The Darkness Effect

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

-Brooke-

It didn't take long for me to get the point of what she was saying. She can't go to Earth, but maybe I can. Maybe if I am the child of light, I can beat the darkness in Jake. Maybe, just maybe, I can beat whatever has manifested itself in the body of her chosen brother. I know she has these hopeless theories in her mind, but who's to say that I have any power? I'm not like the kids in the stories who have the powers their whole life and just need to learn to control them. I grew up normally. there was nothing special about me. Let's be honest, there still isn't. Selene wants me to go on what she calls a "quest". She says to save Jake, I need to find him and fight the darkness. First of all, I don't even know what this said "darkness" looks like! Hell, I don't even know what JAKE looks like! Second of all, I have no idea how to fight anything! I used to get beat up in my foster homes. I'd never fight back. I hated the violence and I still do. I mean, I'll do this for her, I'll walk through her reality of Earth and try to find Jake. But deep in my heart, I know that it's hopeless.

Lyn drags me back to my lavish room and pulls a very drab looking outfit from the extensive wardrobe. Not only is it drab, but it's so odd looking that I am fairly sure that anyone in their right mind would call the police if I were to wear it in a city. It looks like the outfits for the boys in the history books! The pants look fine enough, probably linen, they are a dark tan color. The shirt looks awful. It seems to be woven out of the most uncomfortable wool and flax seed. When I go to inspect the garments, I realize that looks can be deceiving. The shirt is among the softer things I have ever felt and the pants are texturally similar to cotton. Smiling, I look at Lyn and nod, signaling my approval.

She hands me the outfit and turns her back. I slip out of the beautiful dress and into the soft clothing. When I give the okay, she turns around again. She looks at me with a fierce command for attention, "Brooke, from this moment on, your name is Reilmos. You are a boy, aged seventeen. You are on your way to the western fields of Mishavon. Be warned, if you show any evidence of your true gender, you will not be taken seriously and you will be outcast from any village. You must keep the fact that you are a woman a secret."

I stand, wide-eyed and shocked, "Where am I going? 1300 AD?"

"Actually, very close. You are going to Earth, but you see, Jake isn't on YOUR Earth. He is in a different dimension of Earth. Humans are still very," she pauses, searching for the correct word, "Non-advanced. Hence the odd clothing and male façade. You will need to learn to fight when you are there. You will need to learn to trade. You will need people to be your allies."

"Why can't you just teach me here?" I inquire.

"Selene wants you to go as soon as possible. She believes that you are intelligent enough to figure something out. We will provide you with enough of Earth's currency to get you food and shelter for two months. Beyond that, we cannot help, and you are alone. Once you have left the Earth castle, you will not be able to return. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I think I do." I nod my head and turn away. Lyn hands me a knapsack with a small coin back, a blanket, a canteen full of water, and a compass. She pulls my hair into a low ponytail and shows me a mirror. I look like a boy. I touch my face, taking in the last bit of feminism that I have before I begin to fade away.

"Good luck, Reilmos."