DG drove as fast as she could down the road towards her house. The entire time she cursed herself for driving out so far. As the sky around her blackened, a sickening feeling settled in her gut. She now realized why she hated living in this part of the country. Beautiful sunsets, yes. However, she would pass on the dangerous twisters and cyclones. The wind whipped around her and it made it hard for her to drive down the road. Swerving across the lanes, she attempted to avoid debris and oncoming trucks. At last she found the road to her house and turned down the road, eager to just get home.
She hardly had the engine off before she was up off the bike and up the sidewalk towards the house. She held up an arm to cover her face as Cain and Azkadellia walked onto the porch.
"WE HAVE TO GET IN THE CELLER!" DG yelled. She used her free hand to point to the double doors on the side of the house. Cain nodded and ran inside, searching for Raw and Glitch. Azkadellia walked off the porch and to her sister. They walked against the wind towards the doors on the side and struggled to pull them open. The wind was picking up and things were flying around the air. DG felt something sting her arm, but she ignored the pain and pulled harder on the door with one hand. The other hand tried to keep her face covered.
Every time the door opened even a fraction the wind slammed it down with a large amount of force. Her arm was throbbing, but she wouldn't give up. She yanked again, but then a hand covered her, pulling with extra weight. Cain made a gruff sound as he yanked harder. The door finally opened and he held it back with his body.
"Come on in," he said ushering with his hand. Raw, Azkadellia, and Glitch all rushed in the open door, happy to get out of the chaos. DG stood there looking out over the fields and then back up at Cain. "It's ok." He whispered and nodded his head towards the cellar. DG took a deep breath and then walked down into the cellar.
Once inside the dark, dank cellar, the group tried to relax. They looked at their surroundings, their eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. DG lit a small lantern that hung in the center of the room; a soft yellow glow filled a small portion of the room.
"That'll have to do," She sighed. She gestured towards the small table in the center of the room. A couple chairs were leaning against the old table. Azkadellia and Glitch helped themselves to the two chairs, and DG walked around to find others. She could hear Cain yank on the doors, making sure they were firmly fastened. He climbed back down the steps and over to her. She could feel his hand on the small of her back, gently reassuring her that he was there for her. He felt her lean back into it and he knew that even though she wouldn't admit it, she needed him.
He helped her pull down a few more folding chairs. They sat them up next to the others, forming a Simi-circle in the center of the room. Dg sighed as she sat down on a wobbly chair, looking around at everyone. She stopped when her eyes came to Raw.
"Oh Raw, you're hurt." DG leaned forward, touching a hand carefully to Raw's forehead. An inch long gash bled out onto Raw's golden fur. He winced as DG neared and then stopped, looking at DG's arm.
"DG hurt too." His hand moved to DG's arm, but she hit it away with her free hand.
"I'm fine. Let me look at you." Raw's hand moved again and DG swatted it away once more. Raw growled a low rumble and DG growled back. "My arm is fine, you may have a concussion. Let me look at you." She reached over a pulled out a first aid kit from beneath the table. Everyone watched as she calmly took out the supplies needed and then fix up her furry friend. Once bandaged up, Raw pulled DG's arm over into his lap, carefully inspecting it.
"DG hurt badly," Raw said softly. Cain looked over at DG's arm and cringed. A large, deep cut ran across her arm, a crimson hue covered her normally soft white skin. He walked over and knelt beside the two, taking DG's arm carefully in his hands. DG tried to pull away, but Cain's hand firmly grasped her hand. DG sighed. She hated people worrying about her.
"I'll live." She said. Cain shook his head.
"Would you let me worry about you?" Everyone sat in silence as Cain cleaned out DG's wound and then carefully wrapped it up. The room was silent except for the sound of the roaring wind. The door violently rattled on its hinges and the group feared it may fly away. She felt his rough hands on her smooth skin and she felt immediately assured and her heart calmed down. She let out a deep sigh.
"Feels good to get that out, doesn't it?" He asked, a little bit of his own bit of reassurance in his eyes. DG nodded. "Well I think you will live my dear." He bent over and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them slowly. She looked over at her friends. They looked at her for some sort of support.
"What is going to happen?" Raw asked. DG's face filled with concern as she contemplated the storm outside.
"Well we just wait it out. Judging by the sky, this one could be a doozey. Unless it comes within direct contact of us, we should safe." She nodded her head.
