Forlot - Books 1-3 {Completed}

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Nora the Wise?" I began losing my grip on Katherine's neck. "That is an odd name. 'The' is your middle name, and 'Wise' is your last name."

"It is a title, Nigel Sanders. I used to have a middle and last name, but not anymore."

"Hey, how did you know who I was?" At this point, I was very calm.

"I know lots of things. You could say that I am the keeper of the universe."

"So...what are you doing here?"

"Let it be known that I have told you once of my reason to be in your presence. The skies and stars shall come together as one, and the rain shall pour from the sky, for it will be of great luck."

"Uh...I just asked you why you are here. And for the record, Forlot does not get any amount of rain."

I heard her giggling. "You are funny, Nigel. I am a wise girl. Therefore, I talk in a sense that you would not comprehend."

"Then why not talk regularly?"

"I am not a regular person. I am not bound to this world like the people are. They are chained to the ground of the world. I, however, am as free as a bird who has taken off for the first time in that bird's life."

I sighed. This is what learning a language must be like. All gibberish and not understandable. And she was speaking plain English! But the way that she was organizing and placing the words in sentences was...weird.

Would I ever understand her?

"You will know exactly what I am referring to," Nora said as if she could read my thoughts.

I then spotted a figure appearing out of the darkness. The figure wore a red cloak that had what looked to be golden laces all over it. It held a golden staff in its left hand. Its head, which was covered by the hood of the cloak - at least, I think that the hump on top was its head - was tilted down.

"Nora?" I called.

No response was given, and the hooded figure headed towards me, walking slowly and carefully.

"N-Nora?" I called again. "Is that you?"

The figure did not respond and kept walking.

I let go of Katherine's neck, and my body tensed. The fear that left me earlier had come back, and I was frozen with the fear. I tried to speak, to say something. Anything! But both my mouth and tongue would not work. It was as if they were acting like malfunctions.

Sweat poured down my face as the hooded figure came closer.

And closer.

And closer.

Until a strand of my hair touched the tip of its hood.

I breathed heavily, not moving a single muscle, and the figure raised its staff and banged the bottom of it against the floor.

"Ah!" I screamed. I toppled off Katherine and landed on the cold, hard ground. I moaned and shivered.

"Panic will get you nowhere," the figure finally spoke. "And yes, I am Nora."

"What...what was that for?" I questioned.

"To show you how stupid things are." She held out her hand, and I took it. "Being afraid and all that." She helped me up. "May I ask you a couple of questions?"

I brushed my jacket and pants. "As long as you do not jump scare me."

"Did you change from your pjs to your school clothes before entering the shadow realm?"

I looked at her with a disgusting look on my face. "What? And how do you know that I wear pjs? That is private!"

"Just like your name, I know lots of things. And no, I do not spy on you. I simply observe the universe."

I looked away. I did not know whether she was lying or acting like a lunatic.

"I just wanted to point out to the readers that you never said that you changed clothes," Nora explained. "Our writer never specified that. You could not have changed into different clothing while you were asleep. That was the writer at fault."

I rolled my eyes. "And why tell us this now?" I asked.

"At times, our writer is lazy. Hardworking, but lazy. It depends on her mood."

I looked back at her. "You are not making any sense."

"I always make sense to whom I come across." She pulled out a shiny and silver sword...

...from...her cloak?

Yes, readers. Even I am wondering how she hid that huge sword in her average size cloak.

"This is for you," she said. "Your useful weapon."

I was surprised. "Really? Why, thank—"

"Not you." Nora set the sword next to Maxine. "It is your friend's weapon. Besides, you already have a weapon."

"No, I do not!" I protested. "I do not have a weapon of any kind!"

"Do not doubt my reasoning. I know that I am right."

I narrowed my eyebrows, and I clenched my hands into tight fists. I was getting sick of her and her dumb riddles.

"Go away!" I exclaimed angrily.

"I need to help you first," she responded.

"Crub! Then help me! Stop talking like you know what you are saying!"

"I know what I am saying. That is why I will give you this message." She let out a cough. "Day and night. Night and day. It does not matter. The darkness is everywhere. Light will shine upon the blackness of the world, but will that be enough? No. It takes more than that to stop the darkness that covers the nations. People. Loads of people. However, they think - and believe - that they can overcome the darkness. This is not true. No one can defeat the darkness alone. They must gain help. For if they do not, then they will be lost in darkness." Nora then vanished.

I was speechless. "What the heck was that?! You were supposed to help me!" I got no response.

Just silence.

She was gone.