1 1. An End That Led to a Beginning

AJ

It all started with a fall.

I wiped the sweat of my brow, already feeling how different the heat of the jungle was to the heat back home deep in my pores.

My long bronze hair, which had been carefully braided this morning, was sticking to my back. I felt as if I was pouring out sweat. Drowning in it.

The heat was unbearable, as if I was in a sauna; hiking in a sauna. I grab my water bottle from my backpack, and pause my hike to take a great gulp of it. The silky smooth texture giving my throat and my heated body immediate relief.

Inhaling a deep breath, I take the time to gaze at the magnificent view around me.

The sun was breaking in through the enormous trees, not too much, but enough sunlight to make the scene seem like certain areas had been dipped in gold, while the rest bathed in the reflection.

The life within these trees was awake and energetic. Different species seemed to be communicating loudly to one another. But, what should have been chaotic noise, actually sounded more harmonious. As if all the inhabitants of the jungle got together to make a beautiful melody.

Two beautiful birds made their appearance, the music the others had put an invitation for them to put on a show. They were flying away, and then towards each other, again, and again, creating a tranquil dance to the music.

I was hypnotized by the jungle.

A touch on my shoulder broke away the hold the jungle had taken over me. I turned to find one of the guides from my group holding a thumbs up in question. Asking me if everything was alright.

I nodded excitedly, putting my water bottle away, and following him to where the rest of the group had gone.

As we neared the man put a finger to his lips, the signal to be extremely quiet. A chill runs through my body. I smile at him. That signal could only mean one thing… we had found the gorillas.

We start to crouch and slowly approached my group, all of which were staring and taking pictures of a gorilla family off the corner.

This image of the gorillas made everything that had brought me here worth it.

Peace that I hadn't felt in a long time settled over my body. I couldn't believe that my dream of coming to Bwindi National Park, and trekking in the jungle to watch these magnificent beast had actually come true.

A tear escapes my eye and glides slowly down my cheek. A reminder of who is missing from making my childhood dream a reality. Their absence a heavy weight in my heart.

I could easily picture my dad trying to mimic the gorillas, as my mom half-heartedly scolds him, both trying to be quiet while I try to act embarrassed at both of their behaviors. Truly though, I had never been even slightly embarrassed. I always enjoyed their silly nature. Their way of making serious and ordinary situations into magical ones, full of laughter.

After their sudden death, I was left with a gaping hole that threatened to swallow me whole.

A small boat lost in raging storm in a sea of grief.

I took a semester off law school to take care of things back home. But then, the grief turned to something dark, and pretty soon I found myself in situations that I would have never been caught in before their death. As if my heart had shattered and in its place a dark ugly thing beat its poisonous blood through my system.

All the things that rebellious teens do through their highschool years, things I had always avoided, suddenly made sense.

I drank, until the pain went away. Until I had a second of feeling absolutely nothing before it all came crashing back.

I went out to parties and stayed until the sun greeted me the next day, not wanting to be left alone with my thoughts.

Dropping out of law school three months after their death seemed like the right thing to do, not to mention that after an arrest, they did not offer to take me back. I guess you could say it was mutual.

The worst came when a strange type of anger took hold. I wanted to fight the injustices I saw, tying it the unsolved mystery of my parents' death, and began taking action myself. Aggressive actions...illegal actions.

Those were dark days, and because of my actions in those months, I now carry more emotional scars than just the ones my parents' death gave me.

The light at the end of the tunnel came after I had been arrested for the 10th time in 6 months.

• • •

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, I winced at the artificial light as I opened my eyes. "They are calling your name, I think." My cellmate nodded towards the cops.

"Arthur Elizabeth Jones." The taller and beefier of the two, sporting a good old mustache announced, looking straight at me.

My name was big reason I was teased throughout my life. My parents chose this name because they loved these immense figures from England. Ultimately decided that Arthur should be first out of my dad's love for the historical figure, who had become more mythical throughout time, and as he would say, "Why should names be restricted based on gender? You came into this world, fighting as Arthur did in his battles. You deserve the name of your equal."

