Chapter 48 Stripped of Feathers

Chapter 48 Stripped of Feathers
I gasped for air, my trembling knees buckled, and I plopped onto them. Shaking and panting, I cleared my throat and clutched my chest.
You’re okay. You’re okay now, Lily. Jackson got you to safety and…
I realized an ivory and gold dress covered my legs. I looked at my hands, and they had returned to the creamy skin tone with polished nails. I looked around, seeing nothing but endless darkness.
I’m back here again.
My lips pursed, and I rose, almost twisting my ankle on my glass heels. I brushed my platinum blonde hair behind my ear and searched for a specific woman, or at least the rippling lights in the shadows.
“Robin?” I called out in my soft voice.
No response.
I wasn’t surprised and expected as much, but still, I’d always try. My clacking heels echoed in the void with each step.
I hope I’m not dead again and stuck here for good… Oh!
My head lifted as I spotted the familiar lights in the distance and gave chase. Sure enough, there stood Robin; staring up at the lights with her hands stuffed into her pockets. Her emerald eyes were narrowed with a deep frown.
She doesn’t look happy…
I stepped a little closer to peek at what she was seeing in the lights this time. Smoke rose in the vision, and I spotted Robin’s fingers holding a rolled-up stick with a fire at the end. She’s smoking something. Nobody smokes in Embercrest, so I wasn’t sure what it was, but I did notice Robin’s gruff voice slurring. Men sat in chairs beside her, laughing as she coughed on the smoke.
It must be some kind of drug… She took drugs?
I nervously peeked at Robin. I didn’t expect the woman to do such a thing. Drugs were looked down upon in Embercrest. And yet, Robin’s lip was curled in disgust as she glared at the lights with a heated glare.
Huh? Did they force her to smoke these drugs…? How awful…
Grimacing, I looked away from her. I still knew nothing about this woman. I knew nothing of the hardships she went through. All I knew was that she had horrible scars across her abdomen and possibly harbored a deep hatred for Drakeveil Kingdom.
Other than that, she was the biggest mystery I’ve ever encountered…
“Um, Robin…?” I hesitantly asked. She still didn’t look at me, but I continued. “Were these people your friends or…?” Silence. I took a breath, recalling my terrifying incident when I first woke up in Robin’s body. I gripped the sides of my dress as I stared down at my feet. “There’s three women from Velvetstone who claimed to be your friends… are they really?”
Robin snorted.
I whirled around, looking at her wide-eyed, but my heart leapt to my throat when nobody was there. She vanished. I spun around, looking for her.
“Robin?? Robin! Where did you go?!” I frantically called.
That was the first time I got her to respond to me! 
She may not have spoken, but she acknowledged my presence.
We’re making progress… right?
I gasped when I caught sight of her. Again, she was walking into the darkness. “Wait!” I yelled, giving chase. I grunted when I almost tripped on my heels again. Before she could completely disappear into the shadows, I yelled, “Is there something you want from me?”
This time, Robin didn’t look at me. She didn’t make a sound. As if I wasn’t there, the ginger-haired woman continued on her way, swallowed into the cold void.
I shivered. What an awful place to be. Preparing for another flashing light, I squeezed my eyes shut, but it never came. I peeked one eye open, coming face to face with Robin, inches from my nose. I screamed and fell backward, struggling to catch my breath as my heart pounded. Her stare was intense, narrowed, yet unreadable. She walked in circles around me from where I sat. My head whipped from side to side, trying to keep my eyes on her.
“What do you want from me?” I pressed my question. 
Suddenly, voices echoed in the darkness. Many voices. Chanting. A language I’ve never heard before. As if calling forth something. It sent a shiver down my spine. There was only one word that came to mind.
Witchcraft. 
Suddenly, the lights appeared over my head. I looked up. This time, the vision was the sight of someone racing through a forest. It was night. Robin’s pants, the faint chanting, wind blowing the leaves, and crickets chirping echoed in my ears. I had to cover my ears. The loud, chaotic sounds were deafening. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could hear hers pounding in the vision too.
Robin’s voice shrieked, and the vision suddenly tumbled down a hill, branches smacking her face until she fell into a shallow stream. Her palms were cut on the tiny rocks. The rippling water steadied, showing the reflection of Robin’s face. It was covered in blood with tears streaming from her green eyes. Sheer terror filled them. I covered my mouth in horror.
Gods…
And then everything went silent. The wind, the bugs, the chanting… gone. All that could be heard was Robin’s rapid breaths and heartbeat drumming in her ears; on the verge of hyperventilating. The water made quiet splashes as her hands trembled. 
I could feel her fear; goosebumps traveled across my skin. I wanted to look away. I couldn’t watch any further. Yet, I couldn’t turn away. 
A single snap of a twig broke the forest’s silence. Robin’s breathing hitched—instantly holding her breath. I held mine. Another twig snapped. And then another. Each growing louder as her pursuer came closer. I heard her gulp, sniffle, and inhale a shaky breath. 
She slowly turned around, but it was nearly impossible to see anything beyond the trees and undergrowth in the dark. Robin’s voice cracked as she cried, “P—please, don’t hurt me...!”
My heart broke, and tears built in the corners of my eyes. I had never heard so much fear in someone’s voice before. I couldn’t even see what had her so terrified. And then there it was. Yellow balls of light glowing brighter, getting closer.
What… are those…?
I squinted closer at the vision until I realized the lights were in sets of two. Doom sank in my stomach.
Gods, no…
Silhouettes formed behind the sets of lights. Human silhouettes with glowing yellow eyes. Dozens of them. The closer they got, the more I could see that their pupils were slits like a cat’s. Unforgettable fear gripped my chest as Robin’s breaths became louder, drowning out all sound. 
Their fangs reflected in the moonlight. They lunged all at once with screeched hisses. Robin’s bloodcurdling scream rang my eardrums. I screamed too, covering my eyes. Her scream cut short, and the lights disappeared. Shadows swallowed everything. My heart pounded harder.
No! Don’t leave me in the dark! Let me out! I want to go home!
I couldn’t speak; fear kept me stiff and silent. I peeked up and spotted Robin in the distance—standing there with her hands stuffed in her pockets, watching me.
Then everything flashed white.