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."

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

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

you

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 tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features. "You make quite

"What do you mean?

you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my

here you

Not Yet

makes sense that it-he-would have

it's kind of on the nose,

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

out in 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. Much

have a feeling 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 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 separated by an

else

little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing their

on about how Grimoire doesn't

came barging in here.

know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find him,

mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying

doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of

and start anew."

its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to

possible?" I ask, unable to keep the

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