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."

my head, trying to refocus.

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

you

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 tongue,

my mind. "What do you

doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean

here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to

Ava: Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have

on the

They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip

were 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

"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

one else

little human thing?" the

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

narrow. "You're the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

"You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd

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

above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set the world

and start anew."

seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm sure

possible?" I ask, unable to

like something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine