by Anna Lewis
But it persisted.
A growing sense of camaraderie stuck with her as she floated forward with the light, following it even though her feet refused to move. There was nothing else but that light. Her arm remained outstretched, continuing to follow the light through the obscure darkness. It was incredible to feel so attracted to it.
Her legs shivered as her feet touched metal, hissing as her bare feet met the cold floor. It was then she noticed the cold. The icy air caused her to shudder and she hugged herself with her free arm. A thin layer of ice had formed on her skin. She plucked it off with ease only for it to be replaced just as quickly.
It remained dark. The fear was replaced with curiosity as her hand pressed against something solid, something warm. It felt like skin.
“Finally,” she whispered. “I found you.”
****
Gasp.
Melody shot up from her bed, her hand extended in front of her still. The feeling of skin pressed against her fingers remained, the warm comfort familiar to her brain as if she had felt it a million times. She looked down at her bed sheets that were askew. She had been thrashing again.
“Another dream,” she said out loud.
She lowered her arm, feeling suddenly glum. It was the same dream that persisted through her childhood, the faint memory of it suddenly becoming sharp. It was the same dream she had experienced a million times or more. Its persistence left her drained as if it was a burden just to watch it unfold.
As the last bits played across her eyes, she covered her face with her hands and cringed. Everything felt so real. The lights were warm when they shined down on her and she swore she could smell the smoke billowing from the strange metallic machine. The whirling air blared in her ears, as close as if she were wearing headphones. It faded to silence.
Behind her, she could hear the soft hum of motors and the intermittent beep of horns. Traffic would pick up soon. She had to get up and get ready now before it became too clogged to go to work. She sighed, her shoulders sagging forward as she tried to gather the strength to move.
A soft mew came from below the bed. She watched as the bed sheets stretched a bit, feeling them being pulled by the creature below. It hopped up on the bed. She smiled as she patted its fur, the fluffy cat purring as she scratched its head.
“Hello, Flynn,” she said.
The cat mewed in response to his name.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
Flynn purred in response, shoving his head into her hand and closing his eyes. Melody smiled again. She lifted the purring cat and swung her legs over the bed, stretching out her toes and sighing contentedly. The muscles of her legs were tense. She felt like she had been running. These dreams were taking a toll of her body and she wondered when they would let up.
As she stood from the bed, Flynn twisted his body in her arms and she set him down. He ran out of the room and she followed him into the kitchen where she opened a can of food. He jumped on the counter when he heard the can pop and licked at the moist food sitting in his bowl.
Melody turned around and set a pan on the stove, turning the heat up and listening to it simmer. It soothed her to listen to the eggs crackle in the pan. When they were cooked, she replaced them with bacon and watched the flaccid strips bounce around in the pan. The scent of cooked bacon reached her nostrils and she smiled, her stomach growling in response.
She set up her coffee maker, dumping grounds into the white filter and then adding water before pressing the black button. It hummed as it came to life and sizzled while the water heated in the container. Soon, the apartment was filled with the smell of breakfast and she shooed Flynn off the counter in order to set up her plate.
When she was done, she poured herself a tall glass of orange juice and went to the couch where she turned on the television to watch the morning news. A number of stories were announced and she disregarded most of them while munching on bacon. The weather appeared and she watched intently as they announced the temperature for the day. She frowned. It was going to be hot again. That wasn’t terribly unusual for summertime in New York, but she longed for the icy winters when snow blessed the earth.
Melody finished her food and set her dishes in the sink, stroking Flynn again as he reached down to lap up the grease from her plate. She giggled and retreated to her room where she pulled on her attire for the day. The pink blouse and slacks were all that was left of her wardrobe, the rest sitting in the basket waiting to be washed. She sat at her vanity and began applying make-up to her pale face, frowning at her skin that desperately needed a tan.
I need a vacation, she thought. I just want to lie on the beach with a martini and maybe an attractive man.
The sound of her clock chiming the hour signaled she needed to go, and she quickly gathered her things for the day before slipping on a pair of heels.
Here we go, she thought glumly.
The city was abuzz outside. Her heels clicked against the cement with a dull sound, echoing off the buildings surrounding her apartment. She walked down the street to her car and hopped in, turning it on immediately. The heat was sweltering inside the small vehicle. She could see it rising off the dashboard in little waves, imitating the way it rose from the tar. It was going to be far too hot for what she was wearing, but she didn’t have a choice. She had to wear sleeves at work.
Though the drive to work was relatively short, it took longer than anticipated due to the increase in traffic. Melody never honked her horn. She found it pointless. She sat against the driver’s side window and stared listlessly at the cars in front of her. The clock on the dash told her she was late and she sighed, knowing her boss would have a mouthful of words as soon as she walked in the door.
A pedestrian weaved through the mess of cars and she envied the way he seamlessly walked. She wished she could walk to work, but it was too much in heels. The bus was always crowded otherwise she would have opted for that. Sometimes she wondered if the city was even right for her. But it provided ample opportunities for her degree in graphic design, and the pay was far beyond anything she could dream.
