This World

This World
Chapter 3:
Big Step

“Hey, I’m here.” Toby mumbled under his breath looking to a sleeping Paige. He walked to her cage slowly, he felt the soles of his hands begin to sweat as he gripped the key in his hands. The weight of the Earth tumbled into his stomach. His throat began to dry up as he turned the rusty key in the lock to the iron barred door. “Paige, come on lets go.” He looked to her while she was sound asleep as if nothing ever happened. He smiled to himself and walked up to her.

“Hmm, Toby are you actually here?” She rubbed her eyes clearing the blurriness from them. She looked up again and let out a smile that went from ear to ear. “It is you!” She stood up and wrapped her arms around his stomach. “I’ve waited for you to come.” Her eyes began to swell up with tears streaming down her rosy cheeks.

“I am sorry, the knight is always late.” He wrapped his arms around her petit body frame, pulling her head in closer to his chest as he lay his head on the top of hers. Every bad feeling was gone from his body and mind. He could feel his heart race inside his body, thinking that it may explode out of his chest. He stroked her dark purple hair while telling her “everything would be alright.” His hands went to her shoulders and he slowly pushed her, drowning in her brown eyes. “We have to go.” She turned to grab her messenger bag and pulled it onto her shoulder.

“Okay well you are going to need to stop by the Sanctuary.” She gave him a heart warmed smile. “You do have the sound stone with you right?” She looked to Toby in confidence that he would have it on his person.

“Uh yeah I should.” He scattered all through his bag and pockets to find the opal stone. “Hold on.” His heart began to race again as the thought of him forgetting the stone circled his mind. “Yes! I found it.” His heart pace slowed down and he took a deep breath feeling good about remembering it. He held his hand over his heart to calm himself down and smiled. “Yeah I got it.”

“Hehehh, well good. Because with out that we would not be able to record the melodies.” She put her hands on her hips and winked. “Come on, knight we have to get there before sun down.” She turned him around and put her hands on his shoulder pushing him out of the cave.

Leaving the cave Paige felt better having the serene smell of mother and earth cycle through her respiratory system. Her body lifted up from the fragrance. “Ahh… that smells so good.” She inhaled again, feeling better with each passing breathe.

Toby saw the happiness glow out of Paige’s and he felt bad for not helping her sooner, his head hung his head in shame. “It just makes me mad that this happened to you.” His throat felt dry and rough while he bashed on himself.

“Don’t worry about it,” she walked to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “I was okay, I knew you would come and that is all I needed.” Her soothing voice was enough to calm him down.

“Okay so where is the Sanctuary spot?” Toby flipped the sound stone in the air and caught it. “We need to record that melody.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them.

“It is in that cave down there,” she pointed to a cave at the bottom of the hill, the smile and look of assurance on her face was more than enough to convince him. She felt uneasy looking to the cave sensing something wrong with it. “But, something isn’t right with it.”

“What do you mean, ‘something wrong’?” He looked to the cave and saw nothing there. “What is it that you see Paige?” He turned focusing on Paige‘s eyes.

“Apparently the sanctuary has been taken over by a monster,” Her caring and passionate tone quickly changed to an aggressive one. “There is no doubt that this Gigyas is the one that did this.” She let out a deep sigh of frustration, “Okay well, we are going to have to head for there” She pulled her messenger bag over the head letting it hang on her shoulder. “Oh before I forget, I have this to give you.” She pulled out a metal bat that was sticking out of her bag.

“Oh-my-god,” he stared at the metal bat while looking at his own. “Thanks Paige, I really needed a new one.” He looked to his cracked bat and tossed it aside gripping the new metal bat. “This is sweet. I’m going to kick so much ass with this.” He smiled and spun it in his hand. “Okay now lets go to that cave.” He thrust the bat in the direction they were headed.

The two crossed the woods and back on the dirt road leading to the town. The view from their point was of the entire city, it sparkled as the sun set in the back of the town. It was a calming view curing any negative feeling from the air. All was at peace in the town of Onett. Paige and Toby slowly walked down the road, as the moon’s dark blanket was thrown over the place. Night time fell slowly with every step engraved into the dirt beneath their shoes.

“Okay since the library is right there, then that means that it should to the right of it.” She looked into the direction of the cave surrounded by trees. Paige reached into her bag and pulled out a frying pan, clenching it tight. “Okay lets go.”

Toby chuckled to himself witnessing the weapon that Paige decided to defend herself with. He looked down and stopped after Paige looked back to him. She looked at him with a half smile on her face showing her humor in her item as well. They both walked casually to the cave stopping before entering it.

