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My first thought when I came to my senses was that this was far too beautiful to be anything created by the Radaskim.
Wide silvery trails arced from my position in miasmic streams. An infinite white mist spread in every direction. Points of light floated in the air, nodes toward which the silver streams flowed. I looked down, seeing that I was floating in the air, the mists descending for what seemed forever. It was like looking onto a galaxy of stars.
I focused on one of the nearby nodes of light, toward which one of the streams flowed in a cascade of molten silver. I needed to go there. As soon as that thought entered my mind, I flowed across the stream, like electricity along a wire, until I connected with the node. I looked around at my new surroundings. There were thousands upon thousands of these nodes, just floating in the mist like stars.
I’d have to search among these nodes for the others. I transferred myself to the next node. Movement was easy; all I had to do was think of the neighboring node and will myself to travel there, and I could do this so long as the nodes were connected by a silver stream. As I became used to this new state, I was flying from one point of light to the next in a flurry of movement.
After five minutes, I’d lost all sense of direction. Here, there was no down or up, east or west. There wasn’t even gravity. This place had its own rules, and I had to be careful since I didn’t know them.
I had just paused to collect my thoughts when I saw an orb of pink light racing along the streams. It bounced back and forth between the starry nodes, incredibly fast. I knew it had to be someone else. If we’d all entered by the same place, it would make sense that we were all in the same area. At least, that was what I hoped.
I made my way toward the moving pink orb, which had paused on a node below me. I directed my attention there, finding the quickest path.
The orb was still. I was only one connection away. If I wanted to move on, I needed to occupy the same space.
So, I raced along the stream, connecting to the node, joining with the energy. When I did, I found that I was not alone. Somehow, I knew I had come upon Ruth.
Alex? Is that you?
Yeah. It’s me. This place is really weird.
I know. Have you seen the others?
No. They have to be around, somewhere...
There were these black lights chasing me a while ago, but I think I got away. They...sort of looked like you, only black.
Like an orb?
I guess, Ruth said. I don’t know what they are, but I don’t think they’re on our side. We should keep moving. Find the others.
I watched the surrounding nodes and connecting streams, but saw nothing of these black orbs. I was thankful they weren’t here now, but they could show up any second.
I decided to turn back in the direction I’d come from. If Ruth had come from the other direction, then that was probably where these black orbs were. We traveled together, shooting from node to node as a single entity. Joined together, it seemed as if we were going faster than when I’d just been on my own. We sped faster and faster until our original area had been left behind entirely. Beyond the streams and glowing nodes, a thick constellation lit the distance, its collective glow radiant and mesmerizing. All the streams seemed to lead there.
Maybe we should go there, I thought.
Look.
My attention was drawn below. A bright pink orb shot along the silver streams as three black orbs gave chase.
We changed our direction to head straight down, following the chaos of streams so fast that everything passed in a blur. The three black orbs had converged on a single node. Apparently, they also had the ability to join, and with that joining, the black orb brightened considerably, shooting off toward the pink orb at a much higher speed. It seemed like when orbs joined, they became brighter and faster. This applied to both the black orbs and the pink ones.
We raced downward, seeking to cut off the path of the pink orb. That light was brighter than when I had seen Ruth, but it wasn’t as bright or fast as the black orb. This made me think there were two people sharing that energy. If that was the case, then if Ruth and I could intercept, it would be our four against the black orb’s three. Hopefully, that would be enough to tip the scales in our favor.
The black orb was only two nodes behind the pink one. There was a node that the pink orb was heading toward, the only clear spot where we could intercept it.
That node, I said. That’s where we meet them.
We were just a few nodes away. We flowed from stream to stream, connecting to the target node. At the same instant, the pink orb fused with Ruth’s and mine’s.
At first, I felt only shock. Then, I became aware of Michael and Askal’s presence.
Alex? Michael’s voice said. Ruth?
Yeah, it’s us, I said. We need to move.
The approaching black orb, was only one node away. It hesitated, trying to decide if this was a fight it would take.
We are too strong for it, Askal said.
The black orb flowed away, as quickly as it had come.
Sweet, Michael said.
They’ll be back, I said. And next time, they’ll have more. We still have to find the rest.
We saw some of them, over toward that group of really bright lights, Michael said. But those black lights chased us away.
Then we need to go back, I said. Everyone keep an eye out. We’re definitely not out of this yet.
***
WITH ALL FOUR OF OUR energies fused together, we were able to go faster than ever before. We raced toward the thick, interlocking nodes in the distance, on our way seeing a pink orb. It was about as bright as Michael and Askal’s had been, leading me to believe it was two people. We were missing Anna, Makara, Samuel, and Quietus.
But as we raced along the streams, the mist darkened. The only light came from the streams themselves and our own emitted aura. Black orbs flowed from every direction, all heading for the node where the lone pink orb stood its ground.
Hurry, I said.
We raced along the streams, but not before one of the black orbs attacked the pink one. The pink orb shot from the node, right toward us, as if knocked back. We moved to intercept it, connecting on the same node. I became aware of both Makara’s and Samuel’s presence.
Alex! Makara said. It’s just me and Samuel.
We need to find Anna, I said. Quietus, too.
Right now, we need to run, Samuel said.
I saw Samuel’s point. Already, many of the black orbs were converging, forming an orb that would far overpower ours. It was time we left.
I oriented our orb toward the constellation of lights, glowing in the distance. We flowed along the streams at breakneck speeds, able to outpace the black orbs still converging. Soon, they would be fast enough to follow us, and we did not know these paths as well as they did. We needed Quietus to show us the way to Askala’s consciousness.
