Jogger's Trail (Part 12)

This is part 12, the last (official) installment of Jogger's Trail.

For previous installments please click below:

Jogger's Trail. - Jogger's Trail the Story. - Part 2. - Part 3. - Part 4. - Part 5. - Part 6. - Part 7. - Part 8. - Part 9. - Part 10. - Part 11

“Do I need to sacrifice much more?” I protest but still hold my hand out begrudgingly.

“No, this is for us to do.” He explains, proceeding to cut himself and drip the blood into the cauldron.

Then cutting Mendel, Alaric and Madra as well.

Once Madra’s blood joins the others and is floating on top of the liquid the four droplets merge. Then the liquid turns a sullen grey like the veils of the perils before they had collapsed.

The liquid stills itself, becoming a murky grey pool with no reflection or opacity.

“Now what?” I find myself asking with impatience, fidgeting with the chain of my mother’s locket.

“We drink and then we can pass through the veil and it will transform us into our new forms. Either taking us to the next plain or giving us a second chance.”Nakos explains, giving the liquid a stir with his long bony finger.

“Gross,” I mutter under my breath, in reference to the drinking of the concoction.

“Oh you don’t have to, just we do.” He clarifies, with an amused chuckle.

“How do I get out of here then?” I inquire, suddenly worried I will be left behind.

“Dip your locket in and your soul will become one with your body when you pass through the veil again.” He explains with a pleased smile.

“Now?” I ask, pulling the locket out from under my collar and taking a step closer to the cauldron.

Nakos nods, “It should be ready.”

I dip it in and the liquid coats my mother’s locket for a moment. I watch the excess grey-ish coating drip back into the cauldron, before turning translucent and dissolving.

Satisfied the liquid won’t be harmful to me, I drop the locket and let it rest upon my chest. Then setting my sights on the last doorway, I approach the veil with caution.

“What happens if this doesn’t work?” I ask with a shaking voice, unable to believe that this is almost over.

“You will be perfectly fine, the potion is sound. If we have failed the last peril, then only we will suffer in this final phase.” He explains with a nervous swallow.

“But how will I know if you are okay?” I ask, feeling anxiety build in my chest.

“Do you think we’ve failed?” Mendel asks, pulling my gaze to him.

“No,” I answer, thinking of how I thought I saw the veil change before the doorway collapsed. But still feeling anxious that this might be the last time I see them.

“Then trust yourself and have faith that everything will work out.” He says with a soft smile.

I nod and turn back to the doorway, sighing as I prepare myself to walk through one last veil. Readying myself for the end of this journey and hoping my companions will be able to join me.

Walking through it’s like a cool breeze blows past me and through my bones. Then a warm feeling begins to radiate through me, starting at the locket on my chest and working its way through my body. It gives me a feeling of wholeness that I didn’t know I was missing.

Realizing I made it to the other side safely I immediately spin around and am anxious to see who the first will be to pass through the veil. But before any of the Rellik can emerge another earthquake erupts and hundreds of white wisps burst through the veil. Their voices call out in indecipherable wails as they pass over me and head up the spiral stairs that lead to the real world.

Once the last spirit has left, the earthquake subsides and I stay in place. I continue to wait for my companions to emerge through the veil behind me.

It feels like I’ve been waiting an eternity and just as I begin to doubt if they will be able to follow I see movement on the other side of the veil. It’s like looking through a waterfall, I can see a blurry shadow with very few features but nothing distinguishing.

I watch as the shadow grows darker with the subject walking closer until they emerge through the veil. Out comes a very old and frail man hobbling as he leans very heavily on a cane in his hand. A set of wire brim glasses balance on the tip of his nose as he hobbles along at a snail's pace.

“Nakos?” I ask in an uncertain voice.

“Hello, child.” He greets me with a wrinkled smile, his eyes twinkling with delight over the top of his glasses.

A wave of relief washes over me as I expect the others to be following close behind him.

Nakos steps to the side and another shadow appears on the other side.

Next emerges a middle-aged man with a muscular build, his chocolate-coloured hair peppered with grey flecks.

“Alaric?” I ask with a smile, happy to see him.

“Hey, Kid.” He greets me with a smile, stepping to the side as a middle-aged woman with long blond hair comes through the veil.

“Madra?” I ask with an excited smile.

But I don’t pay much attention as she gives a nod and steps aside, revealing the person I’m anticipating most.

A young man with almond-coloured skin and paprika-coloured hair. Mendel looks exactly as he had in the realm of lust and my heart is a flutter at the sight of him.

Overwhelmed in excitement, among other emotions I run to him and wrap my arms around him.

“Hi T, I’m happy to see you too,” Mendel says in a shaking voice. He wraps his arms around me and lifts me off the ground slightly.

But before I can answer, another earthquake erupts and the cave around us starts to crumble.

The five of us file up the spiral stairs just in time before the entrance collapses in on itself. The ruins around the entrance are tumbling down as we continue to run well beyond the outskirts until the earth stops shaking beneath our feet.

I turn to see Alaric carrying Nakos on his back then depositing him on the ground at our feet. The five of us collapse on the cold earth, breathing heavily in fatigue before a collective sigh of relief erupts from our lips, together.

I rest my head on Mendel’s shoulder as the five of us sit in silence, looking up at the dark evening sky.

It starts as stifled scoffs and builds to shared giggles as we each end up bursting into full-blown laughter. Hysterical to the point of tearing up and giving in to our shared exhaustion.

The laughter died out after some time and once I got control of myself I sat up to take in my four new companions.

“Now what?” I ask, wicking a tear of laughter away, smiling to myself.

“We go home,” Nakos replies with his wrinkled smile.

A Note from the Author:

Thank you for reading and following the story, I am ever so grateful to you my readers!

Please keep an eye out for a bonus installment which will contain an epilogue and a few words of thanks to you all!

Bonus Chapter:

Part Thirteen: