Chereads / Quantum Drifters / Chapter 4 - Lynsithea

Chapter 4 - Lynsithea

[Floor 2B]

As we reached the second floor, she quickly scanned but thoroughly looked around before pointing down the hallway to the heavy door at the end. Our eyes met, hers flicked a little urgently, obvious in the instructions that we then lock the door behind us.

"We need to lock it," I muttered, responding to her unvoiced order while sprinting to the door so I could turn the lock.

I turned the lock, then dragged tables and chairs to block the door. I still hadn't caught my breath by the time I turned to her.

"Who are you?" I asked, my curiosity and caution lacing my voice.

"Why did you help me? And…where did you come from?" I rattled off a spate of questions, trying to make sense out of what had happened and hoping for some answers from this mysterious stranger.

She scrunched up her face clearly in a puzzled manner to my questions.

"Imad om gnonat" she slowly replied, but whatever language she said, they didn't make any sense to me.

I shook my head more confused now than ever as to what she was trying to say.

Her frustration was growing apparent, but she kept gesturing and trying to explain, even though it was very obvious what she wanted to mean, it just wasn't in a language that translated for me.

Still feeling out of sorts and wanting desperately to connect with something anything, I took a deep breath and introduced myself. I tried to sound reassuring in the face of all this madness.

"I'm Zane Liebert. I don't know what's going on, but if we can communicate, maybe we can figure this out together."

I gave her my best hopeful smile and just prayed that somehow my name might make a difference.

The girl looked at me with a mixture of confusion and understanding, slighting her eyes seeing my struggle to connect with her. She searched about the room until she found some paper and a marker. With slow, meticulous strokes, she wrote her name out and showed it to me.

The paper read, "Lynsithea."

Somehow, from her eyes, I sensed that this was both an instantly relieving moment and one of renewed determination that communication transcend language barriers.

I looked at the paper and then back at her, asking, "Is that your name?" Lynsithea nodded emphatically, her eyes bright with a mixture of hope and confirmation.

Despite the language barrier, the gesture was clear, her name was Lynsithea. 

As we hastened down the darkened corridor, Lynsithea suddenly stopped, focused on something down the corridor. She nodded towards the elevator at the end of the hall, her expression urgent but relieved.

"Ok," I breathed, nodding quickly. We both rushed toward the elevator. My heart was pounding in my chest as I reached out to press the button.

The silence was filled with the hum of the elevator coming to life, and I found myself holding my breath.

I could only hope that when those doors opened, we wouldn't find ourselves staring down another pack of Red Lycans. We waited every second an eternity, but the threat of danger right behind made the tension almost unbearable.

With a soft chime, the elevator finally came to a stop on the 2B floor, and I quickly turned to Lynsithea, holding up a hand.

"Stay back," I whispered. I readied my gun, standing in front of the doors, every muscle strung stretched as a bowstring, waiting for anything.

The doors started to slide open, and I braced myself for whatever might be waiting on the other side.

As the elevator doors slid open, a Red Lycan charged out, its eyes burning with feral rage.

I barely had time to react; with one smooth motion, I pushed Lynsithea away from danger, adrenaline pumping through me.

The beast's claws swept in an arc of air where Lynsithea had been, and I hastily reached for my gun, flipping it into sword mode in one smooth, well-practiced motion.

The red Lycan growled and surged forward once more, and I met the attack with a sharp edge on my sword, deadly claws clashing with mine. I was jarred by the force of the blow to my arms, but I held firm.

All my instincts screamed at me to stay alive, fighting to keep the monster at bay.

With overwhelming intensity, the Red Lycan clawed and snapped at me. Deep crimson fur matted across its body was slick with dark stains. It was difficult to get in a clean slice at the creature's fast movements.

My sword flashed through the air, meeting the Lycan attacks with the sparks of steel against sharp claws.

Every swing was a fight of strength and precision, the Lycan's snarls and roars echoing through the hallway.

