“Sky of Vines.”
I rubbed the
sharp-edged leaf between my porcelain fingers. I looked up, watching other
leaves fall until they landed gently by my toes. I gazed at the countless vines
intertwined with each other across what we, the fairies knew as the sky. There
were no clouds, there was no rain – just the long draping green that grew
above, to the side and even the ground. I sat in the front yard, holding my
knees close to the chest, my eyes fixed to the canopy above. I searched for
movement, a noise, anything at all that would hint me from above. But the vines
hung like sloths, dead and unmoving.
“Well, what was I
expecting?”
Hmm, all my life, I had
questioned what could be above those vines and again all my life that was the
exact subject every single fairy in Avalar chose to avoid.
“Fairies just don’t question
these things, Tammy!”
Mr. Sam, my English professor tiredly
reiterated when I had confronted him for the hundredth time. But, why? I’m just looking for answers.
“There
must be one fairy, at least one who has
flown up to discover.”
Mr. Sam noticed my response cracking
in desperation.
He slowly removed his silvery-framed
spectacles that were slipping and retaliated, “Well even if there were, none of
them came back. I’m warning you Tammy, don’t go up there.”
I took a long hard look at him. Does he
think whatever he had told me is going to frighten me? Of course, not.
“I’m
warning you again Tammy, don’t go up there.”
Sigh.
My parents would
constantly tell me that they wish I was like the other fairies. But no. I’m
different apparently. I often pester them, day and night with questions about
‘the world above’. Well, initially they were amused with my curiosity but after
a while they stopped responding, simply sighing or rolling their eyes whenever
I asked them.
Suddenly, I felt a rustle
from the trees nearby to where I was sitting.
It was Maya, my best friend.
“Frightened, Tammy?” Maya
smirked.
“Not now
Maya, not in my best mood for your tricks.”
“Alright,
alright! I’m sorry. So, that’s it then. You’ve decided?”
“Um, yes. I’ve
made my decision.
“Are you sure?” she began.
“No one in
Avalar is going to help me, so I’m going to find out for myself.”
“I just hope you’re sure about this! You
know anything could happen to you.” Maya said hesitantly.
I paused for a few moments. Recollected
my thoughts about this decision. I realized I might not make it home unharmed.
I realized I might not make it back at all. I quickly pushed my thoughts to the
back of my mind.
“I’m going to do
this. I’ve wondered for too long. I have to know,” I said.
Later that day,
I left my parents a note saying that they potentially might not ever see me
again. I reassured myself for the last time that leaving a note was the right
thing to do. I sat on the floor in my room crumpling hundreds of papers into
small balls, unsure of how to put my feelings into words. Peculiarly, my chest
seemed to feel lighter once I slid the note under my pillow. They would find it
eventually.
“At least I won’t be leaving
them hanging.”
I looked out my
dirt-speckled window, and I knew it was time to leave Avalar. I slung my
backpack over one shoulder and left my room silently. To be honest, I didn’t
have to worry much about making noise. My parents are used to my disappearances
when I sneak out often after dinner. I enjoy gazing at the sky of vines above
me. Nowhere far actually, just a few miles from home, especially near the
hilltops. During the lonely but peaceful nights, I read about the mythical
creatures, what Mr. Sam often refers to as human beings, evil and destructive
in nature. I picture them ugly, filthy and large like ogre or cunning with long
tail like mermaid. I’m just always searching for answers.
Without
saying goodbye or looking back, I quickly walked out the door. I walked with my
head down; I let my hair fall over my face hoping that nobody would recognise
me. I had actually planned my journey for weeks. I know exactly where to go. I
just needed to walk towards the Violet Hill and fly up to the vines from there.
I finally relaxed when I saw there were no fairies to be seen. Everyone had
gone home, hopefully. I was glad to get away from the utter boring lives the
other fairies led; never curious, never questioning. I just couldn’t stand the
dreariness of Avalar. I was just waiting to escape reality.
I walked non-stop till the
foot of Violet Hill and turned around. My house was now far behind, all that I
could see was the long sandy path that led to where I was at. It was so quiet,
so…lonely. With one last look, leaving everything I had known behind, I ran.
I ran to the top of the hill
and looked down over Avalar, the endless-glowing light shined over the hilltops
was mind-blowing. From where I was, I could see millions of flowers, white,
pink, yellow and red that perfectly grew around the land.
I thought to myself, “The
fairies of Avalar might be boring but Avalar surely isn’t.”
“I might not
ever set foot on Avalar again,” I pondered.
I might never be able to smell mother’s
scented roses in the garden, or hear the sound of father’s axe chop wood at the
yard or even listen to Mr. Sam vent about his tiring life. I tried to erase all
thoughts of my family. I knew I couldn’t turn back now.
I tightened the straps on my backpack
then stretched out my wings, preparing to fly up. I rose into the air,
beginning my uncertain journey towards the vines. I began to form drops of
sweat as I fluttered higher and higher. I had no idea why it was getting so
warm and sticky.
Panting, I gulped in as many breaths of
air as I could and beat my wings harder to get to the top. I looked above. I
could finally see all the vines before my eyes. With full of wonder, I searched
for an opening to squeeze through. A blinding light shined in my eyes as if I
was staring straight into the sun. I knew it was it. Nervousness kicked in.
Shutting my eyes tight, I flew through, my heart racing with anticipation and
excitement.
At first, all I saw was
light – incredibly bright. I took a moment to regain my sight. When my vision
cleared, I saw a huge lamp floating directly above me.
“How is
the lamp just hanging in the air?” I wondered, feeling confused.
I squinted to look ahead. There I saw a metal
table and on it, was a glass box.
Not just a glass box, but
wait.
“Is there
something moving in the box?”
My eyes widened. Fairies?!
There they were. Fairies exactly like the ones in Avalar. I was now confused
more than ever. I flew closer to the box to get a better look. I cautiously
began to inch closer to the other glass box.
Suddenly, I had a smack. My
whole body crashed against something hard and cool.
“Oh, that
hurt!”
I reached out feeling for what was blocking my
way. My hands landed on glass.
“What?!”
I screamed my head now throbbing in pain.
I flew to the left, I flew
to the right, I flew all the way up feeling for open space to fly through.
Sadly, there was none.
I repeatedly pounded on the
glass till my palms turned red. I was trapped. My heart sank when I realized I was
in a box. Avalar was merely a box.
“I…I don’t understand,” I cried, trying
to wrap my head around my shocking discovery.
Just then, I heard scraping metal
sound. Looking outside the box, I saw a giant figure, bigger than any fairy,
draped in a long white coat. Through the dim light outside, I see plastic
goggles worn around its head covering the eyes. A million things ran through my
mind as I contemplated what it might be. I watched the being, its’ strange long
arms hovering around some tools.
Right then I noticed a sign on the wall
above the being. In striking colour lights, it read, DO NOT LET FAIRIES OUT.
My eyes flew back to what the being was
cutting. I saw wings and a pale face, lying still. In my horror, I couldn’t
even manage to let out a scream. I felt helpless when I realized why none of
the fairies came back. They had been tortured and violated, these…monsters
experimenting on them. And then it hit me.
I had read about them before. They were
supposed to be mythical beings, greedy and self-righteous, exploiting
everything and everyone around them. Mr. Sam had also once taught me that they
were full of hate, killing each other for power. I read that they had wiped out
their own species, but clearly, the books and the fairies were severely
mistaken.
