Daren, Alicia, Iltis, and Tillo find the vacant town of Ansville but quickly realize they’re not alone. A fight ensues and they find themselves on the verge of two worlds merging, one being the dark world of Neverworld and all her dark creations.
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This is NOT professionally recorded and is not intended to act like it is. This is a free audio recording of “The Ansville Gatehouse” short story. If you want to help support my projects and perhaps one day be able to make this professional, you can help by going to https://andrewnusz.com and clicking on the “Support Me” button. My hope is that you will enjoy this enough to encourage the writing and future publication of my writings.
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They walked down a fog-covered road, the pavement cracked and upended by years of erosion and the relentless push of tree roots reclaiming the land. All around them was silence, not even the faintest movement of animals. The unease was overwhelming, almost deafening in its intensity. The sun was blotted out by dense fog, leaving visibility minimal; a gray mist hovered just above the ground, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Alicia stepped over another jagged cement slab and continued onward, her fingers never leaving the hilt of her sword. She tightened her grip as she glanced into the trees, where ancient, gnarled branches stretched up like thick, petitioning fingers. Her heart hadn’t steadied since she had set foot on this deserted road. She had run for so long, she no longer knew how to stop. Now, she was coming full circle.
Looking up, she caught a glimpse of a large hill through the tree limbs. Atop the hill, a dark mansion loomed like a palace, its silhouette stark against the swirling, ominous clouds overhead.
Beside her, Daren moved quietly, his own weapon ready. Though he tried to appear calm, Alicia could sense his nervousness through their connection. He glanced at her a few times before reaching over and squeezing her hand. She managed a slight smile and walked on, her guard dropping only a little for him. Despite everything, a sense of resolve settled over her. She was determined to see this through to the end. She would stop running. Her family owed a great blood debt for the evil done to both humans and fae, and she would be the one to atone for that wrong.
She glanced at her two new companions, Tillo and Iltis. Both elves had spoken little during their journey down the abandoned road, which made her uneasy. She knew elves and humans had never been on the best of terms. It made her question things, a dangerous habit, especially now.
With a sigh, Alicia looked toward a clearing off to the side.
Daren raised his eyebrows slightly as he glanced at her. “You see something?”
She shook her head, though something deep in her gut made her pause. Years spent on the run, hunted, had sharpened her instincts.
They walked on for a few more minutes, the fog swirling at their feet. As they rounded a bend, the first of many buildings appeared, remnants of an old, abandoned town. Yet, something about the scene was off. Vehicles from a bygone era sat rusting at the edges of broken roads. The atmosphere was eerie, telling of a dark past; bullet holes riddled the walls, and the buildings had crumbled not from erosion, but from violent conflict that had swept through the town.
Amidst the ruins, strange glowing plants sprouted between the buildings. In the distance, a pool of luminous blue water shimmered beneath trees with glowing purple leaves. Elsewhere, a sparkling array of floating lights illuminated the ever-darkening landscape.
Tillo and Iltis exchanged knowing looks. Iltis spoke softly, “The merging has begun, the realm of the fae and this world.”
After another minute or two, they stopped to stare at a cottage, oddly out of place among the vehicles and the police station at the end of the street. More cottages dotted the nearby hills.
Iltis shook his head. “The longer this continues, the more damage will be done to both sides. The merging will destabilize the natural order, spiraling the ecosystem into chaos.”
Daren’s eyes widened as he took in a blacksmith’s shop with ancient tools. Nearby stood a swordsmith’s shop and a bakery. At the other end of the road, a leather shop with its tannery completed the picture of another world. The only thing missing was the people. The place felt haunting and strange.
“Where is everyone?” Daren asked in a hushed tone, as if speaking any louder might shatter the delicate balance holding this place together.
Tillo suddenly raised a hand. “I sense something.” He glanced at Iltis, who nodded, saying, “We’re not alone.”
Daren scanned the fog, but saw only the swirling mist. No animals scurried, no birds called. The silence pressed in.
They moved on, each keeping a sharp watch as they ventured deeper into town.
Passing a building with a large picture of a bottle, Daren peered through the window. Shelves lined with bottles of every size and shape held strange liquids and herbs.
Tillo shook his head when Daren lingered. “This place is cursed. Whatever you think is valuable could be your death. Don’t trust anything you see here.”
Daren quickly retreated to the center of the road.
Ahead and to the right, a tall, spacious building loomed. A sign above the door indicated it was an inn.
Tillo stopped abruptly, his expression alert. Beyond the intersection, the road curved into a thicket of trees.
Alicia turned slowly, a wave of dread washing over her and, through their bond, over Daren as well.
A faint sound stirred in the air, unrecognizable at first. Moments later, the rattling of chains shattered the silence.
Daren spun, unable to tell if the sound came from ahead or to the side.
Both Iltis and Tillo stood still. Tillo’s fingers brushed the feathers of his arrows, and Iltis’s hand hovered near the folds of his robe.
Daren instinctively gripped the gun at his side, the strange sounds growing all around him. Slowly, his hand slid back to the glowing whip attached to his belt.
Alicia felt the tension in Daren grow heavier, but she sensed a hard resolve settling in him. She gave a sliver of a smile, their connection strong. Tightening her grip on her sword, she slowly drew it. Her other hand lifted, and her sapphire necklace began to glow a brilliant blue. She drew on its energy, crackling lightning sparking in her palm.
The clanging of chains stopped abruptly.
Everyone stood motionless.
A soft gust of wind swept through, and a greenish glow began to emanate from the fog. From the swirling mist, a figure in tattered robes emerged, accompanied by five disfigured dogs. Their black fur was matted with blood, and patches of flesh hung from their bones. Their eyes glowed a beady red as they snarled. Chains hung from the robed figure, blending with its garments, a large hood obscuring its face.
Without warning, it flung out a gnarled, bone-thin hand and screamed. Chains lashed out as if alive.
“Back!” Iltis shouted, drawing a long black staff. Runes ignited like fire along the dark wood, glowing bright in the gray mist.
Tillo stepped back nimbly and, in two fluid motions, fired arrows that pierced the flying chains and embedded in nearby trees.
Iltis cried out in his elvish tongue, and his staff blazed with white light, immediately followed by a flash of palpable energy that slammed into the figure.
The creature stumbled back, shrieking in rage. With a sweep of its hand, the dogs charged forward, howling.
Daren’s heart pounded, but he let instinct take over. Memories of past generations surfaced, guiding his hand as the whip came unstrapped. In a heartbeat, he swung it, the diamond at its tip glowing white-hot.
The nearest dog leapt across the distance with terrifying speed. The whip flashed, and the dog snarled, leaping aside, eyes narrowing. It lunged with razor-sharp teeth bared.
Daren yanked the whip and ducked low as Alicia’s sword swung in front of him, catching the dog’s disfigured muzzle on its flaming edge an instant before the diamond at the whip’s tip struck its rear. Orange fire exploded, entrails and blood bursting across the road in a ball of flame.
Daren blinked, stunned, but had no time to think. Another dog charged.
Alicia swept past him with blinding speed. The dog’s howl was cut short as her blade sliced down, severing its head and body in a spray of blood.
Daren focused on the last two dogs. A third bore down on Tillo, who was targeting another of the robed figure’s chains. The whip sailed again, striking the dog as it lunged behind Tillo. Another explosion of blood and flame filled the air.
Alicia raced to support Iltis, whose staff pummeled the robed figure with magical force. A fourth dog charged from the right, and she swung with deadly precision.
This dog was quicker, ducking low and snarling, saliva dripping from its mouth before it leapt.
With a side swing, Alicia brought her blade down hard, sending the dog’s head rolling across the ground.
Tillo spun and, with an arrow notched, pierced the remaining dog through its throat, sending it crashing into a nearby tree.
The creature Iltis was fighting let out a chilling laugh. Glaring, Iltis raised his staff and made a swift circling motion.
The chains embedded in the trees broke free and, following the staff’s motion, spun around the figure, encircling it. Iltis shouted, and the chains ignited with molten flames.
The figure screamed as its robes were engulfed in fire. Shaking violently, it vanished, leaving the glowing chains clattering to the roadside.
Daren breathed heavily, adrenaline surging. He looked at Alicia and laughed, feeling as if he were losing his mind.
Alicia approached him with a mischievous look, running a hand down his arm before meeting his gaze. For the first time, his heart pounded with the thrill of living.
Turning to Iltis and Tillo, Alicia said, “Those were a form of banshee. I recognize them.”
Iltis nodded. “A kind of dark elf who succumbed to their fate.” He looked up at the hill to the left. “The road seems to lead around the mansion. Do you know anything about its layout?”
Alicia pulled a rolled-up piece of paper from her pocket. “When your people brought us here, I drew a map with Daren’s help.” She smiled softly at him. “He knows it better than I do.”
With everyone’s eyes on him, Daren sighed. “I’ve been trying to remember since I, ” He shook his head, uncertain how to describe what had happened. “Anyway, it’s all jumbled memories. But I’ve tried to piece together what I can from my childhood.” He shrugged.
Iltis gave a thin smile. “It will help, though I expect that once inside, nothing will be as it seems. The merging will be strongest within the mansion. It will be like a maze with shifting rooms and perhaps other worlds.”
Alicia took this in, her heart sinking. Iltis was right, she should have considered that.
Tillo looked at the nearby buildings. “Perhaps we should take shelter in the inn while we decide how to proceed. We can’t go further without knowing what we’re up against.”
Iltis nodded. As one, they made their way off the roadside toward the inn.
Walking beside Alicia, Daren looked down at his clothes, suddenly disgusted by what covered them.
Alicia noticed his discomfort and smiled. “It’s normal, Daren. It’s part of the job.”
Daren bit back a retort. “Do you think there’s running water in the inn? I need to wash off before I do anything else.”
Iltis, already at the door, gave Daren a sidelong glance. “The nature of our work is bloody, human. Best you get used to it now rather than later. I don’t want someone at my back who’s squeamish about bloodshed.” He entered, followed by Tillo and then Alicia.
Daren glanced at his bloodstained shirt and sighed. The memories of those who came before him pressed in. He knew what they had endured, he had simply tried to push that part of his legacy aside until now. His family’s history was, and always had been, bloody.
Stepping through the door, he sighed heavily.
---
The inn’s foyer was draped in dark red curtains. Cushioned chairs sat in the corners, and a long desk stood at one end. To the side, a doorway led to the commons room; across from it, another opened into a quieter, more spacious reading room. Ahead, broad stairs ascended to the second floor. Stained in deep colors, the inn as a whole felt inviting and comfortable.
Daren took in the surroundings as Iltis and Tillo slowly made their way to the commons room.
Behind them, a locking mechanism clicked.
Alicia spun around, her eyes narrowing. In a few quick steps, she was at the door, twisting the knob. She cursed under her breath and turned back to the others. “It’s locked!” she said. She scanned the windows of the commons room, quickly realizing that bars had been installed.
Iltis closed his eyes, his fingers tracing the length of his staff. After a moment, he opened them, a cautious look settling over his features. “Someone is here with us.”
Daren moved to the commons room and examined the barred windows. “Can’t you use your staff to melt the bars or something?” he asked Iltis.
Instead of answering, Iltis beckoned him over to the window.
Daren approached and looked out. The town was still shrouded in mist, but in the distant woods, he caught a glimmer of light. Focusing, he saw sets of glowing orbs hovering among the trees.
“What is it?” he asked, frowning. Alicia’s presence was close behind him.
“Shadow Wolves,” Tillo murmured, his gaze fixed on the glowing eyes. “Our people used to hunt them. I remember once chasing them from one end of Verlone to the other, back into the mountains where they appeared. They aren’t like normal wolves, taller, stronger, and insatiably hungry. But that was another time and place.”
“They’re being summoned,” Alicia said softly, her eyes distant. “My father’s will knows no bounds. He’ll do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means awakening ancient evil.” She turned to Daren. “A Shadow Wolf was created in the first age of man’s existence on Exodus, during my uncle’s reign of terror. As Emperor of Scaron, he amassed an army of powerful creatures, merging magic-born beings with whatever his cruel heart desired. They were once a magical race of their own, but when the Emperor found them, he twisted their nature into enslaved shells. Now, they do his bidding, like all his other twisted creations.”
Daren tilted his head, considering. “I thought your father was the one after you.”
Alicia gave a sad smile. “He is. But my uncle is more powerful, which is why he was placed under a spell and banished from Exodus. But with the death of the Drugi-Ward, all bets are off.”
“This is why we were summoned to accompany you,” Iltis interjected, also watching the tree line. “This is an unprecedented moment. Since humans crossed into Exodus, the Ancients have always kept a warden at the crossroads. With him gone and no one to take his place, the future of our two worlds is uncertain. The barrier around Exodus depended on the life of the Drugi-Ward. With his death, the boundary between Neverworld and Exodus grows thin. The Emperor will know what’s happened and will stop at nothing to reclaim his old home.” He gestured toward the glowing eyes. “Their presence means the Emperor is already moving. The Shadow Wolves are his guardians.”
