Winter 2045
Allison Fae-McCallum
“Come along this way,” Felix had her follow him along after their long talk at the cafe. “The friend of mine here that’s in the line of work we’re looking for should be back from a mission on their own, I think we’ll be able to find them at the bar.”
“A bar this early in the morning?” Allison asked.
“I wouldn’t let him hear you say that,” Felix said. “Gets real touchy about his coping mechanisms. Studying the underworld can do that to you, I hear.”
“I...see,” Allison said.
“Quite familiar to you in a sense, no?” Jace appeared by her side.
“I’m not an alcoholic,” Allison thought to him.
“No, but that’s only because your access to the stuff has been cut clean, isn’t that right?”
She shook her head—thinking to herself. I don’t even think I’d like the stuff—much less use it to dull the pain or whatever else they tend to say.
“Regardless, you can shut it on that point,” Allison thought to him. “There’s nothing a little forward momentum can’t help me with anyhow.”
“If that’s what you want to call it,” Jace joked, then faded as they approached the entrance to the bar.
Felix and Allison pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped into a dimly lit room that smelled of stale beer and cigarette smoke. The walls were lined with shelves of liquor bottles, and the room was filled with the low murmur of conversation and the clink of glasses. The room was giving the atmosphere of it being later in the day—she no doubt thought that was on purpose for just that kind of customer.
Felix's eyes scanned the room, taking in the motley crew of patrons. There were a few regulars he had recognized—grizzled old men nursing their drinks and muttering to themselves—but there were also a few younger faces, clustered around the pool table or huddled in small groups at the bar.
Allison's eyes were wide with curiosity as she took in the scene. She had never been in a bar like this before, and she was fascinated by the energy of the place. The air was thick with the heavy contemplation of the past—it was as if humanity gathered together and decided that no matter how much the world had changed—this would stay the same.
The person they were looking for was near the edge of the counter—they were a strong looking androgynous figure with long blond hair tied up in a ponytail. Allison and Felix approached them and Allison saw they were hunched over a glass with their shoulders arched up. Allison had recognized the stance as contemplative and almost regretful. She sympathized with the feeling. Felix approached the counter and looked to the side.
“How often am I going to find you here before the sun rises?”
They didn’t turn to meet his gaze, simply tapping twice on the counter top to signal they were ready for another drink. The barkeep nodded and took their finished glass.
“As often as the job takes,” they said. “We’re planning on a large-scale expedition to investigate the tear out west. So as many days as I can number up I’m going to take what opportunity that I have.”
“Well then allow me to introduce an interruption to our usually scheduled toxic cycle.” Felix said as he turned to motion to Allison.
They turned to look at Allison—she could see their eyes were a very vibrant green. “What’s her deal?”
“Allison is her name, and she’s interested in the work you’ve been doing..and...so am I.”
Their disposition suddenly flipped on a dime as their gaze to Felix grew more intense. “You’re joining the squad? Well why didn’t you start with that you big lunk,” they turned in their seat and startled the barkeep behind them who returned with their drink. “Clyde, a round of drinks for my new friends here, please. Put it on my tab.”
“You got it,” Clyde, the barkeep said, then he looked up to each of them. “What’ll it be?”
Allison shook her head and made a negative motion. “No thanks, I’m good.”
“We just ate, that’s really okay,” Felix held up a hand. “Plus it’s a little early for us.”
“Suit yourself,” the patron said. “Name’s Veron. I’m the head of the Underworld Investigation Unit.”
“How many people work with you in your unit?” Allison asked.
Veron chuckled, but Allison could tell it was the kind of laugh that was made before laughably sad information was about to be dished out. “Not nearly enough. I’ve been asking Felix to transfer for the longest time now.”
“Asking is a bit light on the truth of it, wouldn’t you say?” Felix offered a too-wide grin and Veron rolled their eyes in response.
“Always have to have the last word, do you?” Veron said, and then they turned to Allison. “Regardless, some extra hands on deck would be fantastic. I’m aware of Felix’s abilities, what kind of specialties make you tick?”
