Crossing Shifting Parallels

Cold air crept its way around the room where Lacia slept, wrapping her in tendrils of icy nothingness. Everything was silent as snow. No other sounds could be heard other than the steady stream of white noise from the vent. A thermostat was mounted on the wall, taunting her as she shivered in her sleep. The thermostat read a bitter-cold fifty-five degrees. No one had adjusted the temperature since she passed out, half off the bed with no covers. As such, her lips had begun to turn a faint shade of blue. Her armband glowed in the dim light as it displayed a body temperature of ninety-six degrees.

The armband let out a small alarm indicating Lacia's body temperature had fallen to a dangerous low. Footsteps began to approach her room, likely thanks to the alarm. A small click came from the door.

“She’s cold enough now. Take her back to the lab,” a voice spoke. “We have to test her blood while she’s cold.”

A wheelchair appeared in the doorway. Lacia was hoisted from the bed and into the chair as she was wheeled down the hallway. Her armband beeped again, indicating her body temperature had fallen even lower. She would become hypothermic if her body temperature dipped any lower. An inaudible noise rose from her lips, but she showed no signs of waking as she was wheeled back into the lab.

“Just place her on the table and disinfect the injection site. I’ve discovered something quite interesting,” the man from before spoke. He placed a phone down and hit record. “Subject 009 is now ready for cold blood draw. I’ve discovered an anomaly in DNA samples taken from the subject,” he went on. “If I place the Neriolite retrieved with the subject nearby, a strange energy is produced in the subject. This is atypical energy, but it causes the stone to react as well. More research will have to be done regarding the relationship between subject 009 and the Neriolite,” he concluded. “No further tests needed at this time. Proceeding with blood draws."

The sunlight was harsh–not the most welcome sight after being asleep for twelve hours. Lacia struggled just to open one eye. Her heart sank as her eyes adjusted to the glaring sun, the tiny sliver of hope she clutched, dissipating. She held out hope that maybe she wasn’t trapped on a boat, miles out to sea–that the endless ocean didn't sprawl out before her.

Saltwater leapt at her from the side rails. There was nothing but open water: no land, no other craft–just water. The remaining hope she had grasped so tightly washed away with the sea. Even if these people did get what they wanted, she had no reason to believe they would just let her go. She knew too much. With nothing left to do and nowhere left to go, she made a decision.

“No one will ever know if I go overboard. I’ll just float until I die,” she said to herself, visibly shaking at the very thought of it all. “This is it. I have to keep whatever it is they want from me from them.” It seemed odd that there was no one around, though. Why would she be wheeled to the port side of the ship and why was she outside to begin with? Did they think she wouldn't try to jump overboard or wave for help if another ship appeared? “It doesn’t matter. Their mistake, I guess.”

She took a long, deep breath, figuring it could be one of the last she took. She willed herself to get it over with as she gripped the side of her wheelchair and began to hoist herself out. To her surprise, she plopped back into the chair. “Um, ok. Maybe I’m just not fully awake yet. Let's try this again.”

She gripped the chair tighter, took another deep breath, and began to lift herself once more. A weary smile crept onto her face. “This is it. No turning back now. If there’s a God out there somewhere, please let my friends and family know I’m ok. I’m not suffering and I’m no longer a prisoner to anyone or anything,” she silently prayed. “One… Two…”

Her legs gave out before she could count to three. She hit the deck, knocking the wind out of her. Unable to break her fall otherwise, she landed on her arm. She wallowed in pain, struggling to crawl away from the scene. A sharp, stinging pain shot through her entire body, making her physically ill. It became clear she wouldn’t be going anywhere, much less crawling. Her mind swam with pain. She couldn't come up with a single scenario that resulted in her favor as she lay writhing on the deck.

“Lacia…” Someone was calling her name, but the voice was raspy and barely audible. Last time she checked, water didn't speak.

“Allow me to handle things from here. You’ve done well,” the voice whispered. “Reach out your hand.”

She involuntarily reached her hand out, not expecting much, but she grabbed something–something physical. A hand? No. This was different somehow, but it was warm and inviting nonetheless.

“I cannot give them a sign, but I can do this,” the voice remarked. Lacia was lifted from the deck. A warm wind caressed her body. She was uncertain if she was going crazy or if this was real, but there was no use in complaining. Either way, her world would collide with something she never expected.

She was pulled into a makeshift portal that shimmered like glass, weightless as the ship retreated from view. She fell through the void of space itself for what felt like eternity, yet the flow of time seemed contested. The darkness was abyssal, but Lacia remained steadfast. A compact ball of light drifted towards her, ecstatic to reward her strong will. "Harmoniously symbiotic. There's no other way to describe this," she said, bathed in the beauty of the universe. She dove through the atmosphere of an exo-planet, brushed against the icy body of a comet, and witnessed the birth of a star.

“You are not ready to understand, but the universe holds many secrets,” the voice harked. “There is still much for you to learn. Now go. They still need you.”

Another portal shimmered in front of her as she floated to a halt before it. The luster from the stars transformed the portal into a multicolor rainbow. Beautiful didn't cut it. This was a scene that could only be dreamed of. Lacia peered through the portal. She felt like an omniscient narrator in a story. A pile of desks were scattered around a girl. Was that her? A new portal opened to her right and she could see Mana, Brendan and someone she didn't recognize. She called out, but to no avail.

“You are needed in both places, but your friends are not yet ready for your return. There is still much you have left to do and learn,” the voice explained. “You have crossed great distances. Your two worlds are separate, but you must learn how to cross these parallels on your own. I will not be able to help you again.”

“What am I supposed to do? How do I get back? Where do I actually belong, then?” Desperation seeped into Lacia's voice. Questions bombarded her brain, but answers continued to elude her.

“You must find these answers yourself. I am out of time. Good luck, Lacia, and do not forget: you still have much left to do."

A strong gust of wind shoved Lacia back through the first portal. No matter where she was, she would never forget the magnificence that had just graced her. 

The portal first led to a red door, a +key of light manifesting in her hand. She could float here forever if she wanted, never growing tired or feeling hungry, but she knew she was needed. Everything had fallen upon her shoulders. She couldn't neglect the people who were relying on her, whether they knew it or not.

“I guess this is the metaphorical key to my destiny," she observed, turning it over in her hands. "Everything from here on out I have to figure out myself, but I don’t even know where to start. I just know I'm here for a reason. In any case, it looks like my entire world just doubled in size.”

She inserted the key into the door and was promptly bathed in light as pure as the color white. An endless sea of emotion swept over her like a wave. From fear and anxiety, to worry and determination, all kinds of emotions began to encompass her. The scent of oak desks began to fill her nostrils. A slew of voices illuminated the path ahead of her, but her heart ached. She just wanted to go home and snuggle up under the covers. As the light around her dissipated, she found herself on her back, blinking in surprise.

“Oh, I'm back," she mumbled.

Faint amber light peered through the windows. Shadows had begun to drape the corners of the classroom in pale darkness. A warm breeze blew across Lacia’s face, gently rustling her silver locks. She looked around the room, confused.

“What happened?” she asked slowly.

“You passed out and hit the desks on the way down,” Lyra answered. “You took a nasty fall, Lacia. Are you ok?”

“Umm, I think so?”

She began to lift herself off the floor, slowly at first. The pain was manageable. She was sore if nothing else, but nothing was broken. In fact, she escaped without injury. Hoisting herself back onto her feet, she was suddenly overcome with a flood of memories: Brendan, the now-closed gift shop in Azalea; even her nightmares. Her head spun. She swore she saw stars again before her vision cleared.

“Lacia–”

“It’s fine, Mana. I’m fine,” she insisted. “My memories… they’re all back, but I feel like I’m living a double life. I don’t really know how to explain it.”

“You sure you’re alright?” a male voice rose from behind her. 

