The Golden Heart: CH4 Light and Shadows

Shining Light and Growing Shadows

         Noah awakens to find himself staring at a white ceiling with the faint sound of buzzing from the luminescent lights above. Still feeling drowsy and full of stinging pain, he tries to move about in hopes of trying to gain a better view of the room he is in. As he rolls the unbearable sensation limits his movement, but it was more than enough to see sleeping in one corner his dad and grandma along with Snow sound asleep as well on the side of his bed. Knowing that he is in good company of his family and with security that Snow is unharmed many thoughts still crowded his mind such as where he is, what's going on, and what will happen next.

         Noah waits quietly as he ponders these thoughts in his head until the door opens up and a man dressed in white enters the room. At first Noah was puzzled until he was able to identify the stranger by the white beard.

"Mister Atlas..." The pain shoots through his body as he speaks causing his body to drop on the bed with agony.

"There's no need to move Noah. You're in safe hands now, but you will need time for your body to recover especially after the operation."

"How did my family get here and is Snow okay?"

"I had my associates bring them here immediately after you were brought and as for her the doctors in this facility had her examined. She is perfectly healthy for the most and her family is here as well waiting in another area."

"It all happened so fast. I remembered walking home with Snow until we were jumped and then I was shot by a gun, but before anything else I heard Snow calling my name. Hold on, I was shot, how can I still be alive?"

"It's a long story, but for now rest."

"Please sir I just want to know what happen after that."

Atlas took a deep breath before taking a seat at an empty chair nearby. "I had sensed a sinking feeling in the air that something terrible will happen to you both. After the carnival closed I rushed out right away hoping to find you both, but by the time I arrived you were

being held in her arms covered in blood. With very little time I had no choice but to bring you to this facility hoping to revive you."

"Revive me how?"

"It actually all started about one hundred years ago when a war broke out on the ancestral planet Earth. It was hopeless until my great grandfather Doctor Atlantic along with his associates created a very powerful object that ended the war and begun peace. That all powerful object that gave us redemption is now inside you giving the life you deserved."

"It's inside me, but what is it?"

"The golden heart, a master piece of wonders in both science and nature created just for you. The heart has many unique and unbelievable properties only someone of your stature can control over time. For the moment it gives your life once more, but that's just the beginning, as time passes you will be able to accomplish so much more than you could ever dream about."

"Hold on, just now you said it was created just for me, but why?"

"When the heart was first built there was a great difficulty in finding the proper subject. If the heart was given to anyone else, it would instantly reject the subject unless they have the proper qualities. The subject must be selfless, kind, compassionate, generous, and pure of any filthy thoughts. That was the reason why I worked in a carnival inconspicuously, to find the proper person to grant this heart and teach them how to use it. If the heart was forced on an improper subject the heart would turn black and terrible things can happen."

Noah stares down at his chest for a while finding it hard to believe that an all-powerful heart exists and it was the same one that's keeping him alive. "Mister Atlas what's going to happen now?"

"You will live here along with me and among the people residing here."

"But where are we?"

"Noah you are aboard the mighty vessel, Hercules." As Atlas approaches the window he pulls the curtains wide open and within seconds after Noah's eyes adjusted he sees before him the wide blue sky with snow white clouds, green earth thousands of feet below, and the golden sun appearing beyond the horizon. They were aboard a massive ship capable of travels below sea, within the air, and even through deep space itself. It was composed of the highly advance technology with an indestructible hull, engines that are capable of exceeding the speed of light, and top of the line weaponry.

"Noah you need to know from now on everything is going to change. People will do anything to get their hands on your heart and it will be impossible to continue living an average life without danger. Do you understand?"

"Sure, wait a minute! If I have to live here what will happen to my dad, my grandma, Snow and her family?"

"They will return back to their homes. As much as we like to keep them nearby it would be a dangerous risk to keep them here with you. Once they're awaken, we will take them home where they will resume their lives without fear."

Noah's face shows despair as he imagines his life without his family and Snow. "If that's the case then I don't want to stay."

"I'm sorry Noah, but you can't go back to your original life."

"I don't care about all that. Leaving my family behind is one thing, but I can't abandon Snow. From the day we met I made a promise to keep her safe from harm. You don't know the hardship she had to suffer when she was younger."

"On the contrary, when I read her heart at the carnival I've seen those hardships and I understand why she needs companionship from you. You are the first person who shares true kindness to her in years."

"Alright then, I'll stay on one condition...Snow can stay here as well. I don't want to leave her alone and scared again, especially after what happened."

Atlas stares out the window pondering at Noah's proposition to allow Snow to live with them. At that time Snow was regaining consciousness as she sees Noah's face tears began to fall from the corners of her eyes as she sprang up to hug her friend. Noah wraps his arms around her whispering to her, "Don't cry Snow I won't leave you again."

