Chapter 5

Change will always find its way into our lives, just as surely as death will come to the living. The moment I chose to walk away from my former existence I knew things would change, for better or worse, I would have to endure. Yet I never expected it to change my reason to wake in the morning. To survive and continue living my meaningless life, that was all I believed there was. I was always alone, no one to care for, I had nothing to lose, but on that day, I knew there was another reason to wake up in the morning.

Life on Eden was simple, beyond the awe and mysteries of the land, the days had become routine. Though it was routine, it was the happiest times of my life. It was a time before I truly understood anything, when I still believed in hope. Those days always began as the morning light reached through my bedroom window, softly nudging me to wake. I spent every waking moment with Moon and Lilith, the people I had become a part of.

Moon was a brother to me, teaching me things that shouldn’t be taught. He always tried to make me more like him all the while teaching me about my own way of life. At times he was a nuscience, but behind that mask of annoyance was a caring person always looking out for others, always blaming himself for everything. He had a way about him, a certain charm that almost made him impervious to being hated.

Lilith had become a happier person in the time that passed. Her once timid and absent smiles, became more and more frequent. My days soon felt incomplete without having seen her smile.

I met many people in those days, but I remember only a handful of their faces. They were the ones who shaped my life and lived in the moments I will never forget.

There was a day that came when everyone was together, happy and without care. My dearest memory was on that day. Class had just ended and I waited outside by the gates of the academy just as I always did. Lilith eventually came and we waited and watched as Moon made his way to us, stopping to fraternize with every female student and teacher he encountered on the way.

“Hey, you guys remember what day it is today?” asked Moon as he approached us.

“Weren’t we supposed to do something at Mia’s and Lilith’s?” I replied, having forgotten exactly what it was.

“Keep how’d you forget?” Lilith said, disappointed, “ it’s Sept’s birthday today. We’re supposed to celebrate at our place.”

(_____________add a sentence about the scf_______________)I quickly started running towards the closest Space Compression Frame like a happy child. I wanted to be the one to use the machine since it took me such a long time to overcome my fear of using it. When I finally worked up the courage to try it for myself it took me just as long to learn how. After many tries with Moon watching me fail, I was finally able to work it. I thought it would be simple, but I was wrong. It was essentially moving an object without touching it.

I put my left hand on the pad and concentrated, the azure ripples on my hands began to pulsate, resonating with the machine. Excitedly I opened my mouth to speak, but my mind went blank for a brief moment.

“Uh, what’s your address again?” I asked Lilith, feeling embarrassed.

“1212 Wesshire,” she replied, “your so slow Keep.” she laughed.

“Come on, hurry up we don’t have all day. Mia’s gonna have a cow if we don’t show up.” Moon said waddling back and forth in place.

“1212 Wesshire,” I finally said.

The frame shimmered and an image of Mia’s small house appeared. We walked through the doorway. Mia was waiting for us in front of her house.

“Hi, Keep, Dais. Welcome home Lily.” She said with a genuine smile.

“Hi Mia,” we all said.

We continued inside, taking our shoes off at the entrance. Large sheets of paper, glue, glitter, markers, crayons and other items needed for decorations were lying on the dining room table, waiting to be displayed.

“Why don’t you two, help with the decorations while Lily and I do the cooking.” Said Mia.

“Why do the guys have to do the decorating,” Moon protested, “I bet we’re just as good at cooking as you guys are.”

“This coming from a kid who still goes to his mommy’s house for dinner,” replied Mia.

Moon stood silent for a while as Mia stared him down, finally saying, “So?”

I stood behind Moon, keeping my laughter inside and quietly whispered to him, “nice recovery.”

“No, point in continuing this. I’ll be the grownup and concede,” Mia said condescendingly, “come on Lily lets get things ready.”

“Ok,” Lilith said, following Mia into the kitchen.

Moon walked angrily over to the table and sat on one of the seats. He grabbed a green ball of yarn and chucked it my way. As he did that, I stared off into the kitchen, watching as Lilith washed her hands. The ball of yarn interrupted my concentration, smacking me in the face and falling onto the floor.

“Catch!” shouted Moon.

“A little late.” I said grabbing the ball of yarn from the floor.

Moon laughed, “maybe you should be paying attention.”

I walked over to him with it in my hand, “here,” I said as I handed it to him, “lets get started.”

“Man, your no fun. Not even a comeback,” he put his head on the table to sulk, “no one wants to fight me today.”

