Free Fire by Terra Harmony

spirits glow when they're together."
    Micah looked down at his body, which was still mostly underwater. Nothing unusual there. He lifted his hand in the air, peering at his skin. There was a slight glow, as if he were radioactive. He wiggled his fingers, and energy swirled around the tips.
    Micah glanced at Shawn. He was still on the ledge, smirking down at the pair in the water.
    "He's not glowing."
    "His other half isn't here," Arianna said. Micah looked toward the cave high up on the wall, and Arianna answered his unspoken question, "They were never meant to be together. She knew that on his first visit here."
    "Let's get a move on, brother," Shawn called as he descended the stairs.
    Arianna blocked Micah from moving forward. "Quick, take my hand."
    "Why?" Micah narrowed his eyes.
    "I want to pass along something you will need once you find Kaitlyn."
    Micah hesitantly put his hand up to meet hers, palm touching palm. A torrent of energy rushed through him, condensing in his core. He stiffened and went under. He came up, again with Arianna's assistance, coughing up water.
    She laughed. "You don't have the limitations of your physical body here. Kaitlyn caught on to that fairly quickly. You'll need to follow suit, if you want to find your other half." Arianna gestured to the cave high on the wall – Sarah's cave, as Shawn had described it.
    Micah began swimming to the lower ledge, where Shawn was now waiting. Arianna let out an audible sigh, then lifted herself out of the water and floated past Micah to wait for him on the same ledge as Shawn.
    Micah caught glimpses of the pair waiting as his head bobbed in and out of the water. Shawn said something to her, and Arianna shimmered visibly.
    Micah frowned as he pulled himself out of the water. He wrung out his shirt as he moved to stand next to a completely dry Arianna.
    "What's with the glow?" Shawn asked.
    Micah shrugged. "Polluted water, maybe." He looked down at his hands. Brighter than before, even.
    Arianna smiled.
    "Now what?" Micah asked her.
    "Now – you let go of your earthly limitations, and find Kaitlyn."
    Shawn and Micah both huffed.
    "Easier said than done," said Micah.
    "What is it you truly want?" asked Arianna.
    He started, "I want—"
    "Don't tell me," she said, cutting him off. "Just close your eyes and think it."
    Micah took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
    I want her safe.
    He felt himself lifting off the ground. He didn't dare open his eyes. He kept his mind clear except for that one thought, repeating it over and over in his head, until his feet touched solid ground again.
    Carefully, he opened one eye, then the other. He was at the ledge of the cave, glowing even brighter than before. He turned.
    Shawn made his way up right behind him. "What the hell, Tinkerbell? Next time remind me to bring my sunglasses."
    Micah ignored him and turned to the cave. A strong light burst out from the back. One figure, darkened by the backlight, stepped forward.
    "Hello again, Sarah," Micah whispered as her face came into view.
    She nodded her head at Micah, walking past him. He turned to watch her. She passed Shawn just as he landed on the ledge. They paused, looking at each other. He automatically reached out to touch her, as if he couldn't help himself.
    She shimmered gold, green, and purple, then leaped off the ledge – diving for the deepest part of the lake. Shawn watched, his body unnaturally still. Then he turned back to Micah, pulling a crystal from his pocket.
    "What's that for?" asked Micah.
    "Protection." He didn’t elaborate further.
    The light at the back of the tunnel was moving forward now, drawing Micah's attention. He lifted his hand to shield his eyes. It was a moot point; light was oozing from him as well. He couldn't stop it if he tried. He followed the pull, walking forward, merging his light with the other.

 
    Chapter 15
     
    Lake Kivu, Rwanda
     
    Randy approached the thick wooden door at the end of the hall, hesitating only a few moments