“I’m not sure,” I admit. “Something feels off.”
The group stops in front of us, their smiles too wide, their eyes too knowing. “Thaldiran? Astryl? It’s been a long time,” one of them says.
Astryl steps forward, a hopeful expression on her face. “Do you know them?”
“I don’t think so,” I reply, eyeing the strangers cautiously.
The leader of the group, a man with slicked-back hair and a too-friendly demeanor, extends his hand towards me. “We know this must all be very confusing. Come with us. We can offer you sanctuary.”
Astryl looks at me, her eyes pleading. “Thaldiran, maybe we should go with them. They seem to know who we are.”
But my instincts scream at me to stay away. My Soul Sight never lies. “Right, because strangers who magically know our names are always the trustworthy sort,” I retort, rolling my eyes.
The man’s smile falters, replaced by a look of annoyance. “You don’t have a choice.”
Before I can react, the air around us shimmers, and I feel a surge of magic. The strangers’ forms blur and shift, their appearances morphing into something darker, more menacing. Astryl gasps, “It’s the wraiths. They look... human.”
“I knew it,” I growl.
The leader snarls, his features contorting into something monstrous. “You can’t escape us, Thaldiran.”
Astryl and I back away. Our weapons didn’t cross over with us, leaving us defenseless. The streets around us empty as people flee from the creatures. It’s clear now that these strangers are not here to help us; they’re here to capture us.
“Astryl,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on our adversaries and pointing to my left. “When I say run, run towards that alley.”
She nods, her eyes focused, her stance ready.
The leader lunges at me, his claws extended, but I sidestep his attack. Astryl dodges another assailant, her movements agile and precise.
“Now!” I shout, my focus on the alley I had pointed out earlier.
We sprint toward it, the sounds of pursuit echoing behind us. I glance back and see the strangers giving chase, their forms vacillating between their human visages and their true nature as they try to catch up.
We reach the alley and turn sharply. The narrow passage is lined with large metal boxes that emit a foul smell but offer some cover. I press myself against the wall, my hand clutchingthe leather pouch containing the shimmering dust. It’s the only weapon I have, and I need to use it wisely.
“Get ready,” I whisper.
As the first of our pursuers enters the alley, I lunge forward, my body slamming into him and knocking him off balance. Astryl follows suit, using her momentum to push another attacker into the brick wall.
We scramble further down the alley, our breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. Astryl glances back, her eyes wide with alarm.
“They’re gaining on us,” she says, her voice edged with urgency.
“Keep moving,” I urge, scanning our surroundings for any possible escape routes.
Ahead, I spot a metal ladder leading to the roof of a nearby building. It’s a risky move, but it might be our only chance to get some distance between us and our pursuers.
“Astryl, the ladder!” I point upward. As Astryl reaches the ladder first, I urge her onward. “Up the ladder, Astryl!”
She begins to climb, and I follow right after her. Just as I’m about to grab the ladder, a hand shoots out and grabs her ankle. I quickly turn and deliver a powerful kick to the assailant’s face, forcing him to release his grip on Astryl. With her free, we both scramble up the ladder, narrowly escaping our pursuers.
Once on the rooftop, we sprint across the uneven surface, putting as much distance as we can between us and the alley. The rooftop hopping becomes our strategy, a quick way to navigate the maze of this unfamiliar world.
As we make our escape, a distant wailing sound fills the air, growing louder. It’s hard to say if it’s coming closer to us or if it’s simply a part of this chaotic city’s soundscape. Astryl glances back, her eyes wide with concern.
“They’re getting closer!” she exclaims.
“We need to keep moving,” I reply, scanning the rooftops for any sign of a safe path.
