Interphase (9 page)

My imagination must be acting up.

David moved to where he'd seen the figure and spotted it near a clump of bushes. He halted in his tracks, staring. It was a creature without form or substance, like a scrap of dark mist, or a shadow without a body to cling to. Despite its appearance, it was very much alive, circling the foliage away from David.

He took a cautious step forward, and the dark ghost shuddered. It froze, and the cry in his mind turned into a scream, filling him with nameless dread. Pale lights erupted from its foggy surface in tongues of blue lightning that lashed out at him. It shrieked audibly with a voice like a dagger through his ears.

David turned and ran.

Electricity buzzed through the air. He heard wood crack and burn, and the screams seemed to come from everywhere. Ducking and weaving through the foliage, he tried to put some distance between himself and the shadow, but he couldn't see how fast it moved. His foot slipped on a damp stone near a shallow brook, and he landed hard on his side with a splash. Lightning struck the water around him, enveloping him in a net of energy.

The current flowed through David, and a sharp spike of pain stabbed his shoulder where the Crash Storm had struck him. The ghost turned its head as if listening to an unseen voice and retreated a few feet, releasing his bonds. He jumped to his feet and dashed down the nearest trail, looking for a place to hide. The screams still echoed from behind, but if he could get enough distance, he thought he could lose whatever it was.

An opening in the woods to David's left led to a small clearing. Moss-covered stones lay tumbled against the tree line. He jumped behind them and hunkered down, trying to quiet his panting. The air itself was silent, but the memory of the mind screams clawed through his head. He wanted to press his hands over his ears, but he forced himself to settle, and after several seconds the dread faded.

David collapsed against the rocks, letting his breath out in explosive gasps. His hip ached from the fall, and his shoulder burned. He removed his soaked shirt and looked at the shoulder, but no damage was visible. One breath at a time his nerves calmed, though the memory of the first Crash Storm's strike lingered.

He had been foolish to underestimate this module. No doubt it was built as a complete world, full of its own monsters and villains. Checking his wrist computer to make sure it was still mapping, David slipped his shirt back on and stood up. The clearing he'd run to was quite large, with many piles of stones scattered about. The air had grown still, but he looked around with renewed caution. He accessed his character loader. Idly exploring without any sort of protection would only lead to more trouble.

Rex was his most physically resilient avatar, but with his heavy armor it would be difficult to move through the more confined spaces of the grove. Plus, if Analara reacted the same way to Rex as Jessica had… No, Rex was definitely out. Smith wouldn't offer much in the way of defense. David settled on the Wraith, figuring that speed and dexterity would serve well in any further encounters.

Tapping the commands in, David waited. Nothing happened. He frowned and looked down at the warning that flashed on the loader: no data available. Another pair of taps activated the bypass subroutine, but the response came back garbled. Whatever was masking the module from V-Net was also locking down all external operations within. In desperation, he launched a priority link to his personal server, trying to download the data directly.

The only response was a faint weight on David's hip as the Wraithblade materialized, sheath and all. If that was the only thing he could get, it would have to do. He drew the sword, noting that the ghostly aura wasn't present, and tested it on a fern. It effortlessly sliced through the plant. Definitely better than nothing.

A rustling sound made David turn. Something nosed its way through the ferns at the far end of the clearing. He ducked down and peered between the rocks.

It was covered in dark green scales that blended into the shadows. Standing about three feet tall at the shoulders, it looked like a lizard crossed with a wolf. Four-legged with a sleek body, its elongated jaws sported rows of sharp teeth. When it turned, David saw edged scales running along its spine. It uncoiled an extremely long, whip-like tail, with edges of sharpened bone protruding down its length.

David tensed his legs. He adjusted his grip on the sword and braced against the rock, poised to jump clear. A tiny breeze ruffled the leaves overhead, barely a breath of wind, but the creature suddenly froze, sniffing. Its scales shimmered as the muscles underneath bunched.

David rolled aside just in time; the animal sprang over the rocks, twisting in mid-air, and landed in front of him. He brought the sword point up before it lunged, and its claws grated down the blade's edge, leaving a faint trail of green blood. Dodging around the stones, he backpedaled into the center of the clearing and kept the sword raised between them.

The creature didn't seem to fear David's weapon. As soon as it was clear of the rocks, it leapt. He dodged, knocking it aside with a sword stroke. Dark blood oozed from a slice in its chest, but it whirled to face him, ignoring the wound. A growl rumbled up its thick throat. It braced itself and swung its tail directly toward him. He managed to bring the sword up to deflect the tail's edge, but the force knocked him off his feet.

Another lash of the tail sliced into David's leg before he could move. With a triumphant roar, the creature leapt at him, claws extended. He rolled away but lost his grip on the sword. Snarling in frustration, the animal struck again with the tail, opening a long gash across his chest. He struggled to his feet, and a second stroke tore down his shoulder, driving him to his knees.

What happens if I die in this place?

David heard the sizzling charge just before the bolt struck, blasting the creature in the side. A second lance followed, and the predator shrieked. He saw a shadow take form under the trees, shifting into a vague human shape with arms outstretched. Strange electricity crackled along its surface, bending the very air around it. Releasing a chilling wail, the apparition disappeared.

The creature hissed as it struggled to regain its footing. Wincing in pain, David hobbled across the clearing and retrieved his weapon. The opponents squared off, both limping and bleeding from their wounds.

The tail is its most dangerous weapon. I have to avoid it at all costs.

Again, the animal braced itself and whipped its tail, blades first, at David's head. Prepared, he rolled forward under the swing and impaled his sword full into the predator's neck.

