The time had come to set off through the mist and gloom—through the forest that surrounded Demure to make their way toward the Cathedral that lay supposedly at the heart of the World Between.

Vre sat by herself in Demure's chapel pew, waiting. The chapel was empty now, save for her and her companions. They were waiting for Jonah to accompany them. Drake was pacing in the entryway, his methodical footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. He’d been fairly quiet, but still seemed keen on coming with. His knowledge of the different entities of the World Between would no doubt be helpful.

Vre was glad that Jonah would also join them. She knew that he had experience in fighting the rain men, despite him being a preacher, and though she knew Drake was capable enough of fending them off on his own she wasn’t sure how she would fare if they got into trouble. She had never been one much for physical strength or even really being in shape. She prayed they wouldn’t run into them, if only for a few days. It wasn’t that long of a journey. Perhaps they would be okay.

As for Xerith, she was unsure what to expect from him. He said he'd protect her, but she wasn't sure she could trust him at all. So traveling as a group seemed the best bet.

The whole thing seemed surreal. The chapel's sparse interior, with its simple wooden pews and a modest altar draped in white cloth, seemed like a sanctuary against the unknown dangers they were about to face. The faint light from the stained glass windows painted the worn wooden floor in muted colors, adding to the somber atmosphere.

She felt a tickle of wind across the back of her neck, and in the next moment, Xerith was sitting beside her. His long arm brushed against hers as they both stared at the altar at the front of the chapel. It was a small wooden altar, covered in a white cloth, with an old book and a small gold plate on it. It was very simple, very sparse, but fitting in its own way. Demure was not a town of grandeur.

“Everyone seems to think this is going to be dangerous,” Vre spoke quietly. “Is it really so bad? You travel to the Cathedral all the time, right?”

Xerith met her gaze, the playful smile she’d come to associate with him nowhere to be found at the present. “Spirits come and go, unhindered by the threats that plague the humans who are trapped in this world. Danger to me is much different than danger to you. While I am threatened by corruption—by taint that could overcome my will—you are threatened by physical danger. You face flesh and blood opponents who could snuff the life from you."

“I’ve never had a problem walking through the forest up to Drake’s house before.”

“You haven’t wandered far,” he said, with a careful smile. “But we will be fine. You will be fine. I’m a guardian, remember? I will protect you. I am quite seasoned at keeping you safe.”

She felt a small heat rise to her face at his words. She looked away from him, hoping he didn’t notice.

Jonah returned, his presence filling the small chapel. He looked like he had washed his face, and had certainly changed his shirt. He wasn't covered in blood splatter anymore. He had both a sword at his side and a pistol. The weight of his weapons seemed to underscore the seriousness of their journey. He handed Vre a six-inch sheathed knife, the handle worn but sturdy. He handed one to Drake, too.

“Just in case,” he said, his voice grim. “The rain men can’t be killed. Your best bet is to slow ’em down and try to run. If you can disable ’em, you can get away. Don’t try to fight. Just run and hide.”

She nodded. The lump in her throat felt heavy.

The four of them set off, making their way through the quiet streets of Demure and reaching the outskirts of the town quickly. The village seemed to hold its breath, the only sounds the soft rustle of leaves and the distant cawing of crows. The forest loomed in front of them, its towering trees casting long shadows that seemed to reach out and envelop them.

The path was wide enough for several people but was incredibly overgrown with brush and laden with sticks and roots marbling the dirt like veins. The further they went, the more the world seemed to close in around them, the oppressive weight of the forest pressing down on them from all sides. The air grew cooler, the light dimmer, and the sounds of the forest louder and more unsettling.

The path turned, and Demure could no longer be seen behind them.

Vre glanced at Xerith, who walked with silent steps and a quiet confidence beside her. His presence was both reassuring and unnerving.

For a long time, they walked in silence. No one seemed ready to break the quiet, perhaps too intent on listening to the forest for danger. The air carried a definite chill, and Vre was glad she at least had her jacket. But there was also something else…something she couldn’t place her finger on. An imperceptible feeling that something wasn’t quite right. A gnawing anxiety grew in her heart the further they went.

She glanced at her companions to see if they felt it too. Jonah, with his broad shoulders and curly hair, seemed focused on walking. The lines under his eyes revealed he had likely been up all night helping the town, yet he had still decided to escort them. He was a selfless man. And Drake, with his long peppered hair that he tried to keep smooth and his upright, rigid walk, wore a wool long coat but didn't seem frazzled. He looked very pale, but his eyes were hidden from her view.

Unsure of how long they’d been walking, they ventured deeper, and the forest grew darker, seemingly alive with unsettling sounds. The wind sounded like whispers, coming from all angles, yet no one was talking.

Jonah bristled, his hand now on the hilt of his blade. “It’s getting harder to see.”

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He was right. The thick foggy gloom around them grew denser, making visibility difficult.

Drake fell back to walk beside Vre. He was now on her left, while Xerith remained tangible on her right.

“Stay close,” Drake said, making eye contact with her. “We don’t know what’s out there.”

Suddenly, Jonah stopped and pointed ahead. “Did you see that?” he whispered. “Something moved.”

Vre focused her eyes on the shifting gloom. The more she looked, the more the twisted trees took on grotesque shapes. The trees appeared to almost have human-like forms, their gnarled branches resembling twisted limbs. But she didn’t see anything moving.

