Fastening

Finding rope in the stables was a piece of cake. Convincing my inebriated, former boss of the necessity of fastening him to Penny was also quite easy. You would think it would be more challenging, but it wasn't. All I had to do was play into his ego. I told him that he was so important to our plans that we couldn't afford to lose him. He ate it up. Admittedly I probably enjoyed tethering him a bit much, but before anyone rolls their eyes know that I didn't tie it too tight. I made sure it was secure enough to hold him, yet loos enough that it wouldn't cut off any circulation. We wrapped his arms and legs around Penny's neck, and sat directly behind Todd. As soon as we felt he was secure, we took off. Our new destination was a simple one. We were going to find a safe location to let Todd off.

Haggard Boss

"What happened here?" Olivia shouts in a stupefied horror. Todd sits up. He cracks his back before addressing us. "There was a party." "I can see that. Where is everybody?" She asks. "They left." "But how? Nobody can fly, and we took the last falcon." I say. Todd shrugs. "They found a way. They all did." "Where did they go?" I ask. "I don't know. Away from here." I let out a sigh. "Where is the Wellness Center?" Todd looks at me, confused. "It sank, remember?" Olivia crouches down and stares Todd in the eye. "You were going to rebuild it, remember?" "Yeah I was going to..." Todd blanks before he can finish his thought. I sit down next to him. "What happened? Why didn't you finish?" "Because I didn't start." "Why didn't you start?" I ask. Todd smiles. "You remember the paper you gave me with the number for the carpenters?" "Yeah?" "Well, I tried to call it but I guess you gave me the wrong number, or I read it wrong. At any rate I just got a fax machine when I tried dialing it." "Why didn't you try dialing a different number?" Olivia questions. Todd rolls his eyes. "I thought of that, but then I realized I don't have to search for these carpenters right away. I mean my people have been through a lot. So, I decided to just kick back." "And party?" I jump in. "Yeah, party. It was fun at first, but then after a few days I guess some people got sick of it. One by one they all left. The minotaur, surprisingly enough was the first to go. He left for one of the Grecian islands. I don't know where everybody else went. You two aren't going to leave me are you?" "I'm afraid so." I respond. I stand up. I'm about to exit and Olivia stops me. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She asks me. "We can't stay here." "I know that, but we can't leave him by himself." "What should we do with him?" "I don't know, but we can't leave him him here." She repeats. I look down and take a deep breath. "Ok, let's find some rope." "What for?" "We're gonna tie him to the falcon. I don't trust him to stay on by himself in his current state."

Roots

We flew to the Wellness Center for the millionth time. We weren't aching to go back , but curiosity took the better of us. We wanted to know what the new building looked like and how they kept up with things. Plus, we had no other ideas. The usual entrance was now grey and foreboding. We wondered if we were in the right place. Even after we saw the gates we were still unsure of ourselves. They lost their golden appearance. The gates turned into a faded yellow and were separating from the hinges. We walked through the gates to find nothing. There was nothing on the horizon. They never bothered to rebuild the Wellness Center, but the Stables were still in tact. I found it odd until I recalled that's where everyone was gathered previously. We decided to venture into the stables. Maybe someone could shed some light on this. The stable door was jammed. I had to force it, and even then it only opened partially. There was a pile of empty pizza boxes and beer bottles on the other side. Clearly someone was having fun. Olivia and I squeezed through the tiny opening. We were greeted only by faint odors of decaying food. It seemed the party goers all left."Looks like we missed the party." I say. "It wasn't that great." A voice replies from one of the many stables. Curious, Olivia and I run in the direction of the voice. There we found a haggard and worn out Todd. He had dark circles under his eyes and rested on hay. He lifted his head. "I was hoping you'd come back."