“Oh, I…” Allison said, trying to look around to gather her thoughts of what that screen had said back in the underground lab. Her eyes went wide and then she made a swirling motion with her right index finger and a screen appeared beside her face displaying out toward them. Allison tried looking to her right and saw the idea she had worked perfectly. She smiled smally at her conjuration and then she motioned with her hand again to slide it over to Veron.
They looked it over with increasing interest, and Allison caught Felix’s eyes staring at the list with vigor as well.
“Well well well, kitty kitty did bring something interesting to repent.” Allison cocked her head at the nickname, to which they chuckled.
“Veron calls me kitty because of that old animated cat, Felix.”
Allison looked from Veron to Felix, her confusion was still palpable. She could think of many animated cats, but one named Felix seemed lost to her recollection.
“Seems the nail hasn’t landed, go on and show her, kitty. You always conjured better than I,” Veron teased.
Felix sighed and lazily drew up his hand in a circular motion. The image of an entirely black anthropomorphic cat appeared in the air as a 2D floating image.
“Oh, I think I’ve seen that in some old Disney documentaries,” Allison said. “Long long ago, of course.”
“Wasn’t strictly Disney,” Veron started, “But the big WD did make his own totally not stolen version called Julius before he ever made The Mouse.”
“You sure have a lot of knowledge on the subject,” Allison said.
“Of course,” Veron laughed. “I used to run a channel on YouTube back in the old days covering everything animation related. Used to start as a hobby until I got a lot of exposure—was able to start making money off of it.”
“Then...this,” Allison said.
“Then this,” Veron nodded.
“Walk through memory lanes are nice and all,” Felix said, dropping his hand and the cat faded from the scene, “...but I like to evacuate from most conversations of the old world and seeing as I gave my word I’d accompany Allison on this journey I can’t as well hit the road.”
“You are quite the sourpuss,” Veron said. They grabbed for the glass and downed the drink in a few gulps, and set the glass back down and tossed some silver pieces beside it. “Thanks again Clive. Same time next week?” The barkeep mumbled an affirmative sound as they jumped out of their seat. “Okay, well if you’ll follow me we can bring the good fellas the news together,” Veron said. “The others should be heading to HQ before we head out to the site now.”
“HQ, now that sounds fancy,” Allison said.
“It’s a smaller tent with two seats,” Felix said with his arms crossed. “I’ve passed by it a number of times.”
“Well I’ll have you know we’ve upgraded to three seats now,” Veron joked.
HQ was not as ragged as Felix led Allison to believe. It was on the corner of one of the intersections just past the central hub. It was different than many of the setups around because it had an actual foundation—front door and the works.
As Allison, Felix, and Veron entered the headquarters of the Underworld Exploration Unit, they found themselves in a modestly sized building that appeared to have seen better days. The circular lobby was dimly lit, with only a few flickering fluorescent lights illuminating the space. The walls were painted a drab shade of gray, and the carpet was worn and stained.
In front of them, Allison saw a staircase that led up to the second floor of the building. It looked to be old and creaky, and the wooden steps were worn down from what looked to be years of use.
Allison took a closer look around the lobby and noticed a few framed photographs hanging on the walls. They depicted various expeditions to worlds that looked like they stemmed from a fantasy novel. High arching hills that led to deep valleys and brilliant blue skies.
Blue skies. It really did depict a fantasy after all.
Veron led them past the staircase to a door on the other end of the lobby—inside there was a compact lab fit into what looked like a large broom closet. Computer displays that looked to not be connected to any power source hung against the walls on the left hand side while some stacks of papers and folders cluttered the desk on the right. There was a remnant odor of some sort of chemical lingering in the room. Inside was an older man with shoulder length gray hair in a dark jacket and pale jeans typing on a conjured keyboard in front of two of the monitors.
“You’re back early,” he said, not looking up from his work.
Allison saw he was wearing a rather thick pair of glasses. Probably had to do with how close he was standing to those conjurations of his.
