The Midnight Sun

Chapter 1Cove “Two souls destined to be together. Matched and inseparable. No mistakes,” his mother whispered, reassuring Cove. “My little wave, do not fret,” Cove’s father soothed, kissing Cove’s cheek. Cove’s father’s smile brightened the room. He had the same dark black hair as Cove. His mother’s blue eyes narrowed. Cove was embarrassed to discuss love with his parents. His eyes shifted to the only home he had ever known. Blue tranquil waves crashed into the fine brown sand. Leaves from the banyan trees swayed as the warm wind blew. There were no clouds. Only a clear sky and the bright morning sun. “It is an exciting day. Do not worry about such uncontrollable things. Your match will be perfect as every match is,” Cove’s mother insisted. She had braided her long blonde hair. Her tan-wrinkled skin bore scars from the water. “Surf with your friends. We will leave in a few hours,” his mother encouraged him. Part of Cove wanted to know how they could be so calm. In hours, he would be bound to another. He could be forced to move to another land. Tears burned at the thought. Cove rushed away from the table. The familiar grooves of his yellow longboard calmed him. The waves crashed into him as the ocean drew him into her. Each morning, he found himself in the sea. In the stillness between waves, he could see his reflection. His thick black hair was cut short. It dripped water. His honey eyes matched the hue of his surfboard. The sun had tanned his skin, and light freckles dotted his cheeks. His best friends, Sky and Indra, always joked his match would appreciate his lean surfer body. He wished he was taller. He came in at just under six feet. “There’s a sea turtle. That means it’ll be a good day,” Sky said. His black hair was soaking wet. Waves splashed around him as he paddled to Cove’s side. Cove had not even noticed his presence. His dark wetsuit needed to be replaced. Tears exposed his arms and chest. A sea turtle’s head emerged. The turtle’s brown head and patterned shell floated and then sank beneath the surface. “Time to be matched. Ready for love? I’m dreading my ceremony next year,” Indra said, her legs hanging over her board as she let the water rock her back and forth. Her black eyes darted. She was the only other person Cove knew who feared the ceremony. “I’m hoping to match with someone on the island. I’m an ocean person. I can’t give up these waves,” Cove confided in her. The idea of leaving home, his family, friends, and his entire culture tore at him. “You could be matched with the prince. You’re the same age,” Indra joked, laughing. Cove shook his head. That would be a nightmare. A surge of water approached them. The wave peaked as he slid down, letting the water splash against him as he flew through the barreled wave. For a glorious moment, all he could see was the sea. Nothing else mattered but this wave. Then it ended, and the fear crept back in. “Come on, who knows what else is out there? There are four nations, all with different lands and cultures. We’ve only seen this one island. It would be fun to see something new. Your mother comes from the clouds. She loves it here,” Sky reminded Cove. Cove rolled his eyes. He had no desire to live in the clouds. “My dad comes from the mountains. Just mountains and valleys. He had never seen the ocean until he had to move here,” Idris added, patting Cove on the back. Another wave spared him from the conversation. He had no desire to live on the land separated from the ocean. Sometimes, he had nightmares. He dreamed of being matched with someone from space and living in the dark, nothingness. Cove threw himself into the water at the thought. The warm ocean drew him in. His body spiraled as the wave broke above him. The rush of his body crashing into the water and the relief of the fresh, warm air filling his lungs as he surfaced was better than any soulmate. Indra and Sky sat on their boards, only surfing the waves Cove didn’t take. Nothing could compare to this. His body moved and swayed with the ocean for hours as he tried to let the waves drown his problems. “You’ll have to leave soon. Let’s head in,” Sky prompted, nodding to the sun. The sun had risen to the center of the sky. The morning twilight yielded to the afternoon’s radiance. Cove sighed, taking one last wave. He threw himself off his board and into the water. The water pulled him deeper and deeper until his hands touched the coral. He said a quick prayer to Kanaloa, the god of the sea, asking not to be separated from his people. The fine sand moved between his toes as they headed to the shore. Cove knelt, running his hands into the sand. He lay in it, letting it stick to his body. “Now, you’ll have to shower,” Idris scolded, rolling her eyes. She pulled Cove to his feet. “Everything will be fine. You graduated. Your studies are over. Tonight, you’re gaining a spouse. You’re not losing us. We will see you soon,” Idris insisted, kissing his cheek. She grabbed her board. Her blonde hair swung as she ran home. “You worry too much. Have fun tonight. You’re going to find out who the love of your life is! I can’t wait for my ceremony,” Sky said, hugging him. Sky grabbed his water bottle, drinking until it was empty. Cove’s friend returned to the ocean, filled it with water from the sea, and gave it to Cove. “Now, the ocean will always be with you,” Sky promised, waving unconcerned as he headed home. Cove clutched the bottle. His heart pounded. He wanted to run back to the water. Air filled his chest as he forced himself to breathe. When he returned home, his body was exhausted. The freshwater he bathed in cleansed him of the salt of the sea. He drank from his water bottle. A surfboard etched into its side. Formal wear