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@esther-c thx!!
YET?! Gasp….I need to know what happens. Does anything happen to ma boi Lukas?!?! (Obvious favoritism XD can’t help it)
and thx! It’s what my lock screensaver says 😂
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebI’m not entirely sure what happens to Lukas. 😂 I’m a plantser, so I have a plot, but it morphs as I write.
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@esther-c I am too!!! I can’t fully plot everything super detailed like some but I love trying too.
But I also reeeaaallly am not caring all that much for drafting so far 🤣 and like having a bit of a plan and things that might change as I go.
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebOk, I’m finally caught up!
Ev grabbed her hand a put on a faux serious face. “Hey, look at me. You can’t always be perfect, so don’t try to. And remember, I’m always here… all right?”
Lol that’s just the cutest scene ever. Like seriously, they are adorable. I gotta say, I love your charries so much! I’m going to be so sad if you do something to Ev 😭 And nooo! There separated! I’m really enjoying the read too!
Also I like Lukas! I wonder is he just quite… or something up? 🤔
Have you read Green Ember? I just realized you have a really similar writing style to the author. I’ve only read about 70% of book one.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
I gotta say, I love your charries so much!
😊 Thx so much!!! I absolutely love them too!! ❤️
Also I like Lukas! I wonder is he just quite… or something up? 🤔
He’s just quiet. 😅 lol.
Have you read Green Ember? I just realized you have a really similar writing style to the author. I’ve only read about 70% of book one.
I haven’t, but I do know what they are. That’s really interesting!
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@godlyfantasy12 @mineralizedwritings @lightoverdarkness6 @felicity
More chapters!!
Chapter 11
Everton tried to slow his breathing. Asher yanked his arm and pulled him close. “Why did you do that?” He hissed in his ear. Ev shrugged him off. “He shouldn’t have said that about us,” he mumbled.
Asher grinded his teeth and shook his head. “You have to control yourself.”
Ev ignored him. That man had no right to say what he did. A guard came up to them writing something down on a pad of paper. “Where did the rest of your group go?” He questioned.
“I don’t know,” Ev replied. The guard raised an eyebrow. “No really. I don’t know.”
The guard ripped off the piece of paper from the pad and handed it to Everton. “This is a warning. You didn’t actually hurt anybody so we’ll let it go. But if you do it again, you’ll be punished.
“And when you meet up with your group tell them this:” he leaned closer to Everton’s face. “You all are insiders. You are therefore denied access to public transport vehicles until we gain your trust. And mark my words, you won’t be able to sneak onto any of them. We’re always watching.” He turned on his heel and went to calm the crowd.
Ev stuck out his jaw and pushed through the crowd with Lukas following. Asher caught up to them. “Thanks a lot,” He said.
Everton yet again didn’t reply. He didn’t want to talk about it. He stomped out of the airport with his fists clenched. Not much of a distance away, he spotted the Nadirs. “Wait!” He called out. They turned around. Ev and his brothers ran to catch up to them. He sighed and handed Ruben the paper. “We no longer have access to public transport vehicles,” he mumbled.
Ruben quickly read over the paper. His face quickly hardened. He sucked in a breath through his nose and walked away from the group. Ev closed his eyes. Ami approached him carefully. She took a deep breath. He caught her eye and looked away. Everything in him hoped she wouldn’t say anything. And she didn’t. She simply placed a hand on his arm and offered a small smile.
Everton couldn’t smile back. He let his eyes do the talking and succeeded in explaining what was going on his mind. She turned away. Ruben came back clutching the paper in his hand so tight that his knuckles were white. “Everton… You know that I said not going into dangerous situations.”
Ev met his gaze. “That wasn’t really dangerous.”
“Yes it is. Now you pretty much ruined our chances of getting to the capital in time. We can’t board any plane or bus.” Ruben looked up at the sky. Adalynn placed an arm around him and led him away from the group, whispering to him.
Ev walked a bit away and sat on a nearby bench. Ami sat by him. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back. “I ruined everything.”
“Not everything.”