My weariness weighted upon me; every parry was closer to the edge. I grunted in determination and forced myself to press on, searching for an opening to end this struggle.

During the fight against the Red Lycan, my eyes flickered toward the elevator.

In this mad whirl of motion, I saw Lynsithea standing beside the elevator, her eyes wide with worry but ready to go.

She motioned urgently, quite obviously waiting for me. It was as if having seen her standing at the elevator refurnished me with a rejuvenated flow of determination, for the beast showed no relenting in its assault.

My attention strayed to Lynsithea, trying to see from her expression how much of a hurry we were in, and the Red Lycan broke the momentary distraction to its advantage.

The claws raked across my right shoulder, and a bolt of pain went through me as blood began to seep from the wound.

"AHHH" It hurts.

I gritted my teeth onto the unbearable pain and turned back to the beast, willfully ignoring the searing sensation.

Knowing that the regeneration of the Red Lycan made him almost impossible to kill, I knew I needed to switch up my strategy.

I drew a deep breath and fought back against the pain as that creature incessantly assaulted me.

"Lynsithea!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, my voice in a mix of strain and urgency.

"Count to three and close the elevator!"

With every passing second, I gritted my teeth and braced myself against the Red Lycan; it felt like it was taking her an eternity to seal us off from danger.

Though she couldn't understand me, Lynsithea's face said she did get the point.

She sent a quick, sharp look to the control panel; her fingers already flew near the buttons. She did turn to the panel to close the elevator doors and secure our exit, her actions speaking volumes despite the language barrier.

I held the sword more firmly, feeling every muscle in my body strain as I struggled to keep the Red Lycan at bay.

The beast's sharp claws swiped through the air, just a short distance from my face, and I realized I had only a few moments left before it would overpower me.

"One!"

I yelled, bending low to avoid a fierce strike. My shoulder hurt badly as I swung my sword, trying hard to keep the creature away.

The elevator door was right behind me, so near but it seemed like it was miles away.

"Two!"

I shouted, plunging the sword into the werewolf's side, but it barely flinched, its injuries mending in a flash. The beast growled, its fiery red eyes burning with rage.

From the edge of my vision, I noticed Lynsithea's hand poised above the switch, her expression resolute.

"Three!"

I shouted, giving everything I had to shove the werewolf away for a short time.

Lynsithea quickly pressed the button to close the elevator doors right when the other two red werewolves broke through the stairwell entrance, their snarls filling the small area. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion as I spun around and sprinted toward the elevator, my legs aching from the run, the doors starting to close.

With one last push of strength, I squeezed through the closing elevator doors. I hit the wall infront of me, gasping for air as the doors closed tightly.

The sounds of the Lycans trying to get in were loud in the small space, but we were secure for the moment.

I glanced at Lynsithea, still catching my breath, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. We had escaped, but it was close.

Lynsithea's eyes grew wide with worry when she saw the deep cut on my right shoulder, with blood still flowing from it.

She nervously moved her hands as she spoke in her unfamiliar language, "Oksuj ogudumud ak," her voice filled with concern. Although I didn't understand her words, the fear in her eyes was clear.

I clenched my teeth and pressed my hand hard against the cut to try to stop the blood. The pain was intense and unending, but I made myself concentrate.

"I'll be okay," I whispered, not sure if I was trying to convince Lynsithea or myself.

I looked at her and gave a forced nod, attempting to comfort her while my mind searched for something to cover the cut.

"We just need to find something to fix this… we can't stop now" We were temporarily safe, but I knew that if I didn't treat this cut soon, it could turn into a serious issue.

Lynsithea's concern didn't go away; she kept staring at the blood seeping through my fingers.

I noticed the fear in her face as she searched her coat pocket, urgently trying to find something to assist us. She pulled out a tiny, shining flower, its petals a bright blue color, and it gave off a gentle, flickering light.

