Awakening (10 page)

“
Ana, I’m here because I love you. I have been in love with you for a very long time. There is much you wouldn’t understand and would only make me sound crazy. We will work hard to get you up to speed because at this point, it is far too dangerous to keep you in the dark. You are going to have to fill us in on these nightmares too.” His eyes were searching me for something.

“
I honestly don’t understand.”

“
Yah, I know. I don’t expect you to, which is why we have to start the process sooner rather than later. I had no idea you were having dreams. This isn’t exactly going as we had planned. Promise me one thing. You’ll try to keep a watchful eye and not go out alone at night, especially.”

“
You are worrying me.”

“
Things are beginning to unravel in this perfect little village of yours, and I want you to understand the big picture so you can protect yourself. We just can’t explain everything right now. You are going to have to give in a little, learn to trust.”

“
How do you know what happened to the hikers, Athen? What are you getting at? I haven’t seen anything in the papers. You are really scaring me.”

“
I don’t mean to, Ana. This has been coming for a long time. I don’t want anything to come between us again. I promise it will all make sense soon. You’ll have to trust me a little bit and by the way it’s in this morning’s paper.”

“
Oh my word… Those poor people. I wonder what happened.”

“
You might actually hold the key to that one sweetie.”

I looked up at him, knowing instantly that I trusted him beyond anything or anyone in this world. I even wondered if somehow he saw some of the gruesome images that had flashed through me of one of the missing female hikers. I had no idea how he could, but was certain he did. I was so lost in their world. I didn’t think that I could even begin to figure out what he was talking about, what world he belonged in or possibly what world I belonged in. I had to let it go until the time was right. I had to trust him.

He looked at me with such intensity. The feeling of electricity was running between our two bodies allowing me to dismiss the images that much easier and begin to trust him. Matilda finished up her business and began to get antsy so we took her cue and headed back up to my condo.

As we waited for the elevator it seemed like an eternity was going by. I couldn’t wait to get into my condo with the security of all four walls and my own personal space. I had no idea what was going on, but for the first time, I realized that I could be in danger. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the new arrivals or if they were actually here to help me. I hoped I would find my answers soon.

I heard Athen’s sigh from the guest room, and it made my heart fall a little bit, and then his words met me down the hallway, “So this morning hasn’t gone exactly as planned.”

“
Really? There was a plan?” I asked a little more relaxed than when I was outside minutes earlier, thinking the world was out to get me.

“
Well, for starters, I was going to make you breakfast. Then I thought we could chill like a normal couple. Take it slow, maybe watch a movie, or talk about plans for the weekend. I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting this. I can’t shake that you have been having nightmares haunting you.” Athen’s voice had a hint of worry to it still, which began to make me feel uncomfortable yet again.

“
I still don’t know what this is and am trusting you to fill me in so why don’t we go with your first plan and try to start the morning over?” I walked over to him. His eyes were full of worry and very distracted. I didn’t have the strength to go over my nightmares on a generic level and certainly not a blow by blow. I attempted to switch gears as best I could.

I noticed that he had already changed the sheets from his sister’s stay the night before. “Wow, you didn’t have to do that. You never cease to amaze me.” I said laughing and before I knew it he had latched onto me and taken me down to the bed with him. My heart began fluttering as I was filled with excitement for what the morning might have in store for me after all.

Athen’s firm hands were gently running up my arm as he brought his lips close to mine. I put everything out of my mind, focusing only on Athen’s gentle touch and his soft lips as they met mine. Nothing mattered except to be here in Athen’s arms. All I wanted was to experience him as close to me as possible. I looked deep into his normally calm, green eyes, seeing a ravaging brilliance look back at me as he was taking me in.

He began gently kissing my neck, yet all I could feel was the heaviness of the moment. Thoughts began flooding my mind. I hoped beyond anything that this was the real thing - that Athen was meant to be mine and that we would live together forever. His breath slipped over my cheek as I began kissing him as intensely as humanly possible. His eyes were filled with desire to rival mine – the worry gone. I certainly did not want to disappoint. The feelings that were building inside me seemed to lead the way in this unchartered territory. I was enjoying every minute of it. I never wanted his lips to leave mine. I was devouring every inch of him but still was not getting enough. I began unbuttoning his shirt as his hand gently maneuvered me away from the buttons. I tried again, which made him roll over me and place my hands over my head.

“
Not now, not yet.” He whispered as he continued to gently sting me with the nettle feeling from his lips.

“
Why not?” I whined. I couldn’t believe I was so at his mercy.

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You’ll see, soon. Be in the moment, enjoy now.” He began kissing me again, and I didn’t think I could handle anymore. Then the phone rang.

“
See, timing is everything.” He said laughing.

I rolled over and saw the caller id, which read AAC.

“
AAC. I don’t know who or what that is.”

“
Oh!” Athen exclaimed, and jumped up, “Go ahead and pick up. It’s our home number. We don’t really use it much.”

I grabbed the phone before it started its last ring before voicemail.

“
Hello?” I tried to catch my breath as I answered.

“
Hey, Ana, I’m so sorry to bother you. I tried your cell and Athen’s first, but didn’t get any answer. Is Athen still there?” Arie’s voice had a sense of urgency. I knew, once again, it must have to do with the strangers who seemed to be lurking and possibly tied to my nightmares, tied to me.

“
Sure, he’s right here.” I handed him the phone and begrudgingly rolled off the bed to go visit Matilda. This was starting to get very wearing, especially not knowing what the heck was going on around me or possibly about me. I knew by staying in the bedroom and listening I wouldn’t be able to decipher what was going on anyhow. Athen and Arie were far too cryptic in their messages when they didn’t want to give anything away. Somehow, they still managed to communicate the necessities to each other. I hoped I got to that point sometime soon.

