FINAL GATE (#3 GHOST PORTAL series)

TWENTY-ONE

When Avery's gaze found the source of the reddened sky, his jaw collapsed; and no amount of energy from Ada's possession could pull it back up.

A giant, black-hole-like portal swirled in the air, lightning and scarlet electricity surrounding it. It loomed in the middle of the sky, pumping, pulsating, as if it were breathing. And with every breath, it sucked up the earth's oxygen, and spat out a new deadly being for the Guides to fight off.

Deadly beings.

Avery shuddered.

Some were small, flying creatures that looked straight out of a fantasy novel; some were enormous monsters dropping to the ground, shaking it as their paws hit the dirt.

Avery's hands tightened over the wheel. He'd stopped the car, parked it, and scanned the horizon where Ada told him to look. The portal was situated above a vast expanse of flattened crops, and that field was littered with Guides of all shades and sizes. And humans—all glowing. All surrounded by an ethereal blue halo.

"Are those..." Avery gulped. "Guide-possessed humans?" He peered at his own body; was he glowing, too?

Ada hummed in response, likely still in shock at the vision before them. With her energy, she urged him to park the car, shut it off, and get out.

Avery unbuckled his seatbelt with a shaky hand, and exited the car. The air was chilly, despite the dominant red coloring of the scenery that had given Avery the impression the area would be warm, hot as a volcano.

"So they got all these people to participate?" He cupped a hand over his forehead.

Ada recovered from her temporary surprise. "There was a heavy amount of convincing, I'd assume. The only human who fully knows of our existence and purpose is you, Avery." She fidgeted inside his mind, sending tiny pangs of pain to his temples. "Don't dawdle about. Go meet the other Guides."

Despite his legs barely stable enough to keep him upright, Avery marched to a cluster of blue beings at the beginning of the field. They all gaped towards another group, farther ahead, fighting off a few winged creatures. Their screeches pierced the air and made Avery cringe, worsening the agony already flaring up in his head.

His ears popped as he walked, a cool sensation coming over him. "What was that?"

"A barrier." Ada made him crane his neck to the side, and he caught a faint outline around the perimeter of the field. Like a bubble, a semi-circle curving overhead and protecting anything within; or stopping anything exterior from getting in. "They've enchanted the area to prevent people from coming within reach of the invaders. That's good. And we were able to get through it because I'm inside you."

The first gathering of Guides spun to Avery as he neared it. They sniffed him; some nodded and turned away to refocus on the battle, and a handful lingered near him, preparing their explanations.

"Ada," one said, inclining its head at Avery.

It knows she's inside me?

At his lifting brows, another Guide smiled. "We can sense each other, of course."

"Thank you for coming so fast," said the first Guide, its glowing blue gaze stabbing into Avery, reading through him.

"Forgive me, Avery," said Ada, her energy becoming more overpowering. "I need to take over for a moment, to make this conversation easier."

Avery didn't have a chance to protest or delay her before he found himself thrown into the back of his mind. He became an observer seeing through his own eyes, but unable to control any of his body's movements. He groaned, and would have rolled his eyes had he kept the ability to do so.