This story is by Ginger A. Summers and was part of our 2020 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
The evening was starting to cool, a resplendent summer night in the offing with nothing
but the sound of waves crashing on the rocks like far off rolling thunder. Briana stood alone on the shore, reflecting on her legacy. How will I be remembered? Did I change anyone’s life? Is there more I could do to help on earth? What problems can I help solve? She watched the setting sun send rivers of color, waving in the sky and reflecting in the water. She sat on a towering rock to watch the end of the day’s light.
Suddenly, a bright light left her momentarily blinded, knocking her from the rock. She sat quietly on the shore, waiting for her eyes to adjust, hearing the waves crash, listening as the sound grew louder and then all sound and light was gone. She was totally shrouded in darkness. She could tell that she was encased in rocks as if she was in a cave. The ground felt as if it were shaking like in a thousand earthquakes, plunging her into an inky darkness. All senses were blotted out.
The earth below her seemed to sink into a deep cavern, where she regained her sight long enough to see flashes of glowing stone. A mysterious haunting screech momentarily caused ringing in her ears, and then, all sight and sound were once more gone.
Gradually, Briana’s vision cleared and without warning, a serpent twice her height came slithering toward her, eyes like blazing fire, its diamond shaped head glowing with razor sharp ten inch horns. Its body was patterned with spots like a leopard and the talons at the end of its claws were sharp as daggers raking across the rock hard surface. As it was heading for Briana, she thought that being still was wise. Before the blink of an eye, she was weightless, as the serpent hooked her clothing and pulled her through what felt like an unusual narrow cave. Startled and confused, and spying stars seemingly zooming by on the outside of the tube like cave, she was unsure of where she was going and if she was endangered or safe.
A feeling like hail and rain pounding down from a violent sky made her head splinter with pain as the serpent pulled her through an opening at the end of the tunnel. Again, her mind went blank as the powerful pressure like a migraine descended on her head. A whooshing vacuuming wind drove her into a passage of flashing lights as yellow, pink and violet clouds flashed by. Sparks of blowing fire followed close behind. She landed in a pile of thick flowers, flaming as brightly as an atomic bomb. The serpent continued to drag her down to the field. An abrupt slash of a horn cut her belt and again she quickly ascended into the sky and through another portal, flashing like a ring of fire quickly closely and cutting the head of the serpent off.
Suddenly she was riding again on something up high in the violet sky, beyond any height she had ever been. Her legs made contact with a soft subtle fur, and a feathery mane blew in her face. As the pair climbed higher in altitude, she could hardly breathe, the oxygen being sucked out of her body. She became as limp as a jellyfish floating in a sea.
As they descended, castles and mansions appeared in the distance made of purest gold with gems sparkling above windows and doors. Magical creatures painted the fields with vibrant colors. Flowers were touched with deepest purples, greens and blues as the creatures played tag in the fields.
She floated downward and passed through a window that appeared to be solid topaz but miraculously allowed for her passage. She was greeted with mountains of jewels and pyramids of gold. She passed through a fountain of churning liquid like gold and crashed as she sank into a pile of treasure.
“Where am I?” she wondered.
A booming voice told her to bow. As she did so, she saw a dragon’s face glaring at her through a high window. The beady crimson eye penetrated deep into her soul, devouring every bit of darkness and replacing it with white light. Sanguine eyes became clear and calm as she heard the sweet sound of a flute drifting through the air. Opening the window, the dragon drifted in, a mystical creature with glimmering topaz eyes filled her with energy that penetrated throughout her body. She felt immediate peace, security and awe. The creature came closer.
Stepping off of the back of the dragon came another creature with snow white skin and hair cascading in waves like rivers of gold. There was exceptional gentleness in its eyes as it peered at her. It was dressed in flowing cerulean robes, fresh and clean like mountain streams.
She was entranced by a soothing voice that shook her from her trance, “Do not fear. You are the chosen one.”
“For what am I chosen?” she asked.
“You have been chosen for your wisdom, compassion, persistence, and resilience to lead a generation of caring, loving people stepping up to repair a world that has been damaged by other generations. A rising of young people who value beauty, peace, and safety, desire to renew and refresh a land torn by violence, fear, and war. Working in unity and truth healing the past to head to the future with respect, hope, and peace.”
Briana turned to look behind her. Surely there must be an army of people standing behind her. She was in shock when she saw she was alone. “Why me…again? I just lived how I thought I should live. How I was taught and how I viewed the world based on my life experiences. By the way, what should I call you?”
The beautiful creature smiled gently and said, “What would you like to call me?”
Briana tilted her head, and said, “I think you look like an… Alfred.”
“Alfred it is,” said the creature.
Briana said, “What do I do, Alfred?”
Alfred said, “We’re sending you back to Earth to find people with the same kinds of traits that you have. People who are wise and who you think could help train the next generation. Then we will bring all of you back here to train 100 young people. Then those one hundred people will go out into the world and initiate the change.”
Briana’s jaw fell. “How many people am I supposed to find, and how long do I have? Have you seen what’s going on in the world right now?”
Alfred smiled. “That’s why we’ve picked you. You are the chosen one to get things started. Start with five people. I have given you this charm that can aid you in your search that can see into someone’s heart exposing the motives behind their behavior. This charm will heat up as you place your hand on it to see if their intentions are true.
Briana tilted her head again. “Am I having a stroke? This is pretty wild, even for my creative brain.”
Alfred chuckled as he handed her the coin.
Briana was now certain she was having a stroke, but was willing to try it once. In fact, she already had someone in mind. “How do I get back to start doing my research?” she asked.