Dark Revelation

by S. E. Myers

  “Oh, don’t stop talking by my account,” Ryleigh muttered under her breath. Adrianne raised an eyebrow at the disrespectful tone she was getting from her daughter, “We are not going to have this attitude for the duration of our trip. You need to chill out.”

  “I am chill mom,” Ryleigh snarked back, “I just don’t see why you can’t say what’s going on now and why we are leaving like we stole something!” Tom laughed at his daughter’s comment and then immediately sobered as he saw his wife’s expression.

  “Ryleigh, we just need to get out of here. The whole point of the camping trip was to have family bonding and talk about things that we need to. There are things that you need to know. Especially now that you are seventeen. We just figured we would do it there.” Ryleigh just stared at her parents in disbelief. It was her birthday!

  “Well, I guess there isn’t any cake is there? Or are we waiting to celebrate my birthday camping instead of what we originally planned here. You know I had plans for today actually. I wasn’t going to just stay in my room all day or with Cy playing games!” Ryleigh ended up almost screaming at her parents. Her mother placed a cool hand onto her shoulder. “Ryleigh, that’s enough. We are still going to celebrate; we are just going to do it on the road instead of at home. Okay?” Adrianne half implored.

  Hot tears streamed down Ryleigh’s face. What choice did she have really? She didn’t have any other plans. She never had any other plans. The only thing she was going to do today was hang with her best friend. That was it. Ryleigh agreed and went back into the house to grab the rest of her things.

  “Let her cool off, Tom,” she could hear her mom telling her dad. “She is going to have to absorb a lot and we need to allow her some space.” Tom agreed and they resumed packing the truck.

  Two hours later they were on the road heading to Yosemite. Ryleigh sat in the back seat with her headphones in. She just wanted to listen to her music and not talk to anyone about anything at the moment. Before they took off she talked to Cy one last time. It was an awkward conversation, but he looked like he was feeling better.

  “I swear,” Cy repeated, “I’m fine. We’ll hang out when you get back.” Ryleigh wasn’t too convinced and thought she could hear a slight nervousness in his responses. He was her best friend and she trusted him. Implicitly.

  Neither one of them knew or understood what happened to him, but they didn’t hug or touch during the entire conversation. Ryleigh felt better that way. It was something that had never happened before. And would make sure it would never happen again.

  Closing her eyes she allowed the music in her ears and the rocking motion of the truck put her to sleep.

  2

  Bringing the dead back to life

  He surveyed the wreckage before him. Twisted metal and the smell of burning oil and gasoline permeated his senses. The heat from the flames were intense. For once he was glad that his imp was nosy. Obviously not nosy enough or he could have prevented this from happening.

  He spied her lying in the ruins of the accident. Running over to Ryleigh, his heart beat furiously in his chest hoping she was still alive. Anyone else happening upon the scene would assume her dead. She didn't have a pulse and didn't respond to physical stimuli. With her body surrounded by blood and her skin a sickly pallor, the prognosis was not good. Tristan, however, could sense the energy still lingering within her. It hadn’t dissipated and he knew that he could bring her back. The energy humming within her core was playing an old familiar song that only he could hear.

  Ryleigh’s injuries were devastating. She had multiple contusions and fractures. Tristan grimaced at the compound fracture in her right leg as he could see the gleaming white bone penetrating her flesh and skin. But the worst part…the worst of it was the three-foot metal rod impaling her chest.

  “Shhh, it’s okay. Everything is going to be alright,” he said knowing she couldn’t hear him. He felt a pop of air and his imp was beside him. “Vee, I’m going to need your help with this,” he instructed. The imp gazed at his master with his dark sparkling eyes. “We should not meddle, we should not meddle, Sir,” he reminded.

  “Meddling or not, this girl should not die. We need to save her. I need to save her,” he implored. The imp knew that any order he was given-- he had to comply. The imp placed his long fingers beneath Ryleigh’s head. Tristan placed his hands her chest beneath the injury and one on her stomach. “Are you ready, Sir?” the imp asked his master. “Yes,” Tristan said closing his violet eyes.

