Ode to Dusk

Chapter 17

We made our way out of the inn. It baffles me on how prepared Jay was to just come into this realm. I mean he had currency and he had contacts and he even knows his way around this area. I mean, I am blessed he is helping me but it does raise some questions. I'm still very uneasy around Jay, I don't know if he might flip on me.

The town was still pretty overwhelming. People were walking out on the streets chatting and laughing. It seems like a normal day to everyone else, a day in the world they've always known. The colors of their clothing are as vibrant as yesterday. The bright colors shined through the dim lighting that the dark red sun gave off.

Jay said that his connection lived near live near the entrance of the nearest large portal into the human realm. He is the protection of the portal, it's the only portal in the realm that is virtually impossible to escape out of.

"So what you're telling me is ghost don't exist, but they are shadows who escaped into the human world?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, some shadows, when they escape, latch onto a particular human and proceed to torment said human." He said.

"Wow the shadows are kind of dicks." I said.

This portal we are headed towards is around the outskirts of town. It's maybe a half an hour walk from town, which isn't too far. He lives out there alone. He doesn't have a family or any friends. Jay doesn't either. I wonder if it's a portal protector thing.

Come to think of it, does Jay have anyone in his life? How was it so easy for him to discard his own life and just tag along with me here. Come to think of it I haven't even asked him how it would affect him. And it's kind of strange that he can juts up and leave and nobody would think twice.

Jay is such a mystery, I wonder why I find myself trusting him. He knows so much about me but I barely know who he is. Maybe I should try and crack that rough exterior. All the doubt aside, I do think I can trust him, at least for now. He's a valuable asset to me in this world, since I know nothing about it.

Honestly I don't know what I would do if Jay hadn't of shown up at my house. Because I wouldn't have known what happen to my family and the monster would have destroyed me. I wouldn't have the opportunity to save them. I think I'm going to stick with him for a little bit.

I'm worried on how this portal protector will treat me. It seems like they prefer to be alone, away from people. So meeting someone like that, they may be a bit detached from people. I don't want anything "weird" to happen. But I have to start somewhere, so I'll suck it up and just go with it.

Although it's almost about noon here it's still pretty dark. It's not half as bad as yesterday but it's what we would consider "twilight" in the human realm. It's pretty weird seeing it be this dark at around this time.

The environment mixed with my state of awareness made me feel slightly jet lagged, almost like I traveled to the other side of Earth and it was midnight when it's usually 4 P.M in my realm of existence. However I know I will soon get over this feeling, as it is very unimportant to me on this quest.

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The walk wasn't long and we soon found ourselves at the outskirts of the town. We were close to the black river. It was still so mesmerizing, the water running through the river that is. It was so bizarre, seeing the dark colored water. The current looked pretty strong. Man I still can't believe that I'm in a different universe. I'm so far from home, it's crazy.

I stopped, reaching up I felt my cheek. A single tear ran down my cheek. It was followed by another, and another. Pretty soon I couldn't control them. Now that I think about it, I've stayed pretty uppity and positive thus far. I haven't let myself falter yet. I dropped to my knees and brought my other hand up to my cheek. Jay turned around, noticing that I stopped moving. He kneeled down to meet me on my knees.