Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I have a real treat (I hope) for you today!
You know that story I was writing last year, and then promptly forgot for about five months? Well it's back, and this is the next entry!
In truth, I never really did forget about it, but I was having a hard time figuring out where I wanted to go with it. But I finally figured it out!
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy it.
I Finally Get Some Answers
Gus leads me into the glass building. I’m wondering if this
is the last place I’ll ever see.
Something tells me this Mr Budgeswop is someone that shouldn’t
be messed with.
Really hope I’m not about to wet myself. For real, this
time.
Gus starts to say something like “So, listen, when I say we
might be dead…” but then we wall into the Glass building. To give you an idea of
what I’m looking at, I’ll say this. It’s not a glass building- it’s like
gravity as a building. Pure white, clear, unlimited space. Like the hyperbolic
time chamber in DBZ. It’s like that, but smaller. So maybe not unlimited, but
if you don’t keep it clear on where you’re going, you might just end up lost.
Which I most certainly would have been, if Gus hadn’t
stopped walking, right in front of me, and screamed in my face.
“Hey, KID! Pay attention to what I’m saying, or Budgeswop really
will have our necks. Have you heard anything I’ve just said?”
My expression is response enough, I guess.
Sighing and scrunching his eyes up, as if me not listening
is the end of the world, he tilts his head, looks me straight in eye, and
starts again.
“Listen Kid. You need to listen to me. I’m your link back
home. I’m the only person you know here, and right now, we’re both in some pretty
serious trouble. I’m on your side, pal, but we need to be on the same page. You
get me?”
Not trusting myself enough to speak, I look straight ahead
and nod. Gus takes that as confirmation, and he starts walking and talking again,
albeit a little slower this time.
“This is the Artios training centre. It’s our main base.
There are rooms for, well, training, but also meetings too. There’s a weapons
missionary, where we develop weapons, and then of course practise with them, so
they can be tweaked. Right now, we’re going to one of the meeting rooms, where
Budgeswop will be, so he can explain some things. Still with me?”
Listening to his words, knowing he’s on my side, a small smile
escapes my lips. He visibly relaxes at my reaction, and, breathing slowed, he
says: “Let’s move then. We’ve still got a couple of corridors to go.
Now that I’m somewhat adjusted to my surroundings (somewhat),
I can pay more attention to some of the conversations in the many rooms we’re
passing. Like:
“Oh hey, what's this?”
“I'll show you.” *Woosh of air*.
“What? Oh WAYYYYYY.”
He's flying. They're literally defying gravity.
AND. (This had me burst out laughing so much I was almost on
the floor- mostly at the look on Gus’ face after this happened.)
“Sir, what seems to be the problem?”
“I have this boil on my nose, Franklin. It's very furious
and blistery.”
“Well sir, I'll touch it, see what it does. Probably
nothing, sir.”
“Okay... well, make sure you be careful, Franklin.”
“Understood.”
“...It's disappeared, sir.”
“I can see that, Franklin.”
“... Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. Oh, I think I need to use
the bathroom!”
General rushes past protag clutching his crotch area.
“…Anyway, let’s get going.” He says, when I finally have my
composure again.
After a few minutes, we turn a corner and enter a semi-large
room. It contains a large projector screen, some weird computer type thing, a
table and a few chairs. To be honest,
this is probably the smallest, most average looking room in the entire building
(which by the way, feels a lot like Mary Poppins’ handbag- could carry the world
inside it and still have room.)
The only redeeming feature- there’s a real life waterfall
inside! It must go somewhere, I suppose, but the way it flows, it seems to flow
back to the start, and keep going, an impossible, beautiful, magnificent
waterfall. I reach out, wanting to touch it, but nothing! Just pure emptiness!
I’m about to turn back to Gus, to ask what the deal with the waterfall is, when
I’m shocked out of my daydream with a familiar, booming voice.
“Gus! Will you please control this boy! Time is of the
essence, and he’s wasting time!”
I turn around and Mr Budgeswop is on the screen!
I suppose I should describe what he looks like. He looks
like Gus, basically, but older, more mature, more developed, more strained,
stressed- with bags under his beady little eyes and a constant clenching of the
jaw. His skin is a deep shade of red- like he’s permanently sunburned, but
slightly darker.
“Yes, sir. Apologies, it’s his first time here. The waterfall
can be a lot for the first time. Charlie. Please sit down. Time is of the
essence.”
Very glad I’m not about to meet my death, but still very
scared, I take a seat, as quick as a shot.
“Good. Now we can
begin.”
Relieved, because I can finally get some answers to my questions,
I slowly exhale.
“Charlie. As Gus already told you,” I see some disapproval
thrown in Gus’ direction, “you are one of a small group of children selected
for the protection of Artios, the city of the stars. We have been monitoring
potential warriors for centuries, searching for enough power, against the
incredible threat that has been looming for many years. We don’t know what this
threat is, where it’s coming from, or when it will arrive. We just know it’s
coming.”
Although I was expecting him to say it, my heart was still
in my mouth. I had a million questions, but only one was at the front of my
mind.
“But… why me? Why me, of all people? I’m unexceptional. I
always have been. I’m useless at school- at making friends, at school, talking to
girls… what was it that made you pick me?”
Although Mr Budgeswop looked surprised at my surprise
interjection, he did not yell. Sighing, he glances at Gus.
“Gus, do you want to explain to Charlie why we knew he was
one of the select few? We can reconvene when Charlie has grasped the situation.”
“Yes, sir. Be with you shortly.” I feel a smooth rubbing on
my shoulders, and with a soft flash, I knew Mr Budgeswop was gone. I swirled my
chair round to face Gus.
“Charlie. Listen to me. We have had potential children, throughout
generations, being monitored, at a faraway distance. Certain characteristics, and
an ability to think a certain way is what notifies us of a potential protector.
We are always sure, by a certain point, when a child has an innate ability. We
knew about you from when you were four years old, Charlie. You are one of the
selected, one of the children in the prophecy. You just found out a bit earlier
than you should have, is all.” The tips of his lips turn up at the end, and I
can see he is trying to reach out, to help comfort me.
And right now, all I can do is return his smile.
“Okay. I’m not saying I’m 100% okay now, but I’m trying to
deal. So, what happens now?”
Clearly relieved that I haven’t freaked out, he starts to
say something. I would have heard him, if not for the ear-piercing alarm that
drowns out everything else.
“What the… it can’t be!” I hear Gus stammer under his
breath. “Charlie! I have to go, but I’ll be back very soon. You have to promise
you won’t leave.”
“But! What’s going on?” I can feel my pulse racing; my palms
are sticky with sweat. Something is very wrong. “I don’t want you to leave me
here.”
Gus is about as panicked as me. “I have to. But I’ll be back
soon. Promise me you won’t go anywhere.”
Even through all the panic, I can tell he needs me to
promise.
I look him dead in the eyes, reach for his arm, and give him
a reassuring rub. “Okay. I promise.”
He takes a slight breath. “Thanks Charlie.” And then he’s
gone.
And then the world is spinning.
Okay! That's all I've got! Anybody gripped yet? Nope?
Oh well. I enjoyed writing it anyway.
Not really expecting any comments for this one, but it genuinely would make my day if somebody wrote something (not mean) in the comments.
Right! That's all I have for you all today, I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll be seeing you all soon!
Byeeee!
-Abi xxxxxx
