Lost In Time Chapter 17:
Author's Note: You guys I am sooo sorry for not posting for a while agh don't hate me. But here is Chapter 17, and I'll be sure to post 18 soon! :) Also all the comments I've gotten are so sweet and thank you for reading this!
"Stop!" Linh screamed as Alvar plunged a sword into Wylie's arm. But it was too late, and Wylie fell to the ground in agony. Suddenly the world got quiet, and the only thing Linh could hear was her heart pounding. Her eyes were focused on Wylie, and watched him try to hide the pain so she wouldn't worry but Linh knew better. Blinded by her anger, Linh erupted. The fight stopped as a deep rumbling grew louder in the distance. Suddenly Sophie couldn't see anything, she could only feel the water surrounding her.
"Linh! Linh stop!" she screamed, hoping that somehow her voice could be heard through the giant wall of water Linh had created. "Linh, let the water down." Sophie transmitted one. It was enough, and as soon as Sophie could see again she ran over to where Wylie was. Alvar was lying unconscious in a giant puddle of water.
"Linh, that was amazing," Keefe whispered, walking over. But she didn't register his comment, her thoughts were focused on Wylie, her beloved that was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. "Stupid!" Linh yelled, and Sophie moved out of the way. "Why did you think it was okay to run towards Alvar?" she said, and even though her voice full of anger, Keefe knew that she was just scared out of love.
"I have to protect you and the others. I'm fine really, it's just a scratch." Wylie responded, pushing a piece of her hair back in place. Linh opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Dex and Biana running up.
"What's going on? Wylie why…" Biana's voice trailed off as her eyes fell on her evil brother laying in the puddle. Her eyes switched to hatred. "What is he doing here," Biana said, walking over to her brother. She stood over him, not saying a word. Sophie watched as Biana took his crystal out of his pocket, and then kicked him. "That's for sending us to 1420."
With the light crystal in her hand, she turned back towards her friends. "We need to get back to the palace to plan," Biana said. Dex and Keefe had lifted Wylie onto their shoulders.
"Before that, we need to help Wylie. He's losing blood fast," Linh said, wiping her eyes. As everyone started heading towards the palace, they didn't notice the dark figure in the shadows.
Tam watched the scene from the shadows. "This will give me enough time," he thought to himself. As Sophie, Biana, Linh, Dex, Keefe, and Wylie made their way inside, Tam followed quietly. He wasn't far behind him, but the shadows kept him hidden.
"I'll get the first aid kit!" Biana shouted, putting Alvar's crystal on a table. It gave Tam the perfect opportunity. Grabbing the crystal, he turned to run out the door, smiling to himself.
Dex watched the shadow disappear from the table, and saw the crystal was gone. "What are you up to?" Dex whispered to himself. Using a cloaking device, he followed Tam out to the forest. Where was he headed to? Was he meeting up with the Neverseen? Had he been a double agent the whole time? Dex prayed he wasn't, it would kill Linh if that was the truth. In fact, it would hurt all of them if that was the truth. Dex couldn't take that, he didn't want to see the hurt on their faces when he broke the news about what Tam did. He had to stop it.
"Stop!" Dex yelled, ripping off his cloak. "Tam, drop the crystal, or I swear I'll-" he stopped himself, what would he do?
Tam just stood there, appalled at the fact that he was found out. "Dex, you need to leave," he said, not turning around.
Dex shook his head. "I won't let you betray our team again. We need that crystal Tam, please don't return that to Vespera."
Tam whipped around when Dex mentioned Vespera. "I'm not giving this to the Neverseen." Dex shrugged his shoulders.
"I can't tell if you're telling the truth or not. All I know is that you just took the crystal Biana found and walked to a creepy forest. Tell me Tam, why are you really here? Were you only sent here to make sure every plan we came up with failed? Are you trying to keep us away from the Lost Cities? Tell me, are you really that twisted?" Dex was yelling now, all his emotions were spiraling out of control.
Tam just watched, narrowing his eyes. "Trust me, I'm not working with the Neverseen," he said coldly, trying to disappear into the shadows. But Dex didn't let him. "No," he said, shoving Tam to the dirt. "I swear Tam, give me the crystal before something bad happens." Dex was fuming. Tam just smirked. "Not today," he choked, shoving Dex off of him. "Tam-" Dex grumbled, preparing to tackle him again when a familiar voice piped up.
