The Parallel Paths

Another Dimension

"Finally awake, I was worried." Alice spoke, relived.

Zack darted behind him, his eyes narrowing and face frowning. Anger began taking control, causing him to lash out.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE WE!? THE FUCK DID YOU TAKE US?" He shouted, yanking her by the collar in the process.

His eyes narrowed, and for a moment—

he noticed her.

Her hair was different shades of blue all scrambled together, resting on her shoulders. She was pale, weary yet flawless. She had a pools of freshwater in her eyes, tinted with that glint of coldness.

Elara roughly ripped him away, placing herself in between the two. She locked eyes with him again, as if he were some monster. He was out of control, he hardly ever felt this angry—

as if his emotions were being altered.

"What is your problem!? Get a grip weirdo!" She exclaimed, causing his heart to flutter— in the worst way possible.

Elara sighed. "Look, it's obvious that smoke took us elsewhere— my guess, a different reality."

She looked above them, watching as the leaves swayed downward— how live the trees were. Tranquility washed over the three for a moment, till Zack spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Well whatever it was— it definitely came from that stupid green smoke earlier." He grumbled turning away and crossing his arms with a huff.

The two nodded in agreement, both expressions turning more serious but Elara was slightly more determined than Alice it seemed.

"So, how do we get back?" Elara inquired, turning to Alice.

Startled, she immediately shifted her vision downward and anxious rubbed behind her neck, cheeks flushed with curved lips.

"Me? I don't really know. I'm just as oblivious as the rest of you two."  She muttered nervously.

"Well you woke up first, surely you discovered something?" Snapped Zack, turning back to face
Alice with an indicating hint of suspicion in his voice but Elara quickly stepped between the two to avoid any conflict.

"The last thing we need is conflict right now." Elara stated with an earnest tone, her eyes darting back and forth between the two with a sharp serious stare.

Zack grumbled and rolled his eyes, looking down at Elara with gritted teeth. He hated when she was right. Elara could feel the annoyance radiating off of him— or maybe it was his intense body heat? Either way it was growing heavier by the second.

Elara grew more concerned. "Hey Zack you okay? You're burning up."

Her expression softening just for him. She reached her hand up to touch his burning cheeks. Zack couldn't lie that he was feeling a little hot right now but would never admit it.

His face fixed to a more confused yet startled expression and he quickly swatted her hand away with flushed cheeks. A trail of glowing orange fire following behind and landing atop a flower on the ground. A sizzling sound followed by faint grey smoke started to rise.

Everyone's eyes shot wide, including Zack as they stared at the blaze flower. Elara's mouth was dropped and Zack gritted his teeth with a look of fear in his eyes, unable to make out what just happened or move his body.

"What the.." Alice muttered, her eyes wide as well. She darted her gaze back to Zack whose pupils had a small glowing orange flame hidden within them. He stared at the ground and nervously shifted his eyes down to Elara.