“We’ve got new recruits,” Veron answered, staring him down, a wry smile on their face.
The man snorted, “And pigs’ll come back to life, start flying, and then go back to being extinct.”
Extinct? So much I hadn’t even thought of has changed in the last decade.
“That’s one way to kill this country’s obsession for bacon, literally.” Jace said beside her.
“No kidding,” she thought.
The man stopped typing and then turned to look at them, “Oh, you weren’t kidding.”
“No, strange how that happens,” Veron said. They then turned to Allison and Felix. “This is Brammond Steets. You can call him Bramm for short, but never Steets. He hates that.”
Bramm stopped typing for a second, gave the slightest side-eye, and then the typing resumed.
“He’s our logger, co-venturer, and overall database admin.”
“I also clean up around here when you’re off acquainting with the bottle.”
Veron rolled their eyes. “Whatever it takes to make it through the day, I say.”
Bramm sighed. “Back in the old days nurturing an addiction brought out concern in those close to you,” Bramm said.
“Aw, you’re finally admitting we’re close?” Veron asked.
“I regret answering,” Bramm said, sighing. He finished his typing and the monitors and keyboard faded away. He turned, then his hazel eyes went wide. “Oh...now this is interesting. We’re honored by the legendary Mr. Nagatomi’s presence.”
“Hello Bramm,” Felix said.
“Does anybody here actually like each other?” Allison asked, then realized it came out blunter than she intended.
Veron laughed loudly, “The coworker relationship is there, need some levity if you’re working beside someone who isn’t necessarily like yourself.”
“I’m just that old where everyone younger than me has got it too good,” Bramm admitted. He chuckled, “Seriously though, I know of Veron’s exploits to recruit this one here,” He pointed toward Felix.
“Yes, and normally I would be too busy with my own work to help, and admittedly I did not have enough personal interest in the Underworld to be of any help.”
“Maybe so, but that’s that act of selflessness we’ve had many a talks on,” Veron chided. “But regardless,” they continued. “We’ve got one more here with us…” they turned to Bramm, “he upstairs?”
Bramm nodded. “Name’s David. Bit of a bold fool, but one hell of a venturer.”
“It was mentioned before, but what exactly is a venturer?”
“One who travels across the seams,” Bramm explained. “Easier to explain when we reach the site, I think.”
“I see,” Allison nodded. “So you actually get to travel to the other side...is the sky really blue over there?”
Bramm smiled softly. “Makes you miss the old world...it sure is. Blue skies, blue water, bright yellow sun.” He took a deep breath. “Our ventures out there are controlled, timed, and never further than what we plan. Can’t afford to lose anymore workers to the other side.”
Veron’s smile faded and they looked down and to the floor. “We’ve earned ourselves a bit of a reputation, unfortunately. And that’s the worst kind of business in bringing in new talent.”
Felix sighed, “I’ve heard plenty of talk about it. Sign your life away and throw it to the Underworld early.”
“But that’s why the work is so important!” Veron’s eyes were full of fire. It was very clear to see they were passionate about the work. “If nobody studies the Underworld—then all those lives are just forfeit! I can’t let that happen.”
“I understand,” Allison said. “I have friends that have found their way there—I understand the desire to bring them back.”
“Well then, I’ll go rouse David and we can head to the site,” Bramm said. “Wait outside, we’ll show you the ropes and tricks of our trade.”
Bramm walked past them and let the door to the lab close behind him. Allison turned to Felix and then they all headed outside.
David looked to be in his mid twenties with bright red hair and a scruffy looking goatee that looked like it could do with a trim. David’s blue eyes were bloodshot and he looked like he would rather be anyplace else. She had heard the argument that arose between him and Bramm as he woke up the hothead.
He hadn’t said anything to Allison and Felix when he had exited the front door with them, simply hiked up the bag on his back and headed out to the buggy they had parked by the side of the building.
“Real personable guy, that one,” Felix said. “Think I’ve seen him around a bit but don’t think I’ve ever introduced myself to him.”