Iltis motioned for Daren and Alicia to join him at a table. Once everyone was seated, he focused on Alicia. “Let’s see the layout of your family’s mansion.”
Alicia withdrew a crudely drawn map and spread it on the table.
For several minutes, they hovered over the map. Daren’s childhood memories surfaced in disjointed fragments. This place was mostly unfamiliar to him, his recollections more often belonging to others, as if their visions had been transferred to his mind.
The map showed many of the mansion’s halls and familiar rooms, great hall, state suites in each wing, towers linking different parts of the estate, and even a garden. At the center, though, was a blank area.
Daren tapped the blank space, closing his eyes. “Here…it’s a staircase, but also a hidden hall leading down.” He nodded, images flashing through his mind. “It holds a large stone slab with runes and pillars. That’s our destination.”
“It will be heavily guarded,” Iltis said, tracing numerous corridors before retracing them. “There’s no direct route. Even if there were, the doors will be enchanted and strongly protected.”
Tillo pulled a sheet of paper from his bag and, with quick strokes, sketched various areas of the mansion, drawing lines to connect them. “We don’t want the obvious route, it’ll be too heavily guarded, and there are only four of us. We need to approach from a different direction.”
Alicia pointed to a section of the basement. “I already had the same idea. Here.” She indicated a cistern beneath the mansion. “It leads out to a river on the east side of town.”
“Why there?” Tillo asked, frowning.
Daren’s eyes were closed again. “As a child, I played in that part. It’s abandoned, old, and falling apart. But it can be entered, I did it a few times while exploring.”
Iltis nodded. “We have an entrance. Your blood can bypass the wards. Now we need a safe route to the portal room.”
Daren sighed. “Even if we make it inside and survive to reach that room, what then? Do we fight whatever’s in there? How do we stop what’s happening?”
Iltis and Tillo exchanged unreadable looks.
“What?” Alicia pressed. “What are we missing?”
Iltis turned from Alicia to Daren. “When the fae first called for help, my people tried to understand the nature of this evil. When we discovered its origin, we searched our libraries for a solution. We learned that Dragonblood had fallen, its people fleeing across worlds. We were left to face the evil humans brought. In our search, we found this.” He reached into a pouch and withdrew a thin, brittle book, sliding it across the table to Daren. “Your answers are in these pages.”
Daren sensed Iltis was hiding something, and it unsettled him. He examined the book, noting its age and fragile texture. The title was almost illegible, but he traced the indented letters: Dragonblood’s Legacy.
With a soft huff, Daren muttered, “Some legacy for such a thin book.”
No one replied.
He flipped the book open and saw the symbol of Extal. Below it was a date: 1990 AD, Earth.
He blinked in surprise, turned the page, and began to read silently.
My name is Cynric Sherwin. I decided to journal the strange events unfolding around me, as it seems I’ve fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole with no end in sight. What began as an innocent letter inviting me to Scotland has become something else entirely. Upon arrival, I met the lord of the manor, Duncan Garland. He claimed I was the last in line of a long-lost relative. He was leaving on an extended trip and needed someone to care for the estate, insisting only family would do. I didn’t believe him, but he insisted. As a token of good faith, he gave me a strange ring with an even stranger symbol, a disjointed wheel. Having recently lost my job and with no prospects, I couldn’t refuse. Besides, I was to live in a castle-like mansion in Scotland. The man left, and I became lord of the manor.
Everything was fine, that is, until I put on the ring. At first, I wore it on a chain around my neck, but after a few days, I slipped it onto my finger. Immediately, I felt a sharp sting, like a needle. No blood, so I thought nothing of it.
By the next day, the hallucinations began.
I would walk into a room, look out the window, and realize what I saw wasn’t what I knew to be outside. Scotland is many things, but dense with trees isn’t one of them. Another time, I opened a familiar door to a corridor only to find myself somewhere else. Things stopped making sense.
That’s when I saw it. During one of my explorations, convinced I was losing my mind, I stumbled into a vast chamber within the mansion. Towering walls, ancient pillars, and enormous hearths burning with fires I never lit. At the center, a raised dais held a pyramid-shaped stone. At its top, a stone hand, fashioned into a fist, glowed bright blue. The wheel design was etched across the floor. When I touched the stone fist, the spokes lit with blue light, and the floor began to turn beneath me. Swirling mist flashed, and I was cast into another world, or an in-between world. I don’t know.