Exiled

It was an awkward meal. We ate in silence as every eye was on us. The vibe definitely changed. It wasn't as friendly and lively as it once was. We were surrounded by fear, suspicion, and dread. You may be thinking why didn't we just fire hearts at them? Change their collected perspective on us? We kind of thought "what's the point?" They didn't want us in their society, so why stay? Why should we force someone to like us? Besides we were only being exiled. It didn't seem that bad. I don't know why we weren't be sentenced to death again. Perhaps we were not seen as a threat. At any rate , I was happy to finish my porridge and say "Good riddance." Peter and Ruth led us to the center of the forest. This time we were not in chains and there were no spears to our backs. It was a long walk though. It was a very long walk. Just as my legs were about to give out , Ruth whistled. A second later a falcon circled over head. She whistled again and it swooped down. I wasn't positive, but at that point I was almost certain it was Penny. "This is the runt. Take her with you." Ruth instructs. "Where should we go?" I ask. "I don't care as long as it's far from here."

Breakfast of Champs

Breakfast, like dinner is eaten together, and just like dinner we were served something that is less than filling. This morning we were lucky enough to experience the wonders of porridge. I don't like porridge one bit. It makes me feel like a prisoner eating gruel, but we don't want to rouse any suspicion, so we eat. I don't look up the whole time I'm eating. Somehow I thought that would help me eat quicker. Of course Ruth notices this. "What's the matter? Don't feel like showing your face today?" She says. "No he doesn't, and I know why." The jester interrupts. Ruth stops eating and turns to the jester. "Why's that?" "Because he's a phoney. They both are, except he feels the guilt more. It's eating him alive. He can't stand to look at us for that reason." Ruth stares at the Jester for a moment. "What?" He shouts. " I knew that, you nit wit.You were there when I told him I knew." The jester shrinks down in his seat. The cook leans over to Olivia. "What is the meaning of this?" "I have no idea what she's talking about." Olivia replies. Ruth gets up and walks over to Olivia. "Don't be coy, my dear." "I really don't know what you are talking about." Olivia says, nervously. "You don't have to play dumb anymore." Ruth says. The jester bangs his fist on the table. All eyes are on him now. "My lord and lady do not play dumb. They do not know how to. Surely, you musn't believe the lies." Ruth leans over the table and looks at the Jester. "What lies would you be referring to?" "That they are anything less than the chosen ones." "But wasn't it you who said they were phoney?" She questions. The jester gulps. "Listen not to me. I know not what I say." "Finally some good advice." She replies. Ruth walks back to Olivia. Before she can say or do anything Peter bangs his bowl loudly on the table. Ruth turns her attention to Peter. "So, the judge decides to speak. What is the verdict?" "I don't believe they are who they claim to be." "And what shall we do with these false gods?" "They are to be exiled." Ruth's eyes light up. "But after this meal. They get one last meal, and then they must be lead out."

A Fool's Wisdom

You would think that as king and Queen of a forgotten society we'd be able to sleep in. That wasn't the case at all. The jester woke us up at the crack of dawn. He didn't do it in a gentle way either. He whipped the blankets off our bodies. He did give us the option of sleeping another half hour though. However, when I'm up I can't for the life of me go back to sleep. Olivia, on the other hand had no problem. I waited outside the cave while she slept. I stared out onto the horizon wondering where I was. My body was wide awake, but my mind hadn't caught up yet. Had we really stumbled upon a lost society and masqueraded as Gods? I placed my hand against the cave. The cold stone beneath my palm was confirmation enough that it was real. Had it been a dream, I wouldn't have felt anything. Once the half hour was up the Jester came back as promised. He woke Olivia and lead us to bottom of the waterfalls. I have mixed feelings about this place. The scenery is lovely, but it reminds me of loss. It's the last place we saw Penny and Peter as Peter. "This will be a good place to stay for now." The Jester shouts over the falling water. "Stay?" I repeat. "Yes, stay. While the others sleep." "Why can't we just sleep?" Olivia asks groggily. "Because Gods don't sleep. At least not that much." He replies. "You sure about that?" I ask. "Well, I can't imagine them sleeping too much." Olivia and I look at each other. "What do we do when everybody else sleeps?" Olivia asks. "We wait. There isn't anything to do. Might I suggest taking in the scenery?" "We know this place. We've seen it before." I say, disenchanted. "But have you really seen it?" He asks. "I don't know what that means." He smiles. "I know, because you are not the chosen ones." I bite my lip. "Let's cut to the chase, how do you know?" "The fool is amusing, but the fool is also wise." "I have no idea what that means." I say. "Because you think too much . You don't think like me." "All I know is that if you know that means that everybody else must know." Olivia remarks. The Jester shakes his head. "Not so, not so at all." "Ok, assuming that you're right and no one else has a clue, what do we do now?" I ask. "I will tell them all your secret." "What?" Olivia shouts. "Do not be afraid, for no one believes the word of the fool. Once I spill the beans, there will be no suspicion. None at all. Not even from Ms. Ruth." I take a deep breath. "I guess that makes sense. " The jester nods. "Good. You two take in the scenery. I will practice my lines, and then at breakfast time I will tell all your secret."

