Written by the Moon

2~ FIRST STEP

I heard something but it was all so void. Then I felt my chest being compressed every second. I wanted to open my eyes but it felt impossible! The chest compressions became painful and the next thing I knew, I’m already coughing out water.

I couldn’t hear anything clearly. I remembered drowning and I thought that was it! That was my end! And here I am alive! Stupid! An angel dying due to drowning? Just how stupid! What a dumb way to die!

“Are you okay?”

I felt dizzy that I couldn’t concentrate on my surroundings. I raised my head and saw all of the six contestants. They’re here? And that fast?! I blinked several times just to clear my eyes. I must be hallucinating.

If not then I must have underestimated these guys.

“Are you okay?” Shemaine asked me. Caressing my back. I nodded slowly. Just digesting the scene at this moment.

“I’m alright.”

They sighed together with my answer. It was all weird, I felt. Looking at them, they were holding something. Phairro, an ax. Mara, a scroll. Shemaine, a candle in a glass box. And the others were also carrying their relics.

Then I realized, my pen! I don’t have my pen. I looked back to the water. Still, dark and deep. I never had any second thoughts, I checked my dress and tore the train in it. They were all just so curious about what I am doing. Phairro and the other angel looked away. Now my dress is knee-length. When I felt satisfied, I tried to jump when someone held both of my arms tightly.

I annoying looked at both of my sides. Phairro was on my left side and Mara was on my right side. I rolled my eyes secretly.

“What now?” I spat.

“At least be thankful,” Mara said nicely.

I laughed without humor. Of course! Manners come first!

I curtsied at them.

“Thank you,” with a little bit of sarcasm. I don’t even know why I’m an angel.

When I tried jumping back to the water, both of them, again, stopped me. My palms formed a fist and looked at them annoyingly. Mara sighed while Phairro kept his lips on a thin line.

“You can’t go back to the water anymore,” Mara explained.

I looked at them confusingly. With my furrowed brows, I looked at the audience just near us. They were quiet. Oddly quiet.

“If you go back, you’ll be eaten by the Meg.”

Taken aback at what they said, I looked back to the water, and there I saw, a Megalodon. I stared at it blankly. Bored and for heaven’s sake! My pen is there!

I glanced back at them.

“Do you think that shark can kill me?”

I saw how they sighed in unison. Probably, sick of me. I shook my head. It’s unfair! I pulled my arms from them and started to walk away from this station.

Seriously, did they even notice? The others are already on the lead! And us? We’re here arguing. Well, maybe because of me but still! This Olympics is as important as my life. I could bet on it.

“Can’t you see? They’re winning and I won’t let that happen.” I pointed at the others who are on the lead. I rested my hands on my hips and looked at them.

“You talk…” Phairro trailed off.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Like s**t, yet I’m an angel.” I smiled sweetly at both of them.

Without further ado, I went on a straight run to the next station. Never minding if both of them are catching up.

I totally felt like an i***t angel! They have their relics yet I don’t have any! That was my chance to at least, easy win. I ran and ran, that was the only I could do.

There were no horses anymore. Well, at least, I’m a fast runner. It was always my hidden talent. My fellow Acadians have known me for being such a fast runner. Didn’t know where it came from since I’m an Acadian. Little is known about us being active and such.

We are basically known to write and just… write.

The next station was a cliff. The other angels are already done with that station’s challenge but unfortunately, they stayed looking at the scroll with a riddle. I smirked.

I got my rope and secured it with a huge trunk of the tree. Slowly, I got down the cliff and saw how the water is slowly rising. Half of the cliff below is almost full and I could already feel it. It’s going to be hard looking for a scroll now.

I brushed the sides of the cliff, looking for a scroll hidden somewhere. I could see the shallow holes on the sides of the cliff where the other scrolls were hidden but unfortunately, someone got here first.

I looked below and the water is rising fast. I went lower and lower and still, no scroll. Until I saw Phairro and Mara went down together. It felt impossible now to find a scroll. I took another glance below and my feet are almost touching with the water.

I sighed and closed my eyes. I can’t find any. Phairro went to the water and as well as Mara. I had no choice. It might be the only way.

So, for the second time, my body is now surrounded by water. I continuously brushed the sides and edges. Brushing it was making the water brown and blurry. I decided to close my eyes and just feel the soil.

I stayed in the water for a while. I went back up when I can’t hold on anymore. I saw Phairro went back up but with a scroll now.

The water is already looking dirty with brown now. Mara went back up too and with a scroll. I huffed in so much confusion. Great! This must be karma!

I wanted to laugh so hard. How funny how the tables turned!

But then again there’s no time to quit. I held my breath and went down to the water again. I went down and deep. Just seeing the water get clear again and just feel the sides. My palms softly brushed the sides.

I finally smirked when I felt one! I grabbed one immediately. I was about to swim back up when I looked up and saw how deep I have gotten. I could barely see the light! My heart skipped a beat of worry. I tried swimming back up now but then I started losing air again!

Swimming as fast as I can. I have made it halfway but I knew deep inside of me I can’t make it anymore. I blinked once then twice. My feet were losing their energy. My body felt so heavy now and my chest is feeling so tight.

