Every twist and turn of the winding path reveals more unfamiliar trees, vibrant plants, and a spectrum of wildlife and insects. Creatures that remind me of butterflies flit gracefully through the air, their indigo wings trailing shimmering dust with each flap. They dance and swirl around us before landing on the gnarled roots of ancient trees. I wish I had my Prism to capture a photo of them. Above us, I can hear the rustling of animals hidden among the leaves.
“Where are we going, Raea?” Trysten rasps from behind me.
I glance down at the forest floor, where the branches twist and intertwine in the velvety green moss. We need to find a source of water, and we need to do it soon. We’re down to the last of the water. I crouch down, letting my fingers sink into the cool, damp moss, feeling the moisture beneath. It’s wet, but not nearly enough to hint at a nearby stream or pond.
“Just keep your eyes peeled for moss growing on tree trunks or maybe the sound of trickling water,” I reply, ducking under a knotted branch that stretches like a gnarled hand from an ancient tree. “We really need fresh water. The survival bag is still in the transport,” I add, pressing forward into the underbrush.
He mutters behind me, reminding me that he’s the expert in Recon.
“So,” I say a little too brightly, “what’s your favorite food?”
If I’m going to be stuck with Trysten on this planet, we might aswell use it as an opportunity to get to know each other better. Besides, he’s been training me for weeks, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. Trysten is quiet, but observant, and I know there’s a lot more to him than he lets on. I guess that’s what makes him the perfect friend for Anders.
Trysten curses under his breath when he nearly trips over a hidden root. I can tell his head is still hurting by the way he keeps wincing, but if he needs a break, he’ll let me know. “In the whole system or just Okenen?” he asks.
“Both.”
He’s quiet for a few seconds before he pauses, breathing a little harder than I’d expect him to. He drops the bag we brought and pulls out the bottle of water, taking a long gulp before offering it to me. I take it as he says, “Out of all of our planets, I love the food on Mystel in Kadora, but in Okenen,” he swipes his longer hair out of his eyes. “I’m going with the palace cook, Mari. Besides, no place like home, right?”
I hand the water bottle back to him, swiping at my wet lips as I watch him screw on the lid. “Mystel? You need a Mesh to even get around. I’ve never been.”
He nods and begins walking again, this time falling into step beside me. “Mystel has some of the prettiest landscapes. Black sand with lush green plants, massive waterfalls that are the clearest blue you’ll find in the whole system, and the volcanoes. I guess I’m a sucker for them. They have the most active volcanoes of all of Kadora’s planets. And their food, well, it’s just hearty. Spiced lamb dishes with potatoes and cooked vegetables.”
I look up into the canopy just in time to see a winged creature larger than the tree line flying overhead. I suck in a sharp breath and continue walking, hoping we’re not prey.
“What about you?” I offer him a small smile, thankful that his mood seems to be improving.
“I—”
Suddenly, a loud, thunderous drumbeat echoes from deep within the forest, sending vibrations pulsing through the ground and throughme. My heart quickens, thumping in sync with the drumming that seems to beckon me forward. There’s a tension in the air, like an invisible string tugging at me.
“What are you doing?” Trysten’s voice shifts to a frantic whisper as he takes on a fighting stance and reaches for a Hallo that isn’t there. His eyes widen with my first step.
“I just need to—” My words falter as I take another step forward, my feet moving almost of their own accord. “Umm, Trysten.” My voice trembles slightly as an unseen force pulls me closer. In an instant, Trysten’s arms wrap around my waist as he attempts to anchor me.
“Fight back!” he growls.
The scrape of his combat pants against my bare legs sends goosebumps rising along my legs. I should be terrified right now, should be struggling against this strange pull, but instead, a sense of wonder envelops me. I feel as if I’m watching myself from the outside, mesmerized by this strange tug.
“Trysten, let go. It’s okay…I think—” I try to mask the uncertainty that gnaws at my insides, but gasp as I feel a powerful wave surging up my spine, emitting warmth and energy that trickles through every nerve ending. It creates a tingling sensation that races from my fingertips to the tips of my toes. It’s similar to the energy that sparks between me and Anders when we touch. Except this time I’m completely consumed, overwhelmed by a power I’ve never known before. It’s hot and uncomfortable, but only for a second.
As I move forward, Trysten keeping a step behind, a dark clearing comes into view, almost as if we’ve found a cave, but it’s the thick canopy high above that has somehow blocked out all the daylight. The trees surrounding us hum with life, their roots intertwined with those strange pulsing veins of light that weave through the underbrush in vibrant shades of indigo and azure, leading us to the heart of the clearing.
At the center stands a majestic, ancient tree, its trunk hollowed out and glowing with hues of indigo and azure from the veins, and adorned with thick, radiant tendrils of shimmering starlight.
“What the hell?” Trysten murmurs.
My breath catches in my throat as tears begin to well in my eyes; not from fear, but from sheer beauty. Something deep within me whispers that I have a connection to this place, even though I know logically that this is my first time setting foot here.
My feet carry me further into the clearing with Trysten trailing closely behind. It is then that I notice it. A swirling mist, dark as exquisite onyx, floating languidly around the base of the tree. It moves almost as if it possesses a consciousness of its own, curling and stretching with a sense of curiosity. A thrill of fear dances within me as I study it; it’s not human or animal, but rather somethingother. A prickle of unease crawls along my neck as I realize this mist seems to regard me as much as I regard it.
Trysten collapses at my side, his body suddenly going limp as his eyes roll back into his head, his body curled up on the moss-covered ground. Panic washes over me, and for the first time, a chilling thought crosses my mind. Maybe we aren’t meant to be here. Perhaps I should have run. My heart races as I struggle to comprehend exactly what I’m seeing. I glance first at Trysten, his chest rises and falls, steady yet distant, and then to the onyx mist that seems to move excitedly as I continue forward despite my unwillingness.
I try to fight against the pull, but with each step I take, it feels laborious, like wading through thick, clinging tar. “No,” I plead, my voice echoing in the stillness. “No!” The pull lessens, but my feet remain rooted to the ground, immobile.
The clearing is dark, with barely any light to be found aside from the glowing light; still, I search, taking in my surroundings. Tears well up in my eyes at the sudden helplessness I feel; my eyes catch a shadow creeping from behind the tree before it coils around me. A shrill scream escapes my lips, piercing the oppressive stillness of the air. The scream feels distant, almost as if it’s not my own.
In an instant, the world around me dissolves into consuming, endless darkness, a velvet void that swallows everything, including every bit of light.
