What Once was Broken

Chapter 40.... Let The Butterfly Be Your Guide

After all the trouble of figuring where the second plug may be located, we FINALLY discovered a cell door that needed the plug to be opened. "Are you sure about this? What if something BAD is in there?" Leo asked, trembling. "When does NOTHING bad ever happen? If we are to save the world as we know it, I NEED to get to that signal tower, and release that boy!" I said, placing the plug into the slot on the wall. With a loud buzzer ringing through the room, the cell door crept quietly open, revealing another hall way. "So where next trooper?" Six asked, unenthused. "Hmmm....." I channeled my heart to use it's guiding light for the final time, and I was once again pointed right. I waved for the other two to follow, and we approached a cell door, with a single opening in the very center. "Six, we need to go through that up there." "Are you positive? It looks rather creepy to say the least!" She whimpered, hiding behind Leo. "She's right," he began, taking her arm comfortingly, "we CANNOT be separated! Go with Claire, and I'll see you on the other side." "Alright, if I must...." Six gulped, and we both approached the door. Six got down to boost me up, and I stepped into her hands, feeling like a courageous heroine in an action story! I flew into the air, and with what I could exert physically, I launched myself through the hole, and onto the other side. "Now boost Six up and through!" I called to Leo, who nodded in response. "Ready sheila?" "I guess...." She responded in reluctance, and readied her foot into Leo's palm. Up, up, up she went until, "AH!" She screeched in pain as she was flung back to the floor in front of Leo. "Wh-What happened!?" I asked, rushing to the bars. "A force stung me, and flung me backward, like it didn't WANT for me to go with you!" Six winced through gritted teeth. "B-But that's PREPOSTEROUS! It let ME through!" I said, looking up at the hole that was much too high up. "I guess this is another trial you must go through alone. Like trying to test your durability against the unknown!" Six grunted as Leo helped her up from the floor. "But I don't WANT to be alone!" I cried, but there was obviously nothing that would change what was to be. Leo brought me to him through the bars, and said, "You're strong, and brave, and you can overcome the unbeatable. You have already twice! So don't you worry about now, because I'll be there for you at the end, waiting." "But what if I die?" I asked, turning pale in his arms from fright. "Hey! Since when were YOU worried of dying?" He asked, laughing. I took a moment to think about what we have accomplished, and at any moment, I could've been fodder for guests, a Nome, or torn by Bullies, but no matter what I kept on with a strong mind, and pure heart. Leo was right. What WAS I worried about this time? I nodded my head after a while, and replied, "You're right. I was just worried I wouldn't see you again was all." And it was the truth. Six was unpredictable, and I barely have trust in her for anything! With Leo being like he is, I just didn't want anything to happen to him..... I didn't want to lose another friend...... "I'll be fine." He assured, moving my bangs from my eyes, and patted me on the head before sending me off on my lonesome. The room behind the cell was only semi dark, with only a single fixture illuminating the center of the room. Across the way, I could see something in the dark and tall blocking the door way, and to my horror, the limbs glinted as if they weren't real skin, but PLASTIC! "Leo? Could I see your flashlight? It's DETRIMENTAL I fear, if it is not on my person." I said, reaching behind me as Leo slid the object into my hand. Once I had it, I inched over to a lever on the far right of the cell, and flicked on the light, aiming to the tall, plastic creature gaurding the blindspot. "Okay, on the count of three... One.... Two...." "Three!" I said, jumping up to grab the lever. Once the lever slid down, the light above me began to flicker on and off, awakening the beast before me. "C-Claire?" Leo stammered, the light continuing to flick until it completely went out with a pop! I held the light on the figure, contemplating a plan to get passed when Leo asked, "What IS that thing?" "They're called "Patients"." I explained, keeping my light trained on the mannequin-like being. "Patients? Oh christ, is there a doctor here too!?" Leo asked in a horrified voice. "I was told that there shouldn't be, but we must stay on gaurd in case there was a miscalculation." I turned off the flashlight, which sent the half human model after me, clicking and clacking as it did. "Claire! Watch out!" Leo screeched, and my reflexes quickly allowed me to switch the light back on JUST before it grabbed me! The creature automatically straightened up, statue stiff in the beam of the light, and I slowly inched my way around the patient as I made sure to train my light on it at all times. Once out of the cell, I flicked the switch again, turning the flashlight off once more as the poor hybrid of a human came bounding after me, only stopping when it's arm hit the single form of light above me. "Poor thing. I wonder if he's traumatized by the transformation forced upon him? I sure would be if I'd have gone through that sort of experience!" I said to myself when I heard a small jingling noise come from behind me, making me face the dark hallway ahead. To my shock, a bright, silvery light was illuminating the end of the hall, whizzing around sporadically before turning around a corner. "Follow it..." A simple instruction was whispered to me, and I knew that it was my only choice to obey the cryptic command. I turned the flashlight on again, and ran down the hall, being sure to shine my light at a seated patient in the process before turning the corner into another wing of the hall. As I walked, I noticed at least three more patients, and I was careful to make sure that I didn't alert them as I treaded onward. The silvery light showed itself again, this time, circling around me multiple times before going through something in the wall ahead, which I figured out later was a hole in a door that led to a pitch black room! I took a deep, shaken breath, and I bravely pressed forward into the clammy, dull, dusty hospital room, lined with beds, and a hoard or so of patients within. "Fromage et casse-noix, just how many unfortunate people reside here?" I asked myself, looking around the room when a crackling caught my attention, and I moved out of the way as a patient tottered it's way over to me. "Oh!" I screeched as another began to wake, and in a desperate attempt to get away, I hid under the barracade of hospital beds before they lurched over to grab me! Breathless, I tried to calm my shaken nerves as the jingling continued, beckoning me to follow it over to a crawlspace in the uppermost portion of the door. I tried to take a step, but as soon as I did, my flashlight began to act up, as if it was trying to burn out. "No, no! Please don't go out now! PLEASE don't go out!" I begged frantically, but to my dismay, the flashlight gave in to it's dying light, ceasing to be. "Oh you petite machine inutile, some life saving device YOU are!" I growled angrily, throwing the flashlight at full force out into the open. I felt defenseless.... Hopeless as I stood under the bed, absolutely vulnerable for anything to get me at any moment when I remembered the trick that the mysterious boy taught me.... An extension of my powers that could save me, as well as the others around me. I closed my eyes, and began to concentrate my power's flow to my chest, a burning sensation taking over as I tried desperately to summon a shield of light to protect me from those meanacing humanoids. "Come on.... Come on!" I begged in frustration, trying and failing many times to summon the shield. I felt like giving up everything when the same voice instructed, "Think about someone you're willing to protect.... Ones who are willing enough to protect you...." I took the disembodied voice on it's word, and I closed my eyes again, taking a deep breath to calm myself as I listed off, "Bree, Maman, Leo, the boy from the tower," I felt the power began to rush through me, but it wasn't enough to build the shield of light the boy had taught me to use. "Think of the people you loved, and had loved you in turn..... The people who you did help, and the ones who you tried to help...." "Galina, Naomi, the other children in the Hideaway, Charlie," tears began to burn my face as the faces of everyone I've lost and loved: Barney, Jenna, Petunia, ALL of them filled my mind and heart, and eventually the burning in my chest was so tense, that it felt like I had completely exploded from the inside! Once I opened my eyes again, I was met with a bright, glittery force around me, causing me to shield my eyes from it's blinding beauty. I wiped tears away as I stepped out from under the bed, and made my way across the rest of the room, invincible as my light, although illuminating one place, protected me from the touch of three more patients as they surrounded me. I finally reached the door, and leapt up to the hole above, quickly pulling myself through as I exhaustedly collapsed to the floor, the patients reaching through the hole in attempt to catch me before being frozen by yet another light in a hallway. I felt sleepy, almost drained from the intense amount of power that I had used, and I closed my eyes to rest when a young, female voice beckoned to me sweetly, "Get up." "But.... I'm so tired...... I can't-" "Get up. You're not safe here without your light!" I forced my eyes open, breathing heavily as I observed my surroundings, finding the silvery light again for the third time. "Are you an angel? Am I dead?" I asked tiredly, limply holding up my hand for the light to rest upon. The light laughed brightly, and replied in the same soft voice, "If I be an angel, I'd be quite a small one. No, I am the soul sent to guide you! I'm a soul butterfly." She explained as I brought her to my weary face. Upon closer inspection, I found that the light actually WAS a butterfly, with a silver body that glowed brilliantly, and beautiful, shimmering wings the colors of purple, blue, and black. My eyes widened at the splendor that rested in my entire palm, causing the butterfly to giggle. "Wh-What is your name?" I asked weakly, turning my hand over as she casually strolled along to rest on the back. "Sadly, I do not remember. Those of us who pass and become soul butterflies are usually left without a past to refer ourselves to! But I know YOU'RE good at naming things, like those Nomes on the Maw, and that boy who rescued you in the underbelly." She replied, her legs fidgeting as she did. "How do you-" "It's simple. I know EVERYTHING about you! Where you're from, what your goal is, your intentions.... You have a pure aura, and a pure heart that you use responsibly, and a keen sense of right and wrong! You are perfect in every way, and imperfect at the same time I speak to you." The butterfly explained sagely, and I thought about what she had said for a moment before asking, "How many of you are there?" "Oh, there are hundreds. THOUSANDS even! I have been assigned to aid you through this trial. So, what shall you refer to me as, my pure?" She asked, scuttling slowly up my arm. I thought about what to name her when a familiar story my father read to me about a sea nymph from a place called Ancient Greece came to me, and I uttered the name, "Calypso..." "Hmm?" The butterfly asked, now perched on my shoulder. "I shall refer to you by the name "Calypso"." I declared, staggering to my feet as she flew in front of me, and landed on my nose to give me a butterfly kiss. "Then I am Calypso, guardian of the pure who are worthy of my guidance, and my protection." She flew off of my face, and perched herself on my head. I looked down at my chest, and asked curiously, "That shield I conjured... Do I have to think about them every time?" "You ACKNOWLEDGED their souls were still with you," Calypso explained, her voice silky smooth, "so in turn they are more than happy to give you their aid to the best of their ability." I let her words sink in, and now that she had said it, the air around me felt more comforting, and warm.... Almost as if they were all giving me one, BIG hug! I smiled, knowing that I wasn't truly alone, and I called my hands into confident fists. "Alright. I'm ready!" "Remember to use your loved ones should you feel your stamina has been burned out. The more you aknowlage they're there to help you, the stronger they become, and the stronger YOU become." Calypso instructed, and with a simple nod to show that I understood, we embarked deeper into the domain of the creepy, clattering humanoids, a new found feeling of hope filling me from head to toe, and a new power derived from my once loved, STILL loved, now fallen, protecting me all the way.