“Pretty much! You heard your dad,” Tears came to Ev’s eyes. He’d never be good enough. Just like his father regularly reminded him. Maybe he was a failure. When would he ever get it right?
“Everton… if you say you’re sorry, I’m sure they’ll all forgive you. I already do.” she said softly.
“I have nothing to say I’m sorry for!” He said, throwing his hands out. “Wasn’t I right in what I did?” Ami didn’t reply. “Aren’t I?”
She sighed and ran her hands over her pants. “You shouldn’t have done it. What the man said was cruel and rude. He was not in the right. But you weren’t either. You should’ve just let it go.”
Ev grunted. Why did Ami have to be so right? He stood up as Ruben and Adalynn rejoined the group. “Mr. Nadir,” Ev said. “Everybody… I’m sorry.” He couldn’t meet their eyes.
Ruben placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. “We forgive you.”
And that was it. He didn’t reprimand or forgive on one condition or anything like that. He just did. Ev met his eyes and they were full of compassion. He quickly looked away. Love was something he wasn’t used to, no less forgiveness. He swallowed and looked back up. “Thank you… Now will you give me a chance to redeem myself?”
Ruben raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“How about I buy us all a good dinner?”
Ruben smiled. “That sounds great. I’m feeling steak…”
Ev’s eyes got wide. “I don’t have that much money. I can only spare at least fifty dreks.”
“I’m just kidding. Let’s go find somewhere to eat.”
The group left the premises of the airport and walked by the side of the highway to reach a nearby cluster of buildings. They found a restaurant that was inside Ev’s budget and eagerly ate up their food.
Near the end of the meal, Ruben said, “I suppose we’ll have to find another place to stay tonight.” Ev’s face grew warm. He really did ruin everything. And now everybody had to pay.
After dinner, they went to a nearby motel. With the money they had, they managed with two rooms. Ev layed on the floor and stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. He wondered if his parents missed him at all. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe he really was as unloved as he felt. But Ruben had forgiven him. Was he really worthy of forgiveness?
Questions filled his mind, but his tiredness soon overtook him and he fell right to sleep.
Note: the character introduced in chapter 12 has an English accent. Jsyk how I imagine him in my mind. 🙂
Chapter 12Amidala woke up as the sunlight slowly peeked through the curtains. She yawned and sat up from the floor. Her mother was already awake and ready for the day. Ami stood up and ran her hands through her hair, trying to smooth it. She rubbed her eyes. “Good morning, Mom.”
“Good morning, sleepyhead. Do you know what time it is?”
Ami shook her head. Adalynn said, “Nine.”
Ami widened her eyes. “I’ve never slept that late before. Guess I must’ve been really tired.”
Adalynn nodded and handed Ami her brush. Ami quickly brushed out her hair. She went into the bathroom and changed her clothes and freshened up. When she came out, she tiptoed around Skyler, who was still sound asleep on the floor.
Ami giggled softly. “I’m not surprised she is still sleeping.”
Adalynn laughed as well. Ami sat by her mother and said, “Have you seen how Lukas acts around her? It’s cute. I think he likes her.”
Adalynn smiled. “Aw! I bet Skyler is oblivious to it.”
Ami nodded. “I wouldn’t doubt it…” she paused for a moment then murmured, “I was too for a little bit…”
Adalynn cocked her head, “What’d you say?”
Ami slowly sighed, “I think Ev likes me,” she blurted out.
“Really?”
“Yeah…”
“How do you feel about it?”
“We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, but recently, I’ve been thinking of him as… more than friend.”
“Well,” Adalynn said, smoothing out the sheets on the bed. “You’re getting older and more mature…”
“I know. But I never knew he felt the same way. Maybe he doesn’t… I could be jumping to conclusions,” Ami said, shaking her head.
“I wouldn’t just throw out the possibility. You can talk to him… or you can just act as you normally would. No matter what, you’re still friends of course.”
Ami nodded. “Right,” she smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
Adalynn placed her hand on Ami’s arm. “That’s what I’m here for.” From the other side of the room, they heard a loud yawn. Ami rolled her eyes. Skyler sat up and looked over at them, her hair sticking out in all directions. “Good morning,” she mumbled. Ami laughed.
Later that morning, the whole group sat down to eat brunch together, discussing their next course of action. Ruben sighed, “We’ll have to travel by foot now.”
“By foot?” Skyler repeated, her eyes wide.
“For now.”
Sky furrowed her brow. “I can’t even walk two miles without getting tired.”
“Sky,” Destry said. “It’s not that bad. We managed inside The Orb.”
Sky cast him a look and faced her father again. “Can’t we just buy a car?”
Adalynn and Ruben gave each other a look. Sky smiled sheepishly. “I’m guessing no?”
Nobody answered her, but she knew the answer. “We’ll be fine,” Ami said. “Plus, we’ll get in shape, trekking across over half the country.”
Ruben pulled out a folded map from his pocket. It showed where they were now and there was a red line drawn towards the capital. “This is our path,” he said, pointing to it. “We should be able to reach the next district by the end of today. We’ll have to take the footpaths though.”
Ami cocked her head. “Footpaths?”
“They’re paths that the natives of Themelios used before it was officially founded as a country,” Ruben explained. “They are still pretty evident in some places, but there are going to be times where we may have to go off the path.”
Ami sighed. Yeah… they would be fine… definitely.
After finishing their meal, they grabbed their luggage and set out. Artemis seemed happy about going for a walk, and after walking about three miles, the only one still in a good mood was Artemis.
They all agreed to stop for a while under the shade of a large willow tree. As Amidala sat against the tree and sipped her water, she saw a man walking along the path, still a ways away from them.
As he got closer, she was able to make out his appearance. He didn’t have the cleanest hair and his brown locks frequently fell in front of his face. He wore medieval style clothing: a dark green vest over a white, long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and brown boots. Slung over his back he had a mandolin and a piccolo. Additionally, he wore a belt with odd things connected to it.
Ami expected him to pass right by them, but he actually stopped. “‘Ello!” He cried with a smile and wave.
Ruben awkwardly waved back. “Uh… hello.”
The man came closer. “I didn’t expect anyone else to be traveling on the footpaths. Would you believe that the last time I talked to a human being was a whole year ago?”
Fynn raised an eyebrow, “You’ve talked to things other than human beings…?” He asked cautiously. Ami flashed him a look.
The man said, “Of course. Animals are great listeners.” He held out his hand for a handshake and Ruben slowly shook it. “The name’s Dao.”
“Ruben,” Ami’s father said. The others in the group eyed the man warily.
“I’m a traveling bard,” Dao said. “But lately, no one’s been willing to listen to my music…” his eyes lit up. “Would you like to hear it?”
Ruben looked at the others for an answer. They all just shrugged. “Why not?” Ruben said. So, Dao sat on a nearby stump and slung his mandolin over his shoulder. “This song has no words, but I’ve been wanting to see what people think of it. I composed it myself.”
He began to strum on the mandolin. The chords seemed to echo around, even though they were outside. Ami was suddenly mesmerized by the music. It softly sounded throughout the air, filling their hearts and minds. As he strummed one last chord, he put the piccolo to his lips and continued the song.
The sharp, but beautiful sound rang around the group. Ami didn’t see or hear anything else but the bard and his music. It almost seemed to… come alive. It created pictures in her mind of joy, as if joy itself had taken the form of a being. All too soon he finished his song. When the music stopped, it felt like she had to say farewell to an old friend. He opened his eyes and smiled. The music still seemed to linger in the air. “What do you think?”
Ami spoke up first. “It was beautiful,” she whispered. Everyone agreed in their own words. The bard stood up. “I have to be on my way now. Thank you for listening.” He dipped his head. “I hope to see you again.” He waved and started down the road, turning right at a crossroads.
Everybody was silent. Ami still heard the music ringing in her ears, the bright pictures slowly fading. They all quietly gathered their belongings again and set out again on the path. Ami smiled to herself. She hoped they would see him again. His music was more than just music.
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@esther-c ooh I like the name Dao! It’s cool!!
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebOh I like it! Can’t wait to find out what happens next! I’m loving the development of the romance 🥰 so cute!