"Very well Noah. If that is what you desire then she shall stay with us as well."

"Huh, Noah what is Atlas talking about?"

"Listen Snow, from this point on we can't go home. Our families will have to go back without us, but our lives will change; now you won't have to be alone. I know it's hard to leave your family behind and believe me I don't want to leave mine either, but if they stay here their lives could be in danger too. I would never want that to happen not to you, to them, or anyone else and I won't force you to stay."

Snow clears away the tears from her eyes as she listens before backing away from Noah. "Noah, when I saw you dead on the street I thought it was all over for everything. Now that I see you alive I've decided to stay with you no matter what, no matter where, and no matter how. I never want you to die again!"

"Very well then it's decided once your families awaken the arrangements will be made for your stay until then I suggest you prepare your farewells." Atlas leaves the room without another word and while Noah became excited for their new adventures Snow looks out the window wondering what will happen from this point on. After another hour Noah's dad and grandma were awake and excited to see him up and alive after the tragedy. Snow's family entered the room as well to find their daughter's hero with high spirits as he greets them casually as if nothing has happened. Together again the two groups listen as Noah and Snow told their stories about the night before while they eagerly listen to every word that happened.

Frustrated Mirage bursts out in fury, "Aha, I knew I shouldn't have separated from you two, but Kitty just wouldn't leave me alone."

         "It wasn't Kitty's fault it was mine. I asked her to keep you occupied so we can be alone together. I had no idea that something like that could've happened."

         "I guess I shouldn't be mad at you then. As for you..." Mirage points at Noah startling him out of his calm position. "I owe you an apology. At first I thought you only like my sister for your own dirty thoughts."

         "What! Why would you think that?"

         "Because for years that's what all the guys she met wanted. They do their "innocent" school boy crush routine until they decide to show their true colors. Every time it happens, I was always looking out for her and chasing them away, but only someone who really cares for her would take a bullet the way you did. I was wrong about you, you probably think I was crazy when we met didn't you?"

         "Not at all, you were only doing what you thought was responsible for Snow. I admit I did use to feel uncomfortable when you were around us, but now I can see why, you would do anything for your sister just like I would. Other than that, I forgive you." Noah smiles at Mirage for a moment before she pounces at him wrapping her arms around him with much affection. The stinging sensation of pain was back in Noah's body as he tries hard not to yell in agony; meanwhile Snow's face becomes red with anger at the sight of seeing her sister close to her savior.

         "Mirage what are you doing?"

         "What does it look like I'm doing? I can see why you like him now he's sweet, charming, and after a while he's just too cute for words."

         "Maybe, but can't you see that you're hurting him? He still hasn't recovered from his wounds after surgery you need to be more gentile."

         "Oh sorry about that Noah, are you okay?"

         "I'll be fine after a while. That reminds me did you find the prizes that were in the bag?"

         "Yes sir." Kitty breaks through the crowd with her pink rabbit in her arms tightly. "Thank you for the present Mister Noab."

         "Yeah thanks. How did you know that I love stuffed grizzly bears?" Mirage clutches her new bear tightly before returning to Noah to squeezing him once more.

         "Mirage what did I tell you?!"

         "Oh here comes the pain again." Noah became stiff once more as he tries to break free from Mirage's arms.

         The door opens again with the doctor walking in requesting everyone to leave the room.

         "No I don't want to leave Noah yet." Mirage holds Noah tightly as Snow and Kitty tries to pry their older sister apart.

         "Mirage, get a grip will you. This is embarrassing." At last they were able to break her free leaving the room with Noah's grandma being the last person to tell him, "See you soon Casanova."  As she leaves the room laughing, Noah's face was red with one thought returning to his mind.

         "I have a bad feeling that I'm about to become very popular in the wrong ways."



          Meanwhile...far away beyond the stars was another planet however this one is dark and gloomy. An entire planet that was composed of one city and in the center of this city on the northern most point was a titanic tower that overlooks the entire world. Within this tower was a patient man awaiting for some long awaited news.

"Sir we have some urgent news to report. Last night at approximately 11:37 pm we picked up a faint signal coming from an unknown location. Before we were able to lock on the target our receivers were jammed by an unknown source, most likely coming from the same location."

"Have you tried to track it again?"

"Negative sir, the target was moving when we picked it up. It's likely that the target is long gone for now."

"That figures. After a century worth of waiting, it has finally shown itself once again. You are dismissed; try to keep tracking that signal."

"Understood sir," the soldier leaves the room only occupied by two people. It was none other than the man in the silver mask and his behemoth right hand man.

"Well well Goliath, it seems that our prize was never forgotten in the first place, but only lost."

"Master what if the others were to find out as well, what then?"

"Patience my loyal friend, they would be making their move same as we, however we won't be as disorganized as they are. For now let us wait and see what this object is capable of.