Lost Soul: Chapter Fifteen
A boy’s quest to remember his true nature [Fantasy fiction inspired by an ayahuasca journey in Putumayo, Colombia]
A tall, slender man with a jet-black ponytail faced the wall opposite the boy. He was wearing a white short-sleeved medics tunic that showed off the definition in his aqua-blue arms. He was fiddling with geometric dials on a transparent screen, pausing every so often to assess his workings. Satisfied with his work, he prodded the screen once more with his long alien-like index finger and turned around.
A hum, like old TV static gradually faded away, and the transparent force field covering the boy’s bed dissolved. The boy sat upright and scooched himself against the back of the pod-like bed, still unsure of where he was and why.
“Aha, nice of you to join us again.”
“Marra?” Said the boy.
“Correct”. It appears you’ve had quite the journey since leaving here. In fact, you’re the talk of the soul station after that entrance. A Queen Eagle! Who’d have thought a majestic queen eagle would be your power animal.”
The boy hadn’t finished processing what he’d heard when Marra continued, “…and, well, this you should see for yourself.”
Marra strode over to the boy languidly. He flicked his ponytail back over his shoulder and unsheathed a crystal dagger from the scarab on his medics utility belt.
The boy flinched. Marra gave him a disapproving look, which, oddly, reassured the boy of his pure intentions. Marra then traced the point of the blade down the oversized sky-blue tunic the boy was wearing as if he were undoing a zipper jacket. The tunic fell away as if it was never there. The boy raised his hands to his face. They were shining and yellow gold and buzzed with pure energy.
Marra stepped back in awe like a proud father. “Quite remarkable,” he mumbled under his breath.
The boy twisted his hands back and forth, his fingers stretched out as wide as they would go. “I-I can’t believe it,” he said, marvelling at his newfound vibrancy.
“I can, laddy,” said Alexander, shimmying his way sideways through the narrow entrance. He gripped the underhang of his gut and pulled it upwards, removing just enough bulge for him to squeeze through, with a helpful shove from Andrea and Ivaylo.
“We can!” They cried, spilling out into the spotlessly clean white room. Marra took a few quick elegant side steps to his right to avoid being bowled over.
“You look…you look… like you!” Said Andrea, happy tears streaming down her face. She shone brighter than the time he saw her with Ivaylo on the mountain. However, no multi-coloured fireworks were exploding in all directions. Her hummingbird still clung to her, but they both looked see-through and bright.
“Now now Andrea, Said Marra. Control yourself, you know the arrangement.” And he shot her a knowing look. She nodded back solemnly.
Ivaylo was by Andrea’s side. “Great to see you, chief. I was never in doubt,” he said with a cheeky smile and cheekier wink. He held Andrea’s hand, but also a sadness in his eye.
“Alexander!” The boy now showed his own golden glow, one that caused his friends to step back in shock and wonder.
“Ay laddy, it’s bloody beautiful to see ya light. Bloody beautiful.” He was dabbing away at the corner of his eyes with his huge handkerchief.
“What happened? How did I get back here?”
“You did what you were meant to do, laddy. You faced your darkness for the first time. The first time is always the hardest, mind you.”
“You mean it’s not over?”
“Oh no boyo, it’s only just begun. But now you know where to look.” Alexander tapped on his heart space.
Andrea cradled the boy’s hand. He felt her warmth warm him from inside to out. “There will be times you feel your light begin to dim again, little one.” She said. “It’s the way of the world. Well, the human world. There can be no light without darkness. No love without hate. No happiness without sadness. But remember, life will show you where to look. Even when life seems hopeless, she is always doing what’s best for you.”
A tingle swept through the boy’s body. The kind that sweeps through your body when a piece of music touches your soul.
The boy scanned Andrea. “You seem different”
“I’ve been bestowed a great honour.” She looked at Ivaylo in the eyes regretfully. “I’ve ascended to the healers’ realm.” The sadness in Ivaylo’s eyes was dampened by pride and he held her hand even tighter. Andrea turned back to address the boy, sounding different, as if she’d lost a part of her old self but gained another.
The boy finally understood what he had seen in the vision.
“When you feel as though something is speaking to your soul: a piece of music, a great book, a sunrise, a creative idea that lights you up. Then, you’ll know I’m with you.” Andrea continued.
“But what about Ivaylo?” Said the boy, as much for Ivayo as for himself. He didn’t want to lose her love, care, and friendship either.
“Now is not his time. Or yours!” She said in her familiar chirpy voice quite clearly changing the subject.
“It can’t be long before you go back.”
“Back?” Said the boy.
“Of course!” Marra chimed in. “We can’t have a young soul like yourself here without experiencing the human dimension. And especially not one with such self-awareness. You’ve got quite the example to set.”
“Ay, laddy. Everything you’ve learned, or, rather, unlearned, you’ll bring into your human existence.”
But what about all of you? Will I ever see you again?
“You will. ”
A gust of wind sent the white linen curtains billowing open. In glided the Eagle — now much smaller than the boy remembered. It perched on the edge of the transparent pod next to the boy. Her feathered black-brown breast was plump and powerful. Her yellow eye was beady and wise. It made eye contact with the boy as it had in the shadow realm. He knew it was her who pulled him out of the darkness. He reached out his left arm, palm down, with a loose fist. The eagle hopped on, wrapping her talons around the boy’s forearm. The boy felt her wisdom course through his veins as if he were downloading the knowledge of the universe. At that moment, he knew. It was time to return to whatever was waiting for him on Earth. With his right hand, he ran his fingers gently down the Eagles neck and tucked wings. His face was transfixed with her beauty.
“I’m ready,” he said, without breaking his stare.
“Very good,” said Marra. I’ll speak with the portal keeper myself.
“This…” he gestured awkwardly with his hands in the general direction of the boy.
“…This situation isn’t exactly protocol, you know.”
“I’ll go with you!” Said the boy. “But I think I’ll need a new outfit.”
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