Chapter 3

No one said a word for at least 30 seconds, which felt like a lifetime to Press. Saint Dane started walking towards the remaining three. Brent finally snapped out of the shock of what happened and grabbed Press and Osa and through them out a nearby window. They landed in the grass with a soft thud. They sat on top of a hill overlooking the beautiful city. Osa turned to Press.

"What could that evil man want with Xhaxhu?"

"Remember when we were talking some guy named Saint Dane?"

"Yes."

"Well that's him and what's Xhaxhu?"

Osa started to say something but Brent jumped out of the window with Quor hanging over his shoulder.

"Is she ok?" Press asked.

"Not for long. C'mon Saint Dane's still in there."

They all started to sprint down the hill and towards the city. After a while they came to the trap door that led down towards the flume. One by one they all climbed down the foot and handholds to the bottom of the cave. They stopped for a minute to catch their breathe. Brent was by the mouth of the flume talking to himself,

"What is Saint Dane doing just coming after us? He usually stays back and watches the pieces fall into place."

Suddenly the trapdoor opened and everyone heard a wicked laugh.

"Cloral!" Brent yelled.

Saint Dane jumped down from the top landing on his feet. He walked over to Press, who couldn't move. Saint Dane lashed out and punched Press right in the jaw. There was a sickening crack.

"Go to the flume!" Brent yelled. Press didn't notice the light coming to get them. The light was almost at the mouth. Press quickly tackled Saint Dane to the ground and sprinted over to the mouth of the flume.

"Just wait, my partner will get you." Saint Dane warned and with those final words the flume carried Press and the others to the mystery territory of Cloral.

Tom Dorney sat at home watching The Brady Bunch on his TV. There came a knock at the door. Tom's mother told him someone was at the door for him. When Tom arrived at the door he thought it would be Press. No one else would be over at 8 o clock. But instead of Press it was a boy of Tom's age. He was shorter than most sixteen year olds and he had a goofy smile. He stuck out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Patrick."

Tom took his hand and shook it slowly, very confused.

"I know about Press and I need to talk to you about him. Let's go for a walk."

"Mom! I'm going for a walk!" Tom yelled and closed the door.

"What do you know about Press?" Tom asked

"Ok listen, I'll answer your questions later. I have to talk." He held out his hand. Lying in his palm was a dark gray ring. It had a gray like pearl in the center.

"My father invented these. You can talk to Press through them."

So Patrick told Tom the story about the Travelers and Saint Dane.

"So you're telling me... that Press is somewhere across the universe?"

"Yeah."

"I don't believe you."

"Just wear the ring. If it starts to twitch, go someplace private. A journal will arrive that's handwritten by Press. Trust me." Patrick and Tom walked back to Tom's house and said good-bye. Patrick went over and jumped on the back of a Harley.

"What if I need to talk to you?"

"Yell John into the ring and drop a written message."

"Ok?"

"Just do it. You'll understand."

"Whatever."

"Remember you're the Acolyte from Second Earth now. Trust me." Patrick then rode down the street on the motorcycle. Tom had no idea what to expect.

Press and the others were now floating in a pool of water after the flume ride. Quor lay on the shoreline as the rest of the travelers floated in the water. Press looked at Brent.

Brent was obviously thinking of what to do next. Osa just kept looking at her aunt.

"We're on the wrong territory."

"What are you talking about?"

"Saint Dane heard me call the flume for Cloral. Let him spend the next month looking for us when we're not even here."

"Good idea but where are we gonna go?"

"How about home?"

"Oh yeah. Totally. Let's go."

"Second Earth!" Brent called.

The light quickly came and took them away. As they flew through the stars Brent saw a tunnel of light going through space outside of the flume he saw a figure quickly go through the light.

"What took him so long to come after us?" Press thought.

Press didn't think about it and went back home.