I spring to my feet, "Officer Tate, I love the new look," I smile as I stand before him, "and who's the new guy?" I turn to look at the aforementioned, with white blond hair, and a baby face.

The officer in question scowls at me, and points to his name tag, "Officer Martinez."

"Ah, silly me. How could I have missed that." I smirk as I pass him towards the exit doors.

"Ms. James," Tate says slowly as he follows behind me, "Why do we keep meeting like this?"

I gasp dramatically, "Call me AJ... as I have told you before. How can we be friends if you are always so formal with me?"

"We aren't friends."

"...yet." I winked at him in response.

He bites a smile, and shakes his head, "I shouldn't be surprised to see your name on the release list anymore. What did you do this time?"

"Good morning Officer Hoop." I smile at the man behind the counter.

"Ms. James. How did you sleep?" He smirks, knowing full well I didn't sleep.

"Better than ever. Thank you for asking." I gleam my fakest smile. He chuckles as he hands me a bag full of my items.

"You haven't answered me...AJ." Tate says reluctantly.

"Can't you just read the report, kind of tired of giving the story." I sigh, giving him a pout.

"I rather hear it from the source." He is relentless.

I pull up my hands in defeat, "fine."

And all three officers lean in closer to hear the story.

The second I am about the begin a fourth officer appears, David, my dad's old partner and best friend. "Lets go." He says as a way of greeting.

I started walking away from the disappointed officers, "Another time officers, and boy was it a good one." I smiled as they all made noises of disappointed.

I was too busy with my teasing the officers to notice David had stopped suddenly in front of me.

"Umph" Escaped my lips as I collided with his back.

"Ouch, David. Next time easier on the brakes." I rub where my cheek hit his bullet proof vest.

He turns to look at me. His deep brown eyes full of anger, "I want to understand you Arthur. I really do. But, I have bailed you out of jail more times than I can count. Thank goodness the judge is a friend of mine and your father's, and keeps letting these things slide. Actually, I don't know if that's good. Maybe I should just let you stay in there next time to teach you a lesson. What were you thinking?"

"I don't know how to explain it. I just can't let these things pass. What is the point of having laws, if the laws themselves are unjust."

David sighs, and starts walking towards the exit again, "Look, I know that it must seem really unfair that nothing seems to be moving in regards to your parent's death, but you can't really believe that what you are doing is helping?"

We get into his cop car, and my anger takes reign, "Unfair?" I scoff. "No, it doesn't seem unfair, it seems like no one cares enough to do more about it. They were found dead in their car. We know something hit them, the car not only had paint marks from a different car, but also had a huge dent on the passenger side. Why isn't anything being done about it?"

I bite back a sob, "It has been nine months since they passed, and we know as much as we did the first night."

"I know, Arthur." His eyes glisten with unspilled tears. "I have looked a thousand times at the evidence, and there are no leads. It as if whatever hit them, vanished into thin air. I know if your father were here, he would have already made a joke about my incompetence, and figured out a clue all at the same time."

David chuckles sadly, "You actually remind me a lot of him. Your dramatic vigilante escapades would have definitely been something he would have partaken in his youth."

I smile, but as the words he says make sense in my mind I jerk my heads towards him, "I'm sorry, you said dramatic. What the hell is dramatic about saving a bunch of innocent lives? I think you mean heroic vigilante escapades."

He rolls his eyes, hiding a smile, "They were just lab rabbits, so save the speech Superman."

I grab his arm in mock horror, "Just rabbits, you say. More like white fluffy bunnies. Tortured bunnies."

He shakes his head laughing, as we pull into my driveway. "You're right that merits your actions. By the way..." His smile turning mischievous, "What exactly happened last night?

I feel the blood rush to my face. He must have read the report.

"Nothing." I mumbled as I turn my head towards the window.

"Nothing," He smiles, "not even the red..."

I jump out of the car, and slam the door before he has a chance to finish that sentence.

Explosive laughter reaches my ears as David lowers the window, "Please, behave for one night. Give this old man a night off. You heroic vigilante for bunnies."

I laugh and wave goodbye.

• • •

After a shower, and a good scrub, I wipe the fog off the mirror, and stare at my reflection.

Lightly freckled nose wiggles as I do. My pale skin and hazel eyes more noticeable with my wet hair, which looks black, instead of it's usual lighter tone. I am also curvier than most athletic women, due to my mom's mexican heritage, not my love of chocolate. Yea, right, my brain tells me, keep telling yourself that, Ace.

My parents always told me that I was my mom's replica on the outside, and my dad's on the inside. Now that they are gone, I wish I had something of my dad's on my face as well, so I could stare at it as I do my mom's features, and remember how it looked on his.

Without another glance, I head out the bathroom door.

I find myself walking to the attic. It has been almost a year since I had last step foot in here.

When I walk in, it feels as if I had travelled through time. It smells of old things, memories, and dust.

Hours and two tissue boxes later, it looks as if a tornado passed through the attic. Scattered memories enveloped me, as I sit crossed legged in the middle of the mess. I stare at the picture I had drawn when I was thirteen, and believed myself to be an artist. The picture told me I had chosen right by not following that path.

It was after I had started watching National Geographic and became obsessed with the wildlife in Africa. I drew a picture of my parents' and I in the jungle to try to persuade them of taking me there.

It worked and it didn't. They told me they would gladly take me, when I had grown up a bit and we saved money.

Every year for the next five years for my birthday I would ask for money for the Africa trip. We would sit for hours planning all the countries we were going to visit, and all the things we were going to see.

But, then college came, I moved out, and that dream was forgotten with time.

I slowly trace my drawing, a wave of memories when we would plan the trip hitting me.

A powerful sense of clarity comes with the memory. The desperate need to go there, to see what I had wanted to see with my parents. I jump up, folding the drawing and tucking it into my shorts, and head downstairs to my room.

The benefit of working jobs that didn't really matter was that I could drop them at any given notice.

As I booked my flight I called the bar first. "Hey Donna. Is Ryan around?...Yes. I'll wait...Thanks, you too."

I roll my eyes as I wait, of course he's going to take his time answering. Talk about being petty. We dated a few times, and ultimately broke up when in moments of being sober I would realize how big of a wanker this bloke really was.

When I heard his voice on the other end I just blurted, "Hi Ryan. Look just wanted to call and tell you that I quit." I felt freedom as I said those words, and without feeling the need to hear more from him, I hung up.

My second job was harder to leave. It provided the only moments of light these past months of darkness. That is mainly due to the owner of the Krav Maga studio. Eric has known me and my parents since I was 6 and started training there. He later married David, and both became an extended part of my family.

Yea, unlike most girls who took ballet or gymnastics as a little girl, my dad took me to Krav Maga.

What can I say, I was a weird child, and that, unfortunately, is a magnet for bullies. After one particularly rough day, where a bunch of older kids beat me up, my dad decided I should fight back, and fight with such force those cowards wouldn't dare look my way again.

It was meant to be temporary, but I fell in love with the rush of adrenaline, and the power I felt in those moments when it is just me and the person in front of me.

When I moved back home, after my parents passed away, Eric offered me a sanctuary and a job.

I was the receptionist, as well in charge of handling billing. In exchange for my work, besides pay, I could train there for free. He is a recovered alcoholic, and would be my guide when I was at my lowest. Would understand the days I couldn't come in, but most importantly, would kick my ass the days I would.

"AJ, David called. I'm guessing you aren't going to make it in today? I hope you remember our deal, you miss work, you get double conditioning the next day." His soft laugh trickles through the phone.

"Eric. I… I wanted to start by telling you thank you for the opportunity to work for you. You and David have been my saving grace these past nine months. But, I think it's time for me to find myself. To move on…" I stop to take a deep breath, not wanting the resolve and clearity I had gained to leave as I spoke to him.

"What's going on sweetie? Do you want me and David to go to your place?" He asks concerned.

I smile, "No... I'm actually leaving in a couple hours. I just wanted to thank you for always being there."

"Nothing to thank, you know I would do anything for you. Is everything ok?"

"I feel better than I have in a long time. I have a huge favor to ask you: would you mind watching my house for me while I'm gone?"

I hear shuffling and picture him putting on his shoes, "Of course. Where are you going?"

