20 years ago…..
Layla Foster paced up and down the room as her friend Sarah sat on the bed.
Emily
How do things just happen like this?
Sarah
Are you sure?
Emily
Am I sure what, Sarah?
Sarah
You didn’t have sex in this past month?
Emily looked at her like she had just said the stupidest thing.
Emily
I told you, I just got with Phil and we’re taking it slow. I haven’t had sex in almost two years. You can call me a virgin!
Sarah
I don’t know, you’re thirty years old, you could probably have forgotten.
Emily
Oh because that’s likely.
Sarah
What if you were drunk?
Emily
I don’t drink.
Sarah
Got raped?
Emily
By whom? That's such an idiotic thing to say.
Sarah
I don’t know. I'm just saying.
Emily
The devil? This isn’t a movie!
Sarah
What if it was God?
Emily
Why would God rape a human?
Sarah
Well his people raped villages of nonbelievers, so I would not be surprised.
Layla
You’re hopeless.
Sarah
Well, I’m just trying to figure out how you’re pregnant, but you claim,
Emily
Because it’s true!
Sarah
That you haven’t had sex in two years.
Emily
I don’t know either!
Sarah
This can be that devil shit or you can be like Mary from the bible.
Emily
I’m sorry, what?
Sarah
You know, angel comes to woman, woman gets pregnant by God without sex, woman has baby. It happens.
Emily
Where in the bible? We're not in the bible!
Sarah
Eh, whatever. I’m not the pregnant virgin right now.
Emily
I don’t know what I’m going to do.
She put her hands over her face.
Sarah
Abortion?
Layla
I could.
Emily and Sarah both jumped as the lamp bulb burst.
Sarah
What the hell was that?
Emily
I don’t know!
Sarah
Your house is haunted!
Emily
Shut up. So anyways, no I’m not going to have an abortion, I’ll just have it.
Sarah
Do what you want.
Sarah got up from the bed.
Sarah
Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to leave before I end up pregnant.
19 ½ years ago…..
Doctor
So, how are you feeling?
Emily
I’m well, no pain at all.
Doctor
None at all?
Emily
No, I’m fine other than this big stomach.
Doctor
That is very odd, Mrs. Foster.
Emily
You know, I always heard stories about the stresses of being pregnant, and I guess I’m just lucky.
Doctor
Or you’re carrying some special kid.
Emily
I think I might be.
They laughed.
19 years ago……
Emily
Oh God my water just broke!
Phil
Just get in the damn car!
Emily
Shouldn’t I at least be in pain now?
Phil
Should! But you’re not, so get in the damn car!
Hours later while giving birth.
Doctor
Now I’m going to need you to push.
Emily
I’m pushing!
Philmore
Well you don’t need to yell at him Em, he’s the doctor.
Emily
I’m pushing, but I don’t feel any pain, is there something wrong doctor?
Doctor
No, just keep breathing and pushing.
17 minutes later the head appeared.
Doctor
I see the head, keep going, keep going.
Emily
There.
The doctor held the baby in his hand.
Doctor
There isn’t any blood on this child and he’s not crying.
Emily
Is that a bad thing?
Doctor
It could be and , it’s just, odd. We'll have to run tests on him.
Philmore
Well, I’m sure there is a reason for it.
Doctor
I’ve only seen this happen one other time. A mother this morning her son came out with no blood as well. She to had claimed she never had any pains.
Emily
Well, maybe I should meet her.
Nurse walks in.
Nurse
So, what will be the baby’s name?
Emily
Arkain.
Nurse
And you’re the father, correct?
Philmore
Well, I’m her husband, not blood father.
Nurse
Your last name, sir?
Philmore
West.
Nurse
And the middle name?
Emily
Ryan.
Nurse
Alright, if you can sign here for Arkain Ryan West being born April 3rd of this year.
They signed.
17 years ago….
Emily
Arkain, get over here.
Arkain went towards the stairs and was looking between the bars of the wooden rail while his parents laid in bed.
Emily
I told you, you can’t fly.
Arkain
Fly!
Emily
No, come to the room now.
Arkain
Fly!
Philmore
Arkain, listen your mother.
Arkain
Fly!
Arkain got on top of the rail.
Arkain
Mommy, I fly!
Arkain jumped and from the door after kissing Philmore she saw him drop down.
Emily
ARKAIN!
She ran to the stairs rail as quick as possible and looked down, Arkain was standing looking up at her.
