“I... uh... I...”

“She’s with me,” another voice suddenly came from behind Myra.

Where in the world had he come from? He looked surprisingly like Illa, though with a different jaw line and eye shape. His hair was dark enough that she couldn’t discern the color and his skin and build were the pale and slight proportions she was starting to connect with faeries. The hilt of a literal sword stuck out from his hip. He wore an actual metal breast plate and bracers on his arms. Beneath that, he had on a simple black shirt and pants. His outfit looked straight out of a renaissance festival.

The new fae gave the one in the ticket booth a piece of paper with a curt nod. “I’ve got her from here.”

Got me? Myra bristled at the thought, but how else was she going to find out what was happening here?

“Didn’t want to wait like I asked you, huh?” The fae asked, presumably for the other one’s benefit. He pushed them through a door Myra hadn’t seen and immediately cut right. “Ok, I don’t know how you got here, but you certainly can’t be. Especially not in your current condition. No idea where you will be at in your power. This isn’t a safe time for you to be trying to pass your trials.”

“What?” Myra tried to look around her, but all she could see was a dark hallway. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then how are you here? This place is only open for sidhe beginning their trial to become full members of society.”

“I don’t know. I was lost, trapped here in Faery and tried to get home. Instead of opening a gate there, I opened one here instead. Where is here anyway?”

His eyes went wide. “Trapped in Faery? Don’t you live here? We are at an abandoned theatre. A long time ago, someone made it like the human theatres and put on live shows, popcorn, sodas, snacks, the whole deal. Fae lost interest and summer wyldfae moved in. The queen wants them removed, so twelve sidhe will have their trial of strength getting rid of them.”

Myra didn’t break through the barrier. Her magic had taken her to a place similar to what she wanted and fixated on one of the senses she imagined. “Popcorn,” she breathed.

“Yes,” the fae said slowly. “I don’t know where you are trying to get to, but you can’t be here. You wouldn’t be able to fight. You look half broken as it is and with your condition-”

“So is that something people can see or...” Myra broke off. How did they know?

“Sense, yes. You weren’t raised fae, were you? You really need to get out of here.”

“Gladly,” Myra said. “But I can’t seem to travel between the worlds."

He blinked. "Then how- wait, nevermind. Listen, I don't really have time to get you wherever you need to be. Stay here, veil yourself if you can, and try to stay safe. My name is Toran. Maybe I can help you after the trial is over, but it's time sensitive. Can't spend all of it helping you while the others get all the kills in there."

Myra blanched. "Killing?" Fighting wyldfae? No way was she going to be able to defend herself. Surely the wyldfae wouldn't just attack her, right?

"How else do you best get rid of wyldfae?" Toran shrugged and started to walk off.

Myra opened her mouth to tell him she wouldn't be able to veil herself either, but stopped. He wasn't going to help her anyway. Maybe she could go back out and get the person at the ticket booth to help. It was worth a shot.

Toran stopped and turned. "You can't veil yourself, huh? You'd be an easy target here. The wyldfae know why we are here and will do their best to strike us down. They won't care that you're number thirteen when there should only be twelve. It's not the safest, but maybe you should stick with me."

And watch you kill people? Myra wanted to ask him. She nodded instead.

"Try to stay behind me and shield yourself or deflect incoming hits if you can."

Myra didn't know how he thought she was going to be able to do either of those things if she couldn't veil herself or gate between worlds, but she nodded anyway. Hopefully this would be quick and they could get her home. She glanced back the way they came again.

"You can't leave that way," Toran said. "Only the fae who sponsored you to be here can get you out if you need help and seeing as no one sponsored you... You're going to have to fight your way out or at least wait until the wyldfae are gone. It's not ideal at all, but it's what you have. I'm sorry. You shouldn't be here and I guess it's not your fault. I'll do what I can to get you out."

"Will you be able to fight off all the wyldfae?"

"I am in the top of my training class," Toran said as he turned and went back down the hall. He opened another door and suddenly sound exploded out.

The sounds of fighting were far louder than Myra would have expected. Fae screamed defiance at the wyldfae they fought as another scream filled the air. Myra couldn't imagine what kind of creature made a sound like that. It was almost a growl, but it was too high a pitch to sound right.

"Hobs, then," Toran said. "Don't worry about killing them. They would just as soon eat you if you came across one in the wyld."

"Eat me?" Myra tried to ask in a neutral voice.

Toran didn't answer. He drew his sword in one hand and readied magical energy in the other. Myra couldn't see it, but she could feel it. She tried to think again of how it felt to blast the troll off herself. Maybe that would work against a kelpie.

This must have been the lobby and concession area. A long counter sat in the back with popcorn and even soda machines. There was a stand that presumably held pretzels at one point judging by the sign on the top and off to the side was even a room of old arcade games.

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The hobs almost looked like little men, but their skin was a dark brown. They were short, squat, hairy, and seemed to possess enormous strength.

One hob threw a sidhe across the room, bounded over the distance quicker than Myra would have thought for a creature so small, and immediately began beating the fae. The first punch landed, but as the hob pulled back its other arm, the fae managed to get a hand in the way. She turned her head, teeth bared, and caught the hob's hand. The fae shoved her attacker back and swiped its legs or from underneath it. Her other hand already held a dense ball of crackling, magical energy. She slammed it into the hob's chest. It tried to rise, but its legs just twitched. The female fae hauled the hob up off the floor, smashed its body back down, and ran off into another room. Myra saw a grin flashing on her face as she ran by.

