Chapter 5

A young boy with crimson red hair sat quietly in his room in front of a reading table beside his bed. The room had no windows, and the only light came from a gray lamp that sat beside his hand on the table.

His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be in deep meditation. Strange images flashed in his mind—images of fire and the screams of unknown people. He tightened his fist and clenched his teeth as if experiencing unbearable pain.

Suddenly, the door behind him creaked open, and a female voice called out, “Ivory, won’t you come play with the other kids?”

The boy’s eyes opened, revealing a beautiful shade of purple that glimmered in the dim light of the lamp. He stood up slowly and turned around. “I’ll… be out in a sec,” he said, and the lady smiled.

Her name was Denise. She was his caretaker and the only person close to him in the orphanage. Denise had silky brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a smile that could brighten even the darkest moods. She was a friend to all the kids, and they all loved her.

“Ughhhh, we’ve been walking for hours. I’m tired…” Delilah cried out.

“We?” Ethan asked, then continued, “I’ve been carrying you since we started this journey.”

“Yeah, yeah. I dunno why you decided to go on a journey through a desert without food or water. You’ll die before you get anywhere.” Delilah said from her perch on Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan let out a sigh and, with lowered eyebrows, said, “If you think it’s such a bad idea, why don’t you turn around and go say hello to Commander Jerkface for me…”

Delilah leaned toward his left ear and whispered, “Because I’m your responsibility now. You rescued me from cryo-sleep, so I’m yours to use however you see fit, master. But, in return, you have to protect me for the rest of your life…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Ethan said, throwing Delilah into the hot sand. Delilah squealed, hopping back onto his back almost immediately after touching the ground.

“What did you do that for? My skin is delicate, you know?” Delilah said, a teardrop forming in her left eye.

“I never agreed to protect you. I only rescued you because it was the right thing to do. Now you’re clinging to me like I’m your parent.”

“Who else am I supposed to cling to? You’re like my knight in shining armor. Well, more like black leather uniform thing…” Delilah said.

“Ughh, I can’t take this. Gimme water!!” Delilah continued her complaining.

Soon, Ethan had had enough and stopped. “Get off me!” he said.

“What?” Delilah asked, unable to hear him clearly due to the heat.

“I said get the hell off my back!” Ethan repeated angrily.

Delilah slowly got off and sat on the ground.

“We haven’t even started this journey, and I can already tell you’re going to be a big problem. So, you’re either going to stay here in the heat of the desert or go back to Terra-Zeldra because I can’t let you come with me anymore.”

“You’re going to abandon me?” Delilah asked softly.

Ethan turned away and replied, “I have a long way to go. Goodbye!”

Delilah sat in the sand, watching as Ethan walked farther and farther away from her. She sighed as Ethan disappeared from her sight and then looked down.

***

Ivory stood in the sun, watching as the other kids played with a large white ball. He wore a white robe, dark shorts, and was barefoot. Ivory never liked wearing shoes. His red hair flowed in the wind, exposing his purple eyes, which glimmered like large diamonds. Around his wrist, there was an emerald band with a cross on it.

When he first arrived at the orphanage, he only ever spoke to Denise about it. He said it was a gift from his mother, a gift that was very special to him.

As he lost himself in thought, the white ball rolled to his feet.

“Kick it back, weirdo,” one of the kids, named Gerald, yelled from the field. Ivory looked down at the ball and stared at it for a moment.

“I said kick the ball back or I’ll come kick your weirdo butt!” Gerald yelled again. Ivory clenched his fist tightly. He moved his right foot back and swung it at the ball.

The moment his foot connected with it, the ball flew toward Gerald at high speed, hitting him square in the face, breaking his nose, and causing him to spit out blood.

Gerald fell to the ground, unconscious, and all the other kids turned to Ivory, terrified. Denise, hearing the commotion outside, rushed to see what was happening. She found Gerald on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from his nose and mouth.

“What happened here?!” Denise asked with a worried look on her face. The other kids pointed to Ivory, saying he was a monster and that he had attacked Gerald with the ball.

“Go back inside!” Denise said angrily, turning to Ivory.

Ivory saw the disappointment in her eyes and quickly ran back inside the building.

***

It was night again, and cold wind blew through the desert. Ethan slowly walked back toward Delilah, and when he reached her, he asked, “You’re still here?”

“Cryo-sleep was really scary,” Delilah said softly, her arms wrapped around her knees.

“What are you talking about now?” Ethan asked, sitting down beside her.

“The monsters and the nightmares, you never get used to them. They keep coming over and over. You’re constantly on the run for your life until finally, you snap! It was dark, cold, and lonely. For a 13-year-old kid, it was nothing but hell…” Delilah said with a sad expression.

She turned to the moon in the sky and continued, “When I felt your presence at the school, I saw an opportunity to finally be free again. I saw you as my hero, and when you rescued me, I wanted nothing more than to be by your side forever…”

“I’m… sorry I left you on your own. Why didn’t you leave, anyway?” Ethan asked.

Delilah turned to him, smiled, and replied, “I… can’t walk…”