“You do, now?” he asked. “Tell me, then, what did you eat?” He reached down, grabbing a handful of dry earth. “This?”
“No, of course not!” she giggled. “I remember eating…I remember…” Her voice trailed off, and she furrowed her brow as she tried to think. Realization dawned on her: she didn’t know. She gave Seph a helpless look, and he sighed.
“It’s just stories,” he said, putting his arm around her. “You’ve forgotten everything else, but somehow the stories are still there.”
“But it feels real,” she whispered. “I swear it does.”
“I’m sure you think so,” he told her. “But it’s not. This,” he opened his arms, gesturing widely. “All of this is real. This is what the world is now, thanks to the king.”
“Who is he?” Laice asked. “Why is he our enemy?”
“Why?” Seph echoed scornfully. “Just look at what he’s done! How can he be anything other than an enemy?” He cursed under his breath. “He took the sun, Laice! He created a land of eternal night, and all because we refused to serve him! And now he sends his army to capture us, to drag us away to make us slaves. He tries to force us into submission, force us to bend to his will!”
“But why? Why does he want us so badly?”
“Because he’s an arrogant bastard!” Seph spat. “Because he needs a kingdom of slaves to worship at his feet, to sing praise and adoration to him every moment of every day! The thought of anyone escaping his grasp is too much for him to bear, so he tries to torture us into surrender with endless battles and this damned darkness!”
“To what end?” Laice asked, trying to understand. “If no one dies, what’s the point of him fighting us?”
“To cause us misery,” Seph answered. “To cause us pain, and in hopes of capturing us one by one and carrying us back to his kingdom of slaves.”
She fell silent, processing his words. The bruise on her throat throbbed with each beat of her heart, and she lost her train of thought as her mind focused on the pain.
“How did this happen?” Laice asked, pointing to her neck. “Why doesn’t it heal like everything else?”
Seph quickly looked away and stood to his feet.
“Better get back,” he told her, ignoring her question. “Don’t want to let our armor rust, now, do we?” He grabbed his helmet and sword, then turned and set out towards his tent.
“Wait, Seph!” Laice called, jumping up. She snatched her own helmet and sword from where they lay, scrambling to catch up to him. “You didn’t answer my question!”
“I’ll leave the bottle of oil outside my tent for you,” he called back over his shoulder. He was walking too fast. “Just try not to throw it like the last one!”
With that, Seph disappeared from view, and Laice stomped her foot in frustration. She wanted to chase after him, but somehow she knew it would be no use. Cursing with defeat, she started walking.
CHAPTER FOUR
Laice reflected on her conversation with Seph as she cleaned her armor. Even though he had only been a short distance ahead of her, he had already placed the oil outside of his tent and disappeared by the time she had arrived, leaving both her question and the reason for his avoidance unanswered. She sighed. His mysterious air bothered her, and she couldn’t help the uneasiness that settled over her as she put her armor away.
Sitting down in her chair, Laice gazed at herself in the mirror, studying every crease of frustration that etched her face while absently tapping her fingers on the surface of the desk. She was bored and annoyed; the men had all retreated to their tents, and she had no idea where Seph had gone.
She reached into her pocket and retrieved the watch, clicking it open and staring at its face. The hand hadn’t moved, and she sighed again as she pressed it shut and leaned on the desk, resting her head on her arms. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to relax as she tried, once again, to focus on the blank space in her memory, when a small sound caught her attention.
Laice froze, straining her ears. She heard it again, and she jerked upright, sitting perfectly still as she listened. It was coming from outside. Leaping to her feet, she dashed across the floor and burst through the door of her tent.
Her mouth instantly dropped open in shock.
The landscape was bathed in blinding, green-tinged sunlight. She lifted her hand, blinking as she shielded her eyes. The barren wasteland had disappeared, replaced instead with a grassy hillside covered in wildflowers.
Even as she gazed out in wonderment at her new surroundings, Laice couldn’t help feeling like something wasn’t right; the colors of the bright flowers and grass seemed wrong, somehow, almost as if they were bleeding gray.
She heard laughter, and she immediately forgot the flowers as her heart leaped with sudden longing. Dropping her hand, Laice turned to search for the source, when a figure appeared in the distance.
It was a child, and her heart wrenched as a sense of familiarity washed over her. She focused, wracking her mind as she struggled to see through the blank space in her memories, but there was nothing to be found.
Laice watched as the little girl bent down, her pudgy, round knees trembling as she tried to balance herself. She reached for a flower, closing her thick little fingers around the stem and pulling with all her might. The flower broke free and she fell back, her soft, black curls bouncing as she landed on the grass, and she smiled as her sparkling, blue eyes gazed down at her treasure.
The girl looked up, and Laice’s heart skipped a beat: the child was staring straight at her. The innocent eyes suddenly filled with tears, and the tiny face darkened with sadness.
“Why?”
The word echoed out like a shrill gust of swirling wind, cutting through the warmth of the sunshine with a chill that made Laice’s bones shiver. Her knees gave out as her stomach turned with a sudden, nauseating dread, and she let out a cry of anguish as her vision went black.
