Page 108 of Darkness

Morrisey could well imagine who. “I don’t know how I got here.”

“You were summoned by the council, although with proper training you could’ve managed on your own. There are things you need to know, and time grows short. Come with me.” She took Morrisey’s hand.

He tried not to overbalance her.

Once more, she laughed. “I’m stronger than I look.”

Rising to his feet didn’t take near the effort Morrisey feared.

“You aren’t used to our names here, and we don’t have genders as you know them, but for expediency’s sake I take this form. You can call me Krista.”

“Morrisey.”

Krista’s lips curled upward in a brief smile. “Not really, but it will do. Come with me.”

Given no other options, Morrisey trailed behind Krista. They strode through mist. If he stared hard enough, he could almost make out shapes. Kinda reminded him of a foggy morning. Low-level humming surrounded them; felt more than heard. “What’s that sound?”

“The ether that provides our life force. Open to it.”

Morrisey tried, but memories of the ill-fated man in the basement returned.

“Let go of your body.”

Let go? How was Morrisey supposed to let go? He recalled the moment he first came to, feeling weightless. Now, he saw the shapes for what they were. People. So unlike the streets of Atlanta. No cars or other vehicles. There were buildings after a fashion, darker shades of purple. No honking horns or loud music from passing cars.

Just the low hum.

Some people seemed like Krista and Farren, shining with wings. Others were darker, more shadow than light. Were they like Jessa?

“It might take a while for you to become acclimated. Your brain only knows the human world. You’re processing everything through an alien filter. Given time, your senses will reset.”

“I don’t have time. I need to get back to where I came from.” Find Farren. Stop Asher.

Krista’s form transitioned from human to light and back again. Morrisey trudged behind her, if the word “trudged” worked. He more accurately drifted.

More objects came into shape, different from before, and lights the size of his hand flickered among what might be trees. “Can you explain the tiers Farren told me about?”

“Tiers?”

“He said different beings here have different skills, motivations, based on heredity.” Morrisey shrugged. “Whatever.”

“The human world doesn’t? I’ve met so few who’ve been there and returned, and I’ve no desire to visit myself.”

The world gradually solidified. The entire city seemed encased in a forest. Instead of a string of businesses, storefronts peeked out from behind massive trees, their branches spreading up farther than the eye could follow. Signs weren’t obvious, and the ones he saw bore nonsensical markings.

Until Morrisey concentrated. Businesses. They seemed stacked one upon the other. Occasionally, a shadowy or light form would spread its wings and lift to another level.

Residences. A city. While there were people, they were few. “Where is everyone? Or is this it?”

Krista’s lips turned down. Somehow, Morrisey felt her sadness. “Few remain. Most who could fled to other realms.” She waved at the strangely beautiful surroundings. No trash. No cars. Fresh air. “Soon, this will all be gone.”

“Why am I here?” Would they allow him to return?

“So, you may know where you came from.” Krista rounded a tree easily as tall and thick as a centuries old redwood, approaching an ornate wooden door adorned with metal hinges, crosspieces, and carved curlicues. The architecture reminded Morrisey of paintings of Earth’s Middle Ages from one of his history classes. Or was that Terra’s Middle Ages?

Krista stepped through an arched doorway. Several people Morrisey somehow knew as the working class paused their cleaning to give him curious looks and quickly turned away again.

“Why haven’t they left?” If the place was collapsing, Morrisey would run.

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