Darkness was all around, and he could see nothing but the flicker of orange and red in a second before it disappeared again. Calleb can feel hard things brush against his skin, as well as soft and sponge like things. There were sharp objects scraping painfully against his body. But blood wasn't drawn out from his skin. The young man felt like his body was being pushed and pulled and his fingers and toes were being cut off by something invisible, dismembering him slowly. And then the most disgusting feeling assaulted him. Hundreds of maggots crawled on his skin. Sink to his flesh and drank his blood. It feasted on him. The flies laid eggs on his skin. He tried to scream, but he couldn't. He called for help but he couldn't because his lips were sewn tight. There was this lingering awful pain. And then suddenly he saw a small light the size of a grain. It got even bigger and bigger until it was the size of his head. He swam through the thick liquid, then as he reached the rim. Calleb
This is one of the most tranquil places she had ever been to, Accashia noted to herself. She stares at the sky where the light mixed with the darkness — creating a beautiful twilight. The silhouette of the moon can be seen, as the rays of the sun slowly fade into nothing. The young lady arched her neck to stare into the sky. She just finished eating supper along with the people in the valley who always seem to be singing a lulling lullaby. She wondered when it would be over, she wondered if the journey had even begun. Her mind wandered even farther as she stared at the setting sun. The words uttered to her by the sorceress, how could she forget? ‘Darkness in your eyes, darkness in your heart. Darkness in every nook and cranny, you feel your world is falling apart. But don’t worry my child, everything will be alright. Listen well to Mayari Tabbu, because I tell you, I never lie. Happiness you seek, happiness you’ll feel but the bridge towards happiness is up to you to unveil.’ Accas
Unlike what the young lady had imagined, Calleb was calm and did not do or say a thing while they found the way home to Mayari Tabbu’s hut. When they arrived at the center of the village, each of them were assigned their temporary homes for the night. Calleb was told to sleep in one of the homes that hangs on the tree. While Luntian and Accashia will sleep in the hut. However, even after taking a shower and though it was such a peaceful night, Accashia couldn’t sleep. She knew something was wrong. Luntian wasn’t beside her. She was alone, and cold. She got used to someone sleeping beside her, may it be Jill, her mother or the old Shaman. She never liked the idea of sleeping alone. Not only that but the back of her neck feels weird. As if there’s a tingling sensation. Like millions or hundreds of insects were crawling on her back. Accashia found herself shivering. Goosebumps showed on her skin, and the back of her neck felt numb. She wanted to scratch it, maybe even slam her back agai
Morning came and Calleb told the two it was time for them to head onto their journey. Mayari Tabbu told them to replenish themselves and stock food on their carriage before they go. “It’s a long journey ahead.” Mayari Tabbu said. “As our ancestors said, food is important to the soul, lest you wind up dead. Our souls, our bodies always need to be fed. So I insist, please take this sack full of bread.” Luntian thanked the Sorceress for such a generous gift. She asked Accashia and Calleb to go to the Carriage first — not wanting the two to hear what she’s about to say to the Sorceress. For she plans to keep it a secret between them, that should remain hidden as it is. The old Shaman looked left and right, trying to see if someone was looking at the exchange between her and the powerful Sorceress. Luntian walked closer and closer until she was in front of the Mayari Tabbu once again. “Mayari Tabbu, with you I entrust this blade…” She said, “...a Black Blade that remains unknown to how
Calleb dreams of a voice, mellow, soulful and thinks he recognizes the melody it wraps around, if not the words. ‘My beautiful son, gifted by the gods. He was sent to me, a gift from above. His beautiful silver hair, his skin so fair. His eyes of blue and gray, the colors he and his father’s eyes share. My son… my Calleb…’ ‘Calleb…’ ‘My son…’ ‘I’m glad you’re here with us… You’re so beautiful, my son…’ ‘My Calleb.’ He follows it, feet moving on instinct, the song growing louder as he gets closer, stronger. There’s gray all around, a mist, cold and clinging, so thick he can barely see his fingers in front of him. It’s the wind. Strong winds that he never felt before. And then there was dust and clay and the ground flowing with the wind. As they merged and formed — it showed him a form of a woman. A body. Tall. Beautiful and golden. Eyes auburn and lips pink as a rose, Behind her stood the full moon. She looked like an angel. “Calleb, my son… come.” And the woman ran, almost flo
Accashia sat on the bedrock where she could see the view of the vast forest. The sky was clear, and the stars shone and sparkled like diamonds in the night sky. She wondered if the stories told to her when she was young were true. The Village Shaman told them that those pretty little things are balls of fire that burns billions of miles away. And the beauty of the moon was unfathomable as it changes phases every night. Man’s naked eye would not be able to understand or comprehend its beauty. For in the stars and the sky lives the Gods and Goddesses who bless and curse this land. Accashia looked East at the towering trees of the forest and thought about her family. But she misses her mother the most. She never got to hear Ember sing that birthday song. The song her mother composed for her on the day of her birth. Since she had journeyed with Luntian and Calleb, there were nights when she’d dream of her mother. Her touch, her embrace. The way she sings that soft lullaby. The smell of
Accashia, Luntian and Calleb ran across the fields, the Shadows attacked again — this time during the day even as the sky was painted red from the sunset. It was still hours until the full moon, and Luntian thought that the Shadows couldn’t attack them until it got dark. Until now, the theory she had was proven to be wrong. “Run. Faster!” Luntian screamed. “Accashia!” The Shaman screamed with devastation in her voice. The carriage was destroyed by the Shadows and the horse they found was killed as well. A blade straight to the heart killed the poor animal in an instant. The Shadows behind them snarled and hissed, cursing them and saying a lot of vile things. “Kill them — kill them all!” Katalka, the leader of the Shadows, commanded the troop. The three of them managed to escape when they broke through the edge of the trees. They’ve reached the edge of the Central forest. They were saved, hidden by the boundary that separates the Eatern and Central forest. At a far distance, Calleb
The question Accashia asked remained unanswered that night. For the silver wolf could only stare in her eyes. So the young lady decides to ask the question again some other time. The wolf and Accashia leisurely stare at the moon and the stars. They were staring up to oblivion, both were quiet and yet were drowning in their own thoughts. That night, Calleb showed Accashia how he hunts for food. Accashia jumped and settled on Calleb's back as the young wolf ran and began to chase the deer. The young lady had to hold on to the wolf's fur as tight as she could so that she wouldn't fall. And with every jump and jerks, Accashia laughed and smile. "It's like I'm riding a horse!" She said with a smile and the white wolf yipped and barked. When Calleb finally managed to catch up to the deer, the wolf galloped and trapped the animal and bit its deep, not letting it escape. The young lady had to cover her eyes when Calleb gnawed on the deer’s neck — the wolf’s strong jaw breaking the bones in o