Another hob had jumped on one of the sidhe's backs and racked its claws over both shoulders as it simply hung on with its legs. The sidhe cried out in agony, but Myra could already see a silver magic forming in her hands. She spun around and made to slam the hob against a wall, her magical attack arcing up over her head. The hob seemed to know the tactic and instantly dropped to the ground. A fierce grimace on her face, the sidhe didn't bother turning. Silver magic hammered down into the hob. The sidhe didn't even so much as glance at the dying creature behind her. She, too, darted from the room.

That's what Myra should have done with Amoria. She should have been able to march right up, grab her, and pour all her frustration and fear into the magic that- Myra jerked back and stared wide eyed at the hob. Could she really hurt someone like that? Even if it was a person trying to hurt her?

Toran broke Myra free of her thoughts. "Sloppy. Always make sure your opponent is dead."

He grabbed her arm and tugged her towards the arcade room. Toran poked his head in the entry, sword held steady. Myra only saw a flash of movement, but Toran must have seen it better than she did.

He slashed out low as he muttered under his breath. A green static energy appeared along the blade just before it bit into the flesh of another hob. This one was bigger than the others only with a green tint to it. Dark blood sprayed from its midsection. Even doubled over, it still tried to attack Toran, clawing wildly with an outstretched hand. Toran swept the sword up, cutting off the creature's hand entirely, and brought his weapon down in a final strike.

Myra involuntarily squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head. Fluid sprayed again. Myra felt it splatter against her pajamas. She let out a small shriek and trembled. Her eyes instantly flashed open. Oh god, where were the other hobs? What if they were hiding around an arcade machine?

"Hobgoblins, too, huh? The elder sidhe didn't say anything about them." Toran said. He didn't notice Myra terrified behind him. "Come on. Stay close behind me and bring up a shield if you can. Yell out if anything comes at us from behind."

"Sure," was all Myra could muster. Her voice sounded high and thready.

Toran threw a glance over his shoulder. "You ok there?"

"No," Myra said honestly. "But we'll get out of here, right?"

"Oh yeah, I'll see to it you get out." Toran said, his voice softening. "Just stay close. I'd say maybe look away, but that's a pretty bad idea right now."

"Yeah," Myra said with a hint of shame and a heavy dose of revulsion.

"Let's keep moving. I've only killed one so far."

Toran led Myra into the main hall. Other than a quick flash of movement at the far end, they didn't see anyone.

"Guess we are going to have to check the theatres." Toran said.

They headed for the first one. Myra stood directly behind the door and opened it slightly for Toran to look in. If anyone was there, they'd only be able to attack him and if anyone came down the hall, she was at least partially shielded. Toran tugged on her arm to let her know it was safe. The two crept into the theatre, Toran with his sword held high and a crackling magic in his hand again.

Just as the seats came into view, a hob sprang down towards them.

Myra shrieked and threw her hands up. Toran's sword flashed and blood sprayed. The hob landed between them and the exit. It jumped up, favoring its left leg.

Myra's magic burst forth in a bright blue dome just a few inches in front of her. It extended past her head and was at least a full four feet wide. The hob rushed her, grinning maliciously. It slammed into Myra's shield and screamed. Electric sparks shot off from its body as it spasmed. Shrieking again in surprise, Myra stumbled backwards. She hadn't intended that, but this was good right?

"Yeah! You can do some magic!" Toran said joyfully.

He eyed the dying hob. The electricity slowly dissipated as it was no longer connected to a living creature.

Another hob landed right on top of Toran, screeching and clawing. Toran threw it off him straight into Myra's shield. It, too, lit up electric sparks and spasmed until it died.

"Handy, that." Toran said. "You'll have to show me how you did it."

Myra still didn't say a word.

"Hey, hey," Toran said gently. "It's ok. They're hobs, wyldfae that would attack and try to eat you if you happened upon them out there. They are doing exactly that here. That the queen wants this part of her territory back from the summer fae is only an extra incentive to kill them. These are dangerous creatures who wouldn't stop to feel sad for us or mourn us were we to die."

"Sure, yeah." Myra said slowly, still staring at the hobs. "I just... I've never seen anything die before and this... This is because..."

Toran squeezed Myra's shoulder. "I'm sorry. This must be terrifying and awful for you. We'll get you out of here. We've already seen five hobs down and with the other fae, the rest shouldn't be far behind. Just a little longer and then you can put this behind you."

Myra swallowed and nodded.

"Now if you could just lower your shield, we can move on."

"Oh, umm." Myra put up her hands.

Take it down. How to take it down? She imagined it was like an easel. This is mine. Just pick it up and put it away. This is mine. Her hands trembled as she spied the dead hobs. She almost jerked back the second she touched her shield, but instead of electrocuting her, it felt warm and comfortable. It instantly dissipated. Myra felt the magic reasorbe into her.

"Thanks," Toran said as he took the lead.

Everything was quiet now. Eerily quiet. Myra couldn't hear any sounds of the hobs or other fae.

She peeked out into the hall, looking over Toran's shoulder. It was dark and empty. The already low lights were broken except two right next to each other.

"Do you have a light?" Myra whispered.

"No," Toran breathed. "Even if I did, I wouldn't use it now. Wouldn't do good to show everyone where we are. Better to stay here and let our eyes adjust."

"And if the hobs find us here?"

"Then we fight them. We would have a good chance of beating them even if several attacked at once. Simply back through the door and the hall into the theatre. Less space for them to come at us at once. We could cut them down two or three at a time while you use your shield to keep them off us."

"Sure, yeah." Myra wasn't sure if she could create the shield again. She didn't know how she made it in the first place. She couldn't even feel the ebb and flow of her power like the others could. Toran didn't depend on her, though. She depended on him. He would have been just fine here without her to get in the way. The shield wouldn't make or break anything.