The Rift Walker

Heed My Warning!

Chapter 5

The drums were calling to her, beckoning her and the voices joined them urging her on. Once again she walked upon a huge bonfire but instead of feeling weary this time, she felt excited. She wanted to meet the Golden Woman once again, to gain some answers. And she wasn't disappointed. 

She approached as silently from the trees as the last time to stand before Kaelyn. But instead of smiling, she frowned; anxiety had etched its way across her face, scrunching her pretty features together.

"Kaelyn, at this very moment you have no idea how vulnerable you have left your body. You are not safe."

"What are you talking about?" She felt a stab of frustration and then remembered. She had collapsed shortly before witnessing something. But what exactly had she seen?

"You must get away from this place. You don't know what lingers here. What has been awakened." Her voice was pleading, urgent.

"Care to tell me?"

"Not now."

She sighed and fought the urge to hit the other Kaelyn. Sometimes her cryptic responses really pissed her off.

The other Kaelyn smiled, sensing her displeasure. "You will find out soon enough I'm sure. Right now you must wake up."

How?" She had never been the best at waking herself from nightmares.

A glowing hand gestured towards the flames. Kaelyn leaned closer peering into the flickering depths and glimpsed a girl lying still on a patch of dirt. The image was small, as if seen through a tiny peephole. With a jolt, she realised she was staring at herself.

"When you wake, get away from this place as fast as you can. I will see you again soon."

Kaelyn nodded slightly and passed her hands through the flames. It didn't burn but when she did that, she felt herself pulled forwards, consumed. Her world became a whirl of orange, red and black. . .

She woke to find herself staring at the sky. Her face felt wet and she wiped at it, feeling a little droplet of moisture running down her neck. It made her shiver. She remembered then that it had been snowing, and it was falling heavier than ever, drifting sideways with the wind.

Someone came to hover over her when she woke and for one terrifying moment, she thought it was the Other man she had left within the forest. But he had died, choking on his blood and she had ran away to leave him far behind. The face that hovered over hers was kinder and well defined. She recognised him then as the one who had told her to move shortly before she passed out.

She groaned and rolled over, clutching her head; it felt like it was going to explode.
"I wouldn't suggest moving too much."

"I only rolled over. . . I barely moved." She fought the urge to roll her eyes, but she remembered that he was only trying to help. "Sorry . . . my name's Kaelyn."

"James." He nodded at her.

She looked around at her surroundings and saw that he had lit a fire. She was grateful for that, so she edged closer hoping the heat would chase away some of the chill from the night. She wasn't in the village any longer; instead she was deep within the trees, where exactly she did not know. Three others surrounded her, huddling close to the fire, sleeping.