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
Thx!! The name carries meaning, though, since it sounds very similar to a word in another language that means something important… 😏
That was so vague! 🤣
I’m loving the development of the romance 🥰 so cute!
Me too!! 🥰 It’s been one of my favorite subplots so far! (Though I’m not sure if I have more than that one XD)
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@felicity IKR!!! I need mooore lol
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebThat fact that I’m already building a fan base for my charries is super encouraging!! 😆😁
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
Totally!
See that?! You’ve got this girl!
He must increase, but I must decrease.
@mineralizedwritings @lightoverdarkness6 @felicity @godlyfantasy12
Btw, 13 is a little long and (i think) 14 is a little shorter.
Chapter 13
Amidala and the rest of the group finally reached the next district. It was dark by now, but not terribly late. Despite that, they were exhausted. They traveled eight miles that day and weren’t used to walking that much all at once.
The group walked into the first motel they found and quickly paid for rooms. Ami watched her father hand his card to the woman at the desk. How much money did they have left? Her father had quit his job when he left The Orb. They had taken all their money with them. Sure they didn’t have to pay for bills anymore, but he no longer had a steady income.
It worried Amidala. They had to get to Angularis, the capital of Themelios, as soon as possible. And with spending as little money as possible. They got settled in their rooms and met outside by the pool to discuss their next course of action. It was closed, so nobody was outside with them. Ami pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders as the breeze blew. Spring would be here soon.
Ruben pulled his cellphone out from his pocket and started to scroll on it. “What are you doing, Dad?” Ami asked.
“Looking for buses for sale.”
Ami raised an eyebrow. “We’ll blow our budget.”
Ruben looked up from his phone. “You sure?” He turned the screen around. Ami’s eyes grew wide as she read the screen. On it was a picture of a twelve passenger bus. And the price was only thirty thousand dreks! She smiled sheepishly and looked up at her father. “Maybe I was wrong,” she said shrugging.
Adalynn read the deal and her face lit up. “That wasn’t just by chance,” she said. “That was God’s hand working. When can we get it?”
Ruben clicked his tongue as he scrolled. “Um… Oh. Here. We can meet the man tomorrow and pay him. He’ll give us the bus.”
“Sweet,” Ev said. Then his eyes lit up. “Do I get to drive it?”
Asher flashed him a look as Ruben laughed and said, “Never.”
Fynn spoke up, “I claim sitting next to Artemis.”
“Woah,” Ruben said. “Slow down. We haven’t even gotten it yet. I’ll shoot the man an email and we’ll meet him tomorrow at two.”
That night Ami lay in her bed staring at the wall next to her. The deal didn’t seem real. What if it was a scam? They could be cheated out of their money. And that money was valuable. Ami prayed a quick prayer, asking for peace. Soon, she fell asleep, her worries temporarily soothed.
In the morning, everybody was in a buzz of anticipation. They quickly ate their breakfast and waited around nervously. As soon as the clock ticked to half past one, everyone was already headed out the door with Ruben in the lead.
They reached the large garage right at two. It was deserted. At least it seemed to be. Soon, a door opened and a man walked out. Ami crinkled her nose at the smell that followed him. He was skinny, short, and covered in dirt. He looked as if he hadn’t washed his hair in years. He smiled, his yellow teeth showing. “Welcome!” He said with a voice as scraggly as his clothing. “I’m Joe. Are y’all the folks who wanted to buy my bus?”
“Yes,” Ruben said.
“Perfect! Well, I’ll need the money and then I can bring it on out.”
Ruben furrowed his brow. Joe noticed and said, “Don’t you worry. I’d just rather not have people coming into my office. I’ve been working on a new project. It’s gonna make millions of dreks!”
Adalynn slowly nodded at Ruben and he pulled out cash from pocket. The worry suddenly returned to Ami. Joe didn’t seem so trustworthy… but this bus was their only way of getting to Angularis in time. Joe took the money and walked back into the building. The group waited with held breaths. Five minutes passed and Joe still didn’t return.
Ruben knotted his brow. Finally, after fifteen minutes of waiting, Ev walked right into the building. “Wait!” Ruben cried out following him. Then the heard Ev gasp and stomp out the door, seething. “That rat!” He grunted. “He left!”
