AIYA

The moment we walk through the door, it's like stepping into a well-crafted dream. The trees are vast and full of life, filled with all kinds of colors from soft greens to vibrant purples. They're soft beneath my Nike's and make this kind of fluffy bed across the forest floor.

My steps are light, I can almost walk on my toes. But this place is too quiet and still, it's downright eerie. It chills my arms and I'm wearing a thermal hoodie. Everything about this place is too perfect. There is no dead limb in sight. No brown leaves. No decay.

So, this is the Treschine Forest where Wish always ventures to when she dreamwalks. She once told me it's the safest place to enter Akane because of the trees, like a shelter against the unseen enemy. I guess I can see the appeal, but I still prefer the vast desert over this wasteland. There are too many trees and places to hide.

I asked the door to lead us to Wish, but I guess that was asking for too much. There's no evidence she was here. The leaves look undisturbed and I thought maybe I'd find her footprints, if not drops of blood from her cut hand.

Someone starts laughing behind me, and before I can smack them senseless for revealing us, they fall right into my back. I step away and let the imbecil drop to the ground. It's Gregori—of course it is. Tsk. I should've known this would happen. This is supposed to be a covert mission and already I'm failing at my duty as leader of this group.

Kenna takes a hesitant step back. "What's wrong with him?"

It's been twenty years since Kenna stepped foot on Akane, so it doesn't surprise me she doesn't remember. I hang the key around my neck. "He's never been to Akane, so he's pure. We've been here before, so we're tainted."

"It's the atmosphere," Gregori says, smiling so wide, he lies on his back. "The oxygen is lighter here, as well as, the gravity. When exposed at a sudden rate, it will affect our bodies natural defenses." He looks at his hands. "I can feel it. It's like mist and tastes like bitter sugar. I bet if I tested the carbon dioxide here it would read higher much like the sky..." His head drops back to stare at the treetops.

The guy's high as a kite and he's still doing that science thingy. He's been mumbling about the paper butterfly ever since we let him inspect it. Now, he won't shut up about Akane.

"Great." Ken sets his backpack down and starts rummaging through it. "How long will this take? You seem to remember better than we do."

He takes out a canteen and takes a gulp of water, already using what little resources we have. This is exactly why I wanted to bring Gregori along. Ken and Kenna just don't understand how dangerous this planet is. "Ten minutes max. You should conserve that. Who knows when we'll find safe waters."

Ken stops, purses his lips, then puts the canteen away. Kenna suddenly screams and runs behind me. There's an Ōgini watching us from a tree, it's one eye and wrinkly head click, click, clicks until it releases, sounding like a cicadas. That's one creature in need of some moisturizer.

Ken covers his sister's mouth. "Be quiet before someone hears us."

Once the Ōgini disappears, Kenna yanks his hand off, choking on air. "Are you trying to kill me?" she harshly whispers. "That thing just popped up out of nowhere. You know how much I hate bugs."

Bugs? That's a creature of Akane. While it looks harmless, the Ōgini are just as dangerous when provoked. We've been for five minutes and I'm already regretting bringing these two along.

"That was a bug?" Gregori laughs into his own hands, trying not to be too loud.

I sigh and crouch beside him. "That was an Ōgini. They're creatures that live in the Treschine Forest, and are mostly harmless. Just don't steal their food or kill one of their trees."

Gens Norwood feeds them, claiming they're the forest's spirits and help the plants thrive, but I think they're just a bunch of freeloaders, and it's a way for Norwood to get out of doing anything. They aren't known for their work ethic.

Gregori mumbles, "Fascinating... I wonder if they'd let me dissect one."

No one comments.

Ken clears his throat. "What are we doing? Do you have a plan to find Wish?"

"I was hoping she left traces behind, but it looks like the forest may have covered it up. Or we're in the wrong place," I say. "We know Vear took her, so we should head towards Gens Nisha. He has to be holding her prisoner there." At least I hope so.

"Excuse me," Kenna says, her mouth agape. "Did you just say we're going to walk into the shadow king's lair? Because I'd rather not get killed today—or ever."

I point back towards the door. "By all means, go home then."

Kenna's brow furrows. "What are you pointing at? There's nothing there."