Sleeping Quarters

After dinner it was time for rest for all. While the tribe went to their respected sleeping quarters, the jester showed us where we'd be staying. Lackluster does not begin to describe it. It was basically just a cave with two small, green cots. "So, this is it?" Olivia asks, trying to hide her disappointment. "Oh yes, nothing but the best." He replies. "The best?" I repeat. "It's not up to your standards?" "It's just so... quaint." I remark. "That's the idea. You are to lead a humble existence now." "Lucky us." I say under my breath. "I will get some blankets. It can get chilly over night.Is there anything else the two of you would like?" "A T.V.?" Olivia asks. The jester shakes his head. "No, no. A humble lifestyle is what you must lead. We must keep things on the down low." "The down low?" I question. The jester nervously smiles. "Yes, we mustn't raise suspicion." "Suspicion about what?" Olivia asks. The jester backs up against the wall. "People may know things. People may not be deceived so easily." "What are you saying?" I ask. "I'm saying a lot and nothing at all." "Are you implying something." Olivia grills. "I may be implying something, but implications are nothing to be worried about." I stare are him for a moment. "Are you saying we can trust you?" "There is not reason you shouldn't." "Unless we have reason to believe you may tell the village that you think we're not the chosen ones." Olivia says threateningly. The jester pushes her away. He runs to the cave exit. "I know you're not who you say you are, but I don't care. You can trust me." "Are you sure about that?" I shout. "You have my word. I will bring blankets, and tomorrow I will teach you how to blend it. "

Dinner Table

Every single person from the tribe sat at the dinner table. Men, women, and yes, children. The table was a long rectangle that stretched a few hundred feet. The dinner table rests outside. I'm guessing no room was big enough to house it, or at least no body wanted to build one. The table is made of stone with bits of green and red marble ground into it. It is a beautiful piece of furniture , but this whole society is one big juxtaposition to me. They have a modern kitchen, yet they dress in rags and choose to live in caves. I don't get it. Perhaps I am not supposed to. Then again, I am their God. These are things I should know. After all it is their job to be clueless. Mine is to be all knowing. That's exhausting. I blow on my soup. It's still scorching hot. Everyone else, except for Olivia is sipping it down. The jester, who is sitting to my right, notices I have not eaten much. "Aren't thou hungry?" He asks. "I am, it's just too hot right now. " I respond foolishly. The tribesmen halt eating and stare at me. "Too hot?" Ruth questions from halfway down the table. I deliberately sat her away from me. I wasn't afraid what she might do to me, but I did't want her casting shade at me. "Did I hear you say it was too hot?" She continues. "That's right. It is." I say. "What kind of God says it's too hot?" She asks. Olivia stands. "One who values a good meal. You expect us to enjoy this corn, vegetable soup at exceeding temperatures?" "I do." Ruth says with a stone face. "Don't you know that when food is too hot you lose valuable flavors?" Olivia adds. "Is that true?" Someone asks. "It sounds right." The cook replies. Another person shouts. "Then if this is true, we have all been fools." The jester stands. "There is only room for one fool here." A mother shakes her fist. "He's right. We can't do this the wrong way any more. We can not lose the flavor. We must wait to eat." They all simultaneously push their soup bowls aside and fold their hands. Ruth doesn't eat, but she cups her hands around her bowl and glares at us. "I can wait."

Kitchen Drinks

The jester leads me to the kitchen with a wide eye'd promise of alcohol. I don't need it, but it would make things easier and more fun. I'm aware that that sentence sounded bad, but it happened. I merely report what happens. Anyways we're in the kitchen. It is a big restaurant kitchen. The kind that was in the scene from Jurassic Park with the Raptors. There is no one around. Just me and the jester. He is haphazardly going through the cabinets and drawers. He throws cans and boxes in a mad effort to find booze. It creates a huge mess on the floor. I know he won't put anything back, yet somehow I don't care. Eventually he finds a bottle of cooking wine. He lifts the bottle in a dramatic pose. "A bottle of spirits to lift thine spirits?" "Don't mind if I do." I reply. The jester jumps off the counter. He rummages through the cabinets again till he finds two champaign glasses. He pours one for me and one for him. "Shall we make a toast?" He asks. "Sure, cheers." The jester shakes his head. "No, to merryment. To very merryment." We clink our glasses. I take a swig.It is the most foul taste. I nearly spit it out. "That's horrible." I shout. "You do not like?" "No, it's awful." The jester shrugs. "You don't mind?" I ask. "Not at all." He gulps down the rest of his wine. "No, he won't mind. He's a fool." I turn around to see Ruth standing at the doorway to the kitchen. "That's the royal fool." He corrects her. Ruth ignores the jester. "It's lonely on top, isn't it?" I glance at the Jester. He is making faces and playing with his glass. "More like it's weird at the top." She walks over to where I am standing and picks up my wine glass. "Hard day?" "Boring day." The jester interrupts our banter. "What brings you here in the presence of my master?" "Yeah, why are you here? Are you gonna tell on me?" I ask. "Who would I run to? You're the one in charge." "Then why are you here?" I question. "Just to say that I know." "You know?" I repeat. "I know even if no one else can see it. I know. I never wanted to bow to you. In fact it makes me sick thinking about it." Ruth starts to exit the kitchen. She turns and gives a sinister smile. "Everyone falls eventually."

Seeds

Olivia spent hours looking at various crops. She walked through orchards and skipped in fields. It took a while, but the garden did eventually end. Olivia and the cook stood on a dry dirt patch. "What's this?" Olivia asks. "Nothing yet." He replies while taking a handful of seeds out of his pocket. The cook made a divot with his hands and buried the seeds. "What is it?" "Don't you remember? You said you wanted pumpkin pie." "You mean those were pumpkin seeds?" "Yes." "I appreciate that, but if Ruth disliked pumpkins that much, why would you carry seeds around?" "The seeds are very special." " What's the significance." The cook shakes his head. "Do not worry about that." "Ok, it's just kind of weird." "It is not." He insists. Olivia changes the subject. "It's getting late. You'll probably be behind on your meal preparations." "Not at all. I got everything yesterday for today because I had a feeling this would be an all day activity." "Smart." "Thank you." "But does that mean we're having one of Ruth's meals?" Olivia asks. "Yes, unfortunately. I am sorry." "No, it's fine. I like corn." Olivia looks off into the distance. "But we should head back now if we want to see the tribe before tomorrow." The cook raises his arm as if he is hailing a taxi cab. An instant later a giant falcon swoops down. The cook smiles. "It will take us no time at all to get back."

Not Punny

I like a good pun. I enjoy reading Sherman's Lagoon and occasionally Wizard of Id, but when I have to sit through sloppily crafted puns that are delivered in less than clever ways, it becomes a certain kind of torture. At first I opt for politeness, smiling on the outside, but wishing to escape my body at the same time. However, as the hours ticked away I could no longer hide my disdain. I let out a big yawn. The Jester's face dropped. "Are you not amused?" He asks. "No, not really." "Then I have not done my job. I must put you at ease. I must make you laugh." "Does that mean you're gonna tell more jokes?" I ask. "Of course." "Please don't." The jester appears hurt and wounded. "Are you disappointed with my services?" I don't answer. I don't know how to. At least not without hurting him more. "You are disappointed." He concludes. "No, it's not that. It's just I have a hard shell to crack." The jester raises an eyebrow. "A hard shell to crack?" "Yes." "Perhaps we shall get a hammer." The jester laughs at his own joke. I groan. "Your majesty, you should lighten up." "I am lightened up. I am in a jovial mood." I say. "You are? You could have fooled me." "Perhaps I did, you are the fool after all." The jester chuckles. "You are the master jokesmith. You must teach me your ways." "I must?" I question. "Yes, you must." He pleads. "I don't know. I don't think I could teach on an empty stomach." The jester smiles. " I understand fully. An empty stomach is like an empty brain." "That it is. Is it almost time to eat?" I ask. "I hope so, the cook and your other half have been gone a while." "We don't have to wait. We can find a snack." The jester shakes his head. "I would not recommend that, your majesty. We all eat together." I sigh. "It's one of those things, isn't it?" "I'm afraid so, but we can have spirits in the mean time." "You mean alcohol?" I ask. "Yes, allow me. I will lead the way."

