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 to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen

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

you

connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on

my mind. "What do you mean? I've

an obtuse child they're obligated to handle. "Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart

and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into

Ava: Not Yet

It makes sense that

of on the nose, isn't

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

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

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

no one else

human thing?" the spirit asks,

all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be

who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

don't know anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know

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

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

and start anew."

doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm sure it's even worse for a real

ask, unable to keep the worry

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