FYSH: Diving Deeper.

Chapter Three: The Beginning (Pt 2)

"Wait!" Tyde's voice called. Kids behind me were shoved and cried out as movement made it's way up to me.

"That might be, uh, dangerous. I'd better go first." He chattered.

"Since when have you cared about my health?" I grumbled under my breath.

"You must speak up, pretty thing, no one'd hear a word you'd be saying in that masculine moan."

I made a face at him and he offered me a dashing smile in return. He skipped over the bridge quite nonchalantly, and I couldn't believe he had truly thought it was dangerous. When he arrived at the door, I began making my slow and sure way to him, with others on my tail.

I was at the front, and no one could see in front of me. So I suppose I was only one to see this. Tyde slid a quick look behind him (where I slowed right down and pretended to look over the edge) and then pressed his hand over the doorknob. My eyes widened in alarm at his curling fingers but I prevented myself from crying out, in order to see what he was getting at. Smoothly, he opened the door, a tiny slit, and poked his head inside. For a second, he stayed there before coolly sliding back out and silently shutting the door again. This time, I wasn't so lucky. He drew a quick overlook over the hallway as he was shutting the door, and our eyes clashed. His eyes flicked over to the lock of the doorknob as it shut and then back at me. I didn't know what to do, as he had already caught me out. I was nearing him, and awkwardly I stopped, not wanting to go any further. But I tripped forward as the weight of the people behind me was shoved against my back and in very slow motion, I could feel myself falling. Oh dear God, I thought, as my arms flailed, my head clearly about to slam against the wooden ground.

Then, out of nowhere, a body appeared, arms around my waist, head in between my shoulder. They fell onto the ground in order to catch my body, and incredibly smoothly. I felt the impact as I landed on this person, and confusion as I realised that no one could've gotten in front of me so fast. Unless, that is, they were already in front of me in the first place. Damn it, I cringed, as my arms suddenly began listening to me and they zoomed to Tyde's shoulders. I pushed off of him, my upper body lurching back to meet his face. My face inches from his, he smiled and tightened his arms around my lower back, connecting his two hands.

"This is comfy." He grinned.

"Ugh." I replied, hooking up my knee to his chest and using my leg strength to collapse off of him. Did he not realise I saw him opening the door? Was he not as uncomfortable as I was?

"Hey!" A boy shouted. Beck glided through the crowd behind us, just as I stood up. His anger deteriorated as he saw me brushing myself off, and Tyde on the ground. In fact, he almost laughed.

"You alright?" He leaned over, lending a hand.

Deja vu.

Sprawled on the floor, I looked up at Mistress Ioa's thin, puffy face. A boy grabbed my shoulder, a kind smile growing on his face. And here he was again, leant over me, offering a hand. Somehow, his body heat tangled up in my own cold, tired soul, soothing me, making me feel instantly so much better. Who was this boy?

"Atlanta? You okay?" Beck flopped his head to the side, a picture of apprehension playing on his face, a little frown replacing his usual charming flash of teeth.

"Yeah." I responded hastily, "Uh, shall we?"

He followed my gaze past Tyde and to the door ahead.

It seemed so far away, distant, even though it was only a few metres away. Perhaps the shadows I imagined, danced around the door, my inner demons trying to cast out the ones hiding behind.

Tyde jumped up, a silly chuckle on his muncher, and he led the way. I balanced until the end of the bridge, and I could feel Beck from behind me. Towards the door, I lost my footing and swung my arms, but Tyde snatched my hands from behind him, and steadied me without even turning back. The warmth emanating from Beck exploded. His fingers were pieces of ice, his knuckles were bony, but in some way, cooling as they tightened over my warm hands. As soon as we reached the frame of the door, Tyde dumped my hands like garbage bags. I pulled my hands back in contact with my own body, feeling a little shiver spike down my spine.

"Who's ready?" Tyde whistled, his hands curling around the doorknob again, forcing the thick door wide open. I drew back in recoil, as the light shunned over us. My hands floated up, but I swear I could see a tiny, flashing green light.

...