Tangled

Unshift 286

Unshift 286

286 Ava: Not Yet Ready.

*Sealed? By the water, you mean?"

"Of course not." They look irritated now, likely by how slow my brain is catching up to their thought process. The seals, girl"

"So, a lockbox?"

"Lockb-you humans have such odd innovations." The way they're peering into my face, it feels like they're tearing apart my memories to educate themselves.

"In a sense, I suppose. It isn't that easy" They sit.

In the air.

Floating.

Just-there. As if one would lower themself into a chair, only there's nothing there.

"Why so surprised?" they ask, tilting their head as they blink owlishly in my direction.

Gesturing toward them, I just say, "You're floating. In mid-air."

They roll their eyes again, a surprisingly human gesture for such an otherworldly being. "And you're standing on the ground. How extraordinary."

head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like this

subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place

you

the words. "I was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on

my mind. "What do you mean?

in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean my magic book? How do you know

know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything. I'm just trying

Ava: Not

sense that

it's kind of on the

inch of me with a

it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human.

sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and death

else is out

human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

me. After all, they went on and on about

the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your own

know anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to

falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying on an

announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue

and start anew."

This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life.

ask, unable to keep the

sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine