After Life 2

  The Book of Shadows

  Arc 3: TBD

  Chapter 1: Children of the New Dawn

  I sat cross-legged by the campfire, the flickering flames casting a warm glow on the eager faces of the children gathered around me. Seven pairs of eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement, reflecting the dancing light of the fire. I had been regaling them with stories of the Afterlife, but I could see that they were far from satisfied.

  “Aww, come on! You’re leaving us on a cliffhanger?!” Lila complained, her brow furrowed in mock frustration. She kicked a pebble into the fire, sending embers spiraling into the night sky. “What happened to Shado?!”

  “Are you trying to tell us that the statues in the center of town are actually two living beings?” Jax chimed in, his voice dripping with skepticism. He leaned back on his elbows, arms crossed like a judge. “Now I know you’re just pulling our leg.”

  Milo, ever the philosopher, leaned forward, his eyes serious. “You’re giving us more questions than answers. The whole point of the campout was for you to explain to us what’s going on. You haven’t explained anything about how we got here, who we are, what we’re supposed to do, anything about the survivors in the bubble. And yeah! You can’t leave us on ‘Shado is stuck in hell’ right before bed!”

  Jax rolled his eyes dramatically. “Yeah, Arch! We came here to learn, not to be scared by ghost stories!”

  Lila squeaked, “I, I heard from Ghyia that the Ultra Blood Hunters tried to dig under the bubble, but it’s a full sphere. So they can’t get in, right?”

  I chuckled softly, my eyes twinkling with amusement. I tossed a pinecone into the fire, watching it hiss and spark. “Yes, full sphere of protection. We are completely safe while inside. What? You kids aren’t tired yet? Very well then. But as soon as I see your eyes start to droop, I’m calling it a night.”

  Milo threw a large log onto the fire with a flourish. “Ha! That’s going to take a while to burn. Guess we’re not done yet.”

  I smirked at Milo’s passive-aggressive move, leaning back on my palms. The forest echoed with the chirr of unseen insects and the occasional hoot of a nightbird overhead, as if even the wild things were waiting to hear what came next.

  “Alright, alright. Where was I? Ah, yes. Two hundred years ago, and the twins had just been born. The forest was rapidly regrowing into its beautiful, luminous state. Trees aggressively climbing to the sky, their leaves shimmering with a soft, ethereal light. It wasn’t just restoration, it was expansion. Even the edges of the NGP were being overtaken. The air was thick with the scent of new growth and the promise of renewal.”

  The children leaned closer, their breaths visible in the cool night air. Lila wrapped her arms around herself, shivering—not from fear, but anticipation.

  In the days following the battle with Sariph, I found Ghyia and the Enlightened Ones gathered in the center of town just outside the NGP base, their faces etched with concern. The still bodies of Byson and Apeiro loomed in the center, a constant reminder of the unresolved conflict. Yes loomed not lay, because there was no ignoring their presence. Vines had already begun to curl around their forms like veins, their green tendrils pulsing faintly with bioluminescent energy.

  Ghyia had taken up the role of groundskeeper. I found her gently clearing vines from Byson’s cheek. Apeiro’s body lay entwined with Byson’s, their fused energy crackling like a live wire.

  “We must find a way to free them,” Ghyia said, her voice soft but resolute. Her hands trembled slightly as she worked. “Look at Byson’s skin. It’s starting to turn ashen.”

  I touched her on the shoulder. She flinched but didn’t pull away.

  “The energy buildup is too dangerous at this stage. Who knows what damage could be done. Just this base? The entire world? Galaxy? Worse? Even touching them could trigger an explosion.”

  Ghyia nodded, her eyes distant. “I agree. I just... I can’t help but worry he feels abandoned.”

  “Yes, we must proceed with caution, and yes we must proceed. We will not abandon him.”

  Ghyia frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. “We need to understand the nature of their bond. Why are they locked together? That is the question, isn’t it? We must investigate further.”