The Crops

The royal cook lead Olivia to a lush meadow. It was a rolling hill filled with saturated greens and crops as far as the eye could see. The closest crop was the corn field. The corn stalks were about eight feet tall. The royal cook smiled proudly. "I suppose you know what this is?" "Yes, it's corn." She replies, happily. The cook nods. "It is the most popular , and most useful crop. It is closest to our tribe for that reason." "What else do you have?" Olivia asks. "Everything, you name it." "What about an apple orchard?" "We have several." "Do you have blueberries?" "Yes." "Strawberries?" "Yes." "Apricots?" "Yes." Olivia thinks for a moment. "What about coconuts? I bet you don't have those." "Though it is not as popular, we do have a few coconut trees. Do you care to see them?" "Not right now. I'll take your word for it though." "Very well." Olivia looks on in amazement and whistles. "So, do you pick everything yourself too?" She asks. "My staff helps me, but I do most the work." "Wow, still that must take a while especially if you do this daily." Olivia says. "It can be, but I tend to cater to the one in charge of our society. For a while that was Ruth. You've met her ,right?" "Yeah, I've had a few encounters with her. So, you catered to her taste? What did she like?" The cook smiles. "Very simple taste.She loved corn ." He extents his arm, displaying the vast cornfield. "Is that the real reason why you planted it the closest?" Olivia questions. "Partially, but I am serious when I say it is very useful." He says, defensively. "Oh,I know." "I also have the turnips planted far off in the distance. She didn't care for them, but I could move them closer if you'd like." "No, they are fine where they are." Olivia insists. "As you wish. Is there a meal request you'd like to make?" "Well, this is October. Maybe a nice pumpkin pie?" The cook's face grows pale. "What?" Olivia asks. "Pumpkins are the only things we don't have." "How is that possible?" "Ruth detested pumpkins. She did not like them one bit. I could plant some pumpkins for you. They won't be ready for dinner, but I could do that." "That's fine." Olivia says. He smiles once more. "Let me show you more."

Perks

Everyone in the cave disperses. Everyone except for Peter and two lower ranking tribesmen. The tribesmen stand on either side of him. To Peter's left is a man with a Jester's hat. He slouches and has a nervous grimace. To his right is a man with a very different posture. He stands straight. He looks poised and confident. "I know you wanted some peace and quiet. I can't say I blame you, your majesties, but allow me to introduce you to your new friends." Peter says, with his arms wrapped around the tribesmen. "Our friends?" Olivia repeats. "Oh yes, they're quite handy, and you'll want their services." I lean back in my chair. "Alright. What can you do for us?" Peter eyes the man with the Jester's hat. He bows and address us. "Your majesty. I will be the royal joke teller." "The royal joke teller?" I repeat. "Yes, my jokes are the finest in all the land." "Really?" I question. "Yes, really. People come from far and wide to hear my jokes. Would you like to hear one?" I shake my head no. "It won't be necessary. But why would I need your services?" "To put you at ease after a hard day." He replies. I think for a moment. "Yes, ruling is hard. So, are you saying that with you I wouldn't need to be witty?" He nods yes. "Yes, your majesty." I take a deep breath. "Ok, he can stay." "What about the other one? What does he do?" Olivia asks. He walks forward and takes a bow. "I, your majesty, am the cook. I prepare the meals everyday." "YOU, prepare the meals everyday?" She questions. "Yes, your majesty. Everything. I even grow the fruits and vegetables. Would you care to see the garden?" "I am curious." She says. Olivia looks to me. "You want to come?" "No, I'm feeling lazy. I think I'll hear a joke or two if that is alright." "Not at all. We shall reconvene later."

