is for yours.” Mauricio shook his head. “Why are you acting like you don’t care?” I yanked away from his grip and headed down another street. The wind swept through my hair. I shuddered with a cold I couldn’t shake.

  Chapter 11

  ***

  Hakim trained me near his backyard snow fort because if we ruined anything, it was easy to rebuild, unlike the giant castle. I wasn’t allowed to use my powers. This was strictly combat training. Yes, me against a twelve foot tall polar bear. The odds were clearly in my favor. He wanted me to first give it a whirl on my own. Fighting, I mean. So I did. And no matter where I swung or kicked, I never landed a blow on Hakim. He evaded my strikes with one or two simple steps. To my embarrassment, he was doing this with his eyes closed. Pride deflated and energy exhausted, I knelt down in the snow. My hands were on my knees, and I leaned slightly forward to breathe easier in the frosty air.

  Hakim came over and sat down beside me. “Tell me of your Reality,” he said s
oftly. “What frustrates you there?” For some reason, his words broke me. Or maybe it was the unrelenting cold.

  “I’ve lost important things,” I managed. “And I’m too afraid to find them.”

  Hakim scratched his chin and looked up at the drifting snow. “Are you only searching for them in Nightworld? Your important things.” I nodded, wiping tears from my eyes with a forearm. Hakim hoisted me up with mighty paws and held me close to his face. His orange eyes were fierce yet kind. “You won’t find them here,” he said. “As long as you remain half committed. To win a battle, you fight on both fronts, burn your candle at both ends.” At the sight of my perplexity, he continued jovially. “You see, this is why you can’t hit me.” He pointed a claw to my chest. “You’re fighting with half your heart. Half your strength.” Hakim set me down and gestured for me to try again. Was I only using half of me? For how long?

  Shortly after Aza disappeared, Uncle Mason had me draw pictures for the refrigerator. Pajama clad and perched on the barstool, I handed him my first creation. When I moved on to another piece, he reached over and placed his hand over my busy crayon.

  “It’s a terrific portrait Lava,” he said, holding up my drawing. “But where’s the other half of your body?”

  I hunched over my paper again, taking a crayon in my free hand. “Aza took it,” I said. “When she left.”

  In front of me, Hakim was poised at the ready. I hurled my body forward at him, adrenaline pumping as I ran. But one boot sank deeper in the snow than I anticipated, and within seconds I face-planted the powder. Rising to all fours, I punched the ground. I never stopped believing that, did I? That Aza had my missing parts. My tears dripped into the snow, creating small craters. Hakim came over beside me and placed a paw on my back. We stayed this way for a while, and then he let me return to the castle.

  I crawled out the window of the top floor and sat on the roof. Hakim had many skylights, but there was nothing like gazing at the real thing. I tipped my head back and filled my eyes with stars. For some reason, they reminded me of stars I saw one night, a long time ago, while on the steps of my sister’s brothel.

  Back then, the air was smokey and red beyond the door. People were tangled together in hallways, or on furniture, their faces hidden. As I passed the bathroom, I was pulled inside from behind. With one bite of my captor’s hand she recoiled and smacked me across the face.

  “What in Hera’s pantydrawer are you doing here?” My sister was knelt before me, features caked in makeup and sharpened with anger. She wore fishnet stockings and a dress that was clearly missing vital parts. A woman was retching in the toilet beside us. The mixture of cheap perfume and vomit smells made my eyes water.

  I put my arms around my sister’s waist and held on. “I need you,” I pleaded, cheek pressed against her chest. “I can’t lock mom inside her car without a diversion.”

  She stroked my hair and wrapped an arm around my back. Even vomit vixen couldn’t break up this moment. “Jax will help you,” she cooed. “And if not, channel your inner warrior princess and try it yourself.” Her eyes were gleaming.

  My head fell. “Why is this home to you?” I blurted. “They do bad things to you here…”

  She unclipped a hair extension and fixed it above my ear. With a sigh, my sister lifted my chin. “Let me tell you something,” she said. “People will always hurt your body. Sometimes by accident, and sometimes on purpose.” Her hands patted her stomach. “But isnt a body just a bag of organs? It’s not where ‘we’ are.” She cradled my hand in hers, then placed it over my heart. “I am here,” she grinned at me, moving our hands up into the empty air space. “And I am here.” I began crying and she used a painted fingernail to wipe the tears away. “You see? Those who hurt my body, can’t ever touch me.”

  Back on the rooftop, I drew my knees to my chest. When did I forget this? It was probably when… I tried to forget her. Tears puddled my eyes again. This time, I just let them fall and freeze on my face. If my sister was truly all around me now, and occupying every space, I could just ask her.