“You are ready for this right Paige?” He turned to her and saw that her face was fearless, like she had done this before. “Oh, well never mind. You seem so confident.” He looked to her with an eyebrow raised.”
“Only because I am with you.” Her tone a little bit more serious then it was before. “You are my knight remember.” She flipped her hair giggling. “No more talk, lets just go in. But, you first I am still kind of scared.”

Toby chuckled and went in gripping his bat tight with both hands. He felt a bit uneasy but refused to show it in front of Paige. The cave was silent, nothing creeping in the dark. The sound of their breathing filled the cave with hot air. Toby reached into his bag remembering he had a flash light. He passed it on to Paige who was a few steps behind. She twisted the back of the light turning it on, revealing a lit path for them to follow. They went further into the cave feeling the muggy and stale air surrounding them.

“What is with this lack of light?” Toby wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I thought it was open at the end of the tunnel.”

“It is, there should be an opening to reach the sanctuary at the end of the tunnel.” She looked in front of her trying to find the answer to the problem. “Maybe that is the problem!” She screamed flashing the light to the far right of them revealing a giant over sized ant blocking the entire end of the tunnel. It charged at them at full speed. “Kill it, Toby!” She screamed.

“Not a problem.” He put his goggles over his eyes and channeled his PSI through his body and smacking the ant in the head, but the outer exterior was to hard. It counter attacked and smacked him with it’s massive abdomen in to the cave’s walls. He looked to the ant and ran back away from it behind a rock where he found Paige also. “Why are you back here?” He could hear the thrashing monster coming down the cave trying to find him.

“Hehh lets not ask questions,” she peeked around the rock and looked to the ant. “How are we going to kill this? The outer shell of it is harder than a full swing from your bat.” She put her index finger to her bottom lip thinking of what to do. “Hey I think I know what to do. Toby, you know how to make shields right?” She looked to his face.

“Yeah I do, but I still do not get what you are trying to do.” He looked at her with a question on his face. “But, I will listen to you,” he focused on Paige closing his eyes. A light then covered her body giving off a shiny reflection. She walked form behind the rock revealing herself to the ant.

“Okay, you can do this.” She put her hands together like she was praying and closed her eyes trying to focus. The ant saw her and started to run at her. Toby heard the cave shake as the ant made its way down to Paige.

“No!” He ran in front of the ant and charged his body with PSI stopping the ant in it’s tracks. It moved him back as the both of them pushed against each other. Paige opened her eyes and yelled for Toby to move, he hesitated but jumped behind Paige letting the ant go. She spread apart her hands and in between them a blazing fire came out engulfing her body.

“PSI Fire Omega!!” She yelled as the fire reflected off the shield and shot straight to the ant. It squirmed trying to set off the flames, but the more Paige focused on it, the bigger the flames grew. The monster was reduced to ashes, evaporating into the air. The light at end of the tunnel was clearly visible from their standing point. Toby breath was heavy, he tried to catch it quickly. Paige stood paralyzed by the amount of energy she used. She smiled to herself. Looking to her hands and watching the markings on her hands glowed as the shield began to die down.

“I don’t think I ever had to use that much power before.” She giggled. “It felt great. You know all that power.” She put her hand to her head and fell to the ground. Toby quickly grabbed her before she could hit the floor.

“Heh, maybe a little to much.” He held his hand to her head and used his PSI to heal her. A light came out of his hand. “There you go, good as new.” She lay in his arms staring into his eyes.

“You know you are amazing,” she ran her hand along the outline of his jaw line, brushing her hand on his goatee. “You are strong and know how to heal. What can’t you do?” She smiled biting her lower lip.

“Come on, we have to go to the sanctuary spot.” Toby looked away trying to hid his blushing on his face. He got up and began to walk to the end of the tunnel. A smile played on his lips, that he could not control. “L-lets go.” He picked up his bag from the floor and went to the end of the tunnel with Paige.

“There it is Toby,” her face glistening in the moonlit sky. The both of them looked to the ground to witness a giant foot print on the surface below their feet. Toby hunched over to look closer to the imprint hearing a tune blowing in the wind. “Do you hear that? That is the melody, get the sound stone out.” She pointed her index finger to the sky looking to Toby. He dug into the pockets of his jeans and took the rock out. It glowed and recorded the soothing rhythm of the wind.

