A NEW LIFE
First thing I saw when I opened my eyes was strange faces hovering over me. People were eyeing me as I was for some reason laid down on the hard ground. They held strange devices in their hands,pointing them on me for a reason I could not understand. But the noises,that was the worst part. People were speaking loudly,walking all around me; and there was something else. As if the air pressure was making the noise itself.
“You alright sweetheart? “ ,an elder lady tried to touch me and I snapped her hand away , “Oh! Wait,i'm only trying to-”
“Where am I? “ ,i trying standing up but then my head suddenly felt too heavy. I was dizzy and the view laid in front of me didn't help at all.
“Well you're in New York dear”
I left Pelimorre,that's right. This planet's name was Earth and I landed in a place called..New York.
Everything was so loud,a high pitched noise was piercing my ears so much that everything else became nothing more than muffled discordant sounds. There were broad roads with no destinations,humans walking all together in different directions and those damned things. Big carriage like machines with wheels running through those roads,filled with people. No,the people were controlling them. What was this place?
The old lady tried to grab me again and so I began pacing along with other people in order to get across. The green light saying it was okay to pass suddenly turned red,but unlike the people behind me who had now taken a few steps back,i continued walking.
I heard this loud noise again,now coming from one if this walking boxes in front of me,but it didn't have time to stop; I quickly lifted my fist,my muscles tight as I drew my arm and the concrete beneath me formed a thick wall standing in between me and the box,which not only stopped but also crashed.
I could hear the loud whispers as people approached hesitantly,all of them pointing at me,with their devices in front of their faces as if to hide them. I could hear some clicks,probably originated from the same devices. Had I done something wrong? Maybe it's against the law to crash those machines? I had to leave; and so I ran off.
I could still see people pointing at me as the beeping sounds of their devices was growing louder and louder. After a while I found an alley filled with some people laid down in boxes and blankets wrapped around them. It was getting dark and so they were all around a small fire coming out from a metallic barrel. But it was weak,and so they were weary,trying to get as much heat as they could.
They didn't really notice me when I approached,yet they all jumped out as flames came out from my palm,trying to give them more fire. Are they too afraid of Pyrephs? Could be.
“Are you a magician?” ,a really thin girl who reeked of alcohol asked me. Her short and dark hair were oily,and her clothes seemed worn out,but her eyes were light blue,big and welcoming.
“No” ,i shook my head. I was no such thing.
“What's your name?”
“Persephone” ,i said bluntly trying to get a little warmth from the fire as well.
“Oh,that's Greek right?”
“What's a Greek?” ,she seemed puzzled by my question,but after a while she laughed it off.
“I'm Jean” ,she gave me her hand and I took it. It was wet for some reason.
“Are you a Hithor?”
“What's a Hithor?” ,she was mimicking my mannerisms from when I asked her what's a Greek,and so I furrowed my brows,slightly offended. “I'm sorry,i'm sorry” ,she laughed. “I guess we both have our secrets” ,whatever this could mean.
“Hey” ,i suddenly said after a while. Her lips were pursed and she was waiting for me to continue.
“Those machines with the wheels..the ones on the streets..what are they?”
“You mean the cars? “,her head was tilted as if my question was moronic. “What did you live under a rock before coming here or something?”
“Why would I be living under a rock..” ,i mumbled.
“It's okay “,she huffed. “There are many things I don't know either you know,i ain't a genius” ,her face had a faint orange tint,caused by the fire. “Like,for example,i don't know French”,she shrugged.
“What's a-”
“A French?” ,she cut me with a smile. I nodded. “ It's a language”
“Ah...A language...” ,i mumbled in a faint voice.
This thing bugged me from the beginning; how come I can understand these people if we come from different planets? Fuck,from different solar systems. I can only guess this is Reeta's doing.
Etherians hold the truth of the universe inside them; they can easily temper with ones mind. It wouldn't be too far fetched to assume that knowing I would land here she somehow gave me the knowledge of these peoples' language.
“And this language we speak” ,i said and she turned her head to face me, “ what is it?”
“That's...English” ,she spelled out with a slightly concerned expression.
“But how come you speak so differently from me? Your words come out so..”
“Thick? That's cause i'm British” ,seeing how that didn't really help me sort anything out she continued, “ It means I come from another country where our accent is more thick than the one here”
I mouthed an oh,since I could know get the grip of what she was saying. It actually made some sense. The inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom all speak in a different manner than us living in the Capital; they speak more quickly somehow.
“Where are you from Persephone? I mean,i'm actually wondering whether this under the rock thing is true or not after this convo.. “ ,she let out an awkward chuckle.
“I...i come from somewhere far away “ ,that's all I could say for now. I was after all supposed to be in hiding.
“I get it. You're a runaway ain't ya?” ,i lifted my head,surprised. “ We all are in some ways. Home isn't always a nice place y'know “
“Yes..it isn't “ ,i whispered. I liked her. She was nice.
