Echoes

Chapter 9

Wow, so this is late, but I should probably introduce myself and this story. My name is Ari, I write. That's about it. Echoes is basically my first born child, I love it and worship it (the title is in the works). I'm really proud of it so far, it's actually the longest piece I've ever written, and I think I just might actually finish it which will be life changing. I know no one's really reading this but, if you are I love you and it means the world to me that you've made it this far in my story!

Thanks! xoxo

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"Whoa, hey, hold on a second!" I protested as the old woman dragged me by the wrist. "Who's gonna smell me? What do you mean?"

"Quiet!" She hissed. "We will speak more once we get inside. Hurry!"

The other elders shuffled quickly behind us, while Gavie, Pix, and the other woman fell into stride next to me, still being dragged along by the elder woman. We trampled up the steps, the old woman flinging the door open so forcefully it slammed against the wall, causing every wind chime to ominously sound off. Once everyone was inside, Gavie locked the door, which consisted of several types of locks, including a large wooden bar dropping down, blocking off the door.

The inside of the building was furnished entirely out of a deep brown wood, except for the large stained glass window that covered the entire back wall. More multicolored wind chimes lined the walls, spraying millions of different colors onto a plain table in the center of the room. A small altar was set aside on the left dedicated to the goddess Audral. The old woman released my wrist and all five elders knelt before the altar, muttering a quiet prayer, then rising to light candles.

"Take a seat at the table," one of the elders, an old man with leathery skin, said while ushering us to the table. Hesitantly, we sat down, awaiting an explanation. As the elders continued ritualistically lighting candles, I leaned over to Gavie.

"Who's the other woman?" I whispered, jerking my head to the middle aged woman at the other end of the table.

The woman didn't seem bothered by the elders' strange reaction, but she nervously tapped her fingers on the table. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a braid streaked with grey. Despite her age she had remarkably few wrinkles, save for a handful of creases framing her dark brown eyes.

"That's Ryka, my aunt. She serves as the soothsayer of the shrine, interpreting Audral's words and actions," Gavie answered.

I stared at the plain looking woman with her pale, expressionless face.

"Huh. Alvion doesn't have soothsayers, just priests. How often are they right?" I asked.

Gavie smirked. "I'll let you find that one out for yourself."

The elders finished with the candles at sat down in the remaining chairs, the old woman sitting directly across from me. Her bright blue eyes stared at me, unwavering, giving me the impression that she could see right into my soul.

"Nisa Kamura," she started in a raspy voice like dry leaves rustling in the wind. "Please, tell us your story."

I looked around uneasily. The other elders waited patiently, their old faces full of subtle curiosity. Ryka the soothsayer remind emotionless but stopped tapping her hand. I turned to Gavie who nodded reassuringly, then to Pix, who smiled sadly. I drew a deep breath and started our story, all those days ago, before Migration Day. There were a few times I had to explain what things were, like the car that hit me or Migration Day altogether, but for the most part my audience remained quiet. I let Gavie and Pix chime in with their details in order to explain how everything came together. I even mentioned my parents' deaths and the strange dreams. When we finished, the room was silent, but the expressions were grim. The elder woman turned to the soothsayer.