"Tomag," she murmured, her voice carrying a blend of hope and doubt. Perhaps, it might be able to help. She gazed at me, her eyes begging for this little flower to save me.

Lynsithea's hands shook as she grabbed my sword and swiftly sliced her left palm.

Bright red blood mixed with the juice of the glowing flower she crushed in her hurt palm, causing the petals to release a sparkling liquid. She cautiously let the blend fall onto my injury, her eyes showing both resolve and worry.

The liquid from the flower, mixed with her blood, started to soak into the cut, and I felt a peculiar, calming feeling as the pain gradually lessened.

When the blend of flower essence and Lynsithea's blood reached the cut, I experienced a refreshing, calming feeling spreading across the injury. The severe pain started to lessen, and I was astonished to see the bleeding decrease and the sides of the cut begin to join together.

Lynsithea's concerned look gradually relaxed as the flower's healing powers kicked in, the previously wide cut now clearly shrinking and healing.

The unusual, magical essence did its magic, and I felt a surge of relief, thankful for this unexpected but vital help.

My eyes were wide as I stared at the healing wound. It was such a sudden change. "What did you do?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity mixed with concern.

Lynsithea didn't say anything for a while, first continuing to tear off the lower part of her coat to tightly wrap her bleeding hand. Her face was pale; her energy obviously had been drained off; but a small smile formed onto her lips.

She returned the thumbs-up with a shaking hand and wore an expression of exhaustion, yet satisfaction. My wound was healed, and despite her own pain, she seemed content knowing she had helped.

-----

Minutes later, Lynsithea and I emerged to the main floor; the dying light of the day cast long shadows through the cracked windows. Behind us stood the building we had fled, towering in relic from times past. I turned around to it, feeling finality deep inside.

"I'm not going back there," I said firmly, turning my eyes away from the now ominous structure. The thought of going back was abhorrent to me.

As we moved through the city streets, I looked for some safe corner I could rest. The day had darkened, and the city that had once been so alive was now subdued by a moody twilight.

Lynsithea moved up alongside me; her eyes moved at full sweep, surely absorbing the desolate beauty of the surroundings. The remains of Æsir itself, wild with overgrown, winding wisteria and crumbling towers, contrasted sharply with a once-ewer-thriving metropolis.

I found a relatively whole shelter and settled in, trying to make it as comfortable as possible. Lynsithea followed, her gaze constantly shifting, as if trying to absorb every piece of this strange new world. She found beauty in the bleak ruins, reminiscent of what once was. Her amazement was palpable, and for a moment, her fascination with the landscape eased the weight of our predicament.

As we moved through the shattered streets, I noticed that Lynsithea walked with an uncannily chilling grace, her feet moving slowly, dispassionately, over shattered glass and other detritus that littered the ground. My worry increased with each step she took, and I simply could not keep it to myself.

"You're walking barefoot," I mentioned gently, attempting to hide my concern.

"You might be hurt. Tell me, is there something I might help you with?"

Lynsithea turned towards me, her expression a picture of confusion. Her eyes were wide as she replied with a simple, "Aap?" Evidently, she did not understand what I was trying to say. The look in her eyes heightened my apprehension for her condition. I searched around for something, anything that would keep her safe.

Eventually, we came to the remains of what looked like a deserted shopping mall, with a once-grand entrance now swathed in grime and rubble.

"Let's check inside here," I said, hoping that the mall might afford some cover and maybe even something useful. Lynsithea kept close to my heels, eyes darting everywhere in astonishment at the ruin and desolation of everything around her.

Despite all the odds, her admiration for the ruins was marked on her face, and what really struck me was that she seemed to find some strange beauty in this world of destruction.

I beckoned for Lynsithea to wait while I looked hopefully at her to understand what I meant by the action.

"Just you wait here for a second," I said, my voice soft and laced with concern. I began to search in the debris-filled aisles of the mall for sandals or shoes that might fit her. Lynsithea looked at me, her dark eyes following me as I moved through the junk-filled area, trying to find something, anything that could cover her feet.