  “I have some ideas,” I added. “But doing it safely is the hard part. We’ve got people with powers we barely understand. A mind reader might connect with Byson—but what if that moment of distraction breaks the bond instead of revealing it? Let me check in with Em. He’s probably buried in Doc’s leftovers by now.”

  Ghyia’s sigh carried the weight of centuries. “Just… hurry.”

  I left her, setting my sights on the NGP base. Em found himself drawn to the NGP base’s lab. He was in his element—disassembled tech everywhere, sparks flying, the stink of ozone so sharp it bit at the back of my throat. He looked like hell. Which, for Em, meant brilliance just barely restrained by a failing body. The remnants of Doc’s experiments lay scattered across the workbenches, and Em couldn’t resist the urge to delve into the mind of the previous scientist. He had spent hours poring over blueprints and notes, trying to understand the complex machinery that had once held the Ultrasapiens captive.

  I interrupted him, my voice tinged with concern. “You need to rest. You’re not going to fix everything in a single caffeine-fueled sprint.”

  He looked up. Eyes bloodshot, smile wild. “I can’t stop now, Arch. I’m close. I can feel it. If I can understand how Doc’s energy syphon works, I might be able to reverse engineer it. We might even save the Ultras who were converted.”

  I sighed, knowing it was futile to argue. “Alright, but promise me you’ll take a break soon.”

  Em nodded absently, already turning his attention back to his work. “I promise.”

  Before leaving, I rested a hand on the workbench. The metal felt unnaturally warm, as if Doc’s inventions were still giving off energy. I knew Em was out of his element for years. I was happy to see that he could apply his genius once again. His connection to Doc through his work was something that Em needed, craved. I decided to direct my attention to Cole and his twins. Perhaps they could give me the direction I was looking for.

  I navigated the narrow hallways to Cole’s room. Inside, what’s left of the Lucky Seven—Cole, Rush, Kid, Blazer, then joined by Gaze—all sat in a circle around the twins. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and concern.

  The twins, born to Cole and Gaze, within days now already grown to pre-teens, dressed in white cloth robes, sat calmly in the center, their eyes reflecting the wisdom of ages. Such captivating eyes. They radiated not just youth, but a paradox—something ancient peering through the frame of children. Their irises flickered faintly, like embers, whenever they used their abilities.

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  These beings were interesting to me. Beings who came to us so recently. Evolving rapidly. Powerful. Their eyes were a perfect blend of their parents. Cole’s hazel color around the edges, and Gaze’s piercing green in the center.

  Undoubtedly they inherited the power of their parents. The power of both, passed to one generation. Born of two reflections of the same soul from different dimensions. Cole with the ability to force anyone to do what he told them to do, and Gaze with the same ability but all she had to do was look them in the eye. Twins born from a mirror folded in on itself. A miracle of creation. Destiny knotted into bloodlines. Born to Cole and Gaze who have been connected through time and space since they can remember. Their origin felt more like prophecy than biology.

  Blazer broke the silence, his voice steady. “Cole, we need to know more about the bubble. Can it hold? Will it protect us?”

  The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions serene. The boy lifted a hand as if he was about to speak. He did not speak, as they have never spoken, but the images transmitted from his mind would have translated to, The shield will hold. It is powered by our presence. As long as we remain within, it will protect us.

  The girl’s irises flared green as she built on the message: No evil can possibly pass through. Not physically. Not spiritually. Not even evil intent can slip inside. The shield transcends past a mere physical barrier. It is pure protection. Rest knowing while inside, no harm will come to us.

  Cole rubbed his temples. “But what about names? This is all too confusing. We need to know who you are, and I’m not just talking in the simple sense. What do we call you? Where did you come from? Why are you here? I can feel your intentions... I know you’re on our side, that you’re here to help. But we can’t function on feelings alone. We need language. We need understanding. Can you explain?”

  The twins smiled, their expressions filled with understanding. We do not need names. Our presence is enough.

  Cole snorted. “Well, I’m your father. If you won’t choose names, I’m calling you Bonnie and Clyde.”

  The twins giggled. Gaze elbowed Cole, laughing. “You are not naming our kids after criminals.”

