The Life Behind Their Eyes

Chapter 1

It was July 9th in the 2000s, around 11:30 pm, when it all began

30minutes still to pass through before the sky splinters like wood; cracks stretched west to east, north to south. “Storm’s coming,” she said

Everyone looked at her, confused about what she was talking about; They just started to laugh and call her a “psycho.” She stood up from her seat and said in a severe tone, “You gotta believe me,” but they didn’t listen as they just continued to laugh or ignore her. Laughter. . . MORE laughter. She had been ridiculed for most of her short life, her 17 years on this planet, so this wasn’t new. It was, however, Different now THIS TIME. . .they was coming; it was a hallucination, nor in her imagination, it was genuine this time. She ran outside in FULL PANIC she looked around and saw a man walking by on his phone she grabbed onto the man’s arm shaking him and telling him that “they are coming” but the man shook her off and continued to walk and talk on his phone.

“Why does no one believe me? Why are they ignoring me.” As she was in her thoughts, the ground began to rumble. Softly at first, like the whispers of vibration that follow an earthquake, but very obviously increasing in both intensity of movement and sound. She screamed, “HE’S HERE!!” Everyone stopped to look at her when a lady came to her and asked if she was okay. “Don’t look up; cover your ears and eyes.” But it was too late; they were already looking up at the sky, being hypnotized. “NO NO!!” she started to wave her hands in front of their faces, but nothing happened. She didn’t get a reaction from them; they were just. . . FROZEN in place. “No, this can’t be happening” As she began to panic, she felt her body shake like she was having a seizure and her nose began to bleed, and her eyes started to roll in the back of her head. As she tried to fight it off, it became more robust. “Mmm, N-no” was all that came out of her mouth. She felt herself being tackled to the ground like someone was on her shielding her from it. She couldn’t move. “Hello,” said an unfamiliar voice. She tried to focus her eyes on whoever had just spoken to her but found no one. “I’ve returned.” the voice said again. Her mind felt abuzz with hundreds of bees, so loud she couldn’t even think through that buzzing; the voice spoke again, the only clarity she was offered, “You need to take deep breaths. NOW. Listening to the voice, she took in a couple of deep breaths. “Good, can you hear me?” she nodded her head as she couldn’t speak. “Okay, good, I’m going to get us out of here, do you trust me?” once again, she nodded her head as she felt herself being lifted and carried somewhere. “Do me a favor and keep your eyes closed, okay? I’ll tell you when you are free to open them.” The voice said. She felt a gust of wind flow through her hair; she felt safe in this person's arms. But the whispers only became louder and ruder inside her head. “No,” she said as she shook her head, frightened by their words. A sense of panic and confusion enveloped her, sharpening the dull edge of her consciousness. “ No.” said the original voice sternly. “You do not listen to him,” said the red voice. “Don’t listen to them; listen to the sound of my voice, not theirs; just hang on a little longer; we are almost there...You said you trust me, correct, ”? She nodded again. “Then TRUST ME.” replied the voice. “Who ARE you?” “I am the red one.”

“Okay red one, who is carrying me?” There was no answer, just the sound of the wind blowing. “Hello, you there?” she said, but there was still no answer, so she was about to open her eyes to see until she heard the red voice shout “DON’T YOU DARE, I SAID NOT TO OPEN YOUR EYES, DON’T DISOBEY ME!” she quickly shut her eyes tightly “ I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” The red voice sighed, explaining, “ I apologize for shouting, but I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping your eyes closed until I tell you it’s safe. Now, please keep them shut until then. Understand?” . . . Okay.” she replied

“You have to trust this person; I know you’re scared, but please. . . trust in this person because I sent them to help you and bring you to safety” she nodded her head and began to relax her body. Finally, they reached a safe spot; she felt herself being put down, “Okay, now open your eyes,” the red voice said. She slowly opened her eyes and gasped.