Chapter Four: The Preparation

Chapter 4: The Preparation

 

I remember walking down the soothing walkways of my home back when I was a boy. I was merely around the age of 12 without a care in the world. The walls were emerald green that they always were, and the floor's carpet was a simple shade of red. The passage ways were lined with several types of decor that included chairs, end tables, paintings and pictures of our family, sometimes of our previous family members. The dimly lit corridors normally lead me to place of the house that I haven't seen before. Though some of the rooms were unused and only housed furniture, there were times that I'd ponder about if there was something much more it. I was always pretending that there were ghosts or monsters hiding behind the corners of the creep, dust covered furniture, but yet they never did. There was something that I was anticipating; something more powerful. That is how you may assume how I'm feeling at this very moment; anticipating, waiting, patient, and worrisome, but filled with fear...

As I walked down the white painted hall-way of this vast building that was conveniently hidden right under the city, and under Xion's home. I watched the way the light gleamed all around us as it reflected off the walls. From what I can tell, this place must go on for miles, but for some reason, I held my tongue. Now, I'm sure that you're wondering what is going on inside of my mind, or how I feel towards seeing my father's room of study? To be honest with you, I felt extremely calm at the moment, but then my emotions would kick in, and then they would leave. It swung back and forth from tranquility to the emotion described in the previous paragraph. I guess I would get over it once I got to my father's study. I excited as we walked closer and closer to each door with the thoughts of it being my father's, but every time we pass a door, I felt a loss of hope, over and over again, as if we would never get there. The doors...

“You ok?” I heard Katelyn's voice break my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I replied, softly. “Just nervous, I guess.”

“Don't worry, I'm sure that we'll get there sometime soon.” Katelyn smiled.

“Yeah, I'm sure we will.” I replied looking far off into the distance, watching the wall at the end of the hall getting closer, and closer, and that's when a silver door appears on the wall.

“Hey, Brandon,” Katelyn got my attention. I looked at her. “You can call me Katie.” She grinned. That made me feel better. I'm not sure, and I'm not sure how, but the way that she said that last statement made me feel a sense of security and a light, breeze-like bliss.

“Ok, you two,” Xion said from in front of us, who I had forgotten was in front of me and Katie. “This is your father's study, Brandon, it’s yours now.” Xion typed in some code on the dial pad that was located on the right side of the door. It was a simple little dial pad with touch-screen properties, and small holographic capabilities. Xion then opened the door and stepped aside.

I slowly approached the door and then glanced inside, observing the scene as I did... There was a table dead in the middle of the room. It had beakers and flasks all over it with different colored chemicals in them. There was a computer at the end of the room facing the door. The walls were faded slightly compared to the rest of the building, but it seemed homey, you can say. Papers were scattered on the opposite side of the room from the computer; they looked like research papers and newspapers of some sorts.

“Sorry, that it’s a mess,” Xion said, walking into the room with me with his hands in his pocket. “You're father never cleaned up.” He laughed at this for a little, then stopped to look at me. “Sorry. Old memories, you know.”

“Yeah,” I looked at the floor, feeling a sense of sorrow, sweep over me.

“I'll leave you kids be. In an hour or so, I'll be back to get you guys initiated into the company.” Xion left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Well, this is exciting.” I sadly glanced at the floor.

Katelyn, who was looking at the papers looked at me. “What do you mean?”

“Just last night I was relaxing in my home, and now I'm here, not sure what's going to happen.” I honestly felt bad because everything changed so drastically. It reminded me of the day that I was taken away from my mother. “Sorrow is an interesting emotion. It feels like a bottomless pit of nothingness sucking away the happiness and tranquility of your soul, and just as you're about to exit this pit, you get pushed back down and fall aimlessly until you find a ledge to grab on.” I felt Katie's mood shift as mine did. I looked at her in the eyes across the table. “You want to know what's really wrong with world I live in.”

She put the paper down and came towards the table, placing her elbows on it and resting her chin on the palms of her hands. “Sure, hon',” she agreed. “What's the matter?” I couldn't help but notice how attractive she was. The way that her eyes glanced at me in the softest way I have ever seen any eyes glanced. The blue in her eyes glistened and found itself flowing like water along the rough edges of rocks at the bottom of the stream.

I looked down and sighed. “What's wrong with the world is rather simple. All it is...is greed, lust, and pleasure. That's all there is too it.” I sounded a little too firm form what I can tell.

“Why do you say that?”

“Reality is an illusion of perception, Katie. Life is a twisted and sickening thing that will sneak up on you and then chain you up if you let it. Regardless of who you are, or how tough you are, there will always be something in life that will make you feel like the most worthless piece of s**t on the face of the planet.” That statement was very sharp on the tongue and it stung...bad. I've never said something so pessimistic in my life. It felt...good in a way, but yet it dug into me.