Arkain
I fly mommy, I fly.
15 years ago…..
Layla was awoken by the thump.
Emily
Phil?
Before she opened her eyes she remembered Philmore had graveyard shift.
Emily
Arkain?
She felt the side of the bed where Arkain sleeps and he was gone. She looked from side to side, and then heard a thump. She looked up and there was Arkain face first on the ceiling, hitting it back and forward as if trying to go up to the sky through the ceiling.
Emily
Arkain!
14 years ago….
Emily walked Arkain into the doctor’s office and sat next to the only woman in the room.
Lady
Hi, I’m Carmen.
Emily
You are the lady who had a baby without a man as well.
Carmen
Yes, and what do you mean as well?
Emily
Well, I had the same thing happen to me. I’m Emily, and that’s my son Arkain.
Carmen
That’s my son Cameron.
Emily
Well, maybe they can be friends.
Carmen
Doubt it. After I have this one, we’re moving.
Emily
Pregnant again?
Carmen
Yeah, no father again.
5 year old Arkain walked over to 5 year old Cameron sitting on the floor with a couple of toys.
Arkain
Hi.
Cameron
Hello.
Arkain
I’m Arkain.
Cameron
I’m Cameron.
Arkain
Can I play?
Cameron
Yes.
Arkain
Thank you.
Cameron
Do you go to school yet?
Arkain
Yes, kindergarten.
Cameron
Me too. Do you have any friends?
Arkain
No.
Cameron
Me neither.
Arkain
Why?
Cameron
I don’t care.
Arkain
Me too.
Cameron
Good.
Arkain
Can we be friends?
Cameron
I guess.
Arkain
I’d like a friend. We can share toys.
Cameron
Will you bring your own next time?
Arkain
Yes, you’ll like my toys.
Cameron
I can’t wait.
They played with the two toys.
Arkain
I never had a friend before.
Cameron
Me neither.
Arkain
I’m glad you’re the first.
Cameron
Me too.
Arkain
I hope we’re friends forever.
Cameron
We will be.
When Carmen came out of the doctors she grabbed Cameron.
Emily
Look, they're already best friends.
Carmen
Yeah. Good thing they're young.
Emily
Why is that?
Carmen
They won’t remember they ever met.
Emily
Can I take a picture of them?
Carmen
Sure, I don't see why not.Emily pulled out a camera and asked them to smile. They took the picture.
Emily
Well it was a pleasure meeting you.
Carmen
Same to you. I hope all goes well.
Arkain
Bye Cameron.
Cameron
Goodbye Arkain.
They never saw each other again after that.
13 years ago…
Arkain
Mom, what is this on the back of my neck.
Arkain turned and showed his mom a mark on his neck.
Emily
It’s a birth mark.
Arkain
I don’t remember having it.
Emily
How often are you looking at your neck?
Arkain laughed.
5 years ago….
Arkain was stretched out in the grass.
Emily
Arkain!
Arkain
I’m over here mom!
Emily walked over and looked down on him.
Emily
What are you doing?
Arkain
Feeling the stars.
Emily
Don’t you mean looking?
Arkain
Yeah, I’m looking, but I’m also feeling.
Emily
How do you do that?
Arkain
I don’t know. I just can feel something from them.
She knelt down next to him.
Emily
Baby, I think that’s all in your head.
Arkain
No mom, it’s not.
He grabbed her hand.
Arkain
Can you feel me moving?
Emily
Yes, it’s your pulse.
Arkain
No, it’s them.
Emily realized that pulses aren’t that strong. She let go of Arkain’s hand.
Emily
Well, I don’t know what to say.
Arkain
Do you think I’m lying mom?
Emily
No, there are some things you can’t fake.
4 years ago….
Arkain walked outside of class, he was not feeling well, as he walked out looking down he ran into a girl, books flew and she fell.
Arkain
I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry,
He looked up at her while she was getting up.
Arkain
Gemma?
Gemma stood above him only 13 years of age.
Gemma
And you are?
Arkain
I’m Arkain.
Gemma
How do you know my name?
Arkain
Everyone does.
Gemma
Because I’m the blind girl?
Arkain
No, my mom just tells me about you.
Gemma
Oh okay.
Arkain
She says you’re a brilliant young woman.
Gemma
Well, tell your mother I said thank you.
Arkain
I will.
Gemma grabbed her books from Arkain’s hands.
