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  Aggravated and determined to find its source she paid no heed to anything else around her, dismissing the glaring yellow eyes above, or the misshapen creatures encircling her along the ground as mere illusions. The voice echoed louder still, resonating as a petrified shout, but still the words were distorted, distant.

  Then, a tug on her dress forced her halt. The voice fell silent, the many eyes and faceless bodies vanished in a second. Lisa blank feverishly trying to rid herself of her minds thickening fog. She’d gone so far into the forest nothing held any semblance of familiarity. Facing the creature pulling at her dress the pressure in her head tapered off, along with the frantic beating of her heart.

  The fox panted before her, bouncing this way and that, before turning abruptly signalling her to follow. With a placid smile, Lisa trailed behind the animal without hesitation, glad of her guides return. Now she could present her worth to the snake.

  Finally, she’d find out where she was.

  Chapter 5

  Lisa held much less enthusiasm of their destination as the fox apparently contained. The horrid red eyes of the shadow plagued her thoughts throughout the hike, tearing through the beacon that was her excitement of the fox’s return. If she had any idea as to why it’d so suddenly returned, the feeling may have lasted longer, been able to withstand the looming fear of the spirit from breaking through, but she could only watch her guide weave through the forest with confusion. After a while, she gave up. Her gaze fell to the many faceless figures still skulking close by. Though the fox had scared them off to some degree, she couldn’t be sure of the animals loyalty, knowing it capable of vanishing over some small fright, and unless the fox could speak, tell her its intentions, its presence would have to be answer enough.

  Time seemed immobile, the sky forever holding its intense blue. Yet, to her, the sky could’ve been a deep shade of green and she’d have been none the wiser of its change. She felt as if a rain cloud had congregated above her, dampening her spirits with its incessant downpour. Staring at the fox’s brilliant red fur offered little condolence, though, it was a much better alternative to seeing how close they’d come to the tree. She didn’t need to look. The forests density had started to thin and the trees they did pass had shrunk considerably.

  Soon the darker dirt of the forest exchanged once again for the emerald grass playfully tickling the bottoms of her feet. The creatures following retreated within the depths of the forest, whether out of fear of the shadow looming in the dishevelled tree across the chasm, or if they were unable to leave the boundaries of the wood, Lisa could never be sure. Notwithstanding their disappearance and the soft, cool grass once again quelling her burning feet, her spirits remained woefully distraught. Meeting the shadow again, however brief, remained a source of anxiety and she gritted her teeth at the coming displeasure.

  Failing to notice, the cloud of misery looming so low it obstructed everything in her path, Lisa stepped on the fox’s heel. If the animal had experienced any pain, it gave no indication. It’d halted mere steps from the bridge’s rope posts, impassive as a statue. Lisa looked up, regretting her decision immediately at the grotesque sight of the half dead, waning stump across. Suppressing her urge to turn away, she stepped forward to call for the spirit.

  Her bravery went unneeded as the fox blocked her path before making a quite terrible racket. Its shrill calls echoed through the air like an explosion bursting to its full ferocity not a foot in front of her. Lisa stared at the animal, utterly perplexed at how something so small could produce a call so violent.

  The bridge swayed in the phantoms gale as it peered from within the hollow tree. The shadow emerged glaring at the intrusion, as if unsure for its own safety before barrelling across the bridge with the eagerness of a murderer closing in on their victim.

  Lisa fell to the ground crossing her legs in a desperate attempt to hide she’d fallen of fear and not by choice. A splash of water touched her arm. She dared not avert her eyes from the ones speeding towards her. The fox, surprisingly, hadn’t moved the entire ordeal. Lisa assumed it would’ve run off at the first sight of the horrid beast, as with the others, but it stayed, impassive as ever.

  Leaving the bridge the shadow encroached upon them slowly, as if exhausted from the burst of energy. Lisa swore she heard it panting; however, it could’ve easily been the fox before her. The air went still. None dared make any motion. After what seemed hours, Lisa quivered bringing herself from the shadows enthralling eyes and offered the leaf. Without hesitation, it snatched it from her hands.

  “I never doubted your abilities...”

  “You have what you want; now give me what you stole!” She shouted back with renewed confidence, though by the last word her lips developed an unflattering tremble and her voice became a weak croak.

  The shadow bowed its head. “I see you have not altered your thinking... unfortunate, but I shall honour our arrangement.”

  Having little contrast on its shadowed form the spirit looked as if it reached directly into its chest before withdrawing a golden medallion the size of its head. Lisa’s eyes widened at the gorgeous pendent. A serpent lay carved on the medallion’s circumference, shaped as if about to devour the sapphire set in its center. The shadow dropped the cold metal unceremoniously into her hands, the attached chain bunching up on top.

  Lisa held the disk before her with some difficulty. Despite not holding much weight of any sense, it was much too big to hold comfortably with one hand. Hoisting herself up using the medallion as a crutch, she bowed low with regal thanks to the shadow. Even if it did try to send her to her death, it kept its promise and deserved her begrudged respect.

  “Thank you, shadow.”

