Flutter (The Discover Series) (6 page)

I pushed open the door and stepped through. The inside was decorated in different shades of white that made everything seem crisp and clean. The living room was open and bright, and greeted me just inside the door. A white couch and love seat made up the room. It looked soft and comfortable; but I was afraid to touch it to see if felt as good as it looked. There was a glass coffee table with a vase of sunflowers, the only color in the room. I moved past the living room, and found a kitchen with an oak island and stainless steel appliances. There was a bathroom with white rugs, and a clear shower curtain that wrapped around a Victorian bathtub.

I found one of the rooms and walked inside. Just like the rest of the house, this room had no walls. The draping was pulled aside and an opening led out on to the deck. There was a giant four poster bed, decorated with an off white comforter and an insane amount of decorative pillows. A shag rug covered the center of the room and I couldn’t help but step onto it. I wiggled my toes between the soft fibers of the rug. Brushing my fingers tips over the bed, I walked further into the room. I was drawn toward the desk in a small nook of the room. There was a square, black box sitting on top of the desk and I stopped in front of it. I drew patterns with my fingers over the detailed carving on the arched lid as I studied it.

I didn’t realize that my heart had started to pound, until the sound of it was the only thing I could hear. I wanted to open the box, but I was afraid to without knowing why. I bit my lip and looked out over the beach. The waves rolled in lazily, and I realized I could no longer hear the sound of the surf, the sound of the wind. The draping no longer flowed with the gentle persuasion of the wind.

My eyes darted back to the box, and before I could think twice about it, I threw open the top and took a step back. There was no sound as the lid hit the floor. It was as if everything had been put on mute. I stared at the open box, breathing rapidly as I waited for something to happen.

I stretched my neck, trying to peer over the side and into the box without having to move closer, but it was useless because I couldn’t see anything. I took a step closer and then closer still, until I was staring into a black void. Confused, and scared, I squinted and leaned into the box. It took me a minute to figure out exactly what was inside. I frowned, realizing what it was. A thick cloud of black fog, floated inside.

I fell back a couple of steps as the fog began to swell, overflowing the box. Spilling down the sides, it hovered above the desk, until it ran out of space, spilling down to stain the floor. I started walking backwards as the black fog climbed up the beams, rotting the
wood
, and staining the perfect white draping in its process. It crawled over the floor
toward
me, and I bolted from the room before it could reach me. Running out the bungalow, I didn’t stop until I was on the beach. I bent over, my hands on my knees for support, as I sucked in the thick salty air. When I looked back at the bungalow, it had been completely over taken by the black mist.

The louder my breathing got, the louder the waves came in and I turned toward the ocean. The sound was back and a loud roar in my ears. Squeezing my eyes shut, I covered my ears, panting loudly. I wanted to scream until everything made sense. I couldn’t explain what was happening, or what I was seeing; it was all smoke and mirrors. My mind had to be playing more tricks on me because my reactions kept getting more and more entertaining.

The edges of my vision shook and trembled violently after each breath I took; after each wave that crashed against the side of the sharp rock wall that towered over the beach, reaching to the sky. I had noticed the wall before, but what I hadn’t seen was the castle sitting on the end of the cliff.

Blinking, I shook my head, and that’s all it took.

The colors from the sky began to bleed into the ocean, and the image started to fade away until I was staring at the walls surrounding me, breathing loudly.

What the hell was that
?! My mind screamed at me.

Right, like I’m more qualified to explain it!!
I argued back.

The last bit of calm I was hanging on to, by a tiny thread, finally snapped. Because I couldn’t fight the hysteria any longer, I let myself drift into unconsciousness, seconds before I had the chance to realize the pool of water that was slowly rising up my neck.

The ice was melting too slowly.

Andres

This shouldn’t be happening! My
thoughts
screamed at me.

I realize that!
I silently shouted back.
Don’t you think I realize that?!

Sara!

My mind panicked at the thought of the Princess waking up in the ice, confused, terrified, alone. I struggled harder against the ice. Wiggling my shoulders back and forth, I
uselessly
tried to free myself from the remaining ice that was wrapped tightly around my body.

I knew it was hopeless.

It was far too early to be thawing, earlier than I would have started the process myself. The ice had melted completely away from around my head and halfway down my arms, but my chest down remained frozen. Judging from how much of the ice that was melted away, I had been defrosting for a couple of days. Even with winter nearing an end, the sun wasn’t giving off enough warmth; so the process was slower. That was the only reason I was awake now, before I had fully thawed out.