“Well, that's one way to look at it.” Katie looked at me with the most patient gaze. “What else is bothering you?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“I asked didn't I?” Katie smiled at me, adjusting herself.

“This...” I responded softly. “Life itself bothers me. I've had everything, and for the longest time, I've felt like I've had nothing. To be honest with you, all I want is my family back, but now that everything is becoming clearer, it’s fucked up what's happened.” I heard myself cuss again, and that was rather sharp on itself. It felt...good though, like venting.

Katie smiled at me and answered. “Do you really not have anything? You have you're smarts, your friends, actually I haven't seen your friends in the longest time, and you have me.” She tapped my shoulder with her fist. “I know things are stressful right now, but I'm sure that it'll all be over soon. Just keep your chin up and it'll be ok.”

“I guess so,” I looked at her. “What makes you say that?”

“Because... it’s always good to keep a positive attitude.” Katie placed her hand on mine, meeting my eyes. “Now, let's get started.”

“What are we doing?”

“I'm not sure, but I think we've got to find your father's notes on that 'Black Emerald' thing.”

 

Katie and I began looking through my father’s things. There were papers of strange sciences that I haven’t heard of. The symbols were very strange. It was kind of a mixture of quantum mechanics and some other strange language that I couldn’t decipher. I read vigorously for something that had to deal with some sort of ‘emerald’, but yet there was nothing. Katie searched the other side of the room. She was facing towards the wall, going through file cabinets as I stared at the wall spotting something that I had missed when I entered the room. What I was looking at was a case. It looked like it was made out of some sort of crystal. It was the color of black and outlined with emerald green. The way that they gold lock gleamed made me wonder what lurked inside its deep dwelling. The box just appealed to me, like it was important.

“Hey,” I exclaimed. “Get that box on top of the drawer. It’s under some of those paper.”

“Oh,” Katie realized. “I saw it, but I didn’t think it was important.” Katie reached up and then pulled the box from under the papers. As the light hit the box, it gleamed gently, reflecting the iridescent light that was cast by the light bulbs from above. “It’s pretty heavy for a small box.”

“I can tell,” I walked to the other side of the table and helped Katie with the box. I placed it on the table gently.

“Do you think this is it?” Katie asked, unsure with our discovery.

“I'm not sure.”

“I see you found your father's case,” a voice from behind announced. Katie and I turned to find that Javi character in his suit and sly looking features. “You know, we've been trying to open that thing for who knows how long and we haven't been able to get it open.” He walked into the room, followed by two woman who were holding a platter that was topped with different types of food. “I do apologize for my harsh behavior earlier; we are rather strict on our policies. In case you haven't found out by now, my name is Javier Lozano, but you can call me Javi if you wish. It doesn't bother me. Ladies,” Javi clapped his hands and the two woman walked around him and placed the platters on the table across from where Katie and I were. “Take this opportunity to eat as you please, since we're going to be busy in for the next few hours to get you enrolled into the systems. John and I will be with you shortly. Enjoy.” Javi left the room with his arms extending as if offering us the food, the woman following him.

“Well, that's nice of him.” Katie said, reaching out and grabbing an apple.

“Yeah, that was,” I muttered suspiciously. I reached out to the box toward the golden lock and then there was a white flash. I saw a scene. There was a man in a white lab coat rushing around the messy room that looked like an office. His hair was a short brown color and I couldn't really make out his other features. They were shrouded by the flames that engulfed him. I heard him say, “Don't worry, don't worry, everything is going to be ok.” he reached out and placed a few pieces of paper inside the box and muttered something under his breath. It sounded like his said. “Lez via do on le vicchi.” Then the flash ended.

“Brandon,” Katie's voice echoed in my mind. “Hey, Brandon,” I heard the snapping of fingers as my vision came into view. Katie was sitting in front of me with her hand snapping her fingers. “Hey, are you ok?”

I blinked. “Yeah, yeah, I'm ok.” I looked away from her and glanced at the food. There was a pretty decent sized variety. There was bacon and eggs, spaghetti and meat balls, deviled eggs and other types of simple meals. The smell was delicious and almost irresistible. “The food looks good.” I tried to smile.

“Brandon, if something's wrong you can tell me. You kind of just spaced out there for a few seconds.” Katie looked concerned. Her eyes were filled with worrisome and the way her frown moved ever so slightly looked like they would begin to tremble.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t know what to make out of all of this.” I assured her, well tried to let her know that I was ok. I didn’t want to tell her that I had just seen some strange scene in my head when I touched the box. I did want to tell her, but there was just something that was holding me back. I could see it in her eyes that she was concerned; the way that they looked directly at me, sad and worrisome made it seem as if there was nothing more than stress and worry in them.

“Well, ok.” Katie didn’t sound convinced at all. “If there is something wrong, Brandon, you can tell me no matter what. I'm not here to judge you, ok.”

