Soulseer ✔️ *COMPLETE*

Chapter Fifteen

We are standing in the dark in front of a door in the back storage room of Sahar and Asad's shop. There is a shimmering veil, the telltale sign of a border of Inbetween, a Seam.

"So if I walk through right now, I'll be magically transported to Pakistan," I say.

Sahar's soul rustles above her like a cloak whipping in a strong wind and her eyebrows draw together.

"Not magic! This is a Seam - a Fold of Inbetween," she indicates the door and its shimmer. "But if you enter without Enshrouding, you will simply step through to the place where the shop originally connected when it was added to the market complex here in the Bazaar. The Inbetween will not assist or prevent your movement. Some say they notice a decrease in temperature or have a prickling sense. But it is over so quickly a Fiver would never notice anything out of the ordinary."

Sahar grimaces at my blank look. "Come!" she barks. And so I step forward.

For such a small person, she is incredibly intimidating. She indicates the door knob and nods at me. "Go on."

I reach my hand out but freeze just short of the door and, more importantly, the shimmer of the Seam encasing it. I look to Sahar. Cowardice is clearly frowned upon here at the Gathering but reckless stupidity can be deadly everywhere.

Sahar's grimace of frustration slides to an amused half smile. "Noviciate. Do you think I would allow injury to befall you on your first day?"

I raise my eyebrows in response. I honestly wouldn't put it past anyone here if they thought a lesson would be learnt from it. But I force a confident smile on my face and a brave glow in my soul.

After a deep breath, I put my hand on the door knob and turn. A tight tingling alights on my fingertips as my hand enters and then retreats from the Seam.

The door pushes open easily into another dark room. I stand just on my side of the doorway to peer over into what I'm told is a whole other part of the planet.

But Sahar's soul gives me a less than gentle shove and I stumble into Pakistan.

When I catch my balance, I turn to glare at Sahar but she is closing the door behind us.

This room looks a lot like the one I just left. I have a hard time believing that I've (non-magically) transported to an entirely different continent.

Wait. Did I transport to a new continent? I don't really know where the Gathering is located. I'd just assumed it was somewhere in North America. But that's based on... nothing. I am about to ask Sahar when she throws something at me.

I catch a gauzy scarf just before it smacks me in the face.

"Put it on," Sahar says, using her soul to show me how to wrap it around my head and lower face.

I do my best to follow her instructions. She tilts her head at me then sends her soul out to adjust it. Satisfied at my appearance, she nods.

"Wait here," she says and exits out the far door, closing it tightly behind her. I realize something that escaped my notice earlier: while Sahar's English still sounds entirely familiar to me, her accent is stronger here. It's a subtle but unmistakable sign that we've left the Gathering's heart. I guess my English will sound different to her too.

I am alone in a small room in presumably Pakistan. It's the first time that I've been by myself since I arrived at the Gathering. A profound sense of peace washes over me. I can't remember the last time I spent so many hours in a row with other people around me. It's not that I don't like people. I just don't like them so near me all the time. Okay, and kind of I don't like people.