"This soul… this cannot be so…"
I was paralyzed, as if ice had seeped into my veins, numbing me without its familiar sting. The world around me blurred, lost to the creeping dread that curled around my thoughts. The voice that had shattered the silence sounded sad, a somber melody of misfortune that echoed through the emptiness, leaving me hollow and unsure.
"Yet perchance this shall suffice, though it lies beyond even my ken."
He was close, his voice brushing against me like a whisper on the wind, yet I couldn't see him. The darkness pressed in, so deep, so consuming, that it swallowed everything, leaving me stranded in its suffocating void.
"But this," he said, and I felt something slip from my grasp, the only sensation in the endless void. It was something I hadn't even realized I was holding, "must be set aside for now." A pause. "I'll return it to you once you've aided," another pause, this one heavy with contemplation, a silence that lingered like a held breath, "him on his journey. And if, in turn, he helps you... well, should that come to pass, everything will change. Truly change. And at long last, his wish shall be fulfilled."
His words drifted past me like smoke, their meaning lost in the haze of my confusion. I couldn't piece together who he was talking about, or what any of it meant. But my mind clung to the last fragments of what I knew—my home, the comforting warmth that lingered as I retired to my room for the night. And then... then, the world slipped into nothingness.
No. Not into nothingness, but into a descent, a slow, inevitable fall.
Now, I had found myself suspended in this void, floating in an abyss where sound, other than this voice, was swallowed whole and movement was a distant memory. My voice was silenced, my limbs were bound by unseen chains, and the darkness stretched on, unbroken and all-consuming.
But despite the emptiness pressing in on all sides, I was unnervingly calm. Hollow, yes—adrift in this sea of uncertainty—but calm, as if this strange, bleak serenity was the only thing keeping me tethered to whatever was left of myself.
"Do not disappoint me, little one. You've been granted a rare chance, but if you falter, the cycle will continue unbroken, and Reincarnation will not grace an outsider such as yourself. You will be lost to the void, your existence forever a torment. Do you grasp the gravity of this?"
Of course I didn't!
"If yes, then perhaps there's a glimmer of promise in you after all. But don't grow too confident—the true trials are only just beginning."
And then, the darkness swallowed me whole, and in that suffocating void, it felt as though I truly ceased to exist, because I no longer knew anything.
…and she, a Wraith, would walk these haunted plains,
Till time itself would beg for their release.
Someone was smelling me.
"Who would've thought a human could carry such a…distinct scent?"
"Mmm, yes! A scent like no other—deliciously strange!"
My eyes felt like they were sealed with lead, my mind adrift in a thick, swirling fog. It was like coming to after a night lost in a bottle of tequila, but without the punishing headache or sickly churn in my gut.
Slowly, achingly slow, I forced my eyes open. The world around me swam in a haze, shifting shadows and muted light. My tongue brushed over my cracked lips, and with each blink, the fog in my mind began to clear, revealing the world in sharper detail.
I was sprawled on my back in the heart of a forest, the midday sun streaming through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns of light in my vision and on my purple blouse. The air was thick with the scent of earth and greenery, grounding me as the last traces of disorientation slipped away.
Then the sniffing resumed, a warm breath sweeping over my neck and shoulder. I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up, and blinked again, before finally turning toward the source of the sound—only to be met with the curious gaze of a dog.
No… not a dog.
A wolf?
A wolf, draped in oddly robbed garments, hovered close, its eyes glinting with a disconcerting, human-like intelligence. It crouched beside me, its hands—strangely human in form—pressing into the ground near my side, his hind in the air, showing off a very fluffy wolf tail. Its nose was just inches from my face and neck, its foreign, asian-like clothing adding to the bizarre scene.
What. The. Fuck!
Did I just come across a wild furry!?
The wolf's eyes met mine, and with a mischievous glint, it tilted its head and called out to its companion in a gravelly, playful tone over his shoulder.
"Look who's finally up—our little napper's awake!"
The other wolf snickered, who stood off not too far from where I laid, draped in similar clothing, eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "Well…can we eat her now?" it asked, its voice laced with a dark, almost excited humor.
They way they moved, they way they talked…
These were not furries…
The line between a mask and a face, between artifice and life, was sharper in person—something no camera could capture. This creature, it wasn't just some clever trick of makeup or a screen's distortion. The face moved too naturally, each twitch unnervingly precise, too human. To replicate that, you'd need an army of puppeteers pulling every string just right. No single person, no computer program could ever get it this right.
