Page 97 of Lost Girl

Tears blur my vision as I watch their outrage continue to unfold through the downward spiral, my skin crawling with goosepimples despite the warmth licking at the bottom of my feet.

“Get out!”

“Leave!”

“You don’t belong here!”

Their warbled voices continue, attacking me from all angles until they just stop. Until I stop.

I’m standing in the same spot I was before, them before me, illuminated by flames, and the forest behind me.

“T-Tavi,” I call out for him, reaching my hand out, stepping forward in hopes of his touch setting me free, but that proves to be the wrong move.

He lunges forward on a terrifying growl, snapping at me with those sharp teeth. The only reason he misses me is because I scream and take off running, bolting in pure, unrelenting fear.

The darkened scenery whips past me on either side in a blur, heart thrashing wildly. I can hear them all behind me, chanting their protests of my presence, but I don’t dare look back.

I just run, and run, and run, passing the Woodlands, then the Sanctuary.

The clearing that leads to town, too.

What’s starkly different?

The incline leading to Hook’s palace isn’t in its usual state.

No, it’s a jagged cliff, and judging from what I can see around me, the only way I’m getting up there. I haven’t a clue why I feel so compelled to seek safety behind the castle walls, but I haven’t much of a choice now.

Either I climb or…

“Leave!”

“You don’t belong here!”

“Be gone!”

I’m climbing like I’ve never climbed anything before, using indents in the treacherous cliff to place my feet and all of my upper-arm strength to pull myself up. I won’t dare look down, but I don’t need to, their voices still resound, an orange shadow of their wicked light illuminating the way up.

As if I’m climbing out from hell.

Feels like an entire millenia has passed me by when I finally make it over the ledge on wobbly arms and legs. I barely manage to push onto my feet, but I force myself to stand tall and keep it moving. I’m almost there, their chants of resentment almost inaudible.

Still, I run, for it’s not promised they won’t reappear out of thin air. I don’t trust a single thing happening, especially the whisper’s current silence. Heart thrashing, legs threatening to give out, I push forward resolutely, all the way to the giant palace doors, banging frantically on its hard surface with the side of my adamant fist.

The booming sound echoes within the castle.

In my mind.

And that’s when it happens—when that familiar gasp shoots free from my mouth as my eyes fly open and the consciousness of reality takes its hold...

I’m awake, but I’m not in bed. I’m still standing before at the palace entrance in the dark of night, baffled and disconcerted. Was it a nightmare? Was it—

The door flies open, snapping my gaze on an equally puzzled Tinksley, one of her dark, sleek brows arched pensively.

Before she can so much as open her mouth, I open mine and lock my hands around her wrists, crying out the word I never thought I would in her presence.

“Help!”

?Signal to Noise - Hampus Naeselius?

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