Between Two Worlds

Training inBetween

Amara didn’t sleep that night. Not because she was afraid of falling asleep—but because she knew that if she did, the shadows might strike again. The crack in her bedside table, the etched warning on her wall, the memory of Tunde trapped in darkness—it all pressed down on her like a physical weight.

Eli appeared beside her bed, silent as ever. “You’re ready,” he said softly. “But this time, you won’t be alone.”

Amara frowned. “What do you mean?”

“We need to bring Tunde here,” Eli explained. “He felt the shadows because he’s… sensitive. If we train him, he can help you. If we don’t, he’s a liability.”

Her stomach dropped. “Bring him… into the dream?”

“Yes. Into the Between,” Eli said. “It’s dangerous. But you’ll have control if you guide him.”

Amara’s hands clenched. “He’s human. He doesn’t know what he’s walking into.”

“That’s why you must teach him. You’re learning control. Now use it to anchor him.”

The room blurred. Light twisted. And in an instant, they were in the Between—a vast, glowing space of neutral energy. Stars shimmered beneath their feet like glass, and a soft wind carried no sound but feeling itself.

Tunde blinked, wide-eyed, as he took in the surreal expanse. “Amara… where are we?”

“You’re safe,” she said quickly, holding her hands up. “I’m here. Don’t panic.”

He swallowed hard. “The shadows… are they—”

“Gone,” she interrupted. “For now. But you need to learn to see them. Feel them. Control them.”

Eli stepped closer. “Amara will guide you. Trust her. But remember—doubt is dangerous here.”

Tunde nodded, eyes flicking between her and Eli. The weight of the moment pressed on him, but he stayed.

“Start small,” Amara instructed. “Focus on one thing. Picture it. Make it real here.”

Tunde closed his eyes, hesitated, then imagined a small flame in his hand. It appeared—tiny, flickering, but real. He opened his eyes, and the flame hovered between them, casting soft light across the void.

“Not bad,” Amara said softly. “Now… feel it. Let it respond to your emotions, your thoughts. Don’t fight it.”

The flame pulsed stronger, brighter. Tunde’s fingers shook, but he smiled faintly. “I… I can feel it.”

Eli’s gaze lingered on Amara. “You’re not just teaching him control. You’re anchoring him. That makes him safe… for now.”

Amara nodded, her own pulse racing. If I can’t control this, he could die. I won’t let that happen.

Suddenly, a ripple moved through the Between. Shadows stretched at the edges of the void, slithering, probing.

“Again,” Eli said quietly. “They’re testing both of you.”

Amara inhaled sharply. “Tunde… stay close. Don’t look away.”

The shadows surged. Tunde’s flame wavered, flickering dangerously. Panic rose in him, and Amara felt it—every fear, every doubt reflected back through the Between.

“Focus on me,” she shouted. “Not them! You control this. You are stronger than your fear!”

The flame steadied, glowing brightly, pushing the shadows back slightly. Amara extended her hand, and a wall of shimmering light formed around them. The shadows hissed and recoiled, writhing at the edges.

Eli’s eyes softened. “You’re learning faster than I expected. And… I think you two have a bond stronger than the Between itself. That’s rare.”

Amara glanced at Tunde, whose eyes shone with awe and terror. She couldn’t deny the feeling. Together, they werestronger.

But the shadows lingered, patient, waiting. Watching.

And Amara knew, with a chilling certainty, that the next time they struck—it wouldn’t just be a test.

It would be war.