CHAPTER SEVEN

Winter

I crash into the ground, my butt hitting it first. The spinning is gone, and I blink at my new surroundings.

It's dark here, with dead-looking trees all over the place. There's space between them, almost like some kind of fruit orchard.

These trees definitely don't grow fruit, though. They look incapable of growing anything.

Getting to my feet, I take a shaky breath. Damon was right. His ritual worked.

That or it just killed me, and I'm walking around the afterlife, unable to return to Earth.

Slowly, I creep through the trees, following the path of least resistance. A light fog covers the ground, and it's beautiful in a strange, ominous kind of way.

"Hello?" I call. "Alec?"

Something moves out of the corner of my eye, and I whirl around. There's nothing there, though.

My heart races. I swear I saw something.

Maybe I shouldn't be walking around this place, calling out his name, drawing attention to myself.

I start walking again, this time only using my eyes to hunt for Alec. The ground is flat, and the trees go on and on. It feels like I walk for at least an hour with nothing changing.

Finally, something new appears. A lake, its silvery water lapping against pebbles on the shore. Crouching, I start to touch the water, but then think better of it. I don't know what rules govern this place and I need to be extra cautious until I do.

A twig snaps behind me, and I spin around. This time there really is someone there.

Someone? Or something?

The being doesn't even touch the ground. It hovers a few inches above it, its form shifting as if made of smoke, a black cloak floating in the air. A chill runs down my spine as its glowing eyes lock onto mine.

"Who are you?" I demand, though I'm not sure I want to know.

The being doesn't answer, instead floating closer until it's just a few feet away. I can feel the power emanating from it, and I know I'm in danger.

I take a step back and the being follows, its movements fluid and predatory.

"What do you want?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Finally, the being speaks. Its voice is like nothing I've ever heard before. It's deep and reverberates through the air, and I can feel it in my bones.

"You do not belong here, mortal," it says. "Leave this place and never return."

It reaches a thin, bony hand out to me, but I don't give it a chance to touch me. I turn on my heel and start running back the way I came.

I don't look over my shoulder, but I can feel it following me. The woods blur together as I sprint through them, my lungs burning and my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know where I'm going, but I know I can't stay here with that thing chasing me.

My foot catches on a root and I go flying, tumbling head over heels until I come to a stop on my back. Pain shoots through my body, but I force myself to get back up and keep going.

My heart pounds in my chest as I run through the trees, dodging branches, and leaping over roots. The being behind me lets out a low growl, and I know I can't keep this up for long.

I need to find a way out of here.

I look around, searching desperately for some kind of landmark, but everything looks the same. Trees and fog, trees and fog.

Suddenly, I see a light in the distance. It flickers like a candle, but it's the only sign of life I've seen since I got here.

I change course and run towards it, ignoring the pain in my legs and the burning in my lungs.

The light gets closer and closer until I can see it's coming from a small cabin. There's an old woman sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, knitting a scarf. Without hesitating, I throw open the gate in the fence surrounding the home and run up to her.

"Help!" I gasp, skidding to a stop in front of her. "Please, I need your help."

The old woman looks up, her eyes sharp as she takes in my disheveled appearance. "What brings you here, child?"

"There's this thing chasing me." I turn around to point just in time to see the creature drifting away. It's like it lost interest in me.

I drop my hand. "It was chasing me."

She looks me up and down. "You don't belong here."

My blood runs cold. That's what the weird creature told me. Is she about to turn on me as well?

She cocks her head and pats the rocking chair next to her. "I haven't had someone from Earth at my cabin in a long time. Please, have a seat."

I do as she asks, relieved to rest for a moment.

The old woman studies me for a moment before speaking. "You must be looking for someone."

I nod eagerly. "Yes, I am. Alec. Do you know him?"

The old woman's eyes widen slightly. "Alec? Alec who?"

"Alec," I repeat. "He's my friend, and he's not supposed to be here. I don't think he really died. But he's... he's not alive, either."

I'm struggling to explain it. Of course it doesn't make any sense. I'm only going off the limited information my dad gave me.

The old woman leans back in her chair, stroking her chin. "Hmm. I may know him. But it's dangerous to go wandering around in these parts."

"I have to find him," I insist. "I have to get back to the real world. Do you know how I can do that?"

The old woman's eyes glitter with a knowing glint. "There's a way, but it's not easy. You'll need to cross the river Styx."

"The river Styx?" I repeat, confused. "Like in Greek mythology?"

The old woman nods. "Yes, the same one. It separates the land of the living from the land of the dead. But be warned, crossing it is no easy feat. The ferryman doesn't take everyone."