“He’s an angry sort. Angry the world’s still fucked over. Angry his previous living arrangements didn’t work out. Angry that he’s never gotten a quiet moment to himself thanks to his abilities,” Bramm explained.
“He’s like you, kitty,” Veron said. “Always listening in to other people’s heads, except it’s honing in to him at all times.”
Allison turned to Felix, “You said that it was like that for you.”
“In the beginning, yes,” Felix said. “It was unbearable, and certainly led others to not want to be around me. Thankfully, since being here I’ve been able to control the input so I’m not constantly taking in all that information.”
“Well, he’s not been so lucky,” Bramm explained. “I can understand the need for wanting to be unconscious, but work’s work at the end of the day.”
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
~...~
The sky was dark as they had begun traveling out west. They packed up the buggy—a rudimentary vehicle that would withstand the journey, but certainly wasn’t going to be winning any awards in grand design. Allison felt the chills the higher speeds brought and felt it was fitting for the atmosphere of such an expedition.
They broke the outskirts of Achrom, and Allison turned around to see the buildings shrinking in the distance. She had been sitting in between Felix and David—so she had been trying to keep Jace close to her to prevent any of their interference from digging into her brain.
David seemed to be similarly staring off in the distance, but it was he who broke the silence.
“Since we’ve got more bait does that mean I can be the stake this time?”
“They’re not bait, Dave,” Veron said. “Stop trying to scare them off.”
“I can tell if they’re scared or not,” David said. “They’re not. Stop babying them.”
Veron sighed and then rolled their eyes. “Even still, it’s not good form to call the new recruits bait.”
“Recruits is also a poor word…” David began tapping his fingers on the side of the buggy. “He’s been working in Crowd Control for the past four years and she’s got the powers to rival the Exarchromage. What exactly is supposed to be new to them, here?”
“You’ll come to understand that David is very blunt about how he feels,” Bramm said, grabbing the wheel and putting it into a turn.
“Blunt is another way to call the truth. I just strip away the unnecessary,” he groaned.”Wake me up when we get there,” and he closed his eyes.
They navigated through the thickets and overgrown branches that threatened to snag their buggy—and Allison understood its thin and wiry design was to help it navigate through these rougher terrains. There wasn’t much of a body to scrape up, as it offered just enough protection from the environment. Eventually, they emerged from the thickness of the wood and the area opened up a bit—the trees that shielded them from above began to curve in wicked and wild directions—almost as if the deeper in they went were more corrupted and distorted.
“The physical impact the seams have on our world is very much a problem,” Bramm started as he slowed the buggy to a halt. “One that we unfortunately do not have the answer for. We’re going to need to continue on foot from here on out, so up and at em, David. No nap for you.”
He sighed without opening his eyes.
Allison slid out of the buggy Felix stepped out on, fearing for any adverse reaction from David. The ground was crunchy when she landed—leaves covered the ground floor—they looked like they had the life sucked out of them entirely with how white they were. It almost looked like a blanket of snow—and instantly she missed the feeling of seeing snow on a cold, Maine morning. Most people hated snow, but if there was one simple joy from the old world she could have back, well, it would certainly be a lot of things, but snow would be up there on the list.
“All right,” Veron said, gathering their bearings and picking up a hefty box in their hands that had been secured to the rear of the buggy with some taut rope. “This here’s going to be the gear we need when we can find the seam. Bramm’s got the tracker there,” they pointed to a small device that looked like a walkie-talkie in Bramm’s grasp. “And then David usually complains until we find our spot.”
David made no rebuttal, but Allison was sure he was cursing them out in his head.
“The tracker senses distortions in the area—it’s a conjuration of his own design. If you couldn’t tell, Bramm’s a genius in combining our magic and technology.”
“I was an engineer in the old world. Machines and how they work...or refuse to are the bread and butter of my hyperfixations,” Bramm said, holding the tracker up. “This here works by calculating the level of distortion, or LOD in the field immediately surrounding us. The distortion is measured by a change in atmospheric pressure on a more-than-normal basis. Find the disturbances, find where they’re largest in number and boom. Seam found.”
