Feral Magic

they’d been sent for answers.
Zak all but sprinted to the stocky boy in their center, wrapping his arms around his neck like some long-lost lover. For all she knew, they could be.
“They’re in the fourth realm already, just like I said they’d be. We’ll be out of this hellish game and back home in no time!”
Zak glanced at her, cleared his throat and tilted his head in her direction. The new arrival took note of her and chewed his lip. He tried and failed to lower his voice as she stalked closer. “She doesn’t know?”
“Know what?” Irritation seeped through her voice.
“She just got here last night.” Zak said, ignoring her question.
“Oh.” The stranger rubbed the back of his neck. “My bad.”
Zak sighed. “She was going to find out eventually.”
“Find out what?” she growled.
“Maybe you should sit down.”
“I’m fine where I am.”
Zak held out his hands. “Relax, I was going to tell you, I just didn’t want you to freak out is all.”
“If you don’t—”
“We’re in a game.”
“A what?”
“A game, you know, like the ones you play on your phone. Chronopoint?” Vixin’s mouth opened a fraction. “Don’t ask me the details because I can’t explain it, but we’ve all been put inside a game and essentially we have to beat it to get out.”
Her mouth opened again and closed as her gaze roamed between Zak and the newcomer. She waited for their laughter, a snicker that would tell her they were joking, and it was just some stupid initiation rite for the new members. But both continued staring.
“That’s the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“But it explains the magic, right?”
She didn’t answer, so Zak turned back to his companion, keeping a wary eye on her. “We’re ready to head to the second. The portal is right around the corner and—”
Vixin spun on her heel and stormed off. How utterly ridiculous. Who did they think she was? Some kind of fool? A game, how moronic—
“Vixin!”
She didn’t stop at Zak’s voice. Instead, she marched straight through the people and then the trees, determined to put as much space between herself and their insanity as possible. Let them all die out here believing what they wanted.
“Vixin, wait up. Hey.” Zak grabbed her elbow and her fury split the ground. Greenery of all sorts sprung up in mass numbers, wrapping around his body in a deadly vise that secured his limbs and lifted him from the ground.
She stared at his wide-eyed horror for a moment, willing herself to calm so she could speak. “Stop following me.”
“Would you just wait a minute and listen? This is why I didn’t tell you right off. Everyone thinks it’s insane at first. Look at what’s around me right now, does this look like anything that could happen in the real world?”
Vixin paused, her blood racing as she tried to digest the concept of magic. Magic. It didn’t exist, just as she’d said, but… Her gaze lingered on the greenery surrounding him, holding him captive at her will.
“Look, it’s all right to be scared—”
“I’m not scared.” And she wasn’t. At least that’s not what it felt like. Confused yes, unsure about the whole situation? Absolutely. But scared? She knew how to take care of herself.
“Fine, then you’re not scared, but don’t go running off by yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because there are other things out there. Monsters, creatures like you’ve never seen.” She was silent. “Please, just come back with me, stick around for a while and once you know what you’re up against, if you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
She eyed him, debating. Was it worth it to stick with a group? She could care for herself, yes, but she needed to think rationally. They knew things she didn’t. Or thought they knew things. What were the chances they were right? Could the answer be something so outlandish?
Vixin huffed and relented. “Fine, but you're going to tell me everything, no matter what you believe I can or can’t handle.”
Zak nodded. “That sounds fair enough.” She eyed him, then stalked back toward the camp. Zak called after her. “Aren’t you going to help me out of this thing?”
~~~
Vixin stared at the swirling mist they called a portal. Zak claimed it’d take them to another realm. A place similar to where they stood now, yet different enough to warrant travel. She clenched her teeth, certain a single step inside that inky blackness would be her one-way ticket to hell.
She stared at the swirling mist and then into the void itself. It was alive, she was sure of it. It wriggled and moved, pulsing as if a creature were breathing. Or hands were waiting to clutch around her throat and devour her whole.
The air that poured from the portal chilled her to the bone and Vixin desperately fought against the urge to flee as fast as her feet could carry her. No life surrounded the purple tendrils floating like morning fog. It was cold. Desolate. As if it sucked life straight from the source.
Zak’s people filed through one by one. Some hesitant, others uncaring. Zak stayed behind, encouraging those who were hesitant.
Vixin swallowed hard. She’d told Zak she wasn’t afraid, and she hadn’t been. But that was before now.
Another person entered the icy void of death and their body stretched beyond human limits before getting swallowed by the darkness. Vixin’s heart pounded as she took another step forward, the last in a single line.
She stopped when she and Zak were the only two left. “Are you sure this is safe?”
Zak held out his hand. “I’ve been through it before. There’s nothing to worry about.” He flashed her a grin, but it did nothing to ease her racing heart.
She eyed his outstretched hand, took a breath, and marched right past him.