After giving Matilda the well-deserved scratching, I began tidying up the coffee table and hoped that Athen would return off the phone soon; like clockwork he appeared within seconds. He seemed pretty relaxed, especially compared to earlier this morning.

“
So, I have a little surprise planned for you. Arie was confirming the details for me. She figured I might be a little too busy to finish up the details this morning.” His laugh echoing through the air.

“
Pretty perceptive of her. Did you fill her in on the mystery man this morning as well?” I asked innocently, hoping I could latch onto something more than the boogeyman.

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Yeah, I mentioned it.” He replied coolly.

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And?” I began to get a little impatient.

“
Well, not much. It’s already been taken care of.” He said trying not to make any waves.

“
Earlier you were rattling off how I would be told what was going on. Now it’s like none of that ever happened.” I could feel my temper begin to rise, and at this point, I didn’t care. I wanted answers.

“
Fair enough.” Athen sat down on the couch, and I followed his lead.

“
Tell me what you think is going on.” He asked flatly.

“
I honestly don’t know. Maybe you guys are into something bad, and I’m an innocent bystander or maybe somebody is after me, and you work for the government, and this is all a ruse. I honestly don’t know. Maybe I’ve read too many spy novels. I know I had a very boring existence before I met you, not that I would trade for it back, but I’m less in control than I ever felt in my life, and I don’t enjoy being in the dark.”

“
Alright, what I will tell you is not going to make much sense, but this is the first piece, and the other pieces will come out in time. But for now you are, in part, correct. There is someone after you. No, we don’t work for the government or anyone for that matter. We kind of belong to this subset of society. Because of that, there are certain situations that come to us that don’t usually involve most people.”

“
Are you criminals? Is that the subset? Is that why you don’t work?” I asked my heart pounding fast, knowing deep in my heart that these people could do no wrong.

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No, you can rest assured it’s nothing mundane like that.” Athen said laughing a little trying to lighten the mood. He began to get that overly confident almost cocky air about him. In all honesty that was one of the qualities that seemed too hard for me to resist and it was starting again.

“
Well, I’m at a loss, and you aren’t explaining it very well.” I told him, once again beginning to get a little impatient.

“
I know. It is going to take showing you more so than telling you. We have gifts that aren’t typical. It tends to bring a little more baggage. You do too, believe it or not.” He grabbed my hand, and I pulled away from him for the first time ever. I didn’t like where this was going. Either I was crazy for believing this, or he was crazy for telling me this. Either way it wasn’t a good outcome.

“
The dreams, for instance... “ He paused, “Listen, Ana, imagine if there was a possibility that life as you know it was only one part of the world. That there was more than the human world, maybe more of a good and evil underlying that was directing life from behind the scenes. God, I’m not making sense!”

Athen was truly upset. The angst was building in him over how bizarre he was sounding, which made me realize how hard this was for him. In my heart, I knew whatever I was going to find out was something big. The feelings that would come over me by merely being in his presence seemed very abnormal. I was sure of that but accepting that didn’t mean I could pin my reaction on anything tangible though. Rather than making this more difficult on both of us I decided to end the discussion for the moment. Much to my amazement, I was pretty sure that I could only handle little snippets at this point.

“
Ok, I will wait to be shown as you put it. Until then, please assure me that this is the real thing.” I closed my eyes, inhaling and feeling his lips on mine. This time I could feel myself falling into the possibility of a world that I had never imagined. I was ok with the unknown as long as it involved Athen and his family. He loosened his embrace. I opened my eyes to see him looking back at me, eyes glistening with dampness.

“
About that surprise?” I asked trying to break the seriousness of the moment.

“
Have you ever ziplined before?” Athen laughed.

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Oh God,” I sighed, “I do hope I actually live to hear about everything with all the surprises you seem to have set up for me.”

“
Well, it isn’t for a few days out so you should have plenty of time to get your nerve up. Think of it as learning something about us with a set of training wheels.” His eyes twinkled mischievously, which made me wish the phone hadn’t interrupted us earlier.

I looked over at Athen who gave me a wink. I went for it. I closed my eyes, took one step off the perch, letting my body fall as if I have done it a million times before. The sound of the metal harness racing down the wire became amplified as I picked up speed. With my eyes shut, I began to hear the sound of trickling water down below. I glided down the mountain as if I was floating. The fear overtook me. My eyes still remained tightly closed, and I tried to scream, but nothing came out. I took deep breaths as the wind rushed past me. My face turning as cold as stone. I heard Athen hollering and forced myself to quit missing everything this almost out of body experience had to offer. I slowly opened one eye and peered down below as my hands were squeezing the rope to an almost liquid state. I saw the most stunning sight; a rushing river heading down the snowy mountain as swiftly and smoothly as I was. Could this be? Am I really flying? I had a few more seconds of bliss before it came painfully obvious that I was indeed still human and was about to crash into the man standing on the platform waiting to catch me. The scream from within finally appeared as the man put on the brake.

“
Oh my God! That was so incredible.” I told the guide as my heart was still pounding a million miles a minute. “Are they all like that?” I asked as I began smoothing down my ponytail which had erupted into a frizzy mess.

“
I’m glad you liked it because that is the only way off the mountain at this point. You have several more lines to go. They actually get longer as we head down the mountain. Hey, here comes your boyfriend.”

I was so happy hearing the word boyfriend ring through the air. As I was thinking about how lucky I was to find someone so perfect for me I spun around to see Athen gliding in hanging upside down from the line, looking as graceful as ever. The snow covered limbs almost brushing him as he landed on the platform right side up. As the guide unhooked his harness, Athen grabbed me and spun me around. I didn’t want to let go, but I knew the next person on our trip would be landing in a few seconds so I held on tight, and Athen hopped down to the next level.