As she pondered her career choices, she pulled into the parking garage and paid the small fee. When she pulled into a space close enough to the elevator, she hopped out and shook her long black hair from her shoulders. It was sticking to her sweaty neck.
She walked towards the elevators and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. When she was safely inside, a man ran towards the doors while yelling. She held it open and he thanked her as he stepped inside, his forehead wet with sweat.
“Thanks, Mel,” he said.
“How’s it going, Seth?” Melody asked.
She pressed the button for the tenth floor.
“It goes. The heat is killing me. I wish we could wear shorts to work,” he replied.
“Tell me about it. Thank the heavens we have air conditioning,” she said.
Seth chuckled.
“For sure,” he said.
The elevator dinged. They both stepped out and sighed with joy when the cool air greeted them, walking towards the double doors labeled “Halsey Design.” Seth held it open for Melody who smiled politely. They parted ways at the main desk, Melody heading for the main area where her computer was located. She dumped her bag on the floor and plopped into the chair. A woman with red hair and black glasses popped up from behind the barrier and smiled wide.
“Hey, Mel,” she said.
“Hey, Lauren,” Melody replied.
“You look great today,” Lauren commented.
Melody shrugged.
“I hardly had time to get ready. I didn’t sleep well,” she said.
“Another dream?” Lauren asked.
“If you can call it that,” Melody replied.
“You should really go see that hypnotist I told you about. He does wonders,” Lauren said.
“And have someone poke around in my brain? No, thanks,” Melody said.
She turned on her laptop and opened her first task,
panting still from being out in the heat.
“He’s really cheap and he’ll help you uncover whatever memories might be hiding up there,” Lauren went on.
“Is that what he did for you?” Melody asked.
“I mean, it really helped me understand my attachment issues,” Lauren explained.
“I still think Doug was just pulling your strings with that one,” Melody said.
“He kinda was. He was preying on my fear of abandonment. I seriously think it would help you understand what’s going on. You’ve been having the same dream for a decade. It’s really time for you to unravel it,” Lauren said.
Melody squinted at the screen, ignoring her co-worker’s suggestion. It wasn’t like she wasn’t curious, but paying someone to help her flesh out this weird dream would only further her anxiety about it. It was best to leave it alone.
“Want to go out tonight? Jana found a new spot to dance,” Lauren said.
Melody perked up.
“I could use some dancing,” she said.
“Maybe that dream just means you need to get laid,” Lauren added.
Melody shot her a hard look.
“Please,” she said. “I doubt it’s that.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve been miserable since Mark left for Europe. I really think you just need to hook up with someone and forget about it,” Lauren said.
“I forgot about him until you mentioned it,” Melody said, her eyes fixed to the computer screen.
“Well, it’s been six months and I haven’t seen you go on a single date,” Lauren said.
“I like my solitude,” Melody insisted.
“Sure you do. I’m sure your vibrators like it, too,” Lauren joked.
Melody’s eyes went wide and she leaned in close to Lauren.
“We’re at work,” she hissed.
Lauren shrugged with a grin.
“Nobody is listening to us. So, what do you say?” she asked.
Melody sighed and rolled her eyes, looking down at her red nails that were chipping.
“Okay, that’s fine. I need to hit the salon before we go. Do you want to come along, too?” she asked.
“Absolutely. It’s a date,” Lauren said.
When Lauren retreated behind the barrier, Melody looked back at the screen and realized she had been drawing out a map with different continents. It seemed strange. The collections of land were labeled in a foreign language. It looked like something out of a fantasy book. An ‘x’ was placed over one patch and she leaned in close to inspect it.
“Miss Harp,” said a voice behind her.
Closing the program, Melody turned around in her chair with a fake smile.
“Good morning, Mr. Jones,” she said.
He tapped his watch.
“You’re late again,” he said.
“I know, Mr. Jones. It was traffic,” Melody said while gesturing towards the wide windows. “You know how it goes.”
“And so do you. Leave your apartment earlier so this doesn’t become a habit,” he warned.
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“I need you sharp for today, Melody. We have a new client who is going to want something rather extravagant,” he said.
“That sounds great,” she said.
“Just make sure you’re on time to that meeting,” he said.
He raised his eyebrows and she nodded with a smile. When he walked away, she released a loud sigh and turned back around to her computer. She opened the file and stared at the design.
What is this? She thought. I’ve never heard of Efloe before.
“And Miss Harp?”
Melody turned around to find Mr. Jones pointing at her computer.
“Doodle on your own time.”
****
A blue hand came down to rest on the glass display of a map, the outline of it bright against the dark sky. Standing over it was a blue man with bright green eyes. His face was pensive. He stared intently at the map while tracing it with a blue finger, following the lines around all the parts that had been marked.
“This is useless,” he growled.
“She must be in the galaxy somewhere,” said a voice from across the table.
