One Soul

Chapter Nineteen: The Rescue

When the group reached Etísios, they weren't greeted by the warm, sunny family, the Gingolds. Not even the tired old man they had lent the boat from. The once charming streets decorated with overflowing flower boxes and lanterns were empty, and a cold howling wind brushed by them. The windows and lanterns were dark, no lights lit, and in the middle of the empty street was a toppled over a basket containing now stale bread.

"Where is everyone?" Norene asked though she knew none of her friends could possibly know the answer. Calypso kneeled down and picked a handful of feathers off the street, sleek and black. The tips were decorated with a dusting of gold; the same pigment used to mark the elite royal army back on Ouránia. She got a bad taste in her mouth.

Solomon led the group through the empty streets until they found the Gingolds' house. A few crayons were left scattered on the ground as if June or Jules had been in such a rush to leave they didn't get to clean up. "Something's...wrong...," He slammed open the door, heart racing, and began to scour every room in search for the Gingolds. Calypso and William trailed at his footsteps, and Norene took flight to scan the city for any sign of life.

Solomon was crazed, ripping open cabinets and clawing through rooms, almost feral. He finally reached the twins' room, which was noticeably in more disarray than the rest. Blanked and toys were strewn about, the woven laundry hamper had been knocked over and the contents scattered across the rug. "...Sol?"

The voice was tiny, barely audible, and the speaker quickly silenced again. Solomon leaned down to peer under the bed, and to his great relief found the twins huddled under blankets underneath the bed, looking up with wide and frightened eyes. "You're okay!"

They crawled out, keeping the blankets wrapped around their shoulders. Once June and Jules were certain they were among friends (yes, even the siren boy, yes, even the girl who stank of saltwater) they leaped into the russet-haired boy's arms and wept, talking a mile a minute. "Sol, it was so scary-" "-zombies! With black eyes-" "-They went through the whole house-" "-Where's mama and dada?"

William's face paled, and his hand instinctively grasped for Calypso's. His knuckles whitened as he gripped her like a vise. She leaned over to rest her head reassuringly on his shoulder. "No...," she whispered, quiet as could be.

"Sol?" Jules looked up at him, refusing to believe. June's lip quivered. "Sol, where are our parents?"

"I don't know," Solomon replied haltingly as Norene entered the room to see the twins crying and beating Solomon weakly on the chest.

She kneeled down and wrapped them both in a hug, her wings curling around them protectively. Solomon smiled at her gratefully. "We may not know where they are, but rest assured we will do everything in our power to find them and care for you," Norene said, though she had the terrible suspicion their parents wouldn't be found the way they wanted: soon, happy, safe. Aside from the twins, there was no one to be found in the whole of the city. 

~-~

William made the group dinner, marveling all the while at the extensive contents in the Gingold kitchen. He tried not to go overboard with the unfamiliar spices and produce and procured something like a chicken and rice stew, which they gobbled up in minutes. The twins had been hiding under the bed for quite some time, as was revealed by their sore backs and cracking joints. Without prying too much, the group pieced together the story that strange, zombie-like humanoids had swarmed the city with black eyes. What became of the others was unclear, but their parents had wrapped them up in blankets and told them to stay warm and safe under the bed. And quiet, and dreadfully still. By some miracle, the twins were left, though they were scared still for what must've been hours. 

The siren took an instant liking to them. "Little sun warriors," he quipped and served them a second bowl. He answered all of their questions the best of his abilities (Did he have a tail? What color? Could he beat up sharks?) and humored them by letting the twins pour water on his legs to try and get them to turn. However, the older kids all knew they couldn't stay. The threat of the "zombies" seemed to linger, and they wouldn't let the last children of Etisíos be taken too.

In the morning, they let the children gather what they needed and could reasonably fit in the boat; clothes, a few small toys, and some food from the pantry. Norene flew overhead to watch for danger, William took the large shovel from the garden shed as a makeshift weapon, and Solomon and Calypso each carried one of the Gingolds on their back as they made haste towards the tallest building for miles: the city hall was a large tower similar to an obelisk. It was made of pale, sandy stone with a giant gold statue of the sun at the top. It gleamed in the morning light, almost blinding to look at. 

"I'm...I'm going to have to try to get us back to Ouránia," Calypso heaved as they set up yet another set of spiral stairs. "Maybe I can call Nephy, or..."

"Or teleport?" Norene asked, flying lazily overhead. "We can't get separated again."

"I know but...do we have another option? I don't know how to summon Nephy from down here...that was always Blaise's...," Calypso coughed, though it sounded more like she was trying to force a lump down her throat. He was still missing, in that weird form of a cat, possibly possessed by a wicked mastermind. 

"We'll hold on tight, though, right Looney Juney?" William hoisted the little girl higher up on his back. She cheered in agreement, though her eyes drooped with exhaustion. Even watching them climb up the stairs wore her out. 

~-~

When they finally reached the summit, the gang collapsed onto the warm stone. The sunlight was even harder to look at, but they figured getting as close as possible to Ouránia would better any odds of getting back. "June, Jules? Hold on very very tight to our hands, okay? Don't let go," Calypso spoke to them gently, adjusting the blankets now tied around their necks like a makeshift cape. 

"Ok, Calla Lily," Jules smiled brightly, grabbing her hand as tight as her could. They had taken on a habit of calling her after the flower instead of her real name, and the endearing nickname had stuck. June reached for Solomon, who linked with Norene, to William, to Jules. Once the circle was formed, the older kids began once more to pool their soul energy. 

"Come on...come on," Calypso mumbled under her breath. Once the pool was nearly bursting, the air thrumming with magic, she focused all her energy. The tension in their linked hands nearly burned, though by her fierce instructions they only grasped tighter. The blinding light returned, and when it dissipated the group was no longer there. 

~-~

"Hello...?"