The third Planet

24. Under the Islands

Claire's POV

"I'll help you."

Big hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me up, like my weight was nothing. Niklas placed me on the ground gently and Tim finally was down here too.

I looked around, amazed that something was under the flying islands. Of course I thought about the ground when I first came but I didn't expect something like this.

Wild flowers and exotic plants grew here, spreading over the soil like a thick soft carpet. I remembered the trees growing from under the islands and I wasn't more surprised as I now saw their roots stick to the ground down here.

If I thought, the trees from the islands upwards were huge than I'd be dead unconscious from the sights of the trees here. Thick, old and overrun with green planets the trees grew into the height and width.

White birds were flying over our heads, showing no sign of knowledge of the ongoing war above our heads. Fish were swimming in the streams and rivers around us while the water reflect the last fragments of the stars in the sky.

My mouth was hanging wide agape.

"Nope, this isn't ..." I wasn't even able to for proper sentences. "I gotta go."

I felt overwhelmed, not capable of processing all this in my brain. The thought of peaceful worlds, undiscovered and full of life were too much of a contrast to the burning and dying cities on the islands meters over my head.

"Stay" Tim whispered in my ear. "Give him or them no reason to think you gave up. Remember, they are relying on us." He pointed to exact these dying people and soldiers.

"I don't know if-"

"There isn't any other choice now. And certainly no space for doubts" he cut me off. "I'm here, lil goddess. I will stay."

"Just like you stayed while the castle was burning?" I looked up to him. His face went blank.

'Go and jump now, I'll be right behind you.'

Fragments of the castle were crashing down and burying whatever is in it. Like Tim.

I pressed my palms in front of my eyes, trying to erase what has been burned into my retina.

Tim's fingers closed around my wrist, guiding my hand from my eyes to his chest, steading it there.

"Do you feel this? Just focus on my heartbeat. I believe in you, you'll be fine. You're not alone. I promise. I never left you" he said. His voice calm like the sea on summer days.

"I remember what has happened" he went on. "I remember like the day I first met you. Have I ever told you about this day?"

"Yes, you have" I answered. Even though my pulse was high, my limbs tensed and my mouth was dry I smiled a little.

"You sure? I'm gonna tell you again, you just have to open your eyes for me and then-"

"Are you finished? We don't have so much time for flirting and making out." Niklas snarled in disgust and unpatience. His eyes were focused on us, his mouth strangely moved and his torso leaned back slightly.

With one reassuring look back, Tim kissed my forehead and smiled one last time.

"Lead the way." My voice was still shaking and breaking once in a while. Everything indicating something was wrong.

I recalled how I kissed Ana on the forehead. Some protective and yet vulnerable gesture, something I couldn't really grasp.

I hope it showed her what she actually meant to me.