Villain in the Canvas

Chapter 4

I stood gazing over the sand, a sea of white in all directions, excluding the forest of beheaded critters behind me, that chill still felt on the back of my neck. My stomach dropped, the girl was nowhere to be seen, vanished. Was I just chasing ghosts or losing my shit?

This place was by no means monotonous or boring, I have never experienced such alternating terrain and temperature with just a step.  First, I was under the assumption that the Cusp was tropical, but then quickly flipped to a haunted forest, now glowing beach?

Ahead was a thunderous gurgle that resembled river rapids more than ocean surf, but there was no view of it, the sandy beach uphill from the water. Cutting right through the white sand remained the glittery stream continuing its final journey to the roaring river ahead.

I proceed to walk alongside its path and why not at this point? I have blindly trusted my father's directions despite the lack of answers and mounting mysteries, might as well see how deep this rabbit hole travels.

My eyes got entranced on light reflected forming mirages, the radiating heat shaping tall dark objects strategically placed across the horizon. My eyes adjust to the silhouettes of other people as I move in, a dozen dressed in dark flowing garbs, their backs turned to me.

Maybe they could give some answers, starting with the most basic question, what the hell is all of this. I could start to make out the low voices of two men closest to me as I move up.

"How does something like this happen, did he just try to cross over too soon?" One of the men asked a slighter taller man to his right.

"No, I mean it has happened, for a moment, but never for this long. No one just stays lying down, something doesn't smell right."

"Interlopers?" his

"Shh..." he looks ahead at the others dressed in. "That is impossible, they can't move over to this side. Don't start putting thoughts out there. We don't need a riot starting prematurely."

The shorter one grins and nudges his reluctant friend in the rib, "I've heard of sightings down along the South Ridge though?"

"That was just a rumor, Bigfoot sightings my friend..." The more cautious one sees me coming and nods at me, "Hey, how's it going? I'm Chris, this trouble maker is Brian. What brings you up this way today?"

I look at them both and pause. For all the questions gliding through my head, I express none of them. "To be honest, I don't really understand anything about this place, where to begin?"

"Yep, let me guess, newbie here?" Chris says.

I nod and shake their hands, "I'm Hunter, nice to meet you. Can you tell me anything about the Cusp? And I mean anything, no matter how trivial, about this place."

The two exchange a look, half-amused yet apprehensive and seemingly chewing over their response. Brian chimes in, "Afraid we can't tell you much about specifics, orders you know."

"I kinda figured, you're not the first to give me that response. Orders by whom?"

"Our leader, Vogel, he is up ahead, at the center of our formation," Chris answers points ahead. "You can head that way if you wish if anyone is allowed to tell you more about this place it would be him. I'm sure he will wrap up what he is doing soon."

"Sounds good, thanks."

"No problem. Good luck to you Hunter, you have a journey ahead of you, hope you get your answers soon."

I nod back with a smile but didn't feel any better about what lay ahead. This had already been quite a journey walking alongside the river, what was to happen next?