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In the Beginning, Waves By Amber Michelle K. There was a vast ocean reaching into a distance she could not see. There was light above the water, illuminating the waves as they flowed serenely into that infinity, that sense of dimension the only thing distinguishing it from the sky. It wasn't really a sky; the water wasn't really water. But it was vast - there was an end to the world when she looked at the horizon, but there was no end to this. She moved to turn, standing on nothing, feeling nothing but the searing waves -- and suddenly she was standing on solid ground, and the sense of vastness was gone as quickly as it came. She started in pain and shook her head frantically to empty it of the vision. "Faith? Are you okay? What's the matter?" When she opened her eyes, she found herself on hands and knees in the middle of a cobblestoned walk, tangled in indigo skirts and long, flowing sleeves. Beside her she sensed someone kneeling - the owner of the voice. "Faith?" She flinched when the woman touched her, and the hand drew back. "I'll get the doctor." "No!" she croaked out, and her hand shot out to grab the other woman's sleeve before the thought was fully formed. "I-I'm okay." Her own voice was unfamiliar to her. She clamped her lips shut and waited until the woman knelt beside her again before releasing her sleeve. "Just... give me a moment?" "Okay..." The woman sat back on her heels uncertainly. "Here-" she reached toward Miang slowly. "Let me straighten your veil." Miang. Yes, Miang. Not Faith. For a moment you almost had me fooled. She looked up at the woman, and found herself gazing at the wrinkled face of an old Nisan sister. Memories welled up like the water that wasn't water, telling her this was Cheryl, and that she was one of the followers that had converted when Adoriel first preached religion in Nimrod decades ago. Just an eyeblink. Cheryl was hesitating, again, her hands hovering just over Miang's head. "Your- your hair, Faith..." Her hand rose to finger it, shoulder-length under the veil. "My...?" She knew what the old woman was staring at already. Dark like the sea before dawn, Cain had said of it once. "Is something wrong?" The dizziness was receding now; she stood shakily, years of experience allowing her to school her expression into innocence. The other woman shook her head and tugged at Miang's veil as promised. "Nothing, dear. Shall we go back inside? Perhaps you should rest." Where am I? Miang swallowed convulsively and made herself nod to the older sister. Who are you? Why are you here? Get out! This hadn't happened in years. Cheryl! She clenched her fists, hidden within the habit's flowing sleeves. Be quiet. Of course, they never listened. Help me! Silence! She tried to quell Faith's voice, but it only scrabbled to another corner of her mind and started crying again in deafening tone. Help me! Helpmehelpme! "Faith-" "I need to lie down," Miang said abruptly. She didn't have to feign the unsteadiness in her step or the desperation in her grip. "Please." The cathedral grounds were new, and the flow of Faith's memory had stopped; she would never find her way on her own. The older sister slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her gently into a walk. Miang felt a flash of gratitude for the old woman before it was drowned in incessant shouting. Get out get out get-- She gritted her teeth and concentrated on walking. Pest. Would she be driven insane before she could return to Solaris? "We'll see Mother Sophia," Cheryl said suddenly. "She can ease your ailment, whatever it is." The shouting paused. Sophia. Their thoughts were in unison. "Yes. Thank you." I've always wanted to meet Her face to face. |