There's nothing there? I whip back around. The door is missing. Again, how could I forget such a simple thing? This how rescue mission is turning into a disaster.

"Fine. I'll find a door for you then. Happy?" I snap, my patience is growing thin.

"I have a better idea." Ken digs out a compass from the pocket of his sweatpants. "This will track Wish and should lead us right to her."

You can't be serious. "Where did you get that? And why didn't you just start with that?"

"I spoke to Wish's mom before we left— Don't give me that look. She needed to know we're going to rescue her daughter. If I hadn't, we wouldn't have this." He hands it to me. The craftsmanship of the compass is simple, one you'd find in a tourist store, but it has this magical feel to it. I've played with enough toys from Akane to know this compass isn't from Earth.

Ken closes my fingers over it. "Her mom made this compass when Wish was just starting to dreamwalk. As long as we follow North, we'll find her, but here's the catch. There are two of these. You know what that means?"

Lily's going to use the other compass to also track Wish. Our time is limited.

I pat the hunter knife on my belt, making sure it's still there. "Gregori, do you think you can walk? We need to head out before someone finds us here."

Gregori nods his head. "Yeah, I feel better now, but still a little light headed—wow."

He falls back on the ground.

Ken reaches out a hand, and Gregori stares at it for a few seconds before accepting the help. Once Gregori's on his feet, he uses Ken's shoulder to steady himself. "Sorry, for soiling your clothes," he says, frowning down at his wet black sneakers. "I'll buy you a new pair."

I thought those clothes looked familiar. The hoodies baggy on Gregori, it hangs loose past the waist of his joggers. It's not every day I see Ken letting someone borrow his clothes. He's anal about his wardrobe like Wish is about her hoverboards.

Ken clenches his jaw. "Don't worry about it. Let's go."

I look at the compass. Ken says to follow True North and we'll find Wish there. After helping Kenna tighten her backpacks straps, we set off into the Treschine Forest, going deeper into the lands of Akane. Hold on, Wish. We're coming for you.

⟁

It's sickly sweet here, the essence of everything that I detest. I'm more of a bitter dark chocolate kind of girl, but this land is full of cotton candy and funnel cakes. This is torture in itself. My nose has always been sensitive to smells, which is weird, because I'm dealing with fire. You'd think my sense of smell would be wacky. Thank god I packed some pain killers. I can already feel a headache coming on.

Kenna swats at her arm like a pesky bug is flying too close to her fragile skin. Ever since we were babes, she hated dirt and being in the outdoors. It still shocks me that she would come on this rescue mission. I know she blames herself for involving Wish in her selfish antics, but she's always been spoiled. She's never put anyone before herself.

I'll never forgive her if something happens to Wish.

Kenna groans. "These damn insects are going to be the death of me. I thought Akane was supposed to be a paradise. You'd think bugs wouldn't exist here."

"We clearly read a different book." I tighten the backpack straps further. "Akane is a nightmare planet. Creatures of the night, man-eating monsters—they thrive here."

"Then why is Aunty Mari so bent on ruling here?"

I have no answer. Apparently, I can't read my mother's mind because every action I take, she's always one step ahead of me. Even now, I'm second guessing that we'll make it on time.

"I've got bug spray." Gregori digs into his backpack until he finds the can. "Wasn't sure if it'd survive the trip, but looks like everything's intact. When you said we were walking through a door, I didn't expect it would be a portal."

Portal. That sounds so Sci-Fi. "I never thought of it like a portal since they always appear as doors." I cough into my hand, while Kenna's slathering the bug spray all over her body. "You're taking this really well. We're on an alien planet. I thought you'd be geeking out."

His smile is huge. "Does it look like I'm not geeking out? I'm actually very much geeking out right now. There's too much to look at." His gaze shifts from the tree tops to the weeds and vines crawling at the base of the trunks. "I understand we're on a time crunch, but would it be possible for me to collect samples?"

I can't really say no. I knew bringing him along would mean putting up with his curiosity and need to discover more possibilities. It would actually benefit humanity if we gather plants and data from here. Imagine the kind of concoctions he could create.

"Yes, but only when we take a break."

"I think we're due for one," Ken says. "We've been walking for over two hours."

He slouching more than usual and looks like he's about to collapse. I never expected Ken to be the first one to break, but then again, he's never been good at physical activities. Personally, I could go for another hour.

Ken trips on a random rock and nearly crashes to the dirt. Kenna gasps. "Okay, we're taking a break. I'm not about to lose my baby bro to exhaustion." She sets her pack on the dirt and hands Ken a water bottle. "Here, drink this. It's got electrolytes."

He guzzles it down; the sight only makes my mouth drier.

"How are you doing? Do you need anything?" Gregori asks.

He ties the hoodie around his waist, then soaks a bandana in water and rubs it over his face. Drops trickle down his strong chin, running past the neckline of his borrowed shirt, and over those sculpted muscles the magazines dubbed 'tasty'. I can see why he's this year's Hottest Bachelor. His looks are eye-catching and I'm forced to advert my gaze.

"I'm okay. Just being impatient," I say.

"I don't know Wish very well, but I'm sure she would want you to rest. Here," he hands over a wet bandana, "this should help cool you down."

I blink at it several times. "Is that the same bandana you were just using? That's just gross on so many levels."

"What—no! This is a clean one." He chuckles, his whole-body shakes, and for some unholy reason I stare at his charming smile. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just I never pegged you for a germaphobe." I quirk an eyebrow. "I saw your bedroom... it's a complete mess."

You have got to be kidding. "One, don't go into my bedroom uninvited. Two, there is a difference between sweat and germs. And just because I don't care about my clothes being on the floor, doesn't mean I keep an unhygienic lifestyle. I am very clean. I am so squeaky clean—stop laughing at me!"

This man is so infuriating. I don't know why I'm letting him get to me. I shouldn't care if he thinks I'm some pig. If anything, I should welcome it.

When Gregori finally gets his laughter under control, he sighs and drags fingers through his red curls. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed." He ties the used bandana around his forehead. "I never went inside your bedroom. Ken did. He was looking for more items to bring in case you forgot."

The excuse is reasonable and is something Ken would do. Gregori tries, again, asking if I want the wet clean bandana, and this time, I take it from his hand. It cools my heated skin and refreshes my mind. I never realized how hot I was until now—I'm probably hotter after that whole conversation. It's sometimes hard to tell since my body is adapted to expelling fire.

As kids, I'd occasionally pass out from heat exhaustion. Wish always went running back to the house to get Ken, and they'd sneak me into her bathroom, cooling me down the best they could before word got back to my mother. Andreatte's are not weak. Andreatte's are tough and can take the heat, she always says.

Gregori takes out a small metal container from his pack and starts collecting samples from the forest. His technique is quick and precise; he cuts just enough off to put in the tube and leave the forest undisturbed. Gens Norwood would love him for it, how careful he's being with their trees and plants. My mother would scold him for it, telling us to just burn it down.

"Why are you being so nice to me? I know we have an understanding, but we're not around my mother. You have every right to hate me," I say, but I'm not sure why. Do I really want to hear the truth?

He doesn't stop collecting, talking and working with ease, like he's used to multitasking. "I will admit, I didn't like you in the beginning. I imagined you'd be just like your mother, but then I met you. The disdain in your eyes... I could tell immediately when I handed you my number, you wanted to throw it away." He chuckles. "As I see it, we're both victims here."

This man wears his heart on his sleeves. He's too kind and thoughtful and somehow a mind reader. It makes me feel small and awkward. I'm not used to someone being so honest. I hate this. I hate what my family has become. I hate that my mother is taking advantage of him.

I bite my bottom lip, rubbing it between my teeth. "I'm sorry for my mother's actions. I don't condone them, and I never will, but I can promise, I will never be like her."

"You really hate your mother that much, huh," he says and it stuns me. I'm always thinking it, but to hear the words out loud feels like a smack to the face.

He puts his samples away, sealed tight into the metal container and safe in his pack. The ease of which he stands, shows how much strength he has in his thighs, muscles I'm surprised a scientist would have. He doesn't seem like someone who would go to the gym, but I'm wrong. Apparently, I'm wrong about a lot of things when it comes to him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's just... I understand what's it's like to have an overbearing parent," he says and I don't miss the way his muscles tense up.

Kenna suddenly cries out. We both whip around and find her scratching at her body, running pink nails over clothes, over skin. She's turning red in places. "Why are there so many damn bugs. Why won't they just leave me alone!"

She nicks her skin, blood drips from the shallow wound. Ken grabs her arms and tries to hold them by her side. "Stop scratching. You're hurting yourself!"

"I can't," she whines. "Why won't it stop? Why aren't you guys itching?"

The trees rustle overhead; the wind picks up and coils around us. This forest. There's something off about this place. We've been traveling on foot for hours now with no other creatures in sight. I nearly forgot where we are.

Kenna has always been terrified of bugs. She once hyperventilated over a small snake we found in the gardens, which is funny because we're supposedly descended from serpents. To be afraid of one is cowardly, as my mother would put it. But for Kenna, they're a nightmare.

Is this forest playing tricks on her? Or is it real?

"If we find a river, we could rub mud on her," Gregori says. "It will stop the itching temporarily, at least until we figure out what's biting her."

After getting Kenna to settle down for five minutes, we're able to hear a river flowing nearby. It's coming from the right, deeper into the woods. So far, we've been keeping to the trails where the sun shines, but where we're heading, it barely peaks through, if even that. I clench my teeth and try not to let the what if's run rapid in my mind. We need to treat Kenna, fast. I may resent her for many things, but I'd never want her dead.

We head deeper into the Treschine Forest, Ken helping Kenna along. I unsheathe my hunting knife just in case and hold it at ready like Kusanagi taught us. The woods grow eerily silent, so still it can't be considered natural. It's making me feel less than comfortable with the fact that we're heading into enemy territory. Who knows what lies outside in the darkness.

The tree roots are climbing out of the ground like their trying to run away. Bark sheds from the trucks with sap seeping from their wounds. We walk past them, avoiding their roots, staying to the paths that are provided. The forest grows denser, darker, and by the time we reach the riverbed, thick, luscious leaves block out any light from above, covering us is an eternal night, though I can still feel the sun.

Without hesitation, Gregori walks towards the river. I grab his bicep. "Don't go in the river. The fish will eat you if you get too close."

"Are they cannibalistic?" he asks, and I'm not sure what he means by that. "Do they eat their own kind? Or only those from outside?"

When he looks at my grip, I let him go. I forgot I was still holding onto him. "No, they're more like piranha's. Eating insects and whatever they can find in the water. But that doesn't make them any less dangerous. They still have a taste for flesh."

Ken crouches beside us and scoops a pile of mud into both his palms. Gregori helps him and they get to work spreading the mud on her arms. Kenna's lips tremble and her hands grip into two tight fists like she's trying not to scratch herself. Watching her makes me itchy.

"Can I look at your legs?" Gregori asks her. She nods, but when he rolls up her spandex, he stops and stares at her skin.

"What is it?" I ask, stepping closer, but not too close.

"I don't see any bite marks. Normally, there would be lesions or small bumps by now, even a rash, but there's nothing to indicate she's been bitten," he says.

Kenna growls. "What are you talking about? There has to be bites. They're crawling all over me. I can feel them. They just won't stop. Why won't they stop!"

Ignoring her, I urge him on, "Come on, Scientist. This is why I brought you here."

Gregori rubs his jaw. "I have no idea. It's not airborne or we would all be affected, so we can rule that one out. It could be a psychological strain or pathogenic. Without knowing the origin, it's hard for me to pinpoint. Kenna, have you touched any plants?"

Kenna stares at him with such wide eyes, fire blazes like an inferno at the center. I'm afraid for his safety. "We are in the middle of a godforsaken forest. Of course, I've touched a plant. We've all touched a plant," she seethes.

"I haven't touched any plants," Ken actually admits.

I snap at him, but it's too late. Kenna yells out her frustration into the air. Her screams echo through the forest, scattering birds nearby and unsettling rocks in the water. A fish with a million eyes jumps out, snapping at the air hoping to catch some dessert.

"Someone needs to shut her up," I screech. Gregori and Ken are already moving as I speak. Ken covers her mouth and tries to restrain her, while Gregori quickly injects some kind of medicine into her forearm. Within a matter of seconds, Kenna slumps forward.