“What if there were two seams close by, would the tracker be able to differentiate?”
Bramm’s look darkened. “We haven’t thus far experienced something like that, and thank the gods for it. I don’t dare imagine what effect that would have on our world if they were that close—my hypothesis is they’d find some way to merge and then I don’t think it’d be possible to close them up.”
“So that’s the intention,” Allison said.
“Well duh,” David scoffed. “If it wasn’t then this whole place would be funneled through like a vacuum, wouldn’t it?”
Veron nodded. “Yes, fortunately with normal sized seams if we’re careful we are able to sew them back up, as it were. And while we haven’t encountered anything like that yet, I wouldn’t chalk it up as something that doesn’t exist lest we speak it into existence.”
“Lest we…?” Felix asked.
“I’m not going to be questioned on my verbiage from the kitty,” Veron joked.
Felix drooped his shoulders. “Well I guess that put me in my place,” he said sarcastically.
“Can we just get a move on?” David asked. “The sound of your thoughts all at once are overload.”
The group agreed for David’s sake, which in turn became for all of their sakes, and they followed Bramm as he held the tracker up and he waved it around to get a reading of the LOD in the area. They walked deeper into the heart of the woods as the trees grew more and more crooked.
“Did someone keep track of where the buggy is?” Allison asked as she ducked under a particularly thorned branch.
“No need,” Veron explained. “It’s a one way vehicle. Not meant for round trip. Bramm will conjure up a new one when we leave.”
“Oh, wow, that entire thing was a conjuration?”
“It’s my one talent,” Bramm said, nodding with a laugh. “At least, the talent that the guild seems to care about, as far as magical abilities are concerned. So it tends to be more than the average chromage.”
“Nobody here is the average chromage, Bramm,” David said. “Except maybe Veron.”
“I’m low in talent but high in motivation,” Veron said. “Besides. I put up with your punk ass so that means I have high endurance too.”
Allison was thankful for all of their help in acclimating for this mission, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't excited to be able to bring her friends back to this world so she could once again experience a healthy group dynamic. I don’t have a lot of experience with it, but I know when it’s good.
They continued walking until Bramm started to slow, and then he looked up, “And boom...we’re on the cusp.”
“You should cut it with the boom stuff,” David said. “You’re not twenty anymore.”
“You can let a man dream,” Bramm joked.
He pulled back a series of branches that intertwined over one another and he opened it up to a clearing encircled by trees with similar levels of protection all around. It looked like the innards of a wooden cocoon—or as if the woods were keeping its heart safe and secured.
The seam appeared as a pulsating orb of light, its energy crackling and swirling like a miniature storm—fractals split off and shot into the air. It was full of whites, blues, and swirling yellows inside its mystical chaos. The inside of the light seemed to be bleeding a black tar-like liquid sustained in the air.
“That’s the force responsible for so much of our bad reputation,” Veron explained. “Those that enter are said to never return, but in truth we’ve managed to return from each of our expeditions on the other side...it’s all about teamwork and being prepared.”
“So, what exactly is that process like?” Allison asked.
“Seems like you’re the only curious one,” Bramm said, looking to Felix.
“I understand the concept,” his arms were crossed. “Like I said, I’m here to support Allison.”
“How chivalrous,” Bramm said, sighing. “Well, we’ll take it over nothing. Veron, I’ll take the case and can start setting up while you give the rundown.”
Veron nodded and handed off the case, letting the tracker dissipate out of his hand. Once he had it in hand he headed off toward the seam.
“So, step one is the equipment that’s stored in that box. It’s a device that helps stabilize the seam. It basically strengthens the connection between the two worlds to ensure that when we’re diving in we’re not going to be torn to shreds. You see, with the way that it is now that black gooey substance is known to tear away aspects of yourself here in this world. It’s like a shredder of sorts, and early tests of those traveling over learned that just getting sucked in isn’t a guarantee to make it out to the other side alive.”
“That sounds awful,” Allison said, shuddering.
