Ashlyn Chronicles 2: 2288 A.D.: A Time Travel Sci-Fi Fantasy by Glenn van Dyke, Renee van Dyke Read Free Book Online

they looked up, Ninmah spoke. “We understand. We do not know how you were able to do so, but we understand.”
    Enki strained to reach out and take Ashlyn’s hand. With the touch, Enki inhaled deeply. His eyes drifted upwards to meet with Ninmah’s. Ninmah’s eyes tightened, and she cocked her head to the side as if she were questioning Enki’s thoughts. When she looked up, her eyes were fixed on Ashlyn. “You—you are a Transor?”
    The room grew quiet. The shoulders of the crew straightened. They exchanged glances. The word Transor had tapped into deep memories and fearful emotions in their subconscious.
    Enki coughed again, spouting more blood.
    “Though I am a doctor, his wounds are beyond my skills. And he is too weak and injured to shift form and save himself—but you can save him,” said Ninmah, her face pleading for Ashlyn to try.
    “I don’t have that ability,” answered Ash, saddened that she even had to utter the disappointing words.
    “Yes, you do. Enki senses it. He is a very strong and gifted empath. He can see inside the soul of an individual.” Ninmah looked down at Enki, and nodded before again looking up. “He says that you are just unskilled. That you do not yet know the power you possess. He asks you to try. Please.”
    Ashlyn shot a quick glance at Steven seeking reassurance. She found it in his sympathetic and loving eyes.
    Taking in a large breath of air to strengthen her resolve, she took Enki’s hand between her two palms. She had no idea of what to do or how to tap into the ability, or if it even really existed. Closing her eyes, she focused on blocking out the sounds around her. As the sounds faded, her mind stretched, searching within herself for an emotion to cling to—a thought that could guide her. She tried to envision Enki’s wounds but found herself unable to do so. Her mind was clouded with doubt.
    Ash opened her eyes and looked at Steven. She shook her head.
    Into Ashlyn’s mind, Steven whispered, “You can do it, Ash. I believe in you. It’s Enki who saves us in the future. We can’t let him die. It might change everything for us.”
    Ninmah noticed the private conversation they were having and the shared nods between them. She could tell that Steven was giving Ashlyn encouragement.
    Taking a deep breath, Ashlyn tightened her grasp upon Enki’s hand. She refocused—determination framing her face. She began to feel the intense pain that Enki was feeling, and she reached out, embracing it. It became a part of her. What he felt, she felt. Ashlyn could feel Enki’s fading life-force. She could hear the slowing of his heart and feel his lungs fighting for every breath.
    She grasped onto the flow of energy surging within her. The transcendent manifestation of her desire to save him, held a calming warmth that was almost spiritual.
    Enki inhaled deeply. His head tipped back and his body stiffened. A moment later he went limp, exhaling the air in his lungs. His chest did not rise again. Ninmah’s head dropped; a sigh escaped her. A tear fell from her eyes upon Enki’s face as she leaned forward and swept her fingers across his cheek. She gave him a tender kiss on the lips.
    Steven saw Ashlyn’s closed eyes spasm, and he knew that she’d felt the moment when Enki’s heart stopped. Without warning, Ashlyn too suddenly collapsed. Steven caught her limp body as she was falling and laid her on the ground. He checked her pulse. “Her heart’s stopped!” Though he didn’t know why, he suspected that within the depth of their connection, they were as one. And when Enki’s heart stopped so had Ashlyn’s. With the first compression of her chest, Ashlyn’s head tipped back and she took a large, gasping breath that filled her lungs. Her eyes fluttered open to see that Steven was looking at her.
    As Ashlyn weakly moved closer to Enki—Steven helped her, taking hold of her arm.
    Again kneeling before Enki, Ash took his hand in hers and closed her eyes. She focused,