The Earth Shifter

We all sat awkwardly in something like a living room with a glass ceiling and plants covering it making a beautiful view. I didn’t hear anything after that shout from Tristan’s father. I was sitting next to Aaron and I looked at him nervously as to ask if we should just go. But he shook his head and gave me an assuring look and moved his hand telling me to wait.

After a long wait Tristan came out with a look of disappointment on his face. And we all stood up to get out. I don’t think I should embarrass myself anymore.

“Well, he said...” Tristan looked at the floor. “You have two days!” He changed his tone into excitement and shot us the news.

“Sweet.” Lilly said clapping, jumping up and down.

He pushed his curly hair away from his face. Tristan had this kind of a baby face which made him look younger than he really is. But I can tell he’s older.

“That’s not all, The servants will prepare some rooms for you to sleep in.” Tristan added.

“Here?” Erik asked.

“No, not here. It’ll be far away from here. You don’t want to be tripping over my dad all day. He’s not that good with visitors.” He answered.

“It’s cool, anyways.” Erik told him.

“Told you my dad can’t turn any offer for me down.” He said proudly.

“Clearly, thanks man.” Aaron thanked him.

The night has came and we had our rooms to sleep in. Well, they weren’t exactly rooms. They were kind of big tents. That leader really doesn’t know how to treat his guests.

I didn’t mind anything. I was so tired I could sleep on a top of a car if I had to. Lilly on the other hand didn’t want to sleep. She and her brother were so happy and enjoying Tristan’s company. So she didn’t come to sleep with me. Only professor Alessandra. We had like three beds in our tent. And the guys had beds on their number too.

I didn’t fight the sleep for a second, I just let it take over me completely.

I felt like I was being myself again, my reckless happy self. looking around me, I noticed that I was on a beach. The sun making the sand glow happily under it. Someone gave me a side hug and I looked up to see who.

Ivan was smiling down at me. And my happiness was indescribable. He was holding his silver surfboard under his arm. And my smile sank and so did my heart when I saw him getting ready to surf.

It’s happening again.

“D-D-Don’t go, Ivan” My body was trembling and my words weren’t coming out right.

“Just half an hour, Amber. Mom and dad won’t notice. We’ll get back before the party.” He said.

“Pshsh, Do whatever you want. Why would I care? It’s your birthday party.” I looked at the source of the voice. I was standing away from me talking to him carelessly not aware of what was going to happen.

“Thanks berry, can you hold this for me. So it wouldn’t get wet?” He gave me his brown bracelet.

“Sure.” I shrugged carelessly wearing it on my wrist.

“No, Ivan. Listen you can’t go. Please don’t go,” I pronounced the words but he didn’t hear them and neither did I.

The whole memory flashed in front of my eyes as Ivan put on the leg rope and made sure that the leash is secured, then he started swimming over his surfboard towards the huge wave. I was so helpless I didn’t do anything. I looked at myself sitting there. I was playing on the phone glancing at him every once in a while making sure I wouldn’t miss the show.

When the wave became in it’s maximum size. Ivan surfed over it and made a couple of stunts. Then slid gracefully inside it. One second he’s inside the wave and the other isn’t. He disappeared. I didn’t know what happened wrong. I couldn’t see him anywhere.

My legs couldn’t carry me anymore as I collapsed to the ground sobbing and crying uncontrollably. I looked at the young me running around trying to get help, but no use. He had picked this shore specially to train because there was no people in here not even a life guard.

I waited and waited so long till the waves came back with him and the surfboard attached to his ankle and the worst part that he wasn’t breathing anymore and his eyes that always have been full of life and joy are now closed. He was a lying still body now. The gash on his forehead was drawing so much blood and I didn’t know what to do.

The two images of him are forever stuck in my head. The annoying funny brother and the motionless pale one. He was dragged out of my life simply like that.

I opened my eyes and draw in a sharp breath that was soon followed by tears and sobs. I couldn’t get his picture out of my head. I just can’t forget him. The pain in my chest was unbearable. I don’t want to be alone. I want my brother back. I dream about this horrible memory most of the time. It wasn’t something new. But I will never get used to it. Something poked my side and I looked down to see that it was Periwinkle, a baby brown bear Periwinkle, curling at my side.

“Is it wrong to miss him so much, Periwinkle?” I asked him whispering among my sobs and tears and he looked at me innocently.

I didn’t know what hour it is but I wanted to get some fresh air. So I got up and started walking hugging Periwinkle close to me. He was so warm. I walked in the nearly empty streets. I had no idea where I was going but the cool breeze was nice. I kept walking till I found myself standing in front of the same brick fence. It was built so high and the gate was large too. I really wanted to know what’s inside. Something kept dragging me to this place.

Why? I had no idea.

I went back to the tent and tried sleeping again. After all, my crying session and the quiet walking made me feel sleepy and tired. I wiped my tears and as soon as I was starting to drift into the land of dreams, someone nudged my arm.

“What do you want, Lilly?” She was standing above my head with wide eyes.

