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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes
Ermisenda Alvarez
Chapter one
The Turn of a Key
The “welcome” on the mat in front of their new residence mocked Leocardo. He, Odette and Cielo stood on the first floor of the apartment complex, staring at the door. A uniformed man had handed him the key to the apartment, informing him in the process that it was theirs to live in until they settled into their new life. It was as if the man thought they were going to stay in Edaion permanently.
Leocardo touched Odette’s hand, unable to hold it because she was holding two modest bags filled with second-hand clothes donated by Edaion citizens. Leocardo had not wanted to take them, but here he was, holding bags too, and he could not remember protesting. There were too many questions. His head swam as he tried to figure out what was happening; he felt as if he was watching his life unfold rather than living it.
Odette tilted her head back like she was trying to absorb the building with her acute sense of smell or hold back tears. He looked at the faint freckles over her button nose and high cheekbones and the dark circles that tainted the skin underneath her eyes; if this was a dream, she had not changed a bit.
The apartment key dug painfully into Leocardo’s olive-toned fingers. When he opened his palm to gaze at it, a partial reflection looked back at him in the gritty silver. He had long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, a pronounced nose and a narrow face. Stubble pushed through the smooth skin on his chin and the warmth of his brown eyes had been extinguished. He felt much older than twenty.
Not knowing what else to do, he unlocked the door and all three of them stepped inside. Odette let the bags fall to the hardwood floor and started feeling her way along the walls. Cielo trailed behind while Leocardo scoped the area. The apartment itself was small and simple, but welcoming. It only had four rooms, two bedrooms, a bathroom and an ‘everything’ room where the living area, dining area and kitchen occupied the same space. Everything was a generic off white from the walls to the plastic countertops. The only color in the room was on the worn yellow sofa with brown stains.
“I feel so calm,” Odette murmured, a faint smile upon her face. Cielo trailed behind her.
“So do I,” Leocardo admitted. “I don’t want to. I don’t like it. Something is…”
“Nothing’s wrong.” Odette tried to reassure him. She moved across the apartment using her walking stick in front of her and familiarized herself with her new surroundings.
Doubts began to take over and his heart raced, but he suddenly felt a wave of calm wash over him. He was dizzy, tired, and nauseous, yet an external force kept his mood light and fluffy with delight and newfound joy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this island was doing something to him. It was a new beginning. He tried to clear his head, blinking repeatedly, but he felt no more himself than before, like he’d been in a newly painted garage too long without proper ventilation.
All he knew was that they were in Edaion’s capital, Nevaeh. Somehow he and his sister had been tricked into coming here. At least Edaion accepted dollars and the citizens predominantly spoke English. His mother would have been giddy for a long time to come if she knew how grateful he now was of her persistence on English classes. Having a language teacher for a mother had its perks. Continue reading
A blind girl drawing is abnormal even on the magical island of Edaion where leaves brush themselves into piles in the middle of the night. So when Odette Reyes, a girl blind from birth, begins to experience ominous side effects of the island’s “gift,” her brother Leocardo and best friend Aniela must figure out what 
the doctors cannot. As an immigrant, Leocardo is not biased by accepted rules of magic and determines that Odette’s drawings are premonitions. Aniela grew up with magic and knows premonitions are impossible. She determines Odette is a medium channeling voiceless spirits.
Ermilia 