Adeline,"
I said gently. Her gaze left the ground and met mine. She knowingly nodded her head and understood what I had decided. We began our descent of the mountainous hill, scaling the areas it would be faster to get down. Adeline seemed to know this place very well, avoiding much of the hindering terrain and focusing on the best places to reach the river quicker. As we walked, and the crimson auroras got stronger, I was able to perceive much more. I solemnly looked around, seeing far away figures and little sources of light at their sides. They were just like me, following a guardian angel to go towards the River. I also saw a few turning back, going away from the source of light and further into the darkness. I guess that makes sense, since I could still feel a few inklings of desire to turn back. It seemed that this area isn't past the point where the River is irresistible, though I could feel that desire getting stronger and stronger with every step I took.
Adeline beckoned me to a smaller hill, secured between to exceedingly large hills. We started upwards, eventually using our hands to grapple and climb to the top. I noticed more and more people from the peak, my field of vision opened again to the array of glistening hills. The urge to keep going fueled my heart and body, pushing it forward. I turned to Adeline and waiting for her instructions on how the fastest way to get down. She pointed to the right and we started on our descent, like we had on the last few hills. It went on like that, over and over. My mind began to be assaulted with thoughts of the River.
"What does it look like? It must the beautiful, to make these hills sparkle like that. Is it fast? Is the current strong? What does it taste like? What does it feel like? Will it feel like water? Or blood? What is it even made of? It's red, so it must be something like that."
I couldn't seem to subdue these thoughts, every ounce of my being seemed to be attracted to the River. When did this happen? It's just been gnawing at me, growing with every one of these hills I climb. I started to move faster, attempting to reach the River as soon as possible. We quickly got to another peak and I started forward.
I felt a hand gently clasp my shoulder before I could take another hastened step.
"Calm down, Pierce. I know you want to reach the River soon, but you mustn't be so hurried. All will come in time, I'll guide you to a good spot at the River where you won't have to wait for all those other people itching to get in it as well. Also, I'm showing you the quickest way. If you get ahead of me, how am I to guide you? It'll only waste time."
She pointed towards the growing number of people at the peaks of the hills in front of us, all steadily headed towards the River will their guides. They were all feeling the same way I was, the River overtaking their minds and drawing them closer to it.
"She's right. People die at every moment. There must be a lot of them at the River. I know I want to taste it as soon as possible, but I don't want to wait around to get to it. Well, this place is huge, and the River looks damn near never ending. If Adeline knows a good place, I'll follow her to it. Just as long as I can get to it; the sooner the better."
I nodded my head and attempted to maintain the urge to go quicker. We started westward, towards a ginormous hill that didn't have many people climbing it. As we went up, I saw a few people from a distance aiming to go between the small mountains instead of reaching the peak like we were. As I scanned the numerous people, I found that one of them—an old scrawny man— peering at me as well. He was looking at me strangely, as if wondering "Why are they all the way up there?"
I smirked in satisfaction.
"I'm up here cause I have a guide who's worth a damn. She's gonna take me to a great spot at the River so I don't gotta wait around. I don't want to wait a second more than I have to. I need to go to that River!"
These crazed thoughts rushed through my head and I turned to Adeline.
"Come on, slow poke! I know you want to reach the River too! I know I need to be patient but guide me a little faster will you?"
She chuckled and agreed with an "Alright".
We started to pick up the pace a little and head towards the final mountains before the River. They were bigger than a lot of the other ones behind us, but I didn't care. I only cared about reaching that mysterious red glow. I had to stop myself a couple of times to not get ahead of Adeline. We marched up, grabbing hold of all the divots and crevices of the huge obsidian mountain, drawing closer and closer to the peak. I could see it just a few meters away, within grasp.
When we reached the peak, I was awestruck.
The River of Passing, it was gorgeous. It was huge, stretching about 200 meters. I couldn't see through its red—waters?—but I assumed the river was deeper than anything I could comprehend. It cast a glow everywhere around it, lighting up the impenetrable darkness that encompassed the Medium. The River was seemingly infinite, I couldn't see where it was flowing from or where it was flowing to.
I looked back at the glittering black mountains that we had traversed, and it really dawned on me how far we'd come.
"How long did that take us? It seems like it'd be forever, but it didn't feel that way. Time is strange, here, so maybe it's that. Or maybe I've just been too focused on the River? The River… yes I need to go there. Now."
I took my eyes off the hills receding into darkness and was mesmerized by the red glow once more.
I grabbed Aldine's hand.
"Let's go!"