Just like the water had come in and surrounded the beach, so too people came in and surrounded the town. We were left with little fertile land, so we looked for hardier survivors farther inland.
When I was still inside the house, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my body, the water come in under the door in a sudden rush and I was swept away like a leaf. Nearby, a house was caught in the water, and I heard the cries of the people inside but could see nothing.
There was a blast, causing glass to break and water to rise higher. Then came a loud hiss. Liquid oxygen, it was breathing an aerator. The sea had come to lay claim on the land and the people, but the land would not give easily. There were many people fleeing from the water, and I swam by my hands and knees to get to safety.
It was dark for many days, but I kept my faith. Father was right. These people were acting as if they were above us and one of them spoke to me. He pushed me down so I had to swim on my hands and knees, but there was water in my breath and I knew I would not survive. I chose to allow the water to come in rather than die. That was when the ringing began. I felt the vibrations in my head and I slipped away, at peace for the first time in a long time.
The lights came after fighting and were curious about me, but they were not able to help me. I saw another light, but this one was cold, and wished to have control of me.
There was stillness and I was left alone in the small room.
I wrapped my cloak tighter around myself in the coldness and shivered. The liquid oxygen sea had left my voice hoarse, and I coughed against the coldness. I had come to reclaim what was mine. The water came in by hissing and the cold liquid oxygen sea licked at my arms and legs. Its breath was cold and the heavy sea life entered me from the corners of my eye. I reached for the knife but could no longer move my hands. My throat was full, and I wished for warmth. I thought my heart would stop because of the coldness and the lack of air in the room. I could not move my lips, so I waited for my end.
Then the lights came.
I had forgotten about the lights.
I will remember the coldness, this prison, the breath of the liquid oxygen sea. I will remember and sing the memory as I go out.
The lights are here, they have found me.
I listen. There is talking and a knocking sound. There are hands on me, but they do not hurt me. I am cold, but it does not matter, soon the cold water will be warm again.
The light burns my eyes, and I am drawn towards it. I feel the cold and the weight of the sea press down on me, but the light is soothing and calls to me.
I say that I am Orem, that I am Her and I am The Echoes from the past. I sing until I feel warmed by the sea, my voice is not as strong as I once was but I can carry the song. Then I am placed on something cold and metal, my eyes stay closed but I feel that I am being invaded by the light.
My body resists, but I allow the light to enter me, I let it lead me. I am now far away, in a different place and time. Each echo I make is desired, as if to forget them will kill my song. I know now that this is what I have been looking for all my life, and even with my eyes closed I know what I am looking for now. I hear the song and it is in me now. It was what I was meant to do, and it is what I must do now.
They enter my body, the songs, and they fill gaps that I did not even know were there. They fill my voice and force me to speak, but they are stronger than I am, in both body and mind. We sing together and the yearning for more song is relieved, not by the one I am looking for, but by the one who has done this to me. The one who has called me.
Then I hear the voice, and I know that it is the one. His voice is as painful and glorious as the liquid oxygen sea, but I cannot feel anything but the music.
I cannot be stopped.
We have been climbing the wall for a long time. The light comes with us and lets us know that the music will return. I know that this is a battle I shall not win, but that I must continue and know that with this knowledge I will soon know when to die.
I sing a new song, I feel the echoes of it touch every voice around me.
He cannot wait anymore, but is he going to come?
I know I should be cold, but I am not. I know that I should be afraid of the water, but I am not. I know that there is but one thing that I must do, and that is to sing.
His voice does not silence the echoes around me. Instead it mixes with them and guides them to a higher plain.
I am with you, Orem.
I sing louder.
I am coming.
I feel joy for the first time when I hear his voice. It is as deep as the water and it is at peace.
The light cannot tell me what he said, but I know what I am supposed to do. I struggle against the controlling voices and follow the twisting sound of his voice.
I will be close to you. I can be your anchor, and I shall be close to you.
I sing again, and then I hear a sound. I cannot be the only one who heard it.
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