When Twin Flames Unite

Lock and Key

The reincarnation pool was situated inside a crater. Ala stood on the edge, with her toes peeking over. She looked at the surface. No light emanated from inside, and the ambient glow of the underworld could not penetrate its depths. Flat and unmoving, as if it were made of stone. She jumped onto it feet first. It hardened upon landing, then softened, pulling her in.

At first, it was like wading through muck. But with each step, the water resisted. By the time it was up to her ankles, she had already slowed to the speed of a snail. One incremental step by step, the water fought to keep her in place. With all the strength she had, she went deeper. She wished she could be in her serpent form, and swim to the bottom. But Ala would only float, and she needed to sink.

By the time it was up to her chest, panic started to set in. It was thick and heavy like mud. Pressing against her, trying to force all air out of her lungs. Up to her neck, she tried to take a deep breath to calm herself. But anxiety had taken over her body, and she started to hyperventilate. Her limbs started to thrash, and the water held her there. Fixated in pure terror. The thought it plugging her mouth and nose killed the cry for help. Finally, she gave up. Realizing that a fight was futile.

She was in a war with her survival instinct, but to conquer this, she had to give up any notion that she would survive. She released the instinct. Letting her body soften, and be pulled under.

Spinx watched in horror. Mulling over the different ways it could go wrong. Not even she had made the descent to the bottom. She really wished they thought this plan over. But Ala had a habit of doing things on instinct, and Spinx had a worse habit of going along with it. Neither of them thought of how Ala would rise up again.

She paced back and forth. Who knew how long this would take? It could be over in an hour, days, or weeks. Spinx could never see Ala again! Why on earth did she agree to this?

She cursed Ala's charm and ability to convince her. Friendship was the greatest asset one could have, but it was also a weapon if wielded carefully. If you knew a friend well enough, you could get to do all sorts of things.

An idea struck her. One that seemed a bit too silly to work. But it was the only idea she had, so there was no choice but to go with it. She would need to venture away from this spot, and it pained her to feel like she abandoning Ala here. But there was nothing she could do other than wait. And Spinx would not stand here and be helpless.

***

The main entrance to the underworld was a cracked and crumbling stone arch. Its neglected, sorry state, loomed over the souls in exhaustion. Cold, half-burned candles littered the area. Piles of ash guarded the entrance. Stuck inside were half-burned incense, and wooden sticks. Spinx had become accustomed to the dust and paid no mind when the newcomers kicked it up in clouds.

The stagnant, and stale air congested the souls congregating. A line had formed, backed all the way up the mountain to the top. They were vying for a spot in the graveyard a few feet away. Filled with dusty gray light, thin wisps of souls blurred together. Their bodies, weightless and insubstantial, looked no different than fog.

Few gifts from the living had made their way here. Flowers, libations, fruit, or any other offering were missing. Not even well wishes, or a rest in peace. As such, the emptyhanded souls futilely searched for unmarked graves. Rolling in a collective disenchantment.

Spinx stroked it tenderly. As she read the stories at her fingertips, she let out a giggle, gave a sigh of relief, and gritted her teeth in anger. Spinx could stand here and read their stories for eternity. But she had to be quick and force her hand to keep moving. She knew she came across Ala's when she touched the divot that marked their shared history. She traced each moment, pressing hard enough that each impression would remain on her finger. It had moved to the keystone.