The Hybrid's Tale

Chapter 3: A Whole New World

I take off running.

It seems I've been doing a lot of that these past couple of minutes.

I only get a few feet down the alley before my path is blocked by a towering wall of flames. I stop just short of the wall and get forced back by the heat of the dancing flames. Having no other choice, I turn around to face Orlan, preparing myself to go down fighting.

Orlan was stood exactly where I left him. Wearing a weary but determined look on his face. "Do not force my hand Benjamin," he says, taking slow, measured steps towards me. "One way or another I am taking you with me."

The finality of his statement spurs my already adrenaline-filled body into hyper-drive. My eyes rapidly scan my immediate surroundings for something to use as a weapon, all the while aware of the steadily shrinking distance between myself and Orlan.

Unable to find anything useful, I raise my fists and settle into a fighting stance for all the good it would do. This only seems to further irritate Orlan as he finally closes the distance between us. "This is your last chance Benjamin," he says in warning. "I will take you with me. Willing or unwilling."

With no other options available, I do the only thing I can and swing. But with unexpected swiftness, Orlan easily sidesteps my fist, and says a single word that causes a tingling sensation all over my body.

"Dormio."

Next thing I know, I'm falling. Soon after darkness swarms my vision and I'm unconscious before I even hit the ground.

•••

The steady throb of my head lets me know I'm still alive through the fog of pain. Grabbing my head with one hand and using the other as support, I manage to ease myself into a sitting position.

After getting my eyes open, it takes a while for the grogginess to fade and for me to make sense of what I'm seeing. It doesn't take too long before me to piece together what I'm seeing and for the memories to come rushing back.

I'm still in the alley where Orlan saved my life, and the devil himself was right in front of me, drawing something on the ground with what looked like chalk.

He turns to look at me. "Good, you're awake. Right on time." He slips the chalk into his cloak and dusts of his hands, taking a few steps back from his work.

Getting to my feet, I see Orlan has drawn a complex diagram consisting of overlapping circles, triangles and squares. All filled with strange symbols that somehow felt right to me. In the middle of it all, was a single leaf.

Just as I'm about to ask what it was, Orlan lifts his hands and begins to chant a string of words that fill the air with magic. The lines of the diagram begin to glow a variety of colours. Getting stronger in intensity over time, until the once dark alley is filled with light.

The air above the drawing seems to ripple, right before a hole is torn into the air itself and begins to widen in size. When the process is over, an opening big enough for a person to fit through is left behind. And through it is a forest filled with sunlight.

What the hell?

"Step through the portal." I turn to look at Orlan, not believing what I just heard.

The look on his face gives no room for argument, so I find myself asking a question instead.

"What's on the other side?" He remains silent for a while before deciding to answer my question.

"A whole new world."

And with that, I take a deep breath and step through to the other side.