I let out a gulp as I took in the scenery in front of me. I know that Serena said that she would take us back to the surface and I am grateful for that. I really am. But I actually thought that they would perform some sort of ritual to teleport us back.
Either that or we would go through a portal.
Well, there is a portal. But the problem is the location of how to get there.
Serena and the rest of the Nymphs finally stopped walking in front of an old rickety bridge. “Friends!” Serena turned back with a wide grin. “We are here!”
“That’s a bridge.” I pointed out nervously as I tried to look through the heavy fog to see through the other side. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.
Which really isn’t helping my anxiety right now.
“Yes, it is. It’s the bridge of no return! Because once you cross that bridge, you can no longer return. The same goes for when you fall as well!”
I carefully made my way to the edge and peaked at the bottom. I still could not see where it ended. I immediately moved back. “Serena? What happens when we do fall? What’s down there exactly?”
“Who knows? Maybe your doom. Maybe you’ll magically float, maybe you’ll turn into a goat. Ha!” She started laughing hysterically making the rest of her Nymph sisters look at her in a weird way. Then she stopped laughing and gave me a serious look in a second. “But seriously. Don’t fall. And never EVER attempt to walk back. Keep this in mind because if you do, you’ll get lost.” Her tone of voice change to emphasize that she was not kidding.
That’s nice...very reassuring.
“Serena.” Prince Terrence came forward. “I’m grateful that you have been taking care of me all this time. And I am glad that you are finally reunited with your sisters. I hope to return here one day and visit this place once more.”
“Ah geez!” Serena scoffed. “It is not a big deal, my friend! After all, I did nothing because you were basically a rock! Like, you have ZERO maintenance so it was pretty easy. The least you can do right now if you want to return here is to fix the rift between here and there. Oh and I highly suggest that you train the princess properly. I mean, she has talent but doesn’t really use her...you know.” Serena pointed at her head.
“Hey! I am right here.” I protested and glared at the princes when I heard them snorting in agreement.
Serena shivered. “Wow. Things are really getting heated up there. Ferius is plotting something that is making the spirits become restless. Clearly not a good sign. But what’s clear right now si for the rest of you to go back up to the surface. Especially you,” Serena looked at me and it was the first time that I saw her having that expression since I met her. “The spirits are whispering to me that you should be careful and not act irrationally. Otherwise…” She trailed off and shook her head as if to vanish some unwanted thoughts.
Something about her words didn’t sit right with me that I started to worry about. Custard must have felt it because he suddenly nudged me with his shoulder and rubbed his head on my arm comfortingly.
“Anyway!” Serena was back to her usual cheery self. “I do hope that you guys will do well and be safe on your journey!”
“Isn’t there a safer path than the bridge?”
“Nope.” She answered.
“Thanks again, Serena. I will keep your warnings in mind.” Terrence said.
“Bye-bye! My sisters and I will head out first. Good luck and do not die!” Serena laughed once more before running back to the path where we came from. The other nymphs sighed and bowed to us before following their crazy leader.
We started heading towards the bridge and paused to marvel at the heavy fog that was surrounding it. “Father, the fog is too heavy. Maybe we should wait until it thins out?” Nate suggested.
I looked at the heavy fog again when an idea suddenly popped into my mind and I let out a scream. Immediately my voice echoed in the vast void that I started to chuckle at how ridiculous it sounds. I looked at the princes as I laughed and pointed at the fog. It appears that only Terrence seemed baffled by my action.
“Called it. I knew she’d do something like that.” Ren snicked while Ace rolled his eyes.
Nate placed a hand on his father’s shoulder comfortingly. “This is a regular scene, dad. Always expect the unexpected. Don’t feel so bad.”
“R-Right.” Terrence finally regained his composure. “Let’s go. Let us move slowly and carefully so we’ll all make it past the bridge.” Terrence was the first one to walk, followed by Nate. Viex and Custard morphed back into their smaller forms. Viex climbed onto Nate’s shoulder while Custard stayed behind with me. I could not help but notice that his other form has changed as well.
Instead of his old brown fur, he was now white with the same black fur covering his collar. He jumped into my arms and glanced up at me.
‘I’ll be with you along the way, master. Don’t be afraid.’ He says.
“Thanks, Custard.” I said gratefully to him.
Ren came and offered me his hand. “Let’s go.” He says. I gratefully took it and followed him to the bridge. It immediately shifted under our weight that I gripped Ren’s hand tightly. “Wow, Rose. You need to go on a diet.” He joked.
“If we weren’t on a bridge right now, I would really ask Custard to poke you with his horn.”
“How about you two keep a move on? Terrence and Nathaniel are already ahead.” Ace glowed at us impatiently.
“Right. Sorry.” Ren grumbled at him before securely holding my hand. “Let’s go Rose.” We started to move. As we did, I kept stealing glances at Ren and could not help but wonder. Is Ren getting braver at standing up to Ace lately or is he just that suicidal since his brother isn’t here?
The fog was starting to become thick and heavy that I was solely relying on Ren to guide me. I could barely see where I was going. Much less see the bridge.
A strong gust of wind suddenly blew making me drop to the ground and hug Custard tightly while my other hand covered my head in fear.
