by J G Smith
“What are they doing there—alone—at night?” I mutter incoherently, more than a little concerned.
‘…for you,’ continue the shadowy voices. Nazriya’s voice then joins in, as I remember standing in front of the pool of water, ‘The oracle and the eidolon.’
For the first time, I start to think, Maybe they’re involved. Maybe I shouldn’t have left them out after all. I pause briefly before my thoughts continue, But if anything were to happen… I shake it off. Snap out of it, Robert! Find the girl. Find the Arcane Messenger.
I turn to the wall opposite the portal and see the ledge I came from before falling down. If I… I close my eyes. More and more images—memories return to my mind. Though, some of them don’t make sense. I see two blue suns. Didn’t the girl say something about that? I see a familiar teenage boy, the mystery girl and a really tall building. Shake it off, Robert. There are more important matters at hand.
I turn my attention back to seeing the scene around me. Think shocky, I tell myself and, quicker than before, I see – through my mind’s eye – the shape of the room… a few paces over. Nothing immediately around me or where I’d imagine the other reflected rooms to be. Maybe you only see what’s actually there, I think to myself. But that doesn’t explain… Again, I catch myself in these thoughts. It doesn’t matter. Just focus on getting out.
I find the ledge I originally came from and concentrate. It doesn’t happen immediately but, after a few moments, it happens. I feel pins and needles course through my veins. I feel faint, for only a second, while the bluish white light brushes over my mind’s eye.
And there it is; crouched forward, I feel my hands on solid ground. I open my eyes, take a breath and find myself back in the corridor – on track to making my way out of these tombs.
It isn’t long before I reach where the light is not… before I’m out of the corridor, in the open room and against the large double door. I think shocky, again, remembering the girl and our last moments together. “Where are you?” I whisper, knowing that she couldn’t possibly hear, but still hoping – desperately hoping – she would.
I feel a surge of energy rush through me, I lose my breath momentarily and feel myself phase through the doors – into the labyrinth maze. At least there’s an option for light in these twisted halls – though, coupled with the touch of numbing cold.
They knew something, I think to myself. The people that built this place.
I hesitate before placing my right hand against the icy mirror wall. A glowing white light breaks forth and I make my way forward.
Think about it, Robert, continue my thoughts. There are warning signs all over. I shuffle between my thoughts and trying to remember the way back up. I’m usually terrible with directions and I don’t think today’s my day either.
What if the other tombs hold more answers? What if the ghost has something to do with here?
Stop it, Robert, I order myself. No more speculations. Remember that? But… No excuses.
§
After what feels like an eternity of getting lost, I find my way to the staircase – leading back to the entrance decorated with the familiar statues and broken mirrors. Moonlight catches at the peak of the spiral ceiling and bounces between the mirrors to light the room.
At least it isn’t as trippy as Claire’s tomb, I think to myself.
I notice yellow security tape barring off the trapdoor where I stand. Something doesn’t feel right, my thoughts echo. The bag I left behind is no longer there and, as I scan the room, I notice a few piles of ash.
Lighkame.
The police had gotten themselves involved. Lighkame was here. My thoughts break off to imagine the many possible scenarios of where Lighkame could be and what he could be doing. I imagine the military stepping up as well and ash… ash everywhere.
Did the hospital and the tour guides see what happened with us on the tape?
Is everyone okay?
My thoughts turn to Bradley and Skye. I look at the door leading outside. It’s open. Broken security tape blows in the wind. The icy cold wind. I don’t want to go out there. But… Bradley and Skye.
I step over the tape and make my way outside. The howling of a lone woodsma fills the air, but something about it feels off—broken. Wind brushes my skin and I hear hissing, croaking and beeping – incessant beeping. I hate nighlops. But, in the dead of night, they are the least of my concerns.
Stop being a coward, Robert, I tell myself. If Bradley and Skye can walk into the forest, to find you, you can walk to them. I remember seeing them at the river and head that direction with my heart beating stronger and louder.
The tingling of the strange electric current makes its way over my ever-numbing skin and I’m walking slowly and carefully. I pass a few trees and press my back against one of them as I notice a woodsma. One woodsma, barely three feet away.
But it doesn’t attack. Its tan coat seems burnt and it seems frightened.
I relax my shoulders and move a little closer. The woodsma bolts, shaken by my motion. It must’ve been Lighkame, I think. What has he done?
I take a few more steps into the forest before hearing a chatter—no, fighting… arguing in the distance. It’s Bradley and Skye. The ominous whispers repeat at the back of my mind, ‘The oracle and the eidolon…’
“If you said something earlier, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” spits Bradley in an agitated tone – completely out of character.
“Who would’ve believed us?” retorts Skye, just as spitefully as Bradley. Her voice softens – now thoughtful – and adds, “The plan was for them to see for themselves—to see the recording at the hospital.”
My heart sinks as I realise, It didn’t work.
I see Bradley trudging in clearer view. He’s wearing a long-sleeved black top and has three lacerations through it, on his left arm, as well as a gun of sorts – futuristic. Why does he have a gun? I think. No, better yet, Where did he get it from?
“The one with nothing but white noise?” questions Bradley, referring to the hospital recording. “So, something did happen?” His tone is almost accusatory.
“I don’t know why that happened,” mutters Skye. “They were supposed to see what happened.”
“You know where Steve is, don’t you?”
The two of them draw closer. “Robert needs to tell you,” says Skye, begging to be heard. It’s as if she’s said it more than a couple of times.
“Screw Robert!” he yells, freezing in his tracks, right in front of me. But his head is turned towards Skye. She sees me; he doesn’t. “I’m not doing this again. You tell me.”
Her eyes tear up. I can see she wants to come closer, but something is holding her back. Bradley turns his head as he notices and changes his demeanour. He’s angry – yes – but it isn’t the same. He isn’t moving. I can feel his disappointment and I don’t think he wants to talk to me.
I can’t help but simper. I feel a pressure in my chest – a mixture of sadness and joy. Before I know it, Skye breaks loose and runs forward to wrap her arms around me. My arms immediately find comfort around her and we’re caught in a loving embrace. Her head buries deep into my neck and I can feel her sobs – of joy and sadness. I know she’s happy to see me, but something else seems to be the matter.
I look up at Bradley. He’s looking the other way, fuming. I screwed up big time. “Brad,” I call, softly, letting go of Skye.
He doesn’t answer. Skye looks back at him and again, sympathetically, towards me. “I told you—” she begins, but is suddenly cut off by the hissing of a black viper. It strikes at her.
My instincts kick in and I grab her. A surge of electricity comes over me – and I assume her as well. The two of us, together, flash away and reappear behind a tree a little distance off.
Bradley shoots the gun which releases a pulse of red light. He misses. The six-foot black viper stands tall to strike at him. I close my eyes and focus on his location, appearing alongside him a moment later. He shoots at the
viper again, this time hitting its side, causing it to miss.
It lies right between us. Bradley shoots again, hitting higher up, but it’s still alive – wounded but moving. I turn to grab it and release as much electricity as I can. I feel the viper’s scales and muscles writhe as it wrestles and turns to strike at me. But before it’s able, it falls limp and lifeless to the ground.
I pull my hands away and see my prints burnt into its body. And the smell… I turn my nose in disgust, looking to the ground and trying my best to breathe through my mouth. At least it’s over.
“Where did you learn to do that?” I ask Bradley, pleasantly surprised by his shooting.
As I look up to see him, I notice that his eyes locked on me. He’s shocked… stunned.
“About thirty minutes ago,” appears Skye’s voice from behind. She approaches, rejuvenated with a sense of hope after seeing me do what I did. “He killed a gilligator.”
