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

They wave a dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place for casual

you

takes a while to gather 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 your, er, world: The spirit clicks their

mind. "What do you

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

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

Ava: Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have

it's kind of on the nose, isn't

inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head.

were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes

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 surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and

else is

human thing?" the spirit asks,

aback, I protest, "I thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to

who came barging in here. Shouldn't you

seem to know him quite well.

It's surreal, watching

parted into a frame of

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to keep the

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