See

Reed

Now

I turn around to see that I am no longer at the edge of the city. I’m back towards the center, near where the warehouse is. I spin to ask why Cypress has brought us back here, but I can’t find him. My skin begins to prickle, sensing that someone is watching me. I look up to see her. The entity that controls the necklace trapped around my neck. The entity that has chosen to protect me and gift me her power. She stands there, her bright blue eyes looking through me. She is wearing a dark blue gown that turns to a deep white at the ends. It reminds me of the ocean. She wears a crown that has blue and purple crystals hanging on the edges. Her long white hair dances with the wind. She does not look away from me. She beckons me towards her, so I obey. She leads me through the town. We walk through the townspeople as if they weren’t real. She doesn’t say a word but looks around her then up at the bell. She finds my gaze to ensure I am following her gestures, and eyes the bell again.

After I came to the Sun Kingdom, I quickly learned the purpose of the bell. If there is to be an attack, the bell that towers above the city will be rung, urging everyone inside their homes or shops, wherever they are. Once they lock their doors, the spell tied to the bell will form a shield over the buildings; keeping everyone inside safe from harm. It’s the same shield of sunlight that keeps the barrier between the two kingdoms. Invented by the Sun King himself.

The woman stops in front of me, her eyes burning into mine.

Focus her voice whispers into my ears. See she sings to me.

So I listen to her, and follow behind to see where she wants to take me. We get closer to the warehouse now, the building made out of steel and wood stands out compared to the rest. The harbor entry is intertwined with it.

As I get closer, I see Connor and Tomas crack open a window and jump inside. A moment passes. The woman turns to me and whispers again:

See.

Then, the warehouse erupts in flames. The explosion passes through the town, taking everyone in its path with it. Everything around me turns to flames, smoke, and ash. Sweeping past me.

I can’t scream for the men who became my brothers. The men who taught me how to fight for myself. The men who have been by my side and who have showed me what it means to be loved unconditionally despite our differences.

I can’t cry for them. I am held in place. I am forced into silence even though my heart begs to be torn a part. All I can do is watch.

“Reed!” I hear my name called. It echoes as if someone is calling for me while I am underwater.

“Reed! Reed, please! Come back, Reed!”

I gasp, taking in air into my lungs as if I had been drowning. I blink my eyes to see Cypress. His silver eyes lined with fear.

“Reed,” he whispers. The way he says my name almost sounds like a question. I notice the water dripping from my eyes. They’re tears. I’m crying. I feel now that I am shaking underneath Cypress’s touch, his hands holding onto my arms.

I turn around expecting to see smoke, but nothing has changed. I am back at the edge of the city with Cypress.

I grabbed onto Cypress’s shirt. Feeling the cool black silk shows me that this is real.

“We have to get to the warehouse!” I say in a panic. “It’s a trap!” I cry out. I pause. The bell.

“Cypress, I need you to ring the bell. I need your shadows to bring you there now. I don’t know how much time we have.”

Cypress doesn’t question me. “Let me get you as close as I can to the warehouse first.” He must feel my uncertainty. “It will only take a moment,” is all he says before his shadows gently wrap around me and bring me to the center of the town. The same spot that the woman who haunts my dreams has brought me.

Cypress puts his hand on my cheek in assurance. His shadows then take him away. I watch then glide straight to the bell.

I don’t wait to hear it before I begin to run. I make my way to the docks to see Connor and Tomas try to make their way inside. They hesitate as the bell warns them; as it warns the whole city.

“Connor! Tomas!” I scream as loud as I can. My necklace glows.

“Connor! Tomas!” I scream again, noticing the sound of my voice is changing. As I run to them, they finally see me.

“Run to me!” I command. Their eyes turn as blue as mine, and they do just that. They run with all their force to me as I run to them. Once they are in arms length, I push them onto the ground and shield them with my body. I pray for the shield that protects me will shield them too. It has to.

The explosion of the warehouse causes debris to fly past us. My necklace glows in response and casts a shield of bright blue light around us. I grip them tighter as I feel myself fading away. The strength of the shield must be draining me. The intense heat trying to kiss my back fades, and a cool breeze wraps around me. I look to see that it’s not the wind, but shadows grazing my body. They guide me to the ground as my body folds back, wishing to collapse. Tomas’s voice brings my attention to him.

“Reed! Stay awake, you have to fight it, Reed! Fight it!” His words bring urgency to those around us, but to me, they sing me to sleep like a lullaby.