With a twist, he wrenched the blade free and tumbled clear of the thrashing tail. The creature emitted a gurgling howl and collapsed, the tail wriggling away the last of its life.

David fell to one knee, blood streaming from his cuts. He'd achieved victory, but in his current state, might not live to tell anyone about it. Getting booted from the module on death would be nearly as bad as the real thing. Tearing a sleeve from his shirt, he bound the cut on his leg. A short search of the clearing yielded a long branch to lean on. Still bleeding from several wounds, he staggered out of the clearing, hoping he could find help.

The sun was beginning to set as David made his way from the grove. Surrounded by an ocean of grass, he could only see more tree islands scattered about the plain. Despair began to well up inside him when the breeze brought a faint melody to his ears. Someone close by was singing. Clinging to the sound like a lifeline, he pointed himself toward the music and set off.

The song grew louder as he approached the shadowy eaves. Stumbling under the willowy branches, he limped into an open clearing. Above him, Analara lay in the crook of a tree, a startled and mortified look on her face.

"Hello again," David croaked and fell to the ground.

Chapter 9

Analara sighed dreamily. This was one of her favorite hideaways: a large clearing in the heart of a roanan grove, tucked in the crook of a low branch on the lone kalneth tree. It was the perfect place for lounging and letting her thoughts wander. She folded her arms behind her head and sang to the silent wilderness.

The sound of breaking underbrush startled Analara, and before she could hide herself, a figure stumbled into the clearing and looked up at her. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment when she saw who had found her.

"Hello again," David said, before collapsing to the ground.

His fall startled Analara so much that she nearly tumbled off the branch. She slipped to the ground and rushed to his side, grabbing her pack as she knelt beside him. "David?"

David gave her a flimsy grin. "We
really
have to stop meeting like this."

Analara examined his wounds and instinctively reached for the appropriate herbs and bandages from the pack. Fear crept into her heart when she realized the extent of his bleeding. Trying to keep him alert and herself calm, she spoke to him gently. "When you disappeared, I was afraid I wouldn't see you again. I hoped you were well. I guess I was right to be concerned."

"I promise I was fine when I left you," David responded weakly. "Guess I managed to get in trouble again."

Analara pulled a small knife from its sheath and sliced away the tattered remnants of David's shirt. Deep gashes crossed his chest from shoulder to waist, the edges of the wound bearing a distinctive tearing. She gasped. "This looks like a feranal's work."

"Large and scaled with an unfriendly tail?"

"Indeed. They generally avoid us. It is odd that one would openly attack you." Analara unrolled a length of bandage, silently bemoaning how little she had brought. Using the cleanest remains of David's tunic, she soaked up the worst of the blood. She crushed several herbs into her water skin and washed the cuts with the mixture. She helped him sit up and wound the bandage tightly around his chest. The cuts continued to bleed, but not as heavily; the tail had missed anything vital. Her anxiety ebbed enough that she offered David a smile. "The wounds aren't quite as bad as they feel."

David managed a smile of his own. "If they were, then I'd be in even more trouble."

"A feranal does not back away once engaged. You must be a skilled fighter to have brought it down." She pointed at the bloodstained weapon half-hidden at his side.

Glancing at it, David shook his head. "The beast surprised me and got the upper hand. If I hadn't received some help, it would have finished me." He frowned. "Do you have phantoms in these woods, Analara?"

"Phantoms?" She washed the cut on his leg and used the last of her bandages to bind it.

David paused and appeared to choose his words carefully. "I saw a… shadow. It screamed and chased me through the woods. I managed to lose it, but when the feranal attacked me, it reappeared and threw lightning at it."

He flinched as Analara finished tying off the bandages, and she patted his shoulder sympathetically. "I know of what you speak. It started appearing in the woods one day, shortly before I was born. No one in the city knows what it is, and few desire to find out. It does not wish to be disturbed, and it hurts anyone that wanders too close. Whatever powers it uses, the wounds do not heal properly afterwards."

David said nothing, merely laid back and closed his eyes. Analara gave him a final examination but did not notice any other injuries. She watched his face; he looked exhausted, and more than a little lost. Without thinking about it, she brushed a lock of dark hair away from his forehead. "You really are a stranger here, aren't you?"

He opened his eyes and looked at her with a trusting gaze.

"Why did you come back?"

"To thank you for saving my life." David peered at his bandaged chest and smiled wanly. "Again."

Analara blushed. He seemed to be making a habit of doing that to her. "You are welcome. Though I must admit that I would be happier to see you uninjured. Will you promise not to vanish and reappear again with fresh wounds?"

David managed to laugh. "I hadn't meant to disappear, at least not without offering my thanks. It just… wasn't something I had control over."

"But you do now?"

"This time I wanted to come here."

Something inside Analara's chest twisted. Guilt, perhaps, and worry. Rupu's warning echoed faintly in the back of her mind, but she put it aside. Glancing at the sky, she realized with surprise that it was getting very late. She had done what she could for David, but he needed better care to fully recover.

"Do you think you can walk?"

David shook himself from a light doze and blinked at her. "Pardon?"

"I want to take you back to Ilinar. The night will be upon us soon, and that is when the eldranals begin their hunt. Besides, I can't tend these wounds properly out here."

"Won't I just be more trouble for you?"

"Far less trouble than you'll have if you dare the plains at night."

Her tone must have made an impression, because David winced. "I don't think I have the strength to argue."

Analara looped one of his arms over her shoulders and braced him around the back. "Come then. Lean against me."