Confusion

Sportacus, as I live and breathe, stands in front of me. His clothes are worn out, dirty, and ripped. His long blue pants are now shorts and his hat is gone. Only his dark brown hair sits on his head in a mess. His eyes are still the color of a two p.m. blue sky.

"Stephanie, you've returned. I knew it. Please," He says in his thick accent. "Tell me where you went."

"What are you talking about? I was dragged here unwillingly and – I'm sure – this is mostly a dream of some sort. Or an illusion. I might just be going crazy."

"Don't say that!" He rushes over to me.

I think he might hug me, but he stays back. He says, "I've missed you."

"Why am I here? And what is this journal?"

We are both cut off by Robbie. Bursting into the small room, Robbie pants and heaves as if he's been in a marathon.

"Pinky, don't listen to him. Come with me, now." Robbie orders. "Now."

I step backwards. My mind is a whirlpool with rigid storms. I cannot understand any of this. I want to go home. Get me home.

"No, you can't leave me." Sportacus frowns and continues, "You have to come with me and see something. Something wonderful. Please."

"I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers." I demand, "Tell me everything."

"There's no time for that, silly girl." Robbie grabs my arm and pulls me from the room.

Sportacus is behind us, yelling as we are chased down the tunnel. My shoes pound hard on the pathway. We see daylight in front of us. The tunnel forks and we go left.

"Come back here with her!" Sportacus screams. "Come back or else!"

"Robbie, your holding my arm too tight. It hurts." I yell. The wind blows fiercely through my hair.

"Trust me," He shouts back. "You have to trust me this once. We have to lose him."

We come to a screeching halt. Thirty feet below us rested a large body of water. With Sportacus closing in on us, I knew we had to jump.

"The other fork in the tunnel only leads to more and more tunnels. This is the only way out for miles." Robbie stares back at me with a hint of concern in his chocolate eyes. "I promise you won't be hurt," He says.

He jumps.

"Don't do it!"

The Man in Blue tries to reach for me, but it's too late. I am headed for destiny or death just as the light consumes me again.

I need to learn how to control this.