Even though Quietus was the one we needed, finding Anna was more important to me. I could only hope that the two of them had found each other, somehow. I couldn’t bear the thought of Anna being alone in this hostile place.
As we shot toward the constellation, the nodes and interconnecting streams were so close and tangled that it was dizzying to even look at them. Quietus was right; this place was a maze, and without her guidance, we would surely be overtaken by the black orbs sooner or later. In the overwhelming amount of lights, I searched for any pink orbs flowing along the streams. So far, I hadn’t seen any. There were too many streams, too many nodes...
There, Ruth said.
My attention focused on where Ruth was looking. And there it was. A pink light, navigating interlocking streams at incredible speed. It was as bright as Makara’s and Samuel’s. Hopefully, that meant Quietus and Anna were together.
Behind, the black orbs had regrouped, chasing us along the silver pathways. I watched the pink orb, twisting and turning through the silver conduits, getting closer and closer. I realized that they were coming to us. As much as I wanted to stand my ground to make it easier for them, we had to get moving – the black orbs would reach us before they did.
So, I directed our energy along random pathways, hoping to confuse our pursuers. Several of the black orbs fanned out on alternate paths; to my dismay, some of them even shot ahead of us. I angled downward, only to find several more black orbs rushing to block our retreat.
We had been completely penned in.
It was at that moment that Quietus’s and Anna’s pink light occupied the node I was about to connect with. A black orb filled the neighboring node, just an instant away from striking at Quietus and Anna.
Thankfully, I got there first. As soon as I became aware of Quietus’s and Anna’s presence, a huge shock reverberated throughout my mind, followed by a monstrous scream. My vision darkened, before returning to me, revealing the black orb shooting away at incredible speed down the streams. Within moments, it was out of sight.
Anna... I thought.
I’m fine, she said. Quietus was telling me that we’re almost there.
Quietus took control of our orb, weaving it through the labyrinth of streams and nodes. Dozens of black orbs followed the paths, seeking to trap us, and more yet joined from the periphery. But Quietus always knew which way to go – if there were five different routes blocked, she would find a sixth one.
She worked our orb through the various streams, heading deeper into the central constellation. A single bright light occupied the center. I knew that was our target.
We reached a node that only had two possible paths, but each path led to a node occupied by a black orb. Several more orbs tailed us from behind, closing off the possibility of backtracking.
Quietus suddenly turned us toward the right, directly at one of the orbs. As soon as we connected, we were met with strong resistance.
Command it, Elekim!
I had no idea what that meant, but I reached out with my mind, seeking to make a connection.
Let us pass!
One life...
Let us pass! Now!
One life...
I realized what it was asking. It wanted one person to stay behind.
I’ll...I’ll stay, Makara said. The rest of you go on.
Makara, no...
Elekim, there is no time! Quietus said.
Alex, listen to me. We are not getting out of this unless I stay here. Alright? Now move.
Makara... Samuel said.
No arguing! Go now! Do what you have to do, Alex.
Behind, the black orbs were fast advancing. There was no time to think, no time to do anything but what Makara had told me.
I’ll stand my ground here, she said. Go, Alex. All of you...protect him. The price I’m paying now will be small compared to what he’ll go through.
Makara...
Go! Don’t hesitate!
I turned my attention back to the black orb.
You give her soul? the black orb whispered.
I didn’t hesitate; I did just as Makara had told me.
Yes.
Instantly, I felt Makara’s consciousness depart. And like that, she was gone, her life snuffed out like a candle. I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t think anything as we were allowed to go by, Quietus leading us along the pathways now clear of black orbs. I looked back, but we were already too far away.
I’m sorry, I thought.
You did nothing wrong, Anna said. There was no other way.
She died well, Samuel said. She died a warrior.
That was who Makara was. A warrior. It seemed a travesty that I couldn’t cry in this place, couldn’t scream or grieve. I just felt an emptiness that went beyond words. Makara, who had saved my life countless times, had saved it one, final time...and it had cost her own life.
There were no more nodes – just a single, long pathway leading to the point of brightness in the far distance.
And then, we were brought to a stop on a final, hidden node. Nothing but white brightness extended ahead.
It was terribly quiet. No one said anything, and I couldn’t help but feel that this was the final door...a door which only I could pass through.
I have to go on alone, I said.
No, Anna said.
You promised me, I said. If there was a point where I had to go on alone, you would let me.
Then I’ll break that promise, gladly. You can’t fight her alone, Alex.
She’ll only let me in, I said. I’m sure of that.
We will defend you here, Quietus said. For as long as we can.
Alex, no! Anna said.
Anna...I’ll always love you. Remember that. Please...I have to go.
We’ve done as much as we can, Samuel said. All we can do is hold the line.
No one said anything for a long while. I just waited for Anna to say something. But she didn’t. I was afraid I would never hear her voice again.
And then, she spoke. Alex...please come back. I don’t know how you can find a way out, but please, find a way...
If there is any way, I’ll find it. But I have to do what I came here to do. You know that. And no matter what happens, nothing will ever stop me from loving you.
You must go now, Elekim, Quietus said.
The black orbs were fast approaching, just several nodes away. I turned my attention to the central point of light, the nexus of Askala’s consciousness.
If there’s a way out, I said to Quietus, please use it.
Time seemed to slow, and the black orbs moved at a crawl.
I made a promise to myself, Anna said. I promised I would go with you, to the end. And I meant the very end. Not the last door. The rest of them can leave. But me...I’m coming with you.
Before I could say anything more, the black orbs lit the nodes directly bordering ours.
Go, Elekim! Quietus said.
There was no time, so I turned toward the bright light, willing myself to move forward.
But somehow, Anna had caught hold of me, riding along.
Anna!
She didn’t answer – we were both pulled toward the great white light.