Fate of the Blessed
Chapter 18

Amara

“Oh, my goodness, Amara!” Shanti squealed, flinging her arms around me in a death-like grip. I laughed, prising her arms from around me and kneeled at her level. I held her at arm’s length, just looking at her. An overwhelming well of emotion came over me, and I couldn’t help but let a sob escape my lips.

“I’ve missed you Shanti.”

Shanti smiled, gently wiping the tears from my eyes. She told me to dry my eyes before jumping up and hugging Tae-Seong tight. To my surprise, he hugged the little girl back. I guess he has a soft spot hidden somewhere deep. Very deep.  

“You’re going to need to be careful with your shoulder.” He scolded. I jumped up from my kneeling position and noticed the bandage on her shoulder.

“What happened to her shoulder?” I swung to face Tae-Seong, demanding to know what happened. He looked at the floor, ashamed.

“We were attacked by Saja, demons if you like, Charon saved us.”

Anger boiled within me, but I looked again to Shanti and breathed a sigh of relief, letting the fury ebb from my body. It wouldn’t do any good getting at him.

Charon smiled as he watched the exchange between the three travellers. A knock on the table startled us all, and we looked towards the noise. A girl with silver shimmering hair looked at the boat keeper she pointed to the door, showing us she had to leave. He nodded, and she disappeared. Shanti ran to the door, trying to stop her, but she brushed past, giving the little girl a quick pat on the head as she did so. 

“Where is she going?” 

“She has duties to attend too, little one.” Charon said. Shanti sat back down, rubbing her shoulder, wincing as she did so.

“Anyway, my friends, sit down I’ll make some tea.” Charon cut through the silence.

Tae-Seong and I took seats on the table, whilst Shanti perched herself on the edge of the bed, which Cerberus was now hiding under. Charon busied himself making the tea. 

“So, what’s our next move?” Tae-Seong asked. 

“Well, we’ve already agreed that we need to go back.” I said.

Charon set down 3 steaming cups of tea, seating himself at the table as he did so. 

“I fear that is the correct decision, but still a path I would rather you didn’t have to take.” Charon sighed.

Tae-Seong and I looked at each other before turning our attention briefly to Shanti, who had lain back down on the bed. Although she was trying her best to hide it, she was in pain.

“This time Shanti is going to come with us as well.”

Tae-Seong looked grave, whilst Charon just gave a small nod. We all sat in silence for what seemed like forever until Tae-Seong piped up. We all looked up from our teas.

“Will you take us back, Charon?” 

“Unfortunately not. The payment I was given is spent and you don’t have another obol to give me. My journey ends here.”

I put my head in my hands as I swallowed back a scream of frustration. Everything is this good forsaken place has a damn price. The unfairness of it all was like a blow to the stomach.

I hate this place.

“We can’t go back through the forest, the Saja are still there.” Tae-Seong said, banging his fist on the table in frustration. 

“There is another way. The Saja can’t go past the forest as orange trees grow at the edge. However, you can follow the midnight trail.” We stayed silent, so he continued on.

“It should lead back into the silent city; you will replace it from there.” 

“That was the place we were when we first woke up here.” I said.

“One word of warning though, do not step off the trail into the blackness no matter what you hear or see.” 

“They can’t just make things simple?” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose with my fingers.  

“Now get some rest before you leave, finish your tea.” We both smiled at Charon, but it was clipped. I got up to leave the table. My tummy was doing flip-flops, like I was bobbing about on a boat, and I needed some air. Tae-Seong went to get up with me, but I waved him back down. I needed to be alone.

“Stay here, I just need to collect my thoughts outside.” 

“Stay within the fence.” Charon shouted behind me as I left the cabin. 

Once outside, I sat down on one of the rickety old benches and put my back to the wall. My head was spinning, vision darkening at the edges. Oh god, please don’t let me pass out again.

In front of me came an image, one that I would recognise anywhere. Aeron. He sat down beside me; all my limbs screamed for me to move by I was rooted to the spot in fear. 

“It’s nice to see you again, Amara.” Aeron said. A sly smile twitched at both corners of his mouth. 

“How are you here?” 

“I’m not here in person. I know you’re disappointed, right?”

A grin broke out across his face. Despite myself, I rolled my eyes, the orb. It must have created a connection between them when he absorbed it. Fabulous. 

“Smart girl, I knew you’d figure it out straight away.” 

“You read my thoughts!” I said. He gave me a sideward glance, snickering. 

“No, don’t be so silly, you’ve just voiced your thoughts out aloud.” Aeron stated.

Did I? I didn’t think I had.

“Oh, I’m stuck in a strange world with demons, glowing orbs and I’m being silly for thinking you could read minds.”

I looked away from him. I didn’t want to become friendly with this monster but it was difficult; he was making me at ease. He stiffened, and I knew he was thinking the same way, like this was something he did regularly. Like making people comfortable was his job. 

