by Maya Daniels
“Down Under,” Faith says in front of me. It takes me a second to realize she has answered my question, but since I am concentrating on keeping my hands in my pockets and not snatching the apples hanging in my face everywhere I turn, my mind takes some time to catch up. I blab the first thing that comes to mind.
“Hell?”
Thinking back on that moment, I can freely say that what happened was my fault, but at the time, I didn’t feel it was, or maybe just didn’t want to admit it. Faith laughs. She laughs louder than either of us expect, like a cannon echoing through the orchard. She slaps a hand over her own mouth, but it’s too late and she just looks at me, wide-eyed. There’s a chilling scream somewhere up in the mountain and the thundering of feet start shaking the ground under me.
Then she says, loud and clear, only one word that gets my mind, body, and soul on the same page in less than a millisecond.
“Run!”
Chapter 5
As the scenery flashes past me and the only sound I hear is the wild beating of my heart in my ears, my mind creates pictures of what can happen. One new type of death after another, and all I can see is the flaming eyes and the creepy lanterns. I have goosebumps all over my body, but not because I’m cold. The knowing of being a prey while a predator is hunting you … let’s just say you don’t ever want to experience it. It’s not that I somehow lost the fear of dying and death in general. I have people that depend on me to at least keep breathing until I get them back to safety. After that, it’s not important if I breathe or not. Until then, I will do everything I can to stay alive, even if it means running like a coward.
So we run. I have no idea for how long, but eventually I see the end of the orchard and the woods stretching beyond it. The only problem? The open field between the two. Not a small clearing, mind you. No, I’m not that lucky, as has been proven many times over. From where I am, I’m judging it’ll take several minutes to get across it—long enough for everyone and their brother to see us or catch up to us. The glow of the moon makes things more difficult, and I curse under my breath, but not even my sailor mouth can help now.
“Faith!” I say loud so she can hear me. Her name carries all the questions and apprehension I feel.
“Keep running and don’t stop no matter what, Alexia. No matter what you hear or see, just keep running until we get to the woods. It’s safe there, I promise,” she yells back, not caring if anyone hears her.
That tells me a hell of a lot more than reading an entire manual on this realm.
My legs are already burning from running, but with new determination, it seems like I’m picking up speed instead of slowing down. It’s funny how the mind works. In situations like this, the fear that creeps into your soul either freezes you like a deer in headlights or it gives you the inhuman ability to fight to stay alive until your last breath. Obviously, even after all my talk about not caring whether I live or die, my mind makes sure I keep breathing because it takes control of my body, making me feel like I’m flying with speed as the trees zip by. Faith is keeping up, and I’m sure she’s experiencing the same sensation as I am.
The thundering footsteps are getting closer no matter how fast we move, and I am chilled to the bone. Are we going to get caught now? Or, just so death can laugh in our faces, will they catch us right before the woods, so that in some twisted way, we can taste the freedom that awaits us there but will never be ours? Am I going to die in an astral realm before helping even one of my sisters get free so she can save the others when I’m gone? Out of nowhere another thought springs to mind that leaves me baffled, but I have no time to ponder it. Will Lucifer care that I died, or will he be glad he doesn’t have to worry about me anymore? Why the fuck do I care either way?
We’re almost at the end of the orchard and I try to keep my breathing as even as possible. As I get closer to the line of trees that mark the end of it, I set my jaw, narrow my eyes, empty my mind, and focus only on one thing: get to the woods, no matter what. I’m uneasy about Faith and whether she’ll be able keep up, so I close in on her until we’re running shoulder to shoulder, taking hold of her hand. The only indication that she doesn’t mind is her gentle squeeze as our hands connect, but that’s all we have time for.
The orchard ends and under the full moon, like deer running from a hunting party, we bolt across the field with its knee-high grass. It makes it a little more difficult to run, but since our lives are at stake, I couldn’t care less. Since it is an open field and I’m certain I’m not going to crash into a tree if I don’t look ahead, I glance over my shoulder.
