The Meeting With The Elders (Part 2)

The old woman before Alex was a strange sight to behold. Dressed in a peculiar blend of dark clothing, she exuded the unsettling familiarity of a cryptic forest. Her horrifying deer helmet, crafted from a mix of straw and clay, had antlers spreading out like tree branches adorned with thin, withered vines, covering her entire head. Only her lower face was visible. The helmet drooped noticeably on the left, hinting at a possible facial mutation or the aftermath of a stroke. Perched atop this grotesque headpiece was a little fedora, oddly out of place against the dark ensemble.

Her outfit consisted of a dark brown outer coat, fastened by a single button, with a red scarf around her neck and a dirty old T-shirt hanging loosely on her seemingly non-existent body frame. Black biker gloves covered her hands, and sagging cargo pants and military boots completed the look. At first glance, she appeared diminutive, but a closer look revealed her hunched back. It looked as if she was burdened by the weight of the world. She seemed to flicker in and out of existence like a nightmarish spectre, her glowing green eyes boring into Alex with an unnerving intensity.

As Alex's gaze lingered on her, a sense of familiarity washed over him. Her attire, her presence, it all seemed to connect to a recent memory. And then, like a bolt of lightning, it struck him—Crawson, the leader of the Scabs community. Could this be…?

"Elder Wendigo! I didn't expect to see you here today. We apologize for interrupting your visit," Jeb greeted the woman, his tone a mix of respect and fear. He bowed deeply, followed by Lydia and Linda, leaving a bewildered Alex on the ground, still trying to guess the identity of the woman who had just startled him.

"Heh heh. We were expecting you. The council awaits, young ones." Without further words, Elder Wendigo approached Alex, tilting her head eerily sideways to an unnatural angle as if her neck bones didn't exist.

"Hmmm. This one has a mysterious smell." Elder Wendigo remarked in a causal observing tone, while her glowing green eyes blinked at Alex.

"Smell? U-uh, do I have a smell? I apologize, uh, E-Elder Wendigo…" Alex stammered, worried it might be an issue of hygiene.

Elder Wendigo merely laughed before pulling away from Alex and walking towards the dark hallway with the speed of a breeze. She stopped at the double doorway that Jeb had yelled into earlier, gesturing for everyone to follow with a jerky, beckoning hand. The scene made it look like she was trying to lure them to the path of death, sending shivers down Alex's spine. It felt like a scene out of a horror movie.

Suddenly, Lydia came beside Alex and held his arm. "This part of the path always scared me. I'm not too good with darkness. Can I…hold on to you, Alex?" she asked softly, though she didn't sound as scared as she claimed.

Figuring it was just her way of reassuring him, Alex nodded without much thought and instinctively held Lydia's hand, starting to walk towards Elder Wendigo, who seemed to grin at something before turning to walk down the path. Jeb and Linda showed little reaction and followed behind Alex and Lydia.

As they walked down the dark path, Alex felt each step generating a cold, stale air that pushed against the dusty concrete ground, puffing up a grey cloud each time. The path was dark all the way through, but Alex could somehow sense he was walking through a hallway of a building, feeling increasingly claustrophobic. The path seemed endless, and with Elder Wendigo leading, Alex felt like he was being guided down the hallway of the afterlife.

After what seemed like hours, though it was only a few minutes, Alex saw a single blue flame at the end of the hallway. He sensed Elder Wendigo increasing her pace and tried to match it, but felt Lydia's hand tremble slightly. She looked extremely nervous. Realizing they must be close to the elders, Alex tightened his grip on Lydia's hand, took a deep breath, and strode forward with her in tow.

Finally, they reached the blue flame, and Alex felt a shift in the atmosphere. He realized they were probably in a larger enclosed space. He darted his eyes around, trying to grasp the surroundings, but it was too dark to see beyond the blue flame's light. He noticed Elder Wendigo walking past the blue flame. Assuming there was still more to walk, Alex tried to follow, but Elder Wendigo suddenly disappeared into the darkness, startling him. He immediately pulled Lydia closer.

"U-uh. Elder Wendigo? Are you still there? Hello?" Alex called out, wondering where she went. Remembering Jeb and Linda, he turned behind to check on them, but they were nowhere to be found. Panicking slightly, Alex turned to Lydia. "Hey, Lydia…where did Grandpa and Mom go?"

