Still in the realm, the woman was on her way to bed when she stopped and mused.
"I did tell her she needs to help that little girl, didn't I?"
But, she shrugged her shoulders commenting carelessly.
"Well, she will get tortured if she won't— a timeless torment."
Her casual tone sharpened with conviction at those last words, though a helpless sigh escaped her. She fanned herself lazily, tilting her head, almost as if chasing a stray thought.
*What a mess.* The world below was beyond chaotic. No one believed in gods anymore, no one cared about miracles. Even a whisper of something new sent people into a frenzy.
Miracles? Those who performed that, got burned alive the moment they revealed themselves.
She smiled to herself so sweetly, so happy, her eyes narrowed.
No one wanted to go there, not anymore. She huffed angrily.
"But, hopefully," a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. You can't blame me for sending her. It wasn't an easy decision, but Liz... Liz has promise.
And if she played her cards right, she wouldn't be alone. Not really.
The mischievous smile still hung in her lips while humming a happy tune, she skipped happily.
But, she sighed once more, shaking her head. "Hopefully, she won't disappoint."
....
"Aaaahhhhaawwch!" I yelled as I landed with a bone-jarring thud.
My whole body screamed in protest, and I groaned, feeling like I'd just been smacked in my bottom more than 50 times.
Falling from the sky was exactly as horrible as it sounded.
I thought I saw my maker.
Not that, I want to meet her again.
If it is her.
I sighed. My hands couldn't let go of the shock as I helped check myself.
I feel like I definitely bruised something—my pride, for sure, but probably a lot more than that.
I literally screamed the whole way down.
In any case, I looked around, I was in the middle of the forest and two full moons shone brightly in the sky. Two. Huh?
No matter how beautiful the view is, my lips just twitched in frustration.
Grumbling, I brushed the violet twigs and blue- green leaves out of my hair. I looked at the handful of strangely colored leaves , and I felt a sinking realization that I wasn't where I belonged. I still thought she was lying.
The colorful red mushrooms surrounded me but, again, being unlucky. I just had to fall at rocks thinly covered by moss trying to pass of as grass.
Two moons hung in the sky, glowing cold and bright.
Two.
Atleast, the sky wasn't another color, I thought.
Then my mind jumped back— to that woman.
*That woman…* Recalling the conversation earlier, I gritted my teeth. Her voice was still ringing in my ears.
I clenched my fists. "You have to help that girl," she'd said. No explanation, no real choice in the matter. It was like being led all over again. Just like...
Just like my second brother.
"Oh, Liz…" I could almost hear him, calling my name three times in that mischievous half-mocking tone he always used when I did something reckless or got myself in trouble.
And then my elder brother would follow, as always:
"You should really learn to communicate properly " He said it straight at me. So serious. He said it like he wasn't laughing.
"I do communicate properly!" I'd shout, while climbing all over him like a monkey, refusing to let go until he gave me the answer I wanted. He'd shake me off, but we'd always end up in a heap of laughter.
Those moments felt so far away now, like another life. I chuckled. My elder brother had always been busy, but he'd made time for me when no one else could. Until our younger brother came along, he was the closest person I had.
---
I flopped onto the ground, arms spread wide, staring up at the moons. My chest tightened with a dead tired.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
" My life was set", I whispered.
Loneliness washed over me like a wave, and for a moment, I let it sink in. Staring up at those unfamiliar moons. I sighed deeply, the weight of it all sinking in. Lonely. I felt so lonely.
My hands balled into a tightened fist. Maybe if I'd pushed harder—if I'd demanded louder or tried to catch her attention more—she would've listened. Really listened. But she danced me to her tune, just like my second brother used to do. Maybe it was my fault for letting her.
"Ugghhh", I groaned in frustration.
But now I was here, wherever here was.
This was my reality now. I was in a strange world with two moons, and I had to face it. No matter what came next . No matter what this world threw at me, I was going to make sure it heard me.