"Africa."

• • •

Either a noise or my bladder wakes me from sleep. The events of the day still playing on repeat in my head, I look around my tent satisfied that It wasn't a dream.

My full bladder calls for release. I stumble out of my sleeping tent, half asleep to head towards the back, to relieve myself...in nature.

When I finish my business, I glance at the night sky and gasp. It stars were shining like never before. It looked artificial.

"Come find me," A female voice whispers from behind me.

I turn, surprised, but find only trees and plants.

"Come." The same voice whispers, alluringly. A promise of adventure in her tone. A spell in her words.

Most people would turn around and head back, all the while thinking: Hell no, I'm not following a creepy voice that belongs to no one, in the middle of the jungle.

Most people would probably be right.

I wouldn't be me if I didn't follow the voice.

My mother always said I had a deep sense of adventure and curiosity deep in my bones. She would tell me how when I was in kindergarten, my mother found me under the bed one night. When she asked what I was doing, I responded, "Harper told me how her sister told her there are monsters under the bed, and if you aren't careful to tuck your feet in all the way, they will come up an snatch you. So, I'm waiting here because I want to ask them what is so yummy about feet?"

"Over here," The voice beckoned me.

I stumble in the darkness, the moon casting a silver and eerie tone to the jungle.

As I approach a cave, I halt my steps. Ok. One thing is being curious, and another being stupid.

"Arthur. Come, please." The voice pleads.

My feet followed before my brain could debate it further. As if the voice attached a string to my heart, and I could do nothing but follow where it pulled me.

As soon as I passed the entrance of a cave, I entered a different world. The small entrance was deceitful compared to the inside of the cave.

Glowing plants, flowers, and leaves of all different color glowed, illuminating a path paved down the middle. I could hear water running, like a river or a waterfall at the end of the path.

I reached out to touch a strange glowing red flower. The touch seemed to create a reaction, and all around me the plants started bursting brightly and dimming, on repeat.

I couldn't help but let a laugh escape my lips. It seems like a dream.

"Arthur?"

I glance at the end of the path, where the voice seems to be located.

Dropping my hand, I continue forward.

As I reach the end of the path, I find a small waterfall, large stones stuck out at different angles, forcing the water to cascade in a zigzag. The water at the pond in front of the waterfall had stones inside that glowed white, creating a halo of serenity.

"Hello?" I called out into the darkness. The person who's voice had been guiding me nowhere to be seen.

When the words floated out of my lips, bouncing around the walls, everything that had been glowing went out in a flash.

I was left in total, and utter darkness.

And the spell that had taken hold of me broke.

Calm down, I thought to myself. I think I remember how to get back.

"Is anybody here?" I yell in a last attempt to figure out who called me here before heading out.

Ah crap. Follow the creepy voice AJ. That's a smart idea. Now I'm stranded in a dark cave, with no way of knowing how to get back to camp. Not to mention the animals that, by a miracle, didn't eat me on the way here, will most definitely on the way back.

Crunch.

I whip around at the noise, but the muddy ground makes me slip, and I feel myself falling ...into the water.

When I come out for air, I see a shining blue stone floating its way towards me from hole on top of the cave.

Pulling myself out of the water, I stare at the stone slowly descending.

It wasn't bigger than a pencil eraser.

Maybe I hit myself in the head? More like I hadn't woken up from a dream.

Right?

But my cold wet clothes, and dripping hair seemed to disagree.

When it's inches away from my face, I slowly reached out to touch the strange floating stone.

As my skin brushes the stone, a zap vibrates through my body. I fall backwards. Awake, but unable to move a single inch of my body.

All I can do is stare as the stone continues to float down to where I know lay.

Kisses my forehead with a feather light touch, and lights my body on fire.

I feel as if my body is burning from the inside out, and all I can do is scream inside my head.

A bright of white light shines from the stone, encompassing me, blinding me as the pain overtakes me, and blackness calls me to her sweet nothing.

In the darkness of nothing the voice that lured me whispers, "We have chosen you, Arthur Elizabeth Jones, descendant of the First Humans, to restore the balance to our world."

….and then ...nothing.