Page 36 of Secrets and Shadows

Damn, this forest is driving me up the wall, and I’m itching to get out of here.

I turn and march forward, putting some distance between us. I know Simon means well, but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s about to witness something embarrassing. Last time, I was a mess—running around like a headless chicken, screaming, covered in blood, and trembling like a leaf.

Welcome back.

Fuck.

My heart sinks, and my feet feel glued to the ground, paralyzed by sheer terror. Oh, no. No. NO!

Panic surges through me, drowning out any training I’ve had. All I can think about is calling out for help. Simon is my only hope right now, and I tell myself I don’t care about feeling embarrassed anymore—I just need him by my side. But when I spin around, searching for his tall shadow, he’s nowhere to be found.

The eerie red light of the moon barely illuminates the twisted trees in front of me. It’s the last thing I see before the darkness swallows everything else.

Oh fuck.

Desperate, I open my mouth to scream for help, but, like last time, no sound comes out. My voice feels trapped inside me, ringing in my mind but silenced. I reach out to summon my Shadow, but nothing happens.

Please. Please, I need you,I plead in my mind, but my burning fox doesn’t appear. The one time I need it the most, it’s nowhere to be found—just like Simon.

A heavy weight settles in my gut as I realize I’m completely on my own—without magic, without a voice, and without support. All I have left are my instincts and my training.

I can’t stay here. Gathering every ounce of strength, I force my legs to move. Each step feels like a battle against invisible forces trying to hold me back, but I refuse to give up. I’m not fucking dying here.

My feet pound against the forest floor, each step sending jolts of protest through my legs. I struggle to catch my breath, but I know stopping isn’t an option—it’s a matter of life and death, and I refuse to let death win. Hell no.

Surrender to me,the darkness hisses, taunting me. But I don’t dare to look back—is there anything to look back at?

Suddenly, the air grows cold, icy tendrils wrapping around me like a vice. My body feels heavy and sluggish, as if something is dragging me down. Yet, I push forward. I can’t stop now.

COME BACK!The voice is way harsher this time, almost demanding. It hits me like a physical shove, yanking me back as if I’m being pulled by an invisible force.

“Fuck!”

With a terrified scream, I finally manage to call forth my burning fox. It stands strong and fierce against the dark, even though it’s way smaller than the surrounding shadows.

In its bright light, I can finally see what’s around me: twisted trees with branches that look like gnarled fingers, all burning with black flames that stink so bad it almost makes me gag. But even with the fire, the air is super cold, and I can see my breath coming out in little puffs.

My fox rushes toward me, colliding with me in a burst of energy that breaks the darkness’s hold. I crash to the ground, and a searing pain jolts through my left side. I glance down in horror and see that I’ve been impaled on one of the rotten branches jutting out from the ground. The sharp tip is buried deep in my side, piercing through muscle and who knows what else.

Shit. This is not good.

A sickly black liquid seeps from the wound, staining my clothes and skin as it flows out. My fox appears again, standing guard to shield me from the encroaching darkness, but I’m not sure how long it can hold it back. The shadows are closing in, spreading and turning everything into inky blackness around us. It’s only a matter of time before they swallow us whole, and when that happens, I can’t imagine what will happen to me or my fox.

It won’t be anything good. I can feel that in my very soul.

“Simon,” I manage to croak, but my voice barely makes it out.

I can’t die here, alone and helpless.

“Simon…”Something drips from my mouth, and when I swipe it with my fingers, I see it’s black goo.

Distantly, I realize this isn’t a good sign, but my mind is starting to feel sluggish. My fox stands firm, guarding me, but deep down, I know it’s a losing battle. My body aches with exhaustion, and every small movement sends sharp waves of pain slicing through my side. My eyelids flutter closed, the sweet promise of rest beckoning me closer.

No. I refuse to die here like this. The darkness can go fuck itself.

Pushing against the overwhelming urge to slip away, I force my eyes open and concentrate. The shape of my fox begins to blur, but the more I focus, the clearer it becomes. I can’t linger here forever; the blood loss will only worsen. Yet, if I move, the infection from the dark goo will spread even faster. I don’t know what it is, but it’s already draining what little strength I have left.

I don’t have a choice.

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