We exited the cold place of grief and entered what seemed like a beach. Sand and tiny pebbles littered the floor. Crashing waves against the shore made a nice rhythm. Palm trees swayed in the breeze, it's leaves fluttering like dancing ballerinas. The warm sun beated down on my frozen face. The water's other end was about a mile away.
"How are we supposed to get across?" Kristen inquired curiously.
"I guess we're supposed to swim." I shrugged.
I dipped a toe in the water testing its heat and got an electric shock. I jumped back, afraid I would die from it.
"What happened?" Kristen inquired.
"IT BURNS!" I screeched like a horse in labor, trying to sing Fifth Harmony. I hopped on one foot, clutching the hurting foot.
About an hour later, my foot swelled to the size of a balloon. It didn't hurt, unless I put pressure on it. You can probably imagine my efforts to walk with a bloated foot.
"OWW! WHAT THE-" I shifted my focus to Kristen, but my eyes almost shriveled up and died when I saw what I did.
There in the waters stood a hideous girl with sunken cheeks, one yellow eye, one purple eye, and a dried up tail. It swam towards us and we backed away. Technically I bounced on one foot and Kristen walked.
Then it spoke. "I see you tried to step in the waters." It cackled with glee, and stared at me with intense pressure. I looked away.
"Well since I would be killed, if I killed you right now with no reason. So, I will give you three chances to answer a riddle." It smiled, pointed yellow fangs gleaming in the sun.
"There is a story that a man and not a man
Saw and did not see a bird and not a bird
Perched on a branch and not a branch
And hit him and did not hit him with a rock and not a rock.
How is this possible?"
I gaped open-mouthed. "How are we supposed to figure that out?"
The creature was amused. "I mean your life depends on this so you better solve this. Also the quicker the better. Your foot is going to pop in about 20 minutes. But in which case you do get across," It frowned, as if the thought disgusted them. "Your foot will magically heal and a bridge with form across the water."
I thought for a second until a loud pop disturbed the lull. Bubbles appeared on the surface. Abruptly, a maiden leaped in the air, executed a graceful dive, and resurface. Her long red hair, shimmered with lush. Her cheeks were dimpled, pink, and healthy. Her tan face was flawless, and her tail was colorful and full of life.
"Hello. I am Elexa of the Wish Givers. I also see you have met my twin sister Bree of the Death Raiders also known as the Life Takers." The both scowled at each other.
Now that she had mentioned it, Bree was the lifeless version of Elexa and Elexa was the more lively version of Bree.
Elexa threw a dazzling beam at Kristen and me again. "Also I can grant each of you one wish. Just as long as it doesn't involve me making something that allows you to get to the other side of the waters without answering the riddle."
"Why can't we do that?" Kristen piped.
"Long story short, her magic overrules mine."
"Why?"
"Because I chose beauty and she chose magic."
"Why?"
"I was foolish back then."
"Why?"
"I was young."
"Why?"
"JUST BECAUSE!" Elexa yelled, flustered. Kristen smiled weakly.
I pulled Kristen towards me and asked her what we should wish for.
"I mean you should wish for your foot fixed." Kristen grimaced at the sight of my computer sized foot.
"Yeah but what about mine?" Kristen said hurriedly.
"Maybe part of an answer to the riddle? I mean it doesn't give the entire thing away." I suggested.
"Yeah okay." We angled ourselves towards Elexa.
"Are you both done?" Elexa asked, her voice as sweet as sugar.
"Yes. I wish for my foot to be turned back to its original size and Kristen wishes for part of an answer to the riddle." My voice stood strong and carried through the air.
"Wish... GRANTED!" Her fingers swirled with blue dust and mist. Half of the mix went to my foot, the other to a spot in the air in front of Kristen. I watched my foot shrink and words appear in thin air. They read:
"A eunuch who did not see well saw..."
"That explains most of the logic! That means the first part of the riddle is that the man thought he saw a bird but didn't! What was actually there was something else. Same with the other parts of the riddle!" I squealed excitedly.
Bree sulked on a rock, while a stone block bridge appeared leading to the other side of the lake. Mission accomplished.
YOU ARE READING
The Girl and Herself (COMPLETED)
Short StoryValerie Brown is a girl who gets terrorized by her mother and "perfect" sister. Her only chance of escape was her father but now he's dead. She is dying for the chance to pursue her own story. Soon the opportunity comes rolling around and Valerie em...