"I guess now we can use the escape button." Glitch said happily to himself. The entire room turned to look at him. Cain looked up from DG's arm and glared at the man. Glitch froze and swallowed, peering at the looks.
"What escape button?" DG asked calmly. Glitch shrugged. Cain's face tensed up and he moved towards Glitch, gently letting go of DG's arm.
"I think he knows." He started to say. Glitch put hand out to stop the incoming man.
"Fine, I'll tell you." Glitch pulled his jacket over. DG wondered why he reached to save it before they went into the shelter. She eyed him carefully. "As the royal advisor to the Queen, I have certain things that may or may not keep me out of harm. Like in case I get thrown into another world."
"Why would you have those things and not any of us?" Cain asked. "You would think the princesses would have something like that as well." Glitch nodded.
"They do, but they never wear the necklaces that encase the button. So it hardly seems logical that they really know about it."
"What necklaces?" Azkadellia asked. Glitch rolled his eyes
"Well DG had her locket. But that got stolen by your men. And you had a similar necklace. Gold, I think, with little hearts?" Azkadellia's face changed with realization.
"Eww, that ugly gaudy thing mother gave me when I was little?" Everyone groaned and Raw threw his hands in the air. "No wonder she was upset when I threw it away. Now it all makes sense." She paused. "Why didn't they tell us about it before?"
"And have their daughters play around with them and be flung to other worlds? I think it's safe to say they were hoping it would never happen."
"So you've had that the entire time we've been stranded here?" Azkadellia asked. Glitch nodded slowly. "Through the fighting and the bickering and the tears, you've had the ability to take us home?" She asked slowly. Glitch nodded again. Azkadellia contemplated this as she slowly sat back in her seat. Everyone sat silently then jumped as Azkadellia flew out of her seat, be lining it for Glitch. In an instant Cain was up and held Azkadellia back from Glitch.
"Calm down." He muttered. He rolled his eyes as Azkadellia flopped around in his arms.
"CALM DOWN!?" She yelled. "We could have been home by now! Use it now!" Azkadellia shouted. Glitch shook his head sternly.
"Well it doesn't just work that way. I simply can't hit the button and it whisks us back. You need some form of force. A yank, a pull, a t-"
"A twister," DG finished his thought. She sighed and looked around the room somberly. Glitch nodded. DG understood exactly what it meant.
"So what's the catch?" She looked at Glitch. Glitch looked at Cain. Cain frowned.
"Hey, I'm not the one with the button. You tell her. I'm tired of breaking bad news."
"Well, the storm has to be really close. Close enough for us to get to without actually getting hurt." Glitch sat up, sounding very sure and precise. "The only problem with that is, there would be damage to whatever is around. Judging by the way you described this storm, you'd loose everything: the house, the garage, everything. And. . ." Glitch paused. DG looked at him.
"There's more?" DG exclaimed. Glitch nodded.
"Traveling storms are sort of a thing of the past. Before I left, I overheard someone say that they would be doing away with storms and permanently shutting off access to this world." He looked at DG, her eyes filling with tears. "Seems that they didn't want the worlds mingling anymore and with you back and safe, there wasn't a reason to have access anymore."
DG looked around the room. The memories of her childhood, the only one she really remembered, looked back at her. Red wagons, baby dolls, and teddy bears filed boxes that lined the walls. Old books and photos sat in shelves, forgotten over the years. She stood up and walked over to the shelves and brushed a hand on a teddy bear, the soft fur gentle against her skin. She could hardly remember her life back in the O.Z as a little girl. What would happen when she didn't have access to the only world she truly remembered?
"How much time do we have?" she frowned. Glitch stood up and cocked his head to the side.
"Not much. We don't know how long this storm will last or when there will be another. It's now or we wait. However, judging by the way things are, it should be now. The longer you wait, the harder it would be." DG looked over at Cain and her sister, standing side by side. Her eyes met her sisters and she pleaded for help.
"It's up to you Deeg, I'm here for whatever you decide." Cain nodded his head when DG looked at him. She turned back to the boxes and frowned, hitting the teddy bear with her hand.
"Fine," She said through gritted teeth. "Let's go." She nodded, if only to reassure herself. She turned back around to her friends. "I'm serious. It's time to go." The room stayed still, wondering if what she was saying was true.