“Alright,” I said, giving off a little chuckle to lighten the mood. “Don't worry, it'll pass.” I tapped her on the shoulder with my light compacted fist.

She gave off a slight smile. “Alright then.” She picked up the dark emerald box and then handed it to me. “It’s pretty heavy. What do you think lies inside of it?”

“I'm actually not sure. Maybe it'll be some sort of notes that we might need, or something cliché,” I joked, trying to lighten the dark mood that I had cast earlier.

“Yeah, why not?” Katie let out a light chuckle. “Maybe it be the origins of space for all we known. I don't know your father, but I'm sure he was some sort of genius like you.”

“I wouldn't say genius.” I couldn't help but laugh at that.

“Well, alright then,” Katie chuckled. “I wonder how you get it open.”

“Not sure,” I examined the case carefully.

“I see you found your old father's case,” Xion's voice came from the door. “We could never get that old thing open, even with the key.” Xion walked over to the table and grabbed a seat. “I'm sure that something important is in that little case.” Katie and I looked back at him. “So...how do you all feel?”

“I feel decent,” Katie went first. “Scared but decent.”

“Yeah, I feel about the same.” I replied next.

“Well, you all don't have nothing to fear, but I wouldn't blame you that everything changed so fast in your lives. Normally, you'd get an invitation personally delivered from the Knowing with the logo on it, but we're making an exception since we know your father.” Xion stood up and commanded. “Alright, let's go. The Head Elder has arranged a meeting to initiation you all into the Knowing. Come on now, we must be fast; we have a lot of briefing to do.” He walked out the door not a moment later. I normally would ask 'what's the hurry?' but in a situation like this I assumed that it would be smart not to say anything.

I couldn't help but feel a dark sense of foreboding in the back of my mind. There wasn’t a time that I was at ease in the place. It was all just too random and made too much sense. What really got to me was that no matter where I looked, and no matter what I saw, everything was so perfectly synced as if they knew what we were doing everything because when Katie and I would find something or do something simple, someone would walk in through the door. I think I’m just being paranoid, but somehow being watched wasn’t on my list of enjoying things.

Katie and I followed Xion down the long white hallway again, but this time instead of going into the large corridor that we first walked through to get into Mr. Javier Lozano’s office, we took a turn to the left and down another hallway, but this one was slightly different. The walls were decorated with pictures of what appeared to be members the society. It was then that Xion spoke up on the subject. “What you see on the walls are the leaders of the society. There are nine of them, and they are divided into three groups that each have a special task to do. I’m not authorized to tell you what they have to do, but in due time you will learn what they know, but what we’re most curious about is what your father has discovered. I know it sounds strange and all, but you father made a discovery that couldn’t be ignored and when the Brother Hood of Light found out about it, there was an all-out war for that information, but I’m going to let the Elder’s tell you about that in just a few minutes. It’s best if you hear it from them.”

 Xion stopped at the end of the hallway which had two steal double doors. He placed his hands on the handles and without looking at us he muttered. “Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to. Don’t look into their eyes unless they look upon you, and most definitely don’t disrespect them. They are here to guide you and initiate you into the society. Let's begin.” He pushed the doors open and the light blinded my eyes with a blistering white, and then I felt my adrenaline rush through the veins of my body.

 

“Brandon Alexander Johnson,” a voice echoed and my vision began to clear. We had walked into a large room where there was a committee on a giant circular desk that filled up about half of the circular desk. It hovered at least five feet above me, giving the circular room more of court like feel. The walls were a polished wooden brown that had these red drapes that had the compass and square like logo with the eye in the middle. It was colored in gold and silver on the outlines, contrasting with the red background. I couldn’t piece together what it meant, but maybe I was about to find out, because the voice broke my thoughts. “Katelyn Blake.”

We stood in front of the giant desk like thing that had 9 people from the looks of it. They hovered high above us and watched Katie and I carefully. The center one was the one who had spoken. He was an older man with thinning gray-white hair and sharp electric blue eyes. He and the other eight people were wearing matching black uniforms that looked like robes and resembled a judge's outfit. It was the closest that I could get it, but the only thing that was different was the golden lining that shined against the black silk like material.

“You both have fallen into a very interesting situation.” The center one said. “Before we commence with your initiation, there are some introductions that must be made. I am Elder Socrates. I am in charge of the Elders and speaker of the Elders. I am the representative in the political status of the Parthenon. To my right is Elder Archimedes,” a man about the age of forty-some with dark brown hair and brown eyes. “Elder Plato,” A thin man with silver hair and a very frustrated expression glued to his skin. “Elder DaVincci,” an elderly wise looking man in about his late fifties. “And Elder Aristotle,” this man was a bit different. He was grinning down at us as if he'd just won a million dollars. I couldn't blame him, because apparently, I was a hot topic. This man's hair was a thin wavy brown and acrylic silver color were his eyes.