Ami’s jaw dropped. So her worries were right. It was a scam. All along. She should have said something, but the others had probably had the same thoughts. Ruben sighed, trying to hold back his anger. He began walking away from the building. The others followed.
Once they were a good distance away, Ruben said. “We’ll have to steal it.”
“Really?” Fynn asked excitedly.
Rubens sighed again. “Yes. Tonight. After dark. He stole our money. We paid for it, so we’ll get it.”
Ami rubbed her hands together slowly, a nervous habit. Oh no. She couldn’t help but smile. Everton would have too much fun with this.
That night, everybody but Adalynn and Skyler went back to the garage. Adalynn and Sky waited just outside the perimeter of the lot with the group’s luggage. Ami was nervous, but she insisted that she come with them. She was worried, but of course, Adalynn and Sky were too.
She knew the plan and had recited it over in her head all afternoon and evening. Ami, Lukas, and Everton sneaked in first. They reached the door and tested the handle. Locked. Of course. Ami raised both her hands and waved them back and forth. Suddenly, Asher ran over, pulling a pin out of his pocket. He shoved it in the handle and worked it back and forth. There was a click and the door opened.
“How did you do that?” Ev asked. Asher shook his head and walked away. Ami cocked her head. Odd. Not just anybody could pick a lock that easily. They peeked in. The coast was clear. They walked farther into the dark room. Gadgets, papers, and trash cluttered the floors, desks, and any free space.
Ami attempted to walk quietly. Every sound seemed to amplify itself. She expected someone to appear from the dark shadows at any moment. The three slowly made their way through the room. They opened another door and the door led to the garage. And there was their bus. Ami glanced to her right and saw keys on a small table. She grabbed them quickly. The three exchanged looks and swiftly left the building.
When they met up with Ruben, Asher, Destry, and Fynn, Ami handed her father the keys. “I hope these are the keys to the bus. To reach the garage, walk through the office. It’s pretty straightforward.”
Ruben nodded. “Remember, you three wait by the garage door. Crank it open as soon as you hear the engine start.”
Ami nodded. She wouldn’t forget. The group split up to their positions. She anxiously waited with her hands wrapped tight around one of the ropes that opened the garage. It was old fashioned… and loud. It could cost them if they opened it too early… or too late.
She kept readjusting her hands on the rope. She suddenly heard a crashing sound and Joe’s voice crying out unintelligible words. Then the engine started. Ami jumped up and yanked hard on her rope, as did Ev and Lukas.
The door slowly rose. It revealed Asher clambering to get in the bus as Ruben and Fynn pulled out. The door of the bus was open. Lukas, Ev, and Ami climbed in, breathing hard. Joe ran after them holding his rifle. He fired a shot, barely missing Ami’s arm. She screamed and pushed farther into the bus, her heart beating faster than ever before. Ruben cast a glance behind him and stepped on the gas pedal.
Ev placed himself in front of her and pushed Lukas behind him. They reached the fence. Adalynn and Sky hopped in quickly with pale faces and threw the luggage across the floor. Joe let off another shot, hitting the back window. It shattered and the glass pieces flew everywhere.
Ami screamed again. Everyone crouched behind the seats. Suddenly, a small explosion sounded. The back of the bus rose in the air and pounded out the ground. Ami’s head hit the side of the bus. Her perception blackened… And everything went dark.
Chapter 14
Everton sat in the seat and tapped his foot on the floor of the bus. Adalynn was on her knees and tending to Ami. Ami had been unconscious for two hours now. Was that normal? Ev heard her groan and sit up. He stood up and looked down at her. She groaned. “What happened?”
“You hit your head,” Adalynn said. “How do you feel?”
“Well, my head hurts. Things look a bit blurry and I’m a little dizzy.”
Adalynn let out a breath. “Probably a minor concussion. You should be okay in a week or two.”
Ev sighed. Good. He had to admit that he was really worried. It could’ve been worse. He glanced to the right and he saw Ruben whispering a quick prayer. Did their God really answer prayers? Maybe He did care for them… after all, Ami was kept safe…
Everton came over to her and ran a hand through his hair. “Please don’t do that again. You for once made me worry.”
