Page 36 of Presence

But then I reach the waterfall, and the memory of the last time I was here crashes over me. The shadows had pierced through the veil. They tried to attack me, and Echo stayed behind to fight them off.

Why am I so happy? I shouldn’t be.

I spin around, scanning the vast forest around me. Echo isn’t here. He’s nowhere to be seen.

Oh no... When I escaped, the shadows were still surging, right where he stood, protecting me. Did they get to him?

I’ve never arrived in the dreamscape without Echo by my side. He was always here, holding my hand, welcoming me into this mysterious world. And yet, here I am, without him. How is that possible? The waterfall is his creation, not mine.

“No, he has to be here,” I mutter, worry creasing my forehead and clenching my stomach like an iron vice.

Panic takes over. I sprint through the thick, green undergrowth, eyes frantically scanning for any trace of him.

“Echo!” I yell even louder, my voice bouncing off the trees and mixing with the roar of the waterfall. The constant noise fills the air, making my panic grow. Where could he be? Did the shadows take him? Or worse, did they destroy him?

I shove the dark thoughts aside, hanging on tight to hope. Echo is strong and clever. More importantly, he belongs here, as much as the trees, the water, and the sun. He has to be somewhere.

My feet move faster, barely touching the ground as I go deeper into the forest. The plants get taller and more like boulders, letting in less light. The air cools as I move on, filled with the scent of pine trees and the damp aroma of life hidden between roots and leaves and bushes, brushing against my face.

Thick ferns smack my legs, their fronds catching on my clothes. The underbrush tugs at me, making every step a struggle through the tangled mess. The forest goes quiet as the usual buzz of the dream world is gone. My heart pounds louder with each step, and I feel desperation tightening in my chest.

I’m feeling lonelier by the minute.

“Echo!” I yell again. My voice breaks the silence. The only reply is the rustling leaves and a far-off bird call that sounds... sad, almost creepy. Mournful. It sends a chill down my spine.

Damn it, don’t do this to me... Please, just don’t do this to me.

I can’t lose him. He’s the only thing that keeps me going. Without him, everything is lost.

When my eyes start filling with tears, that’s when I hear it—a faint response, almost lost in the air. It’s weak, barely a whisper, like the wind. “Claire...”

I spin around, scanning frantically. The sound seemed to come from behind me, from the dense foliage. I step cautiously towards it, my heart pounding in my ears. “Echo? Is that you?” I call, my stomach tightening.

“Here…” The voice is closer now. I push through the brush, leaves, and branches scratching at my arms and face. Then, I see him.

He’s here.

He’s lying at the base of a big tree, partly hidden in the shadows. As I get closer, I can see the stress on his face, his usual lively energy gone. He tries to smile, but it comes out looking painful.

“Echo!” I drop to my knees beside him, taking his hand. It’s cold, much colder than it should be in this sun-drenched paradise. “What happened? Are you okay?”

He squeezes my hand, his grip weak. His Hawaiian shorts and simple necklace are dirty and torn, but it’s his skin that catches my eye. Dark marks, like bruises, spread across his ethereal form. They cover him all over his body.

“The shadows... they were stronger this time. I held them off, but...” He coughs, and I notice each bruise sinking deep, spreading tiny, spider-like black veins. It looks like his blood is tainted, rotting his skin, turning it gray.

“Oh my god,” I mutter, planting a hand over my mouth. “What did they do to you?”

His eyes look like frosted glass, dull and distant as he struggles to focus on me.

“They didn’t appreciate me forcing you out of the dream,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible above my labored breathing. “The shadow beings... they aren’t exactly friendly.”

“They’re fucking monsters.” I squeeze his hand tighter, my heart racing. “But you’ll be okay, Echo. They won’t win,” I say, trying to sound confident, though I’m drowning in doubt. I feel so helpless, so powerless. If even Echo couldn’t withstand them, what chance do I have?

One glance at his wounds makes my stomach churn. He looks so bad, it hurts to see. Yet, he manages a weak smile, like he’s trying to reassure me, not himself. Trying to make it better for my sake. It shatters me.

“You’re right, they won’t,” he says, his voice cracking. “That’s because you came to me. I was scared I wouldn’t see you again, that they’d get to you and break our bond. I wanted to help you reach the dreamscape, but... I’m almost out of energy. Those shadows attacked me. They’re inside me now, running through me like poison.”

I shake my head, refusing to accept this. “We’ll find a way to cleanse you,” I insist. “There has to be a cure, or a spell, or something. Intention, right? You said that works wonders. Just tell me what to do.”

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