I had awakened groggy headed, and at first I hadn’t realized anything was wrong. The good thing about hibernation was that sleeping for months at a time seemed like hours when you finally did wake up. After years of doing this I was aware of the side-effects hibernating caused, and I let my body slowly come too.

Blinking the sleep from my eyes I lazily rolled my head around my shoulders, stopping to stretch the muscles in my neck from side to side. I could tell the lower part of my body was still adjusted to the sub-zero temperature, so the numbing sensation was normal and would soon pass. This was the part I hated the most, because very soon I would be feeling the cold that surrounded me.

The instant my eyes had opened I knew everything was wrong. Doing this for thirteen years had left me with a good instinct for trouble. My body was a biological clock, and it was set to awaken me the same time every year, but something was wrong this time. We had never come out of hibernation this early.

I managed to look down far enough to see a small crack in the ice that led down the front of my body. I didn’t know how far it went down, but it was enough to create a path so water didn’t fill up the small ice cavern I was in and drown me. I was lucky, but I couldn’t say the same for Sara, and the dread I felt doubled at the thought.

I knew that someone had started the chain reaction,
but I was still far too numb to

sense anyone above me, or the Princess next to me; so knowing whether she was safe, awake, scared or hurt wasn’t a possibility. I could feel my body pulsating with heat, and I knew that meant the sun had been moved closer. It was creating an intense heat wave, far more than it should have been for this time of year. That was a dead giveaway that another
Light Fighter
had been here, and most likely the reason for all of this. I couldn’t say for sure that it was someone on our side, so to be safe I would treat this like a threat. I had to get out of here as soon as possible, which meant I
needed
to change so I could be stronger when I called on the light; but my temperature wasn’t rising fast enough, and my body was still partly frozen, so transforming was out of the question right now.

I was frozen with my hands in front of me, and my palms shaped as if I were holding something round, the same position as always. Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes and focused everything I had on the point between my hands. Using all of my energy caused creases to form around my forehead and eyes, and I gritted my teeth, not realizing that I was holding my breath.  After a few minutes the ice began to glisten and sweat. A golden flame smoldered inside the sphere shaped, ice sculpture that was now resting inside my palms. The ice continued to melt away; water bubbled and spilled out from between my hands, until my fingers and wrists were free, and I was guarding a weak, glimmering, ball of light. The illumination blazed to life once and then was quickly smothered out.

My head dropped forward, and my shoulders slumped in exhaustion. All my energy completely drained from me. I hadn’t had time to build my strength up, and using that little bit of power had quickly drained me, and I hadn’t even melted that much of the ice.

I didn’t want to have to keep stopping to recharge, but I didn’t have any other choice. I was worried that it was going to be too late for Sara if I didn’t get out of here
now
. I didn’t know the condition she was in, but even if she wasn’t in any danger of drowning, she was still going to awaken not knowing where or who she was, or how any of this was possible.

Up until now there hadn’t been any need for me to explain to her who she really was, or about her past or future. I had known this would be the last year she would have the option of being oblivious to the war that surrounded her. She would be eighteen in a few months and everything that she knew would be gone, and she would hate everyone and everything.

I had hoped that we would have a little more time after this last Freeze; but good or bad, there was a reason we were being awakened this early. I would take Sara home and train her to rule the kingdom that waited desperately for her to return. That wasn’t the only reason I wanted her to stay safe. It went far beyond the call of duty. She was not only my Princess, or the key to our survival, she was much more than that to me as a person. I had raised her. I would never be her father, but we had a bond, and that made my reason entirely selfish.

I didn’t want to worry about any of that now, I needed to get out
of
here and make sure she was safe. Lifting my head, I closed his eyes again and took another deep breath. Pulling the cold air through my lungs, my body pulsated with renewed energy, adrenaline flowed through my system, and I concentrated on the warmth as hard as I could.

The golden flame started out small, the size of a golf ball, throbbing to life growing brighter and bigger between my hands. The glow filled the tiny ice cave, warming everything around me. The walls and floor of the ice began to glisten, and water flowed and pooled around the parts of my body that were already exposed. I watched as my forearms and elbows were released from the icy death grip. The light dulled and shrank, but didn’t go out this time.

With a shaky breath I focused, and the ball of light flared to life once more.

Flutter

Three

Voices

Sara

Yep, it official, you’re still frozen.

The sarcasm was completely unnecessary, and I was not in the mood.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Look who’s got jokes!

I had desperately hoped when I had finally come to, that: a.) this would have all
really
been a nightmare, inside of a nightmare, inside of an ‘
are you freaking kidding me?!’
Or b,) I had been miraculously saved. Under the circumstances, I was willing to bypass the white knight in shining armor for pretty much
anything or anyone
at this point. Who really has the option to be picky in a situation like this?