Gemma
I wish I had a mother like yours.
Days ago….
Sarah
So, Arkain is coming after school right?
Emily
Yes.
Sarah
Good. Shit!
Emily
Sarah!
Sarah
Oh sorry, I pricked myself with the needle.
Emily
We’re teachers, watch your language.
Sarah
Yeah, yeah whatever.
They were decorating tables outside.
Sarah
Oh look at Jake talking to Gemma.
Emily
That’s odd.
Sarah
Yeah I know, Gemma? How odd is that kid.
Emily
Shut up Sarah, I happen to adore that young girl.
Sarah
I guess if you like weird people.
Emily
He’s probably up to no good.
Sarah
Does everyone have to be up to no good to talk to a blind girl?
Jake threw the ball at her face.
Emily
Oh fuck.
Sarah
Hey what happen to watching our language!
Layla walked across the quad. Everything went black.
Present time…..
Nicholas
I knew you’d come, I knew I had a guardian angel, Arkain.
Suri
You believe in such things?
Nicholas
My father when I was little told me a story about the ones that walk the sky and how they watch over certain people.
Suri
Sounds interesting, you can tell us that story later.
Nicholas
So, what are we going to do now?
Arkain
I’m going to do what I can for you.
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WOAH. CAMERON AND ARKAIN ACTUALLY GOT A LONG?!
ReplyDeletewowwww. how odd that both carmen&layla had the same type of birth labor.
layla's for the good side.
carmen's for the bad side.
hmm. i dunno.
ahhh.
WOW!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I did not expect Arkain to have such a past.
Cameron also had the same past as well, Im guessing.
Just curious though, if they were born the same way,
could this mean that they are brothers with different mothers?
Its interesting to know that over all that time span Arkain knew what
he could do, very interesting.
Could Cameron and Arkain be Sky Walkers?
Im really curious to see how this will unfold in the future.
Nice job Morales.
Very well written.
Eh heee this was an exciting one!
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks are my favorite chapters
they always tell awesome things!
good job!
Next chapter!! :D
Another Bright Eyes quote
ReplyDeleteor just a coicendence? lol
But gosh, i love the flash backs!
:D
I think you might have to
rewrite it because no matter
what babies have to cry or
else the doctors will keep
them in & run a bunch of
test on them.
So yea, might want to
rethink that part.
I made no mistakles Katelyn :)
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks are quick, I didn't put how long Arkain had to stay in the hospital before doctors figured out he's a perfectly normal and healthy baby. haha Or did you also forget earlier on that day another baby came out like that?
Why did Carmen said that they won't remember they ever met?
ReplyDeleteHaa your perpetual grudge against religion is very apparent in this chapter..you're speaking through these characters, and i see a little bit of you in each of them. I even find myself laughing out loud sometimes because certain things remind me so much of you.
ReplyDeleteBut i like your idea for the relationship between Arkain and Cameron. Their connection, even if it was shortlived, was powerful and it will be interesting to see the repercussions come out later in the novel.
By the way, I love the names youve chosen for the characters. Layla, Arkain, Suri..it gives it something extra and definitely makes them more memorable.
this is a great chapter, i liked how we got to see pretty much his whole life even though it was brief. and its cool that he met Cameron as a child. i wonder if anything will come up later where he is reminded of that...
ReplyDeletei really thought that Cameron was a badass his whole life.haha.but yeah,good job :) i love flashbacks.they're the best.
ReplyDeleteCarmen kind of annoys me. Oh well, she must have a reason to be that way.
ReplyDeleteThat Cameron and Arkain part is so cute, Cameron seems so sweet and pure, it's almost hard to believe he's with the 'villains'. I bet he'll help Arkain later in the story.
love this more with every chapter!!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap this is my favorite chapter. I really liked how they new eachoter in the past and you connected the mothers. And Carmen saying they'll never remeber eachother that was really true. I have a feeling that there relationship will come up in the future. Woah did I tell you this is my favorite chapter.
ReplyDeleteThis is legit.
ReplyDeleteMann, the moms, the past-friends. ahh.
P.S
I wish I could feel the stars. :(
I feel the moon, but lately her resonance has changed. :( Stars Ithink would stay alot nicer
Once again, brilliant writing. Arkain and Cameron as friends reaaly made me smile. I`ve always felt they were the ying and the yang of each other! I just know they`ll remember that time again (if not for the picture coming up) but also something tells me Cameron hasn`t forgotten this ;)
ReplyDeletei love the background chapters.