We spent the next hour decorating the place and fooling around. Lilith and Mia stayed in the kitchen diligently preparing the food. The living room was brightly decorated with homemade posters and banners (_______addmore_________). The girls cooking was done, the aroma saturated the air inside the house. A whiff of it made me salivate, I couldn’t wait to indulge. When everything was done we rested in the living room to wait for the rest of the guests. We each opened a bottle of soda to celebrate our accomplishment. We had all come together to for someone we cared for.

Just as we settled down there was a knocking at the door, Mia went and opened it, leaving her bottle of soda on the coffee table.

“Hey, you know how hard it was to get him to come?” said a familiar voice. It was either Sol or Tak.

“Hi guys, come on in.” Mia said showing them in.

(--kindofweak--)Sol and Tak walked in together, matching each others every step. They were always with one another even at birth. They knew eachother well enough to predict one another’s every though. When I first met them I couldn’t tell them apart, they were twins who were similar physically in every aspect. Light brown hair, silver blue eyes, a small mole on the left side of their lower lips and always trying to think of the next “fun” thing to do. But in the time I had gotten to know them I came to realize that they were very different. Even though they seemed to act the same at most times, it was only because they acted with one mind.

Sol was dreamer always hoping for the best. Tak on the other hand was always thinking, a realist who expected the worst. Together, they were ready for anything.

Sol and Tak walked by me, followed by a hesitant Sept. I smiled faintly at Sept. He had become a father to me, always had the right things to say in the right situations. He was always looking out for me, even when he wasn’t around I felt his presence.

“Hi, Kiddy,” Sol said sitting to my right.

“Sup, Kiddo,” Tak said sitting to my left.

They both put their arm around me and rubbed my head with their other hand. I had grown used to their treatment in the last couple months so I sat still hoping that they would grow bored soon.

“Hey Keep, wanna help me get the cake?” Lilith asked, knowing that I needed a reason to get up and away from the twins.

“Sure.” I replied.

She stood and walked into the kitchen as I followed. I couldn’t help but stare as her hair swayed back and forth, so perfectly.

“Are you having fun here?” She asked, turning around to face me. She had on her smile, a smile that was once so rare, now I couldn’t stand living without it.

“Yeah,” I said.

“I was happy, when you let me come with you,” her eyes began to tear up and I responded instinctively, wiping them from her eyes, just as I always had.

“I was happy too,” I said.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done, if you had left me there. You know I was always alone.”

“I know,” I said as she took hold of my left hand.

“At least I always was, until… until I met you,” Her tears that had been held back began to flow freely. I wanted to wipe them from her, but she stopped me, taking hold of my hands. “You don’t remember what today is do you?”

“It’s Septs birthday isn’t it?”

She smiled as she wiped her tears from her face, “your always so forgetful, but its who you are.” She turned me around and nudged me away, “go open the door for the rest of the guests.”

“OK,” I said, walking back into the living room.

I opened the door even though there was no knocking, I trusted Lilith’s eyes. Upon opening it I saw that Alph and his group had come to attend the party. Alph led the way, followed by Icarus, Will and Amore.

These were the highest ranking members of CONTROL. Icarus was another seer who studied under Alph for the last 20 years. He looked older but his appearance was very similar to Alph. He was much less decisive, often going to Alph to ask for approval, though he had the same authority.

Will and Amore were childhood friends who had followed each other their whole lives. From a life of stealing and thieving to their noble positions they held now.

Aside from the seers and a younger Claudius it was agreed that Will had no equal in the world. The only members that came close to his caliber of power were Amore and Sept, though it was a distant close. From head to toe he was dressed in red to match his hair and eyes. He always carried with him a flute, off to the side on his belt, it was his weapon of choice. Alph took him under his wing, taught him how to play the flute and use the sword. He had been for the last 7 years the sword of CONTROL, the man who conquered contries single handedly with his blade, a man known around the world as Illwill.

Amore was a strikingly handsome man, chissled features, piercing brown eyes and well groomed hair. His personality was lacking, he was much a perfect soldier. It seemed his only reason to live was to follow Will.

Everyone gathered in the living room while Lilith readied the cake. I decided to go back into the kitchen and help her out. As I started walking I felt someone tap me on the shoulder, I looked but there was no one there. Again, another tap and once again there was no one there.

Angrily I turned around and shouted, “Stop it!”

I was surprised at what I saw, everything had stopped. Everyone was frozen mid action, not a single heartbeat or motion. Someone put their arms around my body, holding me tightly. Suddenly their body moved through mine, and he turned around, it was Fate.

