212 Going Back In (2/2)

”Yes. I went to check on her first thing and I noticed her bed was empty. Have you seen her?” The old man looked worried. It wasn't unlike Sarah to be up and out early as sometimes she would be doing voice chats with her friends first thing. But after the last few days, Onacona wouldn't believe that it was video chats or social media which would wake her up early.

Laz had a feeling that he had, but he didn't say anything to the old man. Instead of worrying him with his own thoughts, Laz just said he hadn't seen her, but that he and Tyr would take a quick look around and told Onacona to head back home. He would take care of it. The old man seemed a bit more relieved by this and made his way back to the farm.

”Hey. You ready to go?” Laz walked over to the defeated looking Tyr who was pouting on ground after having fallen over trying to knock the stick loose. Reaching over, he grabbed it and pulled it free before brushing off the rest of Tyr's back and hopping on. As thought freed from his burden, Tyr jumped up, seeming to be fully energized and took off running in the direction Laz indicated, which also happened to be where he saw the shadow disappear earlier.

As Laz and Tyr took off running, Laz had to do his best to keep Tyr from running into trees while spreading his spiritual sense out to look for clues. Luckily, they weren't hard to find. a few broken branches here and there, a foot step in the dirt, some disturbed leaves, there were many clues present.

As Laz made his way forward, he noticed that the surrounding area was getting quieter. Although he had been around the area for a while now at his 'camp site,' Laz had never noticed that there was anything different about the surrounding woods. He knew that he had always looked around carefully so this could only mean that something here changed.

As Laz the silence choked the entire area, Laz noticed a figure up ahead, standing still while looking at a particularly dark patch of trees that looked too close together.

He had found Sarah, but she hadn't noticed him.

Tyr was normally very silent in his movements and even now, being not one hundred percent, he was still mostly quiet. But when compared to the surrounding area, there was no way she should have not of noticed him.

As they entered the small clearing she was in, Laz got off of Tyr who proceeded to lay down as though unconcerned. Seeing this, Laz relaxed a bit. If there was danger in the area, even if he missed it, Tyr would not. That could only mean that there was nothing threatening here.

Laz made his way over to Sarah who was still in her booty shorts and tank top from the night before. It was obvious that she hadn't changed when she got out of bed and quickly made her way here. She wasn't even wearing shoes.

As Laz approached her, he reached out a hand and laid it on her shoulder while saying her name,

”Sarah?”

Sarah turned to look at Laz but when he saw her eyes, he couldn't help but flinch a bit. Her eyes were completely white, although covered in a layer of milk. They also seemed a bit absent like they looked at him without look at him. Seeing this, Laz tried something else.

:Sarah? Can you hear me?:

:It's... asking for me. It wants me to come in,: she responded back in Laz's head while pointing forward.

:What does it want from you?: Laz asked, relaxing a little. It was obvious that she wasn't being controlled, more like guided. If the spirits were trying to be malicious, they probably would have just seized her body. Well, assuming they could.

:It's like... it needs... my help? And... something... about my legacy?: Although he mind voice was distance, it was still hers. Laz started to get an inkling as to what was happening. He wasn't some stupid kid who knew nothing about what was happening in the world. It wouldn't be a mistake to say that he had a better feeling than most. When Laz had last been trapped in that 'spirit world,' despite the creatures being fearsome, Laz didn't really feel threatened. As such, he didn't have a bad impression about them. It was just that the end result of him being there that caused the issues he currently had. He just wasn't sure that it was the right place for a recently awakened person to wonder into.

:Will it guarantee your safety?: Laz thought this was the right question to ask. Since she was lead her, it was safe to say that something was also watching her. Laz took a guess and figured that his question would get back to whatever was calling her.

:Yes. It... They... Said you can come too.:

Laz smiled as he relaxed. He felt that maybe he would be able to get some answers this time. The fog was already being processed by him, strengthening his bones and organs so he knew that it wasn't dangerous. At least not to people like him. And Sarah, who was being called in, was probably even safer than him.

”Time to go Tyr.” Laz called over Tyr who stood up and looked into the dark patch before nodding. He then walked over to Tyr and Sarah, both of whom go up on his back like it was nothing. Without even needing to be told, Tyr rushed forward and vanished out of sight, disappearing the moment he stepped into the shadow.

There was nothing but a cool wind blowing into the small clearing where they vanished from as sound returned to the forest.