Aisling Murphy's Arc

Chapter 6 of 12

That night, Aisling waited until the ward went quiet. The doctors had gone home. She slid from her bed and crept past the empty beds to the door. The hinge gave a small creak. She froze, then pushed through into the cool dark. Outside, the infirmary's red cross sign hung above her. Aisling tipped her head back. The sky spread wide and black, dusted with stars. The moon hung crooked and pale, like a chipped stone. She breathed in the cold air and smiled. The night was beautiful. For the first time in weeks, no window stood between her and the sky. She did not know where to go. But a pull tugged at her chest, strong and sure, like a string behind her ribs. It drew her toward the dark line of trees beyond the clearing. She followed it. The woods swallowed her. Tall pines and white birches rose on every side. Wildflowers glowed faintly along the ground, yellow and red and blue. Aisling brushed past ferns and ivy. The pull grew stronger with each step. She did not feel afraid. She felt called. Then she saw it. A weathered stone stood among the roots, taller than she was. Hand-painted figures covered its face. They had thin bodies, long heads, and huge black eyes. Aisling pressed her palm to the cold rock. The painted figures looked just like Zyx. "This is them," she whispered. "My people. Someone drew them here." Her legs went heavy. A wave of tiredness poured over her, sudden and deep. She could not keep her eyes open. Aisling sank down against the base of the stone and curled into the soft moss. Sleep took her at once. The dream came fast. She stood in warm grass under a bright sun. A great stepped pyramid rose before her, built of pale stone. A silver disc rested on the ground nearby. Zyx walked down its ramp, tall and red, his black eyes shining. A man came to meet them. He wore a tall crown of bright feathers and a wide belt marked with carved symbols. He was a chieftain of the people who already lived here. He stopped before Zyx and stared, unafraid. Zyx raised one long hand in greeting. The chieftain raised his own. Behind him, his people gathered, watching the strangers from the sky. They did not run. They pointed at the disc and spoke in soft, curious voices. "We came from a dead world," Zyx said. "We wish only to live." The chieftain nodded slowly. He turned and led them toward the pyramid. Aisling understood now. Her people had not landed in an empty land. Others had welcomed them. The stone in the woods was proof. Aisling woke at dawn, cheek pressed to cold moss. The ancient stone loomed above her. She was far from the infirmary now, alone in the deep woods. But she knew the truth. Her past had been written in stone, and she had found it.