was set out on his bed for the ceremony. Cove dressed, looking at himself in the mirror. This would be how his spouse would see him for the first time. His top was made of pale blue silk. As Cove requested, his shirt was sleeveless and had a V-neck. His collarbones and the top of his chest showed. His pants were tight around his waist but did not hug his body. The black silk matched his dark shoes. The wavy curls of his hair were tamed and combed into place. “Come. Talk to us before we leave,” his mother ordered when he finished preparing. On the wooden kitchen table sat a sea turtle-shaped mango cake handmade by his father. The kitchen smelled of fresh fruit and salty air. The circular home he lived in was split into two bedrooms and a bathroom. There was an open living space for the kitchen and living room. “Why is no one else scared? What if I have to move? What if it’s not a love match?” Cove asked, verbalizing what had been on his mind and in his dreams for months. Some matches were status-driven or political. Not everyone looked for love. Everything was wooden. The walls, doors, floors, cabinets, tables. The smell of wood meeting the ocean was Cove’s favorite smell. Large bookcases filled the living room. Bamboo sofas and chairs were placed around a coffee table. There were no televisions or computers. His parents banned them. They only wore the mandatory black circular necklace that tracked every movement. Any moment in his life could be found in its hard drive. The device’s data would be used to match him with his future spouse. “Oh, darling. We are scared. We’d be devastated if you had to move. It’s so clear you belong in the sea. You are destined for love. You’ll be matched with a lovely spouse who is part of the Ocean Nation,” Cove’s mother answered, squeezing Cove’s hand. Cove’s father shut the screen door behind him as he entered. Vegetables from their yard had been harvested and placed in a bucket to clean. His father went to work preparing their lunch. “Your mother is right. It is common for people from different nations to fall in love. Yet, you are so clearly a man of the ocean. Even if you are matched with someone from another nation, they are your match. They’ll love you and wish to see you happy. You’d live here,” his father reminded him. The smooth black surface of his necklace moved between his fingers. Sometimes, he’d slam it against the rocks. It never broke or dented. Now, he hoped everything everyone said about this technology was true. If it knew everything about everyone, then it could give him a soulmate. One that would live on this island. “Eat,” Cove’s father ordered, serving him his favorite meal. Rice was hidden by cut garlic, mango, pineapple, cucumber, and avocado. Cove savored each bite, unsure what his next meal would be. His mother handed him the orange juice she had squeezed. “We have to go. The ship will be arriving soon. I’ve packed the necessities. Grab anything else you would like. We got you this in case you do have to move,” his mother said, her blue eyes narrowing with slight worry. She handed him a cell phone that came to life at his touch. All the phone needed was his fingerprints. It synced with his school records, medical records, and social connections. It used every piece of data his necklace had collected to customize its layout. “Don’t get addicted to that thing. They’re wonderful tools but can be dangerous if you have them on you all the time,” his dad advised, his face etched with concern. Cove hugged his parents, sending his friends a message as he grabbed his belongings. There were only two things he’d need. He held the water bottle full of seawater in one hand. He grabbed his surfboard and packed it in its black traveling bag. He strapped his board to his back and nodded. It was time. His parents opened the door and waited for Cove to join them. Cove took in his home, hoping he’d be able to return to it tonight. “It’s a quick walk. Hurry,” his mother prompted, pointing to the cluster of metallic buildings a mile away. While his mother rushed them, Cove and his father paced themselves. Sounds of birds calling to one another intermixed with the chirps of animals in the woods. “I never liked this part of town,” Cove’s father admitted with a grimace. Metallic buildings, the sounds of engines, and the smell of rubber overwhelmed Cove. A line of eighteen-year-old teens and their parents formed in front of a black gate. The interior of the dock was steel and without color. There were not even windows to allow people to look at the sea. The floor was grimy and uncleaned. “Have your identification ready. Two guests are allowed per child. You know the rules,” a grumpy old man in uniform screamed. “The ceremony lasts two hours. Guests may say their goodbyes for an additional thirty minutes,” the man yelled. The guard met Cove and his parents’ identification with an exasperated groan. He glared at Cove’s surfboard. The man stamped his identification. They were allowed through to the ship. His parents stood in front of him in line. The ship was not visible. They were stuck in a gray and brown tunnel that led to their vessel. The noise echoed around the chamber. Cove’s father squeezed his hand with a forced smile. “Not to worry. The ship is quick. It’ll only take a few minutes,” his father assured, rustling his hair. Cove grumbled that he had styled it, but truthfully, he didn’t mind. He liked his hair messy. A woman’s voice on the intercom repeated the rules and regulations of traveling. “God, these nature-loving freaks shouldn’t even be invited to the ceremony. Join the rest of us in the thirtieth century,” a young security guard with bright red hair complained when Cove passed her. His father held