Aisling Murphy's Arc

Chapter 9 of 12

That night Aisling slept in the narrow bed, worn out from her long walk. She did not dream of flowers or the cliff. She dreamed of Zyx. He stood on a wide gray plain under a black sky, and his face was grim. "You must see this," he said. "I hoped you never would." The plain filled with figures. A towering insect thing stepped forward, its triangular head tilting, its long arms folded in a green robe. Beside it rose a scaled giant with slit eyes and clawed hands. A slender being with pale blue-green skin watched without blinking, stars swimming across its forehead. A tall creature with white-blonde hair stood in a glowing silver suit. Last came a golden figure with feline eyes and marks like constellations across her skin. "Who are they?" Aisling asked. Her voice came out small. "Others," Zyx said. "My people were not the only ones who found Earth. Word travels across the stars. A living world is rare. Now many want it." He pointed at the scaled giant. "That one would make the humans slaves and rule them." He pointed at the insect thing. "That one wants to cut them open. To study them like bugs in a jar." His black eyes turned to the golden figure and the blue-green being. "These two would help. They want the humans to grow, to learn, to stand on their own." Aisling looked from face to face. "They can't agree," she said. "No." Zyx knelt so his eyes met hers. "So there will be a war. A war for Earth. For every human alive." He paused. "You carry my blood, Aisling. Human blood too. You stand between both. That is why I show you." The gray plain began to shake. The alien figures turned toward her, all at once, and their eyes fixed on her face. The insect thing reached out one long arm. Aisling woke with a cry. Her heart slammed. Pale light filled the window. Morning. The dream had not faded like the others. Every face stayed sharp in her mind. She pushed back the blanket and sat up. Her head still ached, but her thoughts were clear. This was not only about where she came from anymore. Zyx had shown her a war coming for everyone. For Ember, who cried in the doorway. For the doctors. For all the humans who knew nothing. Footsteps came down the hall. Dr. Hartwell opened the door, already in her coat. "You're awake early," she said. Aisling stood. Her hands shook, but her voice did not. "You promised you'd take me outside. In the daylight." She looked at the doctor. "I need to go now. To the stone in the woods. There's something I have to understand before it's too late." Dr. Hartwell studied her pale face and said nothing for a long moment. Then she nodded. "Get your boots."