The Throne

We were lifted up high and taken to a room filled with gold coins. We were seated on two purple, velvet chairs that were on a raised platform. I cannot speak for Olivia , but I'll admit I kinda let it go to my head. Perhaps this isn't the best form of attention, but it still felt nice none the less. Especially when I looked out to the sea of adoring fans. Approving cheers echoed off the cave walls. We didn't say a word. We let them go on and on till they ran out of steam. When it became quieter, Ruth spoke up. "Why did you come back?" "You want to know why we came back?" Olivia asks, worriedly. "Yes, there must be a reason." She continues. Olivia turns to me, stunned. "There is, but your minds could not comprehend." I reply. "Are you saying we aren't smart?" Someone from the crowd asks. "No, but there is intelligence and then there is intelligence." I add. "I don't understand." Someone else says. I smile. "Exactly." The crowd bursts into cheers and applause. The room is boisterous once more. Ruth bangs her staff against the stone floor. Everyone stops their celebrating. All eyes and ears are on her. "Maybe you can't tell us why you came back, but perhaps you could give us all a message? What kind of deity would you be without a message?" I take a deep breath. "I do have a message." "And that is?" She asks, gleefully. "It is that you shouldn't ask questions. Your Gods do not like that. We can annihilate you if we please. " The crowd panics. Ruth remains calm. "Very well. Everyone out. We don't want to overcrowd them."

Chosen Ones

"What the hell is going on?" I think out loud. Peter raises his head. "You are the chosen ones." "What? Us?" Olivia says, confused. "Yes. " He replies. "Didn't you just try to kill us?" Olivia questions. "Yes,but we didn't know. " He says. "Perhaps it was the only way we would know. " Ruth adds. "Are you sure we're the chosen ones?" I ask. "Yes." He responds ,simply. "I don't know." "It's no mistake, you are the chosen ones." Ruth shouts. I half smile. " I don't know. This is weird. " Olivia pulls me aside. "What are you doing? " she asks. "They think we're Gods." "I know, go along with it." I squint in confusion. " I feel normally you'd be telling me the opposite. " " Probably, but they're an unpredictable group. We need them on our side as much as possible " She informs. "What's the next step?" "We confirm that we are the chosen ones." I turn to the tribe. Olivia grabs my arm. "One more thing . Don't make this into a theatrical show ." I nod and clear my throat. "My people. ." "Shoot. " I think. I had already made it a theatrical production. Oh well, too late to turn back now. "We are indeed your Gods and are very angry with the way things have been going around here. We should smite you all , but we won't. " That's where I ended my speech . I wasn't sure how to continue . There was a long silence. Everyone just stared at us. I wasn't sure if they saw through the facade, or they truly were afraid. Then Peter broke the silence. "You heard them! Make them at home!"

Scaling the Wall

Scaling the wall of a volcano is no easy task. The walls are at a steep, almost vertical incline. All the rocks are loose. You have to climb slowly. One wrong move, and you could fall. We climbed at a snails pace, maybe even slower. I was more than ok with that. Neither one of us had done rock climbing in the past, and this wasn't the time or place for lightning fast moneuvers. We both slipped a couple times. Obviously nothing to serious as I'm able to tell this story. We eventually made it to the top. By this point the sun was setting. It created a cotton candy sky. I would have loved to enjoy the scenery more, but I was taken aback by what also awaited us. Peter, Ruth and all the men with spears stood silently. Had they seen the whole thing, and if so why did they let us continue our climb? We stood in nervous anticipation. Olivia and I both expected them to attack somehow. Instead they all bowed down on one knee in unison.