Considering my profession, I would know.
He looked too fleshy.
Too real...
I had to be dreaming…
My father's voice warmed its way into my head: Don't think. React. Act now or die!
So, I did.
Well—screamed first, then acted.
My right hand, closest to the wolf, shot out as I bolted upright, slapping its nose as I let out a startled, albeit embarrassing, high-pitched scream. It yelped and staggered back, rising on its hind legs in a way that was all too unnatural, while I scrambled backwards on my butt, my hands and heels slipping on the foliage below me, dirting my blue jeans. My legs seemed to have forgotten their purpose, or maybe I was still foggy from waking up in… well, wherever this was.
"Who are you!? What are you!? Am I being pranked!?" I shrieked, my voice cracking with a blend of desperation and panic. If I weren't so freaked out, I'd probably be smacking myself for the sheer embarrassment. This was so unlike me.
"How did I get here? What the hell is going on?"
If this were a prank, I was definitely giving it too much credit. If I were watching myself from the safety of my couch, I'd probably think my reaction was rehearsed—because who in their right mind would believe this was real? You could spot a knockoff a mile away. Up close, the difference was even starker.
But this? This was no illusion, no puppeteering..
This thing wasn't fake…
But, it had to be…
It just had to be…
The wolf's eyes flashed with fury as it bared its teeth, widening his stance as if he was about to pounce. "How dare you strike me!" it roared, its voice a rumble that shook the air. "You've no idea what you've just wrought. You stand in no place to cast such insolence. As for who we are and how you came to be here, it matters not—for soon enough, death shall claim you!"
What a weird way of speaking!
It briefly registered that when his mouth moved, the words didn't quite match up, but the thought was fleeting. In the next instant, he leaped high into the air, jaws wide, aimed straight at my neck.
I let out a high-pitched scream and barely rolled to my right in time. The wolf landed where I'd been, his claws slicing through the air with unnerving swiftness, catching my arm as I rolled away. A sharp pain shot through me, and I yelped, clutching my arm as I scrambled to my feet. With a final, terrified glance at the wolf, whose body was already coiled for another strike, I bolted in the opposite direction.
This couldn't be happening...
This couldn't be happening!
I—got hurt? For real?! How was this real? If Susie signed me up for some prank show and I actually got hurt...
I'd threaten to sue. I wouldn't go through with it of course…I wasn't like that…
But I'd still threaten!
"Susie! If you can hear me!" I shouted into the trees, the leaves seemingly to mock me from above as they danced in the wind. "You're so dead! I mean it this time! I'll cork your ass while you sleep!"
"You let her slip through your claws? What folly is this? She was right there for the taking!" The other wolf voice yelled from behind me, loud enough for me to hear. But I didn't dare look back as I blindly ran through this unfamiliar forest.
As I sprinted through the sun-dappled forest, fragments of memory flitted through my mind like leaves caught in a breeze. I had been locking up the bakery, the scent of fresh bread still clinging to the air, climbing the stairs to my apartment conveniently nestled above the shop. But after that… it was all shadows…
But then… my birth mother's trinket... There was something with that trinket…
What was it? Why could I not recall? And why was the image of it so elusive?
Why couldn't I remember what it looked like!?
My memories, they swirled in a fog, slipping just out of reach…
Why? Why!? WHY!?
The dull ache in my arm was a clear reminder that this was no mere dream. The sudden sharp sting of a slap to my cheek from my own hand confirmed it beyond doubt.
Ouch…
Then came the sound of pounding footsteps behind me—or rather, pounding paws.
Was I going to die here!?
"Come hither, little one! We seek but a taste! It shall sting but for a fleeting moment!"
"Like hell!" I shouted over my shoulder, trees and brush zipping past me, defiant and reckless—until, of course, I wasn't.
My foot found something solid and round, sending me sprawling face-first into the forest floor when my foot rolled over it. My legs kicked up behind me, like a scene ripped straight from a slapstick comedy. Classic.
I'd pulled off moves like that on stage before, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I could actually do it in real life!