“This is messed up.” Her voice quivered with fear. “I don't see anything, but I’m not sure this is such a good idea. Should we go back? Why is the forest like this!? I don’t want to die here. I don’t want to become a rain man! This—”

“Vre, be quiet!” Drake placed his hand on her shoulder, his expression urgent.

“Keep moving,” Jonah motioned for them to follow him.

Xerith was silent. Vre turned to find him, for a split second fearful that he wouldn’t be there. That he might have led them into this forest to lose their minds and their lives, then abandon them. Horrible thoughts filled her mind—all the possibilities of what if's and maybes. Was this a mistake?

But her fears were imaginary—he was right there. Walking silently slightly behind her, his golden eyes a warm beacon in the dim light. He was scanning the woods with a calm, placid look. The sight of him brought a sense of comfort, enough to settle her senses back down. He gave her a quiet smile, and she took a deep breath, steadying herself. She could do this. They could do this.

They walked for what seemed like hours. Maybe it had been. There was no way to keep track of time. Though the forest still whispered and the gloom remained, nothing had jumped out to kill them thus far but it was starting to get darker. Not because of any supernatural phenomena, but just because it was turning to night. That alone was terrifying. She knew they would have to spend one night in the woods to make it to the Cathedral. But that didn't mean she was ready for it.

The light dipped low, casting long shadows that intertwined with the twisted branches of the forest. The temperature dropped noticeably, and an eerie silence settled over the woods.

“We should set up a camp before there’s no light left.” Jonah was gesturing off the path. “Somewhere just off the main walkway. There looks like a rock formation there. Let’s go check it out.”

Their feet crunched through the brush, branches tugging at their clothes as they stepped off the path. Sure enough, it was not just a rock formation but a series of carved pillars with one large monument in the center. Vre took out the lamplight—a small metal lamp the size of her hand—from her pack and turned the dial to illuminate what she was seeing.

She shuddered. It was obviously a sculpture of some sort, faded thin. It depicted some kind of human creature but its mouth was set agape, staring at the sky. Thorny vines had grown into the rock inlay around it making it look constricted.

“This will do.” Jonah said, making the decision. He was already at work clearing out some of the brush in front of the big sculpture, making a flat area. “Drake, can you find some dry kindling? I brought a tarp we can use as cover if it rains. Use your knife if you have to.”

Drake grumbled, but set his pack down and retrieved his lamplight and unsheathed his knife. He walked away, examining the underbrush and forest floor to do as Jonah had directed.

Vre found herself drawn to the forest trees. As the others worked, she wandered a short distance away, inspecting the bark of a nearby tree. It was rough and gnarled, but something about it seemed off. She reached out and touched it, her fingers coming away with a sticky, dark substance. It had an unnatural sheen and an acrid smell that made her wrinkle her nose.

"What is this stuff?" she murmured to herself, wiping her hand on a piece of cloth she had brought along. Her curiosity was piqued despite her fear.

"Don’t touch it. You should stay close," Drake called out, his voice tense. "Stay in the camp. We don't know what else is out here."

She nodded and returned to the camp, where Jonah and Drake were coaxing a small flame of fire to life in the center of the area they had cleared out. Jonah had hung the tarp off of two of the pillars, supported by a long stick in the ground and they had set their packs underneath it.

“It’s going to be a cold night.” Jonah frowned. “But if we can keep this fire going at least we’ll have light and some warmth. Should get some more wood, get some food in us, then take shifts until it gets light.”

Outside the camp, darkness had fallen in earnest. It was so black it felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist. Their lamplights hardly made a dent in the dark even when they shone them outward.

“I can gather you wood.” Xerith offered. “Back in a moment.”

His tall form melded into the blackness before anyone could oppose him. The three of them that remained looked at each other, then sat around the fire they’d built and opened their packs to find what food they’d brought.

They ate without speaking. The forest around them came alive with the sound of insects and the uncomfortable groans of the trees. After a short while, Xerith melded back into view and set down what he’d found—several branches, and two thick splintered logs. His long arms were chock-full of material to be used.

“Thanks, Xerith.” Vre smiled. He said nothing, but gave her a very human-like wink.

“We should sleep in shifts.” Jonah said. “Xerith, do you need food? You are welcome to have some of my rations if you like.”

“You are kind, but I am fine. I do not require food, nor sleep. I am able to keep watch while you rest, if you like.”

Jonah and Drake exchanged wary glances. "We don't trust you," Drake said bluntly. "There’s no way we would be able to sleep and leave only you watching out in a place like this.”

Vre felt a pang of frustration. "I'll stay up with him," she offered. "Would that help? I can't sleep right now anyway."

“And leave you alone with him?” Drake stared at her like she was daft. “He already seems to like you a little too much. I’m not sure that’s wise, Vre.”

“It might be for the best though.” Jonah said, rubbing his face. “If you and I rest first, Drake, we’ll be more alert for the rest of the journey. It’s not like we’ll be far from her. She can take the first shift with Xerith, then you, and I’ll take the last shift. I know we don’t trust him, but let’s not treat him like an enemy. He has offered to help us, after all. We’re out here because he said we can find a key at the Cathedral and we chose to believe him. We hardly know him but for that matter we hardly know each other, too. Let’s not doubt each other so soon and try to make it through the first night, alright?”

Drake glowered at Xerith uncomfortably. “Fine. But don’t think I am not watching you closely, Annunaki.”

Xerith just smiled, his lopsided grin and bright eyes an uncomfortable visage against the darkness of the forest behind him.