Toby relaxed himself thinking back to his childhood and remembering his family. He took in a deep breath and smelled the aroma of fresh water. “It’s gonna rain.” He looked to the sky smiling and humming the tune along with the wind. The rain lightly fell onto his skin moistening his face. Paige pulled an umbrella out from her bag and Toby lifted the hood that hung on his t-shirt, over his head. “Come on lets go Paige.” He hid his hands in his pocket walking back into the cave pushing the hood off his head and looking at Paige retract the small umbrella.

“What are we going to do for the night?” She looked at him wiping the bits of water off her khaki pleated skirt. “Do you want to stay at an Inn? Or what?” She put her hands to her hips.

“Well what about your house? Won’t your parents be worried that you are not home yet?” He took his goggles off his head, running a hand through his hair shaking the water off. “Where do you live?”

“I live in Towson, I live at the school there.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “My parents run it.”

“I kinda figured that, from your uniform and all.” He chuckled lightly to himself. “Well we cannot get to Twoson tonight, we might as well just find an Inn and stay there till morning.”

The rain echoed through the hollow cave, Toby and Paige walked out of the cave. Toby pulled his hood over his head and Paige opened the umbrella again. They ran to the town looking at the bright lights of open stores and restaurants. Cars driving slowly through the slippery streets with their headlights shining bright.

“There is one!” Paige pointed to a hotel building, the bright lights from the building shined. “Come on lets check in.” The two of them crossed the street, pushing open the doors. The two of them shook the water off themselves and walked up to the front desk.

“Welcome to the hotel would like to stay the night?” He greeted the two of them with a warm smile, the shining metal name plate read George.

“Yes, one room please. One room please.” Toby asked shivering from the drenched clothing he had on. “Actually..” he turned to Paige. “Make it two.”

“No, no, no it is okay just one.” She leaned into his ear and whispered. “It will cost to much for two.” He nodded and turned to the man confirming the request. He handed the man his card to swipe.

“I am so sorry sir but you have no money in your account,” He looked to him in disappointment. “I am sorry but I cannot give you the room.” He slid back his card over the counter.

“Damn it, how am I supposed to get the money to get this room?” He looked around and saw a phone on the front desk. He asked the man if he could use and the man allowed his too. “I have an idea.” Paige looked to him confused. He picked up the phone and called his someone. “Hello dad?” Toby said in a secure voice. “I kinda need your help with something. I know you are on a business trip but I-” Paige could hear a man speaking over the phone. “So then mom told you? I know I am. Don’t worry about me. Well that is just it I do not have anything in my account that is why I am calling you. Are you serious? Thank you dad, I love you too, bye bye.” He hung the phone up.
“So what did he say?” Paige spun the tip of the umbrella on the ground. “Did you get the money?”

“Yeah I did, he gave me more then enough.” He smiled and pulled the card back out of his wallet. “Here you go sir, I would like that room.” He slid the card over the counter and the man swiped it and gave him the keys to his room along with his card.

“Have a nice stay sir, and if you need anything just call.” The man at the front desk smiled and went back to his computer.

Paige and Toby walked up the stairs and to the second floor of the building and into the room. Paige stretched her arms up and let out a giant yawn. The both of them dropped their bags next to the bathroom and stared at the bed.

“You keep it I can sleep on the couch.” He turned and walked towards the couch.

“No I feel bad, you saved me, you should keep the bed.” She turned to see Toby already laying his things on the couch. “Fine, thank you Toby.” She smiled at him and turned opening her bag and grabbing her clothing garment from it, then headed into the restroom to shower. “Okay well I am going to take a shower, then to sleep.” She closed the door behind her.

Toby laid on his back waiting for Paige to finish up in the shower. He put his arm behind his head using it as a pillow. He slowly drifted to sleep, closing his eyes. What felt like a second later, there was a light tap at the bottom of his shoe. He opened his eyes and saw Paige standing in front of him. She smiled and signaled to the shower telling him that it was free. He nodded and grabbed his cloths.

“Is all the cloths you packed the same?” He looked to her in a smirk.

“Uh, yeah,” she laid on her bed about to sleep. “Hehh it is kind of funny, huh?” She giggled.

“Not really, I did the same thing,” he showed her the cloths in his hand and smiled. “Well I am going to go take a shower now, good night.” He kicked off his shoes and socks and walked into the bathroom. Toby walked out of the bathroom clothed for the morning. Paige fast asleep, covered in two blankets and four pillows, smiled and told Toby good night. He walked over the lamp next to her bed and shut it off leaving only the moon to illuminate the room. He walked to the couch and laid down, staring to the ceiling. Slowly his eye lids grew heavier, and he slowly drifted into a deep slumber.

Thank you for reading.