The Shadow Wanderers

Chapter 2

They stride up the hill, Naomi and her moving in unison. Her heart thumps in her chest, and her eyes feel swollen due to lack of sleep from last night. She could barely close her eyes, feeling apprehensive for the following dawn.

But she had made up her mind. When everything and everyone stole some parts of her, she didn't know how to assemble them all to complete herself. This was the only chance at doing so.

Now, as she walks up the hill, her steps aren't wobbly and unsure like Naomi's, and she marches with confidence. They walk in silence till they reach the top. The two of them are taken aback by the huge crowd that is gathered at the cliff. Naomi and Calista look at each other in disbelief.Isaac had spread his word. He has gathered more people than just students from school. Old people, a few children, and young adults are also there. But the sight of too many people doesn't break the chains of Calista's resoluteness. She continues to walk, but Naomi grabs her wrist.

"You don't have to do this, Calista," she says. It sounds more like a warning coming from her. She is unsure what's going to happen. She's scared for her friend.

Calista gives her a reassuring smile, and Naomi lets go of her wrist. Calista resumes walking. She steps into the crowd, but as some people recognize her, they step back to make way. She walks through the crowd without any effort and stops at the edge of the cliff, facing the early dawn. She can hear insulting laughs from the crowd but doesn't let them make her flinch at her decision.

"Let's all cheer for Calista Davis!" she hears Isaac say, and a moment later the crowd hoots and cheers. Fake, she knows.

She slides off her bag from her shoulder, puts it down, crouches down next to it, and takes out a wax candle and a lighter. She carefully lights the candle and stands up while holding it in her left hand. Then, she reaches out for her neck with her other hand and takes out the gold pendant—that she had taken from her mother's possessions—from under her shirt. She clutches it in her palm; it still hanging from her neck. The pendant is elegant in the shape of a daisy. Its rosettes are neatly curved, and the middle part shines with bright gold color. She always feels a sense of relief whenever she holds onto it.

The noise of the crowd behind her slows down into whispers and hushes. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Then, recites in a whisper;

"Oh, the guardian of angels and demons,I believe there's a portal.Do not deepen my wounds,And open doors for the mortal."

She waits. She waits for something to happen. Silence. The crowd is silent. The sky is silent. She has never despised silence so much as in this moment. She waits for another moment. Nothing happens. My heart sinks. Nothing at all. It's a waste. She ruined her reputation for absolutely nothing.

A laugh sounds from the crowd. Then another. And another. Soon, the whole crowd is laughing at her failure—at her. She closes her eyes in defeat, and tears stream down her face, but she doesn't dare make a sound.

"Calista!" A familiar voice rings in her ears from afar, but she can't figure out who it belongs to. She takes a very slow step further toward the edge of the cliff.

"Calista, stop!" The voice is now closer. She still can't recognize the owner. She stands two inches away from the edge of the cliff. Nobody's noticing her insensible actions—except for the voice.

She can hear her heart thumping in her ears. The world sways under her feet. Beneath her, large sharp rocks wait for their prey as the sea is thirsty for the blood of a human.

"Calista! I forbid you to step further!"

She takes another step forward, but before she can fall, she is thrown back violently on the hard rocky surface of the cliff. People step back from where she falls. Loud gasps and screams occur from the mow terrified crowd.

She tries to make sense of her surroundings, but in vain. Her whole body has gone numb. Excruciating pain seeps into her back due to being thrown off abruptly. She sees red. She can't figure out why everything's red and blurry. Her head hurts so bad. Her body seems to have been detached from her completely.

She can see two heads over her. They are yelling and shouting, or perhaps it's her ears that are pounding. She can't make sense of any voice. One head comes into focus, and she sees the most beautiful face she has ever seen―her mother.

She smiles. Then everything descends into darkness.