Chapter 1: El Prólogo

I still think back on that fateful day, the day that changed my life, and wonder? What if I'd gone in another direction? What if I had made a different decision? What if I had changed my plans for that day? All the same questions that I always ask myself? Which would have changed the course of my future?

- Alyssa

It was in Galicia, Spain in the province of Lugo. It was a hot day near the coastal area where there were cliffs with cork-oak and beech trees beautifying the scenery. The area was very quiet apart from the sounds of birds and crickets chirping, devoid of people. The only evidence of humanity were the scorched skid marks on the roadway and tiny fragments of glass glistening in the sun.

Beside the road was a sandy pavement where two girls walked, their attentions divided between their conversation and the ice creams melting in their hands.

One girl was obviously a local native, with tanned skin and thick black curly hair and wearing a black summer dress with roses printed on. She looked around 20 and was noticeably older than me.

I was the Caucasian, slim and tall with light skin and long brown straight hair with a fringe. I've been told that I'm cute but I tended to freckle up in the bright Spanish sun.

"So what are you planning to do with your life, Alyssa?" asked my friend.

"I don't know Paula," I said, "I haven't thought about it much."

"I don't get it? You speak three languages, you're well focused on your studies and you get top grades! I'm telling you, you are like some sort of superhero." marveled Paula with a grin.

"I'm no hero." I laughed. "I just like to enjoy life and see where it takes me."

"I can tell, but you have such a high aptitude, kind of like Matilda" She bantered.

"Well I don't have the power to move things with my mind." I giggled.

"Maybe not but you sure read a lot like her." Paula insisted.

"Well, I am a student. I do need to crack open a book once in a while."

Walking down the road, we noticed the skid marks on the road, which stood out in the bright sunlight reflecting on the road.

"Huh, look at those tire tracks. They're probably from that road accident from last night." Identified Paula, pointing at them.

"Oh yeah I've heard about that. I wonder how it happened?" I questioned between mouthfuls of ice cream. It was melting fast so I focused on the dripping. The ice cream was winning.

"Well the papers said that the person involved in the accident was someone who had just stolen something at the chemical plant. The thief lost control while trying to escape." recalled Paula.

"Oh that place! I can't believe we have something like this right here in Galicia! Don't they realize they're destroying the environment?" I complained.

"I've heard of some of the things that go on in there. I just hope they don't do any dumping around the community." pondered Paula.

"Well, they shouldn't with all the precious wildlife and plant life around here. It'd be such a waste if they polluted this area thanks to all those chemicals." I fretted.

"I wonder what was behind the theft? Was it just money or some sort of industrial espionage? Information that would have exposed something secret?" speculated Paula.

"You watch too many bad movies. I just hope that whatever the motive was behind the theft, that it was for a good cause." I tried to be the optimist.

We reached where Paula had chained her bicycle. She needed to get home.

"Well it was nice of you to take time to hang out with me, Paula." I said.

"Same here, kid. We should do this again sometime." She suggested.

"Sure, just call me when you're free." I said. Nuts, I hope I wasn't sounding too needy.

"Will do." She agreed noncommittally.

We hugged and then Paula mounted her bike, cycling off down the road. I was left alone and standing in an isolated area, not the smartest choice for a young female.

I was pensive, reflecting on our conversation. What do I really want to do with my life and am I going in the right direction? I don't even know what the right direction is? I like my social life and have lots of friends, both male and female. I'm making the best of my educational opportunities and am a committed student but that's a means, not a goal. I'm definitely not a grind hiding behind a book. I still like to take breaks and try and have fun with my friends who seem to like my company.

Logically my reason for not being too focused on any specific goal or future career was because I was only 19, too young to think too much about what I want with my life. At least that's what I kept telling myself. Sometimes I actually believed it.

I could see the chemical plant in the distance, smoke rising out of the chimney. I wondered what toxins were in that smoke and what kind of activities and research were being carried out in their laboratories? Nobody at the plant was talking. It was too bad that some reporter or environmental activist didn't infiltrate the factory to determine what went on? Was everything legal and up to standard, or were they cutting corners on their safety measures? Was I being paranoid? Maybe their intentions were noble, and they were conducting experiments that would prove beneficial for the energy crisis, or for health care; like curing cancer?

I hoped that this was the case but why was the modern lab located in such a remote place? Maybe I was just being too judgmental. Not wanting to keep dwelling on the subject I turned my attention to a black tern flying overhead. I followed the bird with my eyes as it flew over the trees and then over the cliffs. At least it knew what to do with its life, searching for food and adventure and then flying south when winter approached. How untroubled it must be, not having to worry about all the problems and savage nature of mankind. A bird's life: peaceful, adventurous, free spirited, able to move like the wind.

Admiring the bird, I decided to take a video of it to capture the moment. I got out my phone and filmed the tern while it was in flight. When it then perched on a branch, it was a good opportunity to take a nice still photo. I tried to change the settings on my phone for the photo but the glare from the bright sun made the screen display hard to operate. Suddenly a window with a text message popped up accompanied by a short intense tone, startling me. Oops! I dropped the phone. It fell over the guard rail I was leaning against, landing on the grassy slope that led into the woods.

Grumbling, I climbed over the railing and cautiously descended the slope to recover my phone. Nuts, I'm not wearing the right kind of footwear for this. It was hard to maintain my balance and footing on the grass. I cautiously crouched down and stretched out my hand to reach the phone. Gotcha! Using the tips of my fingers, I gripped it and slowly drew towards me, relieved to have recovered it.

I started to turn to climb back up when I suddenly slipped and rolled down the slope on my back, crashing into a puddle. Puddle? It hadn't rained for over a week and the weather had been dry. A puddle of what? The substance was thick and was colored dark green as it splashed over my hand. Yuck! The stuff was everywhere, in my hair and over my skin. I could feel it burn like chlorine. What was it?

I started to panic. It definitely wasn't water but something else, some kind of chemical solution. My heart stopped when I saw a broken glass cylinder beside a metal case next to the puddle. On the glass, near where it had broken there was a label 'GC-165'. The color of the substance, the way it burned my skin and the suspicious looking code on the cylinder; this was some sort of chemical from a lab. Is this what was stolen by the thief?

Maybe the chemical was toxic, corrosive or in some way hazardous? I felt like somebody had just punched me in the stomach. I shot up out of the puddle and ran back up the hill as fast as I could manage. Once I got back on the road again, I stood there gasping for breath.

I was dripping with the green goo. God, I must look like a mess!

I wasn't thinking clearly and I rushed back to my flat hoping that no one spotted me like this.

To be continued…