A Parallel Universe

Chapter 20

In stories, when someone is preparing for a big event, they often have this queasy feeling. Now I was having it too. We had agreed that we will follow Mayla when she leaves. All three of us will be watching this so that I can prove to Skyla and Cyrus that I am not overreacting and that something big is really going on.

"Are you sure we should be doing this," Skyla asked.

"If you have another way for me to prove to you that she is up to something, I am all ears," I replied.

"I hate it when your way is the only way."

Ever since she got back, Skyla has been acting a little bit like Cyan. She has really changed since we got here. She was nice, sweet, and calm at first. Now she is just bold and secretive. It was almost night time, operation " Find Out What Mayla is Hiding" is a go!

After what seemed like an eternity, everyone finally went to bed. I sat still in my place, so that it looked like I was sleeping and I was sure Skyla was doing the same. Mayla didn't go out for so long that I felt I was really going to sleep. Before I drifted off completely, I sensed movement. Mayla was going out! I tried to contain my excitement and sit as still as possible so I won't blow my cover. When I felt it was safe to start following, I got up, grabbed Skyla, and went out. Cyrus was waiting for us out there so we all moved quietly and swiftly toward the direction where I saw her last time. After some frantic-whispering-shouting, we finally made it. We all hid behind the bushes and carefully listened to what Mayla was saying.

"Neither Itzel nor her goons have made any special appearance. But they have been disappearing for a lot of time so they probably met in secret," Mayla said to the same figure.

"I need you to follow them and find out what they are up to. Now what about the girl?"

"Silena? She is just acting normally like she always does. I think she bought what I told her about the Ancient Leaders and is probably searching for evidence."
"If something out of the ordinary happens, you know how to contact me. Oh and by the way, we will get the information you want. The things that will differ is, how we get it."

The figure then disappeared into thin air. I looked at my friends' expression, and they were clearly shocked. Now they know I was right! We needed to go back to the tent before Mayla did. I signaled for my friends to follow me, and we returned back to the tent just in time.

The next morning, I met with Skyla and Cyrus and we headed for the river. We were about to have a secret, private conversation. Since we don't know who Mayla will be following, we decided to have it underwater. The experience was horrifying! After I waded through the water, I started sinking deeper and deeper till I was completely underwater. I was almost out of breath when Skyla did some sort of trick that enabled me to breathe and talk normally. I didn't know it was possible, but both of them actually looked more lively in water than on land.

"This woman they were talking about, I think I know her," Skyla said in a gurgling voice.

"Me too," Cyrus said.

"This is great news! Now where did you meet her," I asked even though I knew Skyla didn't know any possible place here.

"Will it sound right if I told you I saw her in my dreams," Skyla offered nervously.

"Will it make it better if I said I did too," Cyrus told her.

"Can you two stop kidding and tell me where you meet her," I said patiently.

"I just told you. There was a cloaked figure in my dreams and she called herself Itzel," Skyla said.

"This probably sounds really weird and naive but I actually had the same dream," Cyrus said awkwardly.

"So you're telling me that both of you had the same dream about the same woman. Great! Things are really starting to get super complicated," I said frustratingly.

"Any idea why they were talking about you," Skyla asked.

"Nope. But they will probably mention the reason in the future. We will just have to wait and see," I said.