One Bright Spot

Chapter 22

Makeovers:

As I had promised Carmila, the transport did not hurt a bit; it was actually rather pleasant, like floating on a cloud, I imagine. Or floating on your back in a pool or lake; relaxing and effortless. Just as quickly as we had disappeared in the blue-green hue of the portal in the skyscraper, we reappear in what I can only pray is Crelis.

The portal's platform is located in what looks like a cave. The interior is a grape purple color, with a mixture of red, pink, and blue streaks.

Josh steps off the platform and offers his hand to help me down. "Thank you, Sir."

"You're welcome, Milady", he says, bowing over my hand.

I laugh, taking in our surroundings. The rest of our party, minus Kota, are gathered at the cave's entrance.

"Where's Kota?" I ask.

Janessa opens her mouth to speak, but Theo interrupts her, "He went down the hill to scout things out. He told us to stand-by here."

I set my back pack against the cave wall and join the group at the entrance. As far as the eye can see is a vast wasteland of purple rocks; completely barren. Overhead is a sun, its orange color the color of a sun set; a moon, so silver, it's almost white; and billions of twinkling stars. There is a warm breeze blowing through the cave.

It is beautiful here, despite its barrenness, and certainly doesn't look overrun by Gordon and his puppets.

I sit down and dangle my legs over the cave's edge to wait for Kota's return. Carmila sits beside of me and does the same.

Ethan speaks up, "Does anyone else feel like sitting ducks just waiting here like this?"

I do, a little, but I don't reply out loud. Things are still tense between Ethan and I.

I glance over at our packs. At least we aren't completely vulnerable sitting ducks.

Theo is the first one to spot Kota coming up the hill toward us. We gather in a huddle to meet him.

Kota holds up a hand to keep us from spouting out all of our questions, "Just follow me." He picks up his pack and starts back down the hill. The rest of us scramble to do the same.

I notice Janessa make her way through the group until she is walking just behind Kota. Part of me wonders how she got an invitation to come with us, but the other part doesn't care, as long as she doesn't hurt him.

We walk for maybe five minutes before a small shack type of building, brightly illuminated, appears before us. An elderly looking woman stands in the doorway, beckoning for us to come inside.

"Who is that?" I hear Josh ask quietly. Kota doesn't answer.

The path we have been walking on has widened out considerably. Carmila links one arm through mine and has her other arm linked through Teddy's.

Kota brings us to a halt in front of the shack. He points to each of us in turn and says our names, introducing us to the woman.

"Welcome, welcome", she says in a crackly voice. "My name is Junas. Please, come inside. There is much to be done."

One by one, each of us hesitantly follows her inside. I pause by Kota, who waits just outside the door. "Can we trust her?" I ask.

He nods, "I believe so."

"Okay." If Kota thinks we can trust her, then that's good enough for me. He follows me inside and pulls the door shut behind us.

The size of the shack outside is very misleading. Inside it is unnaturally spacious.