The Shadows Within Us

Universal Transit

The sound of footsteps crunching in the gritty sand was inaudible over the howling call of the open gateway. Key could feel a wind of sorts pulling them onward; only it wasn't a wind, more of a gravitational pull. It was as if they were falling to Earth from space, slowly growing closer to the atmosphere. They knew once they passed a particular threshold, their body would give way and reality would begin to cave in on itself. 

Vibrations tingled and travelled along their extremities, crawling up from their fingertips to their shoulders. Soon their body had become overwrought with an incomparable buzzing sensation. Key's lilac orbs darted about, breaths becoming shallower with every nail-biting, nerve wracking second. The wisps of dark matter had opened up and welcomed them in, dancing about their form in a whimsical manner. Even stranger, perhaps, was the growing saturation of flashing color from the center of the sphere. Bright flares, like some sort of otherworldly firework ignited inside the mass's core; growing in intensity and overall noise before caving in on itself; and swallowing its prisoner whole.

***

The bystanders stood at a questionably safe distance, watching helplessly as their friend disappeared into the abyss. 'It was probably fine.' Elliot sought to convince himself, though he couldn't shake the nagging sensation that something horrible was going to happen. Key had been the closest thing to a life partner that he had ever had. Trusting people for longer than a one-night stand was an impossible task, and generally wasn't worth his time. But Key had struck a chord in the Incubus' cold, un-beating heart and Elliot couldn't even begin to process the possibility of never seeing them again. Warm tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his previously tear-stained face, the demon not doing much to ward them away as he sniffled loudly. 

Eden was watching with a similar sensation of dread, before catching notice of her brother's distressed features. She rested a dainty hand on his upper back, leaning her head against his shoulder as she patted him reassuringly. It seemed like she would need to take on the responsibility of false bravery, now that Key was out of range.

"Hey..." The girl began, a softness like whipped cream to her tone. "Give it a few minutes before you start planning their funeral." She looked up at her older brother with big, serious eyes. Suddenly, a distant voice rang out irritably through the foggy field of stakes.

"AYE! GOT ANY UPDATES!? KINDA HARD TO SEE FROM HERE!" Simone bellowed from the distance. Both siblings spun around to face the voice, Eden cupping her hands around her mouth as she attempted to raise her voice.

"Maybe you'd be able to see if you left your safety post!" She hollered with as much volume as she could muster. 

"WHAT!?" The demon with raven hair clamored. Eden sighed.

"Come over here!!" 

"...HUH!? I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN YOU'RE WHISPERING!" 

Eden had already begun to inhale a sharp breath, preparing to raise her voice for the third time, but Elliot beat her to it.

"SHE SAID STOP BEING A PUSSY BITCH AND GIT' OVER HERE!" He blared with the volume of true demonic origin, gritting his fangs as he swiftly spun back around to the churning gateway. His worried tangerine orbs bounced about the tear in space with urgency. It almost looked as though he was considering going in himself. Eden turned her attention from her brother's uneasy features, back to the mass once more. If anybody was going to follow Key inside, it had to be her. 

After a moment, Simone finally rejoined the group, folding his arms over his chest and swaying back and forth on his feet anxiously. "Alright, how long has it been?" There was a pause following the question, not because the answer was unknown, but rather because the group consensus had already been decided.