“Yes, I’m fine, but I don’t believe we’ve been introduced yet," Lacia said tensely.

Mana jumped in as tensions began to flare. ”That's Kaden. He’s our group leader and the one in charge of everything. He’s just making sure you’re alright,” she said, staring daggers into him.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Kaden. You already know who I am, so I see no further need for introductions.” She steadied herself. “There’s actually a lot that I need to explain. The things I can explain, that is. First–”

“Hold that thought,” Lyra said. “It looks like whoever sent that beast to attack us has come to collect. We need to leave.”

Kaden ran to the windows positioning himself against the wall to avoid being seen as he peered out. Two men and a woman were approaching from the front entrance of the school. Either they were highly unobservant or they just didn't care. Even so, it would be best to avoid confrontation. The two men were well built and carried a weapon that hung at their side. They seemed to hold the only weapons, but the woman held something else: a thermal imaging camera. Were they planning to seek them out first before moving in to finish the job?

“What’s the verdict?” Mana asked.

“Where exactly are we going to go, though?” Lacia whispered.

“Let them enter the school first so that they don’t see us. The woman is holding a thermal imaging camera. If she gets close enough or uses it in the right spot, they'll find us." Kaden began crafting an escape plan. “Lacia, Lyra, Mana: you three take all of the material you can find, including any curtains or drapes, and tie them together. Our only avenue of escape is out the window.”

“Understood,” the girls said in unison before splitting up to find suitable material.

“Everyone else, barricade the doors as quickly and quietly as possible. We have to buy as much time as we can. Cilan. Can you access the school's networks? I have an idea. Preferably the intercom system.”

“Yeah, I think I can do it from here. I’ll play a warning announcement over the speakers. I should be able to distort it enough that it’ll seem like a broken recording. They won’t suspect we’re the ones triggering the alarm,” Cilan said. "I just need a few minutes."

“Great. Let’s get that going. I want to keep them off our trail and use the noise to cover our escape,” Kaden urged, giving the former student council officer the green light. 

After a round of furious typing, a loud warning blared through the halls: “All students and staff are urged to shelter in place due to exterior threat. Shelter in place immediately." As expected, the three intruders momentarily jumped at the sound of the alarm. It wasn’t perfect, but it would buy them some time.

“Alright. Now we hope the girls got the message,” Kaden said. “In the meantime, I want everyone else to grab the desks and chairs and pin them against the hall doors as well. Our guests will figure us out before too long.” 

As if on cue, swirls of various hues fluttered through the hallway: reds, greens, blues and purples. "I'd say they got the message," Cilan grinned. Altogether, they had about fifteen feet worth of material. They were short about the length of a window, but it would have to do. Everyone hurriedly tied the various fabrics together, double and triple knotting.

“Take the teacher’s desk and push it against the wall when you tie the fabric to it. We need something to anchor us when we traverse down,” Kaden ordered. “How is the barricade coming?”

“It was looking good when we walked in a moment ago,” Lacia answered. “It’ll hold most normal people, that’s for sure. What concerns me though is that these are the same people who sent that beast after us. What else are they capable of?”

A series of blips dotted the screen of the former President's phone. “Now or never guys,” Cilan shouted. “They’re moving past the teacher's lounge now. We have about five minutes until they reach the stairs. If the barricade holds, it’ll buy us maybe another five. We need to start getting people on the ground."

All eyes turned to Lacia. There seemed to be a silent vote among everyone that she would be the first to go. She liked having an air of importance about her, but traipsing down a wall from the third floor wasn't her idea of 'importance'. A silent nod later and she was below the window line. Once her feet hit the ground, it was fight or flight and she much preferred flight. She dangled above the ground for a few seconds before hitting the grassy slope, sliding the rest of the way down to the field.

“Keep coming,” she shouted up. “I’ll cross through from the track field and exit the school gates that way." She brushed the grass off her skirt and bolted for the school gates, the wind in her hair.

