Walk Through Thorns

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

My ashes scattered, falling down the branches of the Archtree. I was something else again. Not even my spirit was left, but I was still aware in a strange way.

Before me was a door, carved in stark stone and hinged by tree branches. Words were carved into the surface.

This is not a place of honor.

No great deed is remembered here.

No treasure is buried here.

Fuck your warning, if this was all that was left, I was going through. I passed through the door, there wasn't anything physical left of me to be held back.

My consciousness opened onto a great vista. I could see the Archtree. It stood stall, the only light in all of Creation. Each branch split off from the trunk, and in the leaves it nestled bounties of life. Whole worlds, like snow globes. All around, cinders floated through the air, like a sea of fireflies.

I asked, "What is this place?"

"The Heavenly Throne," said a man, "You were only on the periphery before."

He was dressed all in white, his face hidden behind a low hanging cowl. "You poor thing. No body, no soul. All that is left is your concept of yourself."

A hand was offered, and when I took it I realized that I did have a hand in this place.

I asked, "Who are you?"

"Virgil," he said. I couldn't see his eyes, but his mouth smirked.

"No you're not."

"You are correct," he said, "Forgive my humor. In my world, they called me the Witness. For you, my name is Gehser."

We floated together, down the tree. There was blood on the bark. The Briarheart. I could still smell it. Its foulness was poignant here. Out of place.

I asked, "Why are you here? Why am I here?"

Gehser said, "We've always been here. The Archtree encompasses all of time. Every possible time, to be precise. In my world, we found the doorway. I was chosen to go through. They thought I would become their god."

As we descended, following the trunk, I realized it was not a singular shaft, but seven joined together. They were weaved together to become one whole, in unity.

"Did you?"

"No," he said, "We weren't ready."

"We?"

"You and I are the same soul," he said, "There are only seven of us, so we have to go a long way."

I couldn't understand what I was hearing, even given everything around us. "So what, we're just reborn over and over?"

He pursed his lips. "Hrmm, I wouldn't describe it as reincarnation. Think of it as existing in parallel."

"So you are me," I said, "Any how many other people."

"We are me," he corrected, "And your friend Greta is us too. You felt the affinity, I am sure."

I said, "You could be lying to me."

"I could," Gehser said, "But you wouldn't know, would you?"

The Briarheart's scent was the strongest at the roots. It was hiding somewhere nearby. I circled, only my thoughts and consciousness were left to interact with it.

Balling my hands into fists I asked, "Can we still fight, like this?:

"Oh, yes. Very much so."

It was inside the web of the roots, at the very base of the tree. I climbed through the gaps, using only my hands to pull myself along. My body and legs followed weightlessly.