The Stowaway - Elswyth

“Mom,” her voice cracked as she called her once more. “It’s Ellie. I’m back.”

Cassia’s skin had lost its color. Her lips had turned blue, and her emerald eyes stared blankly at the canopy of acacia above them. She was gone, she knew. But she kept her trembling hand on her bleeding chest as if it would reverse death itself.

Her companion who was patiently waiting for her, finally came out of the shadows. He picked up a discarded bloody dagger and wiped it clean with his own coat.

“She’s gone, Elswyth,” he said, his voice in a whisper. “We have to go now.”

He handed her the blade. Her dark brown eyes stared blankly at the weapon that killed her mother.

“No, Rahil,” she begged. “I just need more time.”

She wanted to bury her properly. Someone so good and gentle doesn’t deserve to be left in the forest to rot and fed to wild animals.

Far off, a voice echoed faintly through the trees. “Go on back, Dad,” said the familiar voice. “There’s a fallen tree here with oyster mushrooms I want to get!”

Elswyth froze. She knew that carefree voice all too well. The sound of footsteps were getting closer. She stayed still like a prey hiding from its hunter. She can see Ren's brown hair tied in a ponytail through the bushes. She watched him as he passed by. When he was out of sight, she felt a strong grip on her arm, pulling her to her feet.

“That child saw me,” Rahil’s hold tightened, making her wince. “And your friend—you showed your face to her. Don’t deny it.”

“If they find you here, you won’t be able to come back. But if you leave now, you can still avenger her death.” Rahil glanced at Cassia for a second before letting her go.

“It’s up to you,” He ran and disappeared into the trees.

Her heart, heavy with grief, is weighing her, unable to move. But the voice of Rahil kept echoing in her head. He drilled into her that your heart will get you killed. You must use your head.

An urge to hold her mother overtaking her senses. But she knew, if she touched Cassia once more, she wouldn’t be able to walk away.

Elswyth wiped her tears away, smearing some of the blood in her hand onto her cheeks.

‘Aster will take care of her,’ she thought to herself.

With all the courage and strength she could muster, she turned around and took one step, and another, and ran after Rahil.

It wasn’t long before she caught up to him. As soon as she closed in, he sped up. She never liked running, but it was especially difficult today. Her legs felt as if they weren’t hers. She was giving it all to run faster but her legs won’t cooperate. It’s as if she was running in a dream.

Perhaps it is, she thought. ‘Then maybe I’ll wake up back in that old mat, in a beaten-up cabin in the middle of nowhere, far away from Faeldic.’

She hated how her sweat and blood drenched clothes clung onto her skin. Her mind was a haze. All she could do was to follow him. She kept her eyes on his back that she didn’t notice the root protruding from the ground and tripped. She cursed as she wiped the dirt and dried leaves off her face.

“Hey,” Rahil helped her up. His hand wounded tightly around her arm and tugged her forward. His dark eyes pierced through her soul. “We’re almost there. Focus.”

She nodded in response. When they started again, she followed his tracks, down to right his footsteps. That’s what she has been doing the past two years. Listen and follow.

He finally slowed down and came to a halt. Her lungs were about to burst but his heavy coat wearing companion did not even break a sweat.

“The second Heart of Silva,” Rahil placed his hand on the cypress tree in front of them, disguising itself as something ordinary. “There are only two people alive who knows where it is.”

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“And it’ll remain that way,” she said in between breaths. After all, knowing where the Hearts of the Forest could lead to its destruction, killing the very thing that gives life to the forest and protects every creature in it.

“Right,” she said as she pulled back the hood of her cloak.

Rahil stepped aside as she made her way to the tree. “Can you remember how you did it?” he asked.

“No,” she said curtly. She placed her hand on the tree and closed her eyes. She needed to clear her mind, so she took a deep breath. But the smell of blood filling her nose reminded her of Cassia alone on the forest floor.

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the memory. ‘Focus,’ she scolded herself. ‘Caeldig. The city with white walls.’ She kept repeating to herself repeatedly as she slowly placed her hands on the rough trunk of the tree.

“Open the portal, Elswyth,” said Rahil.

“If you’d be quiet for a second,” she snapped back.

