Storm of Ekkos

For my Dad

My small frame hovers in the corner of the room watching as the drift opens. A part of me wants to turn and race as fast as I can the other way, never to look back. I would go back to my life, my mother, but I know that is no longer an option. Now I have no other choice but to follow. I would not be able to live with my conscious knowing that I allowed a creature to get through to the other world. A deep breathe escapes my lips as my heart accelerates. Heat travels down my spine with nervous anticipation. I know what is to come, the unknown planet. There have been stories told about the other world, tales of a population, similar to ours, but also very different. Fear grasps my middle while my eyes drift to the creature. Seconds pass before a tiny dot of light emanates in the center of the room. It grows as the storm rages on outside, thunder beckons rattling the glass in the wall. Bolts of lightning follow flickering through the darkened room. Minutes pass and the light expands to the size of a rounded door. The creature glances back meeting my stare, a sneer of a smile covers her face. She turns and leaps into the light. I rush forward not thinking about the fact that she knew I was here, just acting on instinct. My boots leave the smooth surface of the tiled floor and my body is pulled with a force so great the air is sucked away. I trained for this moment for such a great amount of time but nothing can prepare someone for the weight of the drift. I knew this fact but I am still taken with terror. The creature moves ahead, a blur of light in the darkness. I know I will not catch up. I will have to wait until we are released from the grasp of the pull. My eyes close unable to absorb the light and speed any longer. Behind my eye lids colors move in an awkward dance. A minute more when I don’t think my body can survive any longer, my feet connect with a hard surface. Instantly my eyes fly open to watch her move at lightning speed ahead of me. My eyes narrow as the passageway shifts forming brown and green landscape dotted with mountains in the distance. My feet step off the drift when it clears and the flash runs across the pavement. I glance over still glaring in an attempt to focus through the torrents of water falling from the heavens. My hair becomes plastered to my head, my hand wrapped around my edge at my thigh, a moment of confidence flowing through my veins. I can do this. I take a step forward ready for pursuit but I’m forced to retreat against the cold, wet rock. It digs into my back as my eyes follow the rusty car barreling through the rain. The person inside looks toward me but I’m confident he can’t see anything but rock. However as events unfold before me his glance tells me otherwise. I watch as the car slides into another vehicle three times its size sending the small car across the cement. It slows with the awkward angle but sails still toward the side of the cliff. My memory forces a picture of the Tome. The rules I’ve read a thousand times. The one rule most important for an Ekkonian on this planet, never involve yourself with the population. I turn my face from the scene trying to block out the unnatural sounds and the knowledge that a person is in that car. I know it’s forbidden to help. I want to cover my ears, clear the sounds from my mind but keeping the veil to conceal my identity takes much of my strength.

More than anything I want to run and find my prey but I know it is pointless. Too much time has passed. I didn’t capture the intruder right away so I will have to reenergize before hunting it. Curiosity overtakes me and I look toward the car again. I’m certain it will fall and the inhabitant will lose his life. A hollow twist moves my stomach. I frown at the foreign feeling. Then his eyes meet mine. The frown over my brow returns, I’m wondering if he really sees me. It is quickly replaced by panic exactly mirroring the fear in his features. Before I can make a different decision I am running toward the car. He opens his mouth to push sound from his lips, a warning maybe, but nothing. Then his head is jerked forward as my hand reaches for the metal door. He does not move again and his eyes close, stilling his body. My hands move before I can focus on the events or consequences I might face. I attempt to pull him through the window but I am met with resistance. Panic rises in my middle, unlike anything I have felt before. I have experienced this foreign feeling now twice in the past few minutes. Reaching to press a button on the other side of the boy releases his limp body into my arms. The moment he is free of the car, it descends over the edge. I place him on the wet ground clear of the road near the remnants of the drift. Standing for a moment looking down at him another feeling fills my middle. I recognize it as fulfillment, confidence in my actions. I wonder though, because I broke the covenant of the Tome, will I regret these actions? I promise myself, that I will not reveal this sequence of events. No one will know. No one needs to know.

He begins to stir, forcing me to turn and slink back against a twin wall of rock twenty feet uphill from where he rests. Concentrating, I focus on the veil again. It takes so much energy to conceal myself that it forces my body to sink to the soaked floor. My gaze remains on the boy as he drifts, his chest rises and falls in a deep sleep. My own eyes droop as the rain vacates, leaving painted landscape of dark, brooding scenery in its wake.

Twilight is fast approaching as I storm out the screen door. My feet move down the steps two at a time trying to distance myself as fast as possible. The door bangs shut bouncing off the frame with the force from my hands. My mother’s twiny voice trails behind me, Elijah Weston, you get yourself back in this house right this instant. We are not done with this conversation.

Oh yes we are.

I shove my balled fists into the pockets of my jeans wanting more than anything to hit something. Her voice grows faint as I approach my car, a tin can as far as I’m concerned. The rust lining the door frames and the hood make it hard to decipher the true color. I think it used to be some shade of red. I’m forced to drive the beater because it’s Momma’s version of recycling. She thinks she is saving the earth one thing at a time. I shake my head as the door squeaks when I open it and slam it closed whisking away any remnants of her rant. Regardless of the containment of the car, her words echo through my head, I forbid you from breaking up with Bree. She’s good for our family. She took a deep foreboding breath probably gathering more conviction, If you let her go Elijah, what will you do then? And her final plea, "We need her reputation, you need her reputation." I about lost it right there with her when she claimed that I am basically nothing without that chick.

Good for our family? What the heck? Who does she think she is? But I know the answer to that question all too well. The day I was born, Katherine Weston instilled in me the fear of God. Not literally at that point in time but a few short years later she began the brain washing as I like to call it. Church at least twice a week and exquisite attention to how the Weston family is perceived in our tiny town. When I started dating Bree Jennings the year before, Momma couldn’t have been happier. She was the epitome of everything my mom had wanted in a daughter and she would do anything to keep her in the family regardless obviously, of how I felt. Besides the fact that her daddy is the Lincoln town mayor and they live in the largest three story house in town. Bree acted the part and hung onto Momma’s every word, encouraging the destructive lie I was living.

My hands move to start the car and it sputters a few times before deciding to give in. A deep breath escapes my lips as I shift into reverse. As I glance forward before peeling out in the dirt drive I spot Momma standing on the other side of the screen door with that look. The one that says it all in a slight glance, I’m disappointed in you and this isn’t over.

I sigh looking away to ward off any guilt she pushes toward me. She’s always been good at that, guilt. It seems to get her what she wants. That was my first clue that Bree was not a forever thing. Six months ago I started noticing the batting of her eyelashes and the whiney voice. It immediately reminded me of Momma. At first I ignored the nag in my gut but as the months passed I noticed more nuances that couldn’t be ignored. Her long blonde hair always perfectly in place framing her heart shaped face. And top that with the fact that I’ve never seen her without an expertly painted face. Then the perfume, oh man, the perfume. She kept a bottle of it on her person at all times. I knew it was bad when I would wake up in the morning and dread getting into her car for the ride to school. I always smelled for half the day, like I bathed in the stuff. For a while I fooled myself, accepting that this is what all relationships are like. Now it’s like my eyes have been opened, a shade has been raised. She is so much like Momma, it kills me how I was fooled for so long.

My eyes roll remembering the day before when I did the deed. It was a tiny thing that spurred my decision but so many things had been yelling at me for so long that I had decided I was done. I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t deal with her. After school I saw her talking to Brian, the captain of the football team and thought it could be my perfect opportunity to get away from her. Take the weasel way out I figured. I never claimed to be brave.

As she moved away in her short plaid skirt and yellow T-shirt a size tighter than necessary, I made my move. My feet sped up to her on the way to her car and I asked trailing behind her, Hey Bree. I just saw you talking to Brian. What was that all about?

She turned on her heel glaring. Her big brown eyes boring holes into me. She hiked her designer bag higher on her shoulder and narrowed her eyes even more. I wanted to cower as I usually did with that reaction but I stood my ground squaring my shoulders in response.

She huffed out, It’s nothing Elijah. Why don’t we go to your house and study? She pushed her books up into her chest and started for the car blowing off the worry in my voice with impatience.

Um, well it didn’t look like nothing Bree. I mean if you like him… My hesitation drowned out my words forcing me to follow behind her like an idiot. As I remember the scene and the sneer across her face I’m kicking myself for my lack of conviction. I should have just grown a back bone and told her that I was done right then or even walked away.

She turned around after a few steps stopping me in my tracks, Elijah, what in the hell are you talking about? Her light hair in a high pony tail on her head swayed back and forth as if waving its finger at me in warning of her anger.

Moving back against her car she crossed her arms and her eyes did that squinty thing again, You’re trying to break up with me, aren’t you? Her question caught me off guard. A slow smile spread over her lips in amusement. I was at a loss so of course I stuttered out an idiotic response, Um, I, no, of course not Bree.

She shook her head and stepped close to where I could smell her perfume almost to the point of gagging. This helped in my decision. I opened my mouth finally ready to lay it out there but she grabbed my shoulders and whispered into my ear, You know your momma won’t have that, don’t you?

The mention of Momma pushed it home. Something seemed to snap as I looked at her, really saw her and the feeling of resentment I’d harbored for a long time moved through me. I decided I couldn’t keep this thing up any longer.

Bree, I think it’s time. We’re too different.

Taking a step backward her voice came out loud and fierce, "Elijah Weston, you are trying to break up with me? You know you can’t or you’ll be sorry. You’re momma will tear you to pieces if you end it."

I glanced around, uncomfortable with the stares from other students still lingering in the parking lot but that was what she wanted, the attention. She craved it, everyone feeling sorry for her making me the big bad guy. If Bree Jennings was anything, she was an attention whore.

God, Bree, do you have to be so dramatic?

Her mouth gaped open at my accusation but I was done letting her walk all over me.

Bree it’s over, and just so you know, I hate your perfume and the fact that I’ve never seen you without makeup. And I don’t like it that you talk to me the way you do. It’s…it’s just rude. Oh and one more thing, it’s Wes, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Wes?

Her mouth quickly closed and the look that passed across her face, I swear she could have turned me to stone with it.

Elijah Weston, you’ll be sorry you ever laid eyes on me.

I turned to walk home and muttered under my breath, Oh no I won’t.

I felt so free in that moment, being finished with Bree Jennings made everything I had just endured and was going to soon endure with Momma, so worth it.

Now as I skirt through the pelting rain that is gaining momentum, the weight settles again on my chest, this time coming from my mom. It won’t be so easy to get away from her wrath. Anger wells up at her for the control she always has over my life. Just once I’d like to make decisions without her hovering around me constantly.

I maneuver the car up the incline into the closest mountain not really having a destination in mind. Just to get as far away from that house as I can. Momma will be on a rampage for a while now that I’ve told her about the break up.

I hadn’t intended on telling her but she managed to get it out of me. I think Bree must have gotten to her first but neither of them would ever admit to that. It’s always on me, it’s my fault when any crap goes down. My blood boils recalling how she pulled it out of me.

I thought it would roll over but as soon as I got home from school the day after the break up, Momma called up the stairs, Elijah, I want to invite the Jennings over for Sunday brunch after church. Can you give Bree a call and let them know?

I gave her some noncommittal response, Uh, sure Momma. I’ll tell them.

It wasn’t enough though. She insisted, "No Elijah, I need you to call her now so they don’t make any other plans." I should have known by the annoyance in her tone but no, I hadn’t even noticed.

Up until this point I hadn’t been paying any attention to her. I was focusing on my phone, reading a text. I looked up to her waiting stare when she came into the doorway of my room. I knew right then that she already had an idea of what was going on. I should have left but I firmed up my tone and replied, The Jennings won’t be over for dinner on Sunday because I broke up with Bree yesterday.

You would have thought I had told her that Jesus was coming to dinner. She placed her hands together as if to pray and claimed raising her voice, Dear God, I know you did not just tell me you broke up with that sweet, beautiful girl. She is the best thing that has ever happened to you Elijah.

Yes Momma, I did and I really don’t want to talk about it. I frowned realizing how ridiculous the conversation was turning.

"Well you are going to talk about it because this is just not acceptable. Her high pitch changed mid -sentence and came out calmer, I forbid you from breaking up with Bree. She is good for this family. We need her reputation. You need her reputation." I walked out. I couldn’t stand there listening to her almighty attitude. I knew she would start preaching about God and how he would want Bree and me to stay together. She would go on and on and grasp at things that had nothing to do with the situation in an attempt to rectify her point.

When I was five I was scared to death of being struck down with a bolt of lightning. I know crazy right, but that’s how nuts she is. I thought that if I did anything against what my momma wanted, God would strike me down. I know better now. She still talks as though God has the last word. In many ways I think he does. But right now I’m here on this Earth and my life is mine. I’ve stopped arguing with her which is easier for all of us. I know she means well but she is wrong on so many levels.

The car climbs up and around the winding mountain road as the rain continues in its assault. I look to the radio determined to drown out the screaming voices in my head of Bree and Momma. I just need some peace for a while. When I glance back up something glistens in the distance against the stone wall of the mountain. It grabs my attention from the road for an instant but that’s all it takes. A figure moves away from the sheer rock. I squint further into the rain for a cave opening but I’ve made this turn hundreds of times. I know there isn’t an opening to the stone hill. It’s solid rock surrounded by bare trees and no shrubbery. The figure, a girl with long blond hair the color of the sun on a summer day, seemed to appear out of nowhere. Oddly I notice how she’s dressed in a short plaid skirt and high black combat boots. She seems out of place here in the hills. When my eyes sweep forward to the road ahead it’s too late. Everything happens in slow motion except the girl. She starts running toward me and I want to yell at her and tell her no, but the words are frozen on my lips.

The car slides across the pavement in my attempt to right the tires. Everything slows to tiny movements reminding me of the movies where things don’t really happen in the time sequence they portray. My breathing even seems to slow as if something is pressing against my chest. My mouth hangs open in shock, I swear takes minutes to drop. Crunching metal fills my ears making my eyes close with a wince wanting to dispel the foreign sound. I long to move out of the way, to escape what I now see as my fate, but my body won’t cooperate. If it’s even possible the metal, my body, and the loose glass move slower, suspended in mid-air. My hands leave the steering wheel as it begins to turn by itself suddenly gaining momentum. The car careens across the pavement smashing into the eighteen wheeler truck twisting around the corner of the mountain. I look up just as the windshield shatters in a spray of glass, blinking as my arms move to shield my face. Little pin pricks of pain move through my hands and skin making my heart speed up and panic rise in my chest. As I look over I can feel the car sliding toward the edge, darkness spans beyond. You know that moment when they say that your life passes before your eyes? You see the past, the good, the bad, and the regrets? Well I would be lying if I said I didn’t experience this. Actually the only face that appeared before me was Momma, the scowl of scorn and disappointment across her lips. Regret comes, not because she’s angry, but for not making better decisions and standing up to her sooner. An empty scream leaves my lips and my head is jerked forward slamming against the steering wheel. The last thing I remember before I lose consciousness are those tranquil blue eyes, calm in the midst of chaos, she just stepped out of the side of a mountain and… impossible.

My chest feels as though something is pushing down on it when I wake up. Images flash before my closed eyes, a truck barreling toward me, metal folding under pressure, glass shattering into my car, and the girl…

My eyes flutter trying to adjust to the light in the room. It’s bright so I know it must be day. Momma’s voice fills the room but seems far away. I shift and all of my limbs feel as my chest does, like some huge weight is holding them down. My eyes close again from the light, it’s too bright.

Elijah, honey. Momma’s face comes into view with my squint. Panic crosses her face as I focus on her features. Her hazel eyes are ringed with purple circles. Her short brown hair looks like she just woke up, smashed against her head in places and jutting out in other areas. It occurs to me that Momma is worried and I’m the reason for it. I try to move my hands but they barely shift with the attempt. I frown looking into her wide eyes. Then I feel a hand on mine and a squeeze. I squeeze back but from the look on her face I can tell it was a weak attempt. Her lips turn in a failed attempt of a smile.

Elijah, how are you feeling? Her hand lifts, pushing my dishwater blond hair back from my forehead. Nervous tics with misplaced energy are apparent in her movements. She is always so sure of herself, the matriarch of our family. This is the first time I’ve ever seen her like this, with something other than confidence on her face, fear, maybe remorse. I’m not sure.

I slowly turn my head which seems to work better than the rest of me. The room is small with generic pictures of trees and houses on the mint green walls. Machines stand against the wall beside the bed. Obviously I’ve earned myself a stay in the hospital. At that thought, I wonder how bad it is. My eyes move back to Momma’s, noting that her clothing is in disarray as well as the rest of her with barely a spec of makeup. That’s a first.

How long…

Oh honey, how are you feeling?

My voice strengthens in my own ears, How long have I been here?

Two days, Elijah. You’ve been asleep for two days. We thought we were going to lose you. She looks away as if scared to tell me anything else.

A breath escapes my lips at her words. I’ve been lying in a bed for two days. Holy crap, this can’t be good.

Before I can ask any other questions, my dad walks into the room handing Momma a cup of coffee. He looks over at me and smiles warmly as he grabs my other hand and squeezes briefly.

It’s about time you woke up buddy. A tentative smile spreads over his face but it ends at the worry lines in the corners of his eyes.

Always the joker, that’s how I describe my dad in our house, that’s the best defense either of us can have. I nod, moving my neck awkwardly aware that the movements I want aren’t coming so easily.

Momma pipes up, The doctors said you’d be a little rusty when you woke up.

That’s the understatement of the year.

She sinks onto the side of the bed as my dad moves to the chair across the room.

Elijah, what do you remember?

Not much. I pause trying to focus on the exact events. I was so pissed at her and it was raining so hard. I probably shouldn’t have been driving in it. I blink my eyes repeatedly as flashes of memory move through my head. One thing catches my attention, the blue eyes, and the girl.

There was a girl. Is she alright? The words pop out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop them.

She frowns and stills a moment before answering, You were in a car accident honey. Your car… it went over the edge of the cliff. Tears form in her eyes as she