Chapter 4: Into the Tunnel

I put my left hand against the left wall of the tunnel. It felt rather moist and freezing cold. This was probably just to make us give up and lose faith. But that would not work on me. I was smart enough to know this.

I took a careful fifty steps or so forwards. Just enough to lose the light from the counseling room so that I could hide myself.

I made hooting sounds every thirty seconds or so. Thirty minutes seemed to pass and I heard no other hooting sounds other than myself.

Where was she? I started to panic. I have to control myself. I had to control myself. If I did not, who knows what might happen. Then I heard the light thuds of footsteps. Could it be Rose? Why wasn't she hooting?

'Rose?' I called out silently. She had to be in hearing range by now.

No response. The footsteps did not stop. Then, the sound died suddenly. Then I heard something else. It was a vicious snarl.

Fear gripped me. I waved my arms frantically, trying to shield myself from whatever it was. Then my hands got seized by whatever that was producing the snarling sounds. Its grasp on my hands were peculiarly strong. I could not fight back. It was too strong. So I gave up waving my arms. The thing pinned me to the wall. I guess this was the end for me.

I could feel the cold breath of the thing holding me. Its breath smelled incredibly sweet and inviting. Then, the thing muttered a tiny hoot continued by a series of adorable giggling. Relief washed over me. I could not help laughing too. Rose embraced me tightly. Her body firm against my body. She rested her head against my chest. We held hands for a moment. They were seriously cold. What was up with this chill?

'Luke, you're so warm,' she said deeply, 'I like it.'

'And you are cold,' I countered in the same tone, 'I like it.'

Next thing I knew, we were tongue tied. Warm and cool. I pulled her tighter against my body. We ended in ragged breaths. The experience was breathtaking. But it felt familiar. As though I had the same kind of kiss.

'Okay. I think we have to start moving now,' I said, somewhat awkwardly.

'Okay,' she said.

We walked silently. I could still taste Rose on my lips. To be honest, I wanted to kiss her again. But I knew I could not push it. That would be desperate.

I held her close to me. I half expected her to resist. But she did not. That made me glad.

Our feet did not make any noise. The silence was almost overwhelming. I could feel it banging against my eardrums. It was very eerie. I wanted it to end.

I could not see anything. I just let my hand lead us. The path never bent, though. We might as well walk forwards. But we did not. I did not trust that idea very much.

Then it suddenly clicked. That must have been the problem. Why we couldn't find the exit. I wasn't supposed to keep my hand on the wall. I was supposed to trust. It was all a test. A test on trust.

'Rose,' I started, 'I'm going to let go of my hand from the wall. Now, I want you to trust me. Got it?'

'Okay,' she said weakly.

I let go of my hand. Then, almost instantly, everything got a little brighter. And it increased gradually. Bright enough for me to be able to make out the outlines of Rose. The light shooed away the uncanny darkness that filled the tunnel. I started hearing music. It was faint. But it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. I think it only consisted of two notes. It was the sound of a new and young world. It made the hope in my chest swell ready to explode.

We walked a little more brisk. Until finally, we came to an opening.

The cool breeze was sweet and fresh with the morning dew still existing. The grass was green and they were moving rhythmically to the breezes as if in a dance. Mountains rose as high as the heavens would allow them. Trees made a huge circular shape, which made a clearing in the middle. And in the middle of the clearing was a glittering wide azure lake. On the center of it was a tiny plot of land. On it was a tree.

The tree was gigantic and broad. The trunk of the tree was a nice emerald color. The roots spread far out into the ground. The leaves were tinted violet. Things were hanging on the branches. I suppose they were the fruits of the tree.

The fruits were cherry shaped and red. Really truly red. They would be fit to be fist-sized rubies. It had an attracting pull towards it.

I realized that something was revolving over the tree. A huge bird, by the looks of it. It looked like it was glowing. The bird was scarlet. A phoenix, I thought. It uttered a loud echoing crow. Its beating wings made deep loud sounds in the magnificent sky. Looking at the phoenix made me acknowledge the other animals.

Birds (or at least I thought they were) were soaring and chirping cheerfully. There were all sorts of queer animals. There was a particular pack of animals that I was careful not to get close with. I recognized them to be more or less like lions and tigers. But these were huge and had teeth the size of cleavers.

I didn't like them. It was as though I had some kind of ancient rivalry with them.

They sat at the edges of the lake. Opposite from them were a pack of wolves. But they were different from the normal wolves. These wolves were huge. They were the size of baby elephants, to say the least. They all had different colors and patterns. There were about a dozen of them.

Rose gave me a gentle tug on my arm. I realized that I was slowly walking towards them. The wolves gazed at me longingly, as though I were meant to be with them. I shook my head.

In the distance, I saw a bright red barn. A large, muscled man was sowing the fields. We approached him.

'So, you got through,' he said in a deep calm voice. He kept working his field.

'Can you please tell us what to do next?' I asked.

Instead of answering my question, he turned and lunged at me. I evaded him with ease. I admit, I was quite surprised by his speed. He looked so heavy with his muscled body.

He grinned, 'We haven't had your kind in quite a while. You must be Lucas'.

'Yes, I am. How do you know my name? And what do you mean 'your kind'?' I asked.

Despite the genuine smile he was giving me, I felt kind of offended. As though I were some kind of zoo animal.

I turned to Rose. She looked totally stunned.

'What?' I asked.

'How did you do that?' she asked with incredulous eyes.

'Do what?'

'You…dissolved? I can't really explain what happened,' she muttered.

'What do you mean I dissolved?' I asked.

All this was not making sense.

'When he lunged, you turned into a…smoky shadow,' she said, not even believing herself.

I turned into a smoky shadow? All I remember was dodging that charge. She must think I'm some kind of freak. But the next thing she said wronged my judgment.

'That was so cool!' She exclaimed.

I turned back to the muscled guy. He was still grinning. Then he held out his hand. I shook it.

'My name is Marcus. I take care of the people who get past the tunnel and notify them of whose bloodline they come from. You, Lucas, are the new merciful Lord of Shadows.'