“How have you been?” he asked.

His hair and eyes were light red, much like the shade of Will’s but not quite blood red. He had been following me around, appearing at the most inappropriate time usually with different colored hair and eyes. He explained to me in one of our many encounters that the color changes due to the concentration of mana in the area and only becomes blood red in the presence of the eternal sphere.

“Hey, buddy, need ta talk,” he said grinning at me.

“Yeah, what?” I asked, annoyed.

“When you’ve lived an eternity,” he said vanishing behind me and putting his arm over my shoulder. “ When you’ve watched as war ravaged man to the brink of destruction, you learn things. Unfortunately he will not listen to me, he says he has his own way.” He vanished again, appearing by Alph and sitting on his lap, “do you trust these people?” his eyes locked onto mine.

“Of course I do,” I said without hesitation.

“It feels good to have people you can rely on, to have that feeling that everything will be alright when the day comes to an end. But when you’ve lived as long as I have that feeling fades with the people you meet.”

“I’m not going to live forever, so why does that matter to me?”

“I guess it wouldn’t. anyways just wanted to tell ya while everyone is here…” he paused, suddenly appearing besides me and whispered into my ear, “they will betray you.”

He vanished, once again sitting on Alph’s lap, the moment he sat down Alph’s eyes moved towards him. “Your annoying,” Alph said as he grabbed Fate’s wrists.

“Always so cranky,” Fate said, smiling and fading away.

As he vanished time began its usual course. No one had any idea of what had happened and Alph acted as though nothing had happened. I thought it would be best to follow his lead. My legs continued moving, but my mind was lost, wondering what Fate meant.

“What are you doing here?” Lilith asked as I walked into the kitchen. She was trying to hide the cake from my view with her body.

“Well… I thought I could come and help you.”

“Sorry, I’m so slow. But I’m done now so why don’t you go ahead and I’ll follow.” She said nervously.

I obeyed and headed back into the living room as she followed me with the cake. As we entered everybody’s head turned our way, all eyes were on me.

“Happy birthday, KEEP!” shouted everyone.

“But I thought this was Sept’s birthday?” I said, truly surprised.

“It’s his birthday too, but we’re not really here for him today. Anyways it was all lily’s idea.” Mia said.

“Yeah, Sept gets all anal when we celebrate his birthday,” Tak said.

“Your always so forgetfull, you forget your birthday if we don’t tell you,” Lilith said.

I looked over at the cake and realized why she shielded it from my eyes. It was a plain looking cake with 13 candles and words saying “Happy Birthday Keep.” I had always celebrated my birthday on the first of the month, along with all the other children who had a birthday that month. I had forgotten my own birthday.

“I can’t believe you forgot your own birthday,” said Tak.

“I… I didn’t forget. I just didn’t remember.” I replied.

“Nice recovery.” Moon said sarcastically.

Suddenly Sol stood up, “Hey what time is it?” he shouted.

Tak stood up while shouting, “Why I think its Birthday time!”

They both began to sing “Happy birthday,” eventually everyone joined in, even the ones I never thought that would. I blushed as everyone continued singing their heart out. I was happy, I wanted everyday to feel like it did at that moment.

When the singing was over Moon came up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “You’re like a little brother to me. And I want you to know how I feel, always having to take care of you.” Lilith came over, holding a white fluffy puppy in her arms, “this is Fubi, he poops, pees, sleeps and eats… just like you. So take good care of him, from now on he is our little brother.”

“little brother?” I asked quietly to myself. Those words made me tear up inside, I wanted a family more than anything else. Everyone here was a part of a family, my family.

 

Hours past and we celebrated into the night, eventually I found myself outside watching over my new little brother. Lilith stood beside me, laughing at everything the puppy did. I dangled a piece of ham in front of Fubi, pulling it out of his way each time he leaped for it.

“You’re so mean,” Lilith said, “didn’t Moon say your supposed to take care of him?”

“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” I replied, “Moon treats me like this.”

“Just ‘cause he does it doesn’t mean you have to.” She said taking hold of my hand. she pushed my hand down to where Fubi could reach it. “Do you remember how it was like back then. When we lived with everyone in the orphanage.”

“Yeah, I mean its only been a couple months,” I replied. It was the truth, but I felt as though that life I remembered wasn’t my own. Almost as though I had watched someone elses life through my own eyes.