  The air stilled around the trio. A small violet flame erupted from Tristan’s hand travelling outwardly encasing Ryleigh’s body in a soft glow. The imp, who stood about two-feet tall, began to glow in the night as Tristan used him to channel energy into Ryleigh’s beaten and broken body.

  The sound of bones snapping into place echoed in the darkness. Ryleigh’s body started to shake violently as it continued to heal. “Hold on, just hold on,” Tristan pleaded. His eyes flashed open and the violet flames continued to glow even brighter.

  The rod impaling Ryleigh’s chest began to move outward and with each centimeter, the flesh and muscle behind it was being repaired. “Master, we are not going to be able to finish,” the imp said breathing heavily. “We can’t fix it all. We can only do what is killing her.” Tristan nodded and he focused on the metal piece protruding from Ryleigh’s small, limp body. The last few inches of the metal rod came loose with a sickening wet sound and the wound closed up behind it.

  As the rod fell to the ground, Ryleigh opened her eyes with a sharp breath. “Mom?” she asked. Tristan brushed her hair, caressing her head with his hand. “Shhh, it’s okay,” he comforted again. He placed his hand on her forehead, “Sleep.” Ryleigh closed her eyes and fell immediately to sleep.

  Tristan exhausted, reached for his cellphone in the pocket of his pants and made the necessary phone call to 9-1-1. Vee looked up at him, “Are you just going to leave her here master?”

  “I have to for now,” Tristan said regretting the decision. “I have no choice; we can’t bring her with us. She has additional wounds that need to be tended to. But for now, she is out of immediate danger.” The imp nodded and they both disappeared as suddenly as they came.

  3

  In dreams are answers

  Slowly starting to stir she could hear the voices say, “Shhh, quiet – she’s coming around.” Ryleigh groaned as she attempted to open her eyes. “It’s okay little one, wake up,” she could hear the soft voices calling to her.

  Ryleigh opened her eyes and shut them immediately. The blinding light like fire lit through her skull. She could hear rustling around her. Opening her mouth to speak, her voice caught the gravel coating in the back of her throat. “Hello,” she choked up.

  With no response she attempted to open her eyes again. She slowly opened her eye lids until the light was bearable. Her body felt as if someone used it as a punching bag. She attempted to sit up but her arms didn’t want to cooperate and felt as if she was moving through water in the deep end of the pool. She made an attempt to call out to whomever was the in the room. “Hello?” she asked again. She could hear the soft tittering of voices.

  Her vision still blurry she could see small shadows to the right of her bed. “Can you help me? I can’t seem to sit up.” She heard the sharp intake of breath and then something that sounded like the reverse sound a balloon makes when it was popped.

  Ryleigh tried to sit up one more time. She felt an intense pain wrack her body from her toes to her head and lost consciousness.

  She was dreaming. He had pale blue skin and white eyes. As he watched her she could feel him penetrating her soul. She caught his glance with hers and he smiled baring his razor sharp teeth.

  Her skin started to tingle and blue flame erupted coating her in purple hues. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out.

  “Ryleigh,” she heard. “Ryleigh, you need to wake up,” the gentle voice coaxed her. Ryleigh opened her eyes and realized they didn’t burn.
It was dark as if night. Her blurred vision cleared and she turned toward the voice.

  “Mom?” Ryleigh asked. Her eyes started to focus and a nurse was releasing the blood pressure cuff from Ryleigh’s arm, “No sweetie, I am your nurse Carol.”

  “Carol?” Ryleigh was confused. Her head was pounding and she continued to feel pain travelling through her body in places she couldn’t imagine. All she wanted were her parents, “Where is my mom?”

  “I’ll have the doctor come in just a minute,” Carol said as she adjusted Ryleigh’s IV line and walked out the room. Ryleigh’s stomach sank and she could feel her heart pounding through her chest. She tried to remember where she was and what she was doing. She knew she was in the hospital but she couldn’t remember why. Ryleigh’s confusion reflected on the furiously beeping heart monitor.

