The Impossibilities of The Dark

A Flicker Of Fire

My mouth opens, then closes. I cry out, my knees coming out from under me. I bring my hand to her face, stroking down to catch the tears slipping down her face. I wrapped my arms around her, and held her. I didn't ask questions, we just held each other for a while. When we finally had composure, we stood up together, and started to walk back through the forest.

Wiping my eyes, I say to them, "This is Gemi."

Gemi stares blankly at them, and then says with a raspy breath, "Icel." She inclines her head towards him, then looks to Rina. "Rina."

Surprise shown on their features, and I bet my face reflected the same. How did she know? Where has she been? Is she okay? What happened when we entered this world? Questions raced through my head, begging for me to answer them.

Icel says calmly, "You must have been through quite an adventure."

Rina says, "Come. Sit. No need to keep standing when you have been running so long." Her gaze showed empathy, all sass that was there before gone. Like a flicker of fire. She must have a past, it clearly showed.

We walk towards them, and take a seat next to Rina on the log.

We sit in silence, contemplating. Thinking.

Icel breaks the silence by saying, "I have an idea." He gets up, and heads towards the trees.

After he leaves, Gemi says, "I see you had some fun." She looks to my neck, and I blush, covering the hickey with my palm. I quickly glance at Rina, and I see a hint of a smile lurking just under the surface.

A half contained giggle escapes past my lips, recovering from it by biting my lip. Gemi starts to smile too, then fades into nothing. Concern flickers on my face, and my head droops.

"I'm sorry." I murmur.

She looks to me, surprised.

"Don't be. I'm the one who got us landed here in the first place."

"I left you."

"You didn't realize I was here. You had to regain all your memories."

"Do you...remember?"

"Yes." A heavy sigh, and then, "A monster brought me out of the death caves for a meal...I almost died, but held on to the only flicker of hope I had. I persevered, and left the first chance I got. Surprisingly without getting caught. But I wasn't in the caves long, so I hadn't locked up my memories with a silver key."

"How long have you been following us?"

She holds her breath, then says, "The first time I saw you, here, was when you were walking through the woods by yourself." She clenches her teeth at that, probably because she was concerned about my safety. Especially here.

That explains the snapping tree branches.

She changes her expression quickly, almost like it had never happened. With a smirk laid on her freckled face, she says, "How did you end up with the two most beautiful specimens alive? How'd you get them hooked around your finger? I need to get some advice from you, apparently."

I smile. This is the Gemi I knew. The one I grew up with.

"Be close to death, and let them save you."

Icel soundly came out of the trees, and held a bottle in his hands. It didn't have very much liquid, the liquid churning at the bottom.

"This here...." Icel starts to explain, "is what you humans call liquor." His mouth widens into a smirk, and he balances it on the log.

Gemi's eyes widened, her face reflecting pure glee.

Icel, noticing her expression says, "not enough to get drunk...."He raises his eyebrows at her and continues, "but just enough to relieve some stress."

Thoughtfully, she says, "maybe one day."

A little while later, we were all taking turns taking a drink around the glimmering pool. I smile, looking over at Rina. She winks and I almost laugh. We were playing truth or dare. Gemi's idea.

They had obviously never heard of the game before, so her and I explained.

"Truth or dare?" Gemi asks me.

"Dare." I look at her with no fear, awaiting my sentence.

"I dare you...." She stops and giggles, then finishes with, "to hold Icel's hand until it's your turn."

That wasn't bad, I've held his hand before.

I took a swig out of the bottle, and waited to see who I was going to ask.

It was my turn to ask now.

"Truth or dare?" I asked Rina.

"Dare."

"I dare you to...." I had the perfect one, "push Gemi into the pool."

"That's easy." Before Gemi had too much time to protest, she landed in the pool with a splash, her squeal loud and clear.

I giggle, holding a hand over my mouth.

She climbed up, looking like a wet dog, and waved her finger in front of my face.

"You're gonna get it. Just you wait."

We continued the game, and Gemi made me do a lap dance on Icel for payback. She wished it had been recorded on video. We all roared with laughter by the end, maybe too loud.

In the distance, we could hear the cries of beasts.

~~~~~

Who doesn't like to have a little fin every once in a while? These peeps know how to throw a party. Even if it is in another realm, and can't get drunk.