"Eh? I thought they were behind us?" Lydia turned around, seeing nothing but the dark path they had come from.

A moment of silence passed, and fear started to seep into both.

"I-Is this how it usually goes?" Alex asked shakily.

"I-I-I'm not sure. Grandpa and Mom didn't disappear last time!" Lydia, her voice trembling, darted her eyes around, looking for her vanished family.

Alex swallowed hard, worry creeping in. Getting trapped and lost in a dark place with Lydia was the last thing he expected to happen when he woke up this morning.

"Hey, Alex, I'm…I'm scared." Lydia's voice trembled with genuine fear.

Instinctively, Alex held her in a tight hug, trying his best to sound reassuring despite his own fear. "I-I-I think it-it's f-f-fine," he stammered.

Then suddenly, bright flames burst into existence successively around them, startling them both. Alex immediately tightened his hold on Lydia, ready to protect her, as he darted his eyes around.

It wasn't that bright, but enough for Alex to see they were in a room the size of a court. Surrounding them, in front of each flame, was a figure holding the flame, their faces hidden in the darkness.

Suddenly, a low, deep voice echoed through the room. "Welcome, young ones. You stand before us, The Council of Elders."

Alex widened his eyes, unable to speak from the shock.

Another voice echoed out, this one high-pitched but clear: "Why have the young ones not greeted their Elders?" The voice emphasized 'Elders' deeply.

Almost immediately, Alex realized the voice was referring to them. He quickly recomposed himself, bowed deeply, and introduced himself, "A-Ah! My apologies, esteemed Elders. My name is Alex."

Lydia followed suit, introduced herself and bowed deeply as well, "A-And my name is Lydia. Lydia of the Empaths, granddaughter of Cove Master Jeb and daughter of Sister Linda."

Alex became worried that his introduction was inadequate after hearing Lydia's intro, so he hurriedly added, "I-I apologize for my lack of etiquette. I, Alex, too, am of the Empaths. Though only as of yesterday, when I was graciously accepted into Lydia's family." As Alex spoke, he racked his brain for the formal format of the introduction and blurted everything out the best he could.

A deafening silence fell over the room while Alex and Lydia maintained their bow.

"Why have you come to us, young Alex and Lydia?" spoke yet another voice.

Alex realized he didn't have an exact answer, so he quickly made one up. "U-Uh. I apologize, but I have come today with Lydia to, uh, report in with the Elders regarding, uh, our union. I have come personally to also seek advice and guidance, for I am naïve to, uh, the ways of the district. Please, esteemed Elders, I ask for your—"

Before Alex could finish, he heard a soft "Pfft" from the audience. His inner anxiety flared up, and he froze in silence, afraid to make another sound.

Then, suddenly, the whole room erupted into laughter.

"OH, YOU SPOLIT IT! WE'RE BUSTED! HAHAHA!"

"BARAHAHA! THIS KID IS A RIOT! HE SURE KNOWS SOME PRETTY WORDS!"

"AHAHAHA! THAT WAS A FANTASTIC INTRO, BUT MAN, WAS IT STIFF!"

"HOHOHO! THIS WHOLE SETUP WAS SO WORTH IT! LOOK AT THEIR FACES!"

As the laughter echoed through the room, the lights started flickering on, and Alex could finally see everything. Several elderly men and women were scattered across the room, tumbling over themselves in laughter. They looked like a bunch of children who had successfully pulled off a hilarious prank.

"U-uh…wait, what?" Alex was utterly confused, raising his eyebrows and darting his eyes around to grasp the situation.

"Aha ha ha! You sure got pranked by the Elders, didn't you, Alex dear?" Jeb and Linda appeared from behind, and Linda held onto Alex and Lydia's shoulders, laughing herself.

"Hehe, I thought it was something like this." Lydia laughed, her expression completely devoid of the fear she showed just now.

"Ah, they sure like their pranks, these old-timers. Hope you don't mind these silly geezers, Alex." Jeb gave the stunned Alex a pat on the back, downplaying any possible signs of annoyance.

"Ah…haha." Alex could only stare in silence, stunned by the strange but energetic atmosphere that filled the room, while respectable-looking elderly folk of varying unique appearances threw their heads back in laughter.