6/28/3028

Darkness.

The vortex itself was somehow silent, but an incredible noise reverberated in my head.

The racket was so forceful that my ears pulsated. I almost wanted to scream, but at the same time I was afraid to. I Somehow felt that if I did, something important would be sucked out from within me.

We were falling fast and changing direction at incredible speed. The freefall lasted for a while followed by sharp turns, left and right, then freefalling again.

After a while, I felt an odd sensation around my wrists. The ropes that tied me to Keiran and Jarek were loosening. Immediately I felt them both gripping my hands even tighter. I felt colder as we continued to fall endlessly, as if the wind penetrated through my clothes.

The loudness in my mind stopped and I felt warmth all around me from a light that was so bright, it was noticeable even with my eyes shut. A blanket of tranquility fell over me. We were no longer falling at the same speed as we had been; rather, it felt as if we were floating.

“We’re almost through. Keep your eyes shut,” Ilta said, her voice now clear and audible. I did as she said, but not without difficulty. Either there was a force trying to pry them open or I really wanted to see what was happening around me.

A sudden jolt went through my body like a rising surge of electricity, and I hit something hard beneath me. No longer falling, and no longer holding onto anyone’s hand, I wasn’t in the vortex anymore.

I opened my eyes. My vision was unusually blurry, so I squinted as I looked around me. The first thing I noticed was that I was crouched on the ground naked.

Before I could react, a haze of a man rushed to me and covered me with a blanket.

I tried to stand but realized that I was forcibly being held down by him. If that wasn’t startling enough, the man pried my mouth open, put a large pill in my mouth, and held my nose. I tried to fight against it but clearly the person was stronger than me. I swallowed before gasping for air.

Then, I lost consciousness.

✽✽✽

I had no idea why she was there and why anyone would even want to be in a dark murky forest at night.

She walked deeper and deeper into the threatening forest, unaware that I was following her. In one hand, she held an orb of light and with the other she brushed aside any jagged branches in her way. The trees in this part of the forest grew extremely thick, as if they were helping her conceal a secret. I maneuvered carefully, avoiding the frost covered branches rather than brushing them aside—I couldn’t risk any of them snapping.

The woman wore a long, red robe with a magnificently embroidered hood of silver, and golden cuffs around her sleeves. As much as I tried, it was impossible to see her face.

The night was tranquil and the cold bit at my nose. A gust of wind blew my way and I shivered. The abrupt sound of wings flapping overhead was startling and it took all of my willpower to keep me from letting a scream slip out.

The woman stopped abruptly. She glanced up in the direction of the noise but was unable to see anything clearly—just the expanse of crooked tree branches that hung overhead.

After a moment of absolute stillness, she continued ahead. I maintained a safe distance. When we arrived at a clearing in the forest, she pulled back her hood to reveal a head of coiled blond hair. I hid behind a thick tree—far enough away so that if I needed to, I could escape.

The light from her orb shone brighter, illuminating the space. She looked up at the moonless night sky, as if searching for something. Then, from the darkness of the trees ahead of her stepped a teenage boy wearing a long black robe.

The boy greeted the woman with a hand gesture—his thumbs and fingers touching, forming an inverted triangle. The woman waved her hand dismissively and they started speaking in low monotonous tones. Throughout their conversation, the boy had his hands folded neatly into his robe, occasionally nodding.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying. After a while, the woman folded her arms in front of her chest, like she was agitated. I moved closer, trying my best to catch any part of their conversation. She raised her voice, and finally I could hear her.

“That is not any of your concern. What was of such great importance for you to summon me?” The woman’s tone was condescending.

“I have it here,” replied the boy. He stretched out his hands, revealing a package wrapped in cloth. “In the future, further meeting may risk everything. This is for your protection, my master.” He bowed his head and placed it respectfully in the woman’s hands. She unfolded the auburn cloth package to examine the contents. “Wear that,” said the boy, “and wear the uni-elk hide when you wish to make contact.”

“I am impressed by your wisdom,” said the woman, reaching into her own robe and pulling out a small brown pouch. “I have something for you as well. It is much too dangerous for me to keep. If anyone were to discover it in my possession, all would be lost. Keep it safe—from everyone. Do not allow a single soul to know.”

Then I heard a gravelly caw from a crow.

It startled me and I let out a gasp.

The robed ones looked in my direction, realizing that they might not be alone.

They began to march straight toward me. I turned to flee.