The mysterious girl walked at a fast pace ahead of me. I wasn’t sure why I followed her. Maybe it was because I had nowhere else to go. Maybe it was because I was genuinely curious as to where she was leading me. However, she never turned around to make sure I was still following. She took turn after turn, each seeming more random than the last. At some point, I started to wonder if she had gotten lost until she suddenly came to a stop.

I didn’t walk right up to her but kept my distance. I looked behind me and planned ahead on where I would run if this turned out to be a trap. When I turned back around I jumped. A large hooded person stood in front of the girl who was now on one knee with her head bowed. The person lifted his hand and the girl raised with it.

“Is this the one?” the person asked with a voice so deep it was hard to comprehend what he had just said.

“It is,” responded the girl.

“Good.”

The hooded man walked past the girl and up to me. I took a step back and the man stopped. I watched his head drift down to Jonni's head wrapped in my robe.

“What is that?” he asked.

“I, ugh. I don’t know,” I stammered.

“You don’t know?”

“I, ugh, do. Yes. It’s the um.”

“That’s the head of the demon I killed,” said the girl. “He was talking to it when I arrived. The devil nearly got him, sir.”

“Is this true?” asked the man.

I didn’t say another word but unraveled the head out of my robe. One of poor Jonni's eyes had come open and I gently shut it once more.

“I am sorry for your loss,” said the man. He extended his hand out to me. “I can see to it that this boy’s head is taken care of.”

Something about the deep voice was calming and trustworthy. I assumed what he meant was that he would give Jonni a proper burial and so I did hand him the head. Without realizing it, I said a prayer in my head asking God to open his gates for the orphan child. My little friend. But would God listen to a murderer like me?

The man gestured me with his hand to follow, “Come, this way, Ira,” he said.

I did not follow but did the opposite. I took another step back. “How did you know my name?”

The man hid both of his hands in the arms of his large sleeves. I could only see his chin and his crooked bottom teeth as he spoke. His skin was black which meant he was probably from the faraway Kingdom of Roth. “We know much of you, Ira. Your father has told us a lot about you. Now please,” he again gestured for me to follow, “follow me and all will be explained.” Seeing as I wasn’t moving he added, “Or don’t. I’ve grown impatient and there is work to do this night.”

The large man turned and started to walk off. The girl looked back at me for half a second before taking the black man’s side. Together they walked to the end of the alley, turned right, and disappeared. I stood there for a moment deciding whether it was best to go back to my bridge or follow the strangers. In my heart, I knew what I was going to do. They had brought up my father. The man knew my name. I had to know more.

As I started my first steps in their direction I damned my insatiable curiosity.

A crow cawed above me making me jump badly. I covered my body with my hands, the smell of the disgusting dried river water drifting into my nose. My stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten in a very long time.

I turned the corner and gasped. They were gone! There was no possible way they could have made it to the other end of the alley as it was too far. Nor did I think it was possible they could have climbed because the buildings to my right and left were way too high. No, there had to be another way.

A flicker of light caught my eye. On the ground was a small orb that radiated a wispy blue light. It looked hot to the touch and so when I crouched down to grab it I tapped at it first. There was no heat, in fact, it was cold.

I picked up the shining blue orb and was surprised at how light it was. It felt fragile, so much so that I was afraid to clasp my hand too tightly around it. Wanting to see the more of the blue I placed it to my eye. That is when all made sense.

The alleyway had taken on a blue tint to it but that wasn’t the amazing part. To my left, the wall seemed to wiggle like a jelly jiggling in a jar. Cautiously, I walked up to it and touched my palm to it. I drew back my hand and found that it was a bit wet. Feeling courageous, I shoved my whole hand inside. The jelly lasted only a few inches before I felt dryness and open air. I could feel a small cool draft blow over my fingers.

I pulled the orb from my eye. I considered saying a prayer for the Lord’s protection but for the first time in my life I chose not to. I was on my own now.

I lifted my leg and plunged it into the unknown.