“Rose? Rose!?” I could hear Ren in the distance. I blinked.
Ren?
I glanced at my other hand that was supposedly holding on to him and let out a curse. How did we get separated?
“Ren? Ren, I am here.” I called out to him.
“Stay where you are! I’ll come right back.”
“You idiot!” I a voice spoke from behind me. I looked back to see him glowering at me with his arms crossed over his chest. It was Ace. He looked back up again in annoyance. “Don’t be a fool and try to walk back. The Nymph warned us that you’ll be lost if you attempt to return.”
“PRINCE Ace?” It was Nate. “Can you help her cross? Or at least make sure that she gets across?”
“Don’t order me around!” He snapped. “I was already planning on doing that!” He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“You heard that, Prince Ren? Rose will cross safely. Just continue what you were doing.”
“Hey, elf PRINCE! You better make sure that you come here with her.” Ren called out.
“Oh shut up! Simpletons like you do not have the right to order me around! I AM A PRINCE!” Then he glowered down at me, making me shiver on my spot. I gulped. This was not a good sign. “Get up and keep moving.”
I shivered on the spot. “That’s nice. But can you wait until-”
“Now.” There was an edge in his tone that made me shiver.
“Right. I did say I was going to cross the bridge.” My tone was rising in fear as I laughed nervously. I got up with shaky feet and gripped the rope with my other free hand. Custard whimpered worriedly. I started taking one step at a time as I tried to feel where my feet were stepping on to.
“Too slow!” Ace was behind, breathing down at me menacingly.
“I’m trying! All our previous falls gave me fear of heights!” I told him and started inching forward.
I heard Ace let out a sigh of frustration then the bridge started to move. I let out a scream before turning back to glare at him. For some reason, I could see what was behind me but not what was in front of me. I guess this is a part of the bridge’s illusion that temps people to walk back.
“Damn it, Ace!” I hissed at him.
“I told you...It’s PRINCE!” He stomped his foot on the bridge again and made it move even more.
“Hey, f*ck. Stop doing that!” I screamed.
“Are you going to walk faster or not?” He threatened me.
“I will! I will!” I said and started moving again.
“Still too slow. Do you want me to shake the bridge again?”
“I am walking as fast as I can you ass!” My feet started inching faster and faster. And with every progress I made, I felt Ace following closely behind me.
“Why are you pausing!?” He demanded started rocking the bridge again.
I screamed yet again. “F*CK YOU, ACE!”
“It’s PRINCE!” He shook the bridge violently and I screamed even more.
“YOU PSYCHO! DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY THE BRIDGE!?”
Ace paused and tapped his chin as if he was actually considering it. “You know, it’s not a bad idea.” He grabbed his bow and aimed the pointed blades at the rope.
“F*cking hell! Don’t!”
“ARE YOU GOING TO CROSS OR NOT!?”
“Dude! If you cut the bridge, you do realize that you are going down with me, right?”
“I can run faster than you and I know that I will make it past the other end.” He said it like it was common knowledge. “Now. Are you really to meet your maker?”
“You crazy elf!” I gasped and got on my feet again and started to move. More like, I was forcing my legs to keep on moving. To move faster and faster until I could finally see Terrence, Nate, and Ren on the other side.
I began to run this time. Seeing them gave me confidence and it was such a relief that I could finally see where I was going again.
“Rose, stop. Don’t run! There’s-” Ren started to warn me but it was too late. There was a gaping hole on the bridge that I did not notice because there was still a light fog on the ground. I let out a yelp as I began to fall halfway until I was suddenly floating.
Wait, no. Not floating. I was being carried.
I glanced up at Ace, who was now carrying me on my waist like I was a sack of potato. He sighed. “I guess it was a good choice that I stayed behind.” He said tiredly. “The Nymph already gave us the warning and yet those fools thought it was best that they take the lead.” He grumbled as he continued to walk while carrying me.
I looked up at him. “Wait. Did you purposely stayed back to make sure that I could cross?”
Ace flinched and stopped walking. But before I could ask him why, he suddenly threw me ahead, making me crash into Nate and Ren. I pulled myself back and glowered at Ace, who just managed to cross the bridge as well. “What’s the big idea of throwing me?!”
Ace paused. He gave me a bored sideways glance like I was an insignificant insect to him. “You’re heavy.” He said blatantly before looking up ahead. “Is that the exit?”
I followed his gaze, ignoring the fact that all I wanted to do right now was to murder him. Up ahead. We were now standing on a smaller land with literally nothing surrounding us. The only thing that was on this nightmare-ish land is the stone archway in front of us that was covered with vines and molds.
“Yes, it is. King Varon use this gate all the time before. But only the Nymphs can actually find the bridge. ” Terrence answered and gestured for us to follow him. “Come on, everyone. It’s time for us to head home.” He smiled before walking on ahead. The princes and I studied each other. Viex hopped from Nate’s shoulder and then to mine.
‘Can’t wait to see the surface again.’ Viex said and wagged his tails in excitement.
“Me too, Viex. Me too.” I reached up and scratched his head before I followed the princes towards the exit.