Can She Journey Through This Fragile World?

thirteen - relief

Starry skies, tall, levitating mountains, abandoned buildings, advanced technologies, and fantastic structures that look like they've gone out from picture books of children. For the past three or so weeks, Kobi and Tina ventured out and about the world, with each and every day more surprising than before.

Tina and Kobi got along well, at least more than they think. Occasionally, they would argue, and Kobi would have thoughts of going home, especially when six o'clock comes around, but he knew that the tiny girl beside him wouldn't last a day without his guidance and protection. I mean, she'd trip over nothing more than thrice an hour.

“Mr Kobi, look!” Tina beamed at him while pointing the nearby pond. “We can take a bath over there!”

And...she's gullible. She'll die without me.

“Sure, Tina, just because the police no longer exist, doesn't excuse agreeing to that as a noncriminal act,” Kobi said with a sigh. “I'll look for another pond. Hold onto this while I look.”

He threw to her the teleportation device she'd given to him weeks ago.

“Oh? Why?” Tina asked.

“So that you can flee to safety when something dangerous comes or happens.” He said with a passive voice. Kobi took his backpack with him and left.

Tina, on the other hand, stripped and bathed. She splashed over the water in glee, happy under the beaming sun. “Why did he have to take a separate bath? I look around 12 years old, don't I? So stupid.”

She looked at her body. She had a flat chest and small figure, so she must be a young child. “Why don't I have memories of my past? Mr. Kobi has, so why don't I?”

Her clothes were childish as well, and Mr. Kobi often referred to her as a young girl or kid or something like it. "Your hairstyle looks freakishly childish. Why don't you just put it up into a ponytail? It's disturbing." He would often comment. Tina huffed. Stupid Mr. Kobi.

Tina stared off into space, deep in thought. From a distance, Tina noticed some odd looking figures, moving in a questionable manner. Their eyes seemed to glow, as well as some tattoo like marks in their body. What are those? Looks funny.

She stood up and went towards it.

The clocks were ticking. Ticking. Ticking. Tina was walking further and further towards it. Further. Further. Further.

What..are...those...?

Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.

Tick. Tock.

“Tina!”

From behind her, Kobi ran towards Tina, covering her small body with a towel. He pulled her back and placed his hands on her shoulder.  “You...really are stupid, aren't you?”

“What...”

“If you're not as stupid as I think you are, do me a favor and don't approach those things, alright?” He said with strictness in his tone, looking into her eyes with superiority. Tina nodded. “Alright.” It would be a lie to say that she didn't feel any fear.

Kobi heaved a deep sigh. “Haah. Good.”

Tina turned around and saw the odd creatures retreating. “What are those?”

“I don't know.” He dismissively said. Tina decided to stop prying, and smiled when she saw how Kobi looked.

“Mr. Kobi, you have soap on your hair.” she said while giggling. “Probably because I practically ran up here from an unfinished bath. I barely got time to put on my bath robe!” Kobi said through gritted teeth.

The pair laughed, mostly because of the relief they felt.