  A distinguished gentleman walked into her room preceded by Carol the nurse. “I’m Dr. Scarborough, Ryleigh.” His bright eyes reflected kindness and Ryleigh didn’t feel an ounce of threat. Dr. Scarborough walked to her bedside and grabbed her wrist measuring her pulse. “Well, it sounds like your heart is working.”

  Ryleigh looked up at him with confusion, “Wh-What is going on?”

  Dr. Scarborough looked her in the eyes and gently asked, “What is the last thing you remember?” Ryleigh closed her eyes and attempted to remember the events as they unfolded from her memory.

  “I remember my mom, dad, and I were on our way to Yosemite. We were taking a vacation before the beginning of the school year. It was my birthday and this was a birthday present to me because I like camping.” The doctor nodded as she talked. Ryleigh opened her eyes suddenly. “Where’s my mom?” she asked in a panic. “Where’s my dad?” she started to get up out of bed. Dr. Scarborough and Carol grabbed her arms.

  “Ryleigh, just breathe!” the doctor ordered. But Ryleigh couldn’t breathe. Her heart felt as if it were going to burst from her chest. A sickening feeling continued to grow in the pit of her stomach. “Where are my mom and dad?” Ryleigh started to scream. “NURSE!” the doctor yelled.

  Carol grabbed a syringe and pushed it into her IV.

  ***

  She was dreaming again. “Ryleigh,” she heard whispered as she turned around examining where she was. She could feel him near her because her skin started to tingle again.

  She wasn’t sure where she was. A cave maybe? Crystals lined the walls sparkling like a disco ball illuminating a path before her. She heard her name again on the breeze as she continued forward.

  An acidic smell permeated her nostrils. The smell of sulfur and sandalwood invaded her senses. Normally she would be repulsed; however, it intrigued her pulling her deeper into the cave.

  Rounding a corner she caught a glimpse of pale blue skin. “Wait! Who’s there?” she asked stopping and standing still. She looked down at herself and she was in her hospital gown. Suddenly conscious of how naked she was she started to shiver in a nonexistent breeze.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” She asked more forcefully. An almost non-existent voice answered her. “You know who I am.”

  “I don’t. Tell me why I am here. Please?” she begged.

  He stepped out of the shadows before her sending Ryleigh into a terrified state. Her skin started to crawl as his eyes bore through her.

  “Don’t be scared,” he said to her moving closer. Ryleigh couldn’t move even if she wanted to. It was as if her body was frozen by his gaze.

  He was the most gorgeous creature she had ever seen in her life. At first his skin appeared to be pale blue but it became more translucent the closer he got to her. His hair was an absence of all color but it was his eyes that drew her in. They seemed to match his hair color but she started to notice the violet and blue hue to the color. His pupils dilated with each step he took towards her. She wanted to scream and run away but she was too enthralled with this creature in front of her. His gaze bore into her and she couldn’t look away. “Remember,” was all he uttered.

  With that, memories came flooding back to her. She remembered the accident. She remembered her mother screaming for her father and Ryleigh in the background. She remembered the car flipping over and over and over again. She remembered the pain from being impaled upon twisted metal from the accident. And she remembered him. He was there helping her and soothing her until the ambulance arrived. But he wasn’t just soothing her.

  Ryleigh grabbed her stomach remembering the pain she felt. Feeling as if her insides were on fire and she couldn’t breathe. Before she asked anything further, her vision went back to black.

  ***

  Ryleigh woke in her hospital room. She lay still for a moment remembering the dream she just had and the visions of the accident. Feeling a lump beginning to form in her throat she swallowed it back down – hard. Although the emotions were raw and on edge - now was not the time for tears.

  Reaching for the nurses call button connected to the bed, Ryleigh felt the urgent need to relieve her bladder. A pleasant female tone crackled over the intercom, “I’ll be right there.”

  “Thank you,” Ryleigh croaked realizing how thirsty she was. She sat up examining her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was the bouquets of flowers and balloons intruding almost all of the vacant space. A giant poster board hung on the wall beside her bed wishing her to get well soon by her classmates. She felt an immense sense of appreciation and an overwhelming sadness.