Suspended Animation

As we leapt into the scorching volcano we closed our eyes tightly. It wasn't for fear of what's ahead ,but rather a reaction, a habit. If you have closed your eyes while staring at a bright light, then you know what I am talking about. You can almost see the orange and red that appear on the inside of your eyelids. Imagine that ten times brighter. It's a wonder my retinas didn't melt. We free feel for some time. Obviously I had never jumped into an active volcano before, but I had a feeling the fall would only take a few seconds. I cautiously opened my eyes. I saw Olivia and myself in a Superman dive, suspended in the air. There was an opaque, white, cloud - like material that was cushioning our bodies.Above and below the white material was a pink, translucent substance. My guess was that we were in Olivia's bubble, but upon further examination it was a bit different that usual. It wasn't at all in the shape of a circle. It looked almost like a pink blanket with wild hooks that dug into the walls of the volcano. "Olivia, open your eyes." I say with the utmost fascination. "Are we dead?" she asks. "Not quite. Open your eyes." She does so and is amazed by the sight."Did I do this?" "I don't know. Maybe when all hearts were shot at us it allowed you further range of your abilities." "If I did do this I don't know how much longer I can hold it now that I am aware. We have to get out of here." "I'll find a way." I reply.
I don't know if I've ever explained this properly. The pink bubble is basically a shield. Unless it is severely weakened nothing can get in. While I am fully protected in the bubble, and nothing can harm me inside, I always have the option to leave. I make my exit. It always feels a little strange ,like there is something pushing back against me, but I persist. Luckily the pink force field is still strong on the outside and I am able to stand on it. I use it as a bridge. I walk to the closest wall. I desperately search for a groove that I can place my hands and feet into. That's when I notice the pink force field flickering. "Try to place all of your concentration on this hook." I say to Olivia, pointing to the hook by my right foot. She does so and the hook turns a bright pink. I grab the hook. It's much heavier than I had anticipated. I attempt to throw the hook over the edge, but it falls short a few feet. I am dismayed, but it will give us a start. Olivia is still inside the pink force field. Most of it is flat against the wall of the volcano now. I found a small grove and am hanging on for dear life. Olivia tries to scale the wall while still inside the pink force field, but it flickers again. I inch as close as I can and reach inside the bubble. "Grab my hand." I shout. She does so. I swing her out of the bubble and place her next to me. As soon as she is out of the bubble, it disappears completely. Our hands are like claws, grabbing at the stone wall. I look up, it is still a distance, but I feel the worst is over.

Volcano

Surprisingly it didn't take long to reach the top of the volcano. Maybe it was smaller than I thought, or perhaps after the long hike my mind lost all concept of time. It felt like minutes , but it could have been hours. I truly do not know. At any rate when we reached the top Peter and the old woman were waiting there for us. We we positioned in front of Peter and the old woman. "Peter, you don't have to do this." I cry. "Who is this Peter?" He asks. "It's you." Olivia replies. "He knows not that name." The old woman informs. "I was born a long time ago, but I've only recently come alive. " He adds. "What are you talking about?" I ask. Peter extends his arm. "This is where I belong. My memories are coming back to me." Peter wraps his arm around the old woman. "I have my sister, Ruth to thank for this." She's your sister?" Olivia questions. "Is that so hard to believe?" She blurts. I shake my head no. " I guess not, but still you don't have to do this." I say. "I do. We are a proud people. You will not be able to change my mind on this. Do you have any last words?" "Yes, we were not given a fair trial." I insist. Peter and Ruth look at each other, then back at us. "Interesting last words." Ruth replies. "Indeed." Peter says. Peter looks to the men behind us. "You heard them. Now is the time." The men behind us aggressively shove their spears in our direction. "Those weren't our last words." We plead as we're shoved in the direction of the volcano. We attempt to escape. Ruth holds her staff in the air and demands quiet. Everything stops and all eyes are on her. "I forgot one thing." She points her staff at us. She unleashes all the pink hearts that she previously absorbed. Every single one of them hits us. We are now unnaturally optimistic. We don't fight our sentence anymore, and we feel it is a good idea. We hold hands, look at each other, and on the count of three jump head first into the mouth of the volcano.

Chained Together

Apparently the volcano was on the opposite side of the island , or whatever kind of land was that were on. We were chained together with our hands behind our backs. Men with spears stood behind us, and two men with spears led the way in front of us. We were pulled through the dense jungle. I have to say, if it wasn't for the aspect of our own demise, this trek would have been lovely. The jungle is really interesting. If I treat these men with spears like scouts rather than captors it isn't so bad. I'm aware it is a lie I tell myself, but the lie does help. It's a long walk, and they don't let us rest. Not for a minute. The moment one of us starts to slow down, one of them will yank the chain, forcing us to quicken our pace. It was almost a relief after the arduous journey to see the volcano in the foreground.