“To my left you will find Elder Andromeda,” She was a younger woman with a determined look on her face. She looked hard and by the looks of her stern expression, rather dedicated into solving whatever she faced. Her hair was a blond color and her eyes were a green. To be honest with you, I didn't know what was with her, but there was just something about her that made me feel very uncomfortable, like her eyes pierced through mine. “Next you have Elder Athena,” this lady had short white hair and wrinkles on her face. She was rather relaxed and calm; had a look on her face that she owned this place. “Elder Aphrodite,” a lady with red hair, and without any clichés to her name, had a beauty to match it. Her lips were a scarlet red and her dark eyes would have broken the strongest of men. “And last, but not least, Elder Fibonacci.” This man was watched over us, and looked back down and was typing away at unexplained speeds. I assumed that his job was to record everything that happens in the room.

“You have already met our director, Javier Lozano, and field agent Thomas ‘Xion’ A. Finnegan,” Elder Socrates powerfully spoke. “Now you will be answering to us, alongside them. First you must be informed on a brief history of the Knowing. It was about 60 years ago to this day that a war broke out in the modern world. It was called: The Chemical War of 1934. It was a war against Parthenon and the world. It began right after Parthenon was established and wasn’t yet in the UN. The United Nations made an act called the Anti-War and Systems Act of 1930. This act stated that there will be no war throughout the world, and if a country should declare war, it is the duty of the UN to send in nations that aren’t in combat to neutralize the situation. Of course,” Elder Socrates put his finger tips together. “That didn’t sit well with the nations that wanted peace. It wasn’t that long after the economy fell in most major countries and the 3^rd world countries became poorer and poorer. People starved, people rioted, people died, and then that’s when the United States became extremely desperate. They threatened war if the UN didn’t help them with the debts that have been building up for the last few years. The UN denied. It was then at exactly 5:34 P.M. that the first chemical nuclear bomb was detonated at Bangkok, China.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “The damage was unimaginable. It was from there that a new world war was fought for about 4 years against the United States. They threatened to invade Parthenon due to our profits and our business opportunities. It wasn’t long that they did, but we got involved and that’s where we came in. The Knowing and the Brotherhood of Light were involved in the war, fighting side by side, but brothers in arms turn on each other when money presents itself properly. The Brotherhood of Light took over the United States not to long after we separated powers, replacing the Congressmen and political leaders as they went. We fought meticulously over control of Parthenon, but then your family joined the league and completely turned this war around. They presented us with a weapon unlike any that we have seen.” The Elder’s voice echoed and a hologram of some sort of rocket like looking missile was hovering above us and rotating, showing us the details of the design. “Your family, I'll admit was brilliant. I was a just about your age when I was initiated into the Knowing and when my father gave the orders to use your family's weapon ended up being some of the darkest days that I was yet to see.

“At the edge of New York City, New York, at around 12:20 AM was a severally bright light that blinded everything in its sights. The cloud was a silver metallic looking ionizing explosion that radiated over about half of the United States. The bomb was compared to about ten Tsar Bombs. It was then at that day, about ten minutes later than the United States surrendered, and pulled out of Parthenon's borders.” The hologram then presented the explosion over New York City that Elder Socrates spoke of. It was indeed a magnificent sight, but at the cost of hundreds of lives. I was indeed terrified of what I was watching. What I found even sicker was that this was being recorded, and I wondered where they got the recording.

I watched and wondered how could my family build such a weapon and use it on the United States. My family's company did produce weapon, but nothing of that caliber. It was all such a mystery to me. There were many theories that ran through my head at the moment, but none of them could possibly make enough sense to answer why my forefathers created a weapon and allowed its detonation over a city filled with a bunch of innocent lives. The theory that got me was that my family invested hundreds of dollars on the bomb’s design itself and then sold it to the highest bidder. What makes it even more applicable to the theory is that Parthenon was making a lot of profit, so it would make sense that they would buy it, but then again they were part of the league, so the need to sell it wouldn’t be necessary.

“A few more days after the bomb was dropped on New York City, the United States began retreat off of our shores, and surrendered. It was the first time that the United States went out without a fight. To be honest with you, Mr. Johnson, I haven’t seen such brutality waged on a war.” Elder Socrates spoke this softly, almost as if he was remembering the event. “There is one more thing you must know before we begin the initiation. I know you have questions, but they’ll have to wait, because this involves your father.” He must have noticed that I was about to speak, but I didn’t know what to make of it, maybe he didn’t like to be interrupted.

I say up and paid attention what he was about to say. I heard Katie and Xion stir on either sides of me. I was about to just ask something, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to it, maybe it was being in the presence of higher authority, or maybe that I was told that they didn’t like to be interrupted; whatever the reason may be, I couldn’t let that cloud my mind at the moment.

