A glimmer of hope worms into my heart, strengthening my resolve.
We move, with small steps, careful to not unravel the tied off fabric.
“Keep going, Alora!” The Devourer’s words help warm the marrow of my bones offering the encouragement I need.
It finally begins to feel like we’ll make it unscathed out of these woods.
A shifting shadow in my peripheral catches my attention and I snap my head in the direction of the movement.
When my gaze locks on the space where I saw the apparition, there’s nothing. Nothing but fallen trees and boulders.
Convinced my mind is playing tricks on me, I return my gaze to where the tethered men are.
In their place, standing in front of me, is a small form, half my size.
Sandy curls frame a face in a pale halo. Freckles and a toothy grin I’d thought I’d only see again in my dreams.
Hanin.
The boy cocks his head to the side as if I had uttered the name outloud. The toothy grin pulls into a full smile. It’s one I would welcome in any lifetime. His doe eyes blink back at mine, a cerulean blue that mirrors my own.
Falling to my knees, it’s unknown if this is a blessing from the goddess or if I’ve fractured my mind.
If it’s a trick, it’s one that will leave me plunging into the deep end of my wits, but I so badly want to lose myself to the current.
“Hanin?” I croak his name in a broken, shattered sound.
He looksreal.Like he’s here.
I stretch my hand out towards him, testing to see if I can feelanything.
My fingers stop on the soft tunic and before I know it I’m wrapping my arms around the young boy.
He smells of pear orchards, sunlight, and lilybells. I pat his head that’s tucked into my shoulder and run my fingers through his curls, the satin texture smooth along my rough tips.
I inhale deeply, the familiar scent of briny air mixed with warm baked scones jolting my memory.
I sit there for a moment, cradling the boy and unwilling to part with him.
He leans back, breaking our embrace.
I release his curls and bring my hands down to my side, unknowing what to do with them.
Looking into his face, I etch the perfect details into my mind, chiseling the last details before settling on his eyes.
Except they’ve changed into something inhuman.
The once bright orbs have been replaced with milky white irises, devoid from any other color or pupil.
I gasp, my lungs suddenly heavy as if they’ve collapsed.
His once soft skin is mottled, kissed in hues of purple and bruising pink. Though he still smiles at me, his lips peel back revealing decaying teeth.
“Alora?” The skin sloughs from his lips as they form my name. The voice sounds the same, too sweet and childlike, it’s eerie now that I consider it.
“You’re not Hanin,” I say as I sink back on my heels.
His mouth closes and his expression changes with his down turned lips.
