“Names aren't important,
The bonds we share are.
When you hold that mirror,
You'll never have to look far.”
Again her voice sounds
“What the hell?” I hiss
“Take it back!” As I hear Leigh getting pissed
“Why should I?” Thomas barks
As I feel the heat burn
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I jump in taking my turn
“What's going on?”
“Just stating a fact.” Thomas says nonchalant
“Yeah,” Leigh snaps “A misinformed fact about Jack!”
“Really?” I say, my jaw tense
“Well, let's hear it Tom.
Don't be shy.
I'm not the type to easily cry.”
“I simply asked,” He begins “Why Leigh defends you
both
When Frost is the one who killed Troah?”
Instantly, I step close
Right in his face
“You're on this team
So let's get one thing straight.
On the subject of her brother and my mother,
I suggest you remain silent.
Or things for you will get very violent.
I don't have my sight and I don't need it.
Continue with your disrespect
And I promise you'll be bleeding.”
“Noted.” Tom smiles unphased
Leigh and I walk away
“I'm really tempted,” Her tone firey “To put that guy in
his place.”
“Don't waste your energy.”
Suddenly the captain yells “Hey!
We're arriving on the shallows.
We can't go any further.
Step one foot off this boat
And it'll be torture.”
“Sadly, we don't have a choice Captain.” Thomas says
with confidence
“We have a job to do
And it doesn't include avoidance.”
He begins lowering a dingy
As the hull touches the water
Louder becomes the singing
He'd really risk being fodder?
“Are you an idiot?” I bark
“Depends. Are you a coward?” He retorts
“No, but I have read the reports.
Organization or not,
Sirens don't care.
O.D.s or mortals,
They don't distinguish who they ensnare.”
“Nate's right, Tom.” Leigh holds back her tone
“We need to wait for the ambassador.
We have no direct orders to enter their home.”
“Can't investigate a theft,” Tom calls getting in the boat
“Unless you see the scene of the crime.
I've been on the job longer
And I'm not trying to gloat
But I'm pulling rank with or without the vote.”
“You idiot!” I call “Don't expect us to come save you!”
“You're really gonna let him go?” asks Leigh
“It's his choice.” I reply “We can't force him to stay.”
She looks at me blankly
“What?” I ask
“I'm just surprised...”
“About what?” My tone sharp
“About the fact that you'd feed him to the sharks.”
“They're sirens, not sharks.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Why do you care?
A minute ago you were ready to burn him alive.”
“But I never really wanted him to die.”
“What do you expect us to do?
I don't even have my sight.
Venturing into unknown terrain shrouded in mist isn't
gonna help.
Not to mention it's almost night.
We do this, there's a chance we're not coming back.”
“Sounds fun.” She gives the back of my head a smack
“Captain!” Leigh shouts.
“We're taking a dingy.”
I can hear the call
The ever appealing singing
As we both hop into the boat
“This is the worst idea ever.” I groan
“Then why are you following me?” Leigh gives me a
grin
“I really don't freaking know.
Might just be because you have that glow.”
“What glow?” She chuckles
“The one,” I say “That makes me wanna follow you
anywhere.”
For a moment, silence falls on the air
Her cheeks go scarlet
My heart beats
Did I really just say that?
She probably thinks I'm a creep
“Forget... that I said that.” I quickly correct
“Y-yeah.” she stammers “Y-you bet.”
The boat rides silent aside from the song
No sign of Thomas...
Which is odd
It hasn't been that long
As we come up on the shore
We see a second dingy
Tattered and torn
Claws and fangs ripped into the hull
Scorch marks on the ground
Made by heavy and dense mana
Less than 10 minutes old
“This isn't good.” Leigh states
“We have to find him quick.”
“Which way?” I ask as she darts off swift
“This way! Hurry!”
Setting off into the mist
Barely two feet behind her
Then she's gone as I blink and I miss
“Leigh?” I call
“Leigh?!” Again
“Leigh!!!”
It's clear I'm lost here and then
Without a moment to think
Someone catches my eye
A beautiful woman
Running swift and light
It's not Leigh,
But I sense no malice
As with no choice
I brave the rabbit hole like Alice
This island is treacherous
I may not make it out alive
I can't afford a game over
I can't afford to die
Whatever manner of creature may bare it's fangs
I know for a fact Death has other plans
Trial 5: The frozen dead
Running deeper into the mist
Following the woman
As suddenly the feeling flips
I sense the malice in the air
As the song sounds
Freeing me of all my cares
It's power strong
Drawing me away
From the woman
As I hear it say
“Come, come, come to us.
Bestow upon us all your trust.”
I close my eyes standing in the mist
And as I open them the image is bliss
A paradise full of beautiful women
Whispering and caressing, kissing flippant
I catch a glimpse of Thomas, bold
Enjoying himself
As on the back of my neck something burns cold
I look away quick
And see her there
Running swiftly
Her flowing hair
Yet the song calls
I turn to look back
And I see the truth
Horrible and black
They're not beauties
They're demons with fangs
Their beady eyes bloodthirsty
As their victims stare blank
It's all an illusion
A forced dream
Unlike the Jagon, once you know the trick
The truth can be seen
I step forward, struggling to reach Tom
The beasts hiss at me
Revealing their song
Like nails on a chalkboard
The
