1 THE TRIP TO FRANCE

All I see is water, only water. But it is not flowing naturally, it looks like it is being controlled or manipulated by somebody. Suddenly, I hear someone shouting, as if the person is far away, but the voice becomes clearer, finally I realize whose voice it is.

"Wake up Carry! Wake up!" Rachel screams in my ear.

Let me introduce myself, I am Caroline Sky, I'm fifteen years old and I live in Rhode Island with my mom-Selene and my two sisters-Phoebe, who is elder to me by a couple years and Rachel who is thirteen, and the youngest member in my family if we are excluding my ginger cat-Coco. (But I'm pretty sure she is older than her in cat years.)

Anyway, I wake up, instantly grab my pillow and smack it across Rachel's face.

"Ow!" she groans.

"Why did you wake me up at six am, on a Saturday, during summer vacation?" I ask her, emphasizing on each word.

"Cause we are going to France." My older sister Phoebe enters the room, grinning.

I slowly remember the talk we had with mom about a week ago; she had told us about the invite she got from my father's sister –Aunt Claire, for us to come to France for some big surprise.

The last I had seen my aunt was during dad's funeral. I had lost my dad- Kristofer, about seven years ago in a fire accident. He was an architect and loved exploring old places which had some sort of legend attached to it.

One day, he went to a rundown building where a fire broke out and he barely escaped it. When someone admitted him to the hospital, we were called and told that he had severe burns on his body and wasn't going to survive very long. I sat next to him as he took his last breath.

Aunt Claire now lives in Paris and is a pretty famous chef there. Now I don't have any personal grudge against my aunt, who is a pretty awesome person nor France, which according to me is an amazing country but I am a very lazy person, some might say I am a sloth in a human's skin but we must not care about what some might say (that someone is Phoebe).

My point is I don't like to be out of my house generally, especially on summer vacations. Call me an introvert but I need a very good reason to get me out of my bed and I know what most of you are thinking, "Going to France is a pretty good reason." But in my mind it is not enough to get me out of my home.

Yes, I get a chance to see amazing feats of architecture and sceneries in the magnificent city of Paris, but what is that compared to my own bed? Okay, I am starting to realize that I sound like a crazy person.

Well, when Phoebe reminds me about our flight today, I ask her, "Isn't our flight at 5pm?"

Phoebe looks at me like I am a dumb person who is questioning whether the earth is flat or round.

Thankfully, Rachel answers me, screaming. "No, we have to catch our flight at 9:00 am. Now wake up because we are going to France!"

I am really tempted to smack her with my pillow again but Mom comes and asks me to wake up and get ready.

Finally, I get up from my bed, brush my teeth, take a bath, change into a black top and a blue skirt, and then come downstairs to have breakfast with my family.

Mom is serving breakfast when I grab a chair. She instantly serves a PBJ and says sweetly, "Enjoy."

My mom looks quite happy and cheery today. She is whistling and humming for no reason. I want to ask her why she is so happy, but I don't want to seem like a jerk. I was quite glad when Phoebe did my work for me.

"What happened today, mom?" she asks our mother. Mom gives her a smile and asks Phoebe, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, that why are you more happy than usual?"

"And that's a problem? Phoebe Sky, are you unhappy that your mother is happy for herself?"

Mom questions my sister. Phoebe tries to come up with a response but she ends up with "Whatever." And goes back to eating her sandwich. I think for some while and realize why my mother is acting like she is in a musical.

Mom and Aunt Claire are very close friends. Mom met her along with my Dad in high school and has been best friends with her ever since. Since his death, she hasn't really gone anywhere for a break. She must also be to see her friend after so many years, and going to France wouldn't hurt either.

Rachel quickly finishes her breakfast and asks, "Should I bring the bags down now?"

Mom chuckles. "No need. I already did that when you were waking Caroline up."

I look at Rachel and say, "By the way, thanks for that."

