Chapter Text
“Do you see that knot in the trunk?” Elix asks me softly, pointing to a nearby tree. The knot is larger than most, and perfectly round. It looks unlike anything that could be naturally created. “I think faeries live here.”
I smile. Faeries were some of the kindest beings on the planet, at least in my experience. We won’t have to worry any more.
My eyes start to see the soft glimmers of the fae, now that I know they are here. My mind starts to clear up, the unnecessary and negative thoughts being swept away. For the first time in weeks, I feel calm. That is one of the effects of the fae, just their presence can make you feel so much more at ease.
“Come on” I say, wrapping my arm around Elix. “They don’t need to be disturbed by us, I don’t really want to destroy this sense of peace and serenity that they have created here.” Elix leans into me, an unspoken way of saying ‘No, this is perfect, let’s just stay here.’ And for a minute, my heart is tempted to agree.
I softly kiss their soft hair. “Elix” I murmur into their hair. “We can’t stay here, you know that. I’d say that there’s less than an hour more of walking before we get to the fence.” Elix turns around and buries their face in my shoulder.
Ultimately giving up on trying to persuade Elix to keep moving, I give in. I wrap my arms securely around their back, and lift them into the air. I start walking forward. Instinctively, Elix starts to thrash at me, begging me to let them go. My arms stay firmly across their back. Eventually, they give out a reluctant sigh, letting their limbs hang limp. I start to drag them further to the east.
Much to his dismay, I set Elix back on the ground, after my arms were pained and tired. He frowns, but grudgingly follows behind me. Travelling over mossy roots, weaving in and out of low hanging branches, and prying ourselves through tall grasses and bushes, or young trees.
The sun begins to turn the sky a light purple, and the clouds are tinted orange. we should have been well out of the forest by now, but there is no fence in sight. Just as I convince myself that we have gone the wrong way and need to turn back, a sharp glint of light catches my eye. Something that could only be caused by something metallic.
Elix smiles and open-mouthed smile at me, their eyes filled with hope and excitement. Could this be it??
Sure enough, as we got closer, I could make out a fence, clearly separating the forest from the rest of civilization. My hands were shaking. Elix grabs my wrist, whether to contain him or myself I don’t know. It was here, standing in front of us, less than 100 paces away. Each step closer feels more and more unreal.
Within arm reach of the wire that was strung in front of us, and I feel like I am in a dream. Looking left, there is a tall gate, the same as the one we entered the forest through. Beyond here, lies the rest of our lives.
In one part of me, I cannot wait any longer to get out of this forest. To escape the trauma it has created. But another part – a part so small, so buried away but still fighting to make itself heard – is scared. Wants to go back, to let the virus take me.
I look at Elix hesitantly. They glance down at my hand and move their own down from my wrist to interlock our fingers. Their free hand holds mine, and places it on the latch. They wrap their hand over, and together our hands twist, opening the gate.
Together, we took that one final step through the gate, into East Vaandor. A few short seconds of silence fell over us, until we both burst into tears of happiness. Elix collapses onto me, relief swept over him like a storm. I wrap my arms tightly around his back. My arm reaches up to hold is head, shaky fingers running through battered hair.
Not very far away, is a small village. Shops are being closed, dim lights are being turned on in homes, and people are walking through the streets, completing any final tasks before returning home to their families for dinner, and then later going off to bed. It looks so peaceful.
Elix turns to face me, lips softly pressing against my own. Both our lips curve into a smile, eventually resulting in laughter, breaking us apart. Tears of joy bead in my eyes, trickling down my cheek. This is the happiest moment of my life.
As the final rays of the sun’s light fade, and Elix rests his head on my shoulder, I stare off into the horizon. I smile and shake my head. I don’t see anything else but us. I am okay.