“Well, I must go. I’ve got to plan for your arrival, we’re going to have a blast!” he said as he disappeared. 

“Wait!” 

“Who are you asking to wait?” Tae-Seong asked.

She jumped, startled “Oh, nobody”.

Outside the door stood Charon and Shanti. Without warning Charon scooped me up and gave me a tight hug before giving Tae-Seong a heavy pat on the back and scuffling Shanti’s hair, mindful of her shoulder. We all said our goodbyes and started on the midnight trail that Charon had showed us, before warning us, again, that they were not to leave the path for any reason. 

The lights of his cabin grew dim. The only light left was the odd glowing on the flora and fauna around them. We took every step carefully, hyperaware of the path in front of us. Shanti held onto my hand so tight that I thought my circulation had been cut off, but I said nothing. Although the terror was turning my insides to jelly, I didn’t want her to know this. Tae-Seong scouted ahead a few steps, but never farther than arm’s reach. 

“Amara,” came a familiar voice. 

“What is it, Tae-Seong?” I asked. 

“Hmm, I said nothing. Shanti?” she shook her head in response. I stayed silent, continuing to walk, but growing more uneasy by the minute. Something just wasn’t right. 

“Amara.”

“Who said that?” The others stopped in front, turning around. 

“Nobody said anything, what is going on?” Tae-Seong said sounding irritated at being stopped every 5 minutes.

“I heard somebody say my name!” 

Tae-Seong let out an exasperated breath “Charon said that this place was dangerous, stick close and if you hear anything more, just ignore it.”

I nodded, fighting back tears. The sooner we got home, the better. I tried to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, ignoring the niggling feeling we were being watched. Shanti had gone on ahead to hold Tae-Seong’s hand as we picked our way through the winding paths of the midnight trail but, I slowed down they seemed to get further and further away. Then there it was again, the voice like a song calling me in.  

“It’s me, Conner.”

I almost wept in relief. Was he alive? No, he couldn’t be. He had died in my arms. 

“I know what you’re thinking. I’m not dead I was just transported to another place.” He said as the unruly mop of blonde came into focus. There he was, standing in front of me, just off the path.

“Only now I’m stuck in here, I need you to come in and get me.” 

“How can I bring you out, Charon told us not to leave the trail?” 

“He’s lying, he just didn’t want you to replace me.” His voice had taken on a chilling tone with a hiss like quality. I hadn’t noticed, as I was too focused on the fact that Conner was here in front of me. 

“Okay,” I said, stepping into the darkness.

“That’s it come in.” Conner said.

I stopped abruptly, shaking my head. Coming back to my senses, I realised I’d just made a terrible mistake. I looked up at Conner, who was smiling, but it wasn’t right; the grin was a lot larger than it should have been. The creature changed into something dark and evil. My skin crawled as I moved backwards to get away from it. 

Oh holy fuck, nuggets, what the hell had I got myself into now?

“It’s been so long since I had something moreish to eat.” It sniffed the air as if to savour the small of me. All traces of Conner were gone, replaced by a grotesque being with long spiked fingers and a smile that I knew I’d not forget soon. Its claw shot out. I moved back, putting my arm up, but I wasn’t quick enough. It sliced through, leaving three gashes on my forearm.

I cried out in pain; the creature cackled in response. It moved forward again; it was enjoying the hunt; I screamed as I backed up when out of nowhere a shot of white light emitted from my hand; it was so strong it propelled me backwards onto the path. The last thing I heard was the blood-curdling screams of the hideous creature. 

Tae-Seong

Up ahead, Shanti and I walked together hand in hand, something that I had found a little strange. I had brief contact with children back home; we had none in the family. If it made Shanti feel safe, who was I to deny her that piece of comfort? Suddenly she stopped “Wait” she turned around, bringing me with her.

“Where’s Amara?”

I gave her a puzzled look when my eye caught her just as she stepped into the darkness. I panicked. Charon told us not to stray from the path!

“Stay here, don’t move.”

Shanti nodded and stood still. I raced to where she had gone and shouted her name, but she couldn’t hear me. She was gone. 

I shouted her name, panicking. What the hell was I supposed to do? I couldn’t leave the path. I paced back and forth until out of nowhere I saw an explosion of white light. Amara shot back into the path, knocking me over. We both landed together with a thud.

Shanti came running over “Oh my goodness, are you okay, you’re bleeding. What happened?”

“First, take a breath, I’m okay, I saw Conner, and I thought he was trapped, so I wanted to save him.” She said, panting. 

Shanti flung her arms around her, crying, “I thought I’d lost you again.” 

“Lets get your arm sorted.” I said, letting out a sigh of relief. I ripped the bottom of my t-shirt and wrapped it round my arm like a makeshift bandage. 

“We need to keep going.” I said, as I helped her to her feet.

Tonight just keeps getting better and better...