“Be quiet; something is happening,” Avery whispered, trying to be loud enough so others could understand.
The screeches were deafening.
Those who were inside sat bunched in the corner. Four people fainted. Avery didn’t wake them up; there was no point.
Luna was breathing heavily, but she was conscious. She didn’t want to say what was wrong with her. Avery heard, didn’t feel, but heard something in her body was buzzing. Energy, but what was it? She vomited for a long time. Was Luna sick?
Avery couldn’t help; he was just a Crystaler. He couldn’t heal others.
Something was happening outside.
Whatever was making those noises ran away.
The barrier held very well—Avery checked it again. Luna had impressive energy.
Before, there were eleven of them, but Avery counted the sounds. Thirty-two screeching monsters. Animals?
But. Suddenly, they ran away.
Then—what a screech… Avery felt pain in his ears; it was a terrible sound, as if something had hurt those monsters all at once.
A second later, a strong, sharp, unpleasant smell, as if something had burned, but what? And screams; there were screams now, and after a moment…
The silence.
It lasted half a minute, maybe a minute.
Avery listened. A new sound, a buzz, someone approaching, footsteps.
He jumped—there was a sudden knocking on the barrier.
“Who?” Avery asked, keeping his voice quiet just in case.
Those monsters, they were not knocking politely earlier.
“Me. Si. I am coming in.”
The voice Avery recognized. It was Luna’s husband. He crossed the barrier as if it were nonexistent. His energy had to be of a high level—Avery managed to think.
“Where is Luna?” Si was trying to find her with his gaze.
There was dark inside. Avery took Si’s hand to direct him. And then—the most surprising thing happened.
It was Luna’s reaction, her words. “Taj?”
Luna said it, but Avery was very certain; she was not asking for her husband. What was more, Si, her husband—he was not surprised. He laughed. Relieved.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Shit?
What was going on in their relationship? Shouldn’t she ask for…?
Avery shook his head, puzzled as to why he was thinking in this way at this point.
He focused on listening further. It was dark inside; he couldn’t see clearly either way.
Suddenly, a new person casually crossed the barrier again, as if it were that simple.
Avery closed his eyes and listened carefully.
This someone went directly to the place where Luna was, reaching her faster than her husband.
The words spoken—Avery heard them—were peculiar.
“You shrimp, Si was worried. How could you be so reckless… what? Troublemakers? O, you…”
It was this man; the voice sounded familiar. The wedding, the phrase, Avery was sure. It was someone close to her.
“Sweetie, are they intact? So, I see, rubbers are fine. Also. I took spare ones; I can change… Let me balance them.”
It was her husband speaking.
Avery listened and was even more puzzled.
“… Si, take care of her, then swirl back with her to the Gate. I will open it for you. About these people, I will talk to…”
Another interesting thing to say: how could someone just open the Gate?
Avery listened carefully, trying to understand what it could mean. He wanted to think about it later. Then he heard footsteps; someone approached him. Avery opened his eyes to see who this person was.
… It was the man who had been in his apartment.
Shit.
The one who left the honey, how strange. Avery was certain he was political—but no, currently, Avery wasn’t that sure if this man was the leader’s spy.
He was definitely more than just a spy; Luna trusted him a lot.
“Avery, may I heal you and give you more energy? I need you to help me take these people to a safe place. You can refuse. Decide,” the man said.
How peculiar.
“Roger,” Avery answered.
The man started to pass energy.
Again, it was strange. It had a fresh, fruity taste. Avery never experienced energy with taste. But. No, he did—the last time they met. Energy with taste, interesting.
It lasted a moment; this man then approached others, passed his energy to them, and woke them up.
Then he destroyed the barrier and made a signal toward Luna’s husband. They disappeared with a swirl. Shadows were astonishing.
“Avery, where can we direct these people?” the man asked.
“I’ll lead the way.”
Not waiting for any answer, Avery started to inform everyone, telling them to stand up and follow him.
Their group slowly left the place.
This man stayed behind.
What was outside… all those monsters, all lay motionless, looking as if something had exploded inside them.
Avery took a brief look and told the people to grab each other’s hands and close their eyes.
He led them in a row between the bodies.
This time, Avery had his own eyes wide open.
After twenty minutes through the forest, they reached the nearest town.
They had to knock to be let in. Avery learned only then that towns and cities, both large and small, had already quickly put up barriers. Which meant the authorities knew.
… There were more bodies on the way. A lot more. But. In the distance, he could hear those screeches.
Before he entered the town, Avery approached this man. He was calmly observing them, going inside to safety.
They exchanged glances.
“Those things react to sounds,” Avery said.
“O? What sounds?” the man asked back.
“Loud shouting, but also noisy laughter—not music or some natural sounds, just people and animals. Loud sounds made by the vocal cords of something that lives. I hope that’s accurate enough for you to understand.” Avery wasn’t sure why he added that at the end.
“Thank you, Avery. It gives me an idea,” the man said, as if ignoring that last remark, rude in this situation, when to think about it. “They are not things, Avery. They are people. Stay within the barrier,” he added and disappeared—
He had to be Shadow; that was all Avery could say.
… Then, he was not the leader’s person; Shadows were known for their loyalty to their Lord.
There were many things to think through.
Avery looked around, then went inside.
