As Above So Below Read online

  “Why? You’re almost done!”

  “I can’t believe I stayed away that long. I will miss you.”

  “But that’s crazy.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  He’s telling me something. Why can’t I shut up?

  “Noah…”

  “Okay, okay, here it is… Is this where you tell me you already have… someone?”

  “Someone?” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “Don’t be silly!”

  Composure, Maia. Keep your composure.

  She tried to turn serious. “Okay, I’ll be honest with you. Things are happening too fast… And I’m confused.”

  Why can’t I lie?

  “Don’t be confused.” He smiled a suddenly confident smile.

  Maia panicked. And blushed. Did I give myself away?

  “You know, you are more beautiful when you blush…”

  Maia blushed an even deeper red.

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. I’m a fool. But I really missed you. And now you’re here. We’re here... Maia… I…”

  Yes?

  “I also don’t know where I want this to go… I guess I’m confused too.”

  That did not sound encouraging.

  He held her hand. She let him. He turned thoughtful.

  He could not be proposing, could he?

  “You are not the only one who heard the whisper, you know.”

  She almost fell from her seat.

  A curve ball. Life. It does that from time to time. Why now? Why me?

  “What are you talking about? How did you know about that...?” she whispered.

  Noah turned somber. “If you remember, I let go of the controls too. It startled me. When I looked at you, your face was ashen. I then knew you heard it too.”

  All this time I thought I was losing my mind.

  She could not speak. Her eyes questioned him. His confession stunned her. And it hurt.

  “Sorry, I said nothing. I doubted it too, thought I was going crazy. It was not actually a whisper, you know. There were many voices. It reverberated on the inside of my headphone. But I think we’re the only ones who heard it because I asked Control if they heard anything unusual and they said no.”

  She grew close to tears. Too close.

  “Is that why we’re here?”

  “No... It’s...no.”

  “But... all this time, Noah?

  “Cause in my dream I flew Sky Dancer. And I heard it again. The same voice. Voices.”

  Maia felt afraid. “It is why we’re here...”

  What is going on? Why is all this happening now?

  “Can you take me home please?”

  The cold air chilled Maia and Noah as they stepped out of the restaurant. They walked to the plane in silence.

  Noah started the engines. They took off without incident, but the plane met with a slight disturbance at 4,000 feet. Noah struggled to get the plane under control.

  Maybe the disturbance is between us.

  When he had the plane under control, he put it on automatic pilot. He faced her.

  Should he be doing that?

  “Maia, I’m really sorry I freaked out that time. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was, well, spooked.”

  Maia stared at Noah. Like her, he had been carrying “this” – whatever “this” was – all this time.

  “I’m sorry...”

  She found she felt okay. She was also ready to move on.

  “Noah…You know what? This is crazy... It’s okay… It’s so long ago…” Maia tried to smile. “It spooked me too, I guess. And I felt alone. A little stupid. A lot scared.” She reached for his hand. “I’m ready to forget about it if you are…”

  She is ready to forget. She could not believe it has haunted both of them all this time.

  He closed his eyes and exhaled. He looked relieved. “Thank you, Maia… I thought I found something really special tonight, and then I lost it. Just like that.”

  Did he just…?

  Both fell quiet.

  Awkward.

  “Just one curious question that I have been meaning to ask. Do you still remember what it said? You can find out. That’s what I heard. Like it answered some question… This may sound odd and I’m sorry to ask. But did you ask a question then, Maia?”

  Out with the secret? Should I tell him?

  “Um, well, I was excited, so excited to be flying the plane…. That I kind of asked ‘what’s out there?’ I like throwing questions to the wind, you know.”

  That sounded really weird.

  “Really?”

  She nodded, visibly squirming in embarrassment. “And that’s what I, well, we got. You can find out.”

  “Have you ever figured out what it meant?”

  “No. I haven’t really thought much about it... “

  Lately, she thought about it. A lot.

  “Noah, I have to ask. You said you heard the voices again when you flew Sky Dancer. What did they say?”

  “Maia...”

  “What?”

  “Your name – Maia.”

  “Really?”

  Just my name?

  “Over and over again. I dreamt I was up here, flying Sky Dancer… The voices. They whispered your name. They did not stop until I woke up. I knew I had to find you.”

  Oh.

  “And I did.”

  Strong winds pounded the plane so Noah took it out of autopilot. After a few tense minutes, he got the plane under control.

  “You know what? It’s a little unsettling to talk about it again right here.”

  Did he just say that?

  “Hahaha… I’m just teasing. You look so tense. If it makes you uncomfortable, I promise I will not talk about it anymore. But can I just tell you something?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve known you all my life. We grew up together, sort of. But after that flight… Sorry, I do not want to scare you. I’m not sure I’m explaining this right…”

  Try?

  “I wanted to call but I could not call because, well, you were so young. And then we had that minor emergency. Your Dad freaked out….”

  “He did? He never said anything…”

  “Your Dad asked for a private meeting. He wasn’t angry or anything. If at all, he just wanted to understand what happened. You had a pretty amazing father. But of course, I could not call you after that. Even if your Dad seemed okay about it, he probably still thought I put you in danger.”

