The Earth Shifter

Soon, the Deltar stopped and I found myself in a more illuminated place with candles floating on the still water.

All the islanders were here riding on their Deltars and making a big circle singing about the strong bond of love in a low voice. The biggest Deltar of them all in the middle. A man and a woman were riding on top of it cross legged, facing each other and a medium sized black stone between them. One of the many rocks we had seen on the shore, the first time we got here.

All the islanders were wearing white bandanas with golden doodles like the one Tristan was wearing. Tristan tossed each one of us a bandana and I put mine on.

I don’t know what this is but it looks like a traditional ceremony or something like that. The couple in the middle were dressed in pure white. The woman was wearing a short white dress with golden fancy drawings all over it and the man was wearing a white shirt with the same golden drawings and black pants. He looked simple But the woman was wearing so much accessories and bracelets, my favorite. The man held the woman’s hand slowly and looked into her eyes.

“This is their wedding ceremony, it’s usually made after two days from the marriage.” I heard Tristan whispering so he wouldn’t corrupt the calmness of the scene.

“I promise that I’ll never hurt you and be always there for you. And I admit that I truly and honestly love you.” The groom told his lover. I don’t think she should say anything in return because she didn’t. But did smile widely and looked at her husband as if there isn’t anything else worth looking at in this moment but him. The love was so obvious in her eyes.

Then they both held the rock that was sitting between them and stood up. They threw it into the water chuckling. The groom gave his bride a side hug and kissed her forehead. They were still looking at the water.

That’s it? I guess the show is over, then.

I was going to ask Tristan to get us back but noticed the all of the islanders still staring at the same spot in the water.

Then suddenly the rock came out of the water flying upwards. The rock settled for a second in mid air and the bride jumped on the back of another Deltar and rode it to catch the rock. The groom did the same. Both of them were racing to catch the rock. The woman managed to catch the rock in the last minute. And raced her husband till she made it to Tristan and threw it at him from a distance.

Tristan quickly rode his Deltar to catch the rock. He settled under it waiting for it to fall in his hands but what happened made me open my mouth. The groom’s Deltar jumped from under the water above Tristan’s and caught the rock before Tristan could dropping water on his head. And his Deltar swam towards some boy on the other half of the circle and threw it at him.

I think that means that he’s won the match.

Some people cheered for him and Tristan mouthed a ‘sorry’ to the bride but she crossed her arms and looked away.

He came back to us.

“His family are really happy for him.” Lilly exclaimed looking at the many people cheering for him.

“They’re not his family. They’re hers.” He corrected Lilly.

“How come?” I asked curios.

“In the game, the bride’s family should cheer for her husband and help him win and vice versa.” He explained to us. “It makes the bond between the two families stronger so there wouldn’t be hatred between the two families and the couple or something like that.” He added when we didn’t say anything.

“Why be so serious about it, right?” He asked reasonably.

The sun was beginning to rise and the people started going home.

“What about the rock? How did that happen?” Nate asked Tristan and he pointed at the water underneath us. We all looked down. The water was moving upwards but from a distance so it wouldn’t make bubbles on the surface.

“What’s that?” Erik asked holding his camera closer to the water.

“It’s an upside down water fall. If you go deeper in here the water will push you upwards with force because this place down there is anti-gravity, as many Radharcs would explain it.”

All the people has left and we were the only ones in here by now.

“Who are the Radharcs?” Aaron asked obviously paying close attention to everything Tristan says.

“I didn’t say Radharcs.” Tristan exclaimed wide eyed.

“Actually you did.” Nate said holding back a laugh.

“They’re like scientists.” He explained.

“If you know they’re scientists why would you call them Radharcs?” Aaron asked. Smart question.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t the one who named them.” He shrugged nervously.

“Should we get back?” He asked and rode his Deltar. Ours following his.

“Oh man, I’m in deep trouble.” I heard him mumble to himself shaking his head.

We arrived to the shore safe and sound. I was happy that I’ve gone into the water and back safely. They all walked home but I stayed for some time to watch the sunrise.

Lilly was right, Everything in this place is cool. The underwater waterfall, the spiral clouds, even the people didn’t look that bad anymore. I really hate myself for being so negative sometimes.

I laid over the black sand on my back watching the sky. Something hopped on my stomach and I sat straight. Periwinkle was taking the shape of the tiger again and was jumping up and down around me. I carried him up and took my white bandana off and tied it on his forehead under his ears gently then patted his head when he started moving his head playfully. After an hour or so, I started my walk back to the tent.

I saw Aaron coming towards me from a distance and I waited for him.

“Hi.” He said. Aaron was wearing his brown contacts again. I guess he didn’t want the slightest interaction with the people in here. And to be honest neither did I, except for Tristan, he was so friendly and welcoming each time I see him.

“Hey.” I haven’t talked to people for some time and didn’t feel like it now even.

“I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put our lives into comparison.” I stayed quiet and started walking.

Why was he apologizing? I didn’t say that I was mad at him.

“I get what you wanted to tell me and you’re right. Everybody has their own problems and if I kept doing that I can’t be happy.” He kept talking and I kept walking. “But I just wanted to tell you that the pressure of letting your parents down is something nearly all people go through.” He said and I stopped walking pushing away my hair from my face.

“I wasn’t mad at you.” I told him.

“Really?” He stopped too confused.

“Yes, who told you that?” I smiled I think for the first time since last night.

“I don’t know, because you didn’t talk to me since last night.” He shrugged.

