Alex Writer was in agony. Every inch of his torso was burnt, the muscles in his legs shredded, and half his face ripped clean off. He felt himself falling,and as his eyes closed he felt; this was it - the end. He hoped the pain would end, but coming around, it still lingered. He couldn't move a muscle. Slowly, his eyes opened to an unfamiliar territory. His first thought was about the gold.
He lifted his head with great difficulty and scanned around, taking in the surroundings. The ground beneath him was cold, hard and unforgiving. The walls appeared to be of rough stone, caked with damp mud. Nearby, a primitive wood fire was burning. He stared into the flames, captivated; never had he seen them before, even during his stay on Earth. The clay pots sitting next to the fire seemed to belong to something from the Stone Age.
Alex panicked. Had he mistakenly travelled back in time again? Although it was dark outside, he could make out an arched entrance, and figured he was inside some sort of a cave. Only then did he notice his wounds – they had been cleaned and bandaged. All of a sudden, a little naked girl appeared right before him. He immediately shut his eyes.
The girl whimpered.
"Sorry," he rasped, "I didn't mean to see you!" She whimpered even more. He felt a cup pressed to his lips and a bitter liquid poured down his throat. He coughed and spluttered, however, the pain seemed to subside. The girl made soothing sounds and held out the cup again.
"I promise I'll drink it, But please, for the love of God, put some clothes on!" he pleaded.
The girl frowned, and cocked her head sideways much like a pup. Alex thought she spoke a different language and so tried another one. He was fluent in five languages and could manage a few more, but the girl didn't seem to understand. So he attempted sign language, which, given his injuries, was a bad idea. He gasped in pain.
"Awww!" the girl let out an inhuman howl. Alex gaped, forgetting his pain. A yellow beam of light came from the skies and fell on the cave entrance. Hitting the ground, the light turned blue. The blue light grew to form a sphere, and the sphere became bigger and brighter. As the light faded, a woman in a shimmering blue and green gown was standing, and the little girl was on her knees, wailing before her.
"I swear I didn't do anything!" Alex was petrified, "I just regained consciousness and saw her standing, naked. Please tell me you speak the universal language."
"I do," said the Goddess. "You have caused my child great distress by undoing the hard work she put in to make you whole again. Many of your wounds have reopened."
Alex looked down at his bleeding bandages. "I didn't realise," he felt numb. Was he on drugs? And is all of this some kind of a hallucination? Or maybe he was dead.
The Goddess waved her hand, and the girl was swiftly clothed in a gold and brown dress. The girl seemed confused. The Goddess touched her temple. Seconds later, the girl turned to Alex, and frowned. She screamed a series of growls and stomped away.
"What happened?" Alex felt guilty.
"The child is named after the trees, collectively known as the Flame of the Forest. She was just a baby when she first appeared on this island, and has never left since. She is oblivious to your languages or customs, and so doesn't see the need for clothes. She has been alone on this island for more than three or four years."
"How has she survived?"
"She is powerful," the goddess replied as if it explained everything.
"Her parents…?" For surely they would never abandon a child in a jungle.
"I do not know," she guessed, "Perhaps something terrible happened to them, or she witnessed them do something terrible and transported herself far away," seeming unsure.
The known universe consisted of twelve quadrants or three galaxies, the Milky Way, Andromeda, and M81. With the many advances of space exploration, humans also discovered the core energies of the universe and learnt to harness it for themselves. Some would call it magic, others science, but one thing was sure; humans had powers. These powers were limited and varied from person to person. A few were special, they could draw vast amounts of power from the universe.
Alex understood the girl was special. "But all the way here?" he was still bewildered.
He was half convinced that he was hallucinating, "Where exactly am I?" He tried to recall.
He remembered being outside his turf, heading to the M-81 galaxy in his invisible spacecraft. He had found the recent temple excavation on Alfond, and successfully evaded the Agency that had put out arrest warrants for him in eight quadrants of the Known Universe. He had found carvings inside the temple leading him to the rain forest, only to find another temple. In all the excitement of his discoveries, he had failed to notice that he was being followed. In the second temple, he had uncovered hidden passageways
through the navel of a statue, which further led him to the statue he had been searching for all his life! It was sitting atop a pile of gold, decorated with jewels, holding out the coveted amulet. He had crammed everything possible in his bag. That's all. He couldn't remember a thing thereafter.
"Your kind calls this island the Untouched."
Alex paled, not just from blood loss.
"You are right to fear Arjun - El Zafar," the Goddess said bitingly.
His eyes filled with horror.
"Yes. I know who you are and what you have done. You are a thief and a murderer. I should let you bleed out and die," she proposed viciously.
"This is not happening…" Alex mumbled, "Can't happen…" forgetting about the treasure, "No one has been able to breach the Untouched. No one can come out alive..." turning hysterical, "Demons!" The last word was a screech.
As he frantically looked around the cave, his eyes fell upon the little girl who had returned with more medicines. She looked at him - her mauve eyes full of sadness no child should ever experience.
"Your gold is beyond the forest and it will be gone as your enemies are close to finding it. I can take you to the border,
and you may leave with your precious gold. But know that your wounds will fester and you will die as soon as you reach your ship," suddenly, the Goddess seemed helpful. Alex sensed an alternative, "Or?"
She wanted to test him. "Let the child heal you, and leave the gold for your enemies."
He stared at the Goddess wide-eyed, mouth hung open. He had spent five years of his life searching for that treasure! Five years! He had lost his family, sacrificed his love, and killed people - all for acquiring the greatest wealth and power.