Groaning, I rolled onto my back, hands cupping my nose that throbbed with a vengeance—probably broken, but who had time to care? Pain wasn't on the schedule today. I had to move, fast, before they catch up and--
"Ah, I have found you, human! Why do you flee, when fate itself cannot be outrun?"
Both wolfmen emerged from the trees, sliding to a stop just shy of the clearing I'd stumbled into—a tight circle framed by the wild embrace of the forest. Their eyes glinted in the dim light.
"No more games. Nowhere left to hide," the second one crooned, his teeth catching the light as he prowled back and forth at the clearing's mouth. With a sly grin, he unsheathed a blade from his hip—one I hadn't noticed before. Why do wolfmen need blades? Aren't their teeth and claws weapons enough!? "Why not spare yourself the torment and grant us the feast of your flesh?"
Like hell!
I rose, eyes darting over my shoulder to the stone wall behind me and the very thick brush that surrounded us. He wasn't wrong. It was a dead end, towering and unforgiving, though a crack in the middle of the stone wall hinted at the possibility of a cave.
An escape, if I dared.
Or another dead end.
"Oh, brother, look!" the first wolf's voice held a mockery, his head tilting like a curious hound. He pointed with his sword toward the thing I had slipped on near my feet. "A juicy little peach, ripe for the taking." His sword gleamed as he readied his metal shield, eyes flickering with amusement.
I glanced down, noticing the peach for the first time. So, that's what I slipped on. Odd, though—perfectly round and intact, not a bruise in sight. How hadn't it been crushed?
Whatever. Now wasn't the moment to muse over the physics of indestructible fruit.
"What sweet fortune falls into our paws?" the first wolf purred, licking his lips.
"Well, well! Fates are generous today. A succulent peach and a juicy human, all in one place!" the second one chimed, stepping closer, his hungry eyes locked onto the peach.
In a snap decision, I snatched the peach from the ground. Heavy. Much heavier than it should be—like cradling five peaches packed into one, but still light enough to lift with one hand.
I held it out toward the wolfmen, palm up, a reckless idea flickering to life. It wasn't brilliant by any means, but it beat the alternative—actually having to fight. Even with my father's training, I had no idea what I was up against.
They weren't human.
Or maybe they were and beating up people in costume wouldn't be a good look for TV…
I was still only halfway convinced they weren't even human, my brain scrambling to find some logical explanation. But on the off chance this was real—and it sure felt real enough—I had to play along. Just in case. Call it survival instincts, or maybe just a strong preference for not dying today.
Or I was just playing the fool in the script…
It was all a gamble. They had swords, after all—longer reach, sharper edge. And let's not forget: they were wolfmen, most likely faster, stronger, deadlier than any human if their muscle structure were anything to go by.
They looked strong.
Maybe I could handle one. Get a feel for their strength. But two? That was suicidal.
No, the only smart move was running.
"You want this peach?" I asked, trying to toss it in the air with a casual flair. Not exactly smooth—it barely left my hand. The damn thing was heavier than it looked, but at least I was getting the hang of its weight.
"Surrender it, human, and we shall grant you a death both swift and without pain," the first one snarled, eyes locked on the fruit.
"Refuse, and we'll make sure you beg for it," the second added, his snarl curling with menace.
So much for negotiations.
"Sounds fair enough--being eaten alive and all. Have at it!" I replied, feigning ease as I swung my arm low, then launched the peach high into the air. Both wolves' eyes snapped upward, their predatory gazes following its arc.
Exactly what I'd hoped for.
Without wasting a second, I bolted toward the crack in the stone. But when I was close enough, my palms slapping each side of the entrance, I glanced inside—
Dead end. There was no exit, just a small cramped space.
No time to panic. I veered sharply to the right, pushing off the stone wall with both hands, and headed straight for the thick foliage that surrounded us. It would be dense, but I was smaller, lighter, and far less bulky than them. If I was lucky, the tangled mess of leaves and branches would slow them down more than me. They had all that muscle, after all, and their shoulders and legs were thick and bulky.
Good for running in open fields, but not so great at traversing overgrown foliage. Or so I'd hoped.
These woods were their domain after all…
"You sneaky rascal! Dare to fool me? I'll make sure you'll regret it!"
I thought he was talking to me—until I heard the scuffle…
When I reached the edge of the foliage, I glanced back, expecting to see the wolves barreling toward me. But no—someone else was fighting them.
