Monday 2 September 2013

Story - Magic Wakens - Part One

  I wake with a start. Sunlight filters through my curtains, bathing my room in a warm, golden glow. Breathing deep, I become aware that something has changed. Drawing the scent of the night's rain deep into my lungs, I can taste the difference in the air. Something fundamental shifted in the darkest hours. I can feel it singing inside me, and I know the world will never be the same.

  Cranking on the radio, I nearly deafen myself as music come blaring out of the speakers. I quickly turn my stereo down, and I grab whatever clothes are handy. The material feels course against my skin, but it doesn't matter. I have to know what has changed. I force myself to listen past the itchiness of my jeans and listen to the radio.

  I shift the station, but all I hear is music. Every station is playing music. The songs change, but no one comes on the air to announce any floods, or the start of World War Three. Logging onto my laptop, I surf through the national news sites. There are no earthquakes, tornadoes, or eruptions. There's not a single report of any major disasters, unless you count the latest teen idol's decent into anarchy.

  I keep looking. There's no news worth reporting at all. No one has solved the world's energy demands, or found a way to feed the homeless. Nothing good, and nothing bad. Despite the lack of news and the cheerful beat still banging out of my stereo, I know something is different. Something has shifted at the core of my world.

  Downstairs, my roommate has already left for work. She's probably been gone for at least a couple hours. As usual she's left a note taped to our refrigerator. "Dear Jaynie, I packed you a lunch when I was making mine. We're out of milk; can you stop and grab some on your way home? Kimberly" Nothing out of the norm there. I send her a quick text anyway; maybe she's heard something at work?

  I turn on the t.v. and grab an apple. I channel surf as I eat, but nothing jumps out at me. Every channel has the same old shows, and the news is just showing traffic and weather. In disgust I turn it off and glance out the window.

  I can see my neighbour mowing his lawn. Cars drive by at their normal sedate pace. Everyone seems to be going about their day, business as usual. I shake my head, puzzled, wondering for a moment if this was all just a dream.

  I grab my bag and head out the front door. I freeze on my top step and just stare. The air around me is alive, glowing and vibrant. It's as though the air itself has been charged with power somehow, and the wind moving through my hair feels electric. The grass around me is greener than I have ever seen it, and I can't help but take a moment to look around.

  Every colour I see is more vibrant, more real than anything I've ever seen. Yet everyone is walking along with their heads down. They stare at the sidewalks or their cell phones. Some are lost in conversation, while others just seem lost. I don't understand why they don't see the vibrancy around us. Can't they feel the power in the air? Don't they taste the life in it?

  I breathe in, and I can feel the power in the air being drawn into my lungs. I breathe as deeply as I can, and I hold my breath for just a moment. I can feel the energy that surrounds me, and I can feel it settle deep, into the lungs. It winds it's way inside me, and I don't understand why no one else feels it.

  Moving down my steps and away from my home, I head for the college campus. My class starts soon, but I can't seem to make myself hurry. With every step I see changes around me. Plants are more alive; their colours more intense. Birds sound sweeter; even the magpie's screaming sounds almost musical.

  I draw in another deep breath. The air itself is heavier. How can they not feel it? It's like trying to breath water, but with each breath I feel more alive. A light breeze brushes against my skin, and a sweetness fills my head. I can smell the plants around me, a spicy, honeyed scent that makes me feel euphoric.

  It's with a smile on my face that I move through the college doors. I'm instantly surrounded by what I can only describe as mayhem. Noise drills through my skull and the air inside these walls smells stale. The dim light from the florescent bulbs is harsh and unforgiving. The atmosphere here feels dead, as if whatever has changed the world outside hasn't quite filtered down into our building.

  I wade through the noise and chaos, headed toward my first class of the day. History has always been fascinating to me, but right now I'm more concerned with the present. I made it about three steps before I feel an arm flung over my shoulder. I glance up through dark bangs to see Sue beside me.

  At a stunning 5'8", Sue is easily three inches taller than me. Slim in ways I will never be, she outshines me in every way. Blond hair, blue eyes and a mouth straight from every guys dream, Sue is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I have no idea why she decided to be my friend.

  The first day of college, while I was trying to figure out where to go, Sue introduced herself and kind of adopted me, said I was her new sister. From that moment on, she spent every possible moment with me. She chose the same classes, drags me around between them, and basically has made me her shadow. I'm dark to her light, and with golden-haired Sue beside me no one sees me. Trust me on that.

