The Secret Sea - (Chaptered Version)

29

We sit down with Jesus as he makes some peanut butter sandwiches and initiates a lengthy conversation about Alejandro Jodorowsky's film adaptation of Dune and the lasting impact it made on Hollywood despite being unmade. After lunch, Jesus directs us across the room to a tapestry covered with a complex mandala and pulls it aside, revealing a white door. He opens it and my heart jumps as I stare into nothing but a black void. "Where are we going?"

"Brazil, to the Amazon River Basin," says Eve. "Danica used to haunt the forests of Russia, but now she calls the jungle home. Don't worry, I have mosquito repellent."

"Oh, well no problem then," I say, rolling my eyes. "This Danica...is she nice?"

"She's fine," says Jesus, after a moment of thought. "A little quirky. Before you step through, make sure to put your shoes on the wrong feet and turn your clothes inside out."

I lift an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Danica is a Leshi--a shapeshifting trickster demon," says Eve. "If she suspects she can make us laugh, she'll torment us...likely until we die. Wearing our clothes inside out should keep her off-kilter long enough to allow me to steal some of her blood."

I pinch my brow ridge and squint. "Torment us until we die, huh? Lovely."

Eve wrings her hands. "She usually resorts to tickling people to death. Not a good way to go out."

"Like tickle," says VarnLiqn, attempting to tickle himself. It works. Raccoon laughs are grating.

"Oh, fuck everything about this," I say.

"This is a serious matter. The only way to survive an encounter with a Leshi is to turn your clothes inside out. It confuses them. I recommend you do so," says Jesus.

"Fine." I'm tired of questioning everything. I start stripping with the rest of my 'team,' too preoccupied to be embarrassed about being momentarily naked. We redress quickly, looking absolutely ridiculous with our pockets bared and our tags jutting out. VarnLiqn puts his robe on backwards, his hood partially covering his face.

"Confidence is key." says Eve, grabbing my arm. "If Danica senses weakness, she'll destroy you."

"Take this," says Jesus. He places a black, crystalline cube in my hand. "It's a void cube. Once Eve steals Danica's blood, break this and another portal will open. You'll only have a few seconds to step through the tear. Don't hesitate."

"Thanks Jesus, for everything," says Eve. "May you find peace."

Jesus nods. "And you as well." He winks at Eve. "I'm excited to see how this plays out. You have a card up your sleeve, don't you, girl?"

"Come on!" says Eve, grabbing my hand. Before I know it, I'm dipping back through the void with a racoon wrapped around my leg. The last thing I see is the umbrella waving goodbye with its long red tongue.