“It doesn’t feel real,” she said staring out into space, “I wanted to see the world. Now I can go anywhere I want, everyone is happy, even you’re happy.” She put her head on my shoulder, “you always looked so sad. But I never knew why. When I met you I couldn’t tell what you were thinking, I couldn’t feel what you were feeling. All I knew was that you were sad and I wanted you to be happy.”

“So that’s why you talked to me?”

“I guess, it’s because I didnt understand you that I watned to know you. Because I wanted to know you I… I…” she became quiet, afraid to say what was on her mind, afraid to tell me how she felt.

She closed her eyes and turned to me, quickly she leaned in and kissed me by the corner of my mouth. It only lasted for a split second, but it made everything seem so perfect. As she backed away I stood frozen, still lost in the moment, nothing felt real.

I returned to reality as Fubi bit my fingers trying to pry the piece of ham away from me. I let go and retracted my arms. Suddenly Moon entered the scene, quickly putting his hands on our mouths.

“Shh, we have to watch this.” He said.

I pushed his hand away from my mouth and said, “what are you doing?”

“We’re gonna spy on them,” he replied.

“On who?” asked Lilith.

“Mia and Sept. trust me, it’ll be sexy.” Said Moon while he dragged us into the bushes. Fubi followed us, expecting more ham. “they’re gonna be coming out pretty soon, I overheard them talking so shhhh ok.”

“Fine,” I said looking over at Lilith.

Lilith was excited, she had wanted to see what would happen with Mia and Sept ever since Mia had told us her story.

A few seconds later Sept walked out of the house followed by Mia, just as Moon had said they would.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” asked Sept.

“Remember, that day when we met Keep, you told me you would tell me why you went away?” replied Mia.

“I guess I did promise.” He smiled his polite smile, “I wanted to visit some friends, old friends.”

“It took you two years to do that?” she asked quietly.

“yeah, they are hard to get in contact with. I had somethings to settle with them, some wrongs that needed to be corrected.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Not really, but I was running out of time and it seems you guys needed me. Anyways I saw that kid by chance. I guess it was destinies way of telling me I was out of time.”

“Maybe, it was its way of telling you things were gonna change.” She said sitting down on the damp floor and pulling Sept down to sit beside her, “I mean you’ve changed a lot since he’s come here. You’re acting a lot like a daddy.”

They suddenly got quiet. They were quiet for a while, just sitting motionless, staring at eachother. This was a situation Mia had grown used to, everytime she would try to tell Sept how she felt she would freeze up and sit in awkard silence. Though she had failed countless times, each time she did it never felt like she failed. To her just being alone with him was enough. But that night it would be different, she had grown tired of sitting in the sidelines, hiding her feelings from him.

“I…I…I like you.” She finally said.

Sept smiled, “I like you too, your always fun to talk to.”

“I mean, I like you. I’ve always liked you since the first time we met.”

Sept’s smile faded from his face, he realized what she meant. “I don’t have time for this.” He said standing up.

Mia’s eyes gleamed with sadness as she held back her emotions. Sept turned to walk away, suddenly a rock came flying towards him. It disappeared a few feet away from him just as the bullets had. Moon stepped out of the bushes, tears flowing from his face.

“Why do you have to be so stupid!” Shouted moon, “it’s not your fault that it happened and it’s definitely not her fault. Stop making everyone around you suffer so much, can’t you see how she feels. Give her a chance to be happy too.” Moon ran towards Sept, punching Sept’s cheek with as hard as he could. Sept stood still, unfased by the punch, but frozen by the words Moon had said. “Stop being so stupid,” Moon said as his voice quieted down, “I know how you feel about her. You’re so damn stubborn, no one can make you do anything or change your mind. No one but her. I know you wouldn’t have come back just ‘cause of a kid you met. So stop lying, you came back because you wanted to be near her. At least the person you love is still here, so don’t… don’t make the same mistake I did.”

At that moment I realized how hard it must’ve been for Sept and Mia. Sept clung onto his past, feeling that he was unworthy of happiness. Mia was unable to bring him happiness. Because of that she was never could never be happy herself. They watched as the ones they loved felt nothing but sadness, and fell even deeper into their own despair as they saw each other suffer. Yet, they still wanted to be with each other even if that meant facing the days alone.

Moon wiped away his tears and walked into the house. Sept sat down beside Mia with their shoulders touching. He softly nudged her head onto his shoulder and looked up at the night sky. Lilith’s hands wrapped mine in its warm comfort and I felt that everything would be alright- I knew everything would be alright.

For a single moment in time, everything was perfect.