  It shrugged her affections off. “A hollow reward in return for what awaits you...”

  Then, patting the fox on the head, the spirit turned towards its home. The fox sprinted past it and across the bridge with reckless abandon, easily skipping over the missing planks. Lisa staggered forwards calling for the animal, but her words went unheeded. Why was it leaving? Moreover, why did it trust this shadow?

  “Wait, uh, shadow?” Lisa called as it drifted across the chasm.

  The spirit turned back, its eyes dim and lifeless. “What is it, child?”

  Lisa clenched her fists at the insinuation she was anything but an adult after what she’d been through. She took a deep shuddering breath and dismissed the comment with great effort.

  “You know what’s beyond the gate?”

  “Yes,” it said, its eyes flickering bright with intrigue, though, hardly having energy enough to remain so.

  “C-could... could you tell me?”

  Her heart fluttered at the chance of knowing if, by some twisted fate, she’d never have to trudge through that terrible forest again, never have to pass the Nakki, and never have to confront the leviathan, still unsure if it truly offered as grandiose a reward as it claimed. She only wanted this ordeal to end. The shadow had been just as, if not more, cordial than the serpent. What would truly be the cost of trusting it? Perhaps this shadow held more answers.

  “No, that is forbidden...” it said, sounding thoroughly disheartened by the question.

  Lisa’s hopes fell placidly to the ground as the petal had to the pond.

  No.

  Always no! What secret did this world hold in such high status? Moreover, why did they all so adamantly keep it from her?

  “However,” it continued, “guidance is not... heed my words child, nothing good can come from going back to that horrid beast! Beyond the chasm is your rightful place, among the others. Allow me to see you safely off this land, I only wish your well-being.” The shadow glided closer, the life in its eyes steadily returning.

  Lies! All horrible Lies!

  Lisa retreated from the monster ready to run, to flee with the amulet back to the one truly wanting her salvation. Despite the leviathan sending her on much the same quest as this shadow, it warned of their false promises, of their compulsion to tell onl
y what she wanted to hear, allowing her reasonable defence against them. What other purpose would it have in doing so if not to help her? Why send her off if it hadn’t felt her different, recognized her abilities, that she could handle its quest and bring the amulet back? The serpent was her only true friend. These other monsters wanted nothing but to torment her. Everything the shadow said were lies...

  “Tell me, did the serpent ever explain why I stole the amulet?” the shadow asked breaking the silent air.

  “W-well, n-no...” Lisa sheepishly retreated, but the spirit coiled its shadowed body fast around her preventing escape.

  “Unsurprising,” it breathed. The shadow took a slight pause as if collecting its thoughts. “I stole the amulet, the key as you call it, because of a cycle we are forced to continue. Again and again it is completed, reset and completed, whether it is you or another it matters little. It is a test of will, of intelligence and worth, as that serpent may have... forgotten to mention in any respect. At least I assume.”

  “So there was never any danger for me? I was meant to do this?” Lisa stared at it somewhat surprised, a distant figure in the mist of her mind yelling that she shouldn’t be.

  The shadow chuckled. “Oh no, there was indeed danger. The Nakki is not a spirit to be trifled with. It has very well trapped many before you and is a plague upon this land! It is only here because the serpent allows its existence! However, I was certain you’d complete my errand, like it has been so before.”

  Lisa’s face contorted in confusion. How could this shadow have known she’d complete the tasks? It’d never met her before. Yet, neither had the Nakki nor the serpent, and both seemed all too familiar with her abilities. Had this happened before? She refuted the notion outright, it was only as they said, others completed it before her.

  “So why bother if you all knew I’d succeed?” she asked pointedly.

  The shadow drew in close, its narrowed eyes coming level with hers. “I never said anything about success!...”

  “Then... then I’ll go back to the snake, complete the test!”

  The shadow withdrew its body regaining its full height. “Very well, but it will be most pitiful...” then, it suddenly turned towards the bridge floating lazily back to its home.

  Lisa ground her teeth at the spirit’s turned back. How could she figure out anything if they gave only riddles and more questions? The only thing she could count on to be certain was the fact that none of them, not the Nakki, not this shadow, not even the fox, were trustworthy. Traitorous animal! How could it have bounded across the bridge? Perhaps it wanted her to follow? No, that was unthinkable! She’d never enter that horrible tree! But how could she be so certain of the leviathan’s words? She bowed her head closing her eyes, fighting the tears away.

  She didn’t know what to believe anymore...

  Stomping the ground in frustration and at her inability for restraint, she chased after the shadow. She had to ask more, had to find out why they all seemed to know her despite never meeting them. She had to!

  “Enough of the riddles!”

  The shadow stopped shy of the bridge’s posts, but didn’t turn. Lisa paused a few moments trying to find the right question to ask through the thousands flickering like distant fires within the mist.

