Everflame- Mystic Wild

by Dylan Peters

  Show me the flame, the mist commanded one final time, but I could already sense its hesitation.

  We said nothing, for there were no words to say. We stole the air around us. We mustered all of our dark strength. We roared. The shadow bear and I tore the mist apart.

  As I opened my eyes, again in the real world, I could see the Starless Tower directly before us. The ground below the Tower was a wasteland, and the sky looked like a wasteland above. Swirling overhead were the darkest clouds I had ever seen, as if they were a vortex preparing to consume the world. I had never felt so small. Yet I had little time to ponder the Tower as the mynah who carried me rushed toward it even faster. My arms and legs felt like they were going to be ripped from their sockets. Was the mynah preparing to send me into the vortex above the Starless Tower? Was it plotting something worse?

  We flew closer to the Tower and I could see haunting green light emanating from windows up its length. The windows were very large, and I saw the silhouette of a mynah leap out of one and take flight, headed southeast. Whatever its orders were, they had nothing to do with me. Captive in the air beside this dark behemoth, I was reminded how inconsequential I was in this world, and that this world belonged to Kesia.

  From high in the air, I could see a system of gnarled roots that surrounded the Starless Tower and extended out into the Nullwood, and I wondered if this obelisk wasn't the fountainhead of the forest. Was this the place from where the Nullwood was born? Was Kesia its mother? These thoughts chilled me. I had come closer and closer to a positive perception of the Nullwood; closer to accepting some sort of kinship with it. Yet if the Nullwood had been born of the Starless Tower, and if it had all been born of Kesia… How could I ever tolerate being a part of that?

  There was a large window near the very top of the tower, and assuredly a room past that window. I knew that was where Kesia was taking me. I knew that was where I would have to fight for my life. My fate was written under a starless sky. Suddenly, Kesia turned in the air, and her eyes were burning green beacons fixed upon me. She hovered like a nightmare. She rose like the bile in my throat. She floated toward me and the green fire in her eyes dulled. Now I could see her pale skin against the abysmal blackness of the dark spire. I felt her like a cold chill. I felt her like an electric crackle. I closed my eyes because I didn’t want to look at her any longer. I didn’t want to see her smile again. I didn’t want that feeling.

  “Arthur, dear,” she called to me in a voice so soft I could sleep forever in its embrace. “Don’t think you can defy me and my mist forever. I will have you before long.”

  I couldn’t feel my hands. I couldn’t feel my feet. I couldn’t feel my lips. What I could feel, I hated. I hated so much. I hated the allure.

  I opened my eyes for her. I couldn’t even lie to myself that I didn’t do it for her.

  “Come to me, Arthur,” Kesia said.

  The mynah released me, but I did not plummet to the ground. I didn’t move at all. I was suspended high in the air before Kesia and the Starless Tower. Briefly, I wondered if it was my will or hers that kept me in place. But the thought was laughable. It was Kesia’s will. She reached her arms out to me and I floated toward her. Her lips parted in that chilling smile that will never leave my mind; that seductive smile that I hated. This woman was an impossible thing. She held her arms open for me as I floated close and closer. Her green eyes were not afire, but instead, they twinkled with warmth, and glinted with possessive pride.

  And it all felt so good, the way she looked at me. Her chin lifted slightly and I noticed her neck, soft but vital. She laughed, and the sound resonated through the air and through my body. Black tendrils of wooded sinew adorned her like a glamorous dress, caressing her and streaming down over her proud chest. These black lines hugged the curvature of her body so closely, with such careful detail, that I became lost in them. They were hypnotizing and I followed them down Kesia’s form, noting each section of soft pale skin left uncovered. These fingers of the Nullwood held her tightly like vines, leaving her both protected and exposed.

  I continued floating toward her in a trance. I was so taken. I was so lost to her. She closed her arms around me and took me prisoner.

  It was dark and damp as Reego and I sat in Kesia’s dungeon. I wanted to stand but was too tired, so I sat in the inch-thick muck that lined the floor of our cell. I made the mistake of putting my hands on the ground only to have the muck rise over my fingers and onto the back of my hands. Yet, there was really no use fighting it. The muck was already in my clothes. It was everywhere in our prison at the bottom of the Starless Tower.

  Kesia hadn’t taken us to the room at the top of the Tower as I had thought; we had been put in a ground level dungeon. A small stream rushed lightly past the bars of our cell. It came in at the base of one wall to the left of our prison and exited out the opposite wall to my right. A small arch allowed the stream’s passage at each wall, and thankfully, also let in a modicum of light. Around the stream was dirt and moss, as well as more mud and muck. The ground was soft and filthy everywhere, from the banks of the stream to the floors of the cells that lined the walls.

  There were many cells, just like the one we sat in, with thick steel bars, black and rough. Yet all the cells I could see were empty, and all was silent save the soft bubbling of the stream. It seemed we were alone in this dungeon, Reego and I, and the one large metal door I could see, far away and to the left, was closed and most likely locked tight.

  Reego lay next to me in the muck. He didn’t care if the filth caked his body. He was broken in spirit and sad beyond measure. Ah’Rhea had died. He hadn’t been able to stop it, and to make matters worse his last act had been to protect me against her. His last act had been in defiance of someone who I knew he had loved.

  I sat against the bars of our prison and listened to the sound of the stream, as well as the intermittent whimpers brought on by Reego’s broken heart. His eyes were open but unfocused, and his head sat on his outstretched paws. His long, bushy tail was tucked somewhere underneath the muck.

  I was disappointed that I hadn’t been able to fight Kesia. Somehow I was able to keep her mist from attacking my mind, but in the real world, I was still powerless against her. Her control over me was haunting. Even now I couldn’t get the image of her perfect white smile out of my head. It had held me fast like the stare of a viper, and I could still feel where she’d touched me under my chin. That memory clung to my throat like the rough threads of a noose.

  I assumed the stay in this cell would only be temporary. Kesia would be back for the Everflame. She would have her prize. I had no idea how to stop her, and even if I did, her power dwarfed my own. Not that I had any real power. Reego was stronger than me, yet still no match for Kesia, and in his current state, I wondered if he even had the spirit for resistance. We were in a bad place.

  I wanted to believe that Ah’Rhea had been wrong about me. I wanted to believe that stress had gotten to her and that she had been driven to madness, but I just couldn’t lie to myself. I truly believed everything she had said. I believed the Everflame was in me. I could feel it. It would only be a matter of time now, and most likely a short period at that, before Kesia came for me. I would likely never see my mother again, even if she was alive, even if she was somewhere in this tower. I would never see Anna again, or Jim, or Kay, or Wisket, or… anyone.

  I moved over to Reego and sat so that my body pressed against his. He didn’t move or acknowledge me. I gently placed a hand upon the scruff of Reego’s neck and ran my fingers through his fur.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, knowing those two words could never be enough to ease his pain.

  Reego still didn’t move, but his mind did open to me. It was as if a dam burst and flooded my consciousness. I felt his pain. I felt all of it. He whimpered and tears fell from my eyes. It took everything I had not to pull my hand away from the wild dog, but I kept it there. It was the least I could do. I would suffer with him. I would suffer with him until
we met our end.

  The large metal door clicked and swung inward.

  The sound was jarring enough that I spun my body toward it as silhouettes came through the door. Someone large who carried something across their arms was first, then someone smaller came behind. It was hard to see, but the next two silhouettes were unmistakable, even in the low light. Wisket entered the dungeon, and behind him was the silhouette of a mynah.

  The mynah hissed and clicked its beak, forcing the group closer and closer to our cell. Now I could see Jim carrying Anna in his arms. Kay was right behind him and Wisket followed the group, hissing back at the mynah. I wondered why he didn’t fight the mynah as he had back at Esteban’s. Yet I knew Wisket was intelligent. I was sure he understood that fighting here at the Tower would bring many mynahs. He was tragically outnumbered.

  The group reached the cell and even Reego raised his head at their arrival. The mynah unlocked the cell with a key and made a guttural sound. It was obvious enough that its intent was to have everyone enter. The group obeyed, and after they all passed the cell door the mynah shut it behind them.

