The Otherworld

Xander Mortain

The power hit her like a force. I felt it the second it crashed over Anika. Her body jerked against mine, and her knees nearly gave out. I caught her before she could fall, pulling her tightly against my chest.

“Anika.” I gently brushed the sweat from her face. “Tell me what you are feeling. Talk to me.”

She didn’t answer right away. Her breathing was uneven. One hand clutched at the front of my shirt as if she needed something solid to hold onto, and I could feel her heart racing.

Around us, the black-clad figures remained perfectly still. Their faces stayed hidden in deep...