ReplyDeletethat's crazy that cameron and arkain knew each other from before!!! where is that picture now??
i am so glad that Nicholas is not dead. that would have made me very sad.
The beginning of this chapter reminded me of the nonstampcollector videos you got us to watch in class "Well his people raped villages of nonbelievers, so I would not be surprised" "out of context!!!" hahaha. That's immediately what I thought of for some reason. I love that Arkain and Cameron are connected, that the good and evil are somehow intertwined. Very interesting and I wonder whats going to come of it. I also liked the scene where Arkain is "feeling the stars" and his mom believes him. I am just amazed at Arkain's love for the universe and am honestly jealous of his connection with it! I mean who doesn't want to feel like they are a part of that endlessness. I think you are especially good at these flashback chapters. You give such great details and really have a way with words :)
ReplyDeleteOh. April 3rd huh? Hahaha. I like this reminiscing of Arkain's past, especially how he and Cameron knew each other.
ReplyDelete:O
ReplyDeletei knew cameron and arkain are related in some weird freaky way. and im glad nicholas is still alive at the moment.
i like the way you do your flashbacks.it ties all the events together and makes everything more full.
ReplyDeletei say down with nicholas.lol jk
Sky; Walkers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhoooooooooooo!!!!! i loved that part!!!
i like how this chapter connects with the prologue
of the story, it showed what happened before
the massacre at the school, nice job
these flashbacks are so good!! they tie in beautifully with the story!
ReplyDeletei really hope that the whole bff thing gets frought up in a later meeting between cameron and arkain
I love how u chose ur own birthday for arkain!!
ReplyDeleteAnd also the birth of the other child made me say hey is that his opposer...u kno how there is jesus and the anti christ
Amazing
And then it was boom...cameron
I just loved the reveal
And the history
It shows arkain has always been special
What I loved tho is that you shedded light on his mother
My favorite scene was the one about how he cud feel the stars
It seemed magical to me..i love stuff like that
Arkain is alive!!! Yay...and suri seemed to make it in one peace...sadly
:(
Lolol
I KNEW IT!
ReplyDeleteI knew Cameron and Arkain had some kind of connection.
It was really interesting to read more of the backstory.
Born on the same day with the same conditions? I want to know why Cameron turned EBIL.
ReplyDeleteCameron & Arkain, half brothers. Have one father, probably going to be shown later in the chapters and probably will assist the good side, as the strongest being alive. Just my opinion. AWESOME CHAPTER =D!
ReplyDeleteSmall world eh? Kinda funny how things tend to turn out haha. Nice plot and how everything is meshing together is nice.
ReplyDeletealright so some back story on Arkain and Gemma. Good. I found it a little odd that Arkain's mother took the mysterious nature of her son too well. I think she should have been a lot more schocked. Well whatever, I am just being nit-picky. Good chapter
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNoooo Cameron and Arkain were friends??? When do they find out or remember!? And damn that kid for throwing a ball at Gemma's face! :l Hehe the guardian angel part at the end is pretty cool. Next chapter!!
ReplyDeleteYay flash backs!
ReplyDeleteI love this line, "Well his people raped villages of non-believers, so i would not be surprised." hahaha
Oh nice, Cameron and Arkain have a past, super sweet, hope they become friends later...
I've been loving this connection between Arkain and the stars wonder what it's all about?...
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO While Gemma is going crazy ready to kill people, you let us know what his mom is doing at the same time! that is awesome how you did that...
The back story for both of these characters is amazing. Similar but also different in their own ways. Since they were both born the same way, could it be possible that these two are connected in a way that we are not aware of yet? Curious to see how Arkain and Nicholas interact with each other since Nicholas considers him his guardian angel.
ReplyDeleteI. LOVE. THIS!
ReplyDeleteAnother favorite chapter for sure. Definitely makes things SO much more interesting! I was reading it at work and trying not to say "OMG!" out loud :P
It's a huge thing for me when a lot of things in a story (especially from past to present) tie in and are related to each other, and you definitely do a GREAT job of that. I love the amount of thought and detail you put into everything. I think that's the mark of a great writer :)
I'm really interested to see more interactions between Cameron and Arkain now, and to see how all of this plays out. And all the little tidbits about Arkain's past and hints of his "powers" were awesome. Reminded me a lot of stuff like Heroes :)