“Aaron, I didn’t talk to anyone last night not just you. So that doesn’t mean that I’m ignoring you.” I helped clearing the picture a little for him.

“So you’re sad not angry.” He stated and I ignored him noticing a garden with a big fountain in the middle. I went sitting on the grass to take a rest.

“And also in my defense, I wasn’t talking about that kind of pressure.” I tried changing the subject but found myself dragging it once again.

“Then what kind of pressure were you talking about?” He asked sitting in front of me crossing his legs like mine.

The grass felt a little damp and cold but I don’t think it can ruin my clothes.

“Another kind.” I said and stood up regretting that I brought it up again. I don’t want to talk about it, not now, not ever. Aaron held my hand stopping me.

“Tell me.” He demanded.

“You won’t understand, Aaron.” I told him rubbing my face.

“I’ll listen this time, I promise.” He told me. “And I’ll try to understand you.” I’m sure that he was telling me that as a promise that he wouldn’t tell me later that he understand what I feel and stuff like that and he don’t even know what I’m talking about, like most of the people.

“I want to help you, Please.” The pleading in his eyes made me change my mind and sit back again.

“Alright.” I put some of my platinum hair behind my ears. And looked at him. His eyes were marvelously violet, he must’ve took them off at some point and I didn’t notice him or something.

“I want to know you better that’s all.” He shrugged casually pulling some of the weight off my shoulders because I’m sure that I looked so tensed up.

“Okay, What do you want to know about me?” I was smiling. He made talking to him so easy and made me feel better even.

“What’s your brother’s name?” He asked in a normal tone but seemed to know what he was asking about.

I blanched instantly.

“U-uhm...” I just couldn’t say his name. It has been so long since I had said it.

“I- Ivan.” I managed to say it in a mere whisper.

“Okay, he’s a surfer right?” He asked. And I felt the tears warming my eyes as all the flashbacks and that horrible memory came back.

“Was, Aaron.” I looked at the ground playing with the green grass and rounding it on my finger.

“He was a surfer and then he... uhm, had an accident and...” I couldn’t say it. I felt the taste of the salty tears on my tongue.

“Died.” I managed to complete the sentence hardly but it only came out as a whisper. And I kept crying silently looking at the grass that was only a green blur now.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled. “Is that why you don’t like the sea?” He asked tenderly.

“No, I like the sea but I don’t feel safe when I’m in it. Honestly, I don’t feel I’m safe anywhere anymore.” I mumbled.

“Now I’m offended.” He smiled gently. “You don’t even feel safe when you’re around your handsome knight in his shiny armor?” He faked being offended putting his hand dramatically trying to make me smile.

“And who’s that?” I asked.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” He shrugged making me smile. But it only came out as a sad smile. His hand then patted my shoulder.

“I’m sure you miss him, but you still have your parents and don’t worry about the pressure. It’s normal believe me.”

“Again, it’s not the same.” I looked at him wiping my tears and holding myself together.

“Then explain it to me.” He grinned.

“You know, Ivan was that kind of a prefect brother and son. And my parents were so proud of him even me. He managed to keep himself and all of us happy. He would always give me advice and play with me when I was little and when I grew up he would always take care of me. And when he, you know, died. My parents were sad and sat for months without talking to people or going out of the house but then you can say that they recovered and put all of their faith in me. Expecting that I’ll be exactly like him and get a scholarship and have a hobby, which was collecting bracelets. Can you tell me how could I be an expert in collecting the bracelets career?” I was talking so fast not letting my emotions get to my words then took a deep breath and got finally to the point. “And that puts a huge pressure on me.”

“You’re right, that is hard.” He blew a puff of air. Despite the fact that he just admitted that it was hard, he still made it sound simple and easy. And that’s the best thing I like about Aaron. We stayed quiet for a second and then Aaron talked again.

“Look, Amber. I know that what you’ve gone through and still going through isn’t easy and I know that you’ve heard many words of sympathy from many people. But I know that you didn’t need them to keep going. My point is, I knew from the first time I met you that you’re a determined tough girl. You don’t surrender easily.” He stated and I looked at him surprised. It wasn’t the first time that he says something positive about me, Actually he always does it. I nodded at him smiling, a real smile. He did make me feel better about myself.

“You know, looking at the progress I made with you and the guys is really something that gives me a good push towards life.” I told him feeling nearly myself again.

“Yeah, look at us living on an island that nobody has ever known or visited before.” He smiled proudly and so did I.

“And figuring it out wouldn’t be that hard when Tristan is with us.” I said.

“He’s a nice guy.”

“Hmm, I really like him.” I told him nodding.

“He slipped with his tongue a couple of times. What do you think he’s hiding?” I asked.

“I don’t know but I think it’s something serious and when he talked about the Radharcs I was sure that he wasn’t saying it all.” He smoothed the grass with the back of his hand.

“You know it means ‘sight’ in Irish, right?” He asked and I shook my head.

“Then what does it have to do with science?” I asked confused and he shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

“wait, you can speak Irish?” I asked surprised.

“Not speak, I just know some words.” He shrugged.

We stopped talking when we noticed Tristan running towards us.

“Were have you guys been? My dad wants to see you urgently.” Me and Aaron exchanged looks.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You could have done something wrong. How would I know?” He said panting from the running.

“Where are the others?” Aaron asked.

“They’re waiting for you by the tent.” We then went with him, Aaron stopped putting his contacts on as the streets were starting to get crowded with people, then we went to see Tristan’s father.

What does this man want from us now?