by Dee, Maria
“Into a river but it wasn’t your ordinary river. Just before these horrid kids came to me, I sat by the same river. It was as though it called out to me and as I stared into the water, it was the strangest thing Xenia. I had no reflection. It looked like water but I had no reflection…a part of me wanted to touch it and then I hesitated…something didn’t feel right.”
“That’s the River Styx,” I clarified, “Remember we learned about it in mythology?”
Her eyes widened and she swallowed the lump in her throat. I knew what she felt because I had gone through the same thing when Kiran enlightened me.
“I fell into the river and I kept falling as though I’d fallen off a bridge…or what I’d assume would feel like that. You know how I have a fear of heights. It triggered a panic attack and from then on, everything was a blur aside from waking up in my bed. I don’t know how I got here. I attributed it to one horrific dream. Then when I went about my usual routine, everything was the same except for you. I went to your place and your mother told me you had died, but I didn’t believe her…I knew it wasn’t true.”
“How could you know that?”
“I had seen you there just earlier. You had come home and I thought I’d swing by shortly thereafter…but I didn’t expect the news I got. I thought I’d lost my mind! I even visited your grave... that’s all that I know. Tell me what you know, please. Tell me…where am I?”
“You’re in the offline world. I don’t know how to explain this but I’ll try my best. Try to keep an open mind and stay calm…”
She nodded eagerly but the usual peaceful glimmer in her eyes froze in fear.
“Our world that we live in isn’t the only world out there in the universe. Styx, the middle world, is a portal into the offline world. It’s a parallel world Marla where our off-sources live. You see, our soul isn’t one entity to begin with. It’s divided into two fragments, and for some, so widely divided that they aren’t capable of living very long in both worlds; usually the dominant source is the last one standing. You were capable but then the shooting happened and well…now you’re in a coma in the online world, where we come from.”
She stood glaring and her breath halted for a moment. “Does this mean I’m going to die?”
“I don’t know, Marla. This isn’t supposed to happen. Your offline fragment shouldn’t know these things. It’s almost as if your fragment crossed. There was a temporarily sealed portal before I…somehow you were able to share knowledge to your off-fragment even without a Charon.”
“A Charon?”
“Yes, only select Diplozoes can be Charons.”
“The creepy fairy man?” Marla paid more attention in mythology than I’d expected.
“There isn’t just one and we aren’t creepy either. Remember when we learned about the whole creationism vs. evolution?”
Marla gulped once and nodded anxiously.
“Well, I can personally vouch for the evolution part.”
“How so?”
“Because I’m living proof. Some humans have evolved since the early seventeenth century.”
“You’re one of them?”
“Yes. Don’t be alarmed though. I’m not evil or anything…” Not now, anyway.
“For how long have you been like this?”
“Well, apparently all my life, but I didn’t know. I only found out recently,” I said, avoiding actual dates. Less was better, especially in her case.
“How couldn’t you know?”
“I guess I didn’t want to know or embrace the changes I felt. They weren’t normal and so I never embraced any of it.”
“Your eyes…that’s why they aren’t like ours.”
“You noticed? Has Calliope noticed too?”
“No, well, she’s never mentioned anything to me before.”
“Can you maybe not mention this to her? For now at least?”
“I won’t say anything to Calliope in this world, anyway. But I’ll say something to our Calliope once I see her. She deserves to know, Xenia. We both deserved to know!”
“I was trying to protect you, Marla. I didn’t want to ruin freshman year.”
“You’re my best friend, Xenia. I want to say that finding out that you lied is worse compared to this reality, but it’s not.”
Finally, a healthy dose of reality smacked her square across the face. Exactly what I had hoped for because I knew I’d made the right decision. No one would want to live in a world whereby everything they’d come to learn was actually one big fabricated web of lies from the day we were born.
“I’m going to fix things. Give me your hand.”
“What are you going to do with it?” she asked skeptically before giving in.
I tried not once but numerous times to travel to Styx with Marla. It was too painful, even for her.
“I don’t feel any different aside from pain,” she mumbled, confused. “Static like pain all over my body.”
“That’s because it didn’t work. You’ll have to just wait it out Marla. Until I can figure something out, and I will. I promise.”
She smiled in light of everything. “I know.”
“I’ve got to get back to check on…you. I’m literally doing double time here.”
Marla giggled. “Thanks Xenia. If there’s one thing I’ve realized in the short while I’ve been living here is that life wouldn’t be the same without you. Calliope is almost too tame here, it’s unsettling.”
“Calliope and tame both used in the same sentence. Now that’s just creepy.”
After we exchanged warm pleasantries, I bid her adieu.
~
Online.
Once home, I pondered if one day I’d scrupulously explore the Offline world. I had a mission to work toward and that didn’t involve my ancestry at the time being. Saving Marla was on top priority. Figuring out how to track the Lifter was right up top in the stacks. Becoming half-dead or dead-dead now of all times, was a huge inconvenience. Mostly because Endeca would have to unite and the unknown outcome could jeopardize Marla’s future. That was something I wouldn’t leave to chance.
