‘We’ve had a bit of a scare, her heart lost its rhythm a while back, but she’s clear now, if you can call a coma fine. Apparently the doctors reckon that she is in a light coma and should be opening her eyes soon. Her brain activity is good...’ Her voice trailed off, and Hawk automatically put his arm round her. Until now, he hadn’t considered her family, just himself and the needs of Gaia. He stared at the still figure on the bed.
Nevaeh…if you can hear me…wake up…everyone needs you…I need you.
When everyone had gone, Hawk slumped into the chair, where he was soon lulled into sleep by the sounds of the industrial cleaner in the nearby room.
He was immediately overwhelmed by visual fragments of dreams and visions - someone was trying to reach him. He was being shown the woods, near Nevaeh’s home, and fear took hold of him as soon as he heard the pitiful crying. He felt the muscles in his legs expand as he ran towards the sound, dimly aware of the sticky mud that dragged at his feet, slowing him down.
Around him, the woods changed shape nearer the clearing. He wasn’t worried. Dreams always change shape and visions are never about the details but the symbols. Even though blue lightning flashed round him, he could still hear the crying; it was louder. The vegetation around him was becoming difficult to move through and for the first time he felt as if he was fighting Gaia herself. Strange tangled plants appeared in front of him, snagging his legs and clothing. He felt sweat begin to pour as the cries pushed him forward.
In the distance was a clearing and summoning up the last bit of strength he had left, he punched his way through. There, the scene rooted him.
Blue mist trailed through her hair, making him think of Medusa. On a grassy mound in front of her, lay two whimpering foxes, which he recognised as Seth and Nettles. Anger seared through him when she smiled, it made her face look ghoulish, especially when she extended her arm. The mist crawled down it like a large caterpillar until it slid from her fingers into the ground.
He swayed as the earth vibrated beneath his feet and a jagged gash opened Gaia’s skin. The grass around it swept back from the heat and he knew without looking that it was deep.
‘What do you want?’ he whispered, his voice hoarse. It didn’t feel like a vision, it felt real.
She answered him by picking up the foxes in each hand like they were toys. It widened their eyes and pulled their mouths open into macabre grins. He wanted to sense them to tell them to release themselves but he felt powerless. She had the control, not him.
‘What do you want?’ he shouted again. The heat was becoming stronger and he could feel it scorching his skin.
‘Bring her to me or they will die.’
Hawk felt his entire being scream when she tossed them casually towards the opening. Steam and pitiful cries of agony made him fall to his knees and cover his ears to the horror of it.
‘If they die, so will she. She belongs to me.’ Her voice is hard.
He is woken to the frantic calls of Andrea and a young nurse pulling him free. He leans towards Nevaeh’s bed, to check her heartbeat.
‘Hawk, are you ok?’
He shakes his head wiping the tears from his face, breathing heavily.
‘Seth and Nettles, they’re in danger.’
‘Is he alright?’ The young nurse asks, baffled.
‘Just a bad dream, a cup of tea might help,’ Andrea whispers, trying to sound casual.
Andrea stared back at the still figure of Nevaeh, resembling a porcelain statue. She would have seemed serene if it wasn’t for the lone tear that ran down her face. She watched Hawk pace round the bed, before stopping him and asking for answers.
‘She wants them back in exchange for Nevaeh,’ his voice was low.
Andrea opened her mouth then closed it wondering if she’d misheard.
‘A trade then?’ She whispered, looking back at Nevaeh. Hawk nodded, noticing the consideration on her face.
‘Don’t even think about it Andrea.’ He warned.
‘It’s not even an option – understand?’
Andrea didn’t answer.
He pulled her further away from the bed as if the very act of separating them made a point.
‘Sometimes we have to sacrifice one to save the whole, Hawk. You’re too close.’
Hawk steps closer towards her.
‘If anything happens to her, I’ll know where to go.’ He didn’t disguise his threat and Andrea looked away.
‘Understand?’ He repeated gripping her arm again. She gasped.
‘Yes, okay I understand.’ He went back to his seat next to Nevaeh. He inhaled deeply.
‘Andrea, we need reinforcements, another totem group – the eco group, they’re the most invisible, to watch over her. We’re two down.’ he added, seeing the flush of anger in her eyes.
‘As totem leader, I’ll call the meeting.’ Andrea said evenly.
21
Ma-ehti
‘Well, I know where we’ll be holding the next trancing session, Claudine whistled trailing behind. Hawk had driven them all in his beat-up old panel van for half an hour. It wasn’t the most comfortable drive, and they were all holding on for dear life as they hit every pothole in the road.
When the group finally stumbled out of the van, rubbing their backsides, they could only stare around in awe at an old timber and stone house in the middle of the woods. The windows were small, as if a child had made them before popping them into the wood. A timber porch extended from the front with two rocking chairs while the top was thatched. On one side, a large stone chimney stuck out.
Claudine and Caro skipped towards it, their bangles jingling in unison, before coming to an abrupt stop. They turned simultaneously to Hawk who was grappling with the door.
‘Where’s Seth, Nettles and Amber? I tried texting them, but there was no answer.’ Hawk looked at Andrea before unlocking the door.
‘Andrea?’ Caro whispered, sensing something was wrong. Andrea looked at the twins for a moment before ushering them inside. Amber’s not feeling well.’ she muttered.
The twins trailed behind looking at each other.
‘Amber is always around,’ Caro whispered.
‘Yes, but remember yesterday?’ Claudine replied.
Caro pulled a face before nodding. She had never seen Amber so angry, and over what? A girl she hardly knew. It annoyed her that, after a few months, Amber expected to be initiated. It sometimes took years for that to happen and even then, she had to be able to trance at the basic level first. She couldn’t even perform some of the small tasks of sight. First level trancers were expected to at least visualise the next room. Claudine looked at Andrea and wondered if she was losing her touch. Amber’s feelings for her were obvious to everyone, apart from Hawk. She dismissed the thought, vulnerability creeping in, a feeling she sensed to her twin.
They held their breath as they took in the room.
‘So this is Hawk’s place…’ They both breathed out when they realised they were being looked at. Totem groups sat in bundles, shifting uncomfortably on a beaten old lounge suite. The room looked old, and seemed more in place in America, than Hampshire, England. Above the stone fireplace was a miniature sculpture of a totem pole with exaggerated grimaces on each head, hung from hooks. Claudine nudged her sister expectantly, tilting her head in the direction of Garren and Gabe; another set of male twins they had met at one of the conferences. They both blushed at the memory, their eyes blazing with excitement especially at the way the boys were staring back at them. They looked at each other giggling guiltily. The last meeting had been fun.
‘How are we going to chat to them without everyone noticing us,’ Claudine whispered to her sister. At first, it seemed like they wouldn’t have the chance to catch up like the last time. A red-haired woman from across the room was calling to them and they looked at her miserably.