Rachel droops her head and apologizes "Yeah, sorry about that. I just got so excited about finally getting out of this country." I simply go back to eating my PBJ.

I am some times annoyed how Rachel always is the first one to apologize and make peace with whoever she fights with. That way, it is hard to stay mad at her.But, I guess I shouldn't complain cause I already have one obnoxious sister and don't need another.

My elder sister is everything Rachel isn't- rude, selfish, and egotistical and the list goes on and on. My Mom says that all of us should always stick together, but it's pretty hard to do that when your older sister who is supposed to 'protect' you ends up laughing at you when her friends call you a nerd. It is pretty obvious to anybody that both of us do not get along.

While she is more interested in winning popularity contests and practicing cheer leading, I am highly focused on my studies and don't really care about being famous in our high school. Ok, that's not entirely true. I wouldn't mind having a flock of friends around me who are ready to do anything I command like Phoebe does, but it doesn't mean I don't have fun. I read books and play with my cat and....well I don't do a whole lot. (God, could I be anymore lame?)

While we are eating, Mom starts telling us about the rules we have to follow. "Now listen, I want none of you going around alone at night just to roam the city. Even if you have to roam during the day, you will have to tell me or Claire. Phoebe- I don't want you to be making friends with strangers or else this isn't going to be a very happy trip." Phoebe rolls her eyes and murmurs, "Yeah, okay." under her breath.

Mom ignores her and turns to Rachel "Sweetie, for most part I know you will do just fine but please don't unecessarily get excited about things that are well... not that surprising."

Rachel giggles a little and says, "C'mon Mom, I am not that bad." Phoebe scoffs, "Yeah right, yesterday you got happy cause you saw a butterfly flying. A butterfly! I mean I would have understood if it was a sale at H&M. But I mean, you are thirteen for god's sake."

Rachel focuses her eyes on Phoebe and argues calmly, "You don't know where that butterfly came from."Phoebe scratches her head and squints at Rach, "Why do I care again?" she asks.

It looks like they are going to argue for a long time, but Mom gets in their way and puts this pointless argument to an end by shouting, "Enough! Rachel, you get my point. Just keep that in mind. Now, where was I? Yes, Caroline-"

I look up and ask, "Yeah?" She deeply stares into my eyes and finally tells me, "No study stuff."

I cannot close my mouth, utterly confused, I ask "You're telling me not to study? Mom, there is only one thing I do and that's studying."

Mom frowns at me and says, "Yes, that's what I am talking about. Caroline, honey, you need to get out of your comfort zone and explore new things. Maybe, letting yourself loosen up a little won't be so bad. Besides, you love going to the beach and there are plenty near Paris."

Mom is right there. For a person who absolutely hates going outside, I do love the beach. The main reason is because I love the sea and the way it feels when the waves come ashore and touch my feet during the night. I also like it cause I used to go there a lot with my father before his untimely accident.

I am about to say something, but right then Phoebe opens her stupid mouth. "Yeah Caroline, it would be just like the time you made friends. Oh wait a second-you don't have any!" She laughs loudly at her own joke with her head thrown aback.

I sigh and ask her, "Have you ever thought about exploring the realms of logic? It could be really helpful for the ones who have to stand you."

Phoebe is ready to backfire, but Mom intercepts again, "Do not say a word Phoebe!" Anger flashes in her amber eyes. "It's like I'm playing a game of Whack-A-Mole! If I shut up one, another starts to speak. Now everybody finish your damn food and go to your rooms to bring your carry ons-silently."

Finally, all of us eat our food and go back to our rooms to bring down our carry-ons. I pack my novels, since I am not allowed to bring any text books. But that's cool, I like novels better anyway. That's when Coco rubs herself against my leg. "C'mere you little furball." I say while picking her up.

After packing everything, I strap on my bag and get out of my room.