I returned to the loft with half of the energy I’d left with. The other half was on reserve and kept me running at rest. Calliope was home and from the sounds of it, she had company. I quickly went to my room and called Kiran.
“Hey, I need your help.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I think I may have figured out a way to regain my light, however short lived. Is there anyone that could prolong it?”
“If you’re talking about what I think you’re talking about, then that’d be Caleb.”
Great. Poseidon of the land.
“Why him?”
“Trust me, just talk to him tonight at the club. He’s likely to be there. I’ll be there too.”
“Okay, count me in. See you tonight.”
“See who tonight?” she asked, catching me off guard.
“God, Calliope. You scared me.”
“Sorry, I was just checking in on you and happened to overhear.”
“I could say the same. Who’s keeping you company?”
“Zack. You weren’t home and I got bored. So I bored-dialed him.”
I nearly forgot about Zack. I wondered how much of that night he recalled.
“I didn’t know that you actually planned on seeing him.”
“He seems nice. Maybe even boyfriend material…I mean he did stay and help that night…”
Yes, that’s what I was afraid of. He stayed and witnessed things he shouldn’t have.
“Did he mention anything about that night? He must have been scared…he took off in a hurry.”
“He said he called an ambulance and then took off because he doesn’
t do well at the sight of blood.”
“Anyhow, I’m going to a club tonight. I need to blow off some steam,” I said.
“Let’s go. Marla would want for us to have at least one night of fun in her honor.”
“I think I’m going to go alone. I need some time to myself and loud music will help drown everything away.”
“I can’t let you go alone. I’m coming and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Alright. Let’s get ready.” The stitch of pain stretched from my umbilicus right through me like a stabbing pain. It felt like it pierced my organs, slicing horizontally. Once we were ready and out the door we passed by the hospital to visit Marla. She was part of our club ritual so we decided to uphold the usual.
“Marla, tonight won’t be the same without you. Wish you were here with us now,” I said, taking a swig from a tiny liquor bottle. We had purchased three little vodka-orange bottles, one for each of us. Marla’s rested in her hand.
“I’ll keep an eye on Landon for you,” Calliope reassured, guzzling from the tiny bottle.
I shot her a look of disbelief. Ordinarily, she meant that in the literal sense but I knew what she really meant. Still, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t poke fun at her.
“What? Someone’s gotta protect him from all the bar floozies.”
“Including you,” I teased candidly. There had been no change in Marla’s state but as she clung for her dear life; I planned to search for answers tonight. Caleb was my only lead, but at least I had one.
We arrived at Styx nightclub where I diligently spotted Kiran.
“Geez, they’ll let any riff raff in these days,” Calliope scoffed surveying the crowd.
“That’s not why we’re here tonight,” I reminded.
She nodded sensibly. “Now here is someone worthwhile. Impeccable fashion sense and stunningly handsome features.”
“You spoil me with your kind words, Calliope,” Kiran replied, modestly. He hugged us one by one and whispered in my ear. “Caleb is here. He’ll guide you further.”
“Got it, thanks,” I said, winking subtly.
I left Calliope to order drinks. The stitch of pain worsened and Calliope came to my side. “Are you okay? What’s happening?”
“I’m fine, just having some…cramps.” Deathly cramps. “I’m going to the bathroom. Be right back.”
In the bathroom, I waited for the trail of drunken girls to exit. After I checked each stall, I took a swig from the orange vodka bottle to help with what I was about to do next. I pulled out a switch blade from my purse and started the painful process. I sliced my arm diagonally, spanning two inches in length. I watched as the blood poured out and I felt light on my toes again. Each time I did this, a part of my light the Lifter took, I took back, however temporary. A girl walked in and I quickly washed my forearm and covered it with a paper towel.
The stitch of pain subsided and I felt at ease once more. Amongst the crowd, my eyes flashed to the Lifter. She was infuriated and not one for tug of war.
Too frigging bad.
I looked down at my arm and the wound started to heal as I pulled down my sleeve to cover it up. I could breathe a little calmer, move a lot swifter, and focus a lot easier after I took a little light back, of what was mine to begin with.
I located Caleb and with him, sat Orion in a booth.
“Xenia, hey. Have you seen Calliope?” he asked, apprehensive.
“Zack,” I said, taken by surprise. Why did he always show up in the worst of times? “We need to talk.”
“Listen, about that night. I wanted to apologize. I wasn’t myself…I was kinda under the influence of some magic shrums and started tripping once I saw blood. Sorry for running off.”
“That’s alright. You did call for help and there was nothing else you could’ve done.” I pointed him in Calliope’s direction. He nodded appreciatively.
I wasn’t sure what was worse: Calliope dating Orion or a recreational drug user.
With Zack out of the way, I paid Caleb and Orion a visit.