“Then why can’t we find her?” he asked in a husky voice.
“Prince Tezod, you must mind your temper or you might erupt again,” warned a voice from below.
He looked down to find a creature covered in tentacles, it’s large eye staring right back at him.
“Thanks, Fenneck. Like I didn’t have enough to worry about,” said the prince.
“It is my duty to help you, Sire. I just want you to be well,” Fenneck explained.
His tentacles rolled around the ground, leaving behind a trail of slime as he climbed up into a chair and settled his tentacles around him. Prince Tezod sighed, brushing his black hair away from the antennae on his forehead.
“This is a disaster. I’ve hired an entire counsel of Eflorians and not one of them can help me reach my destination. Useless!” he cried.
His blue fist slammed into the glass display, causing it to glitch.
“All the advanced technology in the world and nothing has proven useful to my quest,” Prince Tezod mumbled.
“Sire, if I may?” asked one of the Eflorians standing before the desk.
His head was bowed with his hands folded just under his mouth.
“Serian, my good friend. What news do you bring from the prophets?” Prince Tezod asked.
Serian raised his head with a warm smile, his antennae wiggling.
“We have coordinates, my Lord,” he said.
The prince perked up immediately.
“Do you?!” he asked.
“Yes, Sire. We can pinpoint her location using the coordinates we have divined. It shouldn’t be long before you have the lost princess,” Serian explained.
“Fenneck, get the coordinates and input them into the ship immediately,” Prince Tezod barked. “We must make haste. This cannot wait much longer.”
In the distance, an explosion erupted and the prince ducked down behind the glass display, fingering the silver necklace around his neck. It was the same one he had been given by the prophets who told him it would bring protection. He had doubted it at the time, but was comforted by its rugged texture, the shape resembling a foreign moon or planet.
“Sire, you must leave now. Their coming up the battlefront,” Serian warned.
The prince stood up and pointed.
“Lock yourselves in the emergency pod and retreat to the safest destination. I shall return soon with our princess as it was written,” he said.
“Sire, quickly!” Fenneck called while rolling across the floor.
The prince followed him to a platform where a tentacle rose to press a red button, beaming them immediately into a ship already armed with Eflorian soldiers. Fenneck rolled across the floor and climbed up into his navigation chair where he quickly punched in the coordinates they were given. He stared at the screen with his eye, the display reflected in his retina.
“Sire, this is a foreign galaxy,” he informed his prince.
“I don’t care as long as we can make it in time,” Prince Tezod said.
“It will take too long to travel at normal speeds. We’ll have to hit a hole,” Fenneck advised.
“Whatever is faster, my friend,” the prince said.
“There’s only one problem, Sire,” Fenneck said.
“What is it, Fenneck?” the prince asked.
“She is located in a place that hasn’t yet been inhabited by our species. In fact, it seemed void of most life forms save for the Terra-forms,” Fenneck replied.
“What in the world is that?” Prince Tezod asked.
“Earthlings,” Fenneck replied. “They are called Earthlings.
“How odd,” Prince Tezod commented.
“There’s a black hole approaching, Sire,” Fenneck announced.
“Take it, Fenneck. And turn on the hyper-speed,” the prince commanded.
“Yes, Sire.”
The ship lurched forward as Fenneck pressed the button for hyper-speed, gripping the edge of his seat with a tentacle. Both the prince and his companion were pressed into their chairs as the ship sped faster than the speed of light through the black hole. A loud beeping erupted from the computer and Prince Tezod swatted it, yelling out in his native language.
“System overload,” announced an electronic voice. “Failure. Failure.”
“Hang on!” Fenneck cried.
He slapped another button with his tentacle, causing the ship to halt immediately. The squishy creature flew forward and landed eye-first into a metal door. He groaned.
“Fenneck!” the prince cried. “Are you alright?”
“I’m not sure yet, Sire. I can’t see anything,” Fenneck replied.
The prince pushed a black button on his control panel and leaned down towards the speaker.
“Medic!” he called.
He rushed immediately to Fenneck’s side and lifted him carefully, cradling him while waiting for help.
“Sire,” Fenneck croaked.
“Don’t speak, Fenneck. You might have broken something,” the prince said.
“That’s a laugh,” Fenneck said while wiggling his tentacles.
Prince Tezod chuckled lightly and then set his friend back on the ground, looking behind him when the metal doors slid open. A steel orb entered the room and hovered over the injured Fenneck. It beeped gently. From its belly came a red laser that washed over the tentacled creature a few times. Another beep erupted from the orb.
“Scan complete,” said the orb.
“Diagnosis?” Prince Tezod asked.
“Mild trauma to the frontal lobe. Mild trauma to the retina. Treatment: pain relief,” announced the orb.
The belly opened and dropped a vile on the ground which Fenneck lifted immediately. He guzzled the liquid down and sighed.
“Ah, just like mother used to make,” he commented.
“Treatment complete,” announced the orb.