OCEANIA

XV

Flint let me stay in that position for some minutes. He cleared his throat loudly to get my attention. “Sorry” I wiped my face with my palm. “Don’t be” He said, “that must have been hard on you”. “I remember almost everything now”, I sniffed, “even the threats they got from strangers who just appeared at the front door”. I bit on my lower lip to avoid another outburst like that. “I couldn’t do anything to help”, my voice broke, “they protected me with their lives. They risked everything for me”. “Feeling bad isn’t going to help”, he quipped, “all you have to do now is stay alive. Those people weren’t after your parents; they were after you”. I turned to face him.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Everybody is born with a purpose. Yours is to get rid of evil and those who work for it cannot allow that cause to be fulfilled”.

“So, you’re telling me that my parents were killed because of me?”

“Not exactly but yes. You have great abilities that can wipe out a generation if possible and no opposing force would stand to gain from your powers”.

“I don’t even know what these powers are! How can I…” I paused my sentence abruptly. I could hear a bell ringing just like the one from a clock tower. The sound was in my head. “Be safe” Flint stood up. He adjusted his suit, patted his black hair and dusted his shoes. “I have to go now”, he announced. I jumped to my feet, “you can't leave”, I pleaded, “I still have so many questions. Please stay”. “I would love to but I am running out of time”. He walked into the water, “remember what I said. You belong with the water”. “Hold on for…” He already dived in but I still completed the statement, “…a minute” My eyes hurt from crying so hard so I’m going to sleep in the car and go home tomorrow. I took one last glance at the blue looking liquid before going to the car.

*******

“Hey! Are you okay?” the loud voice forced me out of my sleep. I opened my eyes slowly to avoid the light. “She’s alive people! Just back away!” The police officer shouted. I yawned while stretching my arms. I climbed out of the car with a confused look. Many early morning surfers were staring at me. “Am I in some kind of trouble, Officer…” I read the name tag, “Officer Penski?” “Only if you were drinking and driving”. He replied sternly. “I promise you. I have never had alcohol in my life”, I explained, “I come here to think but it was really dark. I had been crying and my eyes were foggy and that’s obviously a terrible condition to drive in so…” “Stop your blabbering!” He ordered, “just don’t stay out here like this and learn to sleep like an alive being”.

He walked away with that. His words hurt a little but I need to get home fast. I entered the car again and drove off. I hope Shelly and Martin are still in bed. After getting my memories back, I wasn’t ready to face them. I packed the car, still covered it with the tarp and crept upstairs. I wasn’t even on the fifth step when Shelly’s voice made me freeze. “Wiberly?” “Y-yes?” I answered as I slowly turned around. She was still in her robe but she had her arms crossed, right foot tapping the floor and a scowl on her face. I'm in big trouble.

“Where were you last night?” Her teeth were gritted. I could tell she was fighting the urge to yell at me. “I can explain, Aunt Shelly”. I pleaded. “I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped, “you’re grounded until further notice”. “You can't do that!” I shot back. “I can and I just did!”

“It was just one slip up”.

“Well, you’re getting the punishment so that it doesn’t turn into two. You can’t go anywhere without my permission and your friends can't come here”.

“That’s close to impossible. Bill and Helen are my best friends. Why can’t you just listen to what I wanna say?”

“You've been acting strange and if I ask, you’ll lie to my face so no, I’m not gonna listen”.

“Well, I’m eighteen. You can't ground me like a little kid”. I crossed my arms. “My house, my rules”. She was budging. I almost regret the next thing that flies out, “if ours didn’t burn down, I’d never be here”. Her supposed anger disappeared. “Who told you?” she asked. “So you knew about that too?” I snickered, “I should have guessed. What other lies don’t I know about?” She didn’t answer. “You’ve been lying to me my whole life”, I frowned, “yet you stand here and accuse me of lying. That’s messed up”. “That’s enough sass from you”. A new voice joined the conversation.

It was obviously Martin. “I won't have you talk to your aunt like that”. He said strictly. “You can’t tell me what I can or cannot do”. I snapped. “This isn’t you, Wiberly”. Shelly whispered. “I’m probably like this because I was stripped of my real family!” I was getting angry, “a family that faced everything together not hide important information”. They both kept quiet. This only made me angrier, “why aren’t you saying anything?!” I screamed, “you seemed pretty confident before. You made me the bad guy meanwhile you had some of the answers I was looking but lied about it!” I rambled on and on. “We’re sorry” Shelly stifled a response.

I stared at them in disbelief. “When it comes to lying about a girl's childhood, sorry doesn’t cut it”. I said in a low tone before walking past them, “I'm going out”. “But you just got in?” Martin said. “Which is the main reason why I’m going out”, I snarled, “I don’t need to stay in a house filled with liars”. They didn’t bother to stop me. I know I shouldn’t be harsh but I can’t help the anger I feel. I need the water. I slammed the door so hard I thought it broke. My whole body was radiating. I climbed in the car and sped off.

I honked unnecessarily at every bend. The tears from my eyes increased the heat. I wanted to punch a wall or better still, Algris. The suddenly bright morning turned dark. People were scrambling to get into their houses cause it looks like a thunder storm is brewing. I reached the beach quickly since every car had cleared off the streets. The beach was even empty. Flint’s words never left my mind You belong With the water. Probably, he’s right. I threw my slides of and jumped into the water.

I swam deeper and deeper but the deeper I went, the less angry I felt. I came to a halt as soon as my senses sparked. It was too late though. A dark blue portal just like the one that took Heather followed me. I swam and swam but the surface was too far up and I was losing oxygen. I sighed as I gave myself up to the darkness that covered me.