  “You did not.”

  I want to laugh. I want to cry.

  “I’m sorry about your Dad.”

  “I miss him. But it’s okay. I’m okay.”

  I’m not. Not really.

  A long silence.

  But I’m deciding to be okay.

  “Can I see you again, Maia?”

  He looked so serious, so intent.

  She gazed into his eyes. She felt amazed, perplexed, overjoyed – too overjoyed – that she burst out laughing.

  “You’re killing me!”

  “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Yes… Sure… Yes….”

  I liked being out here with you. I thought I wouldn’t be able to fly in a Cessna again. Thank you. I think I love you.

  “Do you think we’ll hear any whispers again tonight?”

  She just had to hit him.

  Noah still held her hand when he walked Maia to the door. It suddenly opened. Her mother stood by the open door. She looked very much surprised.

  “Noah? Is that you? What are you doing with Maia? My manners… Sorry! How are you? Come in, come in...” she said.

  “Hi, Aunt Mae! It’s okay. It’s getting late... I just wanted to make sure Maia is home safe.”

  “I didn’t know she would be with you. She said...?” She glared at her daughter.

  Noah glanced at Maia. “Sorry, Aunt Mae. I called a couple of days ago and asked her out. I really did not give her much choice…”

  “You went out on a date?”

&n
bsp; Great Mom, that’s what you got from what he said?

  “Yes, we did. Um, I hope it is okay. I just have not seen her for a long time, me being on the island and all... She is allowed to date, isn’t she? I just took her to the island…”

  “You flew???!!!”

  Really Mom, the rage?

  “Oh, I’m sorry that I, um, didn’t ask for your permission first. But, um, it’s getting late, I have to go. Great to see you again, Aunt Mae. See you soon, Maia!”

  He motioned that he will call her. And then he left.

  Mother and daughter remained standing by the door. One stared at the floor, the other glared.

  “What was all that Maia? Why didn’t you tell me you were going out with Noah? You even flew on a plane with him. For a first date. Who does that?”

  “Mom, honestly, I meant to tell you...”

  “I trust you, Maia. I really do. You have never given me any trouble. But lately, it has been difficult. I feel like I don’t know you anymore. You are not the only one who has been so miserable since your father died!”

  “Oh really, Mom? I think one of us has definitely moved on!”

  “What did you say? What did you say?!!”

  Maia fought her tears.

  “Go to your room!”

  Maia ran to her room and slammed the door.

  VeilOverAtlantis.com

  We live in stories, immerse ourselves in them. Escape. A double triple life. Parallel universes, one we inhabit with glee; the other, with the weary care of the awake.

  Books are safe because we are not in it. We are cocooned by it from the shadows cast by our reality. We can escape from its clutches when we put it down, disengage, discontinue. We cannot do the same with life.

  It is far harder to escape life; sometimes even far harder to face it. Its harshness is not tempered like colored glass hiding us from the glare of the sun. Its tentacles reach out, and clasp, the resonant sting inevitable.

  But such is to live. Such is to face the winds, and sometimes, the spattering of rain.

  Such is to be brave.

  To live is to be brave.

  But how do we tackle it? We are not led by strings of plots, by carefully thought-out schemes, by something smart or lucky or an unexpected twist that favors the protagonist.

  Life is not like that. Its twists and turns are hidden from the eye; most of its mysteries are unsolved and questions remain questions.

  And yet, we live.

  Because that is our lot, our destiny, our gift. To be forged through the fire of life, to emerge as pure energy, to mean nothing and then everything.

  We have made our own escapes possible, laid in our minds our own plots, followed the thread to our deliverance, hoping, waking up.

  And despite the sometimes desolate landscape, we try to stand up strong, to look out, believe.

  CHAPTER 7

  ~

  MAIA KNEW SHE DAYDREAMED about Noah more than the allowable limit. But she could not help it.

  It happened. It happened. I did not make it up.

  She replayed the scene with the boats and deep dark waters lit as if from within. How his hands held hers. How he looked into her eyes. How he ate from her plate of apple pie. That’s almost like kissing. Technically. How he whispered into her ear.

  Wait, I don’t think he whispered into my ear. Someone else did. Or something.

  She sat up straight.

  A wall. That’s what the whisperer said.

  She frowned.

  A wall? How could I forget? The blue line!

  Her laptop screen glowed in the dark.

  Is the blue line a wall?

  She walked with slow, deliberate steps toward her laptop.

  Let’s find out if you are a wall. There’s nothing like going underwater to get more lost.

  She opened up Google Earth, found the pins she marked and looked at the blue line. It looked unbelievably solid, compelling, like it should be there. That she was meant to find it.

  What are you? How will I find out if you are a wall? Will you show me your secrets?

  She marked it with the red ruler tool so she would not lose it. She also wanted to find out its length and how far it went. It took her some time to measure its entire span.

  Gosh, you are long. Where will you end? Or begin? Cause you are weird.

  She found the line measured over 20,000 kilometers long.

  20,000 kilometers! Really? How? You have to be kidding me!

  She looked at the islands that traversed the blue line. Or the blue line traversed the islands. She did not know which was which.

  This line is on those islands. What does it mean? Could it be an actual visible structure? Interesting.

  She googled the islands near the blue line and tried to learn as much as she can about them. Oh, Professor Google. Most had little or no inhabitants, just a patch in the sea.

  Backward backwaters. Where deep dark secrets could be kept. A-ha!

  Sea monsters and holograms. Holograms and sea monsters.

  In those islands? Wow! Are these stories real? Am I scared or am I scared?

  The rain fell in sheets outside her window. Leaves, stems, the wind acting as its puppet, gave Maia a mosaic light show. It was unusual for Vancouver weather. But Maia did not see.

  The sea had her. Lost in her Eye in the Sky and in its many mysteries. Consumed by her own private explorations.

  Look, Dad. I’m exploring. I wonder if Noah will fly me to these islands. No. I did not just say that. I’m out of my mind to want to fly again.

  Some of the “humps” that looked like islands were not islands. Just a dark part of the seabed. Those that were almost black turned out to be just gouges. Not deep, but oddly symmetrical. They had edges.

  Edges? That’s weird. The dark color gives it an appearance of depth but there is no depth. Like an illusion.

  She went back to the blue line.

  What are you?

  She clicked on her mouse and looked at it from an angle. It took on a more solid appearance.

  Oh!

  The image zoomed out – she did not intend it to do that. And she saw the great expanse of a wall.

  A wall!

  Maia almost fell backward. She became suddenly aware of the darkness, of the cold, of the damp. Of the fact she was alone in her room and a little scared. A lot scared.

  She called Elle.

  “He...llo?”

  “Elle!!! I found a wall!!! A freakin’ wall!!!!”

  “What are you talking about? It’s already late Maia… For goodness’ sake!”

  “No, Elle... It’s real... It’s here...It just jumped out at me!”

  “You’re on the Eye in the Sky? It’s probably just the sonar malfunctioning again. Or an error in shipboard sounding data or whatever...”

  “But Elle! There is a wall! In the middle of the sea! It’s not supposed to be there!”

  “Oh Maia, shush… you’ll wake everyone up…”

  “Wait! I’ll share it... Is your computer on? There! Can you see it, Elle? What do you think it is? A highway? A super highway? Do you think there is something inside?”

  “Wait…” Elle turned on her computer.

  “Are you there?”

  Elle could not speak. Maia put Elle on speaker and fidgeted with her mouse.

  “But if there is this wall – gosh, it is a wall, right? So solid! What do you think it is?”

  Elle found her voice. “Is this right? Is this thing 5,000 meters under the sea?”

  “Yes, Elle. It’s half the elevation of Mt. Everest if we go down instead of up… Can you imagine how deep underwater that thing is?”

  “Okay, okay, calm down. It’s almost 11. You’ll wake your Mom.”

  “Let’s look at it from a different angle.”

  “Yikes! Why does it look like that? Do you see the tire tracks, Elle?”

  The world is purple. The vision shook Elle more than she has let on. Somewhere in the periphery of her mind lived memorie
s and images she could not reach. This somehow reminded her of it.

  Its shadows are here. How did Maia find this? Why did Maia find this?

  “What could be the purpose of this wall? Do you think it’s old? It should be old. Do you think it’s still used? But what for? Who can survive in that depth? Water turns opaque at 20 meters, right? That’s about 65 feet, almost 20 meters, and this is 5,000 meters! It’s impossible that it’s here. Maybe this used to be on land and then it sank?”

  Elle felt a headache coming on. “Maia...”

  “So there should just be a darkness in water that deep, right? Then how...? And the pressure. No one can survive under all that pressure. It’s like going to outer space.”

  “…They say underwater is like outer space. Maia, you have got to get some sleep. Let’s look at it again tomorrow. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for it.”

  “Hey, aren’t you excited?”

  “Of course, I am.” But I am also scared.

  “Okay, sorry for waking you up. Thank you for picking up the phone. I know it’s late.”

  “Go to bed little sister. Please. Love you.”

  Long after she has put the phone down, Maia still fidgeted with her laptop. She could not contain her excitement. She could not turn off her computer. She wanted to tell her Mom, but decided she should not.

  Elle’s lukewarm reaction disappointed her.

  I think she’s just sleepy. Or maybe this frightened her. Well, it is a little frightening because, well, it should not be here. Hmmm… Maybe there’s something on Google about this wall.

  She tried to look for clues in the vast Google-sphere.

  Is it the walls of Atlantis? Yikes! Did I find Atlantis?

  She read that the Atlantis ‘found off Africa’ turned out to be just boat mapping lines.

  Hmmm…So they say 31° 15’15.53”N 24° 15’30.53”W is a fake. Maybe they had the wrong spot. Maybe I found the real Atlantis.

  Or maybe not.

  In the farther reaches of the nether regions, Ursula clutched at her breast.

  Someone is looking, someone will find me… A sister...?

  The sisters whom she has betrayed. Ursula closed her eyes and clasped her hands. Fears she long thought to be buried surfaced again.

  Is it the sisters? Or is it their father whose gaze is forever seeking mine? He will not find me. If he finds me...