I stood on stone ground stretching for miles. Above, strange water flowed sideways, with creatures too terrible to describe. Below, stars glowed with strange lights. Ahead, islands floated in the void. I was somewhere, but nowhere. Stairs descended to a larger island with a temple. I made my way down, stars on either side, a waterfall spilling into a mist of gases.
At the temple, Duncan stood between the columns, regal and godlike. As I reached the stairs, he raised a hand to stop me. “At last, you have come,” he said, his smile cold and inhuman. “Have you met my servants yet?” When I looked confused, he waved the question away. “I have given you a great gift, cousin. Are you confused? Do you want the answer?” When I shook my head, he said, “I have given you the ability to travel the fae. You are no longer bound to Earth.” He laughed, arms wide. “Look around! You are within the fae.”
“I don’t understand!” I replied. “Who are you? What did you do to me?”
Duncan smiled mischievously. “I enhanced you. I changed your DNA. You are no longer just human. I infused you with fae blood, with a few tweaks, so you could be something new.”
I looked at my hands, at the ring. Fear swept over me. I was changing, but I didn’t know into what. “Why?” I asked, panic rising.
“To bring a new age to mankind,” Duncan whispered, his gaze distant. “It’s time humanity stopped pretending to embrace the future and simply did it. Change is inevitable now. My brothers and I have set events in motion to usher in a new age, one never dreamed of except in fiction.”
Daren turned a few brittle, unreadable pages, finally finding a complete passage.
We have seeded destruction. The evil in man’s heart has doomed us all. In the shadows, I watched Faelivrin’s madness consume him. With the curse on Tausin, the Emperor fled to the farthest reaches of the fae. I do not think this is the end. The council has deliberated for a month on how to proceed after the devastation. The world of magic is in turmoil, and Earth is defenseless. Both councils of Exodus and Earth have agreed: the gatebridge we built is too dangerous to leave unguarded. But to ward its passages, we need the blood of dragons. It was built with their magic and can only be warded the same way.
Daren skipped more unreadable pages.
We have done it! Even at great peril, the dark one tried to enter Earth. The sentries sounded, and the high guard of Delta assembled for war. In the long hours of the night, I sought answers. I turned to the High Lords of the mountains, and after much discussion, we reached a conclusion. There was only one way to keep the Emperor away: a fusion of three. The sacrifice would be made for the good of all races. From the blood of dragons, the blood of nature, and the blood of human Dragonblood. I have lived a life only dreamed of. Even when it was meant to be enslavement, I turned it to my advantage. I do not regret my decision. I only hope my brother understands.
Daren slowly looked up, dread chilling him. Understanding dawned. In a whisper, he said, “The making of a Drugi-Ward.” He turned to the last entry.
The war is upon us. I have given up hope of returning. The mansion is key. The main portal will suffice for the changing. Kavis of the black dragon tribe says the bridge is semi-sentient. I must be willing and fuse within the crossroads portal. I will descend into the gate tower in the in-between world with the temple. I have made my decision. For those who read these words, I will see you in the fae. I will no longer be called Cynric. In the old tongue, I will be Tomel, Tom for short. In High Latra, it means “warden of the fae.”
Closing his eyes, Daren handed the book back to Iltis. Neither spoke.
Alicia lowered her gaze, sensing Daren’s fear. She put an arm around him. “What did you find out? Tell me! I can feel your fear as clearly as my own heartbeat.”
Daren shook his head, unable to voice what he’d read.
Tillo, still watching the window, said, “Strange. I don’t think they’re going to attack us. They’re staying clear of the inn.”
Iltis glanced at his old friend, then up at the sky. “The sun is setting fast. We should stay here until morning.”
After a simple dinner of dried meat, a few sweet scones from the airship’s chef, and some ale, they retired to adjoining bedrooms. Iltis took first watch in the hallway, uncertain what the night might bring. Tillo would follow, then Daren would take the last watch.
---
Daren lay awake, his mind restless and haunted by the journal he had read.
Beside him, Alicia turned, her eyes searching his face with concern.
He shook his head. “I can’t sleep.”
“The journal?” she asked softly.
He had told her the story of Cynric and the journal’s contents before they went to bed. She had been silent for a long while. Finally, in a hesitant whisper, she said, “I can’t lose you.”
