19. The Echo
The Echo
THE MOON’S SHADOW:
Carrier of a virulent infection among scythes. It is an infection of emptiness—one that dulls the warmth in their blood, strips the color from their eyes, and leaves Night Sky Scythes as nothing but the shadow of their former selves.
Heron glanced up as Flora and Noec stepped inside. “No Lila today?” he asked, disappointed. “Shame. I’ll be bored without someone else to make fun of Noec’s dancing.”
Noec chuckled, nudging Heron with his elbow. “Guess someone will have to put in some extra effort today.”
“I’ll volunteer,” Aonia chimed in playfully.
She was visiting today, mainly to observe and report on the unfolding situation.
For the first time in a long while, Aonia seemed buoyant, her spirits lifted by the news that Perri was alive.
She wore a necklace made from her pink stone, intricately wrapped in gold wire, which she pressed eagerly against her chest. “Still, I’m disappointed I haven’t had the chance to meet this Lila girl—or your brother. ”
“Trust me,” Flora chuckled. “You wouldn’t hit it off with either of them.”
The day unfolded with an unremarkable simplicity, though there was a breath of relief in the air as the news of Perri had spread.
His parents’ grief was broken by hopeful uncertainty, and the Hunters passing through were told to keep an eye out for a young man with curly hair.
After dinner, Noec excused himself to go on a walk, hoping to find some sign of Perri.
Beyond the dusty window, the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in muted shades of amber.
Heron wiped off the table, Flora put away dishes, and Elia sat at the edge of the couch, curiously toying with the portable radio.
Aonia fidgeted from the chair by Elia, glancing toward the door, impatient for Noec’s return from his walk.
The night was approaching, but she didn’t dare ride off without a proper goodbye.
Aonia grew anxious in the quiet. But Flora enjoyed the silence, comforted by the monotony. She hoped it meant things were returning to normal. But only a few minutes later, the door burst back open, and their peaceful silence was shattered.
“Flora, there’s—he’s waiting down by the spring,” Noec said, breathless.
“Perri?” Flora asked. “Oh, thank god.”
“I don’t think he saw me, but I saw him,” he said, approaching in a rush.
“Oh. That’s okay,” she replied, setting her rag aside. “Let’s go catch him and see if we can convince him to come ba?—”
“Flora,” Noec interrupted. He gripped her arm so she would meet his gaze, a startling paleness on his face. “Flora, his eyes were white.”
Aonia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
Flora blinked. “What?”
Aonia shook her head, baffled. “No. No, that doesn’t make sense,” she said. “You just saw him yesterday. That must have been a mimic.”
“Right,” Flora agreed. “Nia’s right.”
Noec’s brow creased, and though his grip softened, his fingers lingered at the edge of Flora’s wrist. “His clothes were still torn…” he said.
“And he still wore his father’s necklace.
” Dread crept across his face, and a dark realization widened his eyes as they lifted to Flora’s.
“Do you think…” he muttered, “... do you think it’s only a matter of time for me as well? ”
“It can’t be,” Flora said, her voice catching. But Noec’s wide eyes met hers, and every half-healed wound seemed to reopen. Softly, she murmured, “Noec, no…”
Without a word, Noec pulled Flora into a tight embrace, gripping her as his fearful eyes looked on. “I’m afraid,” he mumbled, the words scarcely more than a breath on her skin. Flora held him just as tight, burying her face in the hollow of his neck.
After a moment, Noec exhaled a shaky breath as Heron and Elia drew cautiously near. “There’s more,” he said. Noec drew back, his gaze laced with a new sort of dread as he studied Flora. “I heard an echo. From the Forest.”
“An echo?” Heron repeated. “What did it say?”
Noec hesitated, the answer caught in his throat.
“Florabelle,” he responded grimly. The crease in his brow deepened. “It just said ‘Florabelle’.”
Flora held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. They were still looking for her.
No, she thought.
They had found her.
“Noec,” Heron directed firmly. “Get her home.”
Noec gave a sharp nod, snatching Flora’s wrist and rushing her toward the door.
“Aria,” Nia said suddenly. Noec halted, looking back slightly. Nia sighed, stood up, and continued, “Noec, you need to go see Aria. She... she still works at the castle.”
“What?” Heron spat.
“My father…” Aonia said timidly. “He allowed her to resume her research. He has a particular interest in learning about the Scytherax, especially with recent attacks in the area.” Her tone shifted, becoming resolute as she looked directly at Noec.
“Aria is our expert,” she said. “Perhaps she can help you. In case there’s any chance you might end up… like Perri.”
