Coil of Worlds

A blur of movement came toward her. An involuntary squeak escaped when the edge of a knife scraped her neck, threatening to cut the skin. Fearing the worse, Lara followed the hand up the arm to the hulking warrior standing beside her and her fear transformed into anger.

“Would you quit attacking me?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Skye pulled the knife away from her throat and blindly glared at her. Without moving away to put distance between them, he demanded, “Where did you come from?”

With no easy answer to his question, she instead complained, “Honestly, you would think one would get a warning before getting attacked by a friend.”

She tried to push him back, but it was like pushing against a wall. He didn’t budge an inch. She snorted in contempt. She should’ve known; the man was solid muscle.

Raising an eyebrow, he dismissed her comment and said, “You were gone for two days. Where have you been?”

She opened her mouth to answer and then snapped it closed. Lara didn’t know how to answer the question without having him attack her again. She looked around for Chion but didn’t see him. She turned the other direction in search of the other paka. Eiren looked back at her over the short side of the cart, her eyes showing her curiosity.

Lara smiled at Eiren and said with a small wave, “Hello. Sorry if I startled you.”

Eiren’s head lowered in a bow—the paka’s version of a hello. Lara turned back to look at Skye as he crossed his arms on his chest, waiting for her reply. She cleared her throat, giving herself a little more time, but it didn’t help. She had no idea what to say.

She opened her mouth again, and Chion said with a hint of censure, I have been worried for you.

In total disregard of both Eiren and Skye awaiting an answer, she twisted around, searching for Chion. She saw his head first as he came around a corner. She breathed his name, knowing he would hear her response through their link. Tension she hadn’t known she carried bled out of her body, leaving her weak and loose-limbed. She gave him a blinding smile, her excitement at seeing him obvious despite their audience.

She took a step in his direction. I’ve been worried about you, too. For some reason, I couldn’t come back last night. It took me two days to return. Afraid he would be upset, she rushed to explain. It wasn’t intentional. Believe me.

She waited as Chion moved closer. Skye is wondering where I’ve been. What have you told them?

I told them it happens often. Eiren, however, knew this time was different when I began to have doubts of your safety. She told Skye something was wrong. Since then, I have had to ignore their constant inquiries as I did not have any answers.

Do you think it is time to explain to them where I go? She studied his face. Lara had to warn him of the danger. Two days ago, I told my roommate about you. Now she isn’t speaking to me. Because of her reaction, I’m afraid both Skye and Eiren will not be able to handle it. I don’t know what to do.

She knew Chion heard how upset she was over the loss of her friend. Without saying a word, he brushed up against her, lending his strength and giving his unending support. She scratched his head with her left hand.

I believe the time has come for our companions to receive an explanation. Of course, not all information is necessary at this time. If we do not share the current circumstances, we may lose their trust. We cannot afford their lack of trust at such a crucial time. My instincts tell me something is going to occur, and soon. We will need our companions for what is to come, of that I am sure.

She gave Chion a quick hug, silently thanking him for his wisdom. Still holding onto Chion, she stood back up and turned to face the others. She looked at them for a moment, taking in Skye’s bedraggled appearance.

She said on an exhale, “You asked me where I’ve been. Neither Chion nor I have said anything before now because it is so farfetched…incredibly farfetched. Are you sure you want to know?”

She watched as Eiren and Skye silently exchanged a few words before they both nodded. Her muscles clenched with apprehension. Tremors ran through her body, making her hand tremble against Chion’s white coat. When he leaned more of his weight against her leg, she soaked in some of his strength and shored up her nerves.

In a rush, she said, “I’m not an Abani.”

Neither showed the slightest hint of surprise at her confession. Her eyebrows rose at the revelation. They had already known she lied about who she was. Wanting to get the disclosure over with, she tripped through her explanation.

“I’m from the planet Earth. I’m not from this world. I met Chion several weeks ago, but I’m not sure exactly how many days it’s been. I’ve never heard of this place—didn’t even know it existed—before being transported here. Magic doesn’t exist on my world, so I was shocked to learn that magic works here.” Not sure how much more she could explain and running out of words, she stopped talking and waited on pins and needles.

Eiren’s ears pricked forward with interest. Her golden eyes were trained on her, looking as if she was trying to determine the truth with just her sight alone. Skye shifted from one foot to the other, but other than that no expression crossed his face, leaving her in the dark regarding his thoughts. Skye skirted sideways with one arm stretched out in front of him until he could lean his weight on the side of the cart. Sometimes, she forgot he couldn’t see in the tunnels.

Chion rumbled, I believe they discuss the possibility between themselves. Give them time.

Well, knowing Skye’s proclivity to attack first, ask questions later, that isn’t exactly heartening.

Chion snorted in amusement. She smiled despite the stressful situation.

Why didn’t you say anything? I tend to ramble when I get nervous. You could have explained it to them.

This explanation must come from you. I do not think either would take the truth if it came from one born of this world. Besides, the manner in which you speak is evidence they cannot ignore.

Her head jerked back in surprise. He thought she talked funny? The others’ manner of speaking was so different from hers, but she hadn’t thought they’d think the same about her. Great. She stood out more than she thought. She wet her dry lips with her tongue.

Skye broke the silence. “Eiren wants to know how you travel here.”

Her heart leapt. Neither of them had dismissed her claim outright. There was a small chance they would accept her words. “I don’t know. I’ve tried to figure it out since the first time I was dropped underground. At first, I thought it was a dream. I found out how very wrong I was when I woke up in my bed with the cuts and bruises I received from the fights on this planet.”

Skye repeated her words slowly, doubt coating his tone, “You do not know.”

She gave him a sharp nod, forgetting for a moment he couldn’t see. “I’ve no idea.”

He turned to look at Eiren, their eyes communicating their skepticism. He turned back, shifting his position so he could cross one foot over the other. “When we were in Olun, I noticed your clothes are made of a substance I’ve never seen before. They are finely made.”

She looked down at herself, bemused at the question hidden in the statement. She was still wearing her jeans, but had changed into a nondescript, long-sleeved t-shirt. Self-conscious, she ran her hands down her shirt, straightening the wrinkles.

“The clothes are made from cotton, a crop that is grown by farmers.” She struggled to explain how the clothes were made, then realized she really had no idea. She went to the store and bought them; she never thought to learn the process. With a small shrug, she said, “I don’t know how to explain it, except that my world is vastly different from yours. In truth, I’ve no idea how my clothes are made. I just buy and wear them.”

“Eiren has explained to me you are no longer wearing the same clothes you wore when you disappeared.”

Could Skye not ask her a direct question? She thought she knew where he was going with his statements, but she would have felt better if he’d simply ask what he wanted to know. “Yes, I’ve changed clothes. Several times, actually.”

“You have also bathed since you were last here.”

She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Perplexed at the comment, she answered, “Of course I did. I stank from a week’s worth of traveling and not showering. In fact, I’ve taken three showers since I was here last. Thank God, since who knows when I’ll be able to get clean again.”

“A shower? What is this word?”

She glanced at Eiren. Eiren’s head was cocked while she listened to every word she spoke. Lara’s lips curved up in a crooked smile. She had a feeling this was the first of many requests to explain her word choices. She searched for a description that would best explain a shower.

She grinned and said, “On my planet, we can take either a bath or a shower. A shower is kind of like standing beneath a waterfall and letting the water wash you off.” She looked down at Chion for strength before asking the other two, “Do you believe I’m from another planet?”

“Eiren believes you are from this other world you speak of. Many of your words and mannerisms are different from any she has seen or heard. I know you believe you are from another world. As I have never heard of such an occurrence, I am holding my decision until I have more information.”

She stared at him in disbelief. She murmured, “You would have made a great scientist from where I come from. Or a lawyer.”

Though she saw the bewilderment on his face, he didn’t ask her to explain and she didn’t give him one. Lara was glad they both accepted her, even if Skye wasn’t sure another planet existed. The stress of telling them vanished, leaving her woozy on weakened knees. She leaned more of her weight against Chion and ran her fingers through his coat.

She asked him, “Did you travel across the Bithon crossing?”

Yes, My Lady. We are less than half a day’s walk to Malkese. We had hoped to reach the city before stopping for the day.

“Thank God.”

My Lady?

Embarrassed at her new fear of height, she confessed, I was really hoping you had crossed it. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. Right before I woke up in bed, I learned I have an incredibly strong fear of heights.

Shock ran through their link before he chuckled. His tail twitched. We could have used your assistance crossing the bridge. It took us longer to cross than it would have otherwise, though I understand. Many must be blindfolded and carried across. It has been said by many that the scream of the wind is akin to the screams of the falling.

She shivered uncontrollably at his words. Lara knew exactly what he meant. But to her, it was the screaming of the damned. She recalled her terror when she had first woken up in bed, believing she had slipped off the cliff and was freefalling into the abyss below. She lifted a hand to pull on her ponytail. She was just thankful they managed without her.

Chion nudged her leg with his head, rubbing back and forth, from cheek to cheek. He stepped back and said, We need to move on. We must reach Malkese before the day is over.

She took her place next to Skye. They all fell into the routine their group had developed while traveling. In its own way, the routine soothed her.

It was curious that Chion said nothing about her roommate. Then she realized that in his own way Chion lived in the present. She should have known the paka was too concerned with their existence on this world to grasp the significance of her worries for someone on another planet. It was with good reason. This place was too dangerous as it was. She’d take a page out of his book: the next time she was home was soon enough to worry about Becky. Lara scoffed at the thought. She may not live to see her home or her family. Her friend was the last of her worries if that happened. With a shake, she turned her thoughts away from her friend and scanned her surroundings.

An indefinite amount of time passed before she began feeling odd. The tunnel swerved back and forth in a zigzag pattern. With the curves in the tunnel hiding possible attacks, Chion moved ahead to better scout their route. Before long the corridor began sloping upward.

The closer they came to the city, the stranger Lara felt. She rubbed the hand she wasn’t using to guide Skye up and down her body, trying to determine the cause. It was almost like pockets of air pressed against her body, weighing her down. Every step forward added an incremental amount of weight until she felt as if she was being pressed from all sides. When they spiraled up a long, circular ramp, she realized what it was.

Thousands of emotions pressed down on her. She couldn’t pinpoint any specific one because of the sheer number of people unwittingly emitting their emotions to her. Her brain turned to mush and her breathing turned erratic, every breath of air a struggle.

When Skye told her, “You are needlessly squeezing my forearm,” Lara knew she was in trouble. She hadn’t known she was still holding onto him. She had forgotten all about him. Lara tried to loosen her hold on his arm, except her fingers no longer worked like they should. She groaned in distress and stumbled forward. She didn’t realize she slammed into the Pyranni warrior until he yanked her to a stop, holding her up with one arm behind her back.

A kind of buzzing started in her head and she shook it, trying to dislodge the bees. She saw Skye’s mouth moving, but she had no clue what he said. She nodded anyway and made to move up the ramp. She was relieved when he released her and picked up the cart again.

By the time they reached the giant, forbidding-looking gate, she was shuffling, her legs too uncoordinated to walk faster. With one hand clasped to her head, Lara moaned aloud in synchronization with the constant buzzing. She stood there for what felt like hours, trying to put a halt to the feelings invading her.

It was too much to keep out. The emotions crawled along her skin like thousands of ants. Some dug into her skin almost painfully while others merely tickled. It didn’t matter, they covered every inch of her skin. Her muscles flexed in a futile effort to rid herself of the emotional bombardment.

Fear rose. Sensations invaded her, overwhelmed her.

She looked up with dazed eyes when she was roughly grabbed. At first she thought Skye had grabbed her again, but she didn’t recognize the scarred man looking down on her. At his touch, she screamed in sheer agony. Menace took residence beneath her skin and slithered along her bones, pushing the other emotions to the wayside. In response, her body readied to fight back. Her face twisted into an identical version of the man’s, her lips lifting into an evil smile.

She didn’t see his disconcertment at the sudden transformation.

She didn’t feel the difference in his emotions.

Lara screamed into his face with everything in her and brought her right knee up to his crotch. When he bent over in pain, she brought her hands together into a tight fist and swung up, hitting him in an aggressive assault.

Her body didn’t recognize the abusive jarring in her arms. She didn’t hear the resultant commotion around her. She felt only the residue of menace.

Once the scarred man landed on his back, she leapt forward, intending to pound him into unconsciousness. Three men tackled her, forcing her to the ground with their combined weight, slamming her head into the rocky floor. Lara glared at the muscular chest pushing down on her.

Lara didn’t notice how the three men chained her to the ground with their hands, arms, and legs. She didn’t notice them scrambling to hold her down. Because of the combined menace the three men exuded where they touched her, Lara snarled up at them like a wild animal.

She was beyond hearing Chion roaring at her to submit. Her mind was beyond reason. Lara was beyond everything except attacking her enemies.

She cackled when she managed to turn her head to stare at her second enemy, who held her arm and chest down to the ground. Lara saw the fear creep into his eyes. She didn’t comprehend that she looked as if she was possessed. She didn’t realize she was fighting three full-fledged warriors as if they were scrawny men, easily overtaken.

Her last thought was that she would kill them.

She would kill them all.