I placed my hand against the cold stone block protruding out of the wall. Small pebbles dance around my boots as the room rumbles. The sound of stone grinding against each other strikes my ears. A white ripple is sent throughout the room, the walls moving like waves in the ocean. The room rumbles once again as a piece of the wall in front of me slides down, revealing a path. I step inside, light slowly dissipating as it’s consumed by darkness. I tried feeling for something to find my way further down the path. I noticed a soft gold light flicker not too far from where I was standing. I take steps towards it, the light gradually getting brighter and brighter. There was the medallion I worked so hard to obtain. It hovered above the floor as it released a gold light. This medallion would imbue me with the knowledge of where the final medallion was, one that could grant any wish. I picked up the medallion and held it in my palm. The medallion was shaped like a golden eye. It began to blink, a light shot out the medallion and into my forehead. A vision so clear as if I was there appears in my mind. Another planet I recognized, planet Apex. Otherwise known as the graveyard planet. All intelligent life that had once existed there disappeared for no apparent reason. The medallion was located in the center of the planet, on the continent Yorova, and was shaped like a star. The vision subsides as my consciousness returns to the real world. The once dark room was now lit. The medallion disintegrates into dust in my palm. I return to my spaceship, inside my co-pilot, Shuvo.
“You saw the location of the next medallion?” He asked.
“Yes I did, it’s on planet Apex” I replied.
“Planet Apex? The graveyard planet? Why would it be there?” Shuvo asked.
“I’m not sure, but it is there for certain, I know that.”
I opened up our fridge and peered inside. The stench of expired food punched me in the face. I covered my mouth to repel the oncoming vomit. I pulled out a chair, sat down and rested my arms on the table counter. Shuvo sets the coordinates for Planet Apex and begins to take off.
“Planet Apex… how did life disappear from there?” asked Shuvo.
“It’s a huge mystery, no one knows, the news sent chills to everyone across the galaxy” I replied.
I walked over to my room and pressed the button to open the doors.
“I’m exhausted, wake me up when we make it there, Shuvo” I said.
“Yeah sure,” he replied.
I dove into bed and sank deep into my mattress. I thought back to my childhood. I was born on Earth, but as a child, Mars was finally terraformed. My father saw it as a great opportunity for our family, and so we moved to Mars when I was 10. At school I met Shuvo, a long time friend of mine. We are both 29 now. Earth unfortunately succumbed to climate disasters making it unlivable. It was our dream to wish Earth back to its former state. As kids we promised each other to support one another no matter what. Once we heard of the medallions we took it upon ourselves to take up the challenge everyone was afraid to do. That was our life’s purpose, our dream. The sleep was too much to fight off, I dozed off as my eyes closed and my face sank into my pillow.
“Sakib, wake up!” yelled Shuvo.
I stood up as I rubbed my eyes. I was still groggy despite sleeping 8 hours.
“We’re here,” said Shuvo.
I told Shuvo to land our ship in front of ruins where the medallion was located. I wore my outfit for exploration, equipped with all the tools I would need. I stepped outside of our ship. Planet Apex was unique, different to most planets I had visited. Its oceans were pink, and so was its sky. The leaves of its trees, the color of lapis lazuli.
“Stay safe Sakib, if anything happens, make sure you contact me” said Shuvo.
“Will do, Shuvo” I replied.
“And don’t forget our wish!” said Shuvo, waving goodbye.
I waved goodbye and entered the ruins. It was dark inside, but I made sure to bring a flashlight this time. There was a flight of stairs leading downwards. Around me, skeletons of previous alien life forms that once existed on this planet. I shivered at the sight of what used to be life. Planet Apex wasn’t called the graveyard planet for no reason. I could hear a faint voice in the distance.
“Free us, we’re trapped!”
I stepped back in fear. I looked around, nothing.
“Save us!”
Adrenaline fills my blood, I run down the flight of stairs. It leads to a dark room. I point my flashlight towards the walls of the room. Dried blood written on the walls,
“For those who live, cherish every breath.”
I take a step forward, suddenly a trap door releases beneath me. I land on my feet and then roll to absorb the impact of the fall. I shine my flashlight around, 4 walls and a ceiling. I could not find any openings. I looked above me, the hole I fell through was closed. I point the flashlight at the wall in front of me. I can see an indentation which I push with my hand. The wall flips around and takes me to a room filled with mirrors. I look around at all the reflections of me. I notice someone else in the mirror standing behind me. He places his hands on my shoulders. Startled, I looked behind, no one was there. I looked at the mirror once again, there he was, his hands on my shoulders.
“Our lives were sacrificed for that medallion, the wish is built on our sacrifice. Will you do what’s right, will you wish us back? Or will you wish for Earth to return?” The man whispered into my ear, with his cold dark voice.
I broke the mirrors around me with my flashlight, the glass fell revealing never ending darkness. I ran forwards, it felt like there was no end. Eventually, I had reached a point where I began to fall endlessly. Suddenly, the darkness that was there turned into many different colors. I felt like I was hallucinating. The world around me began to spin, over and over again. Stairs appear in front of me. I was no longer falling. I ran up the stairs to a door. The door led to a watery marshland. I placed one foot inside the water, the water reached my knees. I could feel my skin tightening as the cold water filled my boots. In the distance a large black ball was headed in my direction. I tried opening the door to return but the door was locked. As it came closer I noticed it was a swarm of organisms. The swarm picked me up and lifted me in the air. The organisms traveled incredibly fast as gusts of wind striked my face. I was dropped somewhere I did not recognize. Surrounded by endless trees. I could feel it however, the medallion was somewhere here. Far in the distance, I noticed a gold light, blinking faintly. I ran towards it, there it was, the medallion spinning slowly. I grabbed it with my arm, it was overwhelming to hold, I could feel its energy pulsate throughout my body. I try to say the words.
“I WISH!.... I WISH” I could not get the words out.
Something was stopping me, whether it was guilt or fear, I was not sure. I thought back to what those spirits said to me. The misery in their voices, they did not deserve this. I worked incredibly hard, I thought about Earth, my original home, how desperately I wanted it to return to its former state. This medallion, its power, is built on the lives that were taken here. I could use it to return this planet to normal, or return Earth to normal. The swarm, once scattered, came together to form a body. It spoke,
“Our energy was taken by an unknown force, and confined to this medallion. You were brave enough to make it here. It is your choice, you can wish for us to be brought back, or you can bring back Earth.”
It was painful, but I knew what I had to wish for.
“I wish for Planet Apex to return to its former state.”
A wave was sent out, it was so powerful the trees bent backwards touching the ground. I passed out from exhaustion, the medallion draining whatever energy I had left.
I awoke on a beach, the tides formed a shape around me. A lifeform, one I did not recognize stood tall over me.
“Thank you, thank you for what you did” he said with tears in his eyes.
“You set us free.”