  A plump nurse walked in the room wheeling in a blood pressure cuff and metal tray with a pitcher and a cup. Ryleigh immediately felt grateful for her having the prompting to bring in something that she desperately needed. But urgent needs took precedence.

  “Okay sweetie, how can I help you,” the nurse asked with her soft brown curls bobbing as she wrapped the cuff around Ryleigh’s arm. “I really – really need to use the restroom,” Ryleigh implored. The nurse looked at her with understanding and immediately took off the cuff. “Oh, okay, let me help you down.” The nurse escorted Ryleigh to the restroom making sure her legs were stable enough before letting her go on her own.

  Still connected to the IV, Ryleigh had to wheel the contraption in with her.

  Once done, the nurse brought her back to the bed where a cup of water with a straw was waiting for her. Ryleigh grabbed for the cup and the nurse cleared her throat, “You will want to take small sips at first or you will be sick.” Ryleigh looked a little confused.

  “Your stomach will not be used to the fluids and bounce it right back up.”

  Ryleigh nodded and took a small sip. The cold fluid was a welcome relief to her throat that felt as if it were the Sahara itself. “The doctor will be in momentarily, okay hon.” Ryleigh nodded with understanding and leaned back into her bed.

  Feelings a washed Ryleigh as she remembered being told about her parents. She just lay in the bed absorbing how she felt not knowing what was going to happen to her once she got out of the hospital.

  Dr. Scarborough entered the room and Ryleigh’s stomach began to tighten. He smiled as he saw her but she could see in his eyes it was an act. “So, how are you doing today?”

  Ryleigh answered, “I’m okay I guess. I can walk and I am not feeling much pain.”

  Dr. Scarborough looked down Ryleigh’s chart and then back at her. “Ryleigh, do you remember what happened?” Ryleigh felt a knot in her throat too big to talk through but somehow found the sound to choke out, “Yes,” solemnly. The doctor approached Ryleigh kind heartedly and grabbed her hand. “I know that this is very difficult for you. The loss of a parent is extremely hard, even on those this young, but you are healthy and alive. And, you also do have family that is here waiting to meet you.” Wiping away an escaped tear, Ryleigh looked up at Dr. Scarborough.

  “I have family here? I didn’t even know that I had family that existed.”

  She didn’t have any other family that she could remember.

  She never had family holidays or gatherings anywhere but with her parents and on top of that, she was an only child
. Her father and mother never talked about their parents or even any brothers or sisters for that matter. Ryleigh just couldn’t remember her parents ever even having friends over to the house.

  Dr. Scarborough looked towards the door, “You can come in now.” As soon as “you” spilled from his lips -- in swooped a woman who looked nothing like Ryleigh would imagine anyone in her family to look like. She was wearing a blush colored couture suit with open toed sling backs. Her blonde hair was done up in a French twist and her eyes were so violet they were almost a translucent color. Tall, thin, and amazingly beautiful. She was nothing like Ryleigh had ever seen in real life.

  “Ryleigh!” the woman exclaimed in a highly refined British accent, “I can’t believe it’s you!” They drew in close, smelling of lavender and sandalwood sparking a distant memory in Ryleigh’s brain.

  “I’m sorry - but I don’t know who you are,” Ryleigh gasped as the woman embraced her in a loving hug.

  “I am so sorry,” the woman said, “My name is Vera. I am your aunt.” Ryleigh looked stunned.

  “My aunt? I didn’t even know my father had a sister,” Ryleigh questioned.

  “I know darling, but I am here now and I am going to take care of you. You are going to stay with me and get out of this dreadful hospital.”

  Ryleigh wasn’t sure what to make of this but she knew that she did not want to go back to her home that would remind her of her parents. Her memories lived there and that was something she could not deal with at this moment. She choked out an “Ok” and her aunt looked pleased.

  Dr. Scarborough advised Ryleigh that she only needed a few more days in the hospital just to make sure. Aunt Vera fussed saying that she had stayed long enough and she would speak with the hospital administrator if he didn’t allow Ryleigh to leave. Dr. Scarborough looked a little surprised but acquiesced just the same. Aunt Vera always got her way and would never take “No” for an answer.