Chapter 16

Thorne and Crystal had heard Shaiden's cries for help, and had rushed over to her.

"Shaiden, are you alright?" asked Thorne gently.

"I... I think so..." Shaiden answered, as Thorne helped her to get up. Her voice was deep, droning, and strangely tired. She was also slurrring some of her words.

"Was it that monster that got you?" asked Crystal.

"It's called the Entity, Crystal." Shaiden corrected.

Crystal nodded. "So, was it the Entity that got you?" she asked again.

Shaiden groaned. "Yeah," she answered. "And... it said something... about you."

Crystal gasped, and Thorne's face became even more worried. "What exactly did it say?" he asked her.

Shaiden clambered to her feet. "It... it said something about Crystal having... potential. A lot of potential. I don't know what that means."

Thorne and Crystal looked at each other. They couldn't work out what it meant either.

"And... it said something about you, too, Thorne." she said quietly, looking her brother in the eyes.

"What did it-" he began to ask, but before he had a chance to finish, Shaiden interrupted, which was unusual.

"It said that you loved Crystal more than me, that you'd do fine without me." she answered.

Thorne's eyes went wide.

Shaiden giggled. "To be honest, I think I agree with it." she continued.

Thorne couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Shaiden, what are you on about? You're my sister, I'd never love her more than you!"

Shaiden groaned again, and staggered around. "Oh really? 'Cos when you're around her, you're all, ooh, I love you, ooh, she needs protecting, and Crystal's all bratty and hyperactive, and oh-so high and mighty. Where's the logic in that?"

Crystal tiptoed over to Thorne and whispered. "What's wrong with her?" she asked.

"I have no idea." Thorne answered. "Maybe it's the Entity that's done it, I'll try asking her some questions, see if I can get a response."

He walked over to his sister, who was now leaning against one of the trees. She had her eyes partially closed

"Shaiden?" he asked gently.

Shaiden groaned, and her eyes opened slowly. "Uh, what is it, Thorne?"

"Shaiden, can you remember what happened to you?"

Shaiden paused for thought, before replying. "Well, I was walking around here, when sudddenly I heard this voice, and there was this pain down my back."

Thorne nodded. "And, what did this voice say to you?"

Shaiden recited the exact riddle she had heard.

Thorne swallowed hard.

"And then," she continued, "I felt this pain down my back. I collapsed, I couldn't help it."

She went on to describe what the Entity looked like this time, and what it had said to her. She was more reluctant when it came to describing what the Reaper had told her about her brother's relationship with Crystal, but after a bit of coaxing, she was able to tell the whole story.

Thorne noticed that, over the minutes of interrogation, Shaiden became more and more alert, though she was still more tired than usual.

Thorne briefly left his sister and walked over to Crystal, who had been watching her like a hawk.

"Crystal, I think I know why Shaiden is acting the way she is."

"What? Is she hurt? Is there something that's happened to her brain?" she asked, her voice desperate sounding.

"No... well, yes, but not in that way." he answered. "She said that the Entity kept sending this shock through her body, her whole body. I think her senses just got mixed up. It's only temporary, I think she'll be OK."

Crystal breathed a sigh of relief. "What else did she say?" she asked.

Thorne bent over to tell her, but Shaiden interrupted, though her voice had changed dramatically, and was now more alert sounding. She was also more stable on her feet, and her eyes had opened more.

"Guys, someone's here. Not the Entity, other people, other humans..."

Thorne smiled, and turned to Crystal again. "Crystal, come with me. I've got some friends I'd like you to meet."