Chapter 6: Away From Me
Radames walked down to the docks late that night. All of Egypt was asleep now. That was the reason he came out in the first place, he wanted to be alone to think about things. But, when he stopped at the docks, he found a better sight.
Aida was standing at the dock where they'd last seen each other, wearing the black dress he'd last seen her in. She was staring out at the water. She was staring at the moon reflecting off of the Nile. Radames stood at the other end of the dock, not wanting to disturb her, but she heard him. When she turned around and saw him, she smiled.
"I knew you'd be here," she said.
Radames walked up next to Aida and stared at the water just as she was. Suddenly, the moon's reflection changed and in its place was the image of the Nubian king, Mereb, and the slave whose name he couldn't place all sitting in a boat. Then suddenly, the image vanished and the boat and its passengers were tied to the docks.
"I need your help," Aida said, getting in the boat. "I need to help my father."
Radames wanted to, but he didn't know if he should. What if someone was watching?
"Radames, if you love me, then you'll help me," Aida said more firmly. "Do you love me?"
"Yes," Radames answered automatically.
"Then, please, cut the rope," Aida said, desperately.
There was a sword lying at his feet. He stared at it, uncertainly.
"Don't worry," Aida said. "No one's watching."
Radames rose the sword high above the rope and then brought it down severing it. Then the boat slowly moved away from the dark. Suddenly, he heard a gasp behind him. He turned around to find Amneris, Pharaoh, and the rest of Egypt behind him. They'd seen the whole thing.
"You traitor!" a soldier yelled angrily.
"Radames, how could you do this?" Pharaoh cried.
"I thought I could trust you,"Amneris said, tearfully.
"TRAITOR!" the crowd chorused. "TRAITOR! TRAITOR! TRAITOR!"
They were moving forward, pushing Radames to the end of the dock. He struggled to keep his balance.
"Radames!"
Radames looked behind him and saw an image of Aida staring back at him. She was talking to him!
"Radames, jump in the water," she said.
"I can't!" Radames shouted.
"Yes, you can!" Aida said. "Trust me."
Radames looked at the angry crowd and then jumped into the Nile. The waters were violent and tossed him around until he was sure he was going to drown when ten seconds later, he found himself washed on shore.
"Are you all right?"
Radames looked to his right to find Aida at his side. He looked at the water and then back at her.
"Yes, I'm fine, I think," Radames replied.
"Good," Aida said.
Radames looked at his surroundings. It looked very familiar, but he couldn't place where he was.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"We're at the First Cataract," Aida answered.
Radames looked up the Nile to see if the angry crowd that had pushed him to the edge of the dock was coming down.
"No one's following you," Aida said as if she read his mind. "We're free."
Radames didn't respond, but he was happy now. No one was looking for him, so now he could live his life the way he wanted with Aida. He grabbed her hand and leaned in to kiss her……….
Suddenly something that felt like someone's hand came out of the Nile and grabbed his ankle and brought him into the ground and started pulling him toward the water.
"HELP ME!" he yelled.
Aida grabbed on to his hand and tried to pull him out, but thething thatwas grabbing his ankle had a strong grip. Radames gripped Aida's hand tighter for dear life, knowing that his grip was turning her ebony skin white. Her hand slowly slipped from his.
"NO!" Aida cried, trying to tighten her grip on Radames. But, she couldn't save him. The hand pulled him from her grip and dragged him deeper and deeper under the Nile.
Radames sat up in a cold sweat. He looked at his surroundings. The sun was just starting to rise. It was just a dream, he thought. But, still, he couldn't shake the feeling of terror off of him.
Now he didn't even want to swim the Nile. Next to him was a long staff-like stick. Radames grabbed it and then stood up and leaned on it and started walking. His ankle still hurt, but it didn't hurt him so much to walk. Having to desire to go back to sleep, Radames continued onward with his journey.
Aida slipped out of her hut and walked along the shore of the Nile. A light breeze picked up, but it cut through her like a knife and she grew unbelievably cold. She rubbed her arms to keep herself warm, but failed miserably.
Aida felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She turned around to see Radames. She was confused, yet happy to see him.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Aida nodded and Radames held out a blanket. Aida smiled and draped it around her shoulders.
"Thank you," she said.
Radames nodded in return. Suddenly, Aida was confused. What was he doing here? Wasn't he back in Egypt?
"What are doing here?" Aida asked. "What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" he asked back.
"I mean, what happened after I left you?"
"Come with me."
