꧁༺ 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭 ༻꧂

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 16

The griffins landed on the hard, dry dirt. The sun was starting to set, and after four days of flying over the large continent, the pirate crew reached their destination: the centre of Qaæya. The centre was certainly more deserted than expected. It was barren and sandy, almost like an actual desert, except there was large bodies of murky water and many water-deprived looking plants.

As Chris climbed off of the leader griffin, Librus, the wind around him sounded like cries for help in his ears. The sound sent shivers down his spine, but he kept it professional to let his friends know there was nothing to be afraid of.

"This is it," Librus sighed, "the centre of Qaæya. This is as far as we go. You're on your own from now on, friends." Chris bobbed his head, glaring all around the dead land.

Though the captain did enjoy the protection and the company of the griffins, he knew that it wasn't part of the agreement. The creatures and the pirates bid their farewells, and then parted ways. The crew watched as the griffins flew overhead, back up into the clouds, out of sight.

Now, they were on their own. No more guidance, no more help. It was time for Truett to use his memory to find the witch that was friends with his mother. Chris walked towards the illegal immigrant, staring down at the Asian man.

"Lead the way, Truett." He said, gesturing to the long, slightly creepy road ahead.

"I only remember the description of the house, so I'll have to go off of that." Truett said in his native language, which Chris understood.

"Alright then. Everyone stay close! I don't want any of us to get lost in here, got it?" The pirates all nodded in understanding, and they all huddled into a big group.

The eerie plain slowly morphed into a dense, dark forestation that wasn't exactly a forest, nor a jungle. The trees were either abnormally small or abnormally tall. The trunks were so dark in colour they were practically black, the leaves were dead yet somehow still hanging on. All the bushes and smaller plants were also dead, too, and there was hardly any wildlife around. The only animals that could be found were either dead, mutated, or rabid.

The murky waters from before only seemed murky in the forest area, as if it was filled with every kind of disease known to man. There were even dead frogs floating along the still waters surface, along with fish and other insects. It smelt, horrible, too. The dry dirt was still dry, but acted like it was mud.

Every step they took always had to have some new, disgusting, disturbing discovery. There were many stories about the centre of Qaæya, but all of them clash with each other. That place was unlike anything people had told in the past, but Chris could make out some details that people added in their stories when they spoke about it.

The winds, no matter the direction, always sounded like screams or cries for help when the wind brushed along their ears. The fact that everything felt out of place, out of touch, felt very real. The possibility that the forestation here may have been cursed upon many, many, many years ago seemed very likely. What was wrong with that place?

"Jesus." Jill muttered under her breath as she walked alongside Chris. She did not feel at ease one bit in this place. It gave her the chills.

Chris saw her discomfort, and immediately took action to soothe her. He wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close to him. Caught off guard, she inhaled sharply, her heart skipping a beat. She calmed down when she realise it was only Chris. Jill smiled. He smiled back. They both kept close, continuing to walk behind Truett as the others walks behind them.

The forestation kept going on for what seemed like forever; a never ending cycle of death, rotting, and more death. It was getting harder and harder to see with the lack of light from the sun. It was night time, now, and everyone was cold. Everything was dark. The only light source they had was the small light of two little dimly lit lamps that Winchester, the youngest of the group and Quin's little brother, had packed to bring with him.