“Get dressed. Tristan wants to show us something cool.” She demanded switching the lights on and I blinked then squinted through the light and don’t ask me how there are light bulbs in a tent. I don’t have the slightest idea about a single thing on this island.

“And how do you know it’s cool?” I asked.

“Isn’t there anything on this island that isn’t cool?” She was so excited.

“Everything.” I mumbled to myself. Everything on this island was mysterious and everybody was hiding something and it’ll only be cool if someone would explain anything to me.

Lliana then told me that she’ll be waiting for me outside. I put my clothes on and joined the rest of them. We kept walking through the barley illuminated street.

“Walk faster guys. It’s almost dawn, we’re gonna miss it.” Tristan instructed us. But no use. They all looked like the walking dead and half of them were yawning and stretching the whole time. I wasn’t feeling that sleepy anymore. In fact, I wasn’t feeling anything. I wasn’t sad or happy.

“Where are all the people?” Aaron asked sleepily and it was like someone has set him into slow motion.

“You’ll see.” Tristan answered him excitedly.

“Where are you taking us, dude? I want to sleep.” Nate whined tiredly.

“We’re here.” He announced and we all ran into each other not noticing that Tristan had actually stopped walking.

Despite the fact that Erik looked like he needed years of sleep, he didn’t forget to bring his camera with him. Although I don’t see the point in shooting the empty streets.

We were standing on the shore. Tristan walked into the dark water searching for something on the sea ground. He held it up. It was a rope and he smiled at us as he pulled at the rope two times and then threw it back into the water.

He stood still in his place till the water was filled with bubbles around him from everywhere then a big shell that looked like a turtle’s shell came into the water’s surface.

“This sea turtle is huge. What do you feed it? Humans?” Erik asked surprised. He was right it really was a very big turtle.

“It’s not a turtle, Erik.” Tristan knocked gently on the shell then climbed over it. The big animal swam and gradually it’s speed increased and then it dove under the water taking Tristan with him. The bubbles continued and then stopped for a second. I think Tristan didn’t get to breath and died. But before I could complete my theory which was build on utter fantasy, Tristan showed up on the back of that animal jumping in a curve above the water like a dolphine.

I could now see the rest of it. It was acctually a dolphin but with a turtle’s shell. It reminded me of a soldier wearing a bullet proof vest. And now I could say that the word I picked for this place, Mixture, was perfectly suitable for it.

Tristan finished his ride and came back hopping on the shore.

“You like it?” Tristan asked excitedly.

“It’s a cross hybrid between a sea turtle and a dolphin, fascinating!” Professor Allesandra said. Her hair was sitting on her shoulders with soft curls.

“We call them Deltars.” He introduced his friend to us. “Our one and only transportation method.” He held his hand in front of the Deltar.

“You people seem to know a lot about science, more than us maybe. And you didn’t think about building a ship?” Nate asked. “And in case you’re wondering a ship is...” Tristan didn’t let Nate finish.

“I know what a ship is. We know nearly everything about you, you are the ones who have no idea about us. And to answer your question, There are two rules you should never break here, buddy. You can build or invent whatever you like. But never try to make a transportation or communication devices.” Tristan stated firmly turning serious.

“But if I try secretly...”

“You’ll get caught.” He didn’t let Nate finish again.

“But you know how, right?”

“No, I don’t and it’s against the rules Nate.” Tristan was already on his Deltar and waving at us to get on the other ones, which happened to be there under the water the whole time.

“So, you were born here? And never left the island since?” Aaron asked.

“What? No, who said I never got off the island. We just moved in here.”

“You’re not from Eossoda then?” He looked at Aaron surprised.

Why was he surprised?

“Uhm... Did I say something wrong?” Aaron asked confused.

“No, no, just do me a favor and don’t let my dad know I told you this.” Tristan smiled kindly.

“Sure.” Aaron shrugged. Tristan had a really big mouth and making him keep a secret is like planning your own funeral. But it was good for us. He made our job of figuring out this place much easier. Tristan was wearing a white bandana, with golden doodles over it, tied on his forehead and his hair was curling over it.

We all moved to ride our Deltars. Riding a creature I’ve never seen before into the middle of the water in the dawn didn’t seem like the brightest idea. But I wasn’t up for embarrassing myself once more and I needed to trust the people, I spend most of my time with, more.

I climbed over the back of my Deltar quietly then Periwinkle came riding on my shoulder.

“Hey there, captain Periwinkle.” I greeted my shifting friend smiling and smoothing his Periwinkle feathers.

“Let’s go.” Tristan smiled excitedly and without a hint all of our Deltars were swimming right behind Tristan’s. The Deltar wasn’t that fast or slow just the right speed between them.

I didn’t feel afraid, Actually it was quite the opposite. The ride was exciting. I looked up at the sky. It was supposed to be dawn so the clouds were a faint mixture between purple, blue and grey, almost compelling. But the clouds were shaped into a large spiral that looked like a tornado but upside down and this was completely compelling. The mixture of the colors, the shape of the clouds and the soothing almost unnoticeable movement of them together were mesmerizing. I was just thinking...

What does Tristan want to show us?