The Abstraction Chronicles: The Abstract

Chapter 13: A Family Reunion

We don't see Saxley for much of that day afterward. After waving away the crowd he takes Saxley and walks him to the mill in the middle of the city. He orders Cline to take Cynthia and me to a free room and give us food and some new clothing. Our old clothes were ripped up and covered in dirt from that fight with the giant monstrous scorpion, that would've been cool had it not been trying to kill us. We're each given clothes made of linen. Cynthia is a bit upset that they gave her a dress. She complains that it would get in the way during a fight. For food, they give us some salads. Believe it or not, Cline told us that they were able to grow lots of plants here with the abundance of water and sunlight coming in from the top of the cave.

"It's nice Saxley was able to find his dad," Cynthia says looking up from her Key. "Yeah! That dress suits you by the way," I exclaim.

"Oh, shut up. How am I supposed to rescue Atticus in this thing?" She says twirling around.

"First, we have to find where the Gate is," I point out.

"True, and we don't have a lot of time either. I trust that the city can withstand an attack, but Farin's camp is going to get obliterated."

"Do we care what happens to him though?" I ask thinking about what he did to Alfur.

"Yes, he still helped raise me. I need to talk to him. Not to mention I have friends under his command that we need to save."

"Alright, but that still leaves us without a plan."

"I have Saxley asking his father for aid since his people are the gatekeepers for the Gate." "I didn't know that. How did you know?"

"He told me when we first met. I didn't believe it at first, but Thaddeus confirmed it when I asked. He said not to tell anyone since not many people know of this place's existence."

"I hope Vinieus doesn't know about this place," I say looking around.

"If he did it would probably be in the process of being attacked like everywhere else," Cynthia sighs.

"Everything is going to be okay," I say getting up and hugging her. Looking up at me her eyes suddenly seemed larger than before. With her arms still wrapped around my neck, I lean in to kiss her when I see Saxley barge through the wooden door in front of me.

His face looking the happiest I've ever seen saying, "Zane, Cynthia, my father wants to meet the two of you! Oh, did I interrupt something?" He asks looking at my flushed face.

"No, you didn't interrupt anything." Cynthia says. Looking down I can see that her face is flushed like mine. "When does he want to meet us?" She asks.

"Right now! I told him everything and he wants to help," he says proudly. "You told him everything?" Cynthia says her mouth hanging open.

"That's what I said," he responds blankly.

Visibly biting her tongue, she says, "You need to be less trusting sometimes."

"It'll be alright, now come on!" He laughs. Grumbling Cynthia follows him out the door.

Walking around the city people are staring at us as we went. Lamps are lighting the way with little fireflies buzzing about keeping the city alight, spreading a distinct light green hue as the water churns below us. Before long we were at the large watermill. The wooden wheel rotating at a slow mesmerizing speed. Supporting it is a building made of cobblestone multiple stories high. Wooden framed windows dot the structure.

"Whoa, this thing is huge!" Looking around it almost reaches the top of the cavern.

"Yeah, my father told me that this was created to clean the water from Dweller's corruption." Saxley smiles.