  “Aza,” I whispered to the sky. “Can I please have my missing half now?” As if in response, snowflakes stopped falling.

  I went to see Hakim in his snow fort after. He was lounging on an ice shelf, looking up through a sky-roof. The aurora borealis painted the snowy floor in mauve, green, and purple. He agreed to a second match, with the agreement that if I landed a hit, he would start my light power training. Hakim remained on his shelf, beckoning me forward. But I veered towards the wall, and started whacking and kicking it. Within moments, the walls caved in, followed by the ceiling. The fort collapsed around us, and I managed to tunnel out of my own snow burial. The powdery drift created a dense fog, but I had to act fast. When a large shadow emerged, I leapt to my feet, fisting its furry body. Upon physical contact, I pumped the air in triumph.

  “Guardian Char,” Garth craned his head to see me. “It iz time to Crozz Over to the Other Side.” When the snow settled around us, I found my fist planted on his Carri-Sect rump.

  Hakim keeled over with deep-belly laughter. The empty sky pulsed with his echo. Wiping a tear, he approached us and ruffled my hair. “That was indeed a hit,” he praised. “Your training starts next Awakening.” Garth, appearing a little baffled by the excitement, clapped a few pairs of legs. I reddened. “Haven’t seen pink cheeks since I met you,” Hakim beamed. “This is good. Now, back to Reality with you. My servant will escort you to your room.” A bow-tied polar bear appeared at my side with head lowered. Chin high, I followed him to the side entrance. Behind us, I could hear Hakim and Garth rebuilding the snow-fort.

  We trudged across the yard together. The snowfall had picked up. Flakes stung my face when they were caught up in the wind gusts. As I stepped up to the door, a mighty grip latched onto my throat and threw me backwards into the snow. Coughing, I rolled over onto my side. The servant was advancing on me with a syringe. Using his free paw, he lifted me up by the neck. Gasping for air, I clung to his arm, trying to scratch my way free. But he appeared unhurt and unmoved, aiming the needle for my jugular vein. For a few moments, my eyes rolled in the back of my head. Sorry Aza…

  The ground quaked violently below us and the servant wobbled on his feet. He dropped me and the needle before it pierced my skin. Holding my sore neck, I started running to find Hakim. But something made me stop in my tracks.

  There was a goliath monster, materializing from snow, and attracting nearby snow mounds with magnetic force. He was growing in blizzard height, towering over the servant polar bear. With mammoth force, it bellowed in his face. My arm hair stood on end and I clamped my hands to my ears. Petrified, the polar bear tore off into the tundra. I was left beside the snow monster, who began to dissolve back into light powder.

  It wasn’t too long after that Hakim found me. With gentle hands, he carried me inside to the room of resting polar bears. My breathing was so heavy, I could hear it. “Hakim, what saved me?”

  He sighed as he lowered me onto their fur, then bent down to my level. “That was our God. The Supreme Deity.” His face suddenly contorted, voice notching an octave lower than normal. When the orange color vanished from his eyes, I quickly shifted away from him. “The sun must set on a winter’s night. Give her the gift. She is his to fight.” Hakim’s eyes widened and the color returned. As he looked out the window, a sadness fell over his features.

  “Hakim?” I asked, sitting up.

  Hakim turned to me and patted my shoulder. “My apologies,” he said. “I am the Prophet of Nightworld. Prophesying is very normal.” I tilted my head at him, then yawned. “Go back,” he said. “I will see you when you return.”

  ***

  I bolted to Silver Heights as soon as I inhaled breakfast. TGI-Saturday. It was pouring out and though Uncle Mason thrusted an umbrella in my hand before I left, it remained tucked underneath my armpit as I tore off down the sidewalk. I wrung my hair out as I stepped past the automatic doors of the nursing home. My rubber gal
oshes made suctioning noises across the tile. “How adorable,” one resident commented from a nearby bench. “Your rainboots have fish on them.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “Cheerful clothes are a must on days like this.” I quickly ascended the steps when my boot slipped and I reeled sideways. Who better to grab me than Jax.

  “Man, it must be pouring out there,” he said, picking up the towels he had dropped and drying my hair with one.

  I flexed my hip to display a boot. “Hence the galoshes. I’m one with them today.”

  “You’re one with Chowder right now. Pretty sure he’s rolling around in the backyard, soaked, and covered with ticks.”

  “Thank you for comparing me to your smelly dog.”

  “My pleasure.”

  I pushed his towel away in slight agitation. “How is she?” I asked, thinking of Ms. Kazuya.