“What your father left is something rather grand.” Elder Socrates began. “It was stored in that little box that you found not too long ago. The reason Director Lozano didn't say anything to you, or Xion, was because we wanted you to find it, because we thought you might know how to open it when you saw it. It’s been with your family for the last few hundred years. We thought you might have known about it.”

“No,” I finally spoke up. “I haven't seen it in my life.” I had a feeling that I had messed up.

“Well, knowing your father, I'm not surprised,” Elder Socrates assured me. “However, Elder Archimedes did notice something when we were watching you.”

“Yes,” Elder Archimedes spoke from the right side of Elder Socrates. “When you were talking to Miss Katie, you asked for the case, as you called it. The moment that you touched it, however, is when you showed some rather interesting signs. Your eyes went blank and your expression was completely emotionless. It was like you weren't there, as if you were somewhere else, lost in what you would assume would be a void.” His voice was sharp and straight-forth. He leaned up to me and asked in the most confident tone. “So tell me, son of Alexander, what did you see?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, rather confused. “I don't understand.”

“Oh, you do, boy,” Elder Archimedes laughed. “You were just dumbfounded. Tell me Son of Alexander, what did you see?”

I assumed he was talking about the vision scene I saw. I couldn't possibly tell them that, and what was more concerning to me was how they knew that. Come to think about, I didn't really remember everything that happened... I saw a man who was running through the fire, and he muttered something. “I saw a man in a lab coat. His surroundings were on fire, and he was in a hurry searching around the room for something and placing things in the box.”

“Just as I suspected.” Elder Archimedes spoke, proud of his assumption. “What else?”

I paused and thought for a little bit, trying to remember what exactly he said, but I couldn't remembered it. “He said something.”

“What did he say?”

I stayed quiet for about a few seconds. I tried hard to think, but I couldn't get the words out. It’s like I had just completely forgot what this man had muttered.

“Well, what did he say boy,” Elder Archimedes sounded impatient.

“I don't remember.” I looked down towards my feet; I felt that there was going to be severe disappointment across the board.

“Well, that's unfortunate.” Elder Archimedes sighed. “I don't suppose you've got what it takes to be in this society. One of our requirements is precise memories and the truth.”

“Wait,” I interrupted. “I remember, I just need to clear my mind... He said... Le... Via...” I tried everything I could to remember, but then just as Elder Archimedes was about to speak up and interrupt me, I spoke up and said. “Lez via do on le vicchi.”

Most of the Elders gasped, others just stared at me. It was as if they had heard something so vial that it couldn't be of the most charming nature. It seemed as if the phrase was disgusting. “Is that really what he said, boy?” Elder Athena asked in a most concerned voice.

“Yes,” I turned my attention to Elder Athena. “That's what he said.”

“Do you understand what you speak, boy,” Elder Archimedes spoke up.

“No,” I replied honestly.

“Well, it looks like that there's a lot to be discussed today. I'll expect you to speak to Elder Plato about the truth.”

Elder Aristotle gasped and shouted in an anger tone. “Are you mad Archimedes? We aren't aware if the boy can be trusted, or his girlfriend.”

“I don't believe that's of the concern, Aristotle.” Elder Archimedes rebuttal began. “I remember when I brought you hear and I shared our secrets with you when you were merely a boy. What makes you to be superior to him than it is to any of us? He is of blood, and will be treated as such.”

“Blood?” I muttered to myself. What did he mean by that? (Great, another question to be answered).

“But he hasn't even been initiated into our society.” Elder Aristotle called out.

“I agree with Elder Aristotle, Archimedes,” Elder Aphrodite finally spoke, her voice smooth as water. “Let the boy be initiated first then show him the truth.” Why do they speak like that? It makes it seem as if everything has a name that deserves to be capitalized do to grammatical purposes. Ex. 'the truth' will be The Truth, or something of that matter.

“Then let us begin to end this dispute.” Elder Socrates bellowed from the center. He stood up, and raised his arms. “Stand Elders.” They all stood.

The lights dimmed and the flames among the torches, that have been surrounding us, rose higher. Suddenly the atmosphere changed from a court-like setting to something more morbid. The elders looked down at us and watched us with there no blank eyes. Elder Socrates had his arms still raised as he began to mutter something. “Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen.” He repeated this chant “Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den, Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen.” Slowly the other elders began to chant the same thing. First from the right, then to the left, then to the right again, going back in for from each other, their arms raised in trance.

Xion got up and stepped away from Katie and me. I somehow felt frightened. Sweat trickled down my body and then began to chill it, cooling it to its possible lowest form until I was absolutely freezing. I felt a pressure on my bicep on my left arm. I turned and looked; it was Katie's hand. She was squeezing me with her eyes terribly frightened, looking dead ahead into the Elders.

“Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den, Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den. Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen. Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen.”