“Yeah, no it is,” Veron continued, “The machine, dubbed Polaris, helps send a negative charge to that substance. This strengthens the clarity of the connection, which is a concern because we are technically making the distortion of the area stronger, but that’s why we’re working on such a tight timetable. The extra clarity and the removal of the risk of entry allows us much better chances of making it through unscathed.”
“Much better chances...notably not guaranteed,” Felix said.
“Nothing in life is guaranteed, kitty,” Veron said. “But yes, you are right. It’s not 100%. We’ve had recruits lose a lot when coming over. We three have still made it through unscathed, so we’re going to continue going until we can no more.”
Felix turned to David, “I’m a little shocked with your demeanor that you’re so gung-ho about putting your life on the line.”
David shrugged. “I either get this burden of mine removed in the transition so I can live the rest of my life in peace, I die so it goes away permanently, or I manage to help someone. I’m not a monster, I care about helping at least some of the time,” he motioned each act out.
“Duly noted,” Felix said, understanding his motivations made for awkward conversation.
“Once we’re able to stabilize the seam, we split up our operations,” Veron said. “We usually have one stake, or central support who remains on this side who can recall the others back in case of emergency. That is Bramm in our group. We enter with connectors he conjures up that he can effectively reel us in from.”
“And then you and David head on inside?” Allison asked.
“That’s it,” Veron nodded. “Where we land on the other side varies based on location. It seems that it’s anchored to wherever point is exactly below us in the underworld, but there’s no telling what it’ll look like until you enter. It’s not a 1:1 recreation of this world.”
“No, it looks like that picture did, right?” Allison asked.
“Definitely an artist’s interpretation, as we’ve yet to secure footage of it—we haven’t had a solid enough conjurer with us considering Bramm’s had to stay on the outside, but yes. From what I’ve seen personally it looks just like that.”
“I see,” Allison said.
“Stabilization process is starting in three seconds,” Bramm said, and he fired up the machine that looked like a little claw that clenched into the Earth.
The light of the seam began to oscillate until it looked to grow almost twice as large. The ground started to vibrate and Allison saw that the machine looked to be shaking in its spot, rooted in the Earth as then the vibrations started climbing up through her body. She felt them in her heart and it was an ultimately uncomfortable feeling. There was a discordant ringing in the back of her mind that was...familiar somehow?
She didn’t know from where the sounds that rang in her mind originated from, but they sounded like...the ringing tones of bells from some far off corner of her mind. Then suddenly Leptous was beside her, and suddenly everyone around her was gone—the seam had continued to vibrate in rhythm of the tones of the Earth from the Polarity, but she was the sole witness to the tones.
Those are not your memories of bells, but mine. The bells are a calling card from the machine I was originally borne from. The bells...they signal the Creatures of the Night. They originate from the pieces of the machine I have yearned to find—to reclaim.
Allison offered a confused look and then turned to Polarity. “Are you saying that machine is one of the Monoliths?”
I do not think such a powerful artifact would be so wantonly given away to a group that is known for losing members so easily. No, I do not believe the fragment of ICARUS is that machine.
“Then what do you think is the cause for those bells? Also...where did everyone go?” Allison asked.
They still exist in physical space. I am speaking to you in your mind. It is as if you are back where you first met and made our pact. I figured you would not prefer such a jarring transition. And as to your first question, I think it might be an emulator of sorts. Something created to mimic the power of the Monolith, perhaps even channeling its power somehow, but not fully utilizing its potential.
“I wonder what purpose they would need to build something like that...I doubt they know what kind of potential it has? Would they not just use the full thing?”
I do not think these that you travel with are the inventor of the machine. Note how they had to transport the machine by vehicle and then by hand. It was not something conjured by the engineer.
“I see...yeah, that does make sense.”
I would then assume that the purpose is mass production. Hm, I wonder...machines that co-exist with technology...where have we seen that before?
“You’re talking about Sarah, the Exarchromage?”
All arrows point to the top.