"Are you sure?" Azkadellia asked quietly. She jumped at the sound of branch falling against the house. "I don't want to rush you if you're not ready." She walked over at put a hand on her sister's arm. Azkadellia felt DG's arm jump at the touch. DG nodded.
"I'm ready."
Everyone walked towards the door. Cain yanked the flap open and the door swung open by force. He poked his head out and spotted the storm in the distant back ground. It wouldn't take long to get here, they had to hurry.
"You sure about this Glitch? This is the only way?" Cain turned to Glitch. Glitch nodded with assurance. Cain nodded and pushed the man towards the door. "Then we don't have much time. Let's go." He watched as Glitch walked up the stairs, followed by Raw. Azkadellia grasped Raw's hand and followed close behind him. He'd never seen her scared like this before. He turned to DG, her back towards him. She was looking at everything around here, sizing up the world she was leaving. He walked over and put his hands on her arms.
"DG we have to go now," Cain gruffly whispered in her ear. She could feel the foundation shake and boards buckle, but she still couldn't move. How could she say goodbye to something that had been a part of her for so long. At least these past few weeks allowed her the opportunity to at least think there could be a future here. She kept her eyes focused out in front of her and her feet firmly planted on the ground.
"It's time to say goodbye." Cain whispered again, this time more sincere and patient. He tugged on her arm and she slowly spun around, her eyes meeting his. He could see the red rim due to tears that wouldn't quite come and his heart broke for her.
"How can I say good bye? I'm not ready yet." She shook her head.
"Yes you are. There is nothing left for you here. Nothing at all. You said so yourself. Now it's time to put this all behind you and move on in The O.Z."
"You know I had this funny thought that you and I would come back here when things got crazy in the O.Z. Like a retirement home," Her eyes darted around the cellar. "an escape from the weird and oddball world of the O.Z. But now-"She paused and took a deep breath. What would happen now? She had been so happy in the arms of Cain these past few weeks that it didn't even occur to her what would happen when they went back. Now she had no time to really consider anything. Should she say good bye to him? Would she even be able to see him again? A million things raced through her head. She could feel the storm picking up speed and she shook all the thoughts out of her head. She didn't have a choice now. They had to go.
"I'm ready," DG said as she pulled away from Cain. She was strong and she could do this.
Cain watched as DG climbed up the steps towards the door. He looked down at his finger, they gold band glimmered up at him. Using his right hand, he loosened up the ring, turning it side to side. He wiggled it off, cringing at how tight it had been on his finger all these years. He held the band in his hand, feeling the true weight of the gold. He looked up at DG and then back down. If she had to give up her past then there really wasn't a reason he should be attached to his as well. Adora was gone, he couldn't bring her back. The only thing left was the memory of her and him together and that would be enough to keep him going. He sat the ring on the table and kept walking towards DG and away from his past.
He ran up to DG, grasping her hand with his. He knew for certain he would never let go. He felt her grip his hand tight, her tiny fingers clinging to his. He could sense how scared she was and pulled her closer to him as the wind tried to pull them apart. The world outside the shelter looked like it would end at any time. The sky was a dark shade that was beyond ominous, it was downright evil. DG took a few steps but could get a good footing. Cain put his arm around her and pulled her into him, securing them both. He looked over at Glitch.
"WHAT NOW?" Cain yelled. Glitch looked up towards the distance and spotted the cyclone. DG's eyes grew large in fear and she turned her head in towards Cain's body. She could be strong about some things, and she feared just about nothing. However, after spending endless years constantly fleeing them, DG could not get the courage up to face a cyclone. She could feel Cain's heart beat faster than normal. She knew that he too was scared.
"WE HAVE TO GET NEAR THAT STORM! OR AT LEAST CLOSE ENOUGH TO GET PULLED IN!" Glitch yelled back. The roaring storm traveled across the fields, pulling up large amounts of debris as it went. Telephone wires popped in the distance, sparks of various hues filled the dark sky. The wind really began to pick up as the storm approached the windmill. Without even a care in the world, the storm pulled the windmill up out of the ground and sent it spiraling in the sky. DG took a deep breath and just as the storm reached the house, things once again went black.
This is the 2nd to last chapter. I will be writing a sequel and I'll let you know the title of it when I post the last chapter of this one! Thank you for all the feedback! Keep it up!