The Carter Chronicles: World of Adventures

Chapter 5: Captor

WALT IMMEDIATELY RACED after Austin, who stopped as the grassy terrain shifted into rocky sand. The aqua blue ocean stretched infinitely until the water met the sky. Clouds adorned the lazuline sky. The rushing of the ocean accompanied the loud bellowing of the wind. The pulsing heart of the ocean brought about whitecaps, which roared at the duo as they came rushing to the sand. The briny air was mixed with the scent of a spring breeze.

Walt was mesmerized with what the world had shown him. Only then was the first time he saw a beach. His family never held a vacation to a beach before. He looked beside him. The feeling of marvel shattered inside him. He saw Austin sitting on the sand, his hands on his head. His breathing was uneven and ragged. "Hey, bud. Cheer up. It's not your fault." Walt assured as he sat down. He was weak at giving encouragement or dealing with a frustrated person. It seemed like all his jokes would disappear from his mind.

"I harmed her. I might harm you. I'm dangerous. I never should have agreed to let you two join me in the crusade." Austin expressed.

"Don't blame yourself. Besides, we wanted to accompany you. It was our choice to make, not yours. Things might not be permanent, but the three of us will be. I know it." Walt claimed. "You will always have friends by your side. You will always have me and Lily with you, no matter what. No matter how hard you might push us away, we would still come back to you."

Austin grinned at Walt, who in turn patted his back. "But just so you know, you're not the center of the universe. The sun is." Walt whispered jokingly. He stood up and extended his hand. "Let's go back to Lily." Walt pulled him up and they departed the coastline and into the field once more.

They sprinted to Lily who was still lying on the ground unmoving. Her eyes flickered open gently. Walt said to Austin, "We should bring her to the clinic, and isn't Cassandra near there?"

"So we can talk to her while the nurse is treating to Lily? Okay, that's fine with me." Austin replied and he told Lily what they were thinking. Lily groggily replied with a faint okay as Austin helped her sit up.

Walt approached Nelson, who was babbling about the explosion to higher officials. "...a very unforeseeable event, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I'll clean it up..." Nelson apologized in a polite tone. "Yes...thank you..." He thanked the officials as they left the scene. Nelson snapped his fingers and the aftermath of the explosion disappeared, like nothing happened.

"Um, Mr. Nelson, we're going to bring Lily to the infirmary, and while she's being treated we're going to talk to Cassandra, too." Walt said.

"Okay, good. This day is wrapped up. Your first day of training is finished." Nelson replied dryly.

"But, Sir!" Walt exclaimed. "It's so early! It's not even lunch time yet!"

"You should probably rest for today. It was overwhelming for you rookies. I'm gonna teach you the basics tomorrow, then." Nelson explained.

"Oh, fine," Walt lamented, walking over to Austin to help Lily to the clinic, but before they could even walk ten steps, three Henry descendants blocked us.

"We'll get her from here," said a petite girl with braided black hair. She ordered the two other men to carry Lily. "One of the officials alerted us of an injury. We'll bring her to Ms. Ina, don't worry."

Austin and Walt nodded absentmindedly and Lily was taken from them. "Well I guess it's time to go to Cassandra." Walt said to Austin, who just nodded once more.

***

"Put her down on one of the beds," said the girl with braided black hair. The two men gently laid Lily on a soft bed, the frame creaking as they did so. Beside the white bed was a table with a pitcher of water and a cup. "Lily, we're going to find Ms. Ina and she will treat you. Just relax and lay here. Don't move, okay?"