I’d like to solve the puzzle please.

Ugh, really?!
I scolded.

Unfortunately life was sick and twisted; and I was still a human icicle, who was now in danger of drowning. I managed to somehow find myself with
another
problem while unconscious. Hysteria had settled into my system now, which basically meant I was allowed to pass go, but not collect $200. Instead I was trading insults with myself, while I waited to drown in my own ice cell.

Oohh, lucky you!

Bite me,
I sneered.

I think being frost bitten is enough, wouldn’t you agree?

I hate you!

Who
cares if I was pouting! I was losing an argument with
myself!

Boohoo – “I’m trapped in ice, I’m going to drown, and I’m not smart enough to come up with better insults against myself”. I’d tell you to cry me a river, but you already have one.

You do realize that if I go down, you go down with me, right?!

Silence.

Yeah that’s what I though.

I knew that I was being childish, but I still felt better.

Arguing with myself had distracted me momentarily from my situation. Unfortunately that’s all it was, a distraction. I was still slowly going to drown in my ice coffin, never knowing why, or who had put me here.

Convenient you say? Yes I thought so too. It was the perfect murder plan: dump the body in ice, and wait for nature to take its course. Only I was the exception to the rule.

What rule would that be?

The rule of death.

My demise was going to be slow and terrifying.

You know what they say: Life’s a bitch and then you-

Die? Yeah, I know. Thanks.

Was that really my only option? Giving up? Admitting defeat, and accepting that death was going to be my fate? Just thinking it left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I had a strong desire to spit.

No!
I said.
I refuse!

No? 
My mind challenged me.

That’s right, I said NO! You’re either with me or against me, which is it going to be?

Well of course I’m with you genius, let’s not forget I am a part of you.

Grrr, a simple ‘count me in, partner’ will work next time.

You plan on there being a
next
time?!

You know what I mean!!

Do I have to say ‘partner’? I just don’t feel comfortable saying that out loud, where
people
can hear me.

Nothing you say actually leaves the confines of my head; you do realize that, don’t you?

So you think.

You’re insane.

Says ‘frosty the ice girl’ as she argues with herself.

Grrr!

So what’s the plan
partner
?

Silence.

You do have a plan right?!

Of course!!
I said defensively, and then added:
I mean I will.

You’ve got to be kidding me!

Just be quiet so I can think please!!

Silence followed, and I let out a frustrated breath.

Finally! Now, I need a plan.

It wasn’t some freak accident that I had some how managed to cheat death and survive. I was smart enough to know that people don’t just slip through ice, freeze all by themselves, and then
wake
up
imprisoned.

So many questions and theories were running though my head that I couldn’t quite keep track of them all. Maybe this was some government conspiracy gone completely wrong. I was probably being used as some friggin Frankenstein experiment.

I waited, expecting and preparing myself for some cynical remark.

Silence.

Really? You have nothing for me?
I taunted.

There was still nothing, so I decided there was no point in
exacerbatin
g
the situation.

I knew I probably hadn’t been a rocket scientist before my current situation, but I still knew that my body shouldn’t have been able to survive below zero temperatures. Time didn’t seem to exist down here in my ice world, and I had no clue how much of it had passed while I had been unconscious.

My body temperature would have quickly dropped to conserve energy, my body tissues would have slowly started to deteriorate, and my brain would have turned to mush. I would have died before I even had the chance to completely freeze solid. So many factors ruled ou
t
the possibility that I had somehow been colossally clumsy, and done this to myself with nothing more than simple bad luck on my part.

This could be someone’s failed attempt at trying to murder me, but
why?
 

That’s a laughable question Sara. The possibilities to that open ended question are endless, like falling into a black hole of nothingness, when you don’t even remember who you are.

Well I don’t see you coming up with anything bet- Wait what did you call me? Sara?

That is your name.

“Sara”
I whispered the name out loud, tasting the syllables on my tongue. The flavor was incredible! My name was
SARA
! I couldn’t remember anything else about myself, but I knew my name was Sara. I was Sara.

I couldn’t stop saying it:

Sara, Sara, Sara, SARA!

Adrenaline coursed through my body, inspiring my senses with new found confidence.

Sara
.

Umm
Sara,
if you’re quite finished now, can we go back to creating a plan?

How did you know my name was Sara?

That’s easy: because I am you! I’m starting to sound like a broken record here Sara.

And how long ago did you remember this?!

Not long. Geez chill. Ha, ha, get it? Chill!

