Torri Illan - Decisions

I closed the car door and closed my eyes for a moment.  Another day, another file folder, another phone call.  I made it through another day and now it was time to go home.  Deep breaths.  This is why you came back here right?  I thought to myself.  A nine-to-five was nothing to complain about, and yet, why did it feel like this town would be the death of me?  Cathy was nice, the job was fine.  I needed to get out of this town.  I bucked my seatbelt and started the car.

Red lights and traffic left me in front of the White Horse.  In the summer the doors would be open and a dozen or so people would be playing music by the patio.  This time of year, the doors stayed shut to keep the cold out.  Wasn’t there an open mic tonight?  I kept on my way.

Jessica and Hailey had been in the Research Triangle for years.  They went to State, I went to Emory.  They made their lives out east; I’m stuck here.  How did this happen?  Maybe I should take a hint from Karen and move to China.  Quick merge onto highway 9.  I got home and went straight to my room.  I can’t be the only one with so many thoughts.  My gaze wandered; landing first on my desk, my clock, my computer, and then that book.  I closed my eyes and tried to shut everything out.

I was an island in the dark.  Well, one might say it was dark, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say there was nothing to be seen.  I stretched my arms and legs as I floated through the emptiness.  How did I get here?  I couldn't remember.  A soft blue flashing caught my eye.  I had a KI message.  I made to read it, but the display wouldn't raise.  Is it broken?  I kept pressing the button, cursing under my breath.

I heard a voice.  “Tori?  Where are you”

I looked around, but there was only me in this void.  “Hello?” I called out, hoping I sounded braver than I felt.  There was nothing, but the memory rang clear in my mind.  How did I get here?  I needed to get out.  I reached for my Relto only to find it was gone.

The black filled with KI projections filled with messages.  Hannah; Mark; Flora; Steven; a Guild of Messenger bulletin?

I fell.  The KI projections disappeared into darkness as I was hit by the adrenaline.  From below something started to take shape.  It was a lake, it was the cavern lake!  The Yellow water rushed towards me as I struggle helplessly to fly.  I wanted to scream but the fall had taken my breath.  I knew I would hit the water any second and I threw up my hands instinctively to protect my face.

My eyes flashed open to the sight of bedroom wall and soon the floor as I fell out of my bed.  Well, that was embarrassing.  I pulled myself up.  My mother called from downstairs asking if I was alright.  I looked to the book on my shelf.  I took it down and examined it.  Green cover with slightly yellowed pages.  It looked more like a journal than anything else.  I opened the cover and watched the image on the right hand page pass through the clouds to the High Place.  My mother called again from below.  "Just a minute," I called.  I looked around my room.  Now where did I put that KI?

Torri Illan - Flight of Fancy

I woke up this morning with a dull headache.  It wasn't long before I found my way to the medicine cabinet.  I've had too many  of those days lately.  Maybe if I caught it early enough I could stop it.  No work today.  That’s a relief, I thought to myself.

After a quick shower I thought I saw it in the mirror.  Five nights I had seen it.  Stupid Vinsce.  I should give him a punch in the gut for that.  Of course, I'd never tell him.  I needed to get away.  I needed to clear my mind.

I grabbed my KI and sent Hannah a quick message.

"Lets do something fun today"

A few moments, and then my KI flashed with a message.

Sure. I'll take you on an adventure! :)

I closed my eyes for a moment.  A flash of memory.  The Spiral glowed in the darkness; a sound comes from behind me.  I turn to the cloaked figure with daggers in hand.  In the darkness I can hear the sound of blood dripping.  He moves fast toward me.  I force myself awake again.  It's no wonder I haven't been sleeping well.

My hands were shaking again.  I shook my head in hopes of loosing the memory.  My KI flashed again.  Meet me in the Watcher's Pub.  A few links later I was met by Hannah.

"That was fast."

"Yeah, well I figured you'd want to get started early."

"You're not wrong."

Soon we found ourselves in Er'cana.  I had been here before, but never felt the need to return.  I left the lighting of the cavern to others.

“So, why Er’cana?” I asked.”  I turned to see Hannah with bundles of what appeared to be bamboo and canvas.

“Gimme a hand with this.”  Hannah said as she passed one of the bundles my way.  “You’ve been here before, right?”  I nodded.  "I've been working on a project for the past few days."  We began walking from the link-in zone.  "I've been collecting bamboo from Eder Kemo over the last few weeks.  And I lucked into an old DRC tent from a rooftop in Ae'gura; I doubt it will be missed."

“And your plan?”  My question was answered with a grin and a point toward the cliff that brought an
abrupt end to the trail; that was presumably was the cause of the broken tram tracks over head.  “How is a tent going to help you?”

Hannah laughed.  “Not a tent.  A glider!”  I stopped walking.  Hannah turned realizing I was no longer following her.  I began to protest.  Of course, it wasn't long before Hannah had convinced me of her plan.  Convinced, but not thrilled about it.

The glider was large, but still only big enough to support one of us.  Lucky me.  It seems I was going to ride it across the gap with rope in hand.  The tricky part was getting onto the track; but after some time and a few bruised ribs later, I was balanced on the track with the glider.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?”

“Absolutely.”  Hannah called.  “I used it in Eder Gira just the other day.”

I thought briefly about how the steam vents in that age would have made for a prolonged flight and then readied myself for the jump.  I had a short run of track before me.  As long as I didn't slip I should be able to get the lift I needed for the glide.  Ready.  Go.

My heart hung in my mouth as I jumped from the end of the rail.  I tensed up expecting the ground to rush at me.  It was only after hearing Hannah cheering that I realized I had closed my eyes.  I looked around and found I was gliding across the gap.  It was working!

Then I heard a tearing sound.  I looked to the side and saw wing was tearing.  The glider began to roll to the left and then pitched forward.  In a spin, I dropped the glider and reached out to anything I could catch.  When my sense of direction returned, I realized I had one hand on the lip of the gap.  The glider had wrecked below me and I was sliding down towards it.

I fell.  I was dazed from the impact. When I came to my senses again, I opened my eyes to Hannah shouting down at me from the edge of the drop.  My clothes were soaked.  The water was deeper than I expected.

“Torri!  Are you alright?”

“I’m here.”  My voice was weaker than I had expected.  I reached for my Relto.  It must have been lost in the crash.  Where did it go?

I stood up and checked again for any serious damage.  “Torri, I think I’m going to need a rope.”  I continued my search for the book.  It must be here somewhere.  I wouldn't be leaving this pit until I found it.

A rope descended from above.  Hannah wanted me to test it before she climbed down to help.  I took the rope in my left hand and placed the other on the canyon wall in front of me.  I felt a strange sensation.  A soft blue glow drew my eye.

Quickly, I drew my hand back from the wall.  There it was again.  I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.  The spiral was still there.