his head high, not responding to the taunts. Most of the guards were rougher than they needed to be. Some families had to produce their identification over and over as every guard requested to see it. A woman’s suitcase was taken from her for no apparent reason. “What is your birthdate?” a pale middle-aged man with gray hair asked Cove as they neared the steel doors to the vessel. “Why do you ask? He has already shown his identification,” Cove’s mother responded, waving his identification in front of the guard. “Please do not argue with the guards. That board will not be allowed on the ship,” the man answered. Cove clutched his surfboard. Tears burned in his eyes. It was the only thing he’d have to remind him of the sea if he had to leave. “Each person is allowed to bring whatever they’d like onboard. The law states that all personal items will be approved when attending the ceremony, given a person may move afterward. If you’d like to debate the law, I’d be happy to escalate my concerns,” his mother argued, standing between the guard and Cove. His father pushed past the guard, grabbing Cove. He led Cove away from the grumpy man. The guard glared at his mother but gave up and started pestering the people behind them. They arrived on the ship. Cove frowned. This ship was not a sea fairing vessel. It was a large steel chamber with seats tight together. The cylinder they had to sit in was already hot, and less than half the passengers had taken their seats. “Let’s put this here,” Cove’s father said, lifting his surfboard into a compartment above them. Each row had a half dozen seats. Well-used, thin blue cushions were on each seat. They were useless. It felt like sitting on hot metal. “Take your seats. We lift off in ten minutes,” a woman ordered. Her brow lifted. She ran her hands through her hair as she tried to get passengers to sit down. The rows were tiny. Cove’s mother’s legs pressed into Cove, and his father’s elbow jostled him. As more people sat, they were forced even closer together. Cove yearned for the open air. His breaths were shallow as his anxiety peaked. His pulse quickened, and his heart pounded. “Inhale. It is a quick journey. We will get to the arena, and you’ll see a bit of my home. It will be nice to be in the clouds,” Cove’s mother soothed him. “Did you two know you’d love each other right away?” Cove asked, terrified. Everything about the day felt wrong. He did not want to go to the ceremony, he did not want to be in this prison of a ship, and he did not want to leave home. “When I met your father, I thought he was the most stunning man I’d ever seen. My childhood was lonely. The space and cloud people focus on individuality. There is little community. Your father and I knew we were right for one another. We wanted the same things and shared the same values, and he never shrunk from my interests. I was willing to go on any adventure with him. We fell in love,” Cove’s mother answered, gazing at his father. The aircraft shuddered and shook as the fiery rockets set ablaze. They buckled their seatbelts as they were thrust into the sky. Screams erupted through the vessel as the rocket picked up pace, flying into the air. “This ceremony does not make you fall in love. It shows you the person you can craft the best life with. It is up to you to make that life. Be open, honest, and curious. Things will fall into place if you allow them,” his father added. Cove knew they were right. There were no divorces or breakups. Some people who wished to be single would be declared as such at the ceremony. Part of him feared he would not be matched. That he would be alone. His heart swam with a thousand different emotions. Hope, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and a terror of the unknown. What if he did not love his match? What if they did not love him? What if they both loved their homes and Cove would have to move? He was lost in thoughts as the ship flew toward the Cloud Nation. The rocket sputtered and stabilized as it set down. The doors opened, and everyone rushed out. Cove hoped to never be in such a carrier again. “Wow,” Cove muttered, staring at his mother’s homeland. Buildings connected by thin bridges formed a giant city in the sky. White and puffy clouds moved across them, leaving droplets of water on his skin and clothes. Cove could see people moving in the distance. The people of the sea wore shorts and tank tops. Most days, Cove was shirtless in the water, then shirtless at home. Only for school did he throw on a shirt. On formal occasions, he’d have to dress up. That was rare. That was nothing like the cloud people. They wore neon-colored coats that fell to their knees and warm, tight shirts and pants. Every person he noticed wore a colorful hat and matching glasses. The glasses had small wipers on them to clean the constant drizzle. Most of them had dyed hair. A woman had short, hot pink hair while a man had long green hair. “When I was a kid, I had blue hair,” his mother whispered, gazing at her home. The guards pushed them into a massive stadium. The stadium was a river of colors. Each section was a different shade. Hundreds of thousands of people could fit inside. Teens his own age took their seats while their parents greeted one another. “Ocean freaks this way,” a guard screamed, pointing to the southern part of the stadium. Cove and his family took their marked seats. A bracelet awaited Cove. He slid the thin blue band around his waist. “It will vibrate before your name is called. When it buzzes, go down to the arena and wait,” Cove’s father explained, his arm wrapping around him. Cove leaned into his father’s touch. It was almost time. His mother grabbed Cove’s hands. He waited for the ceremony to begin.