“Is that where you got this?” I ask Bradley, pointing at the large scratches on his arm. I add a light-hearted smile to get even one word out of him. But it’s without any success.
Skye sighs. Though, still happy—no… happier. She turns the table. “Where did you learn to do that?” she asks me, referring to the short-range teleportation and electrocution. “Or should I ask when? Because that might just help us.”
I feel a weight of responsibility with that last addition. “The last few days have been…” My face scrunches. “I don’t even know.”
“Terrible,” states Skye. “They’ve been absolutely terrible.”
Any smidgen of happiness I may have had fades.
“Nothing went according to plan,” she reports. Her previous hopeful aura drowns out. “He’s back, Robert.”
“Lighkame?” I ask.
Skye nods. “And he has my parents.”
“He has everyone,” corrects Bradley, still fuming. But not to inform me. He isn’t even looking at me anymore.
“Tour guides, police, military, David, Dylan, the girl…”
“She’s back at the campsite?” I ask, failing to hide how happy I am to know.
“Of course you’d comment on her,” seethes Skye. She breathes in and out, adding, “Yes, and apparently her name is Ahteirus. I thought you two were supposed to be together.”
“We got separated,” I answer. “But I need to find her again.”
“Why?”
“Something’s coming,” I tell her… them.
“Shadows?” asks Skye.
She knows? I shake it off. “Something bigger.” Her eyes open wide as I add, “We need to get back to the campsite.”
“I know,” she says. “Lighkame sent us to find you.”
“Then let’s go.”
She nods and follows as I start to lead the way. Bradley walks a little faster to overtake us and sets the pace, looking around him alertly – just in case something’s there.
I bite my lip. I hope he’s able to forgive me.
“What does he want?” asks Skye, referring to Lighkame.
“Something I can’t offer.”
“He’s not going to stop until he gets it.”
“The Arcane Messenger will know what to do,” I tell her.
“She’s going to kill you,” states Skye, loudly, struggling to keep up with Bradley’s pace. “Brad,” she yells. “Slow down.”
He shoots her a dirty look, but still does as she requested.
“Do you know who she is?” I ask Skye.
She repeats, “She’s going to kill you!”
“We’ll deal with that later,” I cut, overshadowing her cry. I then attempt to assure her in a hushed tone, “She will know what needs to happen now.”
There’s an uncomfortable silence that fills the air. Though, Skye eventually answers, “I didn’t see her face. I saw you… lying there. She was walking away. It was like a dream. I felt—I knew. That’s how I see all my prophecies. Well, most of them.”
“Is that how you found me?” I ask.
“Sort of,” she replies. “I saw you leaving the Temple of Prophecy.”
“The what?”
“The Temple of Prophecy,” she repeats. “The building we found your bag at the day after you left.”
“So, that’s what it’s called,” I mutter.
She nods and continues, “Nobody went down the trapdoor, though. It was too dark and everyone was certain you wouldn’t even dare think it.” She jerks a little, having gotten stuck in an entanglement of vines. “That’s when I saw the shadows,” she says, with one final tug. I pause to make sure she’s okay before continuing to walk. “But you did go down, didn’t you?”
I nod.
“What did you see while you were there?” she asks.
My eyes are on Bradley, though, as he keeps walking. There’s still anger in his steps. “Umm,” I turn back to Skye, having almost forgotten about her question. “I saw a lot of things,” I tell her. “Most of which leads back to her…”
“Who?” scoffs Skye.
“The Arcane Messenger.” I remember the ghost and the girl’s explanation of what she saw in her visions. “She’ll see the future, and she’ll have a message to deliver.” My eyes catch Skye’s and, for a moment, it feels as if we’re sharing our thoughts. “That’s why I asked you, first. But, maybe, it’s her—the girl. What did you say her name was?”
“Ahteirus?” suggests Skye. “It makes sense,” she mutters, thinking carefully, and then adding, “I knew there was a reason I didn’t trust her.”