I looked forward and then I nearly froze at what I was seeing. The Elders were glowing... Glowing a specific color. It began with Elder Socrates. He was chanting the loudest and that's when he began to hold the word “Et” and then he began to give off an aurora of gray and black. Then followed by Elder Archimedes, who held the word “Toh” as he began to glow a light, sharp cyan color. Elder Andromeda held the word “Virr” and she illuminated the color green. Elder Plato was with the word “Den” gleaming the color blue. Elder Athena chanted and held the word “Et”; her color was yellow.

I watched in absolute aw as something began to take form in the center, a small white orb that was rotating, and spinning in all sorts of directions. As the other Elders chanted the phrase as the other half held their notes, six more similar little spheres also began to have revolutions around the bigger one. The way the white and baby blue glow gleamed gave off an essence of peace and tranquility. It looked simply fascinating and beautiful. The geometry, the balance of the structure, it was all there. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The way that the sphere spun and vibrated and its surrounding smaller spheres reminded me of the most fundamental structure in the universe… an atom.

It was next that Elder DaVincci, who glowed purple, and Elder Aphrodite who shined a light orange, shouted and sustained the world “Se” and the last two Elders, Aristotle and Fibonacci illuminating the color red, held the note “Chen”. It was all a fantastic symphony of great magnitude. As they shouted these notes, it vibrated in beautiful harmony. The atom like object that was hovering in front of Katie, Xion and me began to spin faster, and faster, but something really caught my attention.

I recognized those notes; they were part of something that I've read before in one of my father's books that he had written. What was it? I strained to remember it. My eyes closed, and my mind racing, I cringed when it finally hit me. The solfeggio of sound. I nearly gasped and my jaw dropped. I immediately bit my bottom lip because Katie, who still clenching on my arm, began to dig her nails into my skin. I heard her breathing intensify and she muttered. “Look…”

I glanced back at the Elders and what happened next was much more intriguing than anything I have seen. The Elders sung louder and louder until everything felt like it was shaking. I turned to Xion who watched from a few feet away, his eyes’ pupils and iris were gone and nothing was left but the white, but that wasn’t the creepiest part, they were glowing a light baby cyan color, almost like a sky blue. When I turned back to the Elders, a high velocity light beam of their designated color shot out of their mouths and headed towards us.

Katie screamed and she and I threw ourselves to the floor. I couldn’t see what was going on, but all I heard… was a really loud BBOOOMMMM! All that was left was a light vibrating humming. I looked up and watched as these seven gems were hovering in the arm. I assume that the beams of light didn’t fire towards us, but rather to the atom like object. The seven gems were rotating, and each of them were their own color, each color of the visible spectrum.

I stood up and asked. “What are those?” I was both mesmerized and terrified by what was happening. This couldn’t be happening right? I couldn’t be see something like this, right? I saw Katie was shaken herself. I helped her up and looked at the gems that were merely a few feet away from us.

“These, Mr. Johnson,” Elder Andromeda said in a wise, gentle sounding voice. “Are known as the Sacred Geometric Shapes (insert Latin words here). They are what makes up the balance of the universe. I will not go into detail, because you have seen enough and your minds are barely coping. The girl, she is terrified and is "” I heard a thrusting, violent jerk that was the sound of Katie throwing up. “Sick,” Elder Andromeda finished. “Xion, take her to their room. She needs rest, but first let them choose.”

“Elder Socrates, if you will,” Elder Archimedes spoke up.

“Yes,” Socrates nodded. “What you seem before you are the Seven Sacred Geometric Gems. As Andromeda said, they bring balance to our universe. Each of us are assigned one at the beginning of initiation for the price of something valuable. Xion, assist the girl with her choice.” Xion nodded, his eyes glowing a cyan color. His expression was blank as he walked over to Katie and helped her, assisting her by the arm towards the gems.

“The first one,” Socrates explained. “Is known as Et, the Catalyst, and the Red.” He gestured to the one that was shaped like triangle and was the color of a ruby. “The second is known as Toh, the End, Omega, and the Orange.” The one adjacent to ET had four sides and was a glistening orange color. “The third is known as Virr, the Beginning, and the Yellow.” His voice spoke as if each one was grander and grander than the first. The gem that was that was shaped like a pentagon was a golden color bounced in its hovering position and then flickered slightly. “The fourth was named Den, or the Balance, and the Green.” The hexagon looking one was spinning lightly and peacefully. This gem was the color of Emerald green. “The fifth is known as Eten, the Singularity, or the Cyan.” This gem was strangely different. It was a Cyan color, or light sky-blue, and it would rotate gently at first then it would spin rapidly then repeat the motion. Eten was in the shape of heptagon, if that’s what it’s called. It basically had seven sides. The easiest things that I could compare it to would be a shield. “The Eighth is entitled Se. This one is known as the Destroyer, or Blue.” This was even stranger. Where Eten looked more angelic, this one looked more out of sync with the world. It was spinning rapidly and randomly in all directions. There was a light blue like aura to it that was the color of red. “And finally, but our wisest, Chen, the ninth, or the Creator.” This one was a nine-sided gem, glowing a crisp vivid violet color and vibrating lightly.”

