Ethereal: Trials of the Damned (On Hold!)

Chapter Six: Wayward Soul

It was painless.

At least until the rift opened up and spit them out. The stranger held onto her body, his hands wrapped around her waist, as he landed on his back, cushioning her fall. The air was knocked out of her lungs as her body hit his hard chest.

She groaned.

"Do me the courtesy of allowing me to try before you make sounds like that," he hoarsely whispered. Her eyes fell on his pain-stricken face, the smug smile lingering at the corner of his lips. Immediately, she pushed against his body, wiggling to escape his hold. "Or...," he grunted, "on second thought, don't stop on my account."

Eira blushed. "Let go."

Chuckling, the stranger released his hold and she quickly rolled off, scurrying back to her feet.

She was about to ask him where they were until her eyes fell on the black canvas filled with stardust. Her mouth gaped open as she took in the colourful galaxies spread across the cosmos. It was like staring into the soul of the empyrean, the highest heavens. Flecks of white gold were scattered across a darkened tarp, heavily painted with wispy strokes of maroon and navy blue. It was as though clusters of supernovas collided, merging together to form a breathtaking galaxy filled with remnants of planets forgotten; their shadow selves orbiting the space, and spiralling across the vast unknown.

Eira gasped. She stood on top of a grassy hill, on the highest peak of the mountains, all extending as far as her eyes could see. The sky above her felt so close, as though it was within reach. Like, she could run her hand through the dark mass, swirling the twinkling balls of light around with just a finger, and blend together the lonely hues to create a masterpiece of her own. One that could offer endless solace, eternal peace. "Wow."

She heard the stranger laugh.

Eira's head snapped toward the source of sound. He sat against a thick trunk, his gaze fixated on her. She shook him off, as her eyes followed the large stalk, trailing upwards. The tree was enormous, topped with heavy shrubbery, resembling a mushroom cloud. Neon coloured vines fell over the edge of its head, sprawling out in every direction, like coarse tangled locks, seemingly hindering the view of the sky. It was then she realized that she was standing on the only hill with any traces of life. The other dunes stood barren, brown and ashy like an abandoned minefield.

"Where are we?" she asked.

He ran his hand over the empty space to his right, motioning for her to join him. She took a few steps towards him and then stopped, crossing her arms. It was like, in that moment, every bone in her body was screaming at her for being reckless, throwing up red flags and condemning her foolishness. She was, after all, in the middle of nowhere with a perfect stranger.

Dead or not, this was a new level of stupid even for her.

"I won't bite," he mused.

"I know!" she shot back. But every caution sign instantly disappeared, and she found herself wanting to appease the man before her. Eira put on a brave face, conflicted by the sudden change in feeling, and slowly made her way to his side. As she sat down against the wide trunk, she made sure to maintain a safe distance between them.

He let out a sigh acknowledging her hesitation. "We're in Sh'vistu."

"Sh'vistu?" she echoed.

"A realm of universes that have lived through their lifecycle," he said, staring at the panoramic view. "Dead, abandoned and forgotten."

"But you remember," she pointed out.

He shrugged. "I enjoy solitude."

She could understand that. A better part of her mortal life was spent in seclusion. It was lonely but she was more at peace in the midst of isolation than with the madness that had encompassed the world around her.