She took a deep breath, picturing the white walls of the city she saw once. She saw the wounded on the ground, the riot of the people. The cries of children and the wailing of the people in pain. The smell of burning wood and flesh. The majestic tree in the middle of the city standing tall on top of the hill.

Her arm felt heavy. She felt the stickiness of blood on her hand. The rusty smell is filling her nose, her head—and she got angry, and sad all at the same time. A storm of emotion was raging in her chest, spreading to her head, down to her stomach. The image of the white walls was completely lost.

All she wanted right now is to stop. A moment of peace with her mother who she must bury the way she was taught. A place of solace where she could hide away and mourn, and not a single soul to disturb her.

Her nails dug into the dry bark, disintegrating under her touch. And then suddenly, a tingling at the tip of her fingers. Her hands started to feel warm and blue light emitted from the trunk. The portal was opened.

There wasn’t much to do once it’s conjured. She dropped her hands to her side and let the force take her in. She heard someone scream her name. But her mind was still muddy. She couldn’t if it was real.

This was only the second time she opened a portal. She hoped it would make the travel easier, but it didn’t. It felt like stepping into nothingness followed by a sudden drop into an abyss.

The next thing she heard was thud and the air got knocked out of her lungs as she hit the wet ground. She opened her eyes and saw the grey sky above them. She looked around and saw no white walls in sight. Just rows and rows of dead trees covered in mist.

To her side, Rahil was already on his feet patting the dirt off his coat. His raven hair is in disarray, caked with dirt and grass. He looked down on her, the disappointment was clear in his face.

“You were distracted,” he said as he looked around trying to figure out where they were.

She looked down at her bloodied hand. “It’s hard not to be,” she said as she wiped them on her white shirt. Despite her effort, her hands are still stained red.

“What’s wrong with this forest?” she breathed. “And what’s that smell?”

Rahil’s face turned pale. “Sulfur,” he breathed. He rushed back to her side, hand on the hilt of his sword, waiting.

A loud crackling sound was heard not far from where they were. It was followed by a few more snapping sounds, the rustle of leaves and sounds of birds flying away.

Then, from the corner of her eyes, she saw a set of glowing red eyes from the trees. It was slowly coming alive and uprooting itself. It twisted itself, contorting into different shapes. The sound of snapping tree branches echoed. Its low growl vibrated the entire forest. Black saps leaked from its body It branches coiled until it formed into two arms. It slammed on the ground and freed itself from the ground.

Its body split into branches, tangling and weaving into each other until it formed into a shape of beast standing on two feet, arms too long it dragged on the ground. Two long horns protruding from its head and its eyes glowed like embers. It growled so low, almost sounded like a purr. It took one step and the ground shook.

Rahil grabbed her hand and pulled her behind a boulder. They’ve faced many demons in the past two years, but nothing like this.

“What the hell is that?” she whispered. A cold sweat slid down her cheek.

“It’s a shadow,” he breathed. There was fear in his eyes. “This forest is infested.”

The demon screeched as it stretched out arm. A coiled branch shot out swiftly. There was a cracking sound in the air, followed by a desperate scream. It raised its branch and slowly retracted its arm. It was holding its prey upside down by the ankle. The man kept screaming for help.

“We have to do something,” she said, her shaking hands reached for the dagger on her waist.

“No,” Rahil protested. “If we attack it, it’ll make more noise and wake up the whole forest. More of that creature will wake up and it will be harder to contain.”

She looked at him in complete disbelief. “You convinced me to leave my home to save people and Eardyn. And now you’re asking me to stand down?”

“You’re not ready,” he said, his voice shaking. “If you die, our chances of defeating the Shadow Queen dies with you.”

“Gods please someone help!” his voice made her raise her head. She can see the silhouette of the man was desperately trying to free himself. Her please drew her in.

Ignoring the warning of Rahil, she slowly approached the demon, keeping herself low on the ground.

“What are you doing?” Rahil hissed behind her, but he followed her, nonetheless. And when she was close enough to see the prey’s face, her heart dropped to her stomach.

‘No, this can’t be.’ Her jaw hung open and she gasped.

It was Ren.