The Collision (Sequel to The Division)

Chapter 28 (River)

I feel the familiar sensation of water around me, except this time it wasn't a dream. I see Autumn choking on the water next to me.

I swim over to her and put my hand on her shoulder, "Relax. You're not really drowning. Have trust."

She nods and relaxes slightly.

"Welcome back, Rivera." Destiny says.

The waters drains around us and we are pulled through the floor. I suck in a gasping breath and take in the room around me.

Instead of being in a flowery meadow, we are in a decaying wooden cave. Decaying moss and vines hang from the wooden walls. Termites scuttle around the room, destroying our precious tree.

"What is this?" Autumn asks. "Where are we?"

"You are at the inside what is left of your great tree," Destiny answers. "Icas drained most of its energy and left it to rot and die."

"What are we doing here?" Autumn asks, "And who are you?"

The world begins to melt and shift into a throne room. The windowless walls are wooden, the towering columns leading to the wooden throne are wooden, even the red carpet beneath our feet is wooden.

Destiny sits on her throne, looking very different than before. She looks youthful, her wrinkles gone. She wears a white flowing dress, with billowing sleeves and a long train spread out at her feet.

"It's good to see you again, Rivera. And to introduce myself to your friend, my name is Destiny. It's nice to finally meet you in person, Autumn," She greets us and raises her hands to gesture around the room. "And this is my throne room."

"Oh, so this is who you were talking about. I thought you said she was an old lady." Autumn asks.

"She was when I met her." I reply.

"I take the many different forms depending on who I am talking to." She taps her throne.

"If we are inside the tree, how come this room is not decaying?" Autumn questions.

"Because this room's power comes from me, not the power from the tree." Destiny answers.

"So we really are inside the tree." Autumn whispers, taking in the realization.

"Yes," Destiny replies. She raises her hand out to us and her three orbs float in her hand from behind us. "Did they serve  you well, Rivera?" The orbs stretch into the three children I had seen in my vision earlier.

"I don't think so. I didn't see them do anything." I reply.

"You are not supposed to see them. They can't be see by the naked eye. They exist only in the mind and throughout the strands of time. Who do you think gave you the idea that Zayin was tricking you? Who do you think saved you from drowning in the ocean when you were coming to the island?" She explains.

"So they were watching us the entire time?"Autumn demands.

"Yes. I asked them to protect you." Destiny made clear.

"Well that's not creepy at all..." Autumn mumbles condescendingly.

She chuckles lightly, "Yes I have had many people watching you." She leans back in her throne, "But I guess when you have as many followers as me, you have to give them something to you."