She distantly heard Kaden and Cilan urging everyone down the side of the building as she kept running. “Lacia! Which way after the gates?” Lyra shouted, traipsing down the side of the building after her. If they were sending people down in order of importance, she was her second in command.

Lacia stopped at the gates, scanning the area for anything that might get them to safety faster. “There! The school bus will work. Obvious, but we only need to go so far,” she thought as she bolted for the bus. The keys were even in the ignition. Perfect. She turned around and motioned to Lyra: "Go left at the gates." She nodded and mouthed, “Go ahead.” The other students would need someone to signal them.

The makeshift barrier was holding, but time was running short. The woman had already reached the top of the stairs as she struggled to create a large enough opening in the blockade. Kaden and Cilan were still holed up in the classroom. The rappel began to fray just as Mana left its hold.

“Go, Kaden. I’m right behind you. I’ll block the classroom doors with something while you climb down,” Cilan said, jamming a broom and chair under the door handle. Kaden nodded, finally disappearing below the window line. Cilan was next, leaping into the air right as the classroom door flew off its hinges. If he'd leapt any further, he would have missed the traipse entirely. Luckily, he was able to walk away with only a pair of raw hands.

“Perfect timing,” he said to Mana who'd been waiting below. "Pull it, now. They're coming!” She nodded as she pulled the line. The silky fabrics unraveled themselves, falling to the ground in a beautiful circle of colors. They grabbed the pile and beelined it to the gates, not looking back.

“Lacia found an unused school bus just around the corner,” she said mid-sprint.. 

Cilan frowned. "Nothing quite screams 'I'm over here!' like a giant yellow banana on wheels."

“Don’t frown at me, Cilan. It was the best option, plus we’re out of time anyways. What else did you want her to do? Rent an Elephant?" Cilan's frown grew. 

“Uh huh. That’s what I thought, now pick up the pace. If they catch us, we put everyone else at risk."

They bolted through the school gates and onto the sidewalk where Lyra flagged them down. The heat from the pavement turned the air into a thick and heavy soup. If Cilan hadn’t corroborated what Mana was seeing, she would have been convinced the air was singing it was so hot. Everyone groaned as temperatures soared without explanation.

“Good god. When did it get so hot?” Mana complained as she and Cilan stepped onto the bus. “Is everyone alright?”

"Yeah. All good here. Hurry and take a seat," Lacia pleaded.

The bus hurtled down the road, quickly exiting campus grounds. Lacia glanced in the rearview mirror, wary of pursuers, but they were alone. She turned down a side street, intersecting a neighborhood. They would need supplies, but they also needed a map as she announced she was lost.

“Hey, uh, can someone tell me where it is I’m taking all of us? Parking the bus and looting empty houses sounds nice and all, but I have a feeling that’s not what the plan is, is it?”

Kaden pulled out a pocket-crumpled map. It looked as if it had been drawn all over in sharpie. In the upper right corner, a red circle encompassed a black X–something of importance Lacia presumed.

“Can you get us here?" Kaden pointed to the X on the map.

“I’ll do my best, but what is it?” she asked, glancing between the map and the road.

Mana and Kaden exchanged looks, determining whether or not they should tell Lacia the reasoning behind the marked location. Mana rubbed the back of her head, conflicted. Kaden took the reins instead. “We still don’t know enough about what’s going on with you, Lacia, but we know you’re an integral part of this mission.”

“Mission?”

“So you’re not fully back, yet… Alright then, here’s a quick rundown.” Kaden wasn't happy about having to explain everything by himself. “We’re part of a group of people who, how do I put this?” He pondered his phrasing for a moment. "We have this power called Aria." He held out his hand. A faint white light grew in his palm. It was strangely calming, easing Lacia's nerves. The light grew into a ball as it spread outwards. Stars formed within the center like a mini universe, expanding into infinity.

"I'll show you more in a minute," Kaden said, "We've arrived."

Lacia parked the bus under a set of shade trees as she examined her surroundings, or lack thereof. A large, open field encompassed them on all sides. Several boulders dotted the landscape. It felt like an entirely different world despite being less than an hour from the school.

