The World Walkers: Unknown World: Jalen: Safety?

They knew what was coming, even without the premonitions, and they’d planned ahead as much as they could. A door existed not far from them that, thanks to the premonitions, they knew they could get through, but they didn’t know what was on the other side. Both had packed a single bag, hoping it would be enough, because they didn’t dare carry more, so they were as prepared as they were going to be. Breathing a deep sigh of regret Jalen looked behind him one last time at the world he would never see again, before letting his older brother take hold of his hand and lead him through the door onto their new world.

On Raenarin it had been midnight, just before the Witches would have come for them, and on their new world it was dawn, which felt right. It was the dawn of Jalen’s new life, as well as Simeon’s new life, because they’d been born male. Had they both been born female they would have been taken into a coven and taught how to use their powers. Running a hand through his hair Jalen looked at where the door had been, wondering who had decided that all male Witches should be executed, then looked at Simeon.

“Where do we go from here?” Jalen asked, even though he knew there was no real answer to the question.

Smiling, Simeon squeezed Jalen’s hand. “If we follow that path through the woods,” Simeon said, pointing, “hopefully we’ll find some shelter.”

Nodding, Jalen let Simeon guide him along the path, knowing that under normal circumstances he would have pulled his hand free. It just felt grounding to have someone he knew, the only person, hold onto his hand, and for the first time in years he felt safe. Jalen knew he shouldn’t, because they didn’t know where they were, but the threat of execution was gone, at least for the time being. They could have found themselves on a world that wouldn’t accept them either, although he couldn’t imagine a premonition show them a door that would lead them from the frying pan into the fire.

At the end of the path there was shelter. A small, bustling village appeared and Jalen looked at Simeon. Simeon shrugged, looking at the village with wistful eyes, but there was no way of knowing if it was safe or not. Jalen wrapped his free arm around himself, wishing one of their premonitions had shown them where they would find themselves.

“We have to do something,” Jalen said finally. “We can’t just stand here.”

Simeon looked at him. “I know, but you won’t stay here if I ask you to.”

“We stick together, no matter what. If this world is dangerous then I won’t survive here alone any way.”

“True.” Simeon ran a hand through his hair. “We both have magic…”

“That neither of us can use, because no one would teach us thanks to our gender.” Jalen heard the bitterness in his voice and tried to force it away. “At least I can sort of make balls of light.”

“Who are you?” a female voice said from behind them, making them both jump.

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.