Far From Earth, Close To Home (Completed)

Chapter 22: The Reunion

I woke up that morning, the campfire out, I got up and saw Halo washed up on shore! I ran over and shook him, and I tried to help as much as I could. I did the thingy with the thingy, his pulse was fine, and he was breathing, too. So really I breathed into his face for nothing, and even though nobody even knew, I was severely embarrassed. I felt my face go red as I covered it, sitting down. Then I realized he was freezing cold, and I re-lit the fire and started to warm them up.

I then remembered what we were even doing here. Stopping the storm from destroying home... we weren't doing very good. We don't even know where we are. How did we get here? What were we even going for?

After a while of collecting fire fuel, I noticed Halo sat up. I quickly walked over, and put the bundle of dry sticks and bark approximately 4 feet away from the small fire.

"Wha...  H-Hey...?" He looked rather puzzled.

"Howdy, Halo." I said with the best smile I could muster under these conditions.

"You look like you've been here forever..." He said somewhat absently.

I actually took the time to notice I was almost completely covered in sand from sleeping in it, and I put my hand through my sand-filled, frizzy hair. "It's only been  a night, as far as I know." I responded.

"Well... Have you seen any type of... floating thing?" He asked me.

"No... why?"

"Well... n-nothing." He looked into the fire.

"Okay then..?"

Awkward silence. . .

"I'm so happy to see your fine!" I blurted.

"Y-Yeah, me too." He seemed. . . traumatized. I didn't want to ask him about it. He'd likely emotional, and I don't console well.

"Um.. do you know wh-"

Suddenly, Angel.

Angel went in for the flank, she tackle-hugging me from behind. I fell to the sand, face first, but I didn't exactly mind once I saw who it was.

"Oh my gosh are you okay?" Halo and Angel said unanimously.

Yeah, I'm, Fine." I said while laughing.

"Oh thank god," Halo said.

"Of course you'd  be fine." Angel said playfully.

"Wait, so, where's-"

Suddenly, Gwen.

"I SAID WAIT FOR ME!" The voice of a little girl shouted from away, interrupting me.

"Gwen!" Halo was ecstatic.

"Gwen." I stated.

She ran up to Halo and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back, probably tighter.

"Well, isn't this dandy?" I laughed.

"Sorry, Gwenny. I was just so exited, I couldn't help but sprint." Angel apologized.

"Yeah, I get it. I forgive you." Gwen said.

"Man, what a start to a day." Halo stated.

"Yeah... but, uh, I was thinking..." I started, "The Storm? I mean, we're so off track, we don't even know where we are!"

"She has a point." Gwen got her serious face on.

"Yeah... where do we go?" Angel asked.

We all looked at Halo.

"Um... what makes you think I know it all.. say, Dawn, aren't you the leader?" Halo asked.

"Oh yeah... I guess so..."

"So, what's the game plan?" Everyone was looking at me.

"Um... I-"

Suddenly, ringtone.

I scream, you scream, we all scream 'Cause we're terrified,

of what's around the corner.

We stay in place 'Cause we don't want to lose our lives,

So let's think of something better.

(Ringtone is Forest, by Twenty One Pilots. Only available free on YouTube.)

I finally realized I still had the phone, made it appear, my hand turning black for a second. The call was labeled, "?". I answered.

Everyone went silent during this. I decided to put it on speaker.

"Hello?" It was a girl, older, she sounded distressed.

"Yes?"

"U-uhm, I need help. There was this.. A group of friends. I-I shouldn't have even joined them, a-and... I-I don't know what to do."

"O-okay, and... who is this?"

"N-nevermind, you don't need to know."

She hung up.

"Well then." Angel stated.

"How'd you get a phone?" Halo asked.

I told them about the whole mansion thing. And about my history with "Unconscious Worlds" as Halo calls them.

"I wish you would've told us earlier." Halo stated. "It could be important, you know? In case I could piece things together."

"Piece things together?" I asked.

It went dead silent. "I don't know... I-uh... oh just.. say things, heh..."

"Halo.." Angel said. "What do you mean?"

He didn't move or speak. Neither did any of us, until-

"Alright, alright." A familiar voice was heard from behind.

"Let's just get to the point, eh, darkened?"