I searched up and down the aisles as Lynsithea strayed to another part of the mall that I was yet to investigate. Her eyes lit up at the sight of what was left of a bookstore, buried under inches of dust.

She was walking to a shelf, looking very interested as she carefully took one of the old, weathered books in her hands. It was as though the prospect of these books held her rapt, promising her some transient escape to another world, forgotten in stories.

I stayed back and watched her closely, wondering how she could find such moments of wonder even amidst ruins.

As Lynsithea rummaged the debris of the abandoned bookstore, her fingers brushing over the spines of dusty old books, I kept sorting through cluttered remains of the mall until I finally found a pair of travel sandals.

Its condition was decent, all things said, to have been never cleaned for years. I held them up, relieved to see that they might fit her. Taking the sandals, I went back to Lynsithea who was looking over the books-wishing that they would give some measure of comfort and defense.

I caught Lynsithea engrossed in a book she had stolen from the shelf. Curious, I asked her, "What did you read?" She lifted her gaze from the book with a concentration expression and murmured, "Bound by Sky and Sea."

I was very startled. "You learned my language by reading?" I asked in amazement. It was hardly possible that from only one novel she could learn so much, yet here she was, understanding and speaking English with surprising ease.

Lynsithea slanted her head, confusion plain on her face. "What?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

I took another deep breath and tried to enunciate more clearly this time: "Can you understand me? Do you understand what I'm saying?" Her eyes slid over mine, questing for meaning, and I watched, hoping for some sign she could follow my words.

Lynsithea shook her voice and said, "Yes." Clearly, she was wrestling with the language still.

"Is that so?" I asked her softly and tried to encourage her. She nodded determined but doubtful. I could tell that she was learning and it was remarkable.

I glanced at the novel the Lynsithea was holding by the cover reading [Bound by Sky and Sea.] Then quickly, I skimmed through its synopsis.

An improbable romance blended with action would be my way of relating it, that tells the tale of two worlds torn apart by conflict. In the middle of this war, two lovers of these incongruent worlds somehow fell in love, and the story of their love is set against this very background of strife. The plot was quite involving, touching, and I really couldn't help but ponder: how much this story might resonate with Lynsithea, having her own not less intense situation.

I still couldn't believe that Lynsithea could learn to speak English just from a book, so I told her, "I've got these travel sandals for you." She looked back at me with this quizzical look on her face, saying, "San-dals?"

And I nodded on, replying, "Yes, sandals." I gently helped her try them on, and to my relief, they fitted her perfectly.

She looked down with just a hint of curiosity, but clearly pleased at having something that might protect her feet.

Lynsithea walked a bit around with the sandals on her feet to feel if they were comfortable. She did seem to like them, as was evident from the relaxed expression on her face.

"Th-Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

I could tell that she still was learning English, so I asked as gently as possible, "Where did you come from?" She looked down, trying to come up with the right words.

"I can't remember," she said, her voice shaking a bit. "I was woken up in that building, and then I heard you screaming." She looked into my eyes in utter confusion and vulnerability, both speaking to how much she had really gone through. 

As I listened to Lynsithea's shaky explanation, a thought began to form in my mind. If she had come through the quantum portal, I wondered why she ended up in that particular building, and not somewhere else.

What had brought her to that spot at just the right moment to hear my cries for help? My mind raced with questions about the portal's true purpose and her connection to it. What could her presence here mean in the grand scheme of things?

Finally, summoning my courage, I asked the question that had swirled in my mind. "What are you?" I asked, hoping her answer would enlighten me concerning her origin.

Lynsithea gazed deep into her memory for what seemed like a short second before answering, "Sylphs." Now, that reply, so...no, racking my interest further. I wanted more of her, her world, and why she'd ended up here. The name hinted at more mystery lying behind everything, and it was one I wanted to know.