Discovering Ploutorio.

Episode 2

Miri’s ears rang with high pitch vibration, her vision blurred and a nauseating feeling rolled in her stomach. Her chest burned with red hot pain but it slowly started to fade leaving a dull ache in its place. Cautiously she raised her head noticing the area around them was dark and quiet, she did not recognize their location. There was nothing but flat waste land around them for miles, showing no landmarks or even vegetation, just dusty cracked dirt. 

Slowly rising to her feet, trying to ignore the pounding in her head, she glanced over at the figure with his back profile facing her. “What were you thinking!” the low voice questioned harshly, his hands curled into fists. Miri stood straighter, squaring her shoulders to try and speak with confidence. “Well I can’t just let you escape now, can I? You hold secrets, I need answers. Where are we” She stepped forward just as the man turned his body. He sighed with anguish “You humans cannot leave well enough alone can you!” he countered. Before Miri could register what was happening he lowered his hood revealing his face. Striking features met her eyes as she peered up at him in surprise. Short black hair and eyes that glowed silver. They held pain and a piercing look, It felt like he was exploring her soul. “My name is Oreon and we are in a pocket realm because you interrupted my teleport” He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Miri forced herself not to look down, meeting his eye as he began to speak again “Whether you choose to believe it or not, I am from a different realm of existence from you.”

He looked for her reaction almost expecting her to run, most humans he had encountered did. “Okay” Miri replied matter of factly, trying to cover up her inquisitiveness as his words burned through her thoughts. “My name is Miri, I am from Earth, evidently. How do I know what you are saying is true.” Miri queried, crossing her arms. She wasn’t one to take fantasy seriously but she could not get the image of the orb out of her mind, that was not from earth, she was sure of it. Oreon clearing was not expecting that answer, his face constricted before he regained his composure. “My home realm is called Ploutorio. We are a race of human-like creatures infused with a mix of light and dark energy that we use to keep the balance in our realm. This in turn balances your realm so no ‘supernatural forces’ enter and wreak havoc to you small minded people'' Oreon then moved closer to Miri holding out his hand, she studied his face hesitantly. “I cannot show you if you will not let me, I know you will not believe me without proof” he responded.

Miri gingerly took his hand, if it meant she got evidence she would have to know. But Oreon gave off some very different vibes than the men she normally kept company with, a small spark ignited within her at the single touch of his rough fingertips. In a white flash her mind exploded with a vision. Miri blinked quickly to relieve the light behind her eyes as they adjusted to her new surroundings. 

An intricate vast land spread before her eyes, covered in greyish blue rocks that dotted the plain. The sky seemed to be filled with fiery red and orange clouds that were lighting the area. Miri could not see the sun, moon or any stars, this place was like something out of her dreams. Taking a deep breath Oreon guided her across part of the land holding her softly by the hand. “I am guessing this is your homeland, are we really here?” she asked, her eyes scanning the area around her, it seemed so real yet she couldn’t feel any life from this strange place, almost like watching through a screen. He gazed across the land with a hard look, “No, this realm is not made for humans, you cannot survive here.” Miri stepped away from him, breaking the illusion at the separation of their hands. The sparks in her belly disappeared. “Why is that?” Miri said, noticing they were back in the pocket realm. Oreon sat down and gestured for her to sit across from him. She hesitated but then realized she was getting answers so complied.  “My realm exists to balance the light and dark energy that the Earth’s population gives off.” Miri opened her mouth to ask a question but Oreon raised his hand to stop her. “Humans cannot survive in our realm because they do not have the correct balance of light and dark energy inside them.” Miri nodded her head in understanding “Ploutorio is made up of two fractions on each side of the realm” he explained further “I am part of the light fraction that is half of the realm, we call ourselves Orias. We take light and dark energy inside us from every drain or kill we perform in order to balance the Earth and survive the other fraction. They are called Plous, now that doesn’t sound scary but trust me, they are the nightmares of Earth. Dark creatures that suck away light energy, turning it dark. They eventually become blackholes if all the light from a realm gets eradicated. Humans that come to our realm with too much dark energy become Plous as soon as they enter, and with too much light energy humans get instantly drained by the crystal that holds the orias light energy to protect our half of the realm. Humans get drained because you do not have the power to control your personal energy.” 

Miri was mesmerised by the story as she tried to wrap her head around this new information, it was a whole other world she never knew about. But she had to be honest, it made a lot of sense. “I understand. How do you fight the darkness?” Oreon looked at this human with a new view. She was different from anyone he had ever met. She was open minded but not gullible. “We have technology in the crystal that allows us to harness the light energy and use it in weapons such as guns, knives, swords, you name it” Curiosity burst through her “But what were you doing in my parents office?” 

Shifting his body he looked at the floor. “My sister Kyri, has been abducted. She was on earth collecting some light energy. The last I heard from her she was screaming through her comms that she was being chased by a group of men, then nothing.” Miri’s heart cried out for him as she reached for his hand, this poor man had his sister taken. Oreon continued accepting her hand in his, “I tracked her last known location to this area but the tracker lost its reading on her because of some irregular patterns from this building, thought I should check it out. The readings were most irregular in this room. Do you know who runs the operation here? There are some strange items in that secret room, items from my realm” Miri frowned “From your realm but that should not be possible, should it?” He shook his head with bewilderment, “No it shouldn’t.” 

Miri pondered for a second then spoke, “I think I can help you.” she said confidently “My parents run this organization, it is dedicated to finding abducted children. Although I cannot explain what my parents are doing with items from your realm I can do my part for you. We have surveillance all over the UK, it might have picked up some images of your sister.” Oreon’s eyes met hers. “Let's look through the footage.” 

Getting up he offered a hand to Miri, she gratefully accepted it and he pulled her into a standing position. Keeping hold of her hand Oreon brought the orb out of this clack and whispered a string of words, “Aperi portal ad terram.” Once again bright light emitted out of the orb, the air around them began to vibrate and shift. Miri closed her eyes as they dematerialised back to Earth.