“Laice.”
She could hear the voice calling to her, but her body was too numb to respond.
“Wake up, Laice.”
A quiet whimper escaped her lips as she tried to muster the strength to move.
The voice called to her again, and she finally managed to open her eyes.
She was still in her tent, her head resting on her desk. She looked around, blinking in confusion. The image of the little girl flashed before her eyes, the tiny voice resonating in her mind, and she jumped up, sending the chair flying as she ran to the door.
The child was gone, and the sunlight had turned back into shadowed darkness.
A strange emptiness filled Laice’s chest, and she sank to the ground, burying her face in her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. As she sat there, trembling with sobs, she suddenly remembered the voice.
Her tears instantly stopped as she lifted her head, only to see Eli sitting on the floor across from her, a sad expression on his face.
“You were dreaming,” he told her. “It was only a dream.”
She stared at him, contemplating how to react. What Seph had told her echoed in her ears, but she was too overwhelmed to be afraid.
After a long moment, she finally spoke.
“Have you come to carry me off to your kingdom of slaves?”
Eli chuckled, his eyes sparkling.
“Of course not,” he answered. “I have no kingdom of slaves, and I have no intention of carrying anyone off.”
She pursed her lips, studying his face.
“I mean you no harm, Laice,” he reassured her, his voice gentle. Despite Seph’s warnings, he didn’t seem dangerous, and he certainly didn’t give her the impression that he posed a threat.
She sighed, crossing her arms.
“You got me in a lot of trouble the last time you showed up. Seph was very angry with me.”
“That is to be expected,” Eli said, shaking his head. “His hatred for me runs deep.”
“Can you blame him? After everything the king did to this place, it’s no wonder he’s angry.”
&
nbsp; “This place isn’t real, Laice.”
“You said that before,” she said, giving him a curious look. “I don’t understand, it certainly feels real.”
“This place is illusion, a creation of mind. An imagination hovering on the edge of a reality you cannot see, an attempt to make sense of an unbearable truth. This place isn’t meant for you, you aren’t meant to be here.”
“Then why am I here?” Laice demanded, her voice rising as frustration filled her heart. “You seem to have all the answers, so tell me, how did I get here?”
“I can help you if you’re willing to let me,” Eli told her quietly. “But I can’t tell you what you aren’t ready to remember.”
Something about his tone struck her, and she felt dread sink cold fingers into her heart.
“Tell me how I’m supposed to do it, then. Seph said the king took my memories, are you going to get them back for me?”
“That’s not true,” Eli told her. “You have to leave this place, as long as you’re here, you won’t remember. Come with me, Laice, and I will help you.”
She fell silent, contemplating his words, then her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Are you trying to steal me away?”
She stood to her feet.
“That’s what this is about, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? This is some sort of trick to get me to leave with you!”
“There is no trick,” he said, a grave look on his face. “I speak only the truth.”
“And if I don’t go? What then?”
“You will find the meaning of death,” Eli told her.
“No one dies here!” Laice scoffed. “See, watch!” She crossed the floor and picked up her sword, holding out her arm. She winced as she quickly drew the blade across her wrist. Blood appeared in its wake, trickling down her arm, until her skin sealed itself back up.
“See?” she repeated, showing him her undamaged, blood-stained wrist. “It’s gone, just like anything else that happens. I stabbed Seph right through the head and he was fine just a few moments later!”
Eli’s eyes were full of pity.
“Then why doesn’t your throat heal?”
Laice’s eyes grew wide, caught off-guard as she tried to think of a response.
“I…well, I’m not―”
A cry of alarm rang out through the tents outside, interrupting them, and Laice instantly fell silent as she looked up, cocking her head to listen. It was a battle cry, and her face turned white as her eyes locked with Eli’s.
“I have to go!” she gasped, foregoing caution as she ran past him to grab her things. She dressed quickly, slamming her helmet onto her head and bumping into him as she bolted for the door.
Eli’s hand flashed out, grabbing hold of her arm. A tingling jolt of pins and needles shot through her skin the moment he touched her, and she froze as she stared at him in confused shock.
“You must leave, Laice,” he whispered urgently, leaning in close. “Before your time runs out.” He released her and she reeled back, tripping as she stumbled outside.
The conversation with Eli instantly disappeared from her mind amid the frantic screams that greeted her the moment she left her tent. The men ran through the encampment, their armor crashing and clanging as they jostled against each other, and she was swept up in the fray. She ran with them, her heart pounding in her ears as adrenaline and fear coursed through her veins.
Her ears were deaf to the commands shouted by the men, too terrified to listen as she charged through the darkness. She had no idea what she was about to face, and she could only hope that she would remember the heat of battle as well as she had remembered sparring with Seph.
She surged forward, tearing up the hill as fast as her legs would carry her, only to halt dead in her tracks the moment she reached the top. She inhaled sharply, blinking in disbelief at the sight that lay before her.
An army of huge, misshapen beings had assembled in the valley below; they were giants, and even from the distance at which she stood, Laice could easily see that they towered over her. Each massive, humpbacked figure was covered head-to-toe in polished steel, and each hand clutched a shield emblazoned with a halo of roses. They stood in perfectly-formed ranks, unmoving, as if completely unconcerned about the wall of screaming men advancing towards them.