What I didn’t pay attention to was that Xion had Katie in front of these gems and she was looking directly at them, simply astonished by their beauty. Xion would help her extend her arm and attempted to touch these gems. I didn’t know what to expect, or what to do, but I shouted. “No, don’t touch…” but I was interrupted by Elder Andromeda.

“It’s completely fine, Mr. Johnson,” was what she said. “They are choosing.” What did she mean by ‘they’?

I glimpsed at Katie and Xion. Katie reached out to the triangle one, the first one, but it glowed the opposite color that it was. In this case the opposite of red is cyan. They moved to the next one, and it too glowed its opposite. When Katie reached the third one, something amazing happened. When she reached it, it glowed a bright yellow color and then shrank down floated towards her chest and then flashed a brighten golden flash, then once the lights went down there was a necklace around her neck and it had the gem Virr at the end of it. It was glowing lightly.

I couldn’t help, but wonder what she was feeling. It was only a few moments ago that she was absolutely terrified, now she was calm, her hands down, unclenched, and relaxed. Then that’s when I noticed that her face was emotionless as she turned towards me. Absolutely no emotion, and her eyes… They were glowing golden. Xion walked her over towards where we were standing as Elder Andromeda said. “It has been done, Virr is now her Crystal. Brandon if you would please walk up to the crystals. You are a lot stronger than your friend is, Mr. Johnson, which is why you haven’t fallen into terror.” I didn’t know what to do; I mean what would you do if you were in my situation? I don’t think you would know either.

So, I did what anyone else would have do in this situation, just walk on over and see what happens. I approached the gems with caution. I felt surges of fear rush through my body, up and down my spinal cord, flooding my veins with pulses of adrenaline. My felt my hands shaking, sweat running down my palms. As I reached out to touch the first gem that gleamed in front of me so beautifully, a voice called from in front.

Elder Andromeda was the one to call out on me. “Remember, the one that chooses you will be your guide, so relax and let the energy flow through you.”

I thought about that for a minute, retracting me arm, glancing at my relaxed fist, and wondering what would happen. I tried the first, nothing; then the second one, still nothing; the third fourth, fifth, and the sixth, nothing, but then when I reached the last one, I heard the Elders speaking amongst themselves, whispering. “What if he’s not worthy?”

I would actually be glad if I wasn't, because by this point, I just wanted to go home and sleep. I didn't want any of this. All of this was already too much to take. I began breathing harder and harder. I felt my hands start shaking and clam-up further. I glanced at the final one, the nine-sided that was glowing a light violet color. I reached out and then nothing happened at first. “He isn't worthy.” Elder Socrates said from above.

“I guess not,” I said, but then that's when I noticed that something was different. The crystal was glowing, brighter and brighter, then there was a flash of violet-red light that shimmered across the room. A sound, unlike anything I heard, metallic and shrieking, but soothing and calm, radiated from the center, and that's when we all placed out hands over our ears as a loud boom was exploding throughout room, echoing off the walls and reflecting at us.

I opened my eyes and looked at the crystal that was giving off fire-like light, like an aura that was radiating a dark purple now, and that's when it grew in size and then flung itself at me. I was immediately paralyzed as I felt a large wave of energy flow the veins of my body. I felt my body relax and then my vision was a darken purple. I heard the chant that the Elders spoke earlier, in sync, and in perfect harmony. “Et toh, Virr, Den Et, Se, Chen.” Suddenly, I was...aware...

 

Floating... that's how it felt... floating. There was nothing, nothing but silence, and piece. There were clouds hovering around me, but everything else was blank, and dark. It felt warm, but subtle. This endless void was all that I knew. Where was I? Who was I? Who is them? Where is them? Why am I here? How am I...aware? It was a feeling of clairvoyance and sense of wakefulness, a vast waterfall of endless awareness.

I felt aware of my body, and then opened my eyes. I was standing in a grassy field. Everything was vivid, and then vibrant. There was grass that stretched beyond the horizon, simply whispering backing and forth gently in the wind, but this grass was different. The color was off slightly. It seemed wrong in a way; it was too perfect. The sky was a light blue and glowed majestically containing thin clouds, scattered over the atmosphere.

In this universe, there is no one, there is only me. In this universe, there is everyone, and there is no one. I stood there in the field with these thoughts in my head. I felt at piece, calm and achieved.

“How are you?” I heard a soft voice from behind that made me jump. It was soft girl's voice, small and slightly high-pitched.

