That night, I lie awake in my bed. I can't stop thinking about what Diko
had asked me to do.
Never change.?
What did he mean by that? Did that mean that he took comfort in my being so stubborn and set on seeing other places? Or did it simply mean that he was so set into life that if I changed, it would set him off? I can't decide.
The sky is so clear tonight. I want to climb onto the roof and watch the stars. I open my window and set my feet on the sill. Wedging my feet on the stones on the outside of my hut, I scramble onto the roof. I lie on the leaves covering the wooden slats and stared at the sky.
A crack of lightning shoots through the sky. I curse the weather and wait for thunder. But none comes. I watch and smell the air. No moisture. It was just heat lightning.
Thank goodness. I lie back and try to watch the bolts that streak across the sky. They seemed to come closer with each flash of light. Suddenly, one hits the roof!
The crack shoots through me and I lie, spellbound, and can only watch the sky as if in slow motion. A single bolt comes down and hits me square in the chest.
Smoldering, I lie on the roof. The storm passes in time, and night turns to dawn. I can't say anything.
Thoughts run through my head like molasses.
Diko.calling for me.
The others.they're yelling too.
Can't anyone see me?
Finally, a face appears in my line of vision. Diko has found me by a single, singed sneaker hanging off the roof by a shoelace. He carries me down to my bed and sits with me through the day. Eventually, I regain the power of speech.
"What happened, Kiru?!" he asks me when I finally moan in pain.
"H-heat lightning. Storm last night. Hit me in the chest. Oh god, it hurts!" I explain.
"Careful.careful," he mutters as he lifts the wrap some girl must've put on me while I slept. At least, I pray it had been a girl. I realize I'm just wearing a sports top on my torso.
I lift my head a bit to see the damage. Not only did the lightning leave a mark, but Diko has to go and describe it.
"Bizarre! It kind of looks like a heart made of lightning," he exclaims. I think so, too.
He flips me over carefully and examines my back. "It's back here, too. Creepy. Same spot, too. Right in the middle of your upper back." I decide to take his word for it. They really sting.
He turns me back over and sighs.
"Kiru, I won't say anything right now. But I think I've found us a way off the island.
My eyes widen as I try to sit up. 'Tell me! Tell me now!" I demand.
He gently shoves me back down and shakes his head. "Kiru, I don't think-."
"Tell me now or you had better make sure you're far away when I get out of this bed," I interrupt.
Diko exhales. "Alright.
"There's this group of people called the Masters of the Worlds who can open a portal and get us to another world. They came to me in a dream last night, and I think they're real. They seemed that way.
"I told them to give me one day to think about it. They agreed. Kiru, if we take them up, we'll get to see other worlds. But we'll sometimes have to do 'errands' for them. I asked them what type, but they remained firm on the fact that we don't have to know in advance. 'Worthwhile ones', they said. What do you think?"
I tell him he didn't need to ask me for my opinion. Just say yes!
He smiles and stands.
"Sweet dreams, Kiru. I'll dream about you tonight."
I nod. "And hopefully, I'll dream of you."
***
As I sleep, my wounds stop hurting. They remain, and will the rest of my life. But as long as they don't hurt, I can live with them.
This morning, Diko appears with a huge grin. He pulls me out onto the beach and grabs my hands in his.
"I had given up, Kiru! I had myself convinced that we'd never be free, and here we are! We're going to leave tonight! The gateway will open on the beach and we have to be there at sunset to go through."
I can only grin all day as I ready myself. My black sneakers, sleeveless, red shirt, white shorts, gauntlets, white armband, belt and all the rest of it goes on. A half-hour before sunset, I join Diko on the beach.
We stand and watched a small boat, that we had built as children, bob in the water. The sun begins to set.
"Diko, I know I never really told you, but-." I begin.
"Look!" he calls.
A huge ripple has appeared in the air above the ocean about fifty yards out to sea. A circle of blue light has appeared, and in it are all the colors of the rainbow and more. It keeps twisting and contorting, and around it are small wisps of light blue energy.
"Come on, Diko!" I call as I start running out to sea. He starts behind me, laughing, and then stops. I'm already up to my knees in water, and I turn back to see him, standing on the beach.
"Diko?" I call.
He doesn't say anything.
"What's the matter?"
He only points at the portal. I turn to see the sky darken into sunset and the portal turn an evil black. The wisps of energy turn into crackling purple electricity.
I gasp and try to start back. But a suction has a hold on me and starts pulling me toward the darkness. I cry out, and Diko runs to the water's edge. He has his hand out, trying to reach for me. But he doesn't come closer.
I realize that if he comes any nearer, he'll get sucked in. I don't yell out anymore. He understands. I just fight, pleading with my eyes. He watches my face, sad and desperate. Diko wants to help, but he can't. He just waits.in defeat.
My feet are enveloped in strands of darkness protruding from the portal. The strands slither up my body, up my torso, and grab onto my arms, pulling them back. I make one last attempt to break free, and the darkness takes me.
