Dain shielded his eyes from the sun. He had set out in the early morning; it took several hours to retrace his steps through the East Bay. The route back was unfamiliar after nearly a month had passed by. He looked again upon the “Cafe On the Bay”. Dust laid heavily, visible inside the sills as light shimmered in the edges.


    Sweating profusely, Dain was grateful to finally escape the brutal July heat. Sun blindness was amplified by the dimness of the interior and it took several moments for him to take in everything.


    Dark wood panelling and simple art adorned the walls. At the far side was the granite counter with a surly-looking middle-aged man staring out Five tables sat in the centre of the room and four booths along the wall. All were empty save one booth.


    With some shock, tempered by expectation and inflamed by anticipation, Dain walked up to the booth.


    Three individuals sat in the booth, nursing drinks and lounging. The youngest looking man, no more than mid-twenties, was rather ordinary; he had lanky dark hair, unreadable eyes, and a dishevelled look to him. There was a patch of yellow from an old food stain on his grey jacket.


    The second was a woman, striking and exotic with jet black skin. It seemed; if he could touch it, he was sure it was sure he would find a soft, velvet-like fur coat. Her sharp smile and bright red irises extinguished the idea. Her face was lined but still youthful. She, at least, seemed somewhat amused.


    The last man was by far the most impressive. He was twice the size of Dain, standing well over a metre taller. The massive being had burgundy coloured skin, seeming to glow from a fire within in the light streaming through the windows. He sat in a massive specially designed chair, wide enough for two regular humans. Two massive horns protruded from from the back of his head, curving towards his nape before combining into one straight hook into his spine. Similar shaped bony spears protruded from his wrists to his fingers.


    He was beyond excited, but after weeks of living in his dreams and considering the possibilities, their sheer presence in person intimidated him. He froze and stood gawking. It was their turn to survey him and they scanned their unexpected guest.


    Dain was a scrawny runt. With a mop of dark red hair, small grey eyes that were too close to a sharp nose and a sharp jawlines, Dain made all the appearances of not quite hitting late adolescence despite being 20 years old. Wearing his favourite grey shirt combined with his treasured jeans, Dain made a rather ordinary impression.


    “Do you need something?” The woman asked, eyebrows raised, finally breaking the silence.


    Dain gaped for a second before starting. “Yeah, yeah, you can help me out, answer some questions. I need to know what happened to me.”


    “Of course!” Exclaimed the red giant. His voice was like the sound of distant thunder rolling. “You’re the person rescued after the last Behemoth attack. Come, come here, sit with us.” He beckoned to a space in the booth.


    “Uh, yeah,” Dain looked around, now feeling trapped in his predicament. Whatever notions he had before, they were just fanciful dreams; these people had a hard, dangerous look to them. He didn’t have much of a choice, he decided, and sidled in to sit across from the man and woman.


    “I’m Gary,” said the red giant. The woman continued; “I’m Izzet, or Izzie.”


    The third looked down his nose, his voice like frost: “You may call me Iabenoske.” Dain winced inward; he would never remember that.


    “My name’s Dain. Nice to meet all of you, um, people.”


    Izzet laughed heartily and Gary smiled gently. Iabenoske seemed to be perpetually scowling.


    “Yes, Dain, we’re still people. For the time being, as long as hope prevails.”


    “Yeah, okay,” Dain responded. “But can you tell me what happened to me? I can’t believe I’m not crazy. I have to know what all of this is, what happened.”


    Gary slurped heavily from his mug. “You know, it’s a long explanation, difficult to understand everything. I’ll do my best. Let’s start from the beginning.


    “Earth is two worlds tied together – the Veil and the Val. The Veil is what you would call just ordinary, regular, physical Earth. The Val is our home. The Val is often called the Shadow world; it’s a reflection of physical Earth.”


    “And the Behemoths? Those are part of your home?” Dain interrupted, awe-filled.


    Gary inclined his head sadly, drinking deeply. “Yes Dain. The Val is toxic. It’s poisoned, and it’s been dying for the past 8,000 years.


    “The Val isn’t like Earth; it’s created from metaphysical energy; the energy flows out from the life river, energy created from the perpetual movement in the cycle of life and death.


    “When the Val became poisoned, it poisoned everything within it; the plants, the animals, the people, all succumbed. In different ways, it parasitized us and turned us into monsters. Most animals mutated through the overpowering toxic energy. We call them Shadow Beasts, and the worst of them are the Behemoths.”The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    He paused, thoughtful. His eyes peered into the distance and his face drifted into sadness, as Gary lost himself in memories.


    Dain furrowed his brows and chewed over his thoughts. “Okay. So where is it? Where was I?”


    Izzet interjected, shaking her head. “It’s in the same place; it’s on a different energetic level. It’s not like travelling by space; we travel our energy, through tension between conscious and unconscious energy inside of us.”


    Dain growled in frustration: “That doesn’t make any sense.”