“Watch carefully,” Kaden instructed. A strong wind began to gather around the perimeter of the field. It was cool and refreshing, almost like outflow from a thunderstorm, just without the thunder. Pressure began to build in Lacia’s chest as the air crackled with energy. She turned to look at Kaden, focused on his craft. The wind swirled around a single point as he chopped the air like a knife. Lacia swore time momentarily stopped. Everything became weightless and blank, like a painter’s canvas. She seemed to float in a void of nothingness when a familiar voice called out to her.

“You’re getting closer, but you still have a long journey ahead of you.”

Colors rushed back into focus like a splash of paint as Kaden now controlled a large block of air. "Was Kaden's Aria responsible for that just now?"

“Here’s the important part.” He steadied his breathing. He released the block of condensed air and hurtled it towards a nearby boulder. The sheer force of the blast itself seemed to momentarily disrupt Lacia's breathing. The block of air connected with a large boulder, shattering it to pieces.

Kaden shuffled over to Lacia, staring at what remained of the boulder. “Aria is special. It allows us to manifest our strongest feelings into form. My demonstration was but one example,” he explained. “Just like the human spirit has many emotions, Aria has many forms–perhaps even a limitless amount. Don’t let your emotions take control, though. Aria is a gift and as such, it can be taken away all the same.”

Lacia’s hair fluttered about in the now-restless wind. Strands of silver shone against the grey background of the sky above. She knew that mastering whatever 'Aria' was would be her ticket to a normal life again.

“I– Ka–” the words caught in her mouth like syrup. She cleared her throat. “Kaden, I feel like there’s more you’re not telling me. I don’t just have Aria. You explained that it was a gift, but not where said gift comes from. What am I supposed to do?” She turned around to look at the rest of the group, but no one had an answer for her. “What is it you can’t tell me? I thought I was part of the group–part of the team?” She felt betrayed.

“You are part of us, but there are some things you’re better off discovering on your own. I want to tell you, but I know you aren't ready for it. Sor–”

Lacia abruptly cut him off. “I’m sorry," attitude creeping into her voice, "I’m not 'ready' for it? Wha–? Kaden, please. I know I may not seem like who I used to be to you, but I promise you,” she paused as she took a deep breath, “I AM MEEE!!” she shouted across the field, tears obscuring her sight. “All I want,” she said between choked breaths, “is to feel like someone accepts me for me. I’m not a Genie in a lamp, I don’t have magic powers, and,” softly, “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Lyra shot Kaden a look as if to say, “Now look what you did," as she ran over to console Lacia. "She just wanted a simple answer. Not an excuse."

“I don’t mean to come off so harsh, Lacia, but I just–”

“Just what, Kaden?” Lyra demanded.

“Lyra, you know she–”

“It’s my fault,” Lacia cut in, her face in her hands. “I don’t even know who or where I am despite me thinking I do. It’s all just a façade.” She stood up to smooth her skirt out, brushing the dirt off. Her eyes were red from crying as she wiped her tears away with her sleeve. “I have no place here. You’ve made that clear," she sniffled, "but If I’m supposed to discover who I am and what I’m supposed to do here, learning all that I can about 'Aria' is the first step. If that means we have to part ways here, then fine.” 

Lyra smiled. Lacia's determination was admirable. “Lacia,” she said soothingly, “you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met and I’m glad I get to know you. As it currently stands, there just isn’t anything that will change Kaden’s mind. Not even I know the full story behind Aria or how to obtain its blessing,” she moved to wipe away the few remaining tears from Lacia's eyes, “but what I do know is that you’re not alone–no matter how alone you may feel.”

Lyra shot Kaden another dirty look. “You should apologize to her.”

Kaden opened his mouth, prepared to admit his faults, but an audible thunk cut him off. An arrow lodged itself into the side of the bus, piercing the aluminum exterior. A near miss. Before anyone could react, a second arrow whistled through the air, and this time, it didn’t miss.