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Journey of the Soul

By: Megan Butt

By Megan ButtPublished 3 years ago 9 min read
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Olivia had been young the first time she'd crept to the edge of the city. Her mother warned her against it; it was forbidden to cross the border into the barrens after all, but she'd been either too young or too stupid to care. Somewhere out there were other cities, but as far as one could see was only burning red sand and the slight indication of ruins along the horizon. She wasn't interesting in the landscape, however; it was the guardians that interested her. Curiosity drove her as close to the large stone beasts as she dared, near enough to see the moss that grew along their back and arms like fur. They stood anchored in place, their feet dug deep into the sand as though they had sprouted from the ground like trees. They stood so still one could assume they were statues if not for the steady roaming of their yellowed eyes. How many were there? She couldn't bring herself to stay long enough to count, but she noted that they circled the city like a make-shift wall. If they joined arms there might not be space enough for anything to squeeze past them she thought. Fear had sent her running home, screaming out the next night she felt the ground rumble beneath their feet.

"That's why I told you not to go there," her mother sighed as she held her to her chest, Olivias tears soaking into the collar of her nightgown. "They are frightening to look at for sure, but they are protecting us," she smoothed her daughters hair back. A high pitched screech tore through the city, and Olivia clutched to her in desperation.

"Why do they scream like that?" she sobbed, "I don't like it."

"That's not the guardians, those sounds are soul eaters," her mother spoke her voice trembling though she fought to hide it, "the guardians are keeping them away from us." Her mother gripped her face in her hands, looking into her eyes with a dreadful sincerity that made her look vulnerable, “the soul eaters are dangerous, and I don’t want you to get hurt so promise me you’ll never go back out there.” Olivia nodded. Her friends older brother had told them about soul eaters, how they pulled your soul out through your chest and ate it, how if they caught you you could never be reborn and would never see your family again. She didn’t want that to happen.

"I promise," she'd said, and at the time she'd meant it. She was grateful now for the guardians whose unwavering attention watched for intruders, they were so concerned with what was trying to get in, they never noticed her sneak out. After all, who would want to, the cities were made to be the perfect haven, made of shimmering metals and running rich in food and drink. Il Sepere was even rumoured to be one of the best. Sorry mom, she didn't know why she was thinking of this now, back then I didn’t know this would happen. If you wanted to hold me to my word, then maybe you shouldn't have died, she pressing her lips into a straight pale line. Her mothers worries seemed exaggerated anyway. It had been three days since she departed the city, leaving the desert behind for overgrown forests and mountains, and she hadn't seen a Soul Eater yet. She'd heard them, but hiding proved to be effective enough defence. A couple times one moved near her hiding spot but they always moved on in time. Of course, that had been during the day, now that night was falling it might be more difficult to avoid them. She knew she should rest, night time was dangerous after all, but stopping this close was unbearable. What was the need anyway, it wasn't as bad out here as they made it seem. Those stupid Empaths thought they were such a big deal, working for the Seer, training for years to 'risk their lives' clearing out the hordes of Soul Eaters that infested the land. They weren't so tough! She could probably fight one herself! She'd been right to do this on her own, she wasn't going to risk them losing her mother the same way they'd lost so many others. The thought made her clench her fists at her side, her finger nails biting into her palm and leaving half moon indents in the fatty flesh. Trust the Empaths to transport your loved ones souls to the veil, they said, they are experts, they'll ensure they get there safe. Ha! Yeah right! She reached for the heart shaped locket that sat against her throat, holding it between her fingers and watching the golden glow illuminate her hand. Inside had once been a photo of her family, now it held her mothers soul; a small layer of protection so it could be easily transported. She clung to it feeling the warmth spread across her skin, as though her mother were trying to comfort her. Even now she depended on her too much. I'll get you there, I promise. You'll reach the veil and then be reincarnated even if I have to die doing it. She tucked the locket beneath her shirt again as she continued. Stupid Soul Eaters. Stupid weak Soul Eaters.

Something wet ran down her neck and she stopped short, wiping it away in disgust. Rain? But no, when she looked her hand was streaked with red. Blood, she realized, the same moment the locket began to lift into the air, stretching out before her so the chain lay tight against the back of her neck. In the darkness it seemed to move on its own, but as her eyes adjusted she could see the elongated bony grey fingers it lay pinched between. Peeking back over her shoulder she felt vomit flood her mouth and she gagged as she forced it back down. There was just enough light from the locket to illuminate the creatures face, or at least the corpse it wore over it like a macabre mask. Its face was much longer than a humans and so the corners of the corpses eyes had torn, its own black gaze peering out through the gapping bloody holes. As she watched, it opened its mouth to reveal rows of long needle like teeth, strings of saliva stretched between them. It's mouth opened wider and wider, too wide, and the corpses mouth stretched to its limit and shredded as though made of moist clay, blood running down its neck. The fear caused her to leap forward and she felt- to her dismay- the weight of the locket snap free. "Noooo!" she shrieked, lunging towards the creature. She moved without realizing it, pulling her dagger from her belt and stabbing it through the eye. It's wail made her head ring, and its arm swung, striking her in the ribs and tossing her against the base of a tree with a dull crack. It stepped towards her and into the moonlight, it was horrendous, if she'd peeked from her hiding spot before fear would have certainly steered her back home. It stood eight feet tall, looking almost human but too long and skinny. It’d shoved itself inside the corpse despite the size difference, tearing out the groin and under the armpits like a suite that was too small. The chest was a gaping hole where it had chewed its way inside, and she noticed with a twinge of guilt, the bright coloured and gold accented coat of an Empath.

I'm so sorry mom, I should have listened. Tears pricked her eyes as she watched the light from the locket ebb between the Soul Eaters curled claws. No! She couldn’t let it take her! Pain screamed through her side as she stood, but she didn't care. In slow motion the creature moved to bring the locket to its mouth, and frenzied she ran. But the distance wasn't closing fast enough. It had thrown her too far; she wasn't going to make it! She watched the locket slip past its lips, clinking off its teeth as it sunk into its cavernous mouth. "NOOO! STOP!" she screamed, as if it would understand her or even care. "STOP, STOP, STOP!"

THUNK! The soul eaters head fell from its shoulders, the locket spilling out into the dirt. It had been so fast she'd only seen a streak of gold, but now she noticed the scythe that stuck in the ground behind it. A soul weapon she noted, and as she snatched up the locket she turned to see a man approach. An Empath, and a high ranking one, according to his long golden jacket. He was perhaps in his mid 20's but his expression seemed older, leaving his face stern and cold.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, not looking at her but turning over the soul eaters head with the toe of his boot and frowning.

It took a while to explain why she was so far from Il Sepere, and longer to convince him not to send her back. "Come on, Kai" a young female Empath -Liz, he'd called her-tried to convince him, "we're only a day away from the veil anyway. There's not much point sending her back now."

"The Seer sent us here for a reason, we can't risk having a kid with us."

“It would take longer to bring her back. What are you going to do, lose three days?”

“Fine.”

It was daybreak by the time they arrived. The veil was located amongst the ruins of an old town, at least that was what she'd understood. Yet she was surprised to see tall gothic styled houses of white washed stone and cobbled streets illuminated by glowing paper lanterns that hung from one building to the other. Everything was surprisingly well kept though she didn't see any people. It was a ghost town, quite literally, she realized as she saw the shimmering figures dash back and forth past windows.

"They live here? What about being reincarnated?" she'd asked Liz but it was Kai that responded.

"Not everyone wants to be. Those that have no family to come back for sometimes prefer to live here. It is peaceful or so they say."

"That seems sad," Olivia said, and then snapped her mouth shut, fearing she'd been disrespectful.

"Yeah, it does.”

The road stretched up and around a large mansion. The portal, she was told, sat within the garden. As they pulled up along side a crystal pool she pulled the locket from her pocket, relief flooding through her so violently she almost fell to her knees. "Find me again when you're reborn," she whispered, "maybe this time I can take care of you." Following Kai's instructions she dipped her hands into the water, releasing the locket and watching it flow to the bottom. Mom, I’ve done it! Do you see? Nothing will happen to you now! The locket split open to release a golden ball of light which settled at the bottom of the pool for a moment before floating back up.

"W..Wait. What's happening?" Kai motioning for her to wait. The golden orb broke the surface and stretched into a ribbon of light, wrapping itself around her arm until it settled into a golden band that stretched from wrist to elbow.

"What? What is this?"

"A soul weapon" Kai said, for the first time his voice betraying any emotion "if a soul recognizes an Empaths power they remain to assist them."

"Then, that means..."

"You're the one the Seer sent us here to find."

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