Family Reunion

“Uncle Ivory?!” I yell unintentionally. He quickly drags me into the alleyway next to the bar and puts a finger to his lips. I oblige and shut my mouth as guards rush by the alley searching for someone. I take a few peeks from behind the trashcan we hid behind and see a mass army of what look like toy soldiers. One of them peers down our alley for a moment and I hold my breath in response. As if in response to my silence, the soldier keeps moving. We both breathe a sigh of relief when the danger seems to have passed. I turn to him and talk in a low voice. “What are you doing here Uncle?” He’s one of the few people I still remember vividly who helped my mom and I after my dad suddenly passed away. He was even a huge contributor to my fund to get the FOG headset. “And why did you decide to stay human?” I ask quizzically. He chuckles a bit and ruffles the back of my head. “It’s quite simply because I was a beta tester for this console and game.” My eyes widen. “You?” I pause. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He grins widely, “Because I wanted it to be a surprise.” His face turns serious. “But that’s not what I came here for. I heard some commotion about a new Iris in town and I knew instinctively that it would be you. Knowing your typical behavior, I knew you’d eventually stumble upon a tavern like this one.” He smiles sadly. “I’m afraid I have to tell you something terrible.” He pauses. “Suzie has been captured.” “What?!” I say a bit louder than I should have and the footsteps we thought that had left begin to get louder. “Run!” He yells. He pushes me in one direction and goes in another. “What about you?!” I yell back. He stares at me and winks. The wink I will always remember telling me that he has already given me the information. Not willing to give it a second thought, I leap to the rooftops and land surprisingly softly on the shingles. I move from rooftop to rooftop deftly, making as little sound as possible making quick glances behind and below me for any sudden movement of those toy soldiers. As I round the corner of a tall building that has staggered roofs, I nearly run into another person. I skid to a stop, making a few of the shingles fall and shatter on the road below. I see a few soldiers now running along that path looking around where that noise came from. Then I see one stare straight up, right in my direction. I panic and am about to leap to another roof, when a hand stops me. I glance over at the girl who I nearly slammed into. “They can’t see you from up here.” She says calmly. I look down again and sure enough the soldier that was looking my way is now running among the others. I look at the strange girl again. Pointed hat, long dark robes, childish appearance, broomstick in one hand. If I didn’t know any better I’d say she was a witch… Oh wait, she probably is one. “Uh, thanks, um...?” “Selene.” She says. “Okay Selene, what are you doing up here?” I ask. “Waiting for you.” She plainly states. I tilt my head. “What? How’d you know I’d come up here?” “Logic.” Her voice almost mechanical as she speaks. “Logic also says someone wants what you have.” “W-what do you mean?” I try to not let panic overtake my voice. “You possess the Mist of Shadow, correct?” I nod. “You must give it to me for safekeeping or you will be in grave danger.” Her voice breaks its normal calm for a moment. I catches me off-guard for a moment. Do I trust her?