Someone with nothing more than a large stick.
He spun it with deadly force, cracking it against the wolfmen skulls, ribs, and limbs alike. And each blow? It landed with a force meant for more than pain--hard enough…to kill…
The way he was spinning it…
His back was to me, but he was human-shaped, at least. A dark blue robe clung to his frame, paired with loose pants and… was that a tiger-skin kilt?
With a fluid, almost effortless motion, my would-be-hopeful savior swung his staff in a high final arc, bringing it crashing down on the last wolfman's skull with brutal finality. The wolves lay still, crumpled on the ground.
They stayed still, while my would-be-hopeful savior planted the end of his pole—a rather elaborate one—firmly into the earth, his grip tightening around it. Wait… were those black claws?
…were they dead?
The man—average height, average build—stepped back, and as he did, the wolves began to disintegrate. Their bodies crumbled to ash, dissolving before my eyes.
How!?
"What the hell?" I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from the bizarre scene. Every last bit of them turned to ash, even their clothing…
But then, as if hearing the softest breath, he whipped around, eyes locked on mine. I gasped audibly.
He was… hairy.
And those claws…
His feet were massive, built for crushing or leaping. And his teeth—sharp, menacing, something out of a nightmare as his mouth slightly agape as he regarded me with the same scrutiny I was giving him, his brows knitted down and drawn together in a scowl.
Why granny, what big teeth you have!
A stunned silence hung between us before I blurted out, "Are you a monkey!?" My voice rang louder than I intended, and I wasn't sure whether to run or hope he was friendly.
Because he was a monkey.
A human-like monkey?
His proportions were all too human, far more so than the wolfmen. The way he paced—no, stalked—at the edge of the clearing, every movement fluid yet unsettling, made sense in a human way. His joints, at least, were where they should be.
But those hands—huge, with thick black claws—and his feet, even larger, toes long and finger-like. Monkey feet. The hair on his jaw could almost pass for a beard at first glance, though it crawled too far up his cheeks, claiming most of his face. Even his hairline crawled too far onto his forehead.
But his lips? Unmistakably monkey-like. And his nose, caught somewhere between human and monkey.
Yet his eyes—his eyes were hauntingly human.
And stern.
And glaring…
Skin beige with a reddish tinge…and he had eyebrows! The same ashen-light brown as the rest of his… fur? Hair? Whatever it was. Monkeys didn't have eyebrows, right?
They were stern-looking too. Very stern.
Was he glaring at me?
Was he a threat? Do monkeys eat people?
The way he paced, stalking the edge of the clearing where I was, technically, trapped, but not making a move to enter into my space—it didn't seem like it. But maybe he killed the wolfmen just to have me to himself, no competition for his next meal?
Where had he come from? He fought on my side of the clearing, his back was to me, not from behind the wolves.
What was I even thinking? He was a monkey. Probably just dropped out of the trees.
"A-are you going to try and eat me, too?" I blurted out, my hands instinctively parting the foliage in front of me, readying myself for another escape—though I knew it would be futile. This monkey-man was built lean and nimble. He'd slip through the brush like water while I'd be left struggling like a fish on land.
At my question, he tilted his head, eyes narrowing as if studying me. His gaze flickered to my lips as I spoke, and for a brief second, I could've sworn he looked… confused.
Maybe he didn't understand?
Then, out of nowhere, the staff in his hand—once twirling menacingly—vanished. Or shrank, rather. One moment it was there, and the next, he was holding a twig.
And then… did he just stick it in his ear?!
He gave me one last stern look, eyes sweeping over me as if making a final judgment, then turned on his heel and walked away. Just like that.
He was leaving.
Ignoring me.
So… maybe he was friendly? It sure seemed like he helped fight off the wolfmen.
But wait—if he was friendly, why was I just standing here watching him disappear!?
"Wait!" I shouted, darting out of the clearing after him. "Please, wait! Can you help me?"
Who was I kidding? He probably didn't even speak English…
But the wolfmen did, didn't they?
A fleeting memory of their lips not quite matching their words crossed my mind, but I shoved it aside.
He kept moving down a path through the trees, a path well used, not sparing me a glance. I hurried after him but made sure to hang back, just in case he whipped that magical staff from his ear and decided I was a threat worth smacking.