That’s a stupid mistake.
A merciless vise grips my heart, and I think I’m going to die from the sight alone when Faith squeezes my hand so hard the bones are grinding together. That gets my head back on track, but even though they’re behind me, I can still see them clearly in my head.
So many of them, oh sweet Goddess, like a dark never-ending cloud.
Their robes are billowing behind them like creepy shadows with minds of their own that defy the laws of the wind and gravity, and that’s enough to make my heart hammer my chest painfully like I’m having a heart attack. To add to it, their eyes of flames are menacing, full of hunger and rage on their demonic faces, while they hold their lanterns the green lights dancing as if cheering them on. I know if they get their hands on us, we’ll be begging to die. Death is not the worst that can happen to a person. Believe me, I’m an expert on it.
I put as much effort as I can into making it to safety. I’m not sure the woods will save us, but I trust Faith on this. Not because I finally have no trust issues, but I can see she wants to live as much as I do. That’s when I see the shimmering barrier between the field and the woods. Someone opened a protection circle around it. There is hope!
We’re so close. It feels like I can stretch my hands out and touch the first trees in the wooded area when there’s a tug on my arm. Everything happens in slow motion. There is a sharp tug and I turn my head towards Faith. My eyes go as big as dinner plates when I see a skeletal black hand with a death grip on her hair, and I watch it pull her backwards. At the same time as my hand is released, she lets go and allows it to stop her escape. I am about to stop running to help her, but her words make me keep going despite my entire being screaming at me to stop and try to help, even if we both die here and now.
“Nooo! Run! You’ll come save me. Don’t stop, Alexia, run!” she screams at me with such force that even though my essence is rebelling and telling me to stop, I obey.
As I reach the first row of trees in the woods and pass them, it is like someone flips a switch. Everything stops—no thundering footsteps from the monsters, nothing. Well, almost nothing, because nothing stops Faith from making sure I hear her.
“Find the old woman, follow the moon, sister. She will tell you where to find me. She will tell you how to save me and those you’re searching for,” she yells loud and clear and I collapse on the ground because I can’t stand or move anymore. I’m gulping air and trying to understand who keeps those monsters away from these woods. I see them moving up and down a few feet in front of it, but they’re unable to come closer. I watch them tie Faith with ropes that move on their own. Seeing them makes me gag.
“If they have us both, who will save us, Alexia?” Faith says while struggling with the creatures. Seeing her fearlessness in a situation where another would pass out or beg only strengthens my resolve.
“I’m coming back for you, Faith. I swear it on everything I hold dear. Just stay alive, sister! Promise me!”
“I promise, Alexia. Find the old lady. She’ll help you, I know. I will see if I can find the others where they take me. If they’re there, we’ll be ready when you come.” Her voice rings loudly while she glances over her shoulder towards the trees where I’m hiding as they lead her away.
“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I scream the cuss word as loud as I can, wanting to curse everything and everyone. Is this what my life is now? Everyone that comes
into it gets taken away by monsters because of whatever agenda, and the guilt, pain, and sorrow I have inside me just piles up? How much can a person take? Apparently, a lot.
I kneel there for a while until I can breathe again without pain stabbing me in the lungs. My mind is racing, all the questions I have keep playing on repeat with no one to answer them. I better get moving. Faith’s words, “I was too late,” keep repeating over and over again. Well, I’ll be damned if I’m late. I search the sky to find the moon and start walking. Well, it is almost jogging, but I have no desire to go sightseeing. I need to find the old lady. I have no idea how I’ll know who she is, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Another thought occurs to me then. If Daisy or Lucifer try to wake me, will I just simply go back to my body? Or will I have to go back where I came from and walk through the portal? At the moment, that might be a little problematic. If only I can tell them where I am, then they could come here and help me.