He lay there, her gaze locked on his, her body curled protectively around him, legs entwined with his. Through their bond, he felt a slow, determined resolve building in her.
Frowning, he whispered, “What are you thinking?” The emotions radiating from her unsettled him, desperation, fear, and a dark, resolute intent. A chill crept through him.
“Please...don’t do anything reckless,” he pleaded softly.
She looked at him, her eyes softening until a single tear slipped down her cheek. “I won’t live this life without you. I will do what I set out to do. What happens after...” She looked away, her eyes haunted. “Do what you must...and I will follow.”
She disentangled herself, studying his face for a long moment before turning away.
Daren knew she hadn’t said everything she was thinking. The silence between them ached, a slow fear settling in his chest.
---
Several hours later, a knock sounded at the door. Daren sighed quietly, feeling Alicia’s fingers brush against him as he sat up.
He gathered his clothes and dressed. It was his turn to take watch. Glancing at Alicia, he murmured, “I love you, Alicia.”
Without opening her eyes, she replied, “I don’t know why.”
He managed a thin smile. “We’re all a little crazy.”
She cracked her eyes open, glaring. “Are you asking me to hurt you?”
He grinned, letting a few emotions slip through their connection for her to sense, then turned the door’s handle.
“Daren!” Alicia whispered in shock, but he was already gone.
Out in the hallway, he nodded to Tillo and took the chair the elf had vacated. The soft glow from his whip provided enough light. For a while, he sat in contemplation, sorting through memories that weren’t his. In his mind, he had begun to organize these events and people into separate compartments, a strange mental library he was still learning to navigate. It was like living in a waking dream, vivid and real.
He pictured himself in a grand temple, similar to the chamber of kings. Alcoves lined with books and dotted with pillars stretched into the distance. This was his library of memories.
He sat at a table, a large candle illuminating the open book before him. This one belonged to Jared Cole, a man who had fought something called the Evil Eye. Jared had drawn sketches of the beast and described how he defeated it with the very sword Alicia now carried.
He was flipping a page when, suddenly, his skin tingled and itched. The sensation dragged him from his dream back to the dark hallway, the itch intensifying. His hairs stood on end as his heartbeat quickened.
Gripping the handle of the whip, he stood, scanning his surroundings. Nothing seemed amiss.
He was about to sit down again when he heard a tapping sound, like a stick being dragged along the wood paneling. He froze, fingers tightening around the whip.
Red light began to glow from the walls, seeping through cracks and fissures as the wallpaper peeled away. His mind flashed back to when he and Alicia had seen the trees near the Sanctuary briefly shift into a dark realm. Now, that same darkness was here. The air filled with the stench of sulfur.
Fighting back a surge of fear, he shouted, “Everybody up!”
Shouts erupted from the bedrooms. Metal clanged as doors burst open. Tillo and Iltis rushed out, weapons glowing. Alicia charged from their room, her sword ablaze, sapphire necklace burning bright.
“We’re merging again!” Iltis hissed. “I can feel the taint of Neverworld!” He spun as something clucked in the shadows.
At the far end of the hall, a grotesque, spider-like creature crawled along the ceiling. Skeletal hands reached from the walls, which now oozed with a metallic, blood-like scent.
“Down the stairs! Now!” Iltis shouted, racing for the staircase.
Daren didn’t hesitate, sprinting after him with Alicia at his side. They skipped steps and reached the lobby, skidding to a halt.
To the left, part of the lobby had vanished, replaced by a menacing landscape of black mountains. Jagged rocks jutted everywhere, the poisonous odor of sulfur growing stronger as the scene flickered in and out. Silhouetted against swirling red clouds, black, finger-like towers rose into the sky, lightning crackling above.
“Animus Palace...” Iltis whispered, glaring at the vision. Clenching his fists, he said, “Time is running out. If we don’t act soon, there will be nothing left of either world.”
A hiss sounded behind them. Tillo spun, eyes flashing yellow, and loosed flaming arrows that pinned a giant black spider through its eyes. It screeched before Daren lashed out with his whip, the creature exploding with a high-pitched wail.
Alicia raced to the front door and yanked hard, but it wouldn’t budge. She pressed her hand to the wood, swearing softly. “It’s spelled!”
Iltis’s gaze fixed on the merging realms, and he began to count softly.
Daren shook his head. “Don’t tell me... we’re going through that?” He stared at the intense scene before him.
Iltis nodded. He watched the flickering vision, seeing the lobby reappear, then the dark mountains. Five seconds later, the other world returned.
