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."

I shake my head, trying

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

you

me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features. "You make quite a habit of coming uninvited,

my mind. "What do you

have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed,

here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything. I'm just trying to connect with my book.

Not Yet

makes sense that

on the nose,

inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their

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. Much more than their

further questioning will only lead me nowhere. They don't seem interested in a two-way conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our

else is out

little human thing?" the

were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like

in here. Shouldn't you

anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know

It's surreal, watching them float

magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver

and start anew."

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

that... possible?" I ask, unable to

horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots