Tomorrow's Light
Written by Drew Clements
Conceptualized by Drew Clements and Bryan Hester
(Part Five - V)

“She is coming around.” A low, firm voice said.
The last thing to go was the first thing to return-hearing--as the words of the unknown person entered her sore ears. When those words ended, a million other sounds entered her mind; a car outside crawled by at a slow pace, a dog two houses down barked as if there were no tomorrow, an unusual growl came from somewhere behind the house, water pouring from a faucet-in her house? No, somewhere else!
Mentally, she had to concentrate on the ambient sound of the house to block everything else out. The low hum of the refrigerator downstairs helped bring her mind together.
A barrage of questions hit her mind as it pulled itself back into full awareness. She wondered what happened. How did it happen? How long had she been out? Who are these people in her room? Is she dead?
“Right on time, I see.” Another, unrecognizable, voice spoke with an air of expectancy. This voice had to belong to someone of age and experience. It just had that quality.
She knew, from the sound of breathing, that there were two people in the room even before the second voice introduced itself-that voice only confirmed her thoughts. But how in the world did she know that?
Feeling in her body slowly returned. Surprisingly, there was no pain. Hadn’t skin been peeling off just a little while (had it been a little while?) before? Even more surprising was the fact that she actually felt rested and relaxed, like waking up after a full night’s sleep.
“I will return to outside. Even now we are under attack.” The first voice announced. The speaker had an air of professionalism and duty.
“I would prefer you stay just a few more minutes until she is back to full consciousness. I want to get introductions and surprises over with. Our… friends can wait. Their bearings are a bit out of place at the moment.” The second, older voice said.
The statement went unanswered. The younger of the persons obviously respected the older person’s authority and did not question it.
“Hello?” Her mouth moved, but the words did not exit. She wanted desperately to let them know she was aware of them and that she needed answers. She needed help.
She tried one more time, “Hello?” Her voice had returned. It was low and full of cracks. She almost didn’t recognize it.
“Hello dear. Full,” the voice paused, “…partial control of your body will return momentarily. Be patient and do not fear us, we are here to help.” The older man’s voice was soothing. The sound of the voice sent her thoughts racing back to when she was younger, when Grandpa Hawthorne would read her stories before bed when she spent the night at his home.
“Who are you?” Her short trip down memory lane would have to wait.
“I suppose verbal introductions can go ahead,” the voice was in high spirits, “my name is Augustus and my friend here is Khron.”
Despite not being able to see anything, she pushed herself upright on her knees. She was relieved that she still had knees! Also hands to push up with!
“You’re the “A” that left me the note.” Tomorrow could see small flecks of light entering the sides of her eyes.
“That is correct.” Augustus responded.
“Then you’re going to tell me what that was all about?” She waved her hands toward the floor where she had previously laid.
“Yes. When your vision returns, a couple of your questions will be answered immediately.” His voice continued in a cheery way. It relaxed her even more.
“It’s coming back slowly, right now.” She smiled, but her mouth felt funny; she couldn’t explain how, it just did.
Tomorrow repeatedly closed and opened her eyelids slowly. At first, all things were a blur. She looked in the direction of her guests’ voices.
“Wow, you guys are tall.” She looked their dark, blurry forms up and down.
“I want to tell you, once again, do not be afraid,” Augustus repeated his earlier warning; “our appearances may come as a bit of a shock.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid. Not right now, anyway. I feel much better and am looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Besides, how bad could you guys look?”
Augustus chuckled a bit, “You’ll soon know.” His words had barely left his mouth as her vision came charging back.
In an instant, her prior ease disappeared and was replaced by full-blown terror.

 

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