  “Then do you have a better idea?”

  “They’re angels. They should have angel names. Aurora and Gabriel.”

  Cole studied the twins’ reactions, waiting for rejection—or maybe a silent war of approval. He was quickly let down when the feeling they produced affirmed they had fallen in love with Aurora and Gabriel. The feeling produced filled the room for all. It was the joy of being a kid and experiencing ice cream for the first time, mixed with the warmth of the sun touching your skin.

  The twins’ telepathic communications followed as a singular echoing voice, We like these names. Gabriel the archangel and messenger from God. Aurora the archangel of peace, new beginnings, and the Light of God. These titles are fitting and bring us joy.

  Cole threw his arms up, “Huzzaah! Now we’re getting somewhere!”

  The others stood silent, awash in emotion. Just the sheer emotion generated by being pleased by names was like ecstasy to them. Even Blazer looked dazed.

  “Damn,” Blazer muttered. “What a rush. I forgot what it felt like to be a kid. Just for a second, I remembered.”

  Gabriel raised a hand, the shared emotions faded, clearing the telepathic space like fog evaporating in the morning sun. The telepathic voice continued, We are half breeds. Half omniscient, half Ultrasapien. We are half here with you, and half of a higher dimension. We manifested through Cole and Gaze to exist in the state you see before you. We came here to protect.

  “Protect what?” asked Rush.

  The visions came: stars, Earth, spirals of galaxies, doppelgangers, golden light...

  Rush stumbled with his words. “Go.. Golden?.. What is it I’m.. Golden Earth. That’s what I’m getting. What does it mean?”

  Kid pressed his fingers to his temples, his voice reverent. “This… This is the Golden Earth. Or golden dimension. This place. This time. This Cole. It’s special.”

  The telepathic voice continues, Yes. We came here to protect. You needed guidance. Our power was too great to arrive in full. We fragmented, embodied as two. Now, we are not as powerful as we were in the higher dimension. Much of ourselves has been lost in translation. We had to make this sacrifice because we knew the work you the Ultrasapiens will do now, will heal the universes. To start we created the shield. It gives space for life to thrive. It allows the Ultrasapiens to thrive. It stops the demon from consuming all. The more this universe is healed, the stronger we will become, and in turn larger the shield will grow.

  Blazer squinted. “Wait—you keep saying universes. Plural. What do you mean?”

  A barrage of images and feelings crashed in—stars, strange terrains, multiple Blazers, colors bending reality. It was too much.

  “Okay, enough!” Blazer gasped, grabbing his chest, trying to ground himself.

  At this stage I felt as though this extraterrestrial encounter would enthrall the group for hours. I had to interject, “Gabriel, Aurora. What about Shado? Do you know what happened to him? Can we help him?”

  Shado is alive. He is in danger. He is in the realm we cannot see into. The demon realm. The shadow realm. Hell. He is trapped, being tortured. He is bait in a trap, and we must save him, now. He is vital to the future. Arch, you must work with the Enlightened Ones. They have the answers to save Shado.

  My palms itched with the sudden urge to act. The twins’ words hung in the air like a live wire. I stood abruptly with the chill of urgency. I went outside into the bioluminescent forest where Ghyia awaited, her silhouette sharp against the glow.

  “They said we’d know how to save him?” she murmured, her voice tinged with doubt. “But we don’t know how to enter the shadow realm. Our powers have always been aligned with the light. For us, practice in the dark arts is forbidden.”

  I crossed my arms. “Forbidden or not, Shado’s running out of time.”

  Ghyia’s eyes flashed. “Then we’ll need more than forbidden magic. We’ll need answers.”

  She raised her voice, summoning the Enlightened Ones. Within moments, the clearing buzzed with energy as Justice, Fate, Journey, Papa Legba, Ktroll, Gin, Cinder, and a small group more materialized in a circle around them. The air thickened with the weight of their combined focus.

  Ghyia began, recounting the twins’ revelations. When she finished, silence stretched taut as a bowstring.