With my mind swirling, I put one foot in front of another and, not losing sight of the moon, propel myself forward. After a while, the rustling of leaves pulls my gaze to an owl. Sitting on the branch, it’s observing me with interest, but I have no time for fiddle farting around. I keep moving. It follows me, going from tree to tree, and I’m glad it does. I don’t feel so alone. A couple of hours pass, and I step past tree after tree, jumping over massive roots and fallen branches with nothing else in sight. Doubt that I will ever get out of these woods clings to me, and then my mind starts the tricks it always does when I have doubt in my heart.. What if Faith said I’ll find someone here to help just so I don’t get caught as well, to keep me away from the monsters? After a few minutes, another thought occurs to me. What if she’s working with those creatures and she set me up to never find a way out and die in the damn woods? I shake my head to get rid of the thought as if I’m a dog shaking off fleas.
“Oh, stop it, Alexia! Seriously?” I should’ve been a bloody producer. I sure as fuck create great movies in my head!
I’m talking to myself out loud just so I can stop thinking. They’re not joking when they tell you the mind is a great servant but a cruel master. If you let it, it’ll create the worst scenarios that will make you lose hope faster than you can blink. Early in life, I learned the lesson to never trust my mind when I’m sad or alone. It’s like a punisher with no mercy or compassion. It can make you insane or suicidal within minutes. Trust me on this and never believe your thoughts when you’re hurt and alone. You can thank me later.
Because I’m lost in my head, as always, I jump a little when the owl decides to perch on my shoulder. I peek at it from the corner of my eye since I’m not sure it won’t try to peck them if I turn my head. It seems amused, if a bird can ever look that way. It hoots at me and moves its head like it’s pointing straight ahead, so I squint to see if there is something or someone there. Between the trees, I notice a little flicker like fire, so I slow down my steps and creep slowly and as quietly as I can. I have no idea who’s a friend or foe here.
Well, I know the monsters are foes, and I decide the owl is a friend since it alerted me to danger.
“Thank you,” I whisper to it and it hoots softly like it understands. I find them fascinating, the owls. If Jezzinta were here, she would say, “You find everything fascinating.” The thought of my sister makes me smile—sadly, but still. A smile is a smile and these days I’ll take what I can get. I’m not picky.
As I sneak in closer, the fire gets bigger and brighter, illuminating the small clearing it is in, just big enough for a few people to gather around. On the bonfire, a big black cauldron sways gently like someone just finished stirring it, but I see no one around. I stop where I am and wait. I’m not moving a foot until I see who’s brave enough and without care to light a fire that makes smoke rise up to the sky so high that it can be seen from any side.
I didn’t have to wait long. From the opposite side, an old lady walks into the clearing carrying some wild herbs in her right hand. Her left hand holds a dagger, which means I’m not moving an inch until she puts that thing down. I stand there like a creep hiding behind bushes, studying her. She walks around like she has not one worry in the world and she’s humming some song. Using her dagger, she cuts small pieces of the herbs and drops them in the steaming cauldron. Waving her hand, she fans the rising steam so she can smell whatever it is she is making, then she hums with satisfaction. With the gentle breeze blowing my way, I can too and it makes my mouth water. Remembering the apples, I bite hard on my tongue. There will be no eating and drinking here, or taking anything for that matter. This lady knows what she’s doing. She’s wearing black pants with many pockets all around her legs and a black long-sleeved shirt and vest, also with many pockets. Her white hair is braided, and her braid sways with every move she makes, all the way down to her thighs. The way she carries herself tells me she’s well aware of her own power, even if I don’t feel it zapping my skin at the moment. If pressed, I would say she’s in her mid-seventies, but only because of the gray hair and the wrinkles on her face. You’d never guess it from her body, which is in great shape, or by the way she moves. Lost in my thoughts, it takes a second to process what I hear at that very moment.
“Are you just going to stand there, Alexia, or will you come sit with me?” As she says it, she turns her head towards where I am standing, and even through the branches and bushes, she somehow manages to lock eyes with me.
