As I observed Amma lying on the ground, a perplexing realization struck me. I vividly remembered that it was Alice who had approached me just yesterday. "How can this be? How is it possible that it's now Amma?" I murmured to myself in silent disbelief.
A strong urge to wake her up surged within me, but I hesitated, captivated by the ethereal beauty that enveloped her slumbering form. Despite her mouth being agape, revealing her pristine fang-like teeth, I was entranced by this newfound revelation. It was the first time I had noticed her possessing such exquisite dental features, and I found myself unable to tear my gaze away. Entranced by her gentle snoring, I watched in awe as she rolled to the other side of the floor, her hand reaching out as if longing to touch me, still believing I was nestled close to her in sleep.
Suddenly, she jolted upright with a sense of urgency, calling out my name in a state of alarm. She seemed convinced that something dreadful had befallen me. To her astonishment, she discovered me standing before her, silently observing her every move. A mischievous smile crept across her face, betraying her amusement at the situation.
"Hey, Jordan," she greeted, rising from the floor to stretch her body, her expression still laced with curiosity. Yet, I remained silent, my eyes fixed upon her, searching for answers.
"Jordan, what's the matter?" she queried, a playful expression adorning her features.
I let out a sigh before mustering a serious tone. "Hmm," I began, pausing for a moment. "Well, nothing is inherently wrong. However, would you care to elucidate the perplexing events that unfolded during the previous night? I am eager for an explanation," I concluded, my countenance reflecting my earnest desire for understanding.
"Well, actually, Jordan," Amma began, her voice filled with a profound sense of purpose and empathy, "I orchestrated this series of events with the intention of guiding you towards forgiveness for Alice. She is a woman, and I can empathize with the pain she carries, knowing that she may never experience the joy of bringing a child into this world. It is not due to any fault of her own, but rather a consequence of the absence of a suitable partner to fulfill that deep longing."
Amma's words sought to persuade me, although I had already granted Alice my forgiveness, as evidenced by my actions during the dark night we shared. If I had harbored any lingering resentment, I would have allowed her to endure the darkness alone, but I chose compassion instead.
"But, Amma," I interjected, my voice laced with firmness, "she should have sought my permission before taking such a significant step. It was not her place to make that decision without consulting me."
"I did convey that to her," Amma responded, her voice tinged with understanding. "However, she expressed her fear that you might not agree if she revealed her true feelings to you."
"She cannot assume my answer without giving me the opportunity to respond," I retorted, my expression serious and resolute.
Amma's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and curiosity dancing within their depths. "Oh, boy, Jordan! Are you suggesting that if she had approached you, you would have considered granting her request?" she asked, her gaze fixed intently upon mine.
"No, Amma, no," I hastily clarified, a faint blush creeping onto my cheeks. "I would never have agreed to her request. All I am saying is that she should have respected my position enough to seek my permission. Besides, I am still just a child."
Amma chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with a blend of amusement and admiration. "Hmm, Jordan! While you may perceive yourself as a child, when was the last time you truly looked into a mirror? You possess a maturity and wisdom far beyond your years, akin to that of a thirty-year-old man."
Her words hung in the air, a testament to the intricate layers of my character and the transformative journey of self-discovery that awaited me.
"Wait, what?" I exclaimed, caught off guard by the revelation. "Yes, you're right. I do recall seeing my reflection in an object that resembled a mirror within the cell I was confined in. The person staring back at me seemed entirely different."
"Why did I undergo such a sudden transformation? I didn't even have the chance to go through the normal stages of puberty," I pondered aloud, my confusion evident.
Amma paused for a moment, her eyes filled with a depth of wisdom beyond her years. "Well, Jordan, I don't possess all the answers, but it's possible that the change occurred when we utilized the time portal pendant to travel here," she suggested, her voice carrying a sense of understanding.
"Yes, Amma, you might be onto something," I replied, a spark of realization igniting within me. "Hey, Amma, I have a request. I want you to make a promise to me."
Curiosity flickered in Amma's eyes as she responded, "Of course, Jordan, I'm here to listen. What is it that you want me to promise?"
"Amma, I want you to vow that you won't use your abilities on me ever again," I stated firmly, my gaze unwavering.
Amma fell silent, her expression contemplative as she grappled with my request. Uncertainty lingered in the air. Sensing her hesitation, I continued, "Just imagine, Amma, what could have happened if I had reacted differently yesterday. If I had attacked you in my transformed state, how would you have responded?"
Amma attempted to reply, but before she could utter a word, a dark cloud materialized in the sky, casting an ominous shadow. The atmosphere grew heavy, and the sound of thunder reverberated through the air. Realizing the impending storm, I urged, "Amma, we should hurry and make our way back before the downpour begins."
Amma nodded in agreement, understanding the urgency in my words. Together, we set off towards the elders' house, our steps quickening as we sought refuge from the impending storm.
Gina's POV:
As Jordan ran away, we all assumed he would return after some time, so we chose to ignore his absence for the moment. However, when I glanced at Amma, something seemed off. Her demeanor carried a distinct air of anger, but it was different from the rest of us. It appeared as though she was upset with Jordan for what had transpired, whereas my anger was directed towards Alice.
Jordan is my brother, and we have shared countless experiences together over the years. I know him well enough to understand that he is not a spoiled child or a sex addict, as some might assume. He is simply grappling with the complexities of the situation.Alice, on the other hand, received the slap she deserved for her actions towards my brother. But for me, that punishment felt insufficient. I wanted her to face severe consequences for the pain she had caused. So, I made the decision to seek assistance from Logan. To my surprise, Logan suggested that I tell Alice to abort the child. Frankly, I found it to be a rather feeble idea. How could I even approach Alice with such a request? Consequently, I resolved to devise a new plan.
The elders had already imposed punishment on Alice by stripping her of her position as the chief assistant guard. This created an opportunity for me to find a way to confront Alice and address the situation further.
After all was said and done, the queen dismissed us. I noticed Amma engaged in conversation with Alice, but I did not want to interrupt their exchange. Instead, I opted to walk alongside Logan, contemplating the next steps in our plan.
"Hey, Logan, wait up! Oh my goodness, I can't believe you were leaving me behind," I exclaimed, panting as I rushed to catch up with him.
Logan turned towards me, his expression filled with surprise. "No, not at all, Gina. Why would I ever leave you behind? It's just that I'm curious. This world is vast, and I can't help but wonder where Jordan might be by now," he explained, his voice laced with concern.
His words caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. "He could be anywhere, Logan. Are you already missing him?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity.
A heartfelt smile formed on Logan's face as he nodded. "Yes, Gina, I'm already missing Jordan. And what about you? Do you miss him too?" he inquired, turning the question back to me.
A wistful expression crossed my face as I replied, "Well, to me, Jordan is always close to me in spirit. It's just that sometimes the physical distance separates us. But if anything were to go wrong or if one of us were in trouble, Jordan has a way of appearing out of nowhere."
Logan's eyes widened, clearly intrigued by my words. "Wait, Gina, who are you talking to? No, don't tell me you're not planning to find Jordan," he exclaimed, a hint of worry in his voice.
Taking a deep breath, I responded, "Well, right now, I have a lot on my plate. Rest assured, Logan, we will find Jordan. But for now, let's give him some time to clear his mind and relax, okay?" The thought of teaching Alice a lesson loomed in my mind, fueling my determination.
As we continued walking, the weight of the situation weighed heavily on me. I knew there were tasks at hand that required my attention, and finding Jordan would be a priority. However, I couldn't shake off the burning desire to make Alice understand the consequences of her actions."
"Well, you're absolutely right, Gina. Sometimes it's best to give people the space they need, perhaps that's what they truly want," Logan responded, his voice filled with understanding.
A surge of agreement coursed through me as I exclaimed, "Yes, exactly!"
Just as we were engrossed in our conversation, Amma's voice chimed in from behind me, interrupting our thoughts. "Hey, guys, let's go find Jordan," she suggested.
I turned to face Amma, a gentle smile appearing on my face. "Don't worry, Amma. Jordan is capable of taking care of himself, and I have faith that he'll be alright," I reassured her.
Amma seemed hesitant but accepted my response, walking towards the direction where Jordan had disappeared. It was clear that she intended to search for him, but I didn't stop her. This was the perfect opportunity for me to have a conversation with Alice.
Approaching Alice, I spoke calmly, "Hey, Alice, what are you up to at the moment? I'd like us to talk about something."
She responded with a friendly tone, "Oh, sure, Gina. What would you like us to discuss?" A smile graced her face. Seeing that smile, a wave of suspicion flooded over me, as if she had intentionally caused harm to my brother. Without hesitation, I delivered a resounding slap across her cheek.
Startled, Logan rushed towards us, his voice filled with concern. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Gina! What did you do that for?"
I stood my ground, a determined smile on my face. "Well, Mr. Logan, I believe my approach is better than your ultimate idea. So, I'm doing it my way," I replied, confident in my actions.