  “Does anyone know how to save Shado?” Ghyia asked, her tone urgent. “Does anyone have any idea how to enter the shadow dimension?”

  Heads shook. Journey brushed her black hair out of her vision. “We know Shado’s suit taps into demon energy, but he’s not here right now. Summoning another demon. No, I don't think so. And Cain’s method? Destroying dimensions? That’s not exactly a viable option.”

  Ghyia turned to Papa Legba, the gatekeeper of the spirit realms. “Even you, Papa?”

  Papa’s dreadlocks swayed as he shook his head, his accent thick, his voice a rumble of thunder. “I can walk between realms, yes. But the shadow realm? Mi nah open dat door. The things that reside there… They hunger.”

  Frustrated, I pressed. “Is there any way to reach him without opening the gates to hell? Shado did it all the time!”

  Papa’s voice darkened. “Shado’s suit is different. His suit isn’t just tech. The demon energy embedded in it acts like a key. But even he couldn’t stay long. That realm rejects outsiders.”

  Gin, the dimension-hopping trickster, snorted. “Rejects? Try shreds. I’ve danced with reality itself, but the shadow realm? It’s a prison. A quarantine. And Shado is in the darkest cell.”

  I turned to Gin. “Could you take me there? Just once? For my wish?”

  Gin laughed, a sound like shattering glass. “Nice try, Arch. But my kind of travel is internal, dreams, meditations, mindscapes. This? This is external. You’d need a passport stamped in blood. A sacrifice I’m not dumb enough to give.”

  Ktroll, the grey bearded dream-wizard, chimed in from the shadows, his pipe flickering light onto his face. “Cole’s dream door was a hack. A jury-rigged bridge between dimensions. But even that required a sacrifice. And I’m fresh out of centuries to lose.”

  The conversation went silent for a while. Then Papa Legba’s voice cut through the tension. “Cole’s door was a between-place. A crafted dimension, half-dream, half-reality. It was crafted specifically for him. But the shadow realm? No craft. No cheating. Only the gate. The key? Demon energy, or sacrifice… The ultimate sacrifice.”

  My mind raced. The pieces were starting to connect. “So, dreams can bridge dimensions. Could we use that? If I get to Shado, he’s my ticket out. Instant teleportation.”

  Cinder, Shado’s lover, stepped forward, her presence a quiet storm. Her hands clenched at her sides, knuckles whitening. “I’ll go. Whatever it takes.”

  Ghyia placed a hand on Cinder’s shoulder. “We will need your help, but you’re not going. Your love for him can help guide us to him. Love transcends and pierces through dark energies. But Arch—” She turned to me, her eyes sharp. “I think I know a way for you to get to him. This won’t be easy. You’ll need to evolve. To master your power fully.”

  My breath hitched. I knew what she meant. The Ultrasapien Dream. The primordial vision that had birthed my powers. To access it fully meant confronting its dangers, the raw chaos from which my abilities had emerged.

  “It’s the only way.” Ghyia said softly. “You must journey into your dream. Complete it. Face whatever horrors lie within. Then once completed you will be nested at the edge able to cross over. However you will still have to produce the ultimate sacrifice in order to cross into the shadow realm. It’s a gamble. If you don’t succeed you could be there forever. If you survive, you’ll be able to bring Shado back.”

  Ktroll groaned. “This is madness. Nobody but me has completed their dream. You don’t know the dangers you will encounter. The stronger the Ultra the more you will have to overcome. Each dream is different, testing the individual. There’s no advice I can give to you.”

  I didn’t blink. “But if I complete my dream I will be more powerful, correct? So I should be able to save Shado no problem. How do we start?”

  Ktroll stared like I was insane. Ghyia gestured to the forest. “We’ll channel our powers, just as we did for Cole. But this time, we’ll amplify your connection to the dream. Then we’ll utilize Cinder’s love as the beacon.”

  As we stepped into the trees, I felt the familiar thrill of fear and anticipation. This was how legends were born—not with certainty, but with the courage to leap into the unknown.