Fall into my confusing journey

Chapter 12

I went through my backpack, grabbing my flashlight after tripping over too many roots.

As I adjust to my surroundings for the millionth time, I notice that the ground is smoothing out. Soon there weren't anymore trees out to knock me over and there is only dirt in a clearing we stumbled upon.

The strange thing is, it doesn't look like it's been a clearing for that long. There is a weird looking cabin in the center. A sign reads, "FRIED'S PUB" I almost jumped to the door when Nathan tensed and shot his arm out in front of me and Howl growled.

I am so over it. "What?! Let's go! I'm tired! List your complaints after I wake up and have breakfast tomorrow. Now let's go inside." I whisper-yell. Sera nods wearily and Sophie snores softly in reply. Howl's been carrying her on his back since she started sleepwalking thirty minutes ago.

Howl sniffs the air, rumbling, "I smell booze." I roll my eyes. "And normally that would bother me, by right now, I'm too tired to care. So let's go see if they have a shed around back."

Sera and I try to take a step around but Howl grabs Sera's backpack (which isn't a shadow) and Nathan grabs my wrist.

I try tugging away, but his grip just constricts. I face him to tell him off, but his expression stops me. "My purpose for being here is to escort and protect you all the way to your mothers. I can't do that if you don't trust me. So I have to know:"

His stare is so intense, it makes me nervous. I look anywhere except his eyes trying to feign annoyance. Howl, Sera, and even Ray stopped what they were doing to hear my response.

Then I feel a warmth in my hand and I realize Nathan is still holding it. Thank God for dark nights.

"Um... I guess? You did protect me from those police androids and I could've died. So... yeah. I trust you. Just trust me when I tell you this:"

I pause to catch my breath, which seems to be escaping me at the moment, and continue. "I'm exhausted. So if I'm mean to you tomorrow, it's not my fault. I don't think I can take another step so since I owe you for saving my life, I won't take yours for holding my hand while I'm half asleep. Now carry me on your back. I'll hold your pack."

Behind Nathan, Howl chuckles. I look over and glare. That shut him up. Nathan seemed to find my little speech amusing, but when he sees my hand moving towards my gun, he didn't think twice about shrugging off his pack, handing it to me, and bending low for my short self.

As soon as my head lay on his shoulder, my eyes closed and I heard Howl explain, "You know how people aren't themselves when they get tired? Autumn's like that but slightly more extreme." He laughed and I could tell he remembered something.

"One time, we were out shopping for Christmas presents for Sophie, but it was already past midnight and she was acting sort of like this."

I heard his smile as he said, "A security droid thought she was drunk! When it started asking questions about her, she started flipping him off and cussing him out. The next morning though, she had no memory of it."

Nathan laughed at this new information and made a comment I didn't hear. The sound of their intermingled laughter lulls me to sleep.

<< ^ >>

When I woke, I was on Nathan's back, Sophie and Sera were walking and talking, and Howl was nowhere to be found.

The sun was just rising, so it was still dim as I lifted my head and looked around. Nathan must've felt me move because he stopped. I slid off of his back, still drowsy and weak in my legs. "Ah, Sleeping Beauty hath awaken from her slumber." Nathan jokes.

I stick my tongue out as I rub my eyes, with my hand balled in a fist. "I'm hungry. Let's look for a lake." I mumble.

When I open my eyes again, everyone was smiling at me. I look down at my body. Nothing out of the ordinary. I look behind me. Nothing behind me either.
"What?"

Sophie giggles. "You really don't remember?"
I sigh saying, "Alright. What did I do this time?"

Both Sera and Sophie burst into laughter. When my stomach growls, they laugh harder. Nathan stands off to the side, smiling at me as he casually leans on a tree. I roll my eyes and walk in the direction my built-in GPS says there's water.

When I'm far away enough, I let myself smile too. I know myself enough to know that whatever I did, it was probably worth laughing at.

My eyes light up when I see the waves are getting bigger. I could almost smell the water. I break into a jog. The trees were smaller, more accustomed to fresh water.

Sophie flies ahead of me, with Sera following her as a bird. I immediately start sprinting when I feel Nathan's presence beside me, his hot breath on my neck.

The water is in front of me now. I dive in, clothes and all, swimming pretty far out before breaking surface again.

The water felt amazing on my sweaty, greasy skin. You could see straight through! As I look across the water, I notice it moves faster downstream. We're in a spring!

As I was lost in thought, Howl had snuck up on me. By the time I noticed, he was already lifting me out of the water. I shriek with laughter. He starts spinning me around in his arms, then without warning he throws me into the air!

Sophie catches me with her levitation and throws me to Nathan.

"What's the deal guys?! I'm not a beach ball!" I yell. Nathan smirks saying, "Well you were pretty stressed last night... so we thought we'd make it up to you with a game."

My insides did a cartwheel. "That doesn't mean you need to toss me around!" I yelled. His smirk turned into a grin and he said, "It cheered you up didn't it?"

When I was about to reply, he tossed me into the air again.

1063 words!