Lost Soul: Chapter Seven
A boy’s quest to remember his true nature [Fantasy fiction inspired by an ayahuasca journey in Putumayo, Colombia]
The boy backed up against the wall of the vessel, trying to steady himself with his arms stretched out like the wings of an eagle, his fingers gripping the smooth surface like talons.
The entire craft was shaking violently, as though it were being forced to move against her will. Something in between the floor panels popped and a stream of clear gas fizzed out filling the craft. The boy gagged as the gas hit him. It was the same dungy smell he’d smelt before, but one hundred times more potent. Suddenly, the rattling stopped. Now the boy felt as though he was moving. Not as fast as during the hop, but moving. He ran to the control panel and punched away at the screen. To his surprise, he hit the right combination and the outside world appeared where the solid door had been. He was moving. High above the forest. Toward the temple! His body swelled with panic he’d not felt since opening his eyes in the strange land long ago.
***
On the horizon, an object was approaching the temple. It drifted over the forest like a rain cloud in a gentle breeze. Ivaylo, Andrea, and Alexander looked over at Rorzak. Her antenna glowed a deeper red.
She muttered words in her tongue under her breath, guiding the object closer and closer to where they stood. They knew what was happening but still marvelled at the spectacle. Everything is possible in the realm of possibilities, but believing it to be true is a different matter. The soul’s journey requires as much remembering its true nature as experiencing new realities. One who is true to themselves knows they are capable of anything. Watching a Dinago Queen tap into this universal energy for such a feat moved them all.
Soon the craft was almost on top of them. They scattered, leaving space for the craft to land on the temple. Rorzak guided the craft down until it hovered above the surface. With a gasp, her legs buckled beneath her. She quickly regained her composure before the others could show any concern. Instead, their looks of marvel changed to joy when they saw the boy, his face squished up against the transparent door. When he saw his friends smiling back at him, the look of panic on the boy’s face changed to joy.
“LADDY!” Alexander shouted as the door descended and he could get his hands on the boy. He lifted him in the air and gave him a hearty hug and an even heartier rub on the head. The boy squirmed in Alexander’s powerful arms, but couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear with happiness and relief.
Andrea couldn’t contain herself any longer and flew up to kiss the boy on the cheek. Her wonderful glow gave him the fuzziest feeling inside.
“Am I glad to see you,” said the boy.
Alexander lowered the boy down to the ground. He bent down and whispered in the boy’s ear: “We’re in the company of royalty, laddy. Come with me and take a knee when I give ya the nod.”
The boy nodded back bemused. He still hadn’t taken in his surroundings. Now the eerie darkness crept up on him, and chills ran through his body. The silhouette of the statues against the blood moon grabbed his attention. They looked alive, leering down on him, looking into his soul. What was left of it, anyway.
Alexander led the boy toward the statues. As they approached, Rorzak emerged from behind the slightly bigger statue on the left. The boy stuck even closer to Alexander. He trusted the great warrior soul.
“My lady, this — this is my friend. Thank you for your kindness in bringing him here.” Alexander gave the nod.
The boy got to his knee and bowed his head: “Thank — thank you.”
Raw emotion stirred within Rorzak. “You’re travelling with a lost soul. Of human expression… if I’m not mistaken?”
“Yes, my lady. We found him in the realm of infinite possibilities. We’re his guides…well, we’re doing our best.” Said Alexander, beckoning to Ivaylo and Andrea, still waiting by the craft.
She turned to the statue of her husband, the King of Dinago. “So, it is true. My husband had foreseen it: “When the darkness descends, a lost soul shall rise”. He spoke of a dimly lit being. One of great courage that could bring light back to our realm.
The boy looked more puzzled than Alexander. He pointed to his chest: “Me? No, I’m not… no. I don’t even remember who I am!”
“You doubt the King’s word?” Said Rorzak sternly.