"How can I get him to take us?" I ask, desperation creeping into my voice.

She chuckles. "I'm sorry. That is beyond my knowledge."

My heart sinks. Damn it.

Well at least I now know there's such a thing as a ferry back to the land of the living. And I can't go there until I find Alec, anyway.

"How big is this place?" I peek into the window behind her and see an oil lamp burning on a table. Apparently there's no electricity here.

The old woman's eyes twinkle with amusement. "It's bigger than you can imagine, child. It's a labyrinth that goes on and on, with many hidden paths and dangers lurking at every turn."

I shudder at the thought. "How do I find Alec in all of that?"

"It won't be easy," she warns. "But if you are determined and brave, you may just succeed."

I nod, determination settling in my bones. "I'll do whatever it takes."

The old woman nods approvingly. "Good. But first, you need to rest. You're exhausted, and you won't be able to do anything properly if you don't get your strength back."

I sigh, knowing she's right. My muscles ache and my head is pounding. "Okay. But how do I know I can trust you?"

The old woman smiles kindly. "You don't, child. But I've been here a long time, and I know a thing or two about survival in this place. And besides, I have no reason to harm you. You're no threat to me."

I hesitate for a moment, but then I realize she's right. I have nowhere else to go, and I need all the help I can get. "Okay. Thank you."

She runs her palms up and down her apron and stares into the mist. "Your body is back on Earth, waiting for you. I can tell just by looking at you. You're solid."

"I hope it's waiting for me," I say, thinking of Damon and that abandoned house. I hope he's not freaking out while waiting for me to return. "Hey, that... thing that was following me. What would it have done if it caught me?"

"The wisps cannot hurt your body that is back on Earth. They can, however, consume your soul."

My jaw drops. Hold on. Did I hear that right?

"They roam the wastelands here looking for weakened spirits. They don't all look like that one, either. There are several varieties."

"How do I know which things are them?" I breathlessly ask.

She raises her eyebrows. "How did you feel when you saw it?"

"I was terrified," I answer truthfully.

The old woman nods. "That's how you know. They feed on fear and desperation. If you can keep control of yourself and not show fear, they won't be as attracted to you."

I nod, taking in the information. "Okay. That's helpful. Thank you. You said they feed on weakened souls. What makes a weakened soul?"

"Anyone who arrives here."

My mouth goes dry. So that includes Alec.

Have the wisps already gotten him? Could I be too late?

"Except for me." She winks. "I'm something else."

"What?"

She strokes her chin. "Now, I don't really know. I've been here as long as I can remember, and the wisps always avoid me. The ground behind the cabin is fertile, so I grow everything I need. It doesn't get too lonely, as there are always souls passing by. Sad, though. Lots of sad people walk by here."

"And you haven't seen a boy my age, with dark hair?"

"I would remember if I had. I remember everyone." The old woman stretches her back. "Come, child. I will show you to a bed where you can rest for the night."

As soon as she offers it, I realize just how tired I am. Apparently in the underworld people still need to sleep.

I follow her inside the cabin, taking in the rustic decor. It's cozy, with a roaring fire in the hearth and a pot of soup bubbling on the stove. It's like something out of a fairy tale.

She leads me to a small bedroom with a single bed, a dresser, and a small window. "You can stay here. There's a washbasin over there if you need to freshen up. I'll leave you to rest."

"Thank you," I say, grateful. "For everything. I'm Winter. What's your name?"

The old woman smiles warmly. "My name is Lavinia. Sleep well, Winter."

She leaves the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. I settle into the comfortable bed, my mind whirling with all the information Lavinia has given me. The wisps, the river Styx, Alec. It's a lot to take in.

But one thing's for sure: I'm not giving up until I find Alec and get us both back to the real world.

This is insane. I can't believe I'm in some kind of magical land, looking for my dead-but-not-dead friend.

Well... my dead-but-not-dead more-than-a-friend. That kiss we shared definitely meant something. He gave me his necklace afterwards.

And he sacrificed himself so I could take the coin.

The coin!

I reach into my pocket, and there it is. Tucked away there. It was in my hand during the ritual, but it always seems to return to my pocket. Like it's impossible for the two of us to be separated.

But is this really the coin, or a replica of it? Just like my clothes and my body, since my real body and clothes are back in that abandoned house.

God, I hope I find Alec. If I don't...

My heart aches. I know I'm close. I made it to this limbo place, didn't I?

But what if I don’t go any further? What if I never find Alec? I’ll need to return to Earth at some point.

I smooth my thumb over the coin, trying to shut out the questions. They’re still there, though, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

This whole mission could be for nothing, but the only way to find out is to go through with it.