Stay

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

In this new world, the scream I hear is silent. It leads me back to you.

Stay. Bewitch me with your dark green eyes. Arrest me with their striking presence and hold me within your time. I have returned.

Your eyes stare into mine lifelessly. A strand of long, brown hair swings in front of your left eye. You whip your head in the air, flicking the strand away and revealing a bead of sweat across your forehead.

Your intricately patterned top represents your love for your heritage. It was once worn by your mother and handed down to you. The black, red and white colours blend effortlessly, revealing a narrative of antique shape, line and floral patterns. I am drawn to your grounded, earthy presence in that top. It speaks of the familiarity of your love and our home.

The top flutters wildly in the breeze, clinging to your torso and arms as you dig your bare feet into the earth. It reveals the shape of your body, which makes my heart stir with appreciation. How I long to hold you close.

Your eyes close for a single moment, a beat of time that is mesmerising. I can feel the burning heat of my attraction pulsing through my veins. I can't take my eyes off you.

A fog begins to rise slowly, filtering a gloomy, white haze that pools around your feet. You raise your arms up into the sky and inhale. Rising like a sheer curtain, the fog blows gently around you. Exhaling your breath, you stamp your feet with great force.

An image appears slowly, etching itself in the foggy mist. It is of you, in the past. You are standing in the open doorway of our home, your eyes sad and brimming with tears. As the door swings in the wind, you rock your body, grasping the skirts of your grey dress with shaking hands.

In the air floats an open letter, which you have dropped. It flutters wildly in the wind, finally settling on top of your bare feet.

You stare down at the letter for just a moment, your mouth opening in a silent scream. Hitting your forehead with one fist, you narrow your eyes and bite your lip. Stepping backwards, you retreat into the darkened entrance into our home.

The image dissipates and the fog swirls in a gust around your present body before fading away.

Your lips are trembling now, trying to find the words. “Is that you, Trent?” Your voice is small and disbelieving.

I nod, my heart inundated with your shock. I watch as your hands clutch at the air, trying to grasp onto something up high.

A dark blue explorer hat falls, swaying in the breeze and landing gently at your feet. You kick the hat, spinning it around with your foot, your lips forming into a bittersweet smile.

“It’s all I have left,” you gasp breathlessly, meeting my gaze again. “It arrived in a black limousine. A uniformed man handed it to me, his gaze solemn. He tugged at his shirt collar as he tried to find the words to tell me...“ your voice trails away and you inhale short, staggered breaths.

It’s the unsaid that shakes the very foundations that we stand upon.

I am alive.

It is unexpected, I know. I woke early the last morning that we saw each other, pulling myself up from the grassland. The sky was afire with the burning reds of dawn. I worked with haste, throwing on my singlet, packing my belongings and tearing my gaze across the land.

The purple lights were encroaching upon our space, following me. It set my heart racing with fear.

My gaze shifted to you, stirring gently and reaching for me with your loving arms. As your beautiful green eyes met mine, my heart loaded with guilt. I had put you in grave danger and I was desperate to take it away.

I met your gaze, my heart tearing up inside. “I must go,” I said, grabbing both your hands and kissing them. I stared intensely into your eyes. “Run, Pina, as fast as you can and hide. I will do all that I can to distract them.”

Tearing my hands away from your strong grasp, I turned and walked away quickly, not daring to meet your gaze again. We had been too relaxed, enjoying our time together, sharing romantic moments and forgetting to hide.

You clutched at me as I left, your nails clawing into my legs. “Stay,” you pleaded. “We’ll face this together.”

You didn’t realise the danger that we faced. It would just keep following us until it had its way.

We had no choice but to separate. I fervently hoped that being apart would keep you alive.

There you are. A fraction of time away from me, yet still visible. That beauty of yours, alighted by a gentle smile that melts my heart. Yet your eyes, the bearers of truth, stare at me now with doubt.

“How long do we have?” You demand, your voice raspy. The sweat drips from your brow.

I am concerned by your exertion. “Not long enough,” I say. “Are you unwell?”

“Stay,” you gasp, biting your lip. “Long enough to notice.” You splutter your last words, a strong cough violently shaking your body.

Notice what? My mind reels. I study the details of your landscape. You are surrounded by grass. The sky above you is grey and cloudy, as though it is about to rain.

“You’ve been hiding away in the new world too long,” you manage to gasp. “You’ve lost sight of what’s real. Here I stand, now, in our time, Trent. Why are you still so far away?”

My mind numbs, venturing into the searing heat of the past. I had returned with wilful determination to the Advanced Explorer Unit, being met by the stern gaze of Commander Jeffries. His eyes bore into me like hot coals as he blew a billowing haze of smoke from his cigar.

