Great, offend the only person that can help us, nice going.
Psy and Ryder scowl at each other for a moment, making my muscles stiffen slightly. “Haha, you should’ve seen the look on your face.” Psy bursts out in a joke, making me jump. “It was my hand that drew it, but the spirits took the wheel.” Thank the Gods. My lungs exhale a sigh of relief. I can’t wait to get out of this place.
Ryder’s defences soften as he looks at it closer. “So you can read it then?” He asks, his finger smudging the graphite pencil a tad.
“Not a fuckin clue what it says.” Psy chuckles again, his bionic hand clasped around the brown bottle, taking another swig.
“Great,” I mutter, letting out an audible sigh.
“But I’m pretty sure these ‘ere are trees. A bunch of em.” Psy points to the ridges in the page that look like multiple triangles stacked on top of each other.
More useful information,I think sarcastically to myself. “Just below something that must be fuckin tall.” He adds his finger, highlighting an arrow pointing upwards. “The rest looks like jibber jabber.” He chuckles again, and frustration takes another bite at my skin. My eyes locate Ryder’s, expecting to share a kindred annoyance, but his do not share the same bewilderment as mine.
There is something different about them, something that makes my heart skip a beat or two; a clarity building, his cogs turning like a well-oiled machine. But he looks apprehensive, Gods, I did not even think he could look any tenser, but he does. His jaw is pressed together so tightly, I’m surprised his teeth haven’t shattered.
“What is it?” I ask, hoping to edge the words out of him. His eyes look away from mine as if searching for the will to speak. “Ryder?” I say confused. He clearly knows something.
“The forest below the highest point.” He speaks finally, but I am still mystified. “Half Dead Hollow.”
Psy’s eye widens at this name, and a silence overwhelms the room.
“Half Dead Hollow?” I question, not really sure if I want to hear the answer.
“Of course. The forest at the foot of Mourn Peak.” Psy adds in as if he is looking at the world in a brand new resolution. I’ve heard of Mourn Peak before, the tallest mountain in Palidonia, but never Half Dead Hollow.
“Why do they call it that?” I swallow back the saliva in my throat as I ask Ryder.
“It doesn’t matter.” He says, which makes my heart beat faster because now I know he is trying to protect me from something. “Ryder, why do they call it that?” I reiterate, this time gently squeezing his arm.
“Cause by the time you’ve taken ye first step in there, you’re already half dead. No one makes it out the other side.” Psy begins rolling up the parchment paper before handing it over to me. “And if that’s not enough, the gem is said to be protected… to claim its power, ye must complete the trials enchanted on it.”
I take the parchment with a shaky grip, third meals threatening to make an appearance.
“Good luck.” He says, and I nod my head hesitantly.
I think we’ll need it.
Chapter Nine
Ryder and I stand shoulder to shoulder, making our ascent up the dark elevator. The air feels thick with anxiety, and the floor keeps creaking every time I move. The bile in the back of my throat feels like a permanent fixture. I know we have faced demons before, but this feels like a whole different ball game. In order to save Ryder and fix the sun, we need to somehow obtain a murderous gem, but not before proclaiming ourselves half dead to get to it. If somehow we make it through the forest, there’s a chance the gem will laugh at our accomplishment and paralyse us out of spite.
“Say something that will make me feel better about all of this.” I plead to Ryder, looking to cling on to him like a lifeboat, the elevator jolts for a moment, shifting my whole body weight into him. He steadies me.
“The world out there is going to shit either way.” He shrugs his shoulders. “So I say lets just enjoy the ride.” The corners of his lips rise into a small half smirk, distracting my mind from the sense of impending doom for a moment, but the screeching of the elevator torments my nerve endings.
“Enjoy the ride. I can do that.” I whisper back as a sort of sigh of relief. But if it is anything like this hazardous elevator ride, we may not reach the end of it.
Finally, the doors begin to open, but we are not met by fresh air; the dusty back streets of the shadow realm steal myoxygen and roll my stomach. I know why they say that the only reason people come down to this place is when they are running from something, because I could not imagine choosing this life willingly.
“Come on, lets get out of here,” Ryder says, taking a step out onto the cobbled pavement, his hood overcasting his features in the dim light of the alley. I don’t hesitate; the thought of getting out of this place is like ecstasy.
As we make our way towards the street lights and vendors, a tall man approaches, his shoulder barging forcefully into Ryder’s.
“Watch where you’re going!” The man spits, and I know it is taking all of Ryder’s strength not to retaliate.
“My bad, I didn’t see you there.” Ryder bites his tongue, but his knuckles are balled into fists.
“Do I know you from somewhere?” The man asks, his demeanour changed, now looking at Ryder a little too intensely.