    Izzet shrugged. “ How can I explain such a fundamental thing, part of our instinct, part of our being? We travel, and we call ourselves Travellers.”


    How can no one know about this?


    No one


    her face adetached amused yet focused


    Along this street, 3 kilometres up and 4 down, is the Edge. It’s the easiest place to reach the Val, where the Veil and Val are the closest in Reliance. Every day people like you, who accidentally connect and become trapped inside. If we find them, we help them get out.”


    “Through the red door.” Dain said automatically, recollecting the stairway, the shift from the exotic world to the mundane.


    “Yes, that’s how we send people back. And they leave, and go back to their lives, and try to forget that it ever happened to them.


    “What they don’t do,” he leaned down, his face closer to Dain’s, “is find their way back. We’ve told you enough. You tell me why you’re here.”


    Dain thought back through the past month. He had returned after his ordeal to his home. It was empty though, filled with memories of everyone he had recently lost. The Trinities were his brothers, his friends for the past two years. They meant the world to them. His entire life, his goals, wrapped around finally pushing the East Steels out and taking a slice of the Bay for themselves.


    Why did worlds have to collide, to change everything?


    Underneath it all, he had felt an itch. It started the first day, just a little bite under his skin. He couldn’t quite place where it was. It ebbed and returned, stronger each time, becoming like a fire on his soul. It was something beyond his skin, something that couldn’t be scratched. He knew what he was feeling; he had seen it in a few people, alcoholics that were forced to freeze-dry by the police.


    They said it was a toxin that had infected the Val; but Dain understood what was happening to them, what was happening to himself. The Val itself was addictive.


    It was a drug. The sensations, the moments of fear and power, the intensity of energy, the memory heightened by sweet dopamine. And he suspected there was more, more that he could reach. It was like if he could touch electricity, he could be powerful.


    Dain said none of this; instead, hesitating, trying to form a response. Gary had locked his eyes with Dain, watched the interplay of his turbulent thoughts cloud the young man’s face.


    “You already feel it?” he spoke softly, and sighed. “You touched the Val too strongly. It’s got you in its grip. You need to stay away from the Edge, maybe move across town. I hear they’re developing a new district in the north; good place to start. Lots of good construction work, other jobs; you can find a spacious apartment at a good price in the area, too.”


    “I can’t,” he responded emphatically. “I can’t go back. I’ve never felt anything like this, felt so real. It’s like everything before was the dream, and now I’m awake. I can’t go back to sleep. I’m here, I’m awake.”


    Izzet stared, incredulously. “You’re out of your mind; you’re sick. Our people are dying. There are Behemoths and Shadow Beasts everywhere. Have you ever seen someone you love die in front of you? Or worse, have to kill your friend when they went mad and tried to kill you? Day after day, we’re trapped in a world of madness.”


    “Idiot,” Iabenoske muttered, and Dain nearly jumped, surprised after his long spell of silence. Iabenoske continued to observe seemingly everyone and nothing while frowning.


    Izzet inclined her head in acknowledgement. “Finally agreeing with me. Take Gary’s advice, and get out.”


    He jumped out of his chair, frustration and anger boiling out.


    “Fine, whatever! I’m out. But you told me where the Edge was. If I fell in before, I can do it again,” he shouted, stalking away.


    Gary rose. The chair gave a low moan, and he was up, nimbly rushing forward and stopping Dain with his massive girth.


    “I thought you told me to leave,” Dain grumbled. “You going to let me leave?”


    Gary rose a hand. “Slow down. Do you know how old I am? I’m 108 years old, Dain. I’ve spent my whole life trying to save people, to protect people. We’ve all worked harder than you can imagine to make lives for ourselves.


    “If you’re really determined to do this, I’ll help you. I don’t want to see you get yourself killed. If a Behemoth didn’t scare you off, nothing will.”


    Dain’s eyes widened, his face jubilant. “Really? Thanks Gary.”


    Gary laughed, a sound like boulders rolling and crashing heavily. “Don’t thank me yet Dain. The Val is beyond dangerous. Even with my help, it’ll be difficult. Probably deadly.


    “This is your last chance. Are you sure about this?”


    Dain was already nodding. He was resolute; he felt he had reached a state of revelation, like he was reaching towards destiny. The sensation was profound, and unsettling.


    Gary clapped him on the should, friendly and, unintentionally, jarringly painful.


    “Come back, sit in the booth with us. Our lunches should be here in a minute, but when Gus comes back he can take your order too.”


    The normalcy of eating in a shabby restaurant contrasted starkly against their exotic faces. The constant threat of the Val, both unreal and the most threatening, imminent danger ever, hung over Dain. It chilled him, dredging up anxiety and fear, and excitement.


    The smell of roasted red pepper, garlic, and seafood wafted out of the kitchen. Stomach grumbling, realizing he hadn’t eaten since yesterday, Dain’s thoughts turned to lunch, and wondered hungrily if his companions would cover another steak and cheese for him.