Ah, the beginning of something…horrible. Read on readers, read on~
Seth and I sit at the opposite ends of the couch. We were so overwhelmed with relief when we found each other and now…it's just awkward and we don't what else to say to each other.
I fiddle with my fingers while he stares at the floor and occasionally out the window. Both of us sigh emptily, unsure of what to say. Well, I'm not sure about him, but I'm really nervous. The last time I saw him, he was angry and had the wild idea of going to another world, and he got what he wanted.
"Are you…" the rest is swallowed by my apprehension.
"Mia, speak up."
"Are you going to tell…me what happened to you that night? Why did you go to the beach, why were you so upset?"
The anxiety on his face shifts to a stolid gaze.
"What's more important to you?" he asks as he rises from the couch and opens the front door, letting in a soft breeze. "The fact that we made it to another world, or what happened that night? This is what we wanted to do, and now we have."
But I didn't want this. I never wanted to leave home, or travel to another world-I wish I can tell him that. He can be so headstrong to the point where he shuts everyone else out.
"Seth, I was scared for us, and I still am. I didn't expect this to happen."
"You don't sound too thrilled."
"I'm not, to be honest."
He huffs exasperatedly, shuts the door and stomps halfway up the staircase. I quickly get up and begin to follow him up until he tosses a folded, piece of paper at me.
"What is it?"
"Read it."
To whom it may concern,
I know that you have traveled far and wide to get here. Meet me by the lawyer's attorney office on Coffee Boulevard. You'll see it when you arrive, tonight at 8. I will do my best to explain your current situation and give you the option of employment for supporting yourselves while you are here. I look forward to meeting you.
My heart sinks into my stomach. Employment means we'll be stuck here-does that mean I can't get back home? No, have faith Mia, home is around the corner for sure.
"I found it earlier," Seth answers before I can question him, heading up the stairs. "Better hurry, it's already 8:05."
"You're not gonna go?"
"I don't need to."
Seth slams the bedroom door shut and remains eerily silent. When he's like this, it's best to leave him be.
'
Finally, Coffee Boulevard is right here. Why did Seth leave me to do this by myself? It would have been nice of him to at least help me get there. But he's probably mad at me right now and there's nothing I can do except give him his space. Oh, here's the law firm, so the place should be right here.
I approach the flat, one-story building, with windows plastered with wood. Written on them is Closed with red spray paint-hopefully this is the place because I'm already super late. I knock on the door, double-guessing the spot.
"It's open," a man says inside. I turn the knob, and shove the heavy door open. The hanging dim, lights shake as the door closes. A man, wearing small-framed sunglasses and a long raincoat leans back on a chair behind an unnecessarily long desk. One of the girls, sitting in front of him, turns around to observe me while the other has her head down.
"Good evening, ma'am," he greets warmly, resting his head on his fingers. "Were you aware of the time?"
"No, I wasn't. I apologize for coming so late," I put my hand on my irritated head. "I can't excuse my lateness."
"Don't worry about it, just have a seat."
I take the seat at the end, next to the girl with her head down. The man clears his throat and tilts his chair back and forth against the wall.
"I'll repeat what I said to these two young women."
"I'm sorry," says the girl who turned to me earlier. "I can't hear it again. May I be excused?"
Without waiting for his approval, she rises from the stool and hurries out the door with her teary eyes. The hooded girl next to me keeps silent.
"Last night, you came to this world, correct?"
How does he know? I nod warily.
"I've seen many people enter different worlds the same way you all did last night, as 'shooting stars'. It means that your original home is gone."
"G-gone?"
The mysterious man nods and leans forward. "I'm being too lenient. It's been taken by the forces of Darkness."
I can't imagine my beautiful home being gone forever-how could this have happened? Seth, what happened to our wonderful home? Will we ever see it again?
"Seeing the look on your face, I know what you're wondering," he assumes. "Like the young lady outside, I'm sure you've seen a black door somewhere at home."
I gasp.
"That's what I thought. When that door opened, it allowed the Heartless to enter your world and devour it. It can't be opened by itself-one with a heart opened to corrupted Darkness can open it. You probably wouldn't have any idea who by any chance."
My hands tremble as I hold back the tears that plague my eyes. Who could have done something like that to Moonlight Town?
"Excuse me," I swallow hard to conceal my breaking voice. "Who are the Heartless?"
He takes off his hat, letting his auburn hair out. "They are monsters without minds who are after the hearts of every living thing in every world. Those things are what took the homes of many people besides you girls."
"Black monsters with yellow eyes…" I hear the hooded girl with her head down mumble something like that to herself.
Oh my goodness, the cave where we got the Chaos Emerald! Those things that attacked us-they were just like the scary monsters on my island. They're called…Heartless. While I wordlessly ponder how close I was to death, the girl who rushed out the room reenters, taking her seat somberly while whispering a polite "Sorry" to the man behind the desk. He raises his hand forgivingly, and continues.
"Rest assured, for at the moment, they cannot enter this world. Now, to business-you girls can do certain tasks that require some physical power and mental powers for the sake of others. When you traveled, you were tagged with the ability to locate hidden gateways to other worlds. Therefore, you can move about different worlds, but not without feeling some side effects like nausea, dizziness, etcetera. By doing these tasks, you can get paid money to do whatever you want."
"How do you know all this?" the girl who rushed out asks bitterly.
"You said it requires some physical strength?" the hooded girl finally speaks.
"I know all this because we have shared the same experiences. Yes, for most of these tasks, you'll need to know how to defend for yourselves. Otherwise, you will die out there. Anymore questions ladies?"
"You're positive there's no way of getting back home?" the girl rakes her silky hair with her fingers.
"At the moment, no."
I can sense the disappointment in all of us. We all stay silent until the man stands up, showing off his true, lengthy height.
"If you have more questions, come back here and I'll give your tasks. Now before you girls leave, you should introduce yourselves," he says suggestively as he buttons his coat. The girl at the other end pokes her head out behind the silent girl next to me, sighs sadly, and extends a hand out to me.
"Hi, I'm Mizuki," she prims.
"I'm Mia." I glance at the girl next to me. "Your name?"
She takes my hand, shakes it weakly, and says in a dull voice, "Risa Willow-Greenhorn."
"It's a good idea that you get to know each other. Right now, I can imagine you're all on edge and unable to comprehend the terrible events that happened to you. Support is what you all need. My name is Erick McGraw by the way, and it was pleasure to meet you all."
'
"Hey Seth, I think you should've come tonight," I mutter groggily as I climb under the covers. Seth, who's sitting by the sliding door leading to the balcony, follows each raindrop that precipitates on the clear doors.
"And why is that?" he wonders, hinting aggravation and fatigue.