~Chapter Three~

~Opening doors~

Instantaneously, I feel a rush of wind as all I can see is white, my eyes slowly dilate so I can see. I look at Lizzie, “It’s bright.”

She laughs. I stand there. Happy that she’s here with me. “Through this way.” The elf bellowed. 

“Wow, you spoke? I thought you were a mute.” I laughed.

“Speak out of line again and I’ll have your head.”

I turn to Lizzie and we both start laughing. “Lizzie, do you think that it’s serious?” 

She shrugs. “Elisabeth, that is your full name?” We both stare at the elf. She nods. 

I stare shocked.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH US?” I shout. 

The elf Ignore me. I decide to stay silent and take in my new surroundings. Suddenly, the elf stepped forward, it’s eyes glowing in the dim light. It’s movements were graceful, almost unnatural, as if it were part of the world itself rather than just passing through it. I couldn’t help but feel both awed and cautious at the same time. Lizzie, as usual, seemed unfazed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she took in the details of the new world around us.

“This way,” the elf bellowed again, its voice low, but firm. The air around us felt thick with tension, and the strange, ethereal glow of the surroundings only made the moment more surreal.

I looked over at Lizzie, her expression confident but I could see the fear. “Is it just me, or does this whole place feel…wrong?” I whispered.

Lizzie, always the level-headed one, adjusted her glasses and glanced around. “It’s not wrong, it’s just unfamiliar. But we’ve been through worse, right?”

I nodded, recalling all the bizarre adventures Lizzie and I had found ourselves in. But this? This was different. It felt like we had stepped into a different world entirely, one where the rules didn’t quite apply.

The elf, clearly growing impatient, began to walk again, motioning for us to follow. Lizzie didn’t hesitate, stepping forward with her usual calm demeanor. I, however, hung back for a moment, glancing at the elf and then at Lizzie. The elf’s warning echoed in my mind.

“Lizzie, do you think they’re going to hurt us?” I asked quietly.

Lizzie tilted her head, her voice steady but with a hint of concern. “I don’t know, but we need to stay alert. We might be walking into something we don’t fully understand.”

I gave her a small nod, trying to shake off the unease creeping up my spine. Together, we followed the elf through the winding path, the ground beneath our feet soft and strange. The further we walked, the more surreal the environment became—trees with glowing blue leaves, vines that seemed to move on their own, and the faint hum of distant voices that couldn’t be pinpointed.

The elf stopped suddenly, turning to face us. “You’re here because you’ve been chosen,” it said, its voice suddenly softer, almost like a warning.

“Chosen for what?” I blurted, unable to contain my curiosity. Lizzie shot me a look, but I couldn’t help it. This whole situation was too strange to just accept without questions.

The elf looked at us, her eyes narrowing slightly. “That is for you to discover… but remember, not all choices come without consequences.”

Lizzie’s hand brushed against mine, a small but reassuring gesture. I could tell she was trying to make sense of everything just as much as I was.

“Consequences?” Lizzie asked carefully, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her eyes.

The elf gave a slow, deliberate nod. “Everything has a price. But I cannot say more.”

A chill ran down my spine. “So, what do we do now?”

The elf gestured toward a looming structure in the distance, half obscured by mist. “Enter there, and your journey begins. But beware, not everything will be as it seems.”

Lizzie met my gaze, her expression thoughtful but determined. “Let’s go, Elisabeth. Whatever this is, we can handle it.”

I hesitated for only a moment before nodding, a mix of fear and excitement rising in my chest. “Alright. Let’s go.”

As we moved toward the mysterious structure, I felt an odd sense of calm settle over me. Lizzie was right—we had made it through everything together so far. This would be no different.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever awaited us inside would change everything.