“Caleb, could we talk in private?” He looked impartial and Orion looked peeked.
“What took you so long? I’ve been expecting you,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Kiran had mentioned this to you.”
“He didn’t,” he said, looking over toward Orion. Judging by their body language, I could see that no one was budging.
I ignored Orion altogether.
“I need a way to blind a Lifter and give it a reason to come for me.”
“Is that all?” he asked, snidely.
“Yes. For now anyhow.”
“Follow me,” he ordered and Orion came along for the trip. I pushed ahead of him through the crowd.
As we stood in a dark backstreet, Caleb grabbed hold of my arm. “You’ve started without me. Xenia, I’d taken you for the patient type.”
Orion gazed at my wounds and grimaced.
“It’s a good thing these won’t scar,” he said, pulling out a switch blade of his own. He pressed harder than I would and a lot quicker too. I gasped in pain.
He drew a symbol in the dirt and then instructed for me to do the same. “Except, you must use your blood.”
“How do I know this’ll work?” I said, right after I drew the symbol with my blood.
“Oh, it worked,” Orion motioned behind me.
Take back
FEAR.
Fear of the unknown. I hated it but it seemed more common these days. This time it was slightly different with Caleb and Orion by my side. They had my back—or at least I hoped so.
They chanted in a primordial language, oddly enough, I understood some of it. We’d encircled the Lifter and it seemed she was bound in place. Her black hollow sockets flickered like a broken live wire emitting electrical sparks.
“You cannot stop me,” she hissed. “This is the only way.”
“You kind of skipped a step. You know, the one where we reunite you with the source, and still survive,” Caleb scolded.
“Death is but a process you shall all face.”
“Very doubtful,” Caleb retorted, snidely. He placed rock salt all around her and then continued chanting along with Orion.
“Is this all really necessary? She’s already trapped,” I said, nervously pointing in her direction.
“This isn’t for her. It’s for them,” he whispered, pointing toward the circle. What seemed like a big outline of salt soon became packed with other Lifters who swayed like flames all around her.
“They’re dangerous. When you see one, you know more are coming,” Orion explained, shaking the rock salt container in his hand. “Like a moth to a flame.”
Lifters were the end result of unrestored fragments—unite by date sort of thing. Granted, they’d have to be unrestored for a lengthy period of time before fading, and time was dependant on the fragment’s integrity. The eyes were the first to fade, turning into hollow sunken sockets. If the eyes were the window to the soul (aka both fragments) then it all made sense.
Caleb lit a fire and cast a hex using my blood. He then grabbed hold of me and asked that I repeat the words with him and place my hand in a circle of my own blood.
“This’ll ensure that the source remains invisible to the Lifter.”
“If I’m bound to her, doesn’t that mean—?”
“Yes. This is your ticket to safety Xenia. You won’t die—it’s what you wanted.”
He got it right. I didn’t want to die but at the same time, I felt bad because she’d never be restored and instead would slowly cease to exist—all because of me.
I figured it was kill or be killed. What option did I have, aside from being…killed. I looked at Orion and cringed whilst noticing he was staring at me. Most days, everywh
ere I looked, there he was. I longed for Nicholas’ company, but he insisted there was a wedge between us. There was no doubt in my mind that I loved Nicholas.
While Orion leered, I realized something. Maybe I could change the course of events instead of falling victim to them. Against all odds, I’d done so before for Orion of all people. I decided to ask the Lifter something before it was summoned away.
“Tell me, who’s your source. Have you seen it?” I pleaded but she merely smirked after drawing in a long, deep breath. White light shone from her sockets intermittently. I looked away as I was coming to learn that eyes could do a lot of weird shit.
“You alone will be the cause of your demise. You’ll see,” she whispered smiling eerily before releasing what I had come for—my light, a part of my fragment. The bright light streamed from her eyes into my own before she vanished. Lifters were vengeful little critters.
“Don’t listen to her. They are ruthless and broken shells of fragments. They can’t prophesize ones future.”
“Thanks for bailing me out, Caleb. It’s such a relief to have my light back. I didn’t know it could be swiped.”
“Glad to be of service. Now that you’re healthy again and with a clear mind, I’d like to ask you something.”
Orion jumped in, “Don’t Caleb.”
“I must.”
“If it’s what I think you’re going to ask me, then yes.”
Both Orion and Caleb looked bewildered.
“Xenia, this isn’t like you,” said Orion.
“And how would you know? I don’t have any plans this evening seeing as how I no longer have a boyfriend. I’d love to go out on a date with you, Caleb.” I smirked, fluttering away. “Pick me up at eight. You remember where, right? The place you nearly flooded me out of.”
Caleb looked at Orion in disbelief. “A date?” he asked, aloof.
“Something I’d kill for.”
Caleb looked at Orion, confused as ever. “Is it necessary?”
“Arguably,” he said, continuing, “She’s trying to piss me off...it’s working.”