And one smack from him would likely kill me. Insta-kill…
"Wait—please! I don't know where I am or what's even happening…"
He halted abruptly, his head turning just enough to catch me in his gaze. I froze, still at a safe distance, my curiosity tangled with caution.
Then, with infuriating calm, he reached for his ear, pulling out the tiny staff that stretched and morphed in his grip. He twirled it once, a brief flourish, before letting it rest snugly at his side—casual, but with a grip that spoke volumes.
I stumbled back a step, my heart skipping. Did I just break some sacred rule? Insult his monkey honor? I was two seconds away from apologizing for breathing wrong when—
A blur of fur burst from the brush, another Wolfman crashing into the path. In one swift, graceful arc, the Monkey spun his staff, taking the beast down without so much as a show of effort.
…and again, the Wolfman turned to ash…
But the real kicker? The noises. Not just any noises—Monkey noises. Or, more like a guy doing his best Monkey impression, if that made any sense. They sounded like "hyuk," but higher-pitched. Definitely not human, but close enough to make me question everything.
I mean, what did I expect?
Wolfmen, Monkey people, people disintegrating into ash the moment they died... What was next on the cosmic checklist?
And then it hit me—again. He killed those Wolfmen. And they turned to ash.
Ash!
That wasn't a weird trick of the light. It actually happened. That was a thing now.
No. No way. There had to be some kind of trick. Magic, sleight of hand, something…
I couldn't be stuck in some strange foreign magical place! This couldn't be happening…
No. This couldn't be real. All I had to do was play along, put on a show, and I'd be out of here before days end.
But if this was a show, and they put me to sleep without my consent…
My breath quickened, heart thumping harder with each second. My hand shot up, shoving strands of red hair out of my face as I tried to keep it together. Deep breaths. In. Out. Calm down. If this was real, freaking out wouldn't help.
No, first, I needed a safe place—then I could lose it.
And my only option to finding a safe place was this monkey…
But when I glanced back at the Monkey?
Gone. He was gone.
My head snapped around, scanning the woods for any sign of that damned monkey, but he was nowhere to be seen. I raised my hand to call out, but common sense got the better of me.
Not the wisest move. If more of those wolf-men prowled these woods, I'd be serving myself up on a silver platter.
"Damn it," I muttered, biting back frustration as I pressed forward. He had to have gone this way. It was a well-worn path, after all.
How had he vanished—so swift, so silent? I felt like I had only blinked, just once, and he was already gone.
I inhaled deeply, steadying my nerves, and set out along the unfamiliar trail. My black sneakers whispered against the fallen leaves as I walked, a stark reminder of how out of place I was.
Here, in the heart of the forest, I might as well have been a flare in the night—jeans and a bright purple blouse, no less. Brilliant choice for blending in, really.
Note the sarcasm…
If this place—this world, I reluctantly admitted—was as new as it seemed, my clothes certainly weren't doing me any favors.
This world… no. Not thinking about it right now…
First order of business: find safety. Then, I'd need to change into something that didn't scream 'outsider.'
But what after that? What was the plan?
Steady now. One step at a time. Safety first, then I'd figure out what came next when I wasn't on the brink of panic.
If my father could see me now, he'd frown at the thought of nerves undoing me. He raised me better than that.
I didn't run, but my feet were quick, sharp, as I slipped along the winding path. Stairs creaked underfoot, a river whispered at my side, then came the brush—dense and wild—before ducking beneath a stone arch. A beautiful stone arch that covered a portion of the path that led down to a trail of stairs. Was this carved by nature's hand or something else?
Either way, it was stunning.
I emerged into a clearing at the cliff's edge when I reached the end of the stairs, the wind tugging at my hair as I scanned for any wolfmen lurking nearby. My eyes flicked toward the edge of the cliff, and when I walked forward toward it and cast my eyes downward, I was drawn to the sea of forest below.
And I froze.
This place…was beautiful.
Wherever the hell "this place" was.
Endless trees, jagged mountains kissing the horizon, and the light—God, the light—spilling over the canopies like liquid gold. A painter's dream.
I could lose myself in this view.
I had lived among steel and concrete most of my life, but I could trade it all for this. I wouldn't miss the city. Not one bit.
Dad would've loved this too.
And then—
"His spitting image!"
A voice!
