Meeting Spira

Written by: Dawn

Adrienne Chastity sat on a rock. She had always loved to climb the gray giants, but today seemed different. She didn't feel like climbing. The sky was dull gray and silence seemed eternal. She knew that others were below her, trying to make their way to the top of the mountain range, but no one was as fast as her. So, she sat alone.

Suddenly, she heard a voice just over the peak. She quickly climbed down a ledge. She could barely see the people as they approached. It was a young girl that looked around her age, and two boys that seemed a bit older. The older boy was whispering something in the girl's ear, and she laughed joyously. Adrienne could barely see the party, but there was something strange about the girl. Something about the curling red hair and the small feet seemed familiar. More talking. She heard a shriek of surprise and realized she had been seen. The girl quickly turned around as if noticing. All at once, all of the air was sucked out of Adrienne's lungs and she nearly fell off the cliff. The girl ... was her.

Adrienne tried to scream, tried to yell out, to wake up from this nightmare. But she couldn't. It was real. Before she could be fully seen, she slowly finished climbing the colossal rock and landed on the ground. She let herself fall off the last ledge and just lay on the ground. There was pain, but she didn't notice. That girl. That girl was her.

Around ten minutes later, Adrienne heard more voices. Familiar voices. It was the party she had come with. The people from her rock climbing camp. She slowly got up to join them. She forced a weak smile as she walked towards them. She knew she was strange looking right now, with her paleness and just plain look of surprise. Her obviously fake smile did not hide her feelings.

Upon reaching the camp again, Adrienne went straight to her cabin and stretched out on her bed. She stayed there until late in the night, when everyone else had gone to bed. Then, she slowly stood up and walked outside. The sky had cleared and stars sparkled across the land. She went down to the banks of the lake near the camp and dipped her toes in. She stayed there for a few minutes just thinking when she heard a noise. She stood up and prepared to arm herself. However, she noticed it was just another person in the lake a few minutes later. Adrienne looked closely at the figure. It was heading for camp. Her instinct told her to run, but she stayed in shock.

A blonde figure exited the lake, feet from Adrienne, and began staring at her. Adrienne looked on slowly, before realizing who was before her. "No ... it can't be!" It was the Prima. The ruler of the entire land as they knew it.

"Adrienne", the powerful woman said, "I have come for you. I know that you know about the clone. Come with me now. We must settle this matter."

Adrienne nodded, entranced. "Yes ... your ... Primaness." The Prima let on a weak smile. "Call me Koku. It's my ceremonial name. Few Primas get names, but I earned one."

Adrienne nodded. "Koku. Interesting name, but nice", Adrienne replied.

"We must be going now", the Prima said. She grabbed Adrienne's hand and pulled her across so she was knee-deep in the lake. "This will be wet", Koku said, "but it must be done."

Adrienne nodded, not thinking for herself but only listening to the Prima's words. She began to swim a bit, feeling the quick rush of the cool water. The Prima was a good swimmer. Adrienne longed to ask her where she had learned, but knew it would be best to keep silent. Finally, after what felt like hours of coldness and silence, the pair reached the end of the lake.

"We've arrived", Koku said. "The clone is inside. Do not be alarmed. She's harmless." For the umpteenth time that night, Adrienne nodded. The Prima shook herself off and Adrienne did the same. The Prima beckoned Adrienne to the forest. They walked along a worn path for a few minutes before the Prima finally spoke.

"Welcome to my palace", she said. And out of the looming darkness came the most spectacular building Adrienne had ever seen. It was dark green, most likely for camouflage purposes. The Prima took an out a silver key. She unlatched the door with the key and pulled a cold, wet Adrienne inside. Across the room was the enemy. The clone. Adrienne quickly turned away, not standing to be able to see the sight before her - a copy of her very being. She didn't know whether to be flattered or scared.

After a few minutes of tense silence, Koku spoke up. "Adrienne", she said, "Meet your umbula. Spira." Spira, Adrienne thought, what kind of a name is that? The clone looked over with mild interest. Adrienne knew she shouldn't have, but she blurted out, "Why aren't you crying or something? You just found out your life was meaningless."

Spira just looked on for a moment. "I always knew. Since I was a small babe. I was constantly told. It just stopped having a meaning after a while." The clone has feelings, Adrienne thought.

The Prima must have realized what she was thinking. "Adrienne. If you haven't noticed, the only thing the same about you is your physical features. You are both very different inside." Koku said. Spira gave a weak nod. "But now", the Prima said, "this needs to be settled." The clone and clonette both nodded. "I am becoming old", the Prima said, "And I will not be on this Earth much longer.

"This is where you need to make a decision. I can have one of you sort of recloned and have the physical features and adultness of myself put into you. The other will go on living as they have.

"But now you must choose who will change and who will stay the same. However, if it makes a difference, I will tell you that I have broken the rules set for Primas and have become pregnant. I will have a child soon.

"But I don't think I will last that long. One of you must be recloned like me so my baby can live on. It's for the greater good. Please, choose now," the Prima finished.

And all at once, the two girls realized that on that night, one of their lives as who they were would end. And for some reason, they found themselves running across the room and hugging each other between lapses of tears.

"Let me go", moaned Spira. "Let me have a purpose. Please, I beg of you."

Adrienne nodded. "If it's what you want," she said.

Spira nodded again through her tears. The Prima had heard this all. She was touched and felt a silvery tear slide down her own cheek.

"Spira," she said, "is it true you wish to change forever to become the next Prima of this entire land?" Spira nodded. "Then come with me, young one," Koku said softly. And all of a sudden, Adrienne was back in her own cabin again. People were bustling around. It was morning.

"Come on, Adrienne", one of the girls said. "It's time to go see the Prima's parade. It's the last day of camp." So it was all a dream. All a large, terrible dream. Adrienne sat up slowly and followed the girls out of the room.

The Prima's float was just going by when the campers arrived. The Prima looked around at the crowd, waving joyously, until she spotted Adrienne. At that point, a look of thoughtfulness came over the Prima's face and suddenly, there was a wink. "Spira", Adrienne said softly. So it wasn't a dream.

At that moment a heavily built camper walked over to Adrienne. "Hey, your name's Adrienne, right?" she asked. Adrienne nodded. "Well, we're gonna go see if there's any candy left from the Prima's float. Wanna come?" she asked. Adrienne nodded joyously and followed the group, laughing all the way.

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