Pain. Insurmountable pain. Accashia’s skin was on fire. Her chest felt tight, as if a heavy boulder was placed on top of her. Every breath shot more pain to her brain. Everything twisted and warped, even though she knew that she couldn’t actually see anything. The young lady opened her eyes, and when she did — pain shot throughout her aching body. Her vision was blurry. Accashia tried to move and couldn’t. More pain lashed up her ribs, and then she stretched arms. It’s her wrists that hurt the most, but she couldn’t move her hands. It was as if she was pushed down by an invisible force. Her body waved against the dried bushes. Accashia tried to open her mouth or part her lips but she couldn’t. Harsh breaths wheezed in and out of her nose. And when she tried to speak, nausea ran through her stomach. The clouds above her rolled and moved slowly, leisurely. She tried to curl on her side to stand but she couldn’t. Accashia screamed but the noise muffled behind her tightly sealed lips.

Instead of going to the eastern Kingdom as originally planned, Luntian, Accashia and Calleb journeyed towards the boundary where the east meets the west. The heart of the Continent. The hidden valley where the powerful Sorceress named Mayari Tabbu serves as the protector of the people. Calleb was still unconscious. For Luntian placed a powerful spell on him. A spell that places him in a deep slumber — a sleep like death until the Spirit of the Ram snaps his finger to wake Calleb again. As harsh as it may seem, Luntian thought that it was the only way. For Calleb was a threat, not only to himself but to Accashia as well. Using the Spirits, Luntian searched for a carriage that they could use to travel. An old three wheeled carriage. As old as it may seem — but it was still stable enough to carry Calleb. So they marched forward, and luckily enough, they’ve also found a horse along the way. Luntian called for the horse, riding its back. Her chest still aches, but it doesn’t hurt as muc

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

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

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