Setting Off

The next morning everyone awoke with the cry of the rooster. In a matter of a few days, they had all adjusted to their new life on the farm and their current circumstances.

During breakfast, Ethan and Andrew quickly informed everyone of their plans to head to town for more supplies. 

As they prepared to leave, Rose approached them, her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you two should go alone? Maybe I should come with you."

Ethan shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "We'll be fine, Rose. It's better if you stay here and continue training. We need everyone to keep improving their skills."

Rose hesitated, her eyes darting between her brother and Andrew. "But—"

"Don't worry, Rosie," Ethan interjected, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll be back before you know it. Just focus on your training, okay?"

After a moment, Rose nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But be careful, both of you."

As they walked away from the farm, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. He hated lying to his sister. 

Andrew glanced at Ethan, noticing his friend's unease. "It's for the best," he said. Ethan nodded, though his expression remained troubled.

As they departed, Sam's black SUV approached. They briefly halted their car to greet him before setting off.

"Where exactly are we going?" Ethan asked Andrew, who was driving. He opened the portal app and scanned the surrounding area, but found no active portals displayed.

"Bren," Andrew replied tersely.

Ethan zoomed in on the named city, still seeing no portal. "There isn't one," he said, doubt creeping into his voice.

"There is," Andrew asserted. "Trust me."

Ethan fell silent, his mind racing. Despite his trust in Andrew, he couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. The absence of a portal on the app, combined with Andrew's cryptic certainty, left him feeling conflicted. Sure, there was always a slight margin of error, with a portal being overlooked because of its hidden location. But still… 

Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that his friend knew more than he was letting on, but he remained silent, trusting that Andrew would reveal whatever it was when the time was right.

As they approached Bren, Andrew's demeanor changed subtly. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and his eyes scanned the horizon with an intensity that Ethan had rarely seen before.

Meanwhile, a myriad of thoughts occupied Andrew's mind. He knew his friend had noticed his unusual behavior—it would be strange if he hadn't. Still, Andrew felt he'd made the right choice. Now, he was considering what else to reveal to Ethan. Although it might increase his friend's suspicions, the more Ethan knew about what awaited them on the other side of the portal, the better prepared he'd be. 

Having witnessed his friend's death once, Andrew couldn't bear the thought of it happening again. He'd rather err on the side of divulging too much information than too little.

The silence between them grew heavy as they entered the outskirts of Bren. Andrew steered the car down increasingly narrow streets, navigating with a familiarity that didn't escape Ethan's notice. Finally, he pulled into an alley behind a dilapidated warehouse.

"We're here," Andrew said, his voice low.

Ethan peered out the window, confusion etched on his face. "Here? But there's nothing—"

His words died in his throat as at the end of the impasse something flickered into existence out of nothing. A shimmering, translucent portal materialized before their eyes, its edges rippling like water. It resembled the one they had witnessed in the park—the portal Rose and Luke had entered.

Ethan's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Andrew, however, maintained his composure, his expression a mask of determination.

"Before we enter, there are a few things you need to know," Andrew said, his voice low and urgent. "Once we're through, keep running. Don't go straight—zigzag and make sharp turns. The creature guarding that realm will attack as soon as we step in. It can't follow us, but its range is vast. Keep running until you see me stop, got it? And watch your step. The terrain's treacherous, like a marsh. Avoid anything that looks like water. Only step on solid ground."

He glanced at Ethan, gauging his reaction to these instructions.

Ethan stared at Andrew, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. Andrew's words had again affirmed his suspicions. There were things, that his friend didn't tell him. How could he know all these things?

And yet, Ethan decided to continue to trust his friend and say nothing. After a moment of tense silence, he nodded firmly. "Alright, I'm with you." He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Anything else I should know before we step through?"

Andrew shook his head. "Nothing."

"Then let's do this."

They exited the car and walked towards the portal. As they approached it, Andrew's heart raced with a mix of anticipation and dread. He knew what lay beyond, the dangers they would face, but he also understood the necessity of this journey. 

Andrew and Ethan looked at each other with an encouraging gaze, before they both took a deep breath and stepped through the portal together.