The world flickered and the others were in front of her just like they were before, but Allison was still left in her thoughts. The vibrations rattled her from the ground to her head but she kept seeing that one phrase repeated in her mind. All arrows lead to the top.
If that were true, then Sarah either knew more than she let on about the Creatures of the Night...or was one herself. It wasn’t the unlikeliest solution, but it upset her to think that so many of them that she had come across were those she in any other context could think of as someone to trust and confide in.
If that was the case, there was nothing to say that Sarah couldn’t have seen her memories. Then Ryker’s insistence on her coming wouldn’t have been just for the beneficial reasons she’s been sold thus far. It was foolish to think there was solely benevolence behind the actions of the chromages, but it was just like Leptous had said. All arrows point to the top.
That meant that Ryker—throughout all the red flags he rose, probably wasn’t deep in on the situation, but was merely using his opportunity to field his own endeavors while following the larger goal. That much wasn’t a surprise, but it did mean she couldn’t trust in those orders from the top.
Her decision was made. She would find her friends, find some way to bring them back, and then her mission to oppose the Creatures of the Night would continue. And if it came to dismantling the guild—if it came to breaking apart what they had set up here—for whatever positive it may bring, if it supported a greater evil...it had to be replaced.
She would not be made the fool again at the hands of the Creatures of the Night—she refused to fall for previously exposed pitfalls. She has grown, and she was determined to continue to grow.
Allison stepped forward, there was an alluring call from the other side of the seam—an allure that stemmed from a voice deep within her heart. It silenced everything else around her as if she were put into a lockbox.
Allison, is that you, honey? It’s….I’ve waited to long to see you. I’m sorry it’s like this, I can’t help but….
The voice beckoned to her heart and she knew the candor that had spoken out—she had just heard it for the first time not a few hours ago. The voice was from Greg Daniels...it was her grandfather. If that was true...how was that voice spilling over now? Just what existed on the other side of this rift?
She was aware the others around her had noticed her approaching the seam. Yet, she didn’t mind. They would join in no time, of that she had no doubt. This was their job...and if they didn’t want to, like Felix didn’t, well, that was okay too. Her attention was solely focused on the allure on the other side.
Her hand was outstretched—there was an immediate chill that reached back as if to shake hands. It cradled itself around her like a ghostly presence. Allison could feel the energy of the seam coursing through her, and she knew that this was the moment she had been preparing for. Even if it hadn’t come in the way they thought, contact was here.
With a deep breath, she stepped through the seam, and the world around her transformed. The world seemed to open up like a snake unhinging its jaw, and inside the depths she saw smaller swirling pods of light exploding and bursting with color. She lost sense of the ground and suddenly she was falling. The voice had called back out to her.
That’s it. Keep following the sound of my voice. You’re doing great. Keep at it. You’ll make it through this just fine.
She closed her eyes and the chilling coldness that had greeted her at the entrance had been replaced by an equally opposite warmth that felt like a tight embrace around her shoulders. The sky which had previously been a deep violet was now flowing through hues as if it were entirely replaced by a rainbow. It finally settled on a bright blue sky as feeling returned to her legs—she realized she was standing again.
The sky had been beautiful—probably the most beautiful she had remembered in such a long time. It reminded her of the world she used to know and it brought forward an immense reaction...but the sky was the only part of the landscape that was familiar. The ground was a dark, smoky landscape full of patches of the ground that were just...missing. It looked as if they were just scooped up to be deposited somewhere else entirely. Allison could hear the distant echoes of howling creatures that distorted mid-screech. The sound was wholly foreign to her and it ran a cold spike up her spine.
She was alone, she recognized that now. Her thoughts were her own and when trying to summon Jace her thoughts were...quiet. This wasn’t good.
It may not be what you desired, but I do not think your companion is lost to all time. I think he has been...temporarily separated.
“You’re still around?” Allison asked.
It seems so, yes. I had a desire to stick around, and I think that desire overpowered that of your companion. That is my guess as to why I am here with you and he is back there.
“Wait...you wanted to come? Why? And...Jace is back there. Like...actually there? Physically there?”
