Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“What’s the problem?” Tuoni asks tiredly.
“The problem is, not only will we get wet, but I’m not a god like you. Hanna might be half-goddess, but I don’t know if that means she can breathe underwater.”
“She’s done it before. All it takes is a bit of magic,” Tuoni says with a wave of his hand. “I can bestow the same magic on you. Besides, you’re a Shaman. Surely, you know a spell or two. You probably know far more than I do. I can learn spells, but I can’t create them. That’s something you do.”
“I don’t know of any spells to help me grow gills,” my father says. “Which means I’ll have to trust that you won’t let me drown at the bottom of the sea.”
“Are you still coming with us?” I ask him. “Wouldn’t it be better for you to remain on this side, where it’s safe?”
He raises his chin in determination. “If you think I’m going to let you waltz off with Tuoni to the Underworld alone, you need to get your brain examined. Of course I’m coming with you.”
“Papa, I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t.” He eyes Tuoni. “So as long as the God of Death is as noble as you seem to think he is.”
I look at Tuoni, and he nods. “I will protect you both. You have my word. Now please, show us to the other portal. The clock on this side is ticking.”
My father sighs heavily, his shoulders dropping. “Alright, but I’ll have you know that it’s a much longer, narrower, darker tunnel. Sometimes, there are strange creatures in there that bite your ankles. It’s really not preferable, but if we don’t have a choice...”
“We don’t have a choice,” Tuoni says gravely.
“Alright, follow me,” my father says, squeezing past me under the waterfall and out into the open.
“Aren’t you going to call back the reindeer?” I ask, following in his footsteps, Tuoni behind me.
“There’s no real point,” he says. “It’s not that far, another hour walk from here. Hopefully, I won’t get lost along the way.” He brings out a compass from his coat pocket and squints at it under the lights from the aurora borealis.
I’m even more cold and tired than I was before, and Tuoni rummages through his duffel bag and takes out some protein bars we got from the service station and the three of us chew them down, followed by Finnish chocolate and a bottle of cola. It gives me just enough energy to continue on.
It also gives me enough strength to email my mother.
“What a talent,” Tuoni says from behind me. “The ability to type on your phone and walk at the same time.”
I can’t help but smile to myself. “All humans have this ability.”
“Not me,” my father says ahead of me.
“All young humans,” I clarify as I finish typing the email. It’s basically a couple of paragraphs, telling her that it’s really me, that I’m fine, and that she doesn’t need to worry. I told her I met a man and we’re happy together, that she can show this to the police if she wants, but I’m not coming back home. I also added in a bit about my father. I made it seem like I hadn’t heard from him and hoped he was okay. That way, if any suspicion falls on him again, it won’t seem like he had anything to do with my disappearance. Knowing my mother, she won’t put any effort into looking for my father, and I can’t really blame her, knowing what I know now.
I press send and put it away in my coat, knowing it won’t survive the swim through the sea and that it wouldn’t work in Tuonela anyway. I assume. Either way, I hope I’ve given my mother peace of mind. It’s for the best that I won’t get to see the aftermath.
“I think we’re getting close,” my father says in a whisper.
We slow down as we walk along a narrow passage through the trees and come to an open clearing. The northern lights are still doing their dance, illuminating a rocky outcrop on the perimeter of the snow-covered field.
“There,” my father whispers as he comes to a stop.
“Where?” I ask, standing beside him, trying to follow his gaze. “The rocks over there?”
He nods. “We slip on through the cracks. See that dark fissure? It goes straight down for a bit before it levels out. It’s like caving.”
“Oh great,” I mutter. I’ve watched The Descent one too many times.
“Will I need to be coated in some sort of oil to fit in there?” Tuoni asks.
“Let’s hope not,” my father says and starts walking as Tuoni grumbles something under his breath about this world being too small for him.
We cross the field and stop at the pile of rocks. The fissure looks barely wide enough for Tuoni to squeeze through. Beyond it is darkness, blacker than the void, and a cold wind comes shooting out of it. To my surprise and relief, it smells like the sea.