I choose to ignore that last part. “She didn’t even know what her name was, before,” I continue. “Maybe she forgot this too.”
Skye stops walking.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stopping with her.
“It’s just…” she struggles to let the words out. “If she is the Arcane Messenger…” She’s wrestling with the thought, but eventually lets out, “It just feels like I’m choosing between you and my parents.”
This statement catches me off guard. I realise that there is conflict in letting me near Ahteirus, but it’s something that has to happen. I grab Skye’s wrist and pull her hand to my chest. “You’re not choosing,” I tell her, looking her dead in the eyes. “This is my choice.”
She gulps.
“Besides,” I add, with a bit of a smile, “we’ve seen what’s coming. The future can always change.” I try, shrugging off the heavy sense of doom and gloom with my playful optimism.
Skye doesn’t seem to agree, but I pretend not to notice, walking backwards and calling her over with my hands until she listens.
“What else did you see?” she asks, giving in to my incessant plea.
“What do you mean?” I ask, turning around. I notice then that Bradley was waiting… at a bridge. There is a bridge crossing the river? I could almost kick myself. But, right now, it’s beside the point. Bradley is waiting. He still cares.
“In Falgron lore,” explains Skye, “we learn that the Temple of Prophecy was built to prepare a select few for the end of days.”
That explains Nazriya, I think to myself, with a tug at my chest. But I don’t tell Skye. Not in detail at least. I tell her that there are other worlds and that, apparently, there is someone with me – following me. “I think his name is James,” I tell her.
The look in Skye’s eyes doesn’t bring me any comfort – not in the slightest. “In my faith,” she says, “That name is a bad omen. It usually has something to do with the darkness that rebelled against the light.”
That comment brings an end to our conversation. At least, for now.
We keep walking and come to a place that I recognise – the place I met the girl… Ahteirus. My mind runs wild, again, and I can feel the overwhelming pressure of everything that’s going on. But at the centre of those thoughts is Bradley… still.
I pluck up the courage and hasten my pace to walk alongside him. I don’t know what to say, so I just walk.
“I thought we were friends,” he comments, soft
ly.
“Best friends,” I assure him.
He doesn’t even look at me. He takes a phone out of his pocket – my phone – and hands it to me. It feels like a dagger piercing my heart. You screwed up, Robert. Big time. With the phone in my hand, I notice that it’s off and turn it on.
Message after message comes through. The phone doesn’t seem to stop vibrating. Thirty-seven missed calls and twenty-four messages.
“I thought I could fix things without involving you,” I choke. My cheeks flush red, my temperature spikes and the words are barely audible. He doesn’t say a word. “I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Like with Steve?” he questions, without a blink. He’s still not looking at me. “What happened with Steve?” he asks, directly and firmly.
A few tears escape my stubborn pride. That terrible lump makes its way back into my throat – this time, burning – and I force out the words, “Steve’s dead.”
Bradley, for the first time on this walk, looks up at me. And while he has every right to be angry, I can still see the compassion in his eyes – the understanding. “Was it that man? Lighkame?” he asks. His voice wobbles, but he remains strong.
I nod, “Yes.” Skye’s still following, just behind. Listening. “It started the morning we left for this trip,” I tell Bradley. “And it just kept going.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” he asks. “I mean, there are people more equipped to deal with this…”
“Like I did with the body at the filling station?” That comes off rather sarcastically. I catch myself and tone down my next words. “No one believed me then. Why would they after?”
Bradley looks to the ground. He feels bad.
“We had a plan,” I tell him. “But it didn’t seem to work.”
“I would have believed you,” he tells me, shrugging.
“Like you did then?”
It’s another jab, and he feels it. I feel it. “But now we have a lot of evidence,” he says. “We can tell them now.”
“Now that it’s too late,” I comment, defeatedly.
“Then what do you plan on doing when we get back to the campsite?” he asks.