“Hey Jean”
“Mhm?”
“Are your people all sleeping in the streets like that?”
“If by people you mean hobos,then yes” ,she answered with a laugh.
“Ho..bos?”
“Means people who are too poor to get a house Pers “
“Ah..that's fucked up “
“Yup. It really is. But you're one of us now,ain't ya?”
Was I? I really didn't have an alternative. Since people who couldn't afford a house were sleeping in the streets i'm only guessing that this planet has some form of currency as well as mine did. And I don't have any of whatever it is they're trading with.
“Yes. You can say that..”
It had nearly been four days since I first arrived in New York; Jean taught me all sorts of things in this sort span of time. She explained to me more about the cars and she told me that those small devices in people's hands were called phones and you can use them to communicate with people who are far away!
How bizarre and unbelievable that is. She also explained to me that Greeks were people living in another country called Greece; this was particularly odd for me. She knew of my goddess and about Hades. All the things she said about Ancient Greeks reminded me of the Old Land.
In our planet the Old Land symbolizes the zero point of our history. We knew we used to live in a different place,in a much different planet but our ancestors being much more advanced that the rest of the world managed to see how their planet was not the only one there. They managed to get us to Pelimorre where their children and descendants could prosper,a nation built from the beginning with the right principles,away from corruption.
Many things changed in the course of history,as we were a closed off community,a planet which allowed no visitors -unless it was necessary. We,even though we had the means to as far as I can tell,never bothered with technology. We thought of our people,of our planet as the highest form,the endgame of a prosperous way to live.
I didn't know if our Old Land was indeed this Greece Jean spoke of,but this was something I couldn't bare to have on my mind too.
“ Christopher told me that some people are askin' around for ya Pers” ,that's what she told me on the fifth day.
“About me?” ,how could people be asking about me? I was only speaking to Jean,i barely knew more that three people.
“Yeah,he said some men in black clothes came down in fifth avenue yesterday. They were asking the homeless people if they'd seen a young woman with dark hair wearing a black culotte and an oversize white blouse “ ,i was still puzzled by that. How could someone be searching for me? Reeta said I would find some people here who would help me. I thought Jean would be one,although her fighting skills are in no way sufficient to lead a war.
“Thas you Pers! Nobody dresses like that anymore honey,i've told you before,haven't I? You dress like a bloody pirate” ,her brow were lifted as if she was stating the obvious. I hadn't really thought about changing my clothes. All of the soldiers inside the White Guard wore the exact same clothing,i didn't want to change that.
“They must be cops,or feds or something. Oh shit,are they feds? Pers have you done anything to break the law or something?”
“I..oh,i think so yes. I accidentally crashed a car on my first day”
“What? How? You know what,nevermind. I ain't becoming an accomplice. Imagine if it was stolen or the car of some big shot CEO or somethin'? Shit..” ,she was mostly mumbling nervously.
“How can I meet these people? These..feds?” ,she then froze.
“Oh no,honey you ain' t gonna do such a thing. These people are not on your side,alright?”
I knew she must be coming from a kind place,but I was running out of time. The more I stayed in this place doing nothing but sitting on my ass,the more time my father had to search for me. I had trust in Reeta's words. She wasn't one to speak with no reason.
You will find companions there strong enough to help you grow. They will fight alongside you. Remember your fate Persie
But what had my fate to do with that? It all came down to this eventually,huh? Even someone like me couldn't escape the words of the sisters.
Your fate reeks of fire,my child. It's an uneasy one,chaos will try and take over your heart,it will try and crush it. Your destiny is not a pretty one,and so you will cry.
It wasn't pretty. It all happened more than eight years ago and yet I remembered each and every word. Pretty awful for a fate.
Yet you shall find ease in the flames surrounding you,if only you are wise enough to see them as they are
If only i'm wise enough to seem them as they are huh? Must be it. I should have faith in Reeta's words. That must be it.
“Jean,i need to find these people “
“Wha- Pers..this won't end well honey..”
“It was never supposed to..” ,i admitted mostly to myself. Jean sighed.
“You are an odd one Pers. The oddest woman I have ever met,truly “ ,i could only purse my lips awkwardly. “Fine then. I'll speak with Christopher. These guys have a network which can beat even internet “ ,she shrugged.
“Than you” ,i took her hands in mine and her eyes grew big. “I mean it Jean; you've helped me a lot. I won't forget you”
“What's with you? What a weirdo.. “ ,she huffed with chuckle. “I got you kid”
I dreamt that night; it was the first dream i've had since my mother's death.
I was laid in the vast field,the same one I used to go and play at when I was a child,just a twenty minute walk from Persephone's sacred temple.
Someone was there with me though,strangely enough. I would usually go there by myself; another strange thing,i wasn't a child. I was nineteen,so this was the..present? I have never gone in that field since the war's outbreak. How bizarre. It's been..years.