"Well looks like I'm missing all the fun," Keefe said. The two boys whipped around as the blonde walked up. "Listen Dex, Tam is telling the truth. He isn't working with the Neverseen."
Dex narrowed his eyes. "And how do you know that?"
"I'm an empath remember? I can't believe you have to ask that. Now Tam, give me the crystal," Keefe said sternly.
Tam reached in his pocket. "I can't. I need to do this." Now Keefe was angry. "Tam, no you don't. This isn't your job. Don't betray the team."
Tam shook his head. "I'm not betraying the team, just please. Please let me do this." Keefe was about to respond when suddenly he was filled with pain and regret. Looking at Tam, he saw the desperation in his eyes. Suddenly he realized what Tam wanted to do. He wasn't betraying them, he was trying to prove himself. He wanted to gain their trust. Keefe was silent, trying to find the right words. He had been in Tam's situation so many times, and he hated that one of his friends felt the same way.
"Please Tam. We trust you enough. This won't help your case if you leave us here. Just return the crystal and we can figure something out." Keefe pleaded. Tam looked away just for a moment. Finally he reached into his pocket, pulling out the crystal.
Just as he was about to hand it to Keefe, Tam pressed the button. "I'm sorry," he whispered, as Keefe and Dex were blinded by the light.
"No!" Dex and Keefe yelled, running forward, trying to stop Tam from going to the Lost Cities. They didn't realize that they might be sent there too. Suddenly they found themselves lying in a middle of a forest, but something was off. It was the middle of the day.
"Dex, this isn't the palace." Keefe whispered, looking around. Suddenly he heard yelling from above. He looked up right as the strawberry-blonde boy fell on top of him. Keefe groaned in pain. "Dude what the-" he was cut off by another boy falling on them both. "WHY. WHY. WHY ARE YOU HERE?" Tam yelled, jumping off of the dog pile they created.
"Oh you're yelling at us?!" Dex retaliated, his face as red as his hair. "We were trying to stop you from doing something stupid, and now we are stuck in the Lost Cities without a plan, without any weapons, and YOU are mad at US?" Tam stepped backwards. Even Keefe was nervous, Dex never got mad.
"Listen, we just need to all calm down and-" Keefe was cut off by Tam and Dex yelling at him to shut up. "Don't tell us to calm down," they shouted, reeling back to their argument. "HEY, don't tell me to shut up!" Keefe said as he moved to separate Dex and Tam.
"Get out of my face," Tam said, turning around.
"Listen salt man, we need to work together if you want to stop Vespera, and-"
Dex rolled his eyes. "We can't stop Vespera Keefe. We only have a shade, empath, and a technopath. Those aren't useful abilities if you ask me."
Tam reeled around at that. "Excuse me?"
Dex bit his tongue. "Okay I didn't mean it like that," he said, trying to defend himself. Keefe and Tam just narrowed their eyes at him. "Take that back," Keefe demanded, walking up to him. Dex gulped, realizing he hit a soft spot in both of them. "Listen guys, I can explain…" but it was no use. If it hadn't been for the strange elf that popped up behind them, Dex would have been a goner.
"What in the world?" Someone's voice rang out behind them. The three boys turned around to see who was watching. "Luzia," they said in unison.
"I thought Bronte said he took care of you," she said, glancing between them. Keefe backed up from Dex. "Well you see, we came across a problem. Listen, we aren't evil I promise. We just need help." Keefe prayed she would listen. He was growing tired of this time period, he just wanted to go home.
His mind flashed to Sophie. He wanted to go back to continue leading the black swan with her. He wanted to fly around the Elvin Cities with her, Silveney, and Greyfall.
"Okay, I trust you." Luzia said, interrupting Keefe's daydream. "But before you explain yourselves, we need to find a safe spot where no one would find you."
Dex and Tam hesitantly stepped forwards. "And where would that be?" Dex questioned. He had a right to be wary, after all it was because of Bronte and her that they were captured by the council.
Luzia pointed to her home crystal. Suddenly a bright light enveloped them. When it cleared, the three boys found themselves in front of a giant gate.
Luzia smiled at their reactions. "Gentlemen, welcome to Everglen."