Ami laughed softly. She slowly stood up and seated herself in one of the chairs. “Where to next?”
Ruben smiled. “Well you’re ready to keep moving. We’ll just keep heading east. The sun will rise soon. I want to keep driving until about lunch time and then we’ll relax for the rest of the day.”
Ev sat by Ami as Ruben began driving again. He couldn’t help but think over what had just happened only a few hours ago. They had just stolen a bus… Joe would most likely report them to the government. And they would be in more trouble than they already were.
They continued down the deserted road as the sun slowly peeked over the horizon. Ev closed his eyes. The next thing he knew, he heard giggling near him. He squinted at the light as he opened his eyes. He groaned. When he opened his eyes he said, “Hey, stop that!”
Lukas was holding his phone. Ev yanked his out of his hands and looked at the screen. It was a picture of him sleeping. He flashed Lukas a look and deleted the photos. Fynn stood right by Lukas, also laughing. A grin forced its way onto Lukas’s face.
Ev looked at Ami who was clearly trying to smother laughter. “I tried to stop them,” she said through a smile. Ev smiled a bit and shook his head. “I’ll get you guys back.”
Lukas and Fynn returned to their seats still chuckling. The bus still rumbled down the road, but unexpectedly, Ruben slowed it down and came to a stop. Ev sat up. Ruben called out, “Barlowe boys…”
The three boys ran to the front of the bus. At the entrance of the district stood a man and a woman in front of a car. Ev’s face hardened. Malyk and Harlin Barlowe. Why were they here? Ruben sighed. “I think you should talk to them.”
But he didn’t want to. Everton slowly followed Asher out the door with Lukas practically hiding behind him. He shook Lukas off as he approached his parents. Malyk took a step closer. “Asher, Everton, and Lukas,” he said. He walked up to Ev first. “We saw on the news that you attacked a man at the airport.”
“I did not,” Ev said. “I gave him a strong warning.”
“Why?”
“He…” Ev hesitated. Then he said, “He called us failures.”
“My question still stands…” Malyk said. “Why would you give him a ‘strong warning’?”
Everton sucked in a breath. That man was wrong in what he had said. He wasn’t a failure… or was he? Was his father right? Malyk sighed. “You’re coming home with me. You’ve run far enough away.” He grabbed Lukas and reached for Everton.
Ev avoided him and took a step back. “I’m not. I left and I’m never coming back. You can’t make me.”
Malyk’s face became red. “Yes, I can.” He tried to grab Ev, but again, he stepped away. By this time, Ruben and Adalynn had come out with their children peeking out the door. “Malyk,” Ruben said. “Please… let him stay. I understand how you feel, but if you’d like, you can come with us.”
Malyk raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“We want to destroy The Orb and find out why it was put there in the first place.”
He slowly let go of Lukas. “Why should I trust you?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
“You encouraged my children to run from home!” Malyk said. Ev clenched his fists. Like he cared.
Ruben shook his head. “We only let them come with us. We are going to Angularis.”
Malyk cocked his head. “Angularis, you say,” he murmured. He sighed. “Harlin and I will come with you.”
Harlin cast a look at him.
Ev tried to contain his surprise. Never in his life did he think that his father would give in that easily. Something was up. Ev seated himself by Ami. His parents sat in the row across from him. As soon as they sat down, Everton got up and went to the back of the bus. He rested his chin in his hand and stared out the window.
Why did they have to come? He’d never escape his past. Nor would he get freedom now that his parents were still keeping him chained down. Ami soon joined him. “Ev…” she said.
“Why?” He simply asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “But maybe you can use this as a chance to restore your relationship.”
“No,” he shook his head and turned to face her. “He searched us out. Tracked us down. Why? To bring us back home… and not because he loves me. He doesn’t want me to have any type of freedom.”
Ami placed a hand around his shoulder. “Don’t pass off the opportunity.”
Ev sighed. Maybe it was an opportunity to change things. But it wouldn’t work. Why should he even try?
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
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