I turned around and there was this person who was staring right at me. She was much shorter than me, around 4'11 or so, maybe 5', but I couldn't be too sure. Her hair was a light red and covered her forehead while the rest fell over her shoulders, down her back, and hovered above her waist. She wore a pure white dress that flowed down her body, ending at her knees. It looked similar to a night gown, but it hugged her body like a dress. I wasn't sure who she was, but the way her big green eyes looked at me, made me feel like I knew her from somewhere.

“How are you,” she asked patiently.

“Um...who are you?” I asked, confusedly.

She smiled lightly and said. “Is that really what you want to ask?”

I thought about that for a second, and then asked. “Where am I? Am I dead?”

The girl chuckled. “No, you're in Another World.”

That didn't make any sense. “What do you mean?”

“Another World,” She smiled. “That's where you are.”

“Where's that?”

“Would you really want to know?” The girl reached out her palm, offering me her hand, as if she wanted to take me somewhere, guide me to an unknown place.

I felt unsure with this gesture, but where is this “Another World”, and who was I? “Ok,” I reached out and took her hand. It was soft and small. She began to walk, pulling me along with her. We walked a little, up a hill, and down the hill, until she stopped. She pointed at the sky and said. “You're right there.”

I looked up and the blue sky faded to black and the stars came into view. Then... I saw it. There was Earth, right in front of me. It zoomed in, further and further until, I came into view. I stood here, my hair hanging down, my eyes glowing purple, like Xion's and Katie's. They were glowing a dark purple, and there was something different about me. I looked blank. And then I also noticed that I had a necklace over my neck.

I felt... sad really, watching from where I was, where ever this place was. “You're Chen?” I asked, looking at the girl.

She grinned and looked as if she was going to burst out into joy. “Yes, yes, yes!” she exclaimed. “I am your guide.” I had a feeling she was a lot older than I thought, which wasn't that much older than a child.

“Why?” I let that slip out.

“Because I chose you, silly,” she laughed.

“How many others have you choose to guide?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Hmm,” Chen began. “Let me see...” She began to count on her fingers aloud. “One, two, and three...” She looked around in thought and then glanced at me. “One.”

That was rather shocking to me. “Really?”

Chen floated up, which honestly freaked me out, and her body gestured as if was sitting on a chain...in the air. I felt scared and absolutely frightened, plus down right confused. Was I on some sort of drug? How was that even possible? Chen chuckled and said. “If you were told that gravity doesn't pull you down, would you believe it?”

“I...I don't know.”

“Of course, you wouldn't, because you were told gravity pulls you down.” She poked my nose, and laughed a little. “In this universe, there is no one, there is only you; there is everything and nothing. It is known as omniscience.” I didn't understand what she meant, though those thoughts were in my mind.

“But who are you? Where did you come from?”

Chen's smile faded from her face. “To be honest with you I don't know, Brandon. This universe is a strange place. All that I can say is that I was assigned to do this job.”

“And what's your job?”

She looked at me straight in face and murmured. “To create...”

My eyes widened and I stepped back. “What do you mean 'create'?”

“I am the Creator, which is who I am known as, and what I am.” She floated over to my left. “Let me explain it in a way you will understand. I'm going to para…para...paraphrase this, so don't judge me.” She pouted slightly. I found it kind of cute to be honest. “There is no matter. Matter only exists by virtue of a force that brings the minutest of solar systems of an atom to vibration to form all matter. We must assume that behind this matter is the matrix of all mind, a conscious, intellectual design.” She paused. “I think Max Plank, or something like that, said those words.”

Even though I was aware of what she was saying, I still didn't quite understand the full meaning. “Can you explain it in another way?”

“Yes, but listen, buster,” more pouting. “In the beginner was the word... and the word was God. If you say this scientifically, in the modern idiom: From the depths and voids of space came a sound... a matter took shape.”

“So...you created everything.”

“Basically.” she floated around me and changed her position to playing on the ground on her belly with her elbows resting on the ground and her chin, relaxing on the palms of her hand. “Let's just say, I wasn't a good baby when I was born and threw a bit of a...what's the word? …tantrum, there you go.” Chen sounded proud her of herself.

“Tantrum?” I asked. “What do you mean?” I was severely confused.

“You guys call it the Big Bang, dummy. Man, how did you end up so smart, but be so dumb. I swear you humans are weird.” Her little voice couldn't keep me from smiling. “What!?”

“Nothing,” I replied. I wondered what I was doing here. Was I physically here, or was this all an illusion? Whatever the answer might have been, it was the weirdest thing that I've ever been through, but I felt stress-free that I wasn't back on Earth, as weird as that sounds.

“You should be going back to them already.” Chen said, interrupting my thoughts. You know, I noticed that a lot of people do that, or maybe I just space out a lot.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you need to go back and finish your initiation.” Chen poked me on the shoulder. “Close your eyes.” I did. “Remember, I'll be here for you. Open...your eyes.” And... I did.