Daren sighed, his voice tight. “This is insane.”
“Got a better option?” Tillo shrugged, shouldering his bow. He stepped toward the flickering other world, joining Iltis.
Daren took a few deep breaths, feeling Alicia’s hand close around his.
“We do this together,” she whispered, sword in hand, eyes forward.
He nodded, moving with her toward Iltis.
Iltis counted down. “...three...two...one.”
They stepped forward, and a wave of heat and the acrid stench of death engulfed them. Darkness pressed in, pierced by howling wind and crackling lightning. The world was black rock and molten red fire. A road snaked through the gloom, lined with giant cauldrons of fire. On either side, pikes held skeletons and half-eaten bodies, faces frozen in eternal screams.
Daren’s heart hammered, his grip tightening on the whip.
“Take twenty steps to the left!” Iltis called.
They obeyed, pausing together.
From the distant mountain, a flash of red light ignited between two towering spires. An ear-piercing screech echoed, forcing Daren to clamp his hands over his ears. A booming voice thundered on the wind: “Kill them!”
“Now!” Iltis yelled, sprinting as the forest and paved road flickered back into view.
Relief flooded Daren as he found himself back in the familiar world, if only for a moment.
“We have to go!” Iltis called. “We need distance and cover!”
Daren ran, Alicia at his side, Tillo covering the rear. They sprinted down the road for several minutes before Iltis veered into the woods, following an unseen path as the terrain began to rise. Branches whipped against him, but adrenaline pushed him on. Soon, they were scrambling up the bed of a stream, water rushing around their feet.
Iltis paused several times to listen, then pressed on without a word.
After half an hour, he stopped at the base of a rock cliff.
“We need to climb to the top,” he said quietly, pointing twenty feet up. “Something’s following us, but I think the water is masking our trail.”
“Up there?” Daren whispered, his stomach twisting. He’d climbed before while scavenging in New Muskegon, but never a cliff like this. The rocks jutted out, offering handholds, but he doubted his strength.
Alicia patted his back. “You can do this.” She gave a tight smile, then hurried to the cliff’s edge. Iltis and Tillo were already climbing.
With the threat behind them, Daren leapt for a ledge, hauling himself up and searching for footholds. Sweat dripped from his brow as he climbed, his body not used to the effort, but determination drove him on.
Halfway up, an ominous howl rang out. Below, two massive gray wolves padded to the base of the cliff, staring up with hungry, yellow eyes.
Daren’s hands slipped on the rock, but Alicia’s steady gaze met his, her encouragement unwavering. He took a deep breath, found a better grip, and pulled himself higher.
More wolves appeared, howling to the sky.
Suddenly, a rope dropped beside him. He grabbed it, climbing faster until he rolled over the edge, gasping for breath. Iltis and Tillo hauled him up. A moment later, Alicia joined him, smiling thinly. “I knew you could do it.”
Daren shook his head, grinning. “At least one of us did.”
“Come on,” Iltis urged, already jogging ahead. “Wolves aren’t the only things after us. We must hurry!”
Groaning at the ache in his side, Daren pushed himself to his feet and followed.
They ran for fifteen minutes through dense forest, fear and adrenaline keeping them moving. The woods thickened, but Iltis found clearings and led them through.
As they neared a large hill, Iltis suddenly stopped, raising his staff. “Something’s nearby. They’re close!” he hissed.
Tillo notched an arrow, scanning the trees. Alicia gripped her sword.
Drums echoed in the distance, growing louder until the sound surrounded them.
A flash of purple light, and the Swordsman appeared. His expression was grim, veins curling around his neck and skull, eyes glowing faint yellow. Black cloaks and a rune-etched doublet clung to him. The air filled with a sickening poison.
He raised the red crystal-stained sword, snarling, “It’s time to end this foolish game.” His glare fixed on Alicia. “Time for you to feel my wrath for turning when I offered you everything.” Before anyone could react, he lifted the sword and unfurled black wings edged in purple light. Chanting in a dark, unintelligible tongue, he rose into the air. The winds howled, trees wilted, and the beat of drums thundered. His eyes blazed red as he screamed.
The world twisted. Fissures cracked the trees, red liquid oozing from within. The sky turned dark red, a crackling laugh echoing overhead.
The Swordsman hovered above, voice venomous. “Time to die... all living things will die!” He swept his sword downward, unleashing a wave of red poison.
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