Tears streamed down Alice's face as she spoke, her voice filled with sorrow. "Gina, I know I was wrong for what I did to your brother, but please try to put yourself in my shoes and understand the reasons behind my actions."
Angrily, I responded, my frustration evident in my voice. "I don't care about your reasons, Alice. All I care about is bringing my brother back, and you will lead the way."
Alice, with a hint of fear in her eyes, replied, "The woods can be dangerous, especially at night when it becomes the home of terrifying creatures. But if it would make you happy, I don't mind venturing into it to find your brother."
Just as Alice began walking slowly towards the dark woods, Logan intervened, surprising me with his unexpected support. "Hey, Alice, wait up. We're going together. Jordan is a great friend to me as well," he declared, joining Alice's side. The tables had turned, leaving me with no choice but to follow them, although my plans for Alice remained unchanged.
Throughout the night, we searched tirelessly for Jordan and Amma, but they were nowhere to be found. Confusion and darkness enveloped our surroundings, leaving us perplexed. I couldn't comprehend what was happening or why everything had suddenly turned so dark.
As we continued our search, Alice stood close to me, trembling with fear. I couldn't help but ask, my voice filled with uncertainty, "Alice, is it always like this? Why is everything so dark?"
Alice, her voice shaky, turned to face me. "I don't know, Gina. I've never ventured into these woods before today. This is my first time here."Logan, his voice barely audible, suggested, "Well, in that case, maybe we should consider turning back, guys."
"No! We are not going anywhere until we find Jordan and Amma," Alice insisted, despite her evident fear.
Logan's concern grew as he responded, "But how will you manage, Alice? You're a warrior, but you don't appear prepared. You're trembling with fear."
As I stood there, silently observing their argument, a voice from behind caught my attention. I turned around to find Elfin, the mysterious figure who had been trailing us.
"A true warrior resides in the heart, not in appearances," Elfin spoke, his words carrying a sense of wisdom.
I couldn't help but respond, "I've been wondering when you would reveal yourself, Elfin."
Elfin seemed intrigued, questioning, "Oh, so you knew I was following you all this time?"
"Yes, Elfin, I was aware," I replied confidently. "And I can't help but notice that Jordan seems to hold a certain allure for many girls, including yourself, Miss Elfin."
A curious expression crossed Logan's face as he interjected, "Oh boy! Are you still in love with Jordan, Gina?"
Quickly, Elfin denied it, her voice barely above a whisper, and a tinge of sadness evident on her face. "No, Gina, that's not true."
Raising an eyebrow, I pressed further, knowing the truth. "Oh, really?"
Elfin attempted to divert the question, her voice filled with unease. "We should focus on getting moving before whatever is causing this darkness catches up to us."
Realizing the urgency, Logan agreed, "You're right, Elfin. Let's get going before it's too late." He began hurrying towards the direction we had come from, unaware that Elfin was referring to saving Jordan.
After a few moments, Logan realized he was heading in the wrong direction. He turned his gaze and spotted us in the distance, calling out my name as he ran towards us. "Hey, Gina! Wait for me!"
Jordan's POV: Amma and I continued sprinting through the dark woods, our hearts pounding with each step. However, something caught my attention along the way. "Look, Amma," I said, abruptly halting our sprint.
Confused, Amma asked, "What happened to the moon, Jordan? Why did you stop?"
I struggled to find the right words to describe what I had noticed. "It... It's following us," I finally managed to say.
Amma's expression changed from confusion to skepticism. "Wait, what do you mean the moon is following us? That can't be true."
Determined, I insisted, "No, Amma, I know it sounds strange, but just take a look around and see for yourself."
Reluctantly, Amma turned her gaze behind us and realized that the path we had come from was now engulfed in darkness, while the path ahead remained equally dark. However, the area we were currently in was illuminated, as if we were standing on a stage with bright lights shining upon us.
Confusion filled Amma's voice as she asked, "I don't understand, Jordan. Why is everywhere else dark? Why does it seem like the moonlight is following us and not staying in one place?"
Sincerely, I replied, "I don't have all the answers, Amma, but I believe there are dark forces at play within these woods. The light surrounding us is somehow protecting us from them. My best advice is for us to run home as quickly as possible."
With that, we resumed our sprint towards home. However, our efforts were interrupted by a mysterious, haunting melody emanating from a distant flute. The sound was both enchanting and disturbing, matching the rhythm of our race. Suddenly, Amma fell to the ground, shielding her ears from the unsettling sound.