The Faithfuls

Chapter 23: Jinx

Chapter 23: Jinx

When I wake, I’m bored. Really bored. I get out a little slip of paper from my pocket. Grace had dropped it when she went off. It said she lived in Vulture, one of the towns on the other side of Merador. Looks like I’m going on a long walk.

I pack some food in a satchel, along with my reflex. Just in case. If I get started now, I’ll reach Vulture by 4. So I head off, optimistic and not as bored. I’ve seen the sights before, but it’s been a long time. I don’t choose to venture this far.

My mind wanders, not really focusing on anything. I forget about the faithfuls, the people and the dimension. I go into this massive white void where I can create what I want. My imagination.

An entire world forms before my eyes. A world where there’s no pain, no sadness and no evil. The perfect world. The world nobody in the history of time has never and will never find. But, you make the most of life. You try your hardest to make life as best as it can be. It’s how I got past the death of the Anthrofauna.

I reach Vulture a little later than expected, but still reasonably on time. Now all that’s left to do is find Grace. I scour the streets, eventually going into an old pub on the corner of the road. Inside, a scratched old TV plays the latest news. Something on the program catches my eye though. Muse’s face. I listen in on the report:

“The strange disappearance of Muse Triton, Ursa Freemace and Brandon Roswell is baffling to the authorities this far into the case. The three teenagers disappeared from their families early this morning, with no trace of where they went.” The news lady says. “Some believe it to be linked to the action group ‘The Faithfuls’, as they were all members of the organisation before their disappearance. If you see these people anywhere, please contact the authorities.” Pictures of each of them flash on screen, along with which dimension they’re from.

Who would take them? And why? The one thing that’s for certain, Zeth and I are next. I need to find Grace now. It’d be nice to have backup, or at least someone who can fight alongside me. Wait, can she fight? And if she can’t I’ll find a way for her to help me. I go up to the man at the bar, his beard drooping on the counter.

“Excuse me sir,” I say. “Is there a girl in this town called Grace?”

“Young or old?” His voice is raspy.

“Young.”

He takes a moment to think. “I think she’s at the little wooden cottage on the next block.”

“Thank you sir. Much appreciated.” I say smiling.

I’m guessing this is the middle class of Vulture, as all of the houses look reasonably well kept, with little gardens out the front and what not.

In the centre of the houses is a little fountain and a ring of dancing people. Wait, what?

They all laugh and cheer as they dance around the fountain, the girls being thrown into the air at certain intervals. Musicians play instruments in front of a stage that’s been set up, somehow not running out of breath.

In the outskirts of the circle, I spot a girl in an orange dress. Grace. She exits the circle of people, waving goodbye to a brown haired boy who continues to dance.

“Jinx?” She says. “Why the hell are you here?”

“Originally, I was going to come to say hello.” There’s a hint of panic in my voice. “But my friends have been captured, and I think I’m next.”

She tilts her head. “What could you possibly want from me then?”

“Backup. You can’t fight at all?”

“No, but...” She clicks her fingers. “You can teach me!”

“Awesome... But I might be able to help you tame ‘Devil’s Falcon’ as well.”

She grins. “When do we start my training?”

“Now.”

She grins. “Alrighty then, queue action montage!” She punches her fist in the air, and we stand there for a good thirty seconds.

“That doesn’t work in real life, Grace.”

“Crap.”