Never change.?
What did he mean by that? Did that mean that he took comfort in my being so stubborn and set on seeing other places? Or did it simply mean that he was so set into life that if I changed, it would set him off? I can't decide.
The sky is so clear tonight. I want to climb onto the roof and watch the stars. I open my window and set my feet on the sill. Wedging my feet on the stones on the outside of my hut, I scramble onto the roof. I lie on the leaves covering the wooden slats and stared at the sky.
A crack of lightning shoots through the sky. I curse the weather and wait for thunder. But none comes. I watch and smell the air. No moisture. It was just heat lightning.
Thank goodness. I lie back and try to watch the bolts that streak across the sky. They seemed to come closer with each flash of light. Suddenly, one hits the roof!
The crack shoots through me and I lie, spellbound, and can only watch the sky as if in slow motion. A single bolt comes down and hits me square in the chest.
Smoldering, I lie on the roof. The storm passes in time, and night turns to dawn. I can't say anything.
Thoughts run through my head like molasses.
Diko.calling for me.
The others.they're yelling too.
Can't anyone see me?
Finally, a face appears in my line of vision. Diko has found me by a single, singed sneaker hanging off the roof by a shoelace. He carries me down to my bed and sits with me through the day. Eventually, I regain the power of speech.
"What happened, Kiru?!" he asks me when I finally moan in pain.
"H-heat lightning. Storm last night. Hit me in the chest. Oh god, it hurts!" I explain.
"Careful.careful," he mutters as he lifts the wrap some girl must've put on me while I slept. At least, I pray it had been a girl. I realize I'm just wearing a sports top on my torso.
I lift my head a bit to see the damage. Not only did the lightning leave a mark, but Diko has to go and describe it.
"Bizarre! It kind of looks like a heart made of lightning," he exclaims. I think so, too.
He flips me over carefully and examines my back. "It's back here, too. Creepy. Same spot, too. Right in the middle of your upper back." I decide to take his word for it. They really sting.
He turns me back over and sighs.
"Kiru, I won't say anything right now. But I think I've found us a way off the island.
My eyes widen as I try to sit up. 'Tell me! Tell me now!" I demand.
He gently shoves me back down and shakes his head. "Kiru, I don't think-."
"Tell me now or you had better make sure you're far away when I get out of this bed," I interrupt.
Diko exhales. "Alright.
"There's this group of people called the Masters of the Worlds who can open a portal and get us to another world. They came to me in a dream last night, and I think they're real. They seemed that way.
"I told them to give me one day to think about it. They agreed. Kiru, if we take them up, we'll get to see other worlds. But we'll sometimes have to do 'errands' for them. I asked them what type, but they remained firm on the fact that we don't have to know in advance. 'Worthwhile ones', they said. What do you think?"
I tell him he didn't need to ask me for my opinion. Just say yes!
He smiles and stands.
"Sweet dreams, Kiru. I'll dream about you tonight."
I nod. "And hopefully, I'll dream of you."
***
As I sleep, my wounds stop hurting. They remain, and will the rest of my life. But as long as they don't hurt, I can live with them.
This morning, Diko appears with a huge grin. He pulls me out onto the beach and grabs my hands in his.
"I had given up, Kiru! I had myself convinced that we'd never be free, and here we are! We're going to leave tonight! The gateway will open on the beach and we have to be there at sunset to go through."
I can only grin all day as I ready myself. My black sneakers, sleeveless, red shirt, white shorts, gauntlets, white armband, belt and all the rest of it goes on. A half-hour before sunset, I join Diko on the beach.
We stand and watched a small boat, that we had built as children, bob in the water. The sun begins to set.
"Diko, I know I never really told you, but-." I begin.
"Look!" he calls.
A huge ripple has appeared in the air above the ocean about fifty yards out to sea. A circle of blue light has appeared, and in it are all the colors of the rainbow and more. It keeps twisting and contorting, and around it are small wisps of light blue energy.
"Come on, Diko!" I call as I start running out to sea. He starts behind me, laughing, and then stops. I'm already up to my knees in water, and I turn back to see him, standing on the beach.
"Diko?" I call.
He doesn't say anything.
"What's the matter?"
He only points at the portal. I turn to see the sky darken into sunset and the portal turn an evil black. The wisps of energy turn into crackling purple electricity.
I gasp and try to start back. But a suction has a hold on me and starts pulling me toward the darkness. I cry out, and Diko runs to the water's edge. He has his hand out, trying to reach for me. But he doesn't come closer.
I realize that if he comes any nearer, he'll get sucked in. I don't yell out anymore. He understands. I just fight, pleading with my eyes. He watches my face, sad and desperate. Diko wants to help, but he can't. He just waits.in defeat.
My feet are enveloped in strands of darkness protruding from the portal. The strands slither up my body, up my torso, and grab onto my arms, pulling them back. I make one last attempt to break free, and the darkness takes me.