I do not think he would exist as some phantom considering how powerful you are—and you managed to collect two of the fragments of ICARUS did you not? I could imagine the seam could have started the process, and the limitless power could have done the rest of the work.
“That’s...insane. To think that such a thing could be possible...and—” She turned, looking for the seam that she returned from, but saw only vastness of the distorted gray landscape and twisted trees the color of charcoal that stretched up to the sky like the bonelands in her world—only a dim reflection.
I do not think you will be returning the way you came. You entered without securing yourself to their methods of retrieval.
The enormity of her decision began to weigh on her. She felt an immense regret building within and she pulled her two hands in front of her face and stared down—shaking as the weight crashed down over her like a bucket of stored emotion.
“What...did I do? Why did I…”
You heard a voice and I reacted.
She blinked twice and she stared ahead of her, the glowing eyes of Leptous were staring back at her.
“You...it’s because of you that I’m here separated from Jace?”
I told you, I had formed an intense desire.
“That’s not the deal we had!” Allison threw her hands up in the air. “It was your power for Ormus. That was the pact we formed.”
I have not forgotten the terms of our deal. You still have my power, and you will continue to do so until the terms of our pact are made resolute.
“Well, what can be so fucking important here that you’d drag me here without a way back?!” She shouted. All pretense of forgoing anger were gone now. She had gone so long without venting her anger because there hasn’t been a good opportunity for a proper target, until now. Now she was going to let it all out.
Two reasons have spawned my desire, both of which will be of great interest to you.
“Explain,” Allison said, crossing her arms. “And quickly, I fear we are short on time.”
First, the voice you heard was the Creature of the Night known as Egregore. He used to be the man that was your grandfather in the old world. He was the man that gave birth to the man that I used to be. That voice...it called to you because its owner is here...at least, part of it.
“Part of it?”
Egregore cannot fully be killed unless all of him can be killed. He has a third eye that I have since learned has separated from the main body—I know not the context, but somehow...his third eye ended up here in the Underworld. By itself it is a piece of him he cannot have much agency over—it is after all only an eye, and yet, while it remains here, the Egregore up above cannot be killed.
“Cannot be...so you dragged me here just so we could kill an eye?”
Your impatience is understood, but I must suggest you exercise at least the smallest portion as there is more. Your mission—the ones you search for, they’re here. They’re alive, although I fear they are in danger.
Allison’s eyes went wide and her thoughts traveled to them without a second thought. “Where are they?”
I do not have their exact location, I can only sense generalities—you see, their existence is most interesting...I wonder if fate has chosen to present you to me in more ways than one.
“What are you talking about?” Allison asked.
I have formed a pact with another person—before I formed the one with you. Could you take a guess at who that might be with?
Allison remembered the markings that adorned Laven’s body—those golden glowing filigree that shone with the angelic blue light. She then remembered the tale of strength she had come across. “No way...you’ve formed one with Laven?”
I made myself available in a time of need, not knowing how it would come to intersect with the person who in another life would be my daughter. You now understand the desire that formed within me.
“I do get that, but again...we could have waited another minute and we would have a secure way back.”
Going back is not wise, at least. Not yet, and not back to where you entered from. I can get you back topside if you can reunite with my other pact-partner. Together you two can perform abilities stronger than any of you separately can. Since you are the epitome of dark and light matter—a union of both—we can create a pathway back home.
“And I’m supposed to trust that you suddenly have all this power?” Allison asked.
I assume you will trust me, considering you’ve come this far with our pact.
“I haven’t actually had to use it yet,” Allison said.
I would have thought that would be a blessing. Regardless, I would think that getting back would come second to ensuring your friends’ safety and ensuring the defeat of those you hunt. I suggest we find the remnant of Egregore and then we go assist your friends.
“Point me in the direction, and I’ll hunt whatever it is down.”
North. It’s to the north. Through the voidlands and just outside the boundaries of the kingdom of ebon. Your friends are at the kingdom’s capital city, so we’ll be able to be efficient with our planning. And you better hurry.