“You’ve returned,” the Commander barked, raising one eyebrow. His lips thinned into a sharp sneer. “Have you got what it takes, Boy?”

“I do,” I kept a straight face, meeting his steel like gaze. “Set me to work, Commander. I’ll make you proud.”

The Commander blew a waft of smoke into my face, staring intensely into my eyes. “Fine,” he eventually nodded. “You work with Sav, here. Do all you can to discover the origin of those purple lights. We need to stop them from dominating us, you understand?”

“Of course, Sir,” I nodded. Stepping back, away from the smoke, I faced the bright eyed Sav.

“Hi,” Sav grinned, his eyes alight. He ran his fingers excitedly through his shoulder length black hair. “Aren’t you curious about those lights? They’re out of this world!”

Sav’s enthusiasm added a welcome lightness to our exploration. We trekked for days, following the trail of lights until we came across a strange encounter.

“How odd,” said Sav, circling the silver, metal door, which floated obscurely in the air.

The metal was hot to touch, searing a heat that began to steam and then dissolve completely. “It’s a portal,” I said, my eyes narrowing. “We should report this.”

“Not without exploring it first!” Sav was unthinking, his enthusiasm getting the better of him. “Let’s go!”

Pressing the metal door stile, Sav stepped through the dissolving doorway and disappeared.

I stared after Sav, unsure of what to do. The unknown world behind that door terrified me.

It was silent outside and the purple lights were hovering above me. Some even dropped down low, as though they were studying me closely. Perhaps they were daring me to take that step.

Inhaling a sharp breath, I pressed against the hot metal door, watching it dissolve and reveal its portal. Gingerly, I stepped into the unknown.

My eyes were stunned by a glaring luminescence. Looking up, I saw the new world sky flooded with purple light. Glancing downwards, I noticed that the ground beneath my feet was arid and dug with many trenches.

Many places to hide.

Sav turned to face me, his eyes shining. “Wow!” He exclaimed. “Those lights are bright!”

It was silent in the new world. The absence of sound made me feel exposed. I dashed across the terrain, keeping a low profile and jumped into trenches, trying to avoid the gaze of the purple lights. Their beams radiated as they lowered themselves, boring their lights intensely into us. I was scared that they would take one of us away.

Sav was not as concerned as I and trod confidently across the terrain. One day when a purple light lowered itself, he stepped closer, staring intensely at it. “Hello,” he chirped. “Would you like to play?” He poked the light with his finger jovially.

Zap!

Sav's eyes widened in agitation as he was struck forcefully by the purple light. Throwing himself across the dirt, he screamed shrilly in pain, clutching desperately at the searing wound on his shoulder.

I dragged him into a trench, wrapping my arms around his body, trying to settle him. It all happened so quickly. His body convulsed deeply and then stopped moving altogether.

There was nothing I could do to save him.

I remained hidden in the trench for days, fearing the purple lights and their wrath. Sav lay there silent and unmoving. The stench of death was overwhelming, as were the flies that I kept swatting away.

I stared into Sav’s lifeless eyes, studying the grey-green irises, which were wide open and terrified. Respectfully, I shut his eyelids gently with my shaking thumbs. Mouthing a prayer, I placed the photograph he carried of his wife and daughter onto his chest.

It was hard to leave Sav. I spent an age talking to him, disbelieving that he was gone. At nights, I rocked myself awake, watching the strange, purple lights continue to expand, flash and gleam in the dark sky.

As the purple beams became stronger, exposing my location, I spoke to Sav one last time. "I'll find out who's behind this, Sav, I promise," I said determinedly. "They have a lot to answer for." Standing, I took one last lingering look at Sav before I turned and bolted across the terrain.

As I journeyed across the changing landscape, I discovered warped and streaked shards of metal that jutted and protruded in the air. Some metal floated, carrying blurred bodies across the sky to unknown locations. I did not know who the beings were who rode that transport. I assured myself that when the new world was ready, it would reveal their identities to me.

The metal was hot to touch, almost breathing a life of its own. If I stared at it closely enough, I could see my reflection in it. My unshaven face appeared haggard and fatigued, along with my drooping brown eyes. Running my fingers through my dishevelled, shoulder length brown hair, I fretted.

I was a stranger in the new world. A mere speck in the landscape. While it continued to evolve and protrude, I felt completely lost and alone.

All I wanted was to trek back to you.

Staring at you now, I sense a shift in the breeze. Time’s movement separates our worlds. While yours is still and present, mine has become loud and rapid.

Behind me, the hum is increasingly audible as a metal transport clunks through the air. I watch your eyes light up with amazement as you witness the spectacle.

Dropping to the ground, I huddle behind a rock, waiting for the metal monster to pass. I cannot afford to be discovered here.

Once the transport has passed, I step closer to you. We are still a fraction of time apart. You meet my gaze, a sad smile crossing your lips. “If only you could see,” you say hoarsely.

The world streams passed me like a blur. Colours, shapes and bodies all zooming by like passengers on a speeding train. My eyes are drawn to their journey like magnets and I feel a wave of nausea in the pit of my stomach.

After a while, my stomach settles and I shift my gaze back to you. You have your arms raised again and your body lowered to the ground. Sitting up on your knees, you are grasping at the air, your hands clenched into fists. Light bounces off your knuckles and glows softly around you, giving you a presence that is immediate and raw.

Meeting your gaze, I watch the tears pooling into your eyes. “I am mourning you,” you say, your heritage top transforming into one that is black and tattered. "You left this world too soon.” A dull grey light now surrounds you, accentuating your sadness and baring open the portal between our two worlds.

I feel a great empathy sweep over me. What you must have been going through all alone. It draws my aching heart like a magnet towards you and all that you are.

Stepping forward, I feel the dull grey light of your world fall upon me. It is sad and luring, guiding me towards you. I can’t take my eyes off you. You haven’t moved and your gaze has now shifted up into the air above you, where your arms remain raised.

As I approach you, I sense your danger. You are shaking with fear. My heart pounds with concern and I drop down onto my knees, meeting your tormented face.

Your gaze shifts to my eyes and the tears of relief fall. “Trent you're really here,” you gasp, your arms still raised and your fists clenched. “Please release me.”

I shuffle closer and finally see. You have been ruthlessly abandoned, your waist tied to the trunk of an ash tree. The green leaves fall sharply from its branches with flickering flames that spark at your feet.

Untying the rope, I unravel it away from your body. You collapse against me, letting me hold you in my arms.

“Pina, what happened to you?” I tremble with fear.

“They found me,” you say hoarsely. “They wore suits, appeared official. They said you were missing, possibly dead. I let them into our home, unsuspecting. They raided our world, fearful of what you had discovered, snatching whatever devices, photos and documents that they could find. I tried to send them away but they were too strong and tied me up.” I feel you crash against me, your body fragile and fatigued.

Glancing at your waist, I notice spots of blood leaking through your top. You are wounded. "Oh Baby," my eyes widen with shock. "When I find out who did this to you, I will -"

You place a finger across my lips, silencing me. "It's my own fault," you whisper hoarsely. "I stayed here on our property. I kept telling myself that if I just kept close to our home, you would come back soon and we could go on ..." your voice drifts away faintly.

"I'm here now, Baby, right here with you." Tearing off my singlet, I rip it into strips of cloth. “Let me help you,” I offer. “We need to stop the bleeding.”

Summoning your energy, you tear away at your top, revealing the skin of your stomach. The rope has severed it. My heart burns with rage when I see the deep gash wound streaking its way across the top of your navel. I say nothing, though, not wanting to stress you.

Grabbing a piece of cloth, I wipe away at the blood, soaking it up until it dissipates. You wince, digging your nails into my shoulders, unleashing your pain.

I wrap a second piece of cloth around your waist, bandaging you. Tying the ends together in a knot, I shuffle backwards and stare into your eyes.

You are fatigued, your eyes closing. I catch you as you fall, lifting you in my arms. “I’ve got you,” I say, watching you settle, your breathing now calm.

Holding you protectively, my eyes dart across the landscape, checking our safety. All is clear, yet the earth of our property has been scattered with drops of blood along the dirt path ahead.

Someone else was wounded too and has ventured up north.

Sensing danger, I inhale a sharp breath. The new world is proving to be violent and has merged with our own time. It means we must keep moving.

We will now trek together. It makes it more difficult for us to survive.

Yet, there is someone else fleeing too. I listen to my gut instinct. It tells me to track the person down and to assist them, to see if they have any new leads for us.

I gaze at you once more as the purple lights flicker. Your face is relaxed and peaceful while you sleep, filling my heart with fondness. “I’m sorry I left you,” I say, my voice shaking with guilt and fear all at once.

You stir, opening your eyes. “Trent … stay,” your voice is weak and pleading. Deep inside I know that you fear that I will abandon you again.

“I promise I will,” I swear. “I’ll never leave your side again.”

You smile gently, dozing off again.

Stepping forward, my eyes gaze at the purple lights. They are far away, yet not too far.

Time is short. The enemy is proving to be ruthless and quick.

It is time to follow the blood trail and see where it leads.