Hurricane (The Badlands Series) Book 5

Chapter Seven: Pandora

Back in the fairytale world Emlyn shares with her friends what she learned. Sarah and Bob leave back to the Ice Lands where she feels she'll be safer. Emlyn shows the book they pulled from Camilla's castle on the curse.

"You'll need to collect artifacts, and the artifacts together can stop the storm." Horrace said and pulled out a map of the Badlands. He grabbed Emlyn's hand and gently cut her hand. Her blood poured onto the map and created a trail. Horrace wrapped her hand and handed her the map. "This will lead you to all the places you need to go. Looks like your real world knowledge of fairytales may come in handy. Your first stop is Camelot, talk to Merlin." Horrace said, he then went off to rest as he was no longer feeling his strength.

Emlyn took the ship and ventured across the Badlands once again. She was going much farther this time into the farthest corner onto an island. The island was called Classic Tales Island. The island contained a small kingdom of all the fairytale characters kids in the real world would grow up learning about.

The characters here were symbolic not just because of their lessons, but because of their artifacts. Cinderellas shoes, the spinning wheel, they all contained magic meant for something much greater than their original use. Merlin would be able to tell Emlyn exactly what she needed to stop the hurricane.

As Emlyn sailed through the flooded land she heard cries for help. She could just barely make them out about the loud thunder booming every couple of minutes. Emlyn slowed the ship and tossed the anchor. "Hello?!" She shouted out and she heard a response surprisingly.

"Hello?! Help me! I'm stuck!" A woman yelled somewhere off in the ditch.

Emlyn tossed a rope overboard and shouted back, "I tossed a rope do you see it?!"

She felt a small tug on the rope before hearing a response, "I got it!"

Emlyn pulled the woman out of the ditch and was memorized by her beauty. She had beautiful curly blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes. A flowery crown was on her head with little orange flowers. She looked like an angel from heaven. "Who are you?"

"Pandora, first human woman created by the Gods. Who now hate me cause I let all that evil stuff into the world but hey, you win some you lose some right? What's your name?" Pandora said with a small laugh.

"I'm Emlyn, I've heard your story too. Mixed versions but mostly consistent. What are you doing here?" She asked, and Pandora smiled.

"I was cast out of the garden I grew up in for opening that box. I've been traveling around ever since. I love an adventure!" Pandora explained, and Emlyn smiled.

"Well you can come with me, I'm going to stop this hurricane, and the woman who unleashed it!" Emlyn said, hoping she would no longer be doing this alone.

"Are you kidding? Absolutely, I'm so in! Besides I owe you one for rescuing me. I probably would've drowned in this flood eventually if you didn't come along." Pandora said, and Emlyn smiled.

Thus the adventure began. It would take them 2 days to get to Camelot.

***

Sarah and Bob arrived in the Ice Lands but they were only greeted by their greatest fear. "How's pregnancy Sarah?" Camilla said snickering while sitting on her throne.

"Get off my seat bitch!" Sarah said, she was ready to throw hands but Bob stopped her.

"Well I see the hormones aren't your friend. We can speed up this process if you want, I know a spell. You just have to give it to me!" Camilla said, knowing she was going to take it anyways.

"Over my dead body!" Sarah shouted at her, she threw ice spikes at her and Camilla casually dodged them.

"The hard way it is then, shame." Camilla said, she opened up her palms and blew dust into Sarah's and Bobs face knocking them out cold. "Now let's get down to business."

***

Sarah and Bob woke up back in Emlyn's castle still drowsy. Stella had been shaking them trying to wake them up. "Sarah? Bob? Can you hear me? Wake up!"

Sarah sat up holding her head, "what happened?"

"We don't know, we came downstairs this morning and found you here." Stella said, and Sarah went pale. She grabbed her stomach feeling the flatness.

"She forced the baby early, and took it. She was waiting for us in the Ice Lands." Sarah said, and they all gasped.

"We have to tell Emlyn, but how? Birds can't fly in this storm!" Stella said, and they all looked at Horrace.

"Leave that to me, I know a way." He said then left the room. He had seen Emlyn would meet Pandora before he lost his vision entirely. He cast a spell through the flowers, the flowers and earth spoke to Pandora and she could relay to Emlyn.

He only hoped it would work.

***

Pandora and Emlyn had sat chatting for hours, they had another day to go and the sun was beginning to set. Pandora looked into the trees and saw orange flowers blossoming in the leaves. "Whoa whoa slow down." She said and motioned at Emlyn.

Emlyn slowed the ship and watched Pandora staring at the flowers. She reached out touching one, and it looked as if it shocked her. She fell back into the ship, then stood up shaking it off. "What was that?" Emlyn asked, mildly concerned.

"The flowers and earth speak to me, someone's sending you a message. Horrace wants you to know Camilla forced Sarah to have the baby early by meeting her at the Ice Lands. She took it." Pandora explained, and Emlyn gasped.

She couldn't believe it, Camilla was waiting for her to leave all along. She knew Sarah would seek shelter in a familiar place she thought was safe. Now, Emlyn could only imagine what her next move would be.