  A hip-check from my other side, almost knocks me to the floor. Only Sue's arm over my shoulder's keeps me upright. I don't even have to look to know it's Chris, Sue's best friend since birth. The two of them travel everywhere together; heck they even chose this college together. Both well off, popular and gorgeous, they are the elite of the school. I will be the first to admit, that always being in their shadow has opened quite a number of doors for me. I've been invited to all kinds of events simply because of my proximity to the "power couple".

  I'm jerked out of my thoughts by Chris and Sue pulling at me. They hurry us along, and the crowd parts around us. As they drag me to class they fill the air with their chatter. They flirt back and forth like a new couple, but all their talk is meaningless noise. Somehow, I just know they are as oblivious as everyone else I've seen.

  We slip into our seats, and I pull out my notebook. I have no idea if I'll be able to focus, but no one else seems to have seen a thing. I'm again hit with the feeling that this may have all just been my imagination. Dr Jackobs walks in then, and he calls for the class to listen up. A thrill goes through me, and I just know he's going to explain what's changed overnight. But all he does is let everyone know about a change in time for the upcoming exams.

  Meaningless. I can barely pay attention through the rest of the class. The rest of the morning is no better, a barrage of useless information and mounting noise. I can feel it pushing against me. My classrooms all feel like cages, and the hallways are suffocating me.

  We join the throng in the hallway after our last morning class. We head to the outdoor cafeteria. Set between the buildings, this area is surrounded by brick and stone. Cement tables are scattered on a concrete ground. It's harsh and feels kind of dead right now, but at least I can see the sky. I need to feel the air against my skin. I crave the sun and the wind. The moment we step outside I feel a weight lift off me. I can breathe again.

  Not one person in the entire college has noticed how the world has shifted. The air is electric. I can feel it, deep inside, curling in the pit of my stomach, waiting. Every breath I draw builds this feeling in me. There's a current under my skin and a buzz in my head. It's getting stronger as we sit to eat.

  Chris and Sue fill our lunch hour with mindless prattle. They rave about the parties over the weekend and the upcoming football game. Our table quickly fills with the usual characters, but the conversation doesn't improve. Nothing they say matters, not one syllable of it. I want to scream at them. Why can't they see it? Are they blind to the glow in the air? Can't they hear the music all around us, or feel the power on the wind?

  I shove myself to my feet, ignoring the looks Chris and Sue give each other. I know only that I have to get out of here, to get away. I need to be away from their meaningless chatter. I need to feel the air,to draw in the power as I breathe, to feel the wind move through my hair. I need to feel the heat of the sun on my skin, and feel the living earth beneath my feet.

  I can feel my friends staring holes in my back as I walk away. I can barely keep myself from running as I weave my way through the tables. The concrete is hard underfoot, and I head for the grass as quickly as I can. I move toward the greenhouse, and the garden behind it.

  I step into the warm air of the greenhouse. I can feel the life in here, and I draw it in. I move quickly through the plants, headed to the back doors. Through the glass walls I can see someone outside, standing at the edge of the garden. I don't know him, but the way he moves is so familiar. I slip out the door, kicking off my sandles, and walk toward the center of the garden.

  The stranger walks beside me, and I notice he's barefoot as well. Surrounded by earth and plants, we drop to our knees. Digging my fingers deep into the soil, I feel the current under my skin leap to life. I gasp in sheer pleasure, the sensations overwhelming me. I can hardly breathe, and I just sit there with my hands buried in the soil and a stranger kneeling next to me.

 He turns toward me, green eyes glowing and skin like moonlight. His voice is soft as velvet when he finally speaks. "You feel it too?" he asks, as his hands seek the soil. I can only nod as I feel the energy racing through me, singing through me.

  "What is it?" the stranger's voice is quiet, "What in this world has shifted?"

  Finding my breath and then my voice, I answer, "I don't know," I say. "But why can't they see it?" I ask, nodding toward the students milling around the school fields.

  The stranger shrugs and shakes his head. Then, suddenly, his hands find mine under the soil. I feel an explosion deep inside me, and the current under my skin roars to new heights. I hear him gasp, and my breath catches. My pulse stills and I realize I know him. Eric. I know him. I've always known him.

  Somehow we're both a part of this, whatever this is. It's vital, necessary. This change is the most necessary thing to have happened in generations. We are the key to this change, but it's not just us. Eric and I look at each other, and we know there are more. We have to find the others, the ones who can see the change we see.

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