Ken breathes heavily through his mouth. "What did you just do?"

"I gave her a mild sedative. She'll be out for a couple of hours. We only two more of these left," Gregori tosses the empty shot back into his pack. "It's safe to say, we need to get the hell out of here. Whatever is out there is going to find us now. Help me get her on my back."

Ken and I help hoist his sister on Gregori's broad back and up off the ground. Her head lolls onto his shoulder. While Ken takes Gregori's backpack, I start scouting for our next destination. The arrow on the compass is pointing us further to the right, which is crazy, because I swear it was pointing to the left just a minute ago. How is Wish moving so fast?

I tell them which direction we're going and no one bats an eye. It's leading us further into the darkness and away from the light, but first we need to cross the river. There has to be a place to cross somewhere.

The trees rustle all around us. Chittering explodes in the thousands, consuming the silence like the cicadas back home. Branches creak under some kind of heavy weight, almost like someone's hanging from the limbs. Leaves fall in clumps just before my feet.

Don't look up. Just keep moving forward.

For the love of god. Don't. Look. Up.

I look up. Why do my eyes always betray me?

There are glowing specks throughout the tree tops, covering the expanse, growing into clumps the nearer they come. I can't get my breathing under control. My heart races, and for the first time in my life, terror seizes my limbs.

Their chittering gets worse, closer, dropping further down the trunks. By some act of miracle, I manage lift my hand. Flame ignites in my palm, a torch against the night, and immediately becomes out undoing. I nearly drop my knife.

Grimy fangs appear above, dripping acid that burns the trunks enough to melt off their skin. They're furry, six-legged spiders. Except these ones are massive, these one's have legs made from stone, sharpened to a point, and will clearly put a lethal hole through our bodies.

I manage to utter a single word. "Run."

The spiders attack, dropping from the trees like cannon balls. The ground shakes and snaps me back into fight mode. With all the strength I can muster, I douse the spiders closest to us in fire. Many fall to their back, screeching and rolling and kicking at the air. A few manage to stay on their many feet and even with death minutes away they continue their approach.

"Run. Now!" I push Gregori forward, while Ken helps me fend off the spiders.

His flames combine with mine. We become an inferno against this nightmare, lighting up the darkness and revealing everything far and between. It's overwhelming and scary and I forgot how much I hated spiders until now. No doubt this will haunt my dreams forever.

Gregori yells out, "There's a bridge up ahead!"

That's all the push I need to pick up the pace. Ken and I run behind Gregori, taking turns throwing flames when a spider gets too close. By the time we reach the bridge, the forest is lit up like a bonfire, every plant and animal are being consumed. All the vegetation from Gregori's research is gone in an instant. It's the kind of act my mother would be so proud of and it sickens me to no end. This isn't what I want. Not like this.

The bridge is rickety and the wood is decaying, left to rot by whoever first built this. There are holes and cracks and missing panels, the river our only drop below just waiting for us to miss a step. We don't falter. We run across it. Ken pushes me in front of him, trying to keep me out of harm's way, but I grab his other hand. There's no way I'm leaving him behind.

Ken throws out one last ball of fire at a pursuing spider. The flames consume it, they crawl over the bridge, destroying the supports and what remained of the base. The bridge starts to collapse as we reach the end. There's no turning back.

Once we touch ground, the world suddenly shifts beneath our feet and I fall to my knees.

The forest is gone. The spiders have disappeared.

There is no fire. Not even a wisp of smoke.

In place is a vast field of grass and flowers and ruins that stretch for miles long. The sky is dark and full of stars with soft pink clouds and a half-moon that shines so bright and large, I imagine touching it. The buildings are made from stone, covered in rogue trees and massive vines, climbing their way over broken windows and reaching towards the sky.

This place has been left untouched for centuries, and yet, as the clouds pass overhead, the moon shines down on top of a polished crystal star with eight lethal points, and behind it is a circle, carved and dyed from pure black sand—a twilight sun. This symbol represents everything we've been taught to hate.

Ken drops the backpacks, barely standing. "It can't be..." but it is.

"What is this place?" Gregori asks beside me, still holding tight to Kenna's limp body.

I clench my jaw. "The Gens Nisha ruins."