World of Anarchy/Chapter 59

This is a preview of chapter 59 of World of Anarchy entitled: The Way Station Of The Heart

Synopsis
Trails prevent Teresa from continuing on her path of escaping the Underworld. Emily finds her own way back to the city, but comes across an obstacle of her own.

Chapter 59 - The Way Station Of The Heart
Teresa’s mouth fell agape as they approached the entrance of the cave. It wasn’t the cave so much that surprised her but the mountain in which it was opening into. The peak of it reached far up beyond the clouds, so far that she couldn’t even tell if it did have a peak. They were a few miles out from the city. On their way there, she noted how little other demons appeared, and eventually ceased to altogether at it’s base. Teresa wondered if there was reason for that.

“This is where Lucy is?” She asked Brendon.

He nodded. “And this is also where I take my leave.”

“You’re leaving?”

“‘Fraid so. This place...is not meant for someone like me. But don’t worry, we’ll meet again after ya find Lucy and the Gates out of here. Right now I got a few loose ends to tie up.” He told her as he started away from the entrance. “Good luck in there, Snow White.”

She watched him trot away for a bit before turning to face the cave. Darkness prevented her from seeing too far into it. Think about them, Teresa thought to encourage herself to enter, do this for them. Her legs trembled as she moved, the dark swallowing her up in an instant. The tunnel itself seemed to go on forever. Every few minutes or so she would glance back at the entrance and note how small it was becoming. After walking for thirty minutes or so it had vanished, but a new light sprung up at the other end.

It took her another twenty minutes to reach the new light, or rather, lights. A wooden door that looked like it had been made by stipping a tree of its bark and binding it together. On either side of it were two lanterns containing a deep blue flame. Teresa grabbed the handle and swung the door open revealing a massive circular room at the center of which were two women, one ancient and the other about her own age. It was hard to tell because of the dim lighting. The younger one was beating a on a dummy while the older woman was cooking something in a pot resting above a small fire.

Unsure of herself, Teresa stepped into the room and walked up to them. They didn’t seem to notice her. “Is..Is one of you Lucy?” She asked.

Only the young one stopped and looked at her. Having a better look at them both now, she noticed they were more human-like than the other demons. The younger then glanced at the older one and went back to beating on the the dummy. The older woman didn’t respond to her presence.

“Take a seat, Teresa Burch. We have much we need to discuss.” The elder spoke in a dry, raspy voice.

“You know my name?” Teresa asked while taking a seat across from her.

“I know a great many of things.” The old woman’s hand quivered as she stirred the soup in the pot. “And what I do not know I can find out by seeing.”

“Don’t let the old bat fool you though. She can only know what you want her to know.” The younger woman continued to beat on the the dummy as she spoke. “Like your name for instance. The only reason she knew what it was is because you were about to introduce yourself.”

“So, you’re some kind of psychic.” Teresa nodded toward the older woman, not even bothering to be surprised anymore.

“In a way.” The old woman answered as she sipped some of the soup from her ladle. “I am Eleanor the All-Seeing. My granddaughter, Trish, and I have been waiting for your arrival for a long time.”

“You knew I’d be coming here?”

Eleanor nodded. “It has long been said that after the end of all things began that the next Warrior of Light would arrive here searching for the one named Lucinda, who, you aptly referred to as ‘Lucy’. Trish and I were sent here to train the next Warrior and prepare them for what is to come.”

“And you, Ms. Teresa, are the first person to show up since we’ve been here.” Trish said as she took as seat and made herself a bowl of the soup.

Teresa hung her head. First she learned that she was a part of Garland’s crazy cult’s doomsday prophecy that played a part in the destruction of her world. Now she was learning that she was also involved in some other kind of prophecy. She wanted to feel shocked, angry, or even terrified. But she couldn’t. This was just the icing on the cake.

“This training...how long will it take?” She asked as the ate.

“A year at most.” Eleanor told her, causing Teresa’s heart to feel like it stopped. “But do not worry. Time works differently here than elsewhere. While in this mountain it’s as if everything outside of it is frozen in time, suspended until you leave. Furthermore, you will not age in here either. Once your training is complete you will have the all the skills you acquired here but as if you learned it in an instant. We can talk more about this ‘tomorrow’. For now, grab a bowl and help yourself to a meal.”