Everything comes to a stop—my mind, my breath, even my heart for a bit. Her eyes are golden yellow like one would expect of a panther, and they hold an other-worldly glow to them that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight. What the fuck? She knows I’m here and she knows my name! Oh well, I might have been running earlier, but a coward I am not. I straighten myself and walk out into the clearing, holding my head high. The fact that her dagger is a few feet away from her and not in her hand has nothing to do with my bravery. Mhm, I almost believe it myself.
“You know my name! How?” is all I say.
“You and Faith were loud enough earlier. I’m sure the entire realm knows your names by now,” she says dryly, and I flinch at our stupidity. Well, you shouldn’t get cocky, either, because I promise you that you would’ve done the same. It’s not like your brain works out perfect scenarios when you’re running for your life. Nevertheless, I want to slap myself. Those creatures will be expecting me now. Wonderful!
“I don’t believe you.” I narrow my eyes at her because she’s not lying but it’s not really the truth. I simply know it.
“Well, well. I see your gifts are getting stronger if you can tell I’m not being completely truthful.”
“You don’t need gifts to hear the familiarity in the way you said my name, lady.”
She throws her head back and laughs wholeheartedly. Like an idiot, I gap at her, dumbstruck by the absurdity of the moment. When her laughs die down to mere chuckles, I’ve just about had enough shit. I need answers and I need to find my sisters.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I have some questions I hope you’ll answer and I’ll be on my way. I have people to save, and I’m not sure how long they’ll be okay waiting on me to find them. Those things just got Faith, but they have had at least one of the people I’m searching for, if not all, here for a long time.” I say all this in one breath.
“Sit,” she says, pointing at a log next to the fire.
“I don’t have time to sit. At any moment, someone might try to wake me, and I’m not sure how I’ll find my way back here again.”
“You didn’t come here on purpose?” Her eyebrows shoot up and she looks me up and down, then she narrows her eyes as if she finds me lacking.
“Hey, I was on my death bed for three months, and today is the first day I was awake. I have no idea what happened, but I was given a chance to save the people I love, and I’m not wasting it!” I say through clenched teeth.
“Easy there, witchling, I didn’t say you should waste it. Sit
, let us talk and I’ll give you something that will lead you back here if someone interrupts your travel.”
That puts me at ease a little, so I plop on the log. The quiet in the forest with the whistling sound of the wind through the trees make me feel the pain in my body from all the running, and the fear for my life. I watch her carefully. Every move she makes, every blink of her eyes. There is something about her that puts me at ease, but at the same time all my senses stand at attention like I’m on the edge.
“Which realm is this?”
“It’s one of the dark realms. The realm of Tomorith, the Dark Wizard.”
I try to think if I’ve ever heard of him, but I can’t recall if I have. The past, present, and future haven’t figured out their rightful place in my head yet. It’s annoying, really.
“Do you know where those things took Faith? And if the ones I’m looking for are there as well?” I ask hopefully.
“She’s been taken to the caves. There is a whole underground city full of those. They are almost always full,” she says with disgust. “It’s my guess, but we will know for sure soon enough. Rajah, go to the caves,” she says, and as I’m about to ask who she’s talking to, the owl takes flight from my shoulder and is gone within seconds.
My mouth falls open and I gape at her. “The owl is yours?”
“Of course. Did you think it was just a friendly bird perched on your shoulder?”
“It wouldn’t be the first,” I answer her honestly and she narrows her eyes again.
“Can you please stop? I have no desire to play games or spend hours on word riddles. Help me get the answers I need, then I’ll be out of your way as soon as I know where to go and how to get them out,” I say with a sigh. I really am tired of the power plays and crap these creatures are playing. “I neither want your powers, nor do I want to take anything from you,” I continue. “I’m tired of playing games, and if you have no wish to answer simply and honestly, I’ll take my chances on my own. You don’t trust me, and I can’t say I trust you either, yet here we are.”