By midmorning, Rachel sees the lonesome, bare tree standing in the distance, its branches growing off to one side. The tree is as gray as the rocks surrounding the trunk, yet it appears so out of place in this depressing world. She stops beside it, presses her hand against the smooth bark, and looks at the mountains in the distance. Judging by how the mountain range has grown since daybreak, she’s made good progress. There’s no telling if the mountains are even where she needs to be, but it sure looks like the obvious route. Rachel takes out the compact mirror and opens it.
Her shoulders drop as the mirror’s black surface reveals her next landmark—a strange rock formation.
“Oh, goody. More rocks,” she mumbles. Rachel searches the area for the next landmark—a needle in a haystack.
The expanse is mostly flat, but in the distance—near the mountain range—three white peaks jut from the earth and reach high into the sky. Rachel double checks the image to make sure those are the rocks she should pass before returning the compact mirror to her pocket. She takes off her jacket and wraps it around her waist. “Five minutes, then we move.”
Rachel takes a seat beneath the tree. She has a drink, eats a granola bar, and gathers her strength for the long journey ahead.
“No rest for the wicked,” she says as she gets to her feet again.
Then, Rachel sets off toward the next marker.
At some point, she catches herself humming a song she can’t place. The song sounded like something her dad used to listen to, something you wouldn’t know you’re acutely familiar with until you hear it again.
“Na-na-nuh-huh. Something-something-something ...” Rachel hummed the rest. “What is that song?”
Unable to figure out the title or any of the lyrics, she gives up and puts it out of her mind.
Her boredom prevails.
“I should’ve brought my phone along,” she says.
Rachel barks a laugh. The absurdity of wanting her phone to amuse herself with catches her off guard. Surely there are more important things she could’ve dragged along. Perhaps a camping stove. A damn pot, so she could boil water. She grimaces as she lowers her hands to her sides, suddenly livid with herself for not planning this trip better before setting off.
Yes, she likes the outdoors. She’s gone camping in the past, had gone on fishing trips with Greg and Luke when they were kids—when Luke was still alive. She knows the basics of camping, yet she’d dived headfirst into a possible suicide mission in a whole other world without giving it a second thought.
“I am such an idiot.”
She runs through the implications of having not brought along the bare necessities of survival, coming up with bizarre worst-case-scenarios if she doesn’t find Orion soon. Even if she finds him, there’s a good chance that he won’t want to come back. What then?
Rachel stares ahead, toward the growing mountain range, where snowcapped peaks reach to the heavens. Even from her position, she’s able to make out the steep inclines and treacherous cliffs. There’s also some vegetation visible, but the meager selection of bare trees are separated by large, rocky terrains.
There are no obvious cave entries or outcroppings that could act as protection against the elements, though.
Her thoughts turn to wild animals, predators that may roam the mountainous region, prowling in search of their next meal. What types of exotic Fae creatures might try to kill her there? A three-headed beast with glowing red eyes, perhaps? Or maybe she’ll be murdered by something more sinister, something akin to the Night Weaver. She could very well end up like that poor person in the school’s boiler room, completely deboned.
She stops in her tracks, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath.
This negativity won’t help anyone. Get your head straight.
Rachel exhales slowly, opens her eyes again.
Ziggy hovers a few feet away, waiting for her to continue across the desolate landscape.
“Just give me a second.” Inhale, exhale, inhale. “Okay.” She starts walking again, catching up to Ziggy in no time.
When midday arrives, Rachel reaches the three-peaked rock formation. She sits at its base, and takes off her shoes, removes her socks to air her feet, and evaluates the damage. Blisters are already forming from the friction of her socks against her tender heels.
Rachel wrestles her backpack onto her lap and finds another pair of socks and some Band-Aids. It’s the best she can do.
Next, she pulls out some food into the open—an apple and some beef jerky—as she chats with Ziggy about whatever pops into her head. Talking keeps her from dwelling, keeps her sane.
“My water is running out fast,” she says.
One flash.
Rachel only takes a couple of small sips. “Are we near a water source?”
Two flashes.
She sighs and reluctantly closes her water bottle.
As her break comes to an end, Rachel puts on the pair of fresh socks, pulls on her hiking boots, and finds a handful of trail mix to nibble on while she walks.
Rachel continues talking, and Ziggy periodically responds with flashes.
It remains a one-sided conversation for the most part, but it’s better than eerie silence.
The weather changes sometime during the afternoon, revealing a cobalt sky hidden beneath fluffy white dioramic clouds. As the sun’s rays warm the world, the temperature becomes balmy, comfortable even.
“Let’s play a game,” she says. “I spy with my little eye something beginning with an R.”
Ziggy quickly sinks to the ground and lands on a rock.
“Too easy, huh?” Rachel laughs out loud.
The sphere flashes once as it gains altitude again and flies ahead.
“Okay, I spy with my little eye something beginning with a—” Rachel cuts herself off. In the distance, moving parallel to the mountain range at a quick pace, several riders come into view. Surrounded by billowing dust, they seem to be outriding the devil himself as they push their horses to their limits. One of the riders pulls ahead from the rest.
Perhaps those are Nova’s scouts? Maybe he knows she’s in the Fae Realm?
“Hey, Ziggy, should I be worried