Alexander butted in by clearing his throat. “Course he doesn’t, my lady. The boy’s shown great courage to get this far. Speaking of which…We were on our way to Torus Mountain, and, well, didn’t get of to the best start mind, but we must continue. For some reason the healer wants us…” Alexander lassoed his index finger in the air… “to meet the darkness head-on. To be honest, I dunno why he didn’t get one of ’em Atlanteans to go. They’d already defeated their darkness god knows how long ago”
By this point, Andrea and Ivaylo had joined their companions. “For exactly that reason, Alexander,” Said Andrea softly. It was our darkness. The darkness is cunning; it isn’t the same for one realm and the next nor one being and the next. What’s happening to humans is unique. And, I expect, what happened here in this realm, too.”
Rorzak’s eyes shimmered in the moonlight. She knew all too well the darkness that fell upon her race. She turned her back to the companions.
“We reached the pinnacle of civilization,” she began. “Living in peace and harmony with our environment; living in peace and harmony with each other. Technological advancement became our sole focus. At first, so that our people would thrive. Then, so that other realms could thrive. Just like us. It became an obsession. What started with pure intentions became unrelenting pride. When other realms didn’t want to learn from us, we cut them off altogether. “We live perfectly! How can they not see it!” were the cries from the people. We became more and more insular. Always striving for improvement. Soon, not as a race, but as individuals. Pride took hold of us. And that’s when the darkness came. It entered our realm, overwhelming our people with an inflating sense of self-importance. Abundance became scarcity. Love became hate. Life became death.”
She turned to face the companions again.
Look around, look at what’s left! Those of us with light left in our hearts fled to the realm of infinite possibilities. There, our souls could see out their experience. My husband and I’s souls, on the other hand, longed to return. Hope lived on in the depths of our being. Now, I believe I know why.”
Her heart softened her hard skin and silver teardrops trickled down her face; her light shone brighter than the blood moon glistening of the dark temple stone.
A cool breeze whipped across the temple. Shivers ran down their spines as though waking from a nightmare, unsure whether it was over. Then dark clouds rolled in from behind Rorzak. They seemed to dampen light from the blood moon.
Without thinking Ivaylo tried to light the area, but he was knocked to the ground unconscious before he could perform the charm. Andrea flew to him, but an invisible force restrained her. Her golden glow dimmed as she struggled against the darkness engulfing her. Alexander didn’t move an inch. He was transfixed on Rorzak. Her antenna radiated a fiery red as she wrestled with the darkness, struggling to tear herself from it. Within the melee, there was another antenna similar to hers. Alexander thought he saw two jaguar faces as they grappled in the black vortex.
At last, Alexander snapped out of the trance and unsheathed his axe from its scabbard on his back. When his knuckles wrapped around its cold steel handle, it glowed pure white like a star in a pitch-black sky. He raised it out in front of his face at an angle before bringing it into his chest. He charged toward the melee wielding the axe above his head, cracking it down into the dark cloud. His blow was mighty and true. The darkness wailed and loosened its grip on Rorzak. Barely alive Rorzak fell out of its deathly grip. “Get to the craft” she whimpered. She found her balance and with a high-pitched war cry locked herself in battle with the darkness once again.
This time Alexander saw the darkness face clearly. It was Rorzak: the Jaguar face, the blood-red Antenna. Alexander watched as Rorzak’s shadow stuck her with her antenna. It penetrated deep into her gut, bursting out the other side of her scaly body. She fell to the ground. The light in her heart faded. Her shadow turned on Alexander. He stepped back, pulled out his shield, and prepared for the worst (on instinct more than anything) With her last light, her last strength, Rorzak charged at the shadow “GO!” she screamed.
Alexander came back to his senses and bellowed to the others to get back to the craft. He picked up the boy and threw him in. Scanning for Andrea and Ivaylo, he saw them still wrestling with the darkness. With another swing of his axe, he hacked away at the thinner wisps of dark cloud pinning Andrea. They both picked up the still unconscious Ivaylo. His wolf floated alongside him also out cold. Once in the craft, Alexander didn’t have to touch a thing. It whirred and hissed and lifted from the ground. Alexander rushed toward the door. Rorzak’s Antena was fading like a lamp running out of oil. She’d fulfilled her promise. They were on their way.
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