GASP—
Ahh… where...
I saw stars… in the sky… it looked beautiful, the entire sky covered in them. Did I ever see it back on Earth? …no… I missed it though.
"Hey he is up! Lady, how are you little man? Feeling alright?"
I didn't move. Kevin's voice floated to me like a soft ripple on water. I just lay there, the sky staring back at me, and Kevin staring down. I could hear the sea—it was close, steady, familiar. Strange how that sound calmed me now.
Wanora came up… and smiled.
"Good job."
Huh?
What happened?
I sat up slowly, everything felt wrong—my brain pulsing with a dull ache, my body heavy, sore. I turned behind me, instinctively—and froze.
There was a sinkhole.
The island… where?
"The deity is dead…" Wanora's voice carried lightly, as if it wasn't a sentence that should shake the world. "Good job. We were on the edge and, well, we found you… dunno what you did."
I stared at her.
"I did? No… I didn't do anything?"
Wanora smiled like she already knew the answer. "Take your time to adjust. You probably don't remember since your head is a mess."
Oh… probably.
"When you remember it all, tell it then." She patted my back like I was a kid who'd drawn something weird but impressive, and walked into the ship's cabin like she hadn't just said something that put ice in my spine.
I turned to Kevin. "How did you find me?"
"Oh well, you were visible," he said casually, leaning back like this was just another day at sea. "The island started fading and guess what—" he laughed, "—in a minute it all turned to dust. Our ship was falling, so were you. Phoenix saw you and carried you here on the ship, and Lucas threw us out of the sinkhole. Crazy lad, eh?"
And since the water was filling in fast—
"Raptor made our ship reach safe distance in case we sink in again."
I looked at the skulls. My chest felt heavy, like something wanted to press itself into the floor. I bowed my head.
"Ah… thank you. Lucas. Raptor. Phoenix."
Kevin laughed again, this time softer. He patted my back.
"It's a pleasure, boy. But it will take a while to take you back home."
Huh?
"Why?"
He looked at me then, not smiling anymore.
"I don't know if you saw it, but when the light wall had been here… we were trapped in a separate dimension by the authorities. And they have released the bubble too."
Bubble?
He nodded. "Yeah. It's an artifact they have. And soon they will be here. I'm taking a longer route, but I'll make sure you are home by tomorrow."
"Ah, okay…" I smiled faintly. That was fine. That was good.
I looked around. Something tugged at me. "Uh, where is the girl?"
"Who?" he asked.
"Evena…"
"Oh that one? She is asleep. Thought we might as well, as you should get some sleep too. Don't worry, I'll take care of the ship."
"Oh… okay…" I said. My steps turned toward the cabin, slow, uncertain, but not heavy. As I reached the door, my eyes drifted to the sea.
Ah… how did I do it?
Was it me that did it?
"Uh, lad… you can stop staring at me," Kevin called out from behind.
Hm?
I turned. "I was looking at the sea."
He stared back at me. "No? You were staring at me with that one eye of yours. The other eye was looking at the sea."
What are you talking about? I chuckled, waved it off, and stepped into the cabin. My hand found the door. I shut my eye.
Kevin stood still, watching the space I left behind. Heide walked in quietly after me. Kevin turned to the sea.
"Hey Lucas, is that normal?"
...
"I thought so. He did look creepy with his one eye seeing into my soul. And I don't think he knows this either. Goodness…"
...
"That wasn't him? Could it be the deity?"
...
"Oh not that, but something else in his soul? Could be a pact, right?"
...
"He must have his secrets. No need to pry for now. Let's just get those kids home."
Kevin stepped forward, hand gripping the wheel, the air shifting.
"SET SAIL AND GO FULL SPEED, RAPTOR!"