Tiny Little Cracks

Here we go again. Masayuki was running out of time. The angels were doing their best to hold the gate open. Even that was getting exhausting.

You got to hurry! He’s closing in on you!

“I’m trying!” Masayuki yelled. Their voices were stretched thin. The boy could barely see anything. Winds were blowing around him. The energy around him was going crush his lungs and internal organs. His eyes were starting to water with pain. Just looking around wasn’t going to work. In his case, he was going to have to rely on his ears.

He closed his eyes and took a listen.

Silence. Everything went silent. Still, Masayuki felt the air vibrating around him. Low, silent hums pricked the air. At first, there was just one. Then more began to follow. He about started to jump.

“Oh shit!”

Focus!

“Right, right.” Masayuki found his center again. A sound in the silence caught his attention. The boy ripped open his eyes.

“There!” The boy had to will himself to start running. He reached out for a golden string. A shock ran through his body. He tried to take in a deep breath before being sucked down the string.

Masayuki!

He didn’t make a sound and disappeared into thin air.

----------

Masayuki opened his eyes. He found himself standing on solid ground, but there was nothing around him. Still, he wasn’t alone. The boy turned around when he heard footsteps walking toward him. A little girl about seven years old stood inches away from him.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“A friend,” Masayuki said. “Just a friend.” The little girl stared at him with a confused look. The longer the boy looked at her, the more it started to don on him.

“Julia?” he asked. The little girl lifted her chin.

“How do you know my name?” she asked. Little Julia’s body started to glow.