Present Day - A Happy Unbirthday
1323 Words
His shoes pound heavily on the ground causing a jolt of energy to shoot throughout his whole body like an electric shock. His calves are burning but he pushes even harder and goes faster. At this great speed Xander can barely see a few feet ahead of him. He feels his whole body working as fresh air enters his lungs. Beads of sweat cover his face. His mind is frantic with thoughts.
"How is it possible to move this fast?"
He has been on this trail many times before but the past few days feel different. Just the amount of energy pouring out of his limbs is astounding. He can't explain all the things that are happening to him. It's like he is a whole different person all together.
He darts past the trees heading to his favourite spot. In the corner of his eyes everything is a blur.
He comes to an abrupt stop just at the edge of the cliff. For a moment he thought he was going to jump. Something within him was fighting to be let loose and he almost jumped. It took a sharp striking light from the side of his face to break him out of his trance.
He stands still trying to catch his breath as he looks ahead into the empty space down the cliff. The quietness of it all is what he loves about it. It helps him deal with his many thoughts that scream out to him on this day. While the beginning of each day is his favourite he wishes today could pass as quickly as it came.
He drops on the green grass and lays down facing the bright blue skies. Like every year on this day the same thoughts plague his mind.
"Who is he?"
"Where is he from?"
"How come he is this different from every other person he has met?"
His hands move to his neck and gets hold of his tiny necklace. He brings it to his face as his name shines against the sunlight. He has had this ever since he can remember. Something about it calms him down whenever he holds it and everytime he felt alone somehow being connected to it gave him some form of comfort.
He sits for a few more minutes enjoying the early morning air before he decides to head back. He needs to be ready for his mother's early morning visit. It's something she has done every year on this day but this time it will be at his cabin and not her home. He picks up his pace not wanting to keep her waiting.
When he gets home he is lucky to find it just as he left it. He walks in and closes the door but as he steps away a sharp pain rips through his head and he closes his eyes trying to contain it. When he opens them again another pair of eyes are staring at him.
"Hello sweetheart"
Xander is surprised at how familiar this person looks and sounds. She is beautiful with long white hair falling at her sides but that is not what catches his attention. It's the star like twinkles that appear in the woman's eyes everytime she smiles. In a way she is like him and that has him both happy and wondering. He is wondering who she is when she moves forward and touches his cheeks tenderly whispering his name. He leans into her touch feeling a sense of belonging that he had never felt before.
"Xander!"
His mother's voice brings him out of his trance.
"Mom?"
"Are you ok? Don't scare me like that"
"Scare you?"
"Yes, you were out cold just moments ago"
That doesn't make sense to him thinking about what he just experienced. Weird things are happening and he has no way of explaining them. But he doesn't want his mother to worry so he composes himself.
"Am ok, what brings you here so early" he teases her like he didn't know.
"I know you don't like it but I can't help it, so happy birthday Xander!!"
"More like unbirthday, he mumbles to his himself.
"Hey I heard that, but even then you can't stop me from celebrating the day I received my beautiful treasure a.k.a you" his mother beams.
She pushes him to his dining table forcing him to sit down.
"You know am not little anymore?" He shouts after his mother as she disappears into his kitchen.
"You will always be my little boy" his mother smiles as she places his birthday cake on the table.
"Come on make a wish and blow out the candles"
"You even did the whole candle thing?"
"Yep! All eighteen of them" his mother grins.
"Now go on make a wish"
He smiles at the woman that has loved and taken care of him all his life. He closes his eyes and makes the same wish he has made over and over again on this day. He feels guilty when he thinks of his mother before him but he can't help it. He needs this, he wants it so bad he adds a little prayer to his wish. Taking a deep breath he blows the candles out and for once he feels like the universe has heard him. When he opens his eyes he finds his mother watching him with teary eyes.
"Come here" he takes her in his arms.
"I love you mom"
"I love you too and you will always be my little boy"
"Of course mom" he chuckles.
They stay like that for a while. In a way he feels this is the last time they are celebrating his birthday like this..
....
Naya strikes her opponent with her last fatal blow and lands gracefully on the other side with her silvery wings flapping gently. Her Angel form is something to behold. She stands tall commanding all the respect she deserves. It's only been a few weeks when she completed their merge but she has already learned to control herself with so much precision. For many it would take months or even years to master it but like everything else in her life she beat every record in Dome.
She bows in front of the king and queen. She doesn't miss the man on the king's right hand who is looking at her with a huge smile and beaming with pride. She gives him her best salute knowing she had done well and he had a reason to be proud. She is about to walk out of the arena when she hears him..
"I wish to find a place I will feel like I belong and were I will be loved for who I am and not be afraid of being different"
Naya frowns as she looks around. She expected to find someone just behind her. She swears that voice just whispered right into her ear and the chills that covered her body surprised her. It was unlike her to have such a reaction to any man's voice. For a moment she was even ready to slap the person who would dare get so close to her.
When she is met with an empty space her irises start twinkling and her frown grows. On the terraces she can see the king, queen and her father get up and watch her intently.
She knows they can see that something is going on with her so she walks on to keep them from worrying.
But only a few steps later her arm starts burning from inside. She quickly gets a hold on it trying to suppress the pain and keep herself from screaming. She is in agony as the pain goes all the way to her heart. She was strong but this pain paralyses her as she falls to the ground and blacks out. The last thing she remembers is that man's voice and his wish..
- Writer