  “Always so angry with no reason to be...” it said derailing her train of thought and leaving her with the most vacant of stares. “Though I guess it should be expected,” it turned back angrily stalking towards her. “Searching for so long, yet always unsure of how far has been traveled. Always on the cusp of finding answers but denied. Yes I can see quite clearly why...” slowly the shadow circled around her. All the while it kept its gaze on its home. “Tell me, why do you think you have no memories of the time before this place? Why all seem to know and are eager to help, but always dangle the truth like a fruit out of reach? Why wandering this plain can feel exhausting while taking no time at all? Have you never wondered exactly why you have been sent here, or what you are truly meant to do?”

  “W-well, I, that is, the serpent said I’d find out within the gate. That it’s the fate of everyone here...” Lisa replied, hardly believing her words. She looked to the medallion sitting at her feet. She’d tried to hold it but its size made it impossible without both hands, and with both it became a nuisance.

  “I have no doubt you will find the answers you seek, but perhaps the place in which all are drawn is not the place you discern to be right,” still circling the shadows eyes never left the hollowed tree.

  “I’m tired of these riddles! Please, tell me why I’m here, please...”

  The shadow merely continued to circle and stare. “I have already told you! I gave you a task, as did the serpent, to open the gates. Retrieving water in a leaf was not a plan fished from the void below these cliffs. No, it has been completed time and time again.”

  “You’ve said this!”

  “And still you do not listen!” it roared. “Have you not wondered what the water was for?”

  Lisa shook her head, keeping her eyes away from the shadow, keeping it from seeing her tears...

  “So naive yet so intelligent... I see you are missing a crucial piece to your outfit since last you arrived.”

  “What does that have to—”

  “I wonder... when you gave the branch to the Nakki if you happened to notice a change in the water. Or, perhaps, the change in the leaf,” finally it ceased it’s circling withdrawing the shining green leaf to her downcast eyes, “when the water touched it’s surface?...” it finished with a drawn out breath.

  “I, I never thought—”

  “Yes, pride often clouds ones abilities for reason... Regardless, I did not send you on a fool’s errand for worthless water,” the leaf disappeared into the spirits blackness again.

  Lisa glanced between both the shadow and tree trying to remember, trying to understand, and trying to search through the mist. Tears brought on by the sharp, stabbing headache fell haphazardly down her cheeks. The faint feeling of familiarity came to her, but nothing emerged from her fog. She didn’t understand! Desperately she tried, feeling as if some spectral hand clutched hard at the back of her head, keeping everything just shy of her reach. Then she saw it. Instantly, she clutched the memory fast, pulling it free of its clouded prison. Her eyes widened and she faltered back steadying herself with the medallion.

  “Now you see!”

  If any smile could’ve been seen on the shadows face it would’ve stretched its entire head. “This tree was like the hedge, but, over time, and without the river, it has shrivelled and lost its former beauty. But with this...” it trailed off making its way towards the bridge again.

  Lisa dropped the medallion’s chain and followed the shadow.

  “Now I have the power to share what has been haunting you for so long. You will know where you are,” it said not halting its progress.

  Could it really be this simple? She glanced back towards the forest feeling the many eyes within and those beyond still watching, waiting for her return. Did the leviathan truly promise lies? She passed the threshold of the bridge posts. It appeared smaller once on it and the ropes refused to slacken under her weight, tightening to that of immovable steel.

  “But the key, w-why... why was I sent to retrieve it if it’s worthless? Why did the music call me to the hedge? If I’m meant to come here then why wasn’t I guided here first?” Lisa persisted.

  The shadow slowed slightly. “What makes you believe you were not at least tugged in the right direction?”

  This didn’t make any sense!

  The questions raced through her mind to the point of annoyance, but she dared not ask again. What use would it serve if it only resulted in more questions and riddles? So often the answer they were. Lisa slowed and the bridges boards creaked as she stopped. The roundabout answers and lies rested so heavy on her shoulders she felt unable to continue. So exhausting had they become. Once more, she attempted to penetrate the thick fog that consumed her head.


  Useless...

  Every semblance of memory flickered like a lighthouse in the distance, never staying long enough to be recognized. If this shadow truly wished to help her, to reveal what she craved, then why not tell her without all this trickery and deceit!

  She looked up to the tree’s unappealing branches wavering in an unfelt breeze, as if trying to signal her to turn and run. The same feeling of familiarity struck her like a rock to the head forcing her to check a gasp, fearing the shadow would hear.

  The words of the serpent slithered into her mind refusing to leave, the sickly branches only aiding in the thought’s power. Lisa averted her gaze only to be struck by the void below the cliffs, hollowing out her stomach to the same degree. It was a trick, just as the leviathan warned! The shadow only wanted to imprison her, to turn her to one of its grotesque sticks! She had to go back, had to leave this terrible place, had to return to the hedge, had to get away from this monster!

  Silently she watched the shadow hover on across the bridge. It seemed to move so slowly compared to its furious entrance, as if exhausted from the previous effort. Lisa shook more violently every moment wanting to turn and flee, but she wouldn’t dare with it so close. She waited and watched the shadow inch towards its tree. Finally, she felt it far enough an attempt could be made. Turning she crept away back towards the forest. The boards creaked horribly with her every step, but she kept moving, fearful of the shadow’s response.

  The shadow’s voice tore through the still air like a knife through the skin.