There’s safety in that.
“I had not looked at your situation from that point of view. Perhaps I judged your ignorance too harshly before.”
I grin. “Was that an apology?”
She gives me a sour look. “I merely suggested that I should have listened more closely to the information floating around about you. I now believe that you were not properly educated in regards to this realm.”
I grin wider. “I’ll take that as an apology.”
Instead of responding, Adriel turns on her heel and starts walking again. Up in the distance, I see the lightness dancing along the wall, waiting for us. It doesn’t take long to catch up to it.
“I wish I could have done more for you,” it says. Her singsong voice has become considerately sadder. “I can only make the Shadows leave me alone.”
It is so weird talking to a light on the wall. “That’s okay. I’m sure you would have helped me if you could.”
“Yes, I would have,” she confirms. Her voice sounds a little more like before now.
“We should not delay any longer,” Adriel says pointedly.
She’s right. “Do you still know where the big spirit is?” I ask the lightness.
“I do,” the voice says. It bounces up and down with excitement.
“Great, lead the way.”
It feels like we’ve been walking for hours in this giant labyrinth. In reality, it’s probably only been about fifteen minutes. The longest fifteen minutes of my life. We’ve gone through so many twists and turns, I would never be able to find my way out on my own. I really hope Adriel can get us out faster than this once we find Aunt Barb and Zac. I don’t know if my wings would protect them if we’re attacked again. I would like to believe they would, but I’m not willing to risk their lives on it.
I come to a sudden halt. Is that crying? It is! It’s Zac. I start running in the direction of his sobs. I round a corner, and then another, but I don’t seem to be getting any closer to him. I want to scream in frustration.
“Xandra,” Adriel calls out to me. “You cannot find them without knowing the way.”
I stop and now I want to cry. “I can hear my brother crying.”
She’s finally caught up to me. “I know, but the labyrinth knows that you do not know your way. That is why it is changing.”
Changing? Is that why I feel like I’m going in circles – because I am? “Then how do I get to him.”
“Let the lightness guide us. It knows the way.”
Have I ever mentioned that patience is not a virtue of mine? At this point in my life, I could easily get a doctorate in impatience. Whatever college I go to, I’m going to encourage them to offer it as a course study so I can get my PhD. But for now, I nod my head and slow my pace to Adriel’s and the lightness. Each slow, measured step breaks my heart a little bit more as Zac’s sobs get louder.
After another century, or five minutes, it finally sounds as if he is just on the other side of the wall. “Zac!” I call out.
I hear him sniffle. “Xandra, is that you?” The fear in his voice breaks my heart.
“It’s me. Just hold on for a couple minutes more, okay? I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Hurry,” he begs. “I’m so scared. I don’t know where I am.” Now I have tears running down my cheeks. He doesn’t even know he’s in hell. Though, I’m sure he feels like it.
“I’m coming,” I promise.
“He’s just around this corner,” the lightness tells me. Thank god.
Sure enough, there he is. He’s sitting against a wall with his arms wrapped tightly around his bent legs. And he’s all alone. I run to him and try to scoop him up in my arms, but they go right through him. I forgot that it’s only his spirit I’m seeing.
Almost oblivious of his lack of solidity, he does his
“I had not looked at your situation from that point of view. Perhaps I judged your ignorance too harshly before.”
I grin. “Was that an apology?”
She gives me a sour look. “I merely suggested that I should have listened more closely to the information floating around about you. I now believe that you were not properly educated in regards to this realm.”
I grin wider. “I’ll take that as an apology.”
Instead of responding, Adriel turns on her heel and starts walking again. Up in the distance, I see the lightness dancing along the wall, waiting for us. It doesn’t take long to catch up to it.
“I wish I could have done more for you,” it says. Her singsong voice has become considerately sadder. “I can only make the Shadows leave me alone.”
It is so weird talking to a light on the wall. “That’s okay. I’m sure you would have helped me if you could.”
“Yes, I would have,” she confirms. Her voice sounds a little more like before now.
“We should not delay any longer,” Adriel says pointedly.
She’s right. “Do you still know where the big spirit is?” I ask the lightness.
“I do,” the voice says. It bounces up and down with excitement.
“Great, lead the way.”
It feels like we’ve been walking for hours in this giant labyrinth. In reality, it’s probably only been about fifteen minutes. The longest fifteen minutes of my life. We’ve gone through so many twists and turns, I would never be able to find my way out on my own. I really hope Adriel can get us out faster than this once we find Aunt Barb and Zac. I don’t know if my wings would protect them if we’re attacked again. I would like to believe they would, but I’m not willing to risk their lives on it.
I come to a sudden halt. Is that crying? It is! It’s Zac. I start running in the direction of his sobs. I round a corner, and then another, but I don’t seem to be getting any closer to him. I want to scream in frustration.
“Xandra,” Adriel calls out to me. “You cannot find them without knowing the way.”
I stop and now I want to cry. “I can hear my brother crying.”
She’s finally caught up to me. “I know, but the labyrinth knows that you do not know your way. That is why it is changing.”
Changing? Is that why I feel like I’m going in circles – because I am? “Then how do I get to him.”
“Let the lightness guide us. It knows the way.”
Have I ever mentioned that patience is not a virtue of mine? At this point in my life, I could easily get a doctorate in impatience. Whatever college I go to, I’m going to encourage them to offer it as a course study so I can get my PhD. But for now, I nod my head and slow my pace to Adriel’s and the lightness. Each slow, measured step breaks my heart a little bit more as Zac’s sobs get louder.
After another century, or five minutes, it finally sounds as if he is just on the other side of the wall. “Zac!” I call out.
I hear him sniffle. “Xandra, is that you?” The fear in his voice breaks my heart.
“It’s me. Just hold on for a couple minutes more, okay? I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Hurry,” he begs. “I’m so scared. I don’t know where I am.” Now I have tears running down my cheeks. He doesn’t even know he’s in hell. Though, I’m sure he feels like it.
“I’m coming,” I promise.
“He’s just around this corner,” the lightness tells me. Thank god.
Sure enough, there he is. He’s sitting against a wall with his arms wrapped tightly around his bent legs. And he’s all alone. I run to him and try to scoop him up in my arms, but they go right through him. I forgot that it’s only his spirit I’m seeing.
Almost oblivious of his lack of solidity, he does his
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