Noec exhaled sharply, his expression conflicted. “We’ll talk about it,” he said. Glancing at Flora, his grip tightened on her wrist. “But it can wait until morning.”
“Can it?” Flora asked softly, worry bleeding into her voice as they stepped out the door. “Noec, what if that wasn’t just a mimic of Perri? What if that was…” Flora stopped abruptly, resisting his anxious pull. “Noec, maybe you should go to the city with Nia tonight. See Aria as soon as possible.”
Noec frowned. “But I need to be here,” he protested. “To make sure you’re safe tomorrow. They’re circling you.” Without waiting for a response, he began tugging her forward again. “You’ll go home at the creek today. They could be waiting for you by the spring.”
“Noec.” Flora pulled her arm free as they came to the bank.
“I need you to go tonight. Because I need to know that you’re safe.
Maybe it's fine, but maybe it's not. What if it’s only a matter of time before you’re not you anymore?
” Flora paused and looked down. “I’ll never forgive myself if that precious time was wasted waiting on me. ”
“I…” Noec faltered. “I can’t just…”
“Promise me,” she said, stepping closer, her gaze steady and imploring. “Promise me that you’ll meet me in the city. I’ll head there with Heron first thing in the morning.” Flora met his eyes and smiled weakly. “Until then, I’ll hardly even be here. I’ll be fine. ”
“Flora, I…” Noec’s brow creased deeply, and slowly, Flora reached out, squeezing his hand one last time.
“Okay,” he sighed, his shoulders dropping in defeat.
But when Noec started to pull away, Flora’s grip tightened.
With her eyes locked to his, she held on for a moment more.
“I promise, Pixie,” Noec assured her softly, and with that, her touch finally released from his. “I’ll meet you in Asilia.”
“Florabean, what’s going on?” Davy asked as Flora settled into the passenger seat of his car. He was home this weekend, but he would be driving back to college tomorrow. “You’ve been weirder than usual today,” he continued. “I’m starting to get worried.”
Flora closed her eyes and furrowed her brow, letting out a slow, unsteady sigh.
“Bean?” Davy prompted gently.
“I’m scared,” Flora admitted quietly, her voice cracking under the weight of the words. “Davy, I’m so scared.”
That night, Flora laid in bed at the earliest possible hour. Still, the creeping fear that lingered in the corners of her mind refused to let her rest. Flora remained wide-eyed, staring at the shadows on her ceiling as the rhythmic ticking of the clock filled the silence.
Slowly, as exhaustion dulled the edges of her anxiety, her mind began to settle. She closed her eyes and finally drifted off to?—
“Oh, good! You’re still here,” Davy announced, bursting the door. “Room for one more?”
“Davy... what?” Flora groaned. “Get out of my room.”
“You’re going back, right?”
Rolling away from the searing light of the hallway, Flora grumbled, “Yes.”
“And you said snake-eyes won’t be there to keep you safe in the morning?”
“... yes.”
“Mkay,” Davy said, plopping down at the edge of her bed. “Move it. I’m coming, too.”
“Climb in back, and we’ll be off,” Heron said.
“I’ll be right back,” he added before disappearing into the house.
Moments later, Heron returned with his old bow and quiver slung over his shoulder.
With a heavy thunk, he tossed them onto the bench beside him.
“Just to be safe,” he explained, climbing into the front of the carriage and taking the reins.
Behind them, Elia and Thaola waved and wished them luck. Rachel, predictably, dropped his watering can as the horse reared and the wagon lurched forward. Flora muffled her chuckle and waved, and to her surprise, Rachel laughed and waved back.
“So, ‘Heron’,” Davy wondered at the name aloud, waving back to strangers as they exited the village. “That sounds like a fish.”
“No.”
“Huh.” Davy blinked out at the army of mean-mugging goats, their spite barely contained behind the overgrown wooden fences. “You sure?” he said, clearing his throat as he broke free from their hexing glares. “Like a… ‘red heron’?”
“Herring.” Heron sighed deeply. “You’re thinking ‘herring’.”
As they continued rolling down the stone path, Flora cast a lingering glance over her shoulder. She watched as the familiar homes sank into the valley. Uphill, a bird—or perhaps something more—was circling through the haze of the waterfall, patiently awaiting Florabelle’s return to the spring.
“Heron,” Flora began hesitantly, “what if they come to the village?”
“Then, the village will be ready for them,” he replied. Heron’s grip on the reins tightened, his tone resolute. “We’ve always been ready for them.”
Flora watched as the morning sun fractured through the trees, lighting the way toward the vast, open fields ahead. A furrow settled between her brows, deepening with every passing second of silence.
“Davy…”