Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

If Someone had told Reed this morning in his room that the creepy forest would contain a realm that looked like the painted dream of a child he would have laughed at their faces, but her it was in front of his face, he even saw small normal creatures like cats and dogs and even mouse small animals chasing each other in this playful manner.

Everything was simply peacefully perfect.

Some even came to play around him, though he made sure to keep his distance, who knew what they would turn to if he touched them, he focused his mind on finding the girl, nothing else but now that he checked the map again, nothing responded, his tech was not active for some reason.

Great first the comms now the map

Then something else appeared on his path, A fox.

Not an ordinary fox, but tall as his chest, its fur white as fresh snow and nine tails fanned behind it. Each of the tails seemed to radiate this pure white calming light.

A kitsune, somewhere in his mind a new information popped up.

The Kitsune eyes locked on him, Reed immediately went into combat position, this thing could easily tear him apart despite it's innocent appearance, he tried to walk back slowly remembering that some animals did not like when people turned their backs.

He also tried not to look straight into it's eyes, the thing might take it as a threat.

But then it barked, causing Reed to freeze on the spot, it sounded like it came from a regular puppy, then it began moving towards him.

Reed should've braced himself, should've readied for a trick but instead a warmth rose in him.

For some reason he trusted it. More than trusted it felt like it was an old pet he trained from a child.

His brows scrunched together in confusion, some emotions he didn't expect to feel were bubbling up in him, and the worst part was it didn't seem like external influence.

The fox circled him once, tails brushing the air in slow arcs. It sniffed his boots, then his hand, head tilting like it was searching for something. Then, just as suddenly, its ears perked. Recognition flickered in its eyes.

A bark tore from its throat, sharp but playful. Then it bounded back a few steps, tails wagging in a blur like an overexcited dog.

Reed blinked. "What the hell…"

The fox barked again, then darted a few paces ahead, looking back at him expectantly.

Reed hesitated, but his legs moved anyway. The thing wanted him to follow, and it wasn't like he had his map again for direction, maybe even his own location was frozen on Jasmines screen now, he prayed she didn't actually enter the forest, but he wasn't sure their relationship mattered to her that much for her to risk her life.

That gave him a bitter sweet feeling he suppresses instantly.

"What is with me being emotional today!" He slapped himself to get rid of the softness, he blamed the realm, this place was very disarming, like a place that held no judgement which just made him want to pour out all his emotions.

He didn't like it one bit.

The fox led him through the pink fields, weaving past glowing trees heavy with fruit he'd never seen. The scent here was intoxicating, the flowers carrying a sweetness so perfect it hurt. Every breath stirred something inside him, something buried, which he promptly suppressed on instinct.

He knew this place. Or no….he didn't know it, but he felt like he should know it. As though someone he loved had built it, shaped it petal by petal, just to welcome him. The realization clawed at his heart until he thought he might break.

He had to even release his hands from their firm clench, he didn't know when he had done that.

Finally, the fox slowed. It stopped at a garden, the air heavy with a perfume that made his knees weak and his heart beat rapidly.

In the center of the garden floated a coffin, glass-clear, suspended just above a bed of those glowing flowers.

Reed's heart stopped.

Inside, she lay.

The most breathtaking girl he had ever seen, except with the most confidence he had that he was a boy he was sure she wasn't human at all.

She was a spirit, a powerful one.

He moved closer to her, his heart felt like it was cracking with each step forward, like he was reuniting with a long-lost lover. Except his brain kept on pushing that he didn't know this girl or spirit, he didn't know how dangerous she could be, for all he knew she could have lured him here to kill him like she had done the other hunters.

The spirit's hair spilled around her like liquid rainbow, colors shifting with the light, each strand felt alive. Her dress was thin, delicate, barely there, clinging to curves so flawless it seemed blasphemous. Her skin glowed faintly beneath the glass, soft as porcelain, and her bare feet rested together as though she had only just closed her eyes for a nap.

Reed's vision blurred as he saw her close up, his throat closed in pain.

He didn't understand why, but tears streamed down his face the moment he saw her. Pain and love and desperation tangled until he could barely breathe. The urge hit him so strong he thought he might collapse, he wanted to hold her, kill whoever had put her in this coffin, to protect her, to never let her go….. again.

His hands pressed against the coffin. The surface was chilly under his palms.

CRACK

Something inside him had broken a little that very moment.

Next thing he knew he was talking the girl who he didn't even know whether she was sleeping or dead, the words slipped from his lips in a voice that felt older than his body, older than this life.

"Wake up, Dream. I'm home."

Light exploded.

The coffin shuddered, then cracked apart like breaking ice. Shards dissolved into air, scattering as motes of glitter. Reed lunged forward, catching her as her body fell weightless into his arms.

Her glow burned brighter, heat searing through his chest until he thought his heart might burst. Her hair spilled across his arm in a rainbow cascade, her body felt soft and fragile.

Her eyes opened.

They were the same shifting rainbow as her hair but he recognized them.

She blinked slowly, focus sharpening on his face. Her lips parted, voice barely above a whisper.

"…Shadow?"