Radames took her by the hand and lead her up the shore of the Nile, not too far away from the village. When they stopped, they were at the docks of Egypt where she'd last seen him. Another Radames stood before them, staring at the water. The Radames standing next to Aida dropped her hand.
"Radames, what-" Aida began.
Radames put his finger to his lips to shush her. "Don't ask any questions. Just watch."
Two guards walked on to the dock and shackled Radames and took him away. Suddenly the scenery changed into a burial ground with two soldiers pushing Radames forward.
"This took place about three minutes after you left," Radames said.
Finally, the soldiers removed the shackles and forced Radames into the tomb. Then, the soldiers covered up the tomb, creating a mountain of sand so that Radames was sure to get out. Aida gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. He really was dead!
"You're………dead!" Aida said, turning to the Radames standing next to her.
"I think you should see something else," Radames said, grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her around.
Aida's eyes widened at what she saw. In front of her was her village. Egyptians in red marched in taking crying and screaming Nubians including Aida herself and brutally killing them.
"What is this?" Aida asked.
"This is what will happen in about ten years," Radames replied.
Aida turned to Radames. "Is this your doing?" she asked.
"How can I?" Radames responded. "I'm dead."
"Then who's doing isthis?" Aida asked.
"I don't know," Radames replied.
Aida watched in horror as an image of herself was brought forward and killed and brutallity beaten to death. Once she was dead, an older lookingLutalo was brought forward.
"STOP!" Aida cried, covering her eyes and turned around. "I CAN'T WATCH ANYMORE!"
As if on command, the image faded away and Aida and Radames were back where they'd started.
"Why did all this happen?" Aida asked.
"You spun a web of lies," Radames said. "You told me you loved me, but you lied. You did this in front of your father. So, he decided to name a weaker ruler than yourselfhis successorwhen he passed on and this ruler didn't do justice to help. Theyweakening your country and makingit vulnerable to Egypt. And you also got me killed. At this moment I'm rotting away in a tomb burried underneath the sand."
What have I done? Aida thought. I told one lie and it's going to destroy everything! She sunk to the ground and cried. She needed to do something, anything to make sure things would be all right.
"There has to be something I can do," Aida whispered.
"No," Radames said, in a more comforting tone. "There's nothing you can do."
Well, there's one thing I can do, Aida thought. Apologize and tell the truth.
"I'm so sorry," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry I lied to you. You have to understand, I was only trying to help my people. It tore me apart to have to deceive you like that. I loved you, Radames, and I still do."
Aida wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed.
"There's nothing more to say except, I'm sorry," she finished. "I just wish you believed me."
Radames sat down on the ground across from her and cupped her chin in his hand and moved her head so she was looking at him.
"I do," he replied. "I always have."
Aida felt more tears springing to her eyes, but she blinked them back. She didn't want to cry anymore. Aida moved towards Radames and rested her head on his shoulder. He encircled his arms around her.
After a while he lifted her head up and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet, long kiss. Finally, Aida had everything she wanted back. Radames was here and he wasn't leaving her.
When they pulled away, Aida reached out to touch his cheek, but her hand went right through it. She moved her hand back and forth through Radames's face. It was like trying to embrace mist. She started to panic. What was happening?
"Good-bye," Radames whispered.
And then he was gone.
"NO!" Aida screamed. "DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Aida, wake up!"
Aida opened her eyes and found that she was staring Kehinde in the face.
"What's happening?" Aida asked.
"You were crying and screaming," Kehinde said. "It woke me up."
Aida rolled on to her back and covered her eyes with her hand.
"I'm so sorry," she said.
"Are you all right?" Kehinde asked.
"I'm fine," Aida answered. "I just had a bad dream."
Kehinde nodded. "If you need anyone, I'm right next to you," she said.
With that, she stood up and went to the doorway of Aida's hut and then turned around.
"Goodnight, 'Ida," Kehinde said, using her baby name for Aida.
"Goodnight, 'Hinde," Aida replied, using her's for Kehinde.
Kehinde smiled and then left the hut, leaving Aida alone. Kehinde was an understanding person. She acted like the older sister, even though she was younger by two minutes and Aida always appreciated her.
Suddenly, the elements of her dream came back to her. Radames was dead and he was never coming back. Aida buried her face in her blankets and quietly sobbed. Radames, why you? She thought. There are people on the planet who deserve your fate more than you do. Why did this have to happen to you?
"I've woken now to find myself
In the shadows of all I have created
I'm longing to be lost in you
Away from this place I have made
Won't you take me away from me?" - Evanescence
To Be Continued………..
A/N: Chapter 7 is coming soon.
