Both kids then stared upon the accessories in their hands. The gems kept releasing their entrancing glow. Lilian then kept observing his ring, its light captivating him slowly losing himself in its beautiful light. Lilian then placed the ring upon his right index finger. When the ring fit in his finger, it emanated an even stronger glow. The wind starts to blow at Lilian Ruffling his hair, and his suit, dust started to fly from the ground with the leaves now rustling from the winds. After a few seconds, the winds died down now leaving the forest and the pond to be filled with silence yet again. We are now back to the wonder of both kids upon their jewels. Stephanie upon seeing this then put on her necklace.
Another gust of wind starts to pick up, unlike Lilian's strong and harsh current, Stephanie's necklace released a soft and warm wind. The wind played her hair as it danced with the wind, her dress floating about from the breeze. The Wind then disappeared with only the blue glow returning to its comfortable brightness.
"Lilian?" Stephanie approached Lilian placing her hand on his shoulder. But at the moment she touched him, both kids were engulfed by the blue light from the gems. Stephanie quickly retracted her hand with Lilian slightly backing away from her from surprise.
"What the hell?" Stephanie whispered to herself while looking at Lilian which stared back with the same expression of confusion. Lilian then got up and cautiously approached Stephanie, he then held out his hand and slightly touched Stephanie. The glow then returned both engulfing the children with its comforting light. The wind emerged yet again from the gems, but instead of blowing the surroundings, it seemed to rotate around both of the children.
Both kids were yet again filled with wonder, Lilian touched the barrier out of curiosity. His fingers felt the wind constantly swirling with his fingers leaving streaks from blocking the wind. "Woah," Both of them said at the same time as they now see the new phenomenon.
"Lilian... I....Woah." Stephanie is filled with awe as she stutters to find the words to describe what is going on. But suddenly the atmosphere of magic was broken by a shrill cry. It echoed throughout the forest which made the crystals flicker for a moment as if they shuddered in fear.
"We gotta go back to the path," Lilian said in which Stephanie looked at him with a worried face. "How do you think we'll go through that place again, not like we can stand against whatever is there."
"We have these." Lilian gestured to the objects they obtained. "Do what? Blow it to death?" Stephanie now playing with the necklace trying to calm herself down. As she did, the necklace started to shimmer which somehow comforted her. She then looked towards Lilian who was now standing up and staring towards the dark woods.
"Hey, Lilian."
"Hm?"
Stephanie still in a bit of doubt, was now determined, tightened her grip on the necklace. "Let's go."
"Lilian had a small glance upon his ring and back to Stephanie. He nodded his head as he outstretched his hand. Stephanie then grabbed his palm.
When their hands touched, the barrier of air then emerged yet again. With a deep breath, Stephanie looked to Lilian who met her gaze. "Let's do this."
Lilian then nodded his head, he then starts to venture back into the darkness with Stephanie just behind him. The kids were engulfed yet again with the dark. But through the abyss, the gems of the kids released their light blue glow which cast the barrier around the kids start to capture their light which resulted in them becoming opaque with the same glow. And through the darkness, they were now small specks of light that twinkled as they floated around the air which gave off the illusion of the night sky surrounding the kids.
Lilian starts to nervously shake, but upon noticing this Stephanie placed her other hand on top of his. Lilian then looked at Stephanie with fear in his eyes, but through the darkness and the small glow from their gems, he saw Stephanie's comforting face which calmed him down.
The shrubberies rustled as the kids waded through them. While venturing, with the light there was a small object reflecting the light. Lilian then approached it slightly dragging Stephanie behind him.
"What is it?" Stephanie asked
Lilian then picked up the object. "It's my wrappers."
"Welp at least we're going the right way," Stephanie said in a small shrug. The kids then started to walk in the direction of the wrappers.
As they were walking, there was suddenly a low deep hum that resonated throughout the woods. Its low frequency causing the leaves and branches of the trees and bushes to shake.
"Go go go go." Stephanie hastily whispered to Lilian. Both kids then started to bolt through the woods. The bushes quickly moving to the side as they ran through them causing more cuts onto their skins and bruises from the branches whipping their skin. Far behind the kids, bushes start to shake, something was chasing after the kids. It was far yet was approaching them at an alarming rate.
Roots were now uprooted from the ground with various holes on the ground. The thing was now coming closer with a fast pounding beat onto the ground from the steps of the things. Both of the children were now heaving and sweating from both adrenaline and fear.
After running for a while, there was now a small and faint line of light.
"The Path!" Stephanie yelled from behind Lilian. Lilian tightened his grip upon Stephanie's hand. But suddenly, Stephanie let out a painful yelp. There was suddenly a large amount of weight on Lilian's hand which made him immediately stop. Stephanie stepped on a root, it pierced deep upon her right barefoot. She was now crying and held her foot to try and lower the pain. Lilian then bent down and tried to lift her. The thing was now even closer, the air now becoming cold with their haggard breath now exiting as white steam. The rustling bushes now getting ever so close. Lilian then finally lifted Stephanie and as he did, a low growl was heard from the bushes for whatever is after them, is around 40 feet away from them. Lilian, then quickly searched for a place to hide.
Lilian then sees a small hole at the bottom of a large tree's roots. He carried Stephanie and dropped her down onto the hole, he then jumped down just in time as the bushes from behind him then parted away. Silence then suddenly engulfed the whole forest. No wind blew, no rustle, and the chirping of insects. Stephanie covered her mouth to muffled her groans as she held back her tears and pained sounds.