I whipped around toward the sound, spotting a narrow path surrounded by rocks and trees leading away from the cliff. My feet moved before my mind caught up, following the trail until I saw him.
Relief flooded through me. It was the Monkey. He was pacing near a small structure, his staff twirling lazily in one hand. By his side stood a small, old man, bald and hunched, his back curved like the gnarled branches of a tree. He looked strange from where I stood, but he was too far away for me to understand why.
They hadn't seen me yet, deep in conversation.
"Up ahead is Guanyin Temple," the old man continued, his voice rough with age, but loud enough for me to hear, "Once, it was bustling with worshippers, before it was ruined by that fire…" He sighed, the weight of time, it felt like, heavy in his tone. He looked at something on the ground, but I was still too far away to see. "Then, the temple was rebuilt. But what good is it to rebuild a temple if the goodwill of men has been burnt to ashes?"
I had no clue what they were on about, but the old man sounded like he carried the burden of the world on his shoulders.
"Yet this is your burden to bear, little monkey," he added, and as I crept closer, not hiding, but not trying to be too loud to interrupt their conversation, I realized the man wasn't... normal. He wore blue robs, his hair was wild and in…odd places, as if branches had sprouted from his head and face. And his eyebrows—dear God—his eyebrow hairs hung so low they covered his eyes completely.
Was he blind?
And yet, despite everything, he was more human than the Monkey.
Human…was human good?
"It would seem you do not walk this path alone," the old man said, suddenly turning sharply toward me as I was halfway toward them down the path. In one hand, he held... a back scratcher? In the other, a walking stick made from a tree branch. One of the two was not odd…
The Monkey noticed me too, his body tensing, staff raised as if ready to strike. But when he realized it was me, he straightened, staff falling to his side, nose wrinkling as though he'd smelled something foul.
Was that… displeasure?
What an…
But, you know what? He was clearly busy, and I was intruding. I wasn't going to judge.
For all I knew, he was off chasing some grand, redemptive quest, and there I was, a stumbling block in his heroic path.
…well, maybe I'd judge a little…
"Ah, so he's craving another go, is he?" The little man swaggered toward me, twirling the backscratcher like it was some kind of regal scepter as I walked closer to them, now within good hearing distance. "One would think the last disaster might have taught him a lesson."
I blinked, stepping closer to the small structure, caught off guard. "Who? Another go at what?" I started, then stopped myself. No time for riddles. "Never mind…Do you know where I am? How I got here?" My arms flailed in a desperate sweep around the scene, falling back to my sides with a thud. "Please, tell me you know something?"
I knew I was being rude, but small talk wasn't on my agenda. Home was calling, and my cat—ruler of all things food—wouldn't take kindly to a missed meal. Priorities, after all.
"Is it not plain?" he said, giving that cursed backscratcher another twirl. "You're here to aid him." He flicked the scratcher toward the Monkey.
The Monkey flinched, his gaze darting between the man and me like he'd missed a crucial part of the joke. And, no doubt, I mirrored him.
"Uh, yeah, no. That's not happening," I snapped, slicing my hand through the air like a judge laying down a verdict. "There's absolutely no way I can help him…"
"I fear the luxury of choice is not on you, dear one. Should you seek to return home, but one path lies before you."
My arms shot up in exasperation. "You can't be serious!" I shouted at the sky, praying some hidden camera was tucked away in the rocks around us, because this couldn't possibly be happening! "Enough already! Ha ha, real funny! But I'm done now!"
I spun in circles, desperate for a glimpse of a lens. "Come on, Susie! End the prank! Please? I don't want to play anymore!"
And then, that chuckle. Low, knowing. "I pity you, child, in truth. Harsh though it may be to accept, I assure you—this is no jest."
In a blink, he vanished in a puff of smoke, only to reappear at my side, his hand suddenly gripping my forearm. "You shalt need this for the journey that lies before you," he said, pressing a necklace into my palm before vanishing once more.
I actually felt him disappear. His small, pale hand dissolved from my skin, like that was just an everyday occurrence. And, apparently, it was.
"And you," his voice drifted from ahead. I glanced up to see him standing beside the Monkey. "will have its twin." He tossed a matching necklace to the Monkey, who caught it with barely a shrug, inspecting it without a word.
I looked down at my own, a black cord tied around a silver-black stone. It didn't seem like much—nothing extraordinary… yet.
