The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 19 (Part 3)

     Denis screams as he falls, his heart escaping his mouth. He then falls into a river. And there, the silent stream goes splashing loudly as Denis hits the running water. Emerging from the depths, Denis tries to swim to the shore, but the current is too strong. The water keeps hitting his face, making it hard for him as it disorients him.

     Determined to get to safety, Denis pushes himself and kicks his legs as hard as he can. He takes a deep breath and swims forward. Eventually, he reaches the shore, where he coughs out water and pants excessively. Wow, Denis never expected himself to swim that well. Yet, he still managed to do it.

     However, it's no time for Denis to praise himself or admire what he has done. He has succumbed to hyperventilation. He keeps panting and cannot stop. Squeezing his eyes shut, Denis attempts to gather his focus.

     Suddenly, Denis hears a muffled scream of a girl. He quickly turns around and sees Lyvie on the river, being taken away by the current, drowning. Denis' eyes widen as he swiftly comprehends the dire situation. Hastening to the river and jumping in, Denis swims towards her, bringing her back to the land. As they both reach the shore, they cough and take deep breaths.

     Without hesitation, Lyvie quickly grabs a stone and tries to slam it against Denis' head. But Denis is quick. He grabs Lyvie's wrist and pushes it away. Denis then loops his hands around Lyvie's shoulders, shaking her.

"It's not the time to fight, Lyvie!" Denis shouted as he shook Lyvie, trying to make her get her senses.

"Eurgh!" Lyvie groaned, hurling away the stone.

Denis stood up. "...If you want to return to your team up the mountain, show some kindness, will you? As we will have to work together to navigate this misty forest," he asserted, gazing into the foggy forest on his right.

     Lyvie's scowl showed her hesitation. At first, she was reluctant. But eventually, she agreed, a deep sigh streaming through her mouth.

"Fine," Lyvie scoffed, rising from the ground. "But I'm doing this not because you've saved me but because I need to return to my coven," she clarified.

     Not wasting a moment, Denis and Lyvie set out and stride forward with resolute steps, walking along the riverbank near the misty forest. Meanwhile, atop the mountain, on the cliff, Philip, Meredith, and Presley look through the clouds, trying to search for their friend. Their faces mirror their pure dread as their breaths quiver. For them, Denis might be dead. Is it the end of their story together?

"Oh, Denis..." Meredith cried.

"...This is exactly what I've envisioned," Oracle Miriam murmured as she stared at the precipice.

"That he and Lyvie will die!?" Philip asked, his voice straining with guilt.

"No, that boy and that girl will be alright. I had a vision of your friend fixing the divide, and, thus, making a bridge to return to you," Oracle Miriam stated calmly. "But for now, we must focus on leaving this place. Make haste now, children!" Oracle Miriam urged.

Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Oracle Miriam climbed down the mountain on an uneven road. As they cut on a zigzag path, they encountered Harris.

"Harris!?" Meredith gasped.

"Guys! You won't believe what Denis has freaking done again! He snuck out of the house! And now, I'm on my way to get him back! Is he here??" Harris explained.

As Harris spoke in a rush, Presley explained, "Harris! Denis came here and confronted Lyvie. He saved us from her! But he fell on the cliff with her! But! Oracle Miriam said they'll be fine!"

The two guys blabbered, their voices melding into a cacophony of buzzing hums.

"What!?" Harris shrieked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Worry not, child," Oracle Miriam reassured Harris. "Your friend fell on a river safely. But it must be done to bridge a divide between him and someone. In this way, all this madness will be over," she revealed.

"Oh..." Harris uttered as he nodded.

Suddenly, distant gunfire echoed, reverberating across the mist.

"We have to move," Philip advised as he gazed at the distance.

Refusing to linger in a place ravaged by disaster any longer, everyone descended the slope, making their way out of the mess.