Mary made another turn and stopped in front of a dead end. The familiar, bricky wall was rising before her. She felt a tingling at the back of her head, like if her brain was jumping with impatience.
She closed her eyes and slowed down her breath. And she lifted the outer layer at the back of her mind the same way that you would lift a carpet to uncover what is hidden beneath it.
Mary focused and with her trembling exhaust she entered the Web. Thousand upon thousands upon thousands of strands, all of them connected, tangled, leading into the pulsing darkness. Infinite paths opening before her. She just had to find the right one.
She saw it, calling for her. She extended her hand and grabbed it, gently. And then she made a Connection. To make a Connection you need extremely steady hands. Every little change in the Web could move an ounce of air or destroy a world. So people weren't allowed in here.
Well, most of them that is.
She saw the path she created with just one, slow pull. Usually, to achieve what she wanted she didn't have to tie the strands together. That was dangerous and she only did it once, when her life was on the line. Usually, all she had to do was pull some strands closer together. Now she did it to create a new path.
And then she saw it, a shining track leading somewhere, somewhere else. Somewhere, where humans weren't allowed.
Well, most of them that is.
And she began to walk.
Usually, it took her a few seconds to create a path but today it took her longer than expected. She wondered why that was and mopped sweat from her face.
It would be faster and easier to just reuse this path but she always reestablished the strands to their original placement. That was her rule. It was safer that way, less damage to the Web, where every movement was relevant.
Also... She didn't want anyone to follow her.
That was always somewhere in the back of her mind although she only met a few other Travellers and none from the human world. But you could never be too careful. And the path she created wasn't just some path to grow her bangs faster (yes, she did it in the past, but she was young then). This was the Path, the Path to the Other World.
So she always closed it behind her. She always made an effort to never leave any trails behind her.
Even when she just wanted to grow her bangs faster.
Because you could never know who could follow you. And everyone connected to the Web, like Mary was, could feel every little change made here, in this delicate and powerful place.
And every little change could upset the balance.
Or restore it.
After a few minutes, she finally saw a light somewhere in front of her. When she was very close, she carefully started putting the strands in their rightful places.
Mary stepped into the light at the end of the Path and the moment she fell to the other side, the passage closed behind her. And the Path ceased to exist.
Mary fell into a familiar forest glade, right into somebodies arms. Some familiar arms. Ren's arms.
„Hi..." She murmured, face stuck in her hair. It smelled nice. Like raspberry jam.
„Look who's here," she said, grabbing Mary's shoulders and pushing her away from herself. Then she hid her hands in the pockets of her long brown coat, nipped-in around her waist.
The Other World looked pretty much the same as the Human one, except that different. The plants were bigger and more colourful, the sky was bluer, the grass was greener, the wind was windier... Everything was... more. Even the air smelled a thousand times better like it was in its purest possible form and with every breath, Mary felt more alive.
„Did you miss me?" Mary asked.
„No," she answered quickly.
„Oh."
Mary felt as if something pricked her in the chest.
„I thought..."
„I'm joking!" Ren laughed and put her arm around her. She lowered her voice and whispered to her ear:
„I missed you very much."
After a few seconds of simply enjoying each others company, Ren broke the silence.
„You're out of cigarettes, aren't you."
„Yes."
She sighed and led her to a small booth at the edge of the forest glade, standing under a big, old oak. Ren named him Michael. She liked human names and always asked Mary about the Human World. She felt weirdly fascinated by it, which was something Mary never understood. There really wasn't anything that special about it.
Ren opened a small, wooden door and turned around. She looked her in the eyes.
Mary always liked how when exposed to sunlight Ren's hazel eyes appeared to have gleams of green in them.
She didn't want to admit this but she also missed Ren. Her long, unusually red hair, now tied up in a messy ponytail, her skin in the shade of honey, her freckles gathered around her tip-tilted nose. She even missed her vicious sense of humour. And her smile, always a little bit crooked. And the way that her face changed when she was laughing, lighting up like a little candle. And her...
Okay, okay, that's enough Mary, calm down...
The silence started to drag out.
„I waited for you, you know?"
„I know."
She sighed again and entered the dark space inside the booth.
„Which ones?" she asked.
„You know which ones."
Ren laughed.
„You're right. Sorry, an old habit of mine."
A moment later she came out and slipped a small package into Mary's hand.
She checked quickly. Yes, thin, raspberry flavoured, Ren's specials.
„Ehm, I would like ten of these."
„Mary..."
„Ren..."
She rolled her eyes so hard, Mary was scared they will fall out. But she immersed into the booth once again, only to come out with a shiny, silver bag of cigarette packages in her hand.
Raspberry flavoured.
„Thank youuu..." Mary said, gently but decisively taking the bag from her.
She was still a little bit upset until Mary gave her a jingling pouch of golden buttons, which was the official currency in this area. Then Ren quickly brightened up.
„So, is everything okay?" Mary asked. „You know, is the balance alright, did you feel any changes in the Web since the last time I was here..."
„Actually," Ren said, „There is something I have to show you. And believe me, you are not going to like it."