But while their size was formidable, it was not the reason she couldn’t seem to force her feet to move.
Pure, brilliant-white fire burned through the cracks in the creatures’ armor, the tongues of flame lapping at the air as if alive with breath. Their armor reflected the bright light, projecting cascades of shimmering diamonds onto the ground around them to illuminate the dark battlefield, and Laice would have been awestruck by their splendor if not for how horrifying the thought of fighting them was.
As the first of the men reached the giant beings, she watched as a ripple of movement passed through the enemy ranks. From behind the shields, long, flaming swords appeared, cutting arcs through the air in hot flashes of light. The sound of clashing steel rang out a moment later, and wails of agony soon followed as blade met flesh.
Laice could see the men collapsing one by one beneath the creatures’ blows; as they fell, they were picked up and carried to a cage behind the enemy flank. The wounded men were thrown inside, where they would soon wake up to find themselves trapped. She thought of what Eli had told her about having no intention of carrying anyone off, and anger rose up in her belly. He was a liar; the very thing he had denied was playing out right before her eyes.
As she watched more and more of the men cut down by the giant creatures, she finally found her courage. Letting out a cry of rage, she raced towards the battle, her sword in hand.
Ducking and dodging past the flurry of swinging blades, she chose her target as she ran, her eyes unwavering as they locked onto the massive figure. The creature’s sword whistled as it flew through the air, wildly jabbing and thrusting at the man it was fighting, and she clenched her teeth as she prepared to strike.
Aiming for a small gap in the almost-solid wall of armor, she launched herself forward, grunting with effort as she plunged her sword into the creature.
It didn’t even flinch.
Laice tried to wrench her sword free from where it had embedded in the creature’s side, screaming as she struggled with the blade. The being ignored her, finishing off its opponent as she yanked and pulled at the hilt with all her might, then the creature began to turn.
Staggering back, she watched as its steel-clad hand reached down and took hold of her sword, easily drawing it out of its flesh and tossing it aside. She tracked the blade’s arc, eyeing where it fell, then focused on the towering behemoth that stood over her, panic rising in her stomach as a cold sweat broke out over her skin. She was defenseless.
She didn’t notice the rock that protruded from the ground until it was too late, and she tripped, falling flat on her back before the creature. It took a step towards her, and Laice felt a wave of nausea wash over her as her eyes grew wide with terror. She braced for the pain that would follow the inevitable blow, willing herself to be brave as she managed a feeble glare of defiance.
But instead of cutting her down, the creature lowered its sword.
Confusion filled her mind as it reached for her to help her up. She stared at the outstretched hand in bewilderment, then slowly lifted her gaze.
Through the slits in the creature’s helmet, the face of a man peered down at her, his dark skin somehow radiating light. Kind, crystal-clear eyes with shining, gilded irises sparkled brightly, the corners crinkling with what could only be a smile the moment her gaze met his. He was beautiful.
She couldn’t move, too stunned with awestruck wonder, and the din of battle faded as everything seemed to stand still.
“LAICE!” Seph’s scream rang out, jolting her back to her senses. She turned her head to see him hurtling towards her, his sword raised high as he called out to the other men for help.
The being straighten
ed and took a defensive stance, positioning his body almost as if trying to protect her from the mob of men that was rushing to her aid.
“GET UP!” Seph cried as he swung his sword. “Laice, RUN!”
She blinked at him, her mind blank. Seph shouted the command again, and this time she managed to stand to her feet. She turned and stumbled away, glancing behind her to see him and the other men surround the creature. They began driving it back, and Seph broke away the first chance he had, running to her side.
“Let’s go!” he shouted, grabbing hold of her arm. “Run!”
Dazed, Laice allowed him to drag her back to camp, nodding absently when he ordered her to stay in her tent. She went inside, woodenly stripping off her armor and leaving it on the floor as she sank down onto the edge of her cot.
The image of the creature filled her mind as she tried to make sense of what had happened. She thought of the cage and all the men that had been captured, and she shook her head. She had been within easy reach, yet the being hadn’t even raised its sword to her; in fact, it had done the exact opposite.
She laid back and closed her eyes, trying to quiet the whirlwind in her mind. It didn’t make sense, nothing made sense. Her thoughts turned to the little girl in her dream, and her frustration grew. If there was no such thing as sleep, how was it possible to dream?
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, and the empty tent gave no answer.
CHAPTER FIVE
Sunlight bathed her face in warmth as she lay there, her eyes closed against the bright rays. She could hear laughing voices, and she smiled to herself as she listened. Something about them seemed familiar.
“Laice!”
She tried to open her eyes, but they had suddenly grown heavy.
“Come play with us!”
“Amy,” she whispered, and her heart burst with longing. “I’m coming, Amy!” She couldn’t move; her muscles refused to obey her commands.
“Hurry, Laice!” the voice called. “He’s waiting for you!”
A child’s giggle rang out, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
The Moments Between Page 3
