AURORA

READY

     “Whenever you were a little girl, you could do things that other people cannot. You knew things were going to happen before they happened. When you were six years old you stopped your family from getting in a horrible car accident. You screamed and screamed in the car until they pulled over. There ended up being a ten car pileup ahead which began from an intoxicated truck driver and would have included you if your father had not pulled the car over. You knew things that people were going to say as if you could read their minds. You knew things about outer space that hadn’t even been taught to you. You never got sick, and you were very strong. We tried to teach you to keep your abilities hidden around other people, but you had to go to a doctor every year for a check-up, plus you had to go to school. Your doctor was very curious about how from your birth you had never been sick once. Most kids have ear infections and colds, but you didn’t have any of those things. Instead of being happy you were a healthy child, it’s as if they were fearful. And your teachers… they didn’t like that you were smarter than they were. They began to ask questions. When your parents tried to pull you from school and have someone tutor you at home, they called Child Protective Services. Then when your parents moved from Seattle to Portland, they got even more suspicious. The police showed up at your new home and wanted to take you in for an investigation. Then the F.B.I. and military got involved. They wanted to do experiments on you and offered millions of dollars.”

      Aurora was first stunned. Then she was in denial. “That can’t be true. You’re just joking aren’t you? Good one,” she laughed.

      “No, I am not joking,” Godfather reassured her. “People broke into your home to get you on the night of your parent’s death.”

      Aurora stopped laughing. So it was her fault? Her mind went back to the photo she found of her parents crime scene. She felt sick to her stomach.

      “So if I knew things were going to happen before they happened, then why didn’t my parents live?” Aurora asked.

      “You were smart enough to save yourself and your sister,” Godfather said. “You asked about her all the time after you were separated, but you eventually stopped.”

      “Where is she?”

      “Boston with your Aunt and Uncle,” Godfather answered. “I get some updates about her a couple of times a year. She starts high school next year. She plays piano and dances. She has a boyfriend, although I’m not sure if she still does, named Thomas.”

      “Why were we separated?”

      “It was the only way to keep you both safe. The night your parents died, you called me crying. I think you knew what was going to happen. You didn’t explain anything, but I came over right away. I got to your parent’s house, not in time to save them, but in time to save you and your sister. The people who killed your parents had already gotten away. I took you both from the home and you were declared missing persons. If the police would have found you, they would have gotten you and who knows what would have happened. You could be in a petri dish right now. I made a vow to your parents to always protect you. I changed both our last names, and we started over.”

      “How did you know my parents?”

      “We grew up together and attended the same university. I was their best friend and the only person they could trust. You had no other family besides your Aunt and Uncle, and that is where your sister went, so you came with me to Los Angeles.”

      “Why don’t I have the abilities anymore?”

      “After your parent’s death, you never used your abilities again,” Godfather replied. “I believe you were going through post-traumatic stress and blocked it from your mind, which suppressed your abilities. You had nightmares and panic attacks. It was a very tough time. We traveled a lot to keep busy and distracted and that seemed to help. Eventually everything became normal, like you finally healed, but you still never used your abilities again.”

      “So how does this all tie in to all of your meetings lately and staying up late working?”

      “Over the years I have made some contacts and close friends who are on our side, some who are concealing themselves in the police force and the C.I.A. It has recently came to my attention that there is a group of individuals who are still looking for you. They are suspicious and closer than what makes me comfortable. We have been investigating, and well, the good news, they think you are in New York.”

      “How did you get these people to help you?”

      “Darling, there is a lot of things you can get people to do when you have the right amount of money,” Godfather smirked.

      “I want to see my sister,” Aurora said.

      “One day you will. When the time is right.”

      Aurora sighed. “If that’s everything, I think I’m going to go lay down. I have a headache.”

      Aurora stood up, feeling slightly faint. Her uneaten food still sat there on her plate.

      “Would you like for me to warm up your food?” Alfred asked.

      “No,” Aurora answered. “I don’t think I can eat anyway.” She started to leave the room.

      “Aurora, wait,” Godfather said.

      She stopped and turned around to hear what he had to say.

      “With you knowing the truth,” Godfather continued. “This is the first step to remembering. The first step to possibly awakening your abilities inside of you once again. And you know if you do that, it is going to turn you into the biggest lit up billboard in the world, and all of the darkness is going to find you once again. You have to either be ready for it, or you must not go any further down this road.”

      “I’m ready.”

AWAKENING

      I dreamt I was flying - high up into the clouds. I felt free and alive, more than I ever have before. I just kept going up, up, up - until there were no more clouds. I was in wide, open Space. I suddenly felt exposed and alone. I looked down at the Earth and became afraid. I wanted to go back down, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. I just kept going farther and farther away.