He looked to the Goddess and knew instinctively she could work wonders. "Is there any way you can keep them from finding the treasure?"
Her sun-kissed skin turned white, her raven locks stormy grey. With rumbling thunder, she transformed into a storm. She gathered lightning in her hands ready to strike Alex, but he screamed, "It's my sister! I wanted the power to heal her! It was never about the gold!"
"It might have started for her, but the search corrupted you. All you want now is more!" she accused.
"No! That is not true! It's for my sister, please!" he begged. He knew he should have just taken the amulet and left, but watching all the treasure just sitting there for the taking, he couldn't resist. No one would have missed it.
"She died three years ago."
"No…" Alex murmured, going numb. His Zara was alive, she had to be!
"You know this," the Goddess continued, her voice seeming to come from far away, "She visited you in a dream and told you her time was near."
Alex shook his head, refusing to believe, "No! It was just a dream!" Air wouldn't enter his lungs. His heart raced as if it were beating for two to make up for the life that no longer existed. His vision blurred from the loss of blood, or tears, he wasn't sure. The ruthless leader of the Hawks was no longer sure. Nothing made sense any more.
He remembered the dream. Zara's long, silky black hair, kohl eyes, rosy cheeks, wearing her favourite golden embroidered forest green Anarkali, "Live your life brother," she had said, "Live for me and you."
"It was a dream…" he whispered.
"If you truly believe that, why haven't you ever checked on her these past five years?" the Goddess demanded.
"She's alive! You're lying!" Alex yelled, "Take me to the treasure, now!"
"Is that your final decision?"
"Yes," he was determined. He would save his sister if it was the last thing he did.
"You will never see your sister," she cautioned, "Your wounds are fatal."
"I will have time to get it to Cecilia." Cecilia might hate him, but he knew she wouldn't let his sister die. "She will use the knowledge and power to heal my sister. And maybe the gold was always meant to be hers. After everything I've done, it's the least I can give her," he trailed off, remembering his woman.
"Very well, if you are sure," the Goddess seemed eager to get rid of him.
He looked at the little girl, the Flame of the Forest. Now that she wasn't growling anymore, she looked sad and lost - a look he had too often seen on his sister's face. "Wait!" he cried out, "Can the child come?"
"Why?"
"You said she is powerful."
The Goddesses' eyes hardened. "You are a despicable human being!" she thundered and vanished in a flash of light.
"Well kid," he exhaled deeply, "Looks like it's just you and me," and smirked.
A bright smile lit across her face as she held out her hand. Alex struggled to get up. Even before he could move a muscle, his gold appeared in the little girl's hand. He blinked, repeatedly, his mouth opened and closed like a fish.
The girl ogled, amused.
Alex flashed a wide grin, "Kid, you are going to make one hell of an asset!"
She smiled back.
Somewhere faraway, the leaves rustled - Alex felt the disapproving huff of the Goddess.
Recovering from his injuries, the following days were the most peaceful Alex could remember. His skin had grown back and felt pure. There was no sign of the Goddess – as if she never existed. The only proof of her existence was the little girl's gold and brown dress, which she still wore. It bestowed a beautiful glow to her olive brown skin. She reminded Alex of a cherub. Her pitch black hair had developed brown highlights from the sun and blowing sand. She never quite liked to bathe - a habit she acquired from the local wildlife, Alex assumed. The first time he saw her with a mighty lioness, he nearly got a heart attack. But strangely, all animals - lion and deer alike - came to her, and didn't even attempt to hunt with her around. The sight of her playing with them - he thought he was dead and in heaven.
Sometimes, she would gaze into the distance and her eyes turned glassy. At first, Alex worried. Later, he realised that she was in some form of communication with the Goddess, who she had started to call Mother, after he had taught her a few words.
For an island named Forbidden, or Untouched, it was a beautiful and peaceful oasis. The leaves were every shade of green; pure dew settled on the trees and creepers which glistened in the morning sun and vanished by afternoon, leaving behind clean plants that danced in the heat, shading the entire island. In the interiors lay a crystal clear lake, from where the girl collected water and many medicinal plants.
Alex had half a mind to stay back and never to return to civilization. He loved the little cave. Despite the smell of damp mud, rough utensils, saltless food, and lack of bedding, it felt like home. After regaining some of his strength, he went to the lake for a proper wash. He saw his reflection and did a double take. There was absolutely no evidence of his injuries. His long face appeared whole, and had grown a faint stubble. His dark blond hair had grown back, though shorter than before. His eyes - which usually sparkled with electricity - were now a plain light blue.
Later, he built a soft feather mattress. The girl joyfully leapt onto it. He could have stayed back forever. He, however, had a duty to finish. When he was fully healed, the little girl packed up her medicines, utensils and some rocks. They walked in silence to the edge of the forest.
"Are you sure you want to come along?" Alex asked. She understood his words, though couldn't form complete sentences.
"S" she replied, smiling.
Reaching the edge, Alex kept walking, but the girl paused, hesitating. He saw her eyes turn glassy. She looked back, bent to pick up a fist full of sand and tucked it in her bag. As she knelt down to touch the earth, tears rolled down her cheeks, and as they hit the dirt, a few saplings sprouted.
Alex gaped in awe. With a watery smile, the girl took her first step into the world.
"Don't worry," he knelt and offered a hug, "You can come back any time."
She glanced back at the forest, "No."
Her voice was hollow, sounding so much like the Goddess that Alex felt shivers run down his spine