Star Crossed In Time

"If it's all closed up, how will we get them back in?" I ask looking up at the solid ceiling. Eris gives me a knowing smirk as she says "We need it closed to keep them sealed but we don't need it open to put them back." 

Confused, I slightly nod my head and say "I'm gonna let you, do you... Guozhi will be back with the Baby's Flesh soon." She gives me a grateful look as she says "Thank you. Now I can focus on the trap without having to stop."  

We all go to the top side and when she looks around the blackened ground, she whistles low and says "What a nasty person... he didn't even spare the children..." I look over to where she's gazing at but I see nothing but scorched remains. 

I look back to Eris and wonder if she knew this was a town and how she knew even children were killed but when I see her still focused on a certain spot, I turn to look again. Nothing... I slowly turn back to her and watch her closely.

Her silvery blue eyes stare into the emptiness with an intense gaze but when I see the mournful look, full of compassion, pass her pretty face, I quickly realize that she's truly seeing something that the rest of us can't. 

Bai Lei places his hand on my lower back and watches Eris closely. Suddenly, she says "I will release them all and help them pass over. It happened so quickly, they don't understand what has happened..."

Before I can ask her anything else, she says "Videre" in a haunting whisper. It echos in a way that makes it feel as if more than one person saying it at the same time. Suddenly, a powerful wave of energy washes over me, making me shiver.

I watch in a mixture of awe and horror as hundreds of ghost-like figures begin to show up... or maybe they were here the whole time and I'm just now able to see them!? I cling to Bai Lei's side as a ghostly body passes by us, heading straight for Eris.

Bai Lei watches everything with large eyes but he doesn't seem freaked out like me. I look back over to Eris to see her slowly kneeling before a small ghostly frame. It's a child... she's saying something to the child as multiple children begin to show up around her.

I almost want to move closer, almost, but I keep my distance and keep my mouth shut. I don't do scary very well, never have, but this girl looks like she's completely in her zone. At complete ease, as she speaks to the ghosts surrounding her.

"What is she doing?" Bai Lei finally asks making me slightly shrug as I say "She said something about releasing them and helping them pass over. I think these are all the townspeople that were here when it blew up... I think she's trying to help them."

When we both hear a gasp, we turn around to find Guozhi standing behind us with the old, bald man in tow. They both stare at the large mass of ghosts with the same look I had, awe and horror. Another wave of energy pulses out of Eris making all four of us step back.

It was a strange power... foreign but strong. She suddenly starts humming a tune that has me clutching my ċhėst. I grit my teeth and struggle to keep standing as my soul feels like it's crying out in sorrow. 

Eris slowly turns to look at me with a frown before slowly walking over to me. I struggle to breathe as tears begin to fill my eyes. The ghosts around us begin to glow brighter as her beautiful voice echos all around us like a beautiful nightmare.

Even Bai lei and the others seem to be affected but not as badly as I am... Eris stops in front of me and because we're about the same height, she stares into my eyes like she's seeing my very soul. I can't look away from her... the tune she continues to hum is so beautiful and yet, so heartbreaking. 

She slowly reaches out and covers my ears as large tears stream down my face. Everyone including myself seems to be in a strange trance but as soon as I feel her touch, it feels as if my soul is suddenly released from the strange hold.

The ghosts continue to glow brighter as they begin to fade away. Bai Lei clenches his teeth and holds onto my side, not knowing what to do but still ready to take action if needed. The last of her strange melody echos around us in a haunting way before all the ghosts suddenly disappear. 

Eris stops humming and everything around us becomes eerie quiet. She slowly lowers her hands off my ears as she looks at me with those piercing, knowing eyes that always seem to see way more than they should.

She reaches out and wipes my tears as she says "Do not be ashamed of your scars, Cheri. Embrace them and let them become your battle strips. Your pain can become your sharpest, deadliest weapon but you must learn to control it so that it will not control you."

"And then, use it to destroy the very person who gave them to you. Make them regret ever giving you such a powerful weapon." She says as her eyes suddenly flash. I blink away the new fresh tears as I look at this beautiful woman before me.

She's right... everything she says is right. I tighten my fists as I try to settle my raw heart. Bai Lei's eyes are red as he pulls me closer to his side but when I hear sniffing, we all turn to look at Guozhi and the old man.

The old man wipes away his tears with a shivering chin as Guozhi bites his fists with teary eyes. Guozhi quickly removes his hand and wipes his face as he says "I was biting my hand too hard and it hurt... haha... I got what you needed!" 

He then reaches his hand out as the herbs suddenly appear. She looks at it and takes it saying "I will never grow tired of seeing y'all do that! With everything I can do, I can't make things appear and disappear with a snap of my fingers. It's like a magic storage pouch..."

She holds the Baby's Flesh and walks over to the darkest spot. "I really wish I knew how to do it as well... it would really come in handy when I do jobs..." She continues to mumble to herself as Bai Lei reaches out and gently touches my face.

I look over to him and give him a small smile as he asks "Are you okay?" I nod my head and say "She has a really pretty voice... it brought up some old pain." Bai Lei silently nods his head as he turns back to Eris with a watchful look. 

I think she unnerves him... hehe. "Okay! I recommend everyone stay back and stay completely silent. Like I said before, even though these things are super fast and strong, they're kinda dumb." We all look at each other and nod before slowly walking over to the side to watch her in action.

Guozhi stands his ground with a conflicted look on his face and says "I can't just leave you to deal with these things all alone! I will stay and fight beside you. I want to keep you safe." Eris pauses and turns to look at Guozhi with a blank look.

She awkwardly clears her throat and says "As nice as that is... I need you to go with the others. If you stay here, you'll only become a hindrance and I will probably end up getting hurt trying to keep you alive." 

Guozhi flinches at the word 'hindrance' making me slightly smile. Now he looks like a beaten puppy! "We're short on time Guozhi, hurry up," I say trying to keep the smile off my face. Normally I would agree with Guozhi and demand to stay and fight with her but I had felt her power. Her strength... she was capable of handling these things. She did seal them away before... 

Guozhi walks over to us with his head down and imaginary tail tucked between his legs. His behavior was truly confusing to me but he seems to have really taken a liking to the woman. Eris places the Baby's Flesh onto the ground and with a soft word, it catches fire.

Soon, the smell of burning flesh begins to fill the air and even though I know it's not real flesh, I still struggle to keep from gagging. The smell was horrible! The ground under my feet begins to tremble as we all hear a loud roar in the distance. 

I can't believe they smelt it so soon but when I look back over to Eris, I see that she's using her magic to amplify the effect. No wonders...