Beyond All Part 1 ( The Searches)

Chapter 37

The Antidote

Fructus had the Ice Golems bring back Jack and the others. The other Ice Golems were left to wreck Nixy's home.

" Won't be long until all that you've worked to build over the years is gone," Fructus told Nixy.

" I still can't believe you are this petty, Fructus," Nixy replied.

" Believe what you want, I've finally won! Lock them up!" Fructus told the other Ice Golems.

They were tossed in the same cell as Clayton and Saliso. Then chained to the wall. Keeping his word, he tossed the antidote into the cell. Then left, saying he had a meeting to attend.

" A-Allen?!" Saliso said.

" Hey, Saliso. How's it goin?"

"It's been better. Can you toss me that bottle by your feet?"

Allen did so. Then Saliso poured its contents in Clayton's mouth. The deep blue coating his skin faded away. Then he was able to sit up.

" Saliso, I think that I'm hallucinating. Allen and Nixy are here with us."

" It's no hallucination," Allen told him.

It took a few moments for reality to sink in for Clayton.

" You're really here, Allen! Man, are we glad to see you!"

" Same here. Just wish we weren't trapped here."

" Don't worry. If we work together, we can escape! Right, Nixy?" Allen asked.

" Why?" She asked Clayton and Saliso.

" We're sorry," Clayton said.

" I spent the better part of the last five hundred years building that all up. Now, those Ice Golem bastards are destroying it as we speak. Sorry, isn't going to fix this!"

" We didn't have a choice! We got captured! I had to save Clayton!" Saliso said.

" And you were willing to sacrifice my species and I to do it?"

" No, I-"

" Furthermore, you guys were only supposed to be here to look for the ship. You weren't careful enough and got captured."

" ...What would you have done in our situation?"

" I wouldn't be in your situation in the first place. I wouldn't be so careless and get captured. If I did, I wouldn't piss Fructus off and get poisoned. And then I would find a way to escape!"

" How do you know abou-?"

" Because I've known him. And it sounds like something he'd do."

" If it makes you feel any better, Fructus said we wouldn't be killed. But..we will have to work as slaves for him."

" Oh yeah. That makes me feel so much better, Saliso. Especially after everything I've done for you and Clayton."

Clayton and Saliso could only respond with silence.

" Nixy, they made a mistake. I know it cost you a lot. But you need to put that aside so we can escape."

" A lot is an understatement. However, you are right. But, you and the others are going to help me rebuild before you leave."

" Deal."

" Allen, can't you just escape absorbing metal from the chains? Then bars?" Jack asked.

" I'd love to. But I don't exactly have the strength for it right now. And my guess is, Fructus will see to it that I won't get the chance to."

" But he promised nobody would be killed!" Saliso said.