In about ten minutes or so, we are out of the house and wait for our cab to arrive. Mom goes through everything- like checking if we had missed something, if she had left any appliance on etc. when she realizes something; she forgot to turn off the lamp of her bedroom. So, she sends me back to the house to switch it off.

I take the keys from her and enter our home, which is totally dark except the sunlight creeping in through the windows. I find Mom's room's door already open with her lamp on the night table switched on. I quickly turn off the switch but suddenly I feel like I am electrocuted, not a major shock but a current definitely travels through my body.

I realize that my hand is wet. Weird, I don't remember washing my hands but I don't linger on that thought too much, after all it is just my hand, It's not like my brain just stopped working.

Anyway, I come downstairs and see two blue orbs on the table. "Coco!" I call to my cat, she instantly jumps off the table on the floor and I collect her in my hands. I did not realize that she had followed me to the house. Finally, we both go outside the house into our yard.

Phoebe flinches at the sight of Coco and the cat growls at her. "Ugh, why did you have to bring that thing with us?" she asks with a disgusted expression, "Because that thing is the only one who is going to keep me alive this vacation." I reply while petting her.

Coco is by far my favourite member of the family. Dad and I adopted my cat from a shelter, when I was six. We didn't have any actual plans to adopt an animal. In reality, we went to buy milk, and instead, came back with a cat that I instantly fell in love with. (Coco drank the milk we bought)

Mom was not happy at first, but she gradually accepted the kitty into our home. Rachel didn't mind her and played with me and her in the yard, but the person who had the worst reaction with Coco was Phoebe, she protested against keeping the cat many times but all her attempts failed.

She even tried persuading our Dad to send Coco to Aunt Claire where she could live her life along with other French cats, I don't know how that would work cause, first of all Aunt Claire already owns two dogs- Jacque and Jacqueline and the second point is I just can't imagine Coco eating macaroons since they are bad for cats.

So, finally our cab arrives and all of us load our luggage in the vehicle. It isn't a long ride to the airport. Still, Coco and I try to sleep in the cab but mum wakes both of us in like five minutes.

After fifteen minutes or so, the driver parks the van in front of the airport and we get out of it. Mom pays the guy and all of us walk towards the main gate of T.F. Green International Airport.

We all straightaway get to the line for the boarding passes; when we reach the counter, Phoebe tries to impress the lady who is at the counter by speaking in French. Yes, my sister knows how to speak French fluently which is quite irritating for others. But I know just two words in that language that annoys her very much. Tais-toi; need I say, they mean 'shut up'? You should see her face when I say those words.

Anyway, the lady is not impressed because she is American, and we are blocking the whole line behind us, Mom quickly apologizes and gets us out of there. We give Coco to the flight attendant who takes care of all the pets that will be travelling in the plane, I am pretty sad that my cat cannot accompany me during the flight but I cannot do anything about it.

We still have about forty five minutes till we have to board our flight, so we find some chairs and decide to stay there for a little while. I am in a mood for a snack so I ask mum for five bucks so that I can get something from the vending machine; Mom gives me the money and then gives five dollars each to Phoebe and Rachel as well.

We get up and walk to the machine, there we find a teenage girl who is shaking the machine pretty aggressively. "Got your snack stuck?" I ask her with a voice full of pity (Believe me, I know how it feels when that stupid machine doesn't do its job).

She answers while looking at the machine, "Yes, I paid but it is not working." The girl has a British accent, she is wearing a black T-shirt with a leather jacket and black jeans.

She moves her purple and black hair from her face as if she has been working on that machine for a while. "Do you need a hand with that?" Rachel asks her.

She replies, turning to us. "If you don't mind." The girl looks at her desperately. That's when I notice her eyes.

I know what you are wondering "What is so special about someone's eyes? Everybody has them." No, you don't understand, she has startling purple eyes and they don't look like contact lenses, how can I tell? Because contact lenses don't look so ... real; She must have been noticing that I am staring at her, cause she frowns and asks if there is something on her face

I am about to make up some excuse when suddenly Rachel says, "Here you go, It's fixed now." The girl smiles and says, "Thank you for your help. I am Angelica by the way."

When she smiles, her eyes look like deep purple pools. Out of nowhere, I instantly feel the trauma and despair that's around us, and the sorrow that the whole world is facing.

But I instantly forget about it, when Phoebe snaps at Angelica, "I am Phoebe, this weirdo is Caroline and that is Rachel. Can we use the vending machine now?" I glare at her and think about the things I can hit her with.

First of all, she introduces us to a stranger, which I can still ignore, if she didn't call me a weirdo. And second of all- she is rude to this girl for absolutely no reason.

Angelica simply smiles again and politely replies, "Sure. And thank you again for your help." I am legit impressed by her. If you can dodge Phoebe's insult with politeness, you deserve an award. But I, on the other hand, like to stick with sarcasm.

Again, that feeling of sadness rushes over my body. It's like I'm stuck in that situation forever. But like before, it doesn't stay for more than five seconds.

Angelica bends down to take a can of Coke from the machine, after that she turns her back to us and slowly walks away.

I put my five bucks in the machine and get what I want- candy, the thing I love as much as Coco and that's saying a lot. Phoebe and Rachel get their snacks as well, and we start walking towards the chairs where our mom is sitting. While walking, Rachel asks us, "Hey guys, did you notice her- "

"Eyes?" Phoebe instantly interrupts her. "I mean if you want to wear fake lenses, at least wear something believable. And her hair- god, who dyes their hair purple anymore? Where are we, in a rock and roll concert?" Phoebe goes on with her judging while Rachel and I look at each other and sigh together.

But there is some thing else that's bothering me. Angelica didn't look fake, as Phoebe speculates. Instead she looks real, maybe too real. From her eyes to her hair to the sensation of being around her. It doesn't feel something out of a dream but something out of a different world entirely.

I hold on to that thought until we reach the chairs. I hear the announcement "The flight 405 that will be going from Rhode Island to Paris is ready for departure. All the passengers; please report to Gate No.3."

We all rush to the gate and start walking with other passengers to the bus that will be taking us to our flight. I climb the stairs of the vehicle and sit on the backseat. After a while, all of us get out of the bus; we walk towards the plane, give our boarding passes to the attendant for checking and try to find our seat.

Phoebe, Rachel and I sit together and soon we are ready for takeoff which for me is not that scary but Rachel literally prays to all the gods in the universe. Phoebe on the other hand checks her nails and twirls her hair at the same time.

Finally we are in the air and I decide to sleep like a log until we land but unfortunately, that does not happen.

As soon as I sleep, I dream the same dream I had earlier but this time beside me I see an older woman with light skin, grey eyes and jet black hair except for a single strand of grey hair. She is wearing a silver dress. She also has a silver staff in her hands on which is placed a rectangular piece of quartz. She suddenly looks at me and nods. But its not me she nods to. Then, I realize there is someone behind me.

For a few seconds I don't dare to look there, but after convincing myself, that it might not be a monster, I take my chances and look behind me. I see streams of water passing through me and not completely crushing me, which they should've seeing its speed. Not that I'm complaining.

After a while, the water clears away and I see where the streams were coming from. The hands that produced them has blue tattoos all over. The designs depict waves and asymmetrical swirls. The person is now moving the hands continuously from right to left. And while he or she does that, the tattoos glow to a colour of a dark blue. It looks like they are changing their shades depending on the rate of power the person uses.

Some more water clears up, and I finally get to look at the face of this person. It is a boy in his 20s. He has pale silver blonde hair, dark blue eyes and a pale face. His face suggests a serious expression, as if he is highly concentrated on producing the streams of water from his hands. Soon, he loses his focus, when a purple light goes past him. I thought it meant to hit him, but I am soon proved wrong, when he smiles and adds his own power to the purple light.

I suddenly realize something. The boy with the power of water is my father.