  “Pu-ut them awww-ay,” the mynah droned, obviously mimicking its orders. “Put a-waay.”

  The mynah hissed and clicked its beak again. It gripped the bars of the door and shook them, showing us that the door was again locked. We all stayed silent, and after a moment the mynah retreated back the way it had come. It exited the dungeon, and the door closed with a loud boom and another metallic click.

  We were all together again. Here at the end.

  The first thing I noticed was that Anna was conscious, and she spoke to Jim.

  “Put me down in the corner,” she said to him.

  “But it’s muddy,” Jim protested. “You’ll—”

  “Please put me down in the corner.” Anna was firm, but not harsh.

  It was at this moment I realized Anna’s chair was missing, and we were all without our backpacks. Jim looked at Kay helplessly, but in the end set Anna down so that her back was against the wall. She didn’t make eye contact with me or speak. She just sat in the corner, tucked away, with her arms hugging her small frame.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Obviously, Anna was no longer in the cocoon. She was fully conscious, and it seemed as if she were no longer in pain, or at least not as much. Wisket was allowing the others near Anna again, though after she was set down he walked directly to her side and curled himself in the muck next to her. He set his head against her leg and closed his eyes. He was a protector at rest, but still a protector.

  I looked between Jim and Kay, and just as I was about to repeat my question, Jim spoke.

  “They got us, Creepy,” he said simply, and somewhat defensively. His tone suggested I might blame him for their capture. He had deep cuts on his arms, and his shirt was torn and filthy. It looked as if he had fought hard. “They got us,” he repeated.

  Was Jim going to make me drag the details out of him? I looked to Kay with a face that begged for more.

  “Once night fell we were hopeless,” Kay said, and followed it with a sigh. She was also covered with scratches and looked like hell. “Mynahs came, a lot of them, and Wisket tried to protect Anna, but there was only so much he could do. He pulled her out of the cocoon and tried to fly away with her, but there were just too many of them.” Kay looked down at Reego. “We let Reego leave us well before the mynahs came. I could tell he was terribly worried about Ah’Rhea. I don’t think he could have helped even if he had stayed with us. There were so many mynahs.” Kay paused and looked around the cell. “Where is Ah’Rhea?”

  I shook my head slowly, unable to say the words. Eventually, I looked down at the mourning dog at my side. His head was back resting on his paws, and his lack of expression said all that words could not.

  “Oh my god,” Kay said and cupped her hands to her mouth.

  I sighed and a tear fell down my cheek. I knew I had to tell them everything.

  The next half hour felt like forever as I explained all the details of what had transpired while I was away from my friends. Anna stayed silent in the corner though her eyes were on me intently as I told my story. Jim actually gasped when I explained how Ah’Rhea tried to kill me. No one spoke or even made a sound as I explained why. Once I told the story of what happened when Kesia arrived, Kay openly cried, and bent down next to Reego to hold him in her arms. The dog whimpered at her touch but leaned into her embrace. Somehow Reego was more receptive to Kay, and I was thankful for that small thing. In a day that had been so hopeless, even a bittersweet moment was worth something.

  “I can’t believe Reego saved you,” Jim said. He seemed lost in thought, speaking more to himself than anyone else. “I can’t believe Ah’Rhea’s gone.”

  “And you’ve had the Everflame since we met,” Anna said coldly.

  The comment hit me like an accusation, as if it implied I should have been able to do more, as if I should have been able to prevent all the bad things that had happened.

  “I didn’t know I had it,” I said pathetically, and hated myself for it. “And I still don’t know how to use it, either. I still don’t know much of anything… but… but she knows. Kesia knows I have it.”

  “That’s great,” Jim said enthusiastically and got to his feet. It seemed my last comment had broken him from his daze.

  We all looked at him as if he was insane. His tone was far too bright for sarcasm. What on earth was he playing at?

  “No, seriously,” Jim continued after seeing how we looked at him. “That’s the best news we’ve had all day. Think about it. If Kesia knows you have the Everflame, Creepy, and you’re still alive, that means she doesn’t know how to get it out of you. It means she’s just as confused and lost as we are. It means we still have a chance.”

  “She’ll figure it out eventually,” I said listlessly. “Look around. I was captured just like you. I couldn’t fight Kesia when it mattered. She had total control over me. I tried to meditate, to have a vision. She invaded my vision and I had to fight her out of it… but I can’t stop her forever, Jim. We don’t stand a chance. ”

  “We do,” Jim insisted.

  I shook my head and looked to the side. Why couldn’t Jim accept reality? Why couldn’t he see the truth?

  The next thing I knew Jim was directly in front of me. He reached down and lifted me off the ground as if I weighed nothing at all. He brought me face to face with him, and I could see the bruise left from where I had hit him, but his blue eyes were fiery nonetheless.

  “You’re not gonna do this,” Jim said. “Stand up.”

  “What are you talking about?” I grumbled, allowing my feet to support me so Jim could release me.

  “You’re not giving up, Creepy,” Jim said. “Not after everything we’ve been through, not while I’m here to stop you. You wanna sink back down into that rut you used to live in because there’s a big bully who wants to smack you around?”

  “You’re being stupid,” I said to Jim, trying not to show that his comments were hitting deep. “This isn’t like school. I can’t stop Kesia. No one can.”

  “That’s bull,” Jim yelled at me. “You’re giving up on us.”

  “What do you expect me to do?” I said, raising my voice. Why was Jim berating me? I couldn’t fight Kesia. I was helpless. We all were.

  “Fight back,” Jim said. “I want you to fight back.”

  “She’ll kill me,” I said with my arms out at my sides. “I don’t know how to use the flame. This is real, Jim. I’m sorry I can’t fix this. I’m sorry I did this to all of us. This isn’t some story we can just write a happy ending to, okay?”

  Jim’s eyes widened, but not as wide as the giant smile that spread across his face.

  “That’s it,” he said and wrapped his arms around me. Then, Jim grabbed me by the shoulders and held me out at arm’s length. “Tell her a story. Buy us time until we can figure out how to escape.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Cr
eepy, you’re a storyteller, right?” Jim said. “I mean, you got kicked out of school for writing stories. You make stuff up in your head. Use your imagination. Come up with something you can tell Kesia to stall.”

  I looked at Anna and Kay for some help. Surely Jim had lost his mind. How in the world did he expect me to trick Kesia with a story? Yet as I looked from Anna to Kay, their faces seemed to side more with Jim than with me.

  “It can’t hurt,” Kay said. “I mean, Jim’s right about one thing: If Kesia knew how to get the Everflame from you, you’d already be dead. She doesn’t know everything. She’s trying to figure out what to do right now. If you lead her in the wrong direction for long enough… I mean, maybe we could figure something out. What have we got to lose?”

  “Yes,” Jim said. “Thank you, Kay.” The big guy turned back to me. “I know you think I’m being a jerk, but I’m not. I know you can do this if you just for once stop acting like a victim. I’ve seen you change since we’ve been together. You are more than people give you credit for, more than you give yourself credit for. You can do this, and you’re not alone.”

  I couldn’t believe this was what it had come down to: a story. What a crappy plan. Yet, as I looked at the faces around me, I didn’t know how to say no to them. If this is what they wanted, then I owed it to them. They were my friends and they had stuck with me through the unimaginable.

  “I’ll need time,” I said.

  Jim smiled and clapped his hands together. “The clock starts now, Creepy my man, the clock starts—hey.”

  Suddenly, Jim’s attention was pulled out of the cell, toward the sounds of splashing, snarling and squeaking. I could distinctly see four animals that had jumped out of the stream and onto the muddy bank. They must have come in through the arch where the stream entered the room. Three of them looked like dogs, maybe twenty pounds each, but they were hairless, with dorsal fins and webbing at their legs and necks. They had cornered a smaller animal and were preparing to attack. The smaller animal looked like a squirrel, but with a ringed tail like a raccoon. It had both blue and cream-colored fur on its body that grew fluffy around the neck. It was scared and slowly backed away from the three water dogs.