The sky was painted dark, the abyss gave a howl as the wind carried drizzle.

  “There will come a soldier who carries a mighty sword…,” the vibrant children sang on despite the weather.

  Tana danced with them, almost in motion with the wind.

  My blood ran cold as I touched my mouth.

  I had been smiling.

  Melissa was going to open the portal in a few minutes. I thought of Tana’s words:

  “Run, find a farm, and grow beans. Yes, that was my goal — to grow beans.”

  I had to talk to the priest. Maybe I could make a difference.

  A child nudged at me. She carried a crown of flowers. I accepted it, even though it had thorns.

  “Now you look like the man in the song,” the child beamed.

  I grabbed my trembling hand.

  THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

  The child collapsed.

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  Everything went silent, but the howl of the abyss remained.

  “Lina!” Tana rushed to her side.

  She coughed out blood.

  “Can you save her?” I murmured.

  “You cannot save those who are bound by fate,” the priest answered behind me.

  The portal back to base burst open.

  A raindrop fell on my face, carving itself like a tear.

  I couldn’t stop trembling.

  “Who are you?” I asked the priest, feeling a strange presence from him.

  “Leave Kael,” Tana demanded with a trembling voice while carrying the child.

  “I am what you make of me,” the priest answered.

  “Mama, I’m sleepy,” the child murmured as the other children gathered around her.

  Tana didn’t cry, but I felt something in her wilt.

  “Leave Kael,” she whispered.

  What had I done? Ever since I got here, it felt like I made no difference.

  Why? What was the point?

  I took a step back.

  “I suggest you leave the key behind, Kael. It belongs here,” the priest gazed at me with a smile.

  The abyss gave one more howl as the child passed on.

  “Where is your shadow?” I asked looking down at him.

  “Leave Kael!” Tana screamed like a dying lamb.

  “You’re looking at it.”

  Everything went silent except for the howling abyss, it blew away some of the white flowers from the crown hhe child gave me .

  "Why did you send Bill to his death ?",i asked passively.

  "I told you Kael that life is all about choices , the gate is open Kael your freedom is certain ".

  "Leave the key",he gave a cold whisper.

  "Go farm some beans while you still can,” the priest replied.

  My eyes widened.

  Thunder came like an ache.

  Run like a coward for another tomorrow, or die now… die now to be what exactly?

  I drew my katana.

  I’ll be—

  Tana screamed.

  The priest smiled.

  …..

  Thunder struck as the heavens unleashed their cry.