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm.
Because…he just disappeared. I felt him disappear…
And that meant…
Meant…
"So, you're saying you can't help me get home, right?" I just needed to get to the point. Whatever that point was. Only concentrate on that, and I'd get through this. Nothing else.
Only for now…
"Indeed, you heard rightly," he said with a shrug. "To send you back lies far beyond my reach, beyond the scope of my powers. Not a realm I dare tread, I'm afraid."
I opened my eyes and glanced at the little man as he strolled between the Monkey and me. "And what exactly does 'helping him' even mean?"
Another shrug. "As for what comes next? You may guide him, scold him, or offer your friendship—such choices are yours alone." He meandered in circles before suddenly spinning to face me, pointing that blasted back scratcher straight at my chest. "Yet, heed me well: should he falter, your path home shall be forever lost."
My jaw tightened. "And I don't have a choice? None?"
"I believe those words have already left my lips. Must I echo them again, word for word?" he quipped.
Rude. But I bit my tongue. No sense in angering the only one who seemed to have any idea what I was supposed to do.
Because... I wasn't home. I was in another world.
And damn, admitting that was harder than I thought.
No. Not stay calm. Get to that point! Whatever that point may be…
My jaw tightened. "And just how long is this journey supposed to take?"
The old man spun lazily on his heel. "Ah, yes... the last group who attempted such a journey? Took them sixteen long years, give or take."
I nearly stumbled, my heart skipping a beat. "S-sixteen years?! I don't have that kind of time—I have a cat!"
Someone would notice I was missing, right? The theater, the bakery, Susie—someone would check in, realize I wasn't there, and take my cat in. But still… sixteen years?
"You can't seriously expect me to—"
"What did I say to you, child?" he interrupted, his voice sharp. "There is no choice foe you to make. You can drown in your sorrow or rise, shake off the weight of despair, and cease to drag behind like a burden."
Fudge!
I know that!
"Says the magical dude who's probably lived longer than any mortal!" I snapped, crossing my arms. "Sixteen years could be a quarter of my life!"
The old man chuckled again, spinning in place—those damn twirls were really starting to grate on my nerves. "And now we come to that little trinket I bestowed upon you. Quickly now, fasten it on!"
The Monkey wasted no time, deftly untying the string and looping it around his neck. Once done, he turned to me, eyes expectant.
Why was he being so quiet and compliant with all this?
Reluctantly, I followed suit, far less eager. I untied the string, threading it around my neck, careful not to snag my red hair as I swung it over my shoulder. With the necklace secure, I glanced at the old man. "Now what?"
"Focus your mind upon it. Feel it there, against your chest? That gentle fluttering—like the beat of a heart, faint but steady?"
I blinked at him, startled, because I did feel it—a flutter, pulsing from the stone. Glancing down, I focused on it, just as he said.
And concentrated...
And concentra…
Until—
"What the—"
I felt it, something pulling at me. And strangely, I let it. Somehow, I knew I could stop it, cut the pull off if I wanted to—and easily, too.
But instead, I surrendered to it. The moment I did, my world went dark, and I felt my body unravel. Not painfully, but as if every molecule was coming apart, scattering on the wind. I could feel myself dissolving, every piece of me brushing against the air.
Then, just as suddenly, I could see again.
Only... it wasn't through my own eyes.
It was through the Monkey's.
""Ah, isn't that a welcome silence? No more squawking!" The old man sauntered up to me—or rather, to the Monkey—looking comically short in comparison. He tapped the stone on the Monkey's chest with that infuriating backscratcher. "Clever little thing, wouldn't you say? She's nestled within, should you wonder. While you wear it, her gaze is your own. Unsettling, is it? Simply remove it, slip it into your pocket, and her eyes will close if you wish so."
I focused on the stone again. It was easier this time, even without the sensation of my body--as strange as that sounded--because the flutter was everywhere. I let the pull take me once more, feeling my scattered molecules knit back together into…me.
Only, I didn't end up where I had been. I reappeared right next to the Monkey. I blinked up at him as we stood side by side, and he stared down at me, his usual scowl in place.
Was that just his default expression?
Still, he didn't say a word.
I took a quick step to my left, realizing I was practically brushing against the Monkey, and turned my attention back to the old man.
"And there she is once more," he muttered, shaking his head as if this were a daily nuisance.
I let out an exasperated sigh of my own. "Look, I don't know what I did to tick you off, but try seeing this from my side! I didn't ask for any of this. A few hours ago, I was in my world"—the word caught in my throat—"minding my own business. Then—BAM!—I'm here, getting attacked by wolfmen, and some random monkey swoops in to save me?" I glanced at the Monkey for confirmation, but he remained silent, as usual. "We don't have any of this where I'm from. No magic, no wolfmen, no... whatever this is!" I threw my hands in the air, then let them fall dramatically. "And now you're telling me I'm stuck here for sixteen years? How am I supposed to act? Like I'm calm and collected? Because, let me tell you, buddy, I'm handling this remarkably well!"
"...are you finished?"
I was breathing hard, but I nodded.
"Very well. I grasp your concern, truly I do. Yet, as I've already made clear"—his tone dripped with exhaustion—"there is nothing further within my power. That trinket will guard you from the perils that lie ahead. Its true potential, however, requires trust, which only time can foster. I had no obligation to gift it, but it was never mine to hold. Truth be told, it would be better were you not entangled in this at all, but that was not my choice to make."
He twirled away from us yet again, and I had half a mind to find a rock and throw it at him. But I wasn't the violent type… still, the thought lingered for just a second.
"Any more questions, or grievances I cannot remedy?" he asked, his voice dripping with exasperation.
I bit back the sharp retort I wanted to throw at him and instead asked something that has been bothering me from the beginning, "Yeah, just one: why does your mouth not match your words?"
He stopped, turning to me, and lazily pointed the backscratcher at my hand. "Might have something to do with that ring on your finger." I then raised my hand and noticed the gold band with a green—jade?—stone nestled on my middle finger. "It seems to be translating our speech to your native language. And your tongue may utter strange words, but they pass from your lips as Chinese."
Chinese?
And just like that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
I glanced down at the ring again, twisting it absently with my other hand, letting it slide on and off my finger. With a deep sigh, I crossed my arms, feeling the weight of it all settle in.
Then, I began pacing.
I glanced over at the Monkey, who had begun pacing too—or rather, slowly shuffling back and forth, his eyes never leaving me. I stopped and faced him.
"You can understand me, right?"
He nodded, and I let out a long breath, relieved.
"But you don't speak?"
Another nod.
"And you're on some grand quest?"
Nod.
I mirrored his nod, looking off into the distance. "I still don't get any of this. Honestly, I'm not even sure I believe what I'm seeing." I gave a small, wry chuckle. "But what I do know is that I don't want to be a burden to you." My voice softened as I met his gaze, hoping he could see I meant every word. "I just... need time to think this through. Come to terms with it all."
I raked my fingers through my hair, shaking my head as I shifted my weight, one hand resting on my hip. "But before I do that, what exactly should I call you? 'Monkey' doesn't feel right."
When I looked back up, he had stopped pacing, just standing there, watching me. I waited for a moment, but all I got was silence. With a sigh—one more for the collection—I added, "If you don't at least give me a clue, I'm going to have to make something up..."
He blinked, dark eyes unreadable. Was that charcoal smudged around them, or just the natural color of his skin? "Monkey boy it is… if you don't mind?"
Very original, right? Please note the sarcasm…
No nod, no shake of the head—just silence.
"Alrighty then," I dragged the words out, "I'm going back into the stone, okay?" I can't believe I just said that! I had so much to unpack… "I have no clue how you, or whoever brought me here, expects me to help you. I'm just a regular human, after all. But I need to think this through."
I scratched the back of my head, unsure if I should keep talking or just stop before I sounded more lost than I already did. Despite everything, I didn't want to come off like a burden. "I'll come out when I'm ready. If that's alright with you?"
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly, still silent. "Or maybe you don't really have a choice?" I nodded at my own conclusion. "Looks like we're stuck with each other, huh? I'll try not to be a bother. So... see you later?"
Without a word, he just watched me, and I took that as my cue. I reached for that pulse in the stone again, and once more, I felt myself scatter into the air, slipping back into the Monkey's eyes.
He glanced around, down at the stone on his chest, and then began walking forward, his gaze scanning the horizon.
As we moved through the landscape, I couldn't help but wonder what I'd gotten myself into.
And more importantly—how I was supposed to get back home...