Yeah, I got it. Hilarious. What else do you remember?

Nothing! I came across our name while I was tuning out your wayward thinking. You would have remembered it too of course, if you weren’t so busy worrying about how we got here. Can we focus more on how we’re going to get out of here?
We can worry about the ‘whys’ and ‘what the hells’ later, but right now we need a plan.

She was right. The ‘whys’ and ‘what the hells’ didn’t matter right now. The one thing that was certain was that I had
purposely
been put here. As impossible as this entire situation was, how could there be any hope of escaping? I didn’t know if I was in some incubation tank in an undercover scientific lab, or some inconspicuous location in the middle of the
Arctic Circle
. Who knew how far down I was, or what was around me? Digging myself out was out of the question. Even if I did have something to break the ice with, my hands were still frozen, and I had no idea where; so by time the ice melted enough for me to find and free them, I will have already drowned.

You’re doing it again Sara. You need to focus.

I’m trying!! I don’t know what more you want from me!!

I was far too angry to notice at first - declaring defeat stung worse than the ice water that was climbing its way up my neck- but when the voice spoke again, the compelling tone penetrated through the fog around my thoughts.

That strange hum that had lingered inside of me was buzzing with life now. The electric current raging through me was intensified by the ice that was plastered all around me. I was sensitive to everything around me, including the
new
silky voice that was now talking to me.

Just focus baby girl. I know this is overwhelming, but it will get easier once you focus.

How many voices did I have concealed in here?
I wondered.

This is the last one, I promise
. The voice said, and I could hear the smile behind the words.

I didn’t feel like asking anymore questions.

Oddly enough I felt safe now, and the possibility that everything would be okay made me sigh in relief.

It will,
the new voice insisted.

I took a deep breath, trying to force away the anger that rested in my throat like bile, and then I took one more for good measure.

That a girl. Now, look around, where is most of the ice melting from?

My eyes searched franticly around the confined space, trying to take in everything at once. The water had already pooled from the floor of where the ice stopped at my shoulders, and up around my neck. The water sloshed when I moved my head, splashing my chin and jaw line, and I shivered as the exposed skin stung from the cold. My eyes darted
toward
the ceiling and I watched water droplets, the size of small gems, trickle down the sides of the walls, and occasionally dropping straight down.

My pulse raced.

There!
I all but screamed the word.
It’s coming from above me
.

How had I not noticed how fast it was melting before?

You’re doing good Sara.

I swooned at the sound of the voice saying my name.

“Okay, now what?” I said out loud, no longer wanting to think the words. It felt too claustrophobic inside my head now.

I realized the water was rising again. I could feel the droplets beading on my lips with each ripple of water. My tongue snuck out to collect the drops, and I moaned with satisfaction. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was. The water tasted good, clean, fresh and cold. I had an idea to buy me some time. Dropping my head forward, I pursed my lips and sucked in, making a slurping sound as I swallowed the water in big gulps. The cold liquid slid down the back of my throat easily, leaving a wintery trail in its place. I dropped my head back allowing the last of the water to go down smoothly, the excess water dribbled down the sides of my mouth.

What are you doing?
The voice sounded confused, listening to the sounds I was making.

“I’m drinking the water. I thought maybe that would help. The ice is melting much faster now.” As I explained my actions I tried to keep the tremor from my voice, but failed miserably.

That’s my girl.

Every bit of my body flushed; the heat from his words burned my insides, and I shivered from the effect. It was a good kind of heat, it allowed me to block out the cold, but made focusing difficult.

You have to focus Sara, and so do I
.

“You’re making it hard to!” I complained.

I wondered why I was doing this to myself. What was the point in me creating his voice?

I’m sorry,
he said.

There were so many emotions behind the simple apology and I tried to make sense of them all; Humor, surprise, regret and joy. I was confused mostly by the last two. Why joy
and
regret?

You’re so easily distracted.

The laugh that followed the allegation was a caress that made me ache in a strangely delicious way.

It was apparent that if I ever did get out of here, I was going to have to get my head examined.

The beautiful
stroke
of his laugh came again, and I groaned.

“Can you please stop that?”

I didn’t even need to hear words, to sense the grin I knew would have been there had he been real.

After a few seconds of agonizing silence I panicked, needing to hear his voice again.

“Are you there?” I asked, a slight tremble woven in my voice.

Desperation and fear laced my words and I blushed at my own weakness.

I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, and you’re the strongest person I know.

“I created you. It doesn’t count when you say it.” I joked, but it made me feel better anyway.

He laughed and I wanted to wrap myself up in the sound. He was right. I was entirely too easy
to
distract.