How to secretly protect your village: Excerpt 14
“I need help finding Ember.” I say. “Please. Even if you can’t open a portal to her, I just want you to help me link to her. At least try.”
Nic’s face saddens. “I know you, and what you’ve gone through. Perhaps you can get through to her, since Ember loves you so much.”
“Maybe.” I say. “Can we try talking to her?”
“You can try. She hasn’t seen you in years, so it might be easy since she’s been thinking about you since the day she ran away.” Nic replies.
“Take my hand.” I say. “Maybe I’ll be able to link you too.”
We both close our eyes, but instead of a face appearing or hearing a voice like I usually do, we’re both left with the sensation of floating in a dim, quiet void.
Where is she?
I can’t feel her. Then I remember that the void only appears when the person you’re talking to has closed themselves off.
Or they’ve been hurting and holding it in for years.
That’s what’s been going on with Ember. She was in pain, and didn’t want to tell me. But it was because she didn’t want me to worry.
But in the end I still want to know.
I feel myself walk through the void, footsteps sloshing through nonexistent puddles.
Where is she?
Did she die?
Did she get lost in another realm, or is she simply too emotionally wounded to ever attempt telepathy?
I walk through the void, calling her name.
There is silence, then crowds of whispers of the voices of the minds in this void.
Then one of the whispers is someone I recognize.
“Spitfire sister.” I hear them say.
It’s Ember. She’s in there.
“Ember?” I whisper. “Ember, is that you?”
“Little spitfire.” I hear sloshing footsteps, and see the tired, disheveled short haired figure that is my sister. She’s been running, pining for me.
“Oh my god.” I run to her. The walls crash down. “It’s you. It’s really you!”
“Oh lord, Storm, I thought you were dead!” Ember sobs, her American accent once again melting into the same slightly heavy British one my family speaks in.
“You crazy idiot, I thought you were dead!” I shoot back, laughing. “But honestly, thanks to your girlfriend plus Dusk, I wouldn’t be here. I want to change my home for the better, but also find a new one.”
“I’ll help you in any way I can.” Ember says. Their tone grows sad. “But right now, I’m too far away to physically reach you.”
“How can you get here? Can you teleport?” I ask.
“Nope. Never learned how.” Ember sighs.
“Where is your body?” I ask.
“My body is in a tiny apartment in central Summerwood.” Ember replies. “Sitting with my back against a pile of couch cushions with my eyes closed.”
Ember closes her eyes, and whispers flood into my head.
“What was that?” I ask.
“My address. I gave you a bit of my memories. You’ll be able to find me. Except you’re going to have to leave town.”
“You’re saying I get to finally escape this mess?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’m not kidding. Though emotionally you haven’t. You’ll need serious therapy.” Ember says. Her mind form flickers. “Oh god. I’m going to have to leave. I’ve been waiting here for an hour and I don’t have much experience with mental projection. Do you?”
“Sort of.” I reply. “Dusk can go longer. About 10 hours.”
“Speaking of Dusk, how is he? Man, I miss him so much. Can’t wait to give him a big hug once I get the chance to see you guys again.”
“About the hug part, that might not be easy.” I say.
“How come?”
“Well, he’s 6 months pregnant.”
“He’s having a baby? I didn’t know. Though him being more tired than usual was probably a clue I could’ve caught on to. I can’t wait to see it when it’s born.” Ember says. Their form flickers once again. “Anyway. I have to go. Tell Nic and Dusk I send my love! Goodbye Storm.” Ember hugs me.
Her form fades. I let myself fall into the void, and I open my eyes, back in the waking realm once again.