Dream Diaries: Irene's Cry

Anxious Encounter

     The single sound of his spoon scraping the side of his bowl filled the room, killing the silence. He looked up and met his father's eyes.

     "Tommy, Seriously?" Philza asked rhetorically. His attention snapped to his left to see his older brother struggling to keep in his laughter.

     "I don't like oatmeal; that fucking funny to you?" Tommy burst out, and his voice was raspy.

      "You're acting like a child," Wilbur replied with a smirk. Tommy raged. He couldn't wait for the next year to go by; that way, he'd be 18, and these jokes could stop.

     "Can I go out?" Tommy asked. Wilbur continued to laugh. His father narrowed his eyes, considering his question. Tommy attempted to make puppy dog eyes.

     "Will you be careful?" Philza requested. Tommy took this as a yes and immediately slid from his chair.

     "Of course! When have I ever not been careful?" Tommy asked. Philza and Wilbur both looked at each other. Tommy brushed it off and raced out the door.

     He ran through the streets of his father's village, Nahakra. The streets were bustling with market carts and masses of people. He slid the green bandana that he wore around his neck up to cover his face. He didn't want to be recognized. It wasn't much of a disguise, though, as his blonde hair and blue eyes were visible, which matched his father's.

     He turned around a corner to a statue of Lady Irene. He stuck his fingers into a small hole and barely flicked the lever hidden inside. The inner wall of the pedestal opened only for a moment. Tommy quickly entered before the door closed behind him. He wouldn't want anyone following him.

     He found himself in the dark empty halls that had become a place of comfort. He breathed the dirty air, walking calmly through the corridors. His footsteps echoed through the puddling water.

     When he walked through the first archway, he slowed his pace. He retrieved a small blade from the inside of his shoe. He trod carefully, squinting his eyes to look down each corridor.

     His attention snapped to the loud clang noise to his left, taking a few steps closer to the direction. The sounds of water sloshing around by Tommy's movement ricocheted off the walls violently. Suddenly, in one swift motion, Tommy ducked and heard the sharp swish of a knife flying through the air above his head.

     "Shit," he heard from behind him. Without turning, he launched his blade behind him. Tommy turned around to see his friend pinned to the wall by her scarf and his knife.

     "Good trap," Tommy commented, reclaiming his blade.

     "Thanks, but no time for hanging out with you today," the woman replied.

     "Amber, why? What are you up to?" he asked with a purposefully annoyed tone. The older blonde woman sighed.

     "I found these records, but I don't have anything to play them on," Amber explained.

     "Records?" Tommy asked. Amber opened her tattered bag and revealed three old-looking vinyl discs.

     "So you need to locate a jukebox?" Tommy asked, and she nodded. Tommy racked his memory for a few moments.

     "I don't think there is any in Nahakra at all. Where are you planning on going to look for one? Can I come with you?" Tommy asked.

     "O'khasis, if I can sneak in. And no, if we snuck in and got discovered, O'khasis would blame your father, and it could start a war," she answered. Tommy sighed discontentedly.

     "You could walk me to O'khasis though, it's a decent walk," she offered. Tommy beamed.

     "Yes! Thanks, Amber! Shall we get going?" he exclaimed. She laughed at his excitement.

     They walked through the forest that separated Nahakra and O'khasis.

     "So why are you so bent on hearing these discs? I mean, it's crazy to sneak in O'khasis without good reason," Tommy asked.

     "I found them while sifting through the belongings of the former boss of the thieves guild. I sort of recognize them, but I don't know why," she explained.

     "If they aren't important, can I have them? I don't have a lot of possessions, or at least ones that my father hasn't gotten me," Tommy asked.

     "Yeah, sure. I don't see why not," Amber replied. He smiled to himself.

     They walked in comfortable silence until they noticed a brown-haired boy anxiously walking in their direction. They shifted to the left of the path to let the kid have his space. When the boy finally noticed both Amber and him, he practically ran to them.

     "Hey! Hey!" the boy yelled. Tommy put himself in front of Amber.

     "What do you need?" Amber asked kindly.

     "I'm looking for anyone! I need protection. I don't want to be alone," the boy said.

     "What?" Tommy slipped confusedly.

     "Are you both from Nahakra?" the boy asked. Tommy's heart rate picked up.

     "No, we are traveling in the area. My son and I are from Scaleswind," Amber lied. A sigh of relief escaped Tommy's lips.

     "Perfect! I'm from O'khasis, ordered to spy on the lord of Nahakra," the boy started. Amber and Tommy both immediately became alert. Tommy began to bounce a bit in his stance.

     "But I'm using this opportunity to escape, and I need refuge. Can you guys help me?" the boy begged. Tommy could only laugh.

     "What?" Amber asked.

     "What's your name?" Tommy asked. The boy's smile shone brightly.

     "Tubbo," he replied, all giddy.

     "Well, Tubbo, can I be honest with you?" he asked. Tubbo nodded.

     "I'm Tommy Nahakra, the son of the lord of Nahakra. You gave me so much anxiety just then; it wasn't even funny," Tommy vented. Amber gave Tommy a concerned look.

     "Oh, I'm sorry," Tubbo replied, nervously laughing.

     "You know what, Tubbo? Do you want to hang out with us? I'm just walking Amber to O'khasis, and then I'm going home. You can come home with me, and I'm sure my father won't mind," Tommy offered.

     "That'd be lovely!" Tubbo exclaimed.

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