The Abstraction Chronicles: The Abstract

Chapter 17: Back To Reality

It's now been a few days since the battle in the UnderDwelling and a lot of things have changed. We had a funeral for the fallen. Thaddeus spoke a few words before we buried the bodies underneath the Scout HQ. A funeral pyre has been burning atop the building since then in honor of the fallen. The Forgotten has moved into the City increasing its size as well as its diversity. The buildings the Abstract created for them were somewhat like in the UnderDwelling. Mostly powered by water and comfortable. I've just been told that I'll be heading back home soon. I better make the most of it.

"This is nice," Cynthia says looking at the stars. "Yeah, this totally beats a scrimmage right now."

"I don't know about that," she replies with a smirk. We decided to take the day off training and have a little date in my mindscape. Luckily, to set the mood my mindscape had a beautiful night sky out with nice long blades of grass. It smells like you had just gotten up out of

bed in the morning and walked outside. We even picked up some sandwiches from the Food Pyramid. Granted, we did get quite a few glances from some other Scouts with a few whistling.

"You know, it's crazy how that we met so many years ago. I thought this was all a dream," I laugh.

"Hah, I bet you're not wishing that right now." She elbows me. "No, I'm not." I smile.

"You ready to head back to Reality tomorrow?" She asks.

"Weirdly, yeah. I haven't seen Buster and Collin in a while, and I shouldn't leave my dad alone thinking I'm gone."

"You're lucky Thaddeus manipulated the Abstract to make sure that no one, in Reality, noticed your month-long disappearance."

"I've been gone that long? I ask surprised.

"Yup, you took an all-expenses-paid trip here." She smiles. "And look who's fault that was." I smile back.

"Oh, by the way. I think I owe you this," she says closing her eyes kissing me.

Everyone gathers to see me off the next day. The whole Scout division and the Forgotten people had lined up outside of the Scout HQ. Renford, Gandry, and many faces that I'd seen during the battle were here. Saxley and Cynthia are in front of the long line of people. Positively beaming at me. Cynthia and Ezzie were using their shoulder to support Atticus as he's waving goodbye to me. He visited me at my house earlier today before I was due to head back thanking

me for helping his sister rescue me then hugged me. Alastair stood side by side with Thaddeus with the First Key between them on a pedestal. Alastair after the battle had been not only allowed back into the city by the Abstract but also had been put in charge of the entire Scout division after Farin's death. Zane.

Thaddeus speaks in an authoritative tone, "It has been our great honor that you were brought here. Even if it was a mishap." Winking at Cynthia. "You're always welcome here. But let's not forget that the Dweller threat is still very much real. The Great Grey will return, but until then we will have peace. The entire Scout Division is in your debt. You've not only helped us defeat the Dweller threat, but you've also reunited old ties." Gesturing towards Cline and Winston, "If ever you wish to return just imagine you were here and open the space in front of you with your Key. Ladies and gentlemen, Zane Ackerman." Cheers and applause erupted all around me almost as if I were in the middle of a fireworks display. Tearing up, I put my hand behind the back of my neck in nervousness. After it dies down Alastair now gripping my shoulder hugs me.

"Thank you for bringing me home." He smiles a tear in his eye. Thaddeus eyeing me pulls me to the side.

"You should know that while I did manipulate most of the minds to not notice you're being absent from Reality I felt like I should leave one in particular."

"Who is that?" I ask confused.

"You'll see." He smiles. Picking up the First Key he inserts it into the air opening up a golden wormhole. "When you're ready." He nods. As I'm about to step forward I hear from behind me.

"I'll come visit!" Cynthia says waving.

"ME TOO!" Saxley yells in her ear causing her to grimace. Holding a thumbs up I yell, "Sounds good!" Then I walk into the wormhole. Usually, I feel something whenever I enter into a wormhole, but this felt as if I was just taking a regular step. Within an instant, I'm back in familiar surroundings. Looking around I'm in my room. I even see the tipped over garbage can. Was that all a dream? I think to myself. Looking at my hand I see my Mark and heave a sigh of relief. Checking my pocket, I pull out my silver Key smiling.

"What's that!?" I hear my father yell from the living room.

"Oh shoot, he must be back from work," I mutter. Bursting into the room he freezes. "Zane is that you?" His complexion softening.

"Yes?" I say confused.

Tears start welling up in his eyes. "I don't believe it. I thought you were missing or worse." I've never seen my dad tear up let alone explain any kind of relief when it came to me, so this came to me as a surprise. Then I remember. Thaddeus must've not altered my fathers' mind to believe that I wasn't missing.

"I'm fine," I say shrugging. Looking at my dad he was for once a mess. He's actively crying, tears falling on the carpet.

"I told everyone that you were missing, but they didn't believe me. They said nothing was wrong." Rushing forward he hugs me. A man that never showed any sort of emotion towards me but anger for my entire childhood is hugging me reduced to tears. "I never got to apologize to your mother for how I was. I vowed to do right by you, even if I couldn't do a good

job," he's saying through heaves and tears. "I'm sorry son. For everything," he says pulling back and wiping his tears. It was my turn to tear up. Everything I've been through for the past couple of weeks had taught me many things, but I never expected this to happen.

"It's okay, I'm sorry for being difficult," I say back tears running down my cheeks. "I miss mom too."

Many a day has passed since then, and I went back to school regularly. No more headaches thankfully! Buster and Collin were as I left them. I'm over at Busters' right now watching him shoot a basketball. My dad had asked me where I'd been, and I tell him everything that happened. I couldn't tell if he was awestruck, or just couldn't believe it, but he hasn't brought up the subject again. Things are better though. School and home feel like a breath of fresh air to me now. Cynthia visits occasionally and we go out. Things couldn't be better for me and it would never have turned out for me that way had I not looked down an alleyway.

End