"I'm Going To Almerita

Mrs. Craig cradled Charlene's lifeless body, her tears falling nonstop onto the pale skin.

"Come back...I beg you" she whispered her voice cracking "if you can revive her, I promise I'll let her go to Almerita"

Despair consumed her, engulfing her whole.

Suddenly a faint blue glow emanated from Charlene's abdomen where the knife stuck.

The light intensified, spreading through the rest of her body.

Mrs. Craig was so lost in grief that she failed to notice.

The glow illuminated Charlene's face and slowly her eyes flickered open.

A tiny sneeze escaped her lips.

"As-ch.."

Mrs. Craig's head jerked back in shock.

"Charlene" she whispered, not believing her eyes.

Charlene's gaze focused on her mother as she tried to recall what happened earlier.

"Mum" she murmured.

Mrs. Craig's tears continued falling from her eyes, but this time instead of grief it was tears of joy.

"You're ...you're awake" she stuttered.

"I'm sorry mum" Charlene whispered feeling a rush of energy surge through her veins.

"I was just too scared to think"

Mrs Craig first got rid of the knife before embracing her lightly.

"I thought I lost you" she whispered .

"I'm fine mum" Charlene smiled as they broke the hug.

As Charlene sat up, the blue glow disappeared.

Mrs Craig who's eyes never left Charlene's face finally asked the question lingering in her mind.

"What happened Charlene?" She asked.

Charlene's expression turned puzzled as she tried to recall.

"I don't know mum. I just felt really different."

Mrs. Craig's expression contorted to one which Charlene couldn't decipher.

"Different how?"

"I don't know...your words felt so real... Unlike a dream"

Charlene got off the ground with zero efforts.

"Easy Charl! You're not strong enough yet" Mrs Craig said slightly panicking.

"I'm fine" she replied making her way to the living room, not slightly looking like someone who barely escaped the claws of death hours ago.

Mrs Craig smiled happily as she trailed behind Lyra heading to the living room.

"You have healing powers too"

"You're smiling mum?" Charlene asked her expression darkening and her hands balling into a fist.

"You're happy about this?" She asked her voice cracking with emotions.

"Charlene..." Mrs. Craig paused catching up with her walking pace, she placed her right hand on Charlene's shoulder.

"What as happened cannot be changed. I'm just relieved you're alive."

Charlene's anger suddenly boiled over.

"You're happy I'm a freak?"

The energy around them suddenly changed, growing thick with tension.

"Calm down princess" Mrs. Craig pleaded.

"I don't want to!" Charlene screamed her rage erupting.

Photo frames shattered, the books from the shelf crashed, the Television set crashed violently against the floor.

"Oh no..." Charlene muttered with a horrified expression and ran out of the house.

Mrs Craig stared at the mess her Living room had suddenly turned into.

"A half Amazon can only possess limited gifts right?" She thought wondering how many powers exactly Charlene had.

Meanwhile Charlene kept running until she reached a park. She spotted an empty bench not too far away and walked towards it, sitting down and making sure to lean back comfortably. What her life was turning into was the main thing on her mind—getting expelled on her second day of college, suddenly destroying things and hurting people, being unable to control her temper, and discovering she wasn't human.

Slowly, tears began to trickle down her face as she quietly sobbed.

"Pretty ladies shouldn't cry," a young guy around her age teased, sitting in the empty space beside her.

Even without looking at him, she couldn't find the words to speak; her tongue felt too heavy.

"Have this," he said, offering his handkerchief.

"Thank you," she mumbled, nervously staring at her fingernails.

She wasn't too scared to look at him, nor was she too embarrassed to meet his gaze. She just had a feeling that if he looked into her eyes, he could see the real her—the young adult too scared to accept her identity, afraid of facing her fears.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"No," she muttered.

"Why? You can talk to me," he replied with a gentle gaze.

"I don't want to talk about it. Thanks for caring, though," she replied.

He scoffed. "Sooner or later, you'll have to accept your identity because nothing you say or do will change who you are. So it's best to accept it now," he said seriously.

For the first time since he joined her, she looked into his eyes, noticing his beautiful blue eyes. Still, she said nothing.

"You can only be the best version of yourself when you accept yourself for who you are," he replied and walked away.

She continued to ponder his words.

"How did he know?" she mumbled, trying to search for him with her eyes, but he was gone.

"Maybe he wasn't talking about me. I don't think I can leave Mum. I'll just wear gloves and eyepatches all the time, then maybe I can prevent the effects of these strange powers," she muttered quietly.

An old man sat beside her, his presence startling.

"Charl, you know that's not possible, right? You need to go back now," he said.

Charlene's eyes widened.

"It's you, from the dream. How did you get here?" she asked, her breath catching.

The old man's expression turned urgent.

"Charlene, we don't have much time. You need to return as quickly as possible before they find you."

Charlene's voice trembled.

"So... what Mum said is true? I'm really not human?"

The old man nodded.

"Yes, Charlene. You need to be in Almerita. Your powers are destructive because you don't know how to control them. Mother Nature favored you with many gifts."

Charlene's desperation grew.

"I don't want to be an Amazon. I don't want any supernatural powers. I want all of this to be an illusion."

The old man's smile softened.

"It's okay to feel that way, Charlene. Accepting a new version of yourself is always difficult. Trust me, everything will be fine."

Charlene's concern shifted.

"And my mom? She'll be lonely living all by herself."

"The Supreme Being will send someone to her." The old man reassured and stood, preparing to leave.

"I'll go with you," Charlene said, standing up.

The old man's expression turned firm.

"No, Charlene. You can't come with me just like that. Your mom has your necklace. It will guide you home."

He walked away, leaving Charlene with more questions than could be attended to.

"I should go home now," Charlene muttered, turning to leave.

But then she spotted a young girl sitting alone, hugging her knees to her chest.

Charlene's feet seemed to move of their own accord, drawing her towards the girl.

"You look sad. Mind sharing what's wrong?" Charlene asked, sitting beside her on the grass.

The girl's whisper was barely audible.

"Nobody wants me."

"Don't say that. You're wanted, I'm sure." Carlene replied in a calm and soothing tone.

"My mom and dad abandoned me. I don't have a home." The girl sniffed trying to hold back her tears.

Charlene's heart went out to her.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Pearl," she replied.

Charlene stared at her for a moment before speaking.

"I'm going home. Would you like to come with me?"

Pearl's eyes lit up.

"I'd be more than happy to meet your family. Your parents can be my parents too."

Charlene smiled wistfully.

"It's just Mom, actually. And she'd be happy to have you around since I'm leaving soon."

Pearl's curiosity sparked.

"Leaving for where?"

Charlene's expression turned evasive.

"Never mind, sweetie. Let's go."

They walked away, holding hands.

***

"you're back finally!! I was worried," Mrs. Craig exclaimed, opening the door to reveal Charlene and Pearl.

Charlene chuckled.

"You shouldn't worry, Mom. I'll be gone soon."

Mrs. Craig's arms dropped from the hug, her expression mixed.

"Have you made up your mind, princess?"

Charlene's words dropped like a bombshell.

"Yes, Mom. I'm going to Almerita."

Mrs. Craig's face fell, her emotions in turmoil.

To Be Continued...