Worlds Collide— Chapter 1: Wild-Side
Wild-Side
Today
I was moving fast. Far faster than was safe, given the three-quarter moon, the rough terrain, and the dangers of the creatures stalking the wilderness. They called it the Forbidden Zone for a reason. Actually, they had a lot of names for it, but none captured the horror that the people of that world felt for the untold miles of untouched forest surrounding one of their few small cities. The city walls had been enough to keep the denizens of Wild-Side safe until recently, and I still didn’t know if the few who had gone missing had somehow been taken or had just wandered off before falling prey to creatures from their darkest nightmares.
While I still had hope that the city walls held integrity, there was no question the Elend were growing bolder as they became more organized. They were also expanding in numbers; the truth of the correlation was still only a suspicion as I plowed through the thick brush and vegetation. The wilds of the Reaches resembled those of the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest of home. Tall trees consisted of everything from conifers to massive oaks, redwoods, and elms. But it was like the size restrictions of my world—Our-World—didn’t apply there. It was common for hardwoods to be bigger around at the base than the bedroom I had as a child. Maybe it had something to do with the population of Wild-Side. Though the people were unquestionably more technologically advanced, somehow, they had evolved in small numbers and managed not to overpopulate their world. They never became a burden on their natural resources, and it seemed their technology evolved quickly enough to keep them from making the same mistakes as Our-World.
Nearly the entire population lived in five small cities situated across two large continents. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles of virgin wilderness separated each city. And somehow, it worked. The people, for the most part, lived healthier and more content lives than the people of Our-World. They were intelligent, had resources, and their technology benefited them without damaging their environment.
Unfortunately, they were no longer at the top of their food chain. Something happened just over a year before that day in the woods. It shifted the balance of power, not only for the Seeley but for Our-World, too. Looking back, stopping it was obviously beyond my ability. A doorway was opened, and though I played a part, from what I’m told, it was certain to happen sooner or later. If not for me at that time, it would have been someone like me, perhaps generations later.
It was only ever a matter of time. Regardless, what happens next is on me. I can and will bring balance to both worlds… even if it is the last thing I ever do.