“It's nice isn't it Phonie?”
Kaemon? How is he here? How does he know of this place?
“What are you doing here?”
“Dreams are dangerous things. They are small worlds existing inside our minds,and so they only show us what we want them to. But,here's the thing: we don't always admit to wanting some things. Is that why you feel so guilty for seeing me instead your mother? I wonder..” ,his voice was calm as always; hoarse and deep,it gave me chills.
He was right next to me,laid down his weight supported only by his elbows; he had really short brown hair and his grey eyes were glowing under the setting sun's orange tint. He was truly handsome.
“I don't want you”
“Such a lie!”
That it was.
“I was your first Phonie. Think i'd forget? Why,just because I was drunk? So were you and still,you remember,clearly as the morning sky. Or was it because I never again mentioned it?”
He was right; dreams were dangerous things. Controlled by Nyx,the Goddess of Night; she would send them to us,carried by her daughters whom were the seven humanly desires: pride,greed,envy,sloth,gluttony,wrath, and...lust.
Kaemon was my first love after all.
We would spar together; we bled together and we tended each other wounds,and we fought alongside and we almost died more times than I could possibly count.
And..we slept together. Just once. And indeed,he never again mentioned it.
“You should leave” ,i said that yet I was secretly hoping he would stay.
“I know. But I miss you. You've been gone for so long Phonie. You acted so selfishly,you didn't even say goodbye “
“Just..leave” ,i was now crying. That's how this dream ended,with me in tears. I loathed my dreams. Despite the sunsets and the cold breeze and the beauty of the field,they were ruthless; merciless.
As soon as I opened my eyes my elbow was around some man's throat,having kicked down the first one to approach me in my sleep. The man tried to push me down and so I pulled my hand so much that in the end he lost his senses and fell down. He was still alive though.
The one I had earlier kicked came back at me and so it was now a wrestle; yet none of them had used their elements. Why was that I wonder.
I lifted both my fists in the air,feeling the weight of the concrete in my chest as it surrounded him,only his face left to be seen outside the wall I had created.
“Why don't you guys use your elements? Are you Etherians perhaps? Is the law different here for you?” , I was mumbling to myself,my head tilted as I spoke.
Then I heard some slow clapping and I turned around to see a tall dark skinned man,dressed in all black with a patch on his one eye.
“That was pretty good “ ,he said nodding his head with his eyebrows lifted. “ For a girl living in the streets at least. You don't see that shit everyday”
I lifted my hand adjusting myself in a fighting position,my fist slowly surrounded by flames; the men behind him seemed awfully surprised to see my fires,afraid perhaps. I see,so Pyrephs are a taboo in this place too after all. The man lifted his arm and so his men took a step back.
“Whoa,whoa,easy there. You gonna burn someone if you're not careful “
“Yeah,that's the point” ,i said,sarcasm filling my voice.
“We mean no harm” , he spoke slowly yet his tone was loud.
“Then what are those?” ,i pointed at the men behind me with my thumb.
“Well,excuseme,but someone had to approach you princess. That's how conversations work you know” ,he was being sarcastic yet his tone suggested he just said the most logical thing in the world. I put out my flames and relaxed my body.
“Who are you?”
“I should ask you the same” ,he took a phone out of his pocket and showed me the screen; I saw myself in there from someone else's point of view as I bent the road to stop that car the first day I arrived.
“My name's Nick Fury and i'm the director of SHIELD”
“You're the what of what now?” ,my eyes were squinty.
“The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division”
“That's...awfully long”
“And that's why we call it SHIELD” ,he shook his head,his brows lifted once again. “We're what you'd call the good guys. Whenever someone...like you shows up,we're the ones they call”
“You guys recruiting?” ,i saw a small smirk growing on his face.
“That's an interesting choice of words. As a matter of fact,yes we kinda are. But we should better take this conversation somewhere more..privately” ,he said eyeing the people sleeping behind me in their blankets.
My mind wondered off to Jean; she was always absent in the mornings but whenever I asked she said it was better if I didn't know. I took a few steps and kicked Kith in the leg a few times until he woke up.
“Oi,what the fuck? Ah..it's the oddball. Oi,are those cops? Fuck-” ,he was nervous and tried to stand up.
“No,shut up you're waking up the others” ,i told him and he relaxed a bit. “ Listen I need you to give a message to Jean for me”
“Hm. Jean must be at the red house now huh..” , I fought off all my instincts to ask. This was not the time.
“Just tell her that i'll be gone for a while. I don't know if i'll ever see her again..but I hope so”
“I knew it,you're being arrested aren't you?!”
“No you fucking moron,i'm not being arrested! Don't tell her anything like that. Tell her that i'm safe,alright?” ,my eyes were squinty and my eyebrows furrowed.
“Fine. Now let me sleep” ,he nodded and I turned my back.