The New World: The Awakening. Leahann Cavanaugh

a huge kiss on the cheek and walked away. That weekend Jason had plans to go to space camp. For months we talked about and planned the trip that he saved up for since he was ten. We were both excited about it until the day he had to leave.

      “Do you really have to go?” I asked.

      “I thought we both agreed on it,” he reminded me.

      “I know, but I got this feeling that when you leave, I’m going to need you and you won’t be close enough to hear my call,” I confessed.

      “Lyric, it’s only three days. What could happen in three days?” he said, ignoring my warning.

      That night my grandma died in her sleep at the age of sixty-one. That next morning I found her holding what looked like a Bible and smiling. I didn’t feel sad or angry. I felt nothing. I called 911 and they came. Mr. Graham was on the front lawn, talking to some people. All I could hear was him saying, “She has no next of kin. My son and me is the closest she has to family.”

      This white lady with long black hair approached me. It looked like she had sunburn on her face but tried to cover it up with makeup. Too skinny for comfort, is what my grandma would say or used to say. I started to feel scared, terrified actually. I felt in her soul that she wasn’t a good lady.

      “Hey, sweetie, I’m Sandy. I’m here to take you to a better place,” she tried to explain to me as she pulled me closer to her car. “I know this is hard, but you’re going to have to trust me,” she demanded.

      I don’t know what Jason did to me over the years, but I knew the truth. I could tell if someone was lying. I could tell if someone was sick. Even how long people had left to live, if I concentrated long and hard enough. I guess that’s why I didn’t show any emotion when my grandma died.

      “Lyric, please come now.” She raised her voice at me.

      “You are not trustworthy!” I yelled back, smacked her in the face, and ran to Mr. Graham. I begged him not to let them take me. I begged him not to let me go. At first he did just that. He didn’t let me go. He held me tight. I felt as if I was in Jason’s arms instead of his dad’s. They had to pry me out of his arms. My face turned red. I started screaming; my body was burning up. I was losing energy. I couldn’t fight any longer. The last thing I remember was screaming for Jason. Then I blacked out. When I awoke, I was in a cold padded white room with a straitjacket on. I was out of it. It was finally hitting me, that I didn’t have a home and that the only family I ever had was gone. I hoped and prayed that I could escape and get out of there. Miraculously, the buckles on the straitjacket unfastened. I could feel my heart pounding again. The door to my room slowly opened. I slowly walked the halls of what looked like a depressing nursing home. Then all of a sudden, I heard people and started to panic. I closed my eyes, and a burst of light flashed before me.

      Freezing cold, I opened my eyes and instantly noticed I was no longer inside. It looked like I was on a road to nowhere, then I saw a bright light appear out of thin air. It startled me. I got scared. Suddenly those feelings went away. I felt like I should stay where I was, so I did. I didn’t see the light anymore, and I was left in complete darkness. Terrified, I started to cry. Then I heard that voice. “My angel, please don’t cry.” It was Jason. I jumped up, looked around, but I couldn’t see a thing.

      “Where are you, Jay?” I cried out. I started to panic again.

      “Calm down, I’m right here. I don’t want to scare you,” I felt, so I tried my best to calm down. I closed my eyes and started to breathe. Once I was calm, I felt him tap my shoulder, and I quickly turned around. There he was in his PJs, no shoes, there to rescue me. Overfilled with joy, I jumped on him and hugged him until my arms started to shake.

      “How did you find me?” I asked curiously. I didn’t even know where I was to tell him.

      “I felt you,” he said, looking in all directions.

      “What are you looking for?” I asked.

      “Something’s coming. We gotta go. Hold your breath,” he demanded. He held me close by my back. The way he held me, I thought we were going to fly away like Superman. I closed my eyes, and a loud noise like a fire cracker went off in my ear.

      “Golly, Jay, you could’ve warned me.” I snickered.

      “I’m sorry, I didn’t have time,” he apologized.

      “Where are we?” I asked.

      “Somewhere safe for now,” he answered.

      On the outside, the building looked like an old warehouse. But once you walked inside, it looked like a palace fit for a queen. Walking in the foyer, I saw there were two large cream-colored pillars on each side. A curved staircase lined both sides of the walls, meeting at the top. The furniture looked old-fashioned but brand-new. It was beautiful, gold and white in color. There were no TVs or radios. I asked where the music was. I didn’t care about TV; I just had to have some music. It calmed me. I loved all music, really. My grandma named me Lyric for a reason. I can name just about any artist and song just by hearing their voice. I told him to upgrade next time. He just looked at me and smiled.

      “This is beautiful, Jay,” I said as I walked around. The floors were sand marble with sparkles of gold. Pictures of many different people filled the walls. Some I knew, but others were unfamiliar. Men and women of all different shades of brown, from all different eras. It was amazing. They all were beautiful in their own way. Amazed, I actually forgot we were in a palace. Jason saw the look on my face as I admired all the pictures. I started to feel warm inside, and then I looked at him. He was blushing.

      “Who are all these people, Jay?” I asked.

      “I’ll only tell you if you promise not to freak out,” he said in a kidding way. “These are pictures of us.”

      I smacked my lips and laughed sarcastically. Out the blue, Jason walked up to me and hugged me as if he would never see me again.

      “What’s wrong, Jay? What are you not telling me?” I asked.

      “A lot. One day I will tell you everything, but now I have to protect you.” He started to put his hands around my head. I pushed his hands down and started to walk away from him.

      “What are you doing?” I questioned him.

      “I have to do this, angel, to protect you,” he answered in the saddest voice.

      “No, how can you share all those precious secrets and beautiful gifts with me then take them away? That’s not fair,” I protested.

      “Lyric, I’m sorry. It wasn’t the right time. I was wrong. I thought I’d be able to protect you,” he tried to explain.

      “Was wrong about who? Me? I turned and tried to storm away, then this flash of light appeared in my way. This time the light slowly dimmed, and there was Jason—The reason for the bright light that I always saw whenever I was in darkness and afraid.

      “You! This whole time that bright light was you!” I scolded him as I punched him in the arm. “The bright light outside my window…”

      “That was me,” Jason admitted. “Actually, I wasn’t outside. I was inside watching you sleep,” he said as if it was peaceful and harmless.

      “That doesn’t make it better!” I shouted. “What are you?” I mysteriously asked as I waited for him to say he was an alien from outer space.

      “I am of you,” he replied. Kneeling on one knee, he reached for my hand and kissed it. I snatched it back.

      “What does that mean?” I said with a little attitude.

      “It means without you, I would not exist. I am of you,” Jason tried to explain.

      “How can you say that when you’re three years older than me” I said, stating straight facts.

      “You’re right, my physical body is three years older than yours, but our souls have been living for eons, and you split yourself in half