When I got closer to the surface, I saw the moon. It’s daytime yet the moon rose to its glory. I remained my eyes on the moon. How magical. It’s watching the Olympics. And how ridiculous! It is watching me die at this moment!

I stopped swimming and instead reached for it with my wrinkled fingers. I closed my eyes losing consciousness slowly.

But before I could close them completely, a strong force embraced me and light immediately surrounded my whole body. I gasped for air when I finally felt the wind. I am now back at the surface! Alive!

Then I looked back up and there the moon slowly fading and the sun replaced it. I confusingly looked at everybody. They seemed busy with their scrolls and the crowd is quietly looking at the contestants.

Did I just hallucinate? Is this a second life or what?

I snapped back in reality when Mara groaned in so much confusion with her scroll.

Ah, yes, there’s an Olympics happening now.

I went out of the water and opened my scroll hurriedly. Afraid if someone catches up even though I’m not on the lead. But hey! Everybody certainly hasn’t solved their riddles.

I read the riddle.

I am both your beginning and end,

I seek and peek,

Close yet far,

Whole or not,

I am with you.

I gave it a thought for a minute. Something is just right on the tip of my tongue. I read it the second time and on the third again. I took a peek at Mara’s scroll and we had a different riddle. I was able to read hers.

And again, I just felt a word right on the tip of My tongue. If my theory is right, then all of our riddles are different yet it conveys the same answer. I saw Charity move and run somewhere. I followed the direction of her eyes and saw her looking at the sky.

Puzzled, so I did the same. I looked at the sky but there was no sign of what she was following. I exhaled. I looked again at Charity. Still, she’s looking in the sky. The sky is clear! Nothing interesting at all.

Or what if she’s seeing something I can’t? My head snapped back to my scroll. I read it again. I shook my head when I can’t decipher any answers! I looked back at Charity and saw her already at the last station.

My shoulders dropped in defeat. My heart couldn’t accept it. Her fellow Emersins cheered for her.

“She won,” I said in a whisper.

The others immediately looked in the direction I was looking at. How silly of me! I was sure! I was ready!

“No.” I heard Phairro.

My head turned to him.

He continued. “The gong hasn’t made a single sound.”

My face lit up at what he said. Right! Now, I have felt so stupid many times already!

I looked back at Charity. She was looking at the angel in charge of the gongs, wondering why they haven’t banged it yet. I smiled in relief. I still have a chance.!

I looked back at my scroll and my mind suddenly slipped a memory of me earlier with the moon. I furrowed my brows in confusion. The moon.

The moon! I felt goosebumps the moment I thought of the moon it appeared before me. In the daylight! This is impossible! I looked back at my riddle. I saw Mara moved from her position and immediately walked towards where Charity did.

I bit my lip when I felt astonished and still amazed by the moon. I smiled and nodded as I followed the moon.

“Follow me.” The moon whispered.

My heart raced and I felt my adrenaline rush like never before!

Funny how I am the one following the moon now instead of her following me. Like she always does.

I stopped when the moon didn’t move anymore. It stopped moving when I reached the last station. Now this time, when I moved it felt like the moon is following me. I tilted my head in confusion. I went back to the previous station and it was still following me. And then went back to the last station and still! The moon is still following me.

“Where’s the finish line?” I asked in a whisper to the moon.

I decided to get my scroll back. My eyes widened I saw a different riddle this time.

Your end is your beginning,

Your beginning is your end,

You follow my lead.

My mind clicked to it immediately. I looked back at the moon enjoying the daylight. I could even barely see her. I moved in her direction. This time, the moon didn’t follow me nor move at all. It stayed still. I traced the direction the moon was facing. And it hit me.

The moon is facing the starting line. Now, I get it. the beginning is the end and the end is also the beginning.

The finish line now is the beginning.

I smiled proudly and ran as fast as I could to the starting line. There was no horse just my bare feet. It hurt but I am determined to win.

I need to win in order for me to escape the reality of Athanatoss. This is my destiny. I can feel it.

It was close! So near yet far! I fell to the water. I didn’t know which body of water but when I saw the Megalodon came closer to me, I knew where I was. I was supposed to swim away or just avoid the shark but when I saw my pen stuck between two of his teeth just on the lower gum, I know what I need to do. I swam closer. Never mind if I ever get eaten. I aimed for my pen.

I got closer and it got closer to me. I was afraid of death but at this moment I already knew my destiny. It was not death but to win the Olympics.

I got my pen but did scratch my shoulder. When I was able to get a grip on my pen, I closed my eyes and I let it do its trick.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was already on the third station. The other angels, unfortunately to me but fortunately to them, were leading. Phairro was on the lead.

And they were running for the first spot. I huffed an amount of air and started running. As fast as I could, I was able to outrun the other opponents but still, it’s not good enough.

I need the first place. I want to win!

I’m already out of breath but I have to fight. I know what I deserve and this is it!

My tears dried due to the wind while I was running. A bell appeared on the starting line. I must get it.

Phairro and I are neck and neck now. I couldn’t believe I am here already. Just almost there. Just a few more.

I closed my eyes as I reached my hands for the bell. When I was able to touch the rope, I pulled it and the bell rang. The gong banged and the crowd went chaos.

“Eloise Naveah Acadian, the next Manodestra of the Moon Goddess!”

I won.

To be continued…