Time passes as I get lost in the dark.
To the East.
"How the hell am I supposed to know where east is in a world without a sun?"
Samantha looks at me with her black eyes.
"If you watch the shadows closely, you can determine the directions."
Her words come as light to a world of darkness.
The subtle variations in the shadows are explained to me, and I find my path again.
I find myself curious about my companion's thoughts on the world during our journey.
"Samantha," I say after mulling over my thoughts.
Her head tilts up to look at me.
"Do you know where we are? I mean, what is this world?"
She is quiet for a moment before answering.
"It's the world of the dead."
I find her answer lacking. "Is there a way to get out?"
She nods her head solemnly, "There are ways..."
I look at her, expecting her to explain. But, she maintains her silence.
The gloom of this world of the dead clouds my thoughts. Still, I have some purpose to drive me forward.
As I grow complacent in my journey, a quiet silence spreads through the area.
Only the noise of our feet and breath echo in the dark.
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I notice the change when the hair on my neck bristles.
Samantha has noticed as well.
"Let's stop for a moment."
My companion nods her agreement.
Only the pounding of my heart and our breathing fills my ears.
But, soon, I recognize something in the distance.
The whisper of a scream catches on the wind.
And the origin of that scream lies in the direction of our transit.
In a moment, I decide to avoid this potential danger.
I look to Samantha. She nods before I can suggest an alternate route.
The woodland to the North is dense with foliage and makes hiking difficult.
Unfortunately, the sound of the scream doesn't die. The whisper grows louder. Its origin moving.
My grip on my only weapon tightens as I realize there's no running from this encounter.
What started as a whisper transcends into the wail of a banshee.
I protect my ears as best as I'm able while the monster glides through the trees.
"Wraith," Samantha cries out.
I look from her to the creature.
Its black cloak and hood hide most of its form. And I see a sickle in a skeletal hand.
This being defies the laws of physics that I knew in life. Without wing or propulsion, the wraith hangs in the air before me.
The scream grows stronger, and I feel a wetness run down from my ears.
Desperate for the sound to end, I take my bat and charge the figure.
The wraith sends a shock wave of noise at me as I approach, causing me to fly back like a rag.
My breathing is labored and I wipe blood from my face.
Getting up is a struggle as I might lose my mind to the noise.
As I prepare myself for another desperate attack, Samantha steps forward.
I want to tell her to get back. But, I find myself in no position to protect anyone.
Desperation turns into a real fear as I watch.
A silver light engulfs the area as if waiting for the darkness to gather.
I'm dumbfounded as I see clearly in this dark world. My eyes rise. And through the haze of the abyssal sky, I witness a beacon that I had given up on seeing again.
More beautiful than ever before, the moon shines with a silver light that might as well be daylight for its brightness.
At its center, Samantha and the wraith stand at odds.
The ethereal enemy's scream takes on a new nuance.
The scream that torments us shrinks as if the phantom were burning alive.
It tries to run. But, it is trapped within the moon's domain.
The cloak ignites to reveal a pitiful skeleton disintegrating like so much dust.
The sound ends, and I am left deaf, the light gradually fading.
I finally look at the disappearing moon and walk up to Samantha.
She stares off into the distance, her thoughts a mystery to me.
Finally, with a shake of her head, she turns to me.
We both have dried blood in our ears. And I wonder if such wounds can even heal.
There are no words between us as we settle for camping here.
When sleep comes, I dream of a chorus of forgotten souls.