*Thud*
*Thud*
*Thud*
The deep footsteps echoed throughout the forest, frozen by the cold air from the seventh circle of hell. The plants covered in a thin layer of cold water, the roots and ground slightly covered in the same water slowly turning to ice. Lilian now grabbed Stephanie closer attempting to warm her. Lilian engulfed Stephanie in a hug, trying to comfort her through her pain. Stephanie now silently sobbing, the cold now reaching her wound which oddly caused her great pain, tears streaming down her face. Their gems now glowing engulfing them in a blue aura, it only glowed a soft and faint color engulfing both of them.
Lilian and Stephanie being engulfed by the aura were washed over by the sense of calm and peace. They then noticed that the ice-cold chill was replaced by a comforting warmth. Both kids gave a sigh of relief for the moment.
But it was short-lived, as a footprint was heard in front of the tree. Fear then returned quickly diminishing the comfort they had. Despite the aura keeping both kids warm, they couldn't help but feel a chill go up their spines. From the hole, the thing blocked it casting the whole hole in the atmosphere of fear and dread. From the entrance, a cold breath was blown into the hole, which results in a thin layer of frost forming in the walls and the floor beneath the kids.
Both kids held their breath, not daring to make a sound, they covered their gems attempting to hide its light, the aura disappeared casting the hole into pitch darkness. After a painstaking whole minute, the beast let out a grunt of annoyance and got away from the hole. The thing walked back grunting in frustration, it then gave out a loud and shrill roar. Bushes were pulled from the ground, trees were pushed and shattered as the beast threw a tantrum for losing its prey. After one more strong punch to the ground, it gave off another roar and finally walked away with its footsteps fading into the distance.
The kids were able to both give off a sigh of relief, they both uncovered their gems illuminating the hole. The walls and ground were slippery from the frost which sparkled with the same color of light from the gems. Lilian then gout out from the hole and bent back down. " It's ok now, give me your arms," Lilian said to Stephanie, she limped and was still able to give both arms for Lilian to lift her out of the hole. She was then set on top of a root. Lilian then lifted her dress and brought his ring near to shine the light.
There, upon Stephanie's foot was a root. It pierced through her heel lodging itself deep in her foot. Lilian, after thinking then looked at Stephanie with a guilty look. He then took off his necktie handing it to Stephanie. "Bite tight." That was all he said yet Stephanie immediately knew what he will do.
She started to protest quickly rambling and pushing Lilian away. But Lilian only placed a firm hand onto her shoulder and gave off a serious look yet with a sad expression. Stepanie still against the idea decided to accept it. She bit down onto the necktie now closing her eyes and prepared herself for the pain. Lilian then took a deep breath and grabbed the end of the root protruding.
He then slowly started to pull the root from her foot. The root slowly started to move, its smaller branching roots leaving scars as it exited, blood starting to drip down onto the ground with a sickening wet sound as it moved through the skin. Stephanie bit down hard onto the necktie, the cry of pain escaping with tears quickly falling down, sweat intensely going down her face. The root now halfway out starts to shred the skin and the wound, grinding down the muscles and tissue. Stephanie starts to shake from the pain, her color leaving her face. With a finally yank the root was finally out of the foot, earning a curling scream muffled by the tie. She then starts to sob uncontrollably. holding her foot. There was a gaping hole on where her heel must be, blood flowing out with small chunks of muscles falling towards the ground with a small stream of bone marrow mixed with the blood. Lilian then quickly covered the wound with the table cloth he had.
Stephanie then held the cloth still sobbing as her liquids dripping down on the soil tears staining her pale face losing its vibrant pink. Lilian then pulled out the small tied-up handkerchief from his inner pocket. He sprinkled the bag onto his other hand as some pollen fell down with its entrancing glow. He then approached Stephanie trying to comfort her. "Hey hey, it's ok, it's ok, open your mouth Steph. Just try to gulp these down."
Stephanie still crying tried to open her mouth wider but is stuck due to the pain, Lilian with effort, managed to place the pollen grain down her throat. The light traveled down her throat and spread through her body. Her painful cries were starting to subside, as she managed to take a deep breath. But the pain was only decreased, not eradicated. The wound on her foot was slowly starting to heal on itself. Stephanies cries were decreased to sobs, her eyes red from crying, but her pale face is slowly retaining her pink blush. Her lips still quivering, managed to calm herself down. Lilian then took some sticks and made a tourniquet to cover the healing wound. He then sat down beside Stephanie, wrapping his arm around her and bringing her close to him, letting her head lay on his shoulder and sob through what she felt. He comforted her through her pain letting her feel the comfort from Lilian. The Gems then yet again engulf the kids with an aura giving them peace and calm. After a few minutes, Stephanie now finally stopped crying and raised her head. She wiped the tears from her eyes, she finally looked back at Lilian with her lips still quivering but managed to give a smile.
"I'm ok now...thank you," Stephanie said with a hoarse voice from crying. Lilian then nodded with a relieved face. Stephanie attempted to stand but only had a pained face as she sat back down.
"Your wound isn't healed yet, let me help you." Lilian then quickly stood up and held her, supporting her to her feet.
"Here get on." Lilian then bent down, letting Stephanie to climb on. When she did, Lilian with a grunt lifted her behind his back and started to walk towards the fait line of light which was the path.