After the Trial

After the trial we were carried back to the dark room. This time it felt even darker than before. I couldn't even see my own hands. They left us there for a while. They left us there to stew in our own fears and anxieties about our upcoming doom. One way for us to put a positive spin on our isolation was for us to carefully craft an escape plan. We started doing that, but then the topic of escape quickly turned into remembrances of our previous adventures. We retold and relived climbing mountains, talking to witches, and riding falcons. We were laughing and smiling. Before we knew it, we weren't even telling stories anymore. We were merely cracking jokes, but we didn't care. We were having a wonderful time. Ironically it was the most free either of us had felt in a long time, and then we heard the metal door swing open. We remembered exactly where we were and the fate that awaited us.

Judge Peter

"How do you plead?" Judge Peter asks. "Guilty." I reply, holding to the belief that if we admit wrongdoing they'll let us off easy. Peter strokes his beard. "Interesting, you admit what you did." "There isn't really much question about that." I say. "I suppose not." "So, what are you gonna do with us then?" Olivia asks. Peter leans back in his chair. "Death by volcano." "What?" We shout in unison. "The crime you committed was a very serious one. Surely, you don't expect me go light on you." "But Peter, it's us." I yelp. Peter squints his eyes. "You don't recognize us?" Olivia says. "No, should I?" "Yes, you're the reason we became members of the Wellness Center." I inform. "Wellness Center?" He replies. "You were the gatekeeper. You guarded the gates night and day." Olivia adds. Peter snorts. "This me in a parallel universe had a boring job." "But you loved it." I tell him. "Even if these tales you tell me are true, I highly doubt I would enjoy it. How could anyone be content with a job like that?" "Because you weren't there all the time. You also spent some of your time with the falcons. You loved them." I say. Peter turns white. "The falcons belong here. The fact that they were anywhere else only confirms my belief that you two are unsavory characters." Peter bangs his gavel. "Death by volcano!" The crowd goes wild. Everyone is cheering and applauding. Peter makes his exit, and we are carried out once more.

Courtroom

We waited in our cramped cage for quite some time.Right as I allowed myself to feel hope that maybe they were going to leave us alone, we were lifted into the air. A group of people carried us in the cage down a narrow corridor. I could not see where they were leading us as it was still very dark. They sat us down in the center of the room and then dispersed. Another person lit a torch. It illuminated the whole room. We could see what looked like the rest of the tribe sitting in jurors seats. Both the males and females have a similar look to the old woman. They are all gaunt, and have long grey hair. They ware mostly rags and drab sack cloths. They talk amongst themselves. I can't discern a word they are saying, but I know it's not good. They're smiling and laughing too much. This hardly seems fair. "Quiet!Now!" An an authoritative tribesman says. He stands next to the Judge's box. I have a feeling he may be their bailiff. "You're honor is now here." He casually continues. No one stands for the judge as he walks to his box. I want to though as soon as I get look at him. It's an old, familiar face. It's our friend Peter. He traded in his white suite for a sackcloth. I don't know what he is doing with them, but maybe this is good for us. Maybe he can turn things around for us.

Caged

We awoke in a small cage. It was big enough for us both as long as we stayed in a sitting position. The bars we made of thick bamboo. We were in a dark room of some sort. We couldn't see anything other than shadows and grey walls. "Where are we?" Olivia wonders out loud. "You're in a holding cell until we decide what to do with you." The voice of the old woman replies from the shadows. "Where are you?" I shout. "Right here." She says, creeping into the light. We're now able to view her withered face. "Why are we here?" I demand. "You took something that didn't belong to you. Now you must pay." "The berries? Is that what you're talking about?" Olivia asks. "Yes, it is." "How were we supposed to know not to take them?" Olivia questions. "You just were." "We didn't know the rules." I say. The old woman looks down. "Not my problem." "Let us out." Olivia cries. "I can't do that." Olivia, completely feed up, attempts to shoot the old woman with pink hearts. Once again the old woman raises her staff and absorbs the pink hearts. "As I said, you will remain here until we figure out what to do with